A Life of Travel: 17 days in tropical paradise (Boracay, Philippines)

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It's Tuesday and it's time for a travel newsletter...

📆 update

It’s been 17 days spent on a white sand beach. I’m on the island of Boracay, in the Philippines.

This island is one of my very happy places on this planet. The spectacular White Beach offers a combination here of pure white sand, turquoise water so stunning that you instantly forget about your worries and nightly sunset displays that rival any other sunset location.

While you might find plenty of people who don’t like this island, I’m not one of them.

Some will say it’s too crowded. But that only depends which end of the beach you stay on. Where I’m staying (Station 3), it’s very quiet, with very few people and probably the best stretch of beach. Yes, if I walk 20 minutes towards Station 2, I’ll soon be surrounded by crowds, bars, restaurants, shops and all kinds of intense activity. Over here in Station 3 though, it’s peaceful and divine!

*I find this to be the case almost anywhere. If there are crowds, chances are high there are no crowds if you walk a short distance away. Too simple.

Some will say there are too many people trying to sell you stuff, from massages to food to souvenirs. Sure, people are selling stuff but everyone generally has a smile, they’re friendly and nobody is aggressive. Say ‘hello’ and ‘no thank you’ and all is well. You can definitely have some good conversations with the people on this island.

*Everyone needs to earn money and in most parts of the world, that’s what the hustle is all about. Also, while you hear negative stories for sure, the overwhelming majority of such interactions in almost any country are relaxed, friendly and hassle-free. At least in my experience.

Some will say Boracay is not like it used to be. Well, there’s no place on the planet that is the same as it ‘used to be’ some 20 years ago or so. Change happens and I’d rather enjoy what a destination offers than lament about what it was like at a time when travel and tourism were vastly different.

Anyway, Boracay is a type of paradise that suits me extremely well. I feel so healthy here, inspired to work and completely stress-free.

I will say though, if you don’t like 1980s love ballads, you might struggle here. Every restaurant and bar either has a 1980s playlist or a live band playing every Air Supply, Bryan Adams and Peter Cetera song, over and over and over again. You’ve been warned.

For now, my time at the beach is starting to wind down. In 5 days I shall fly to Manila for 2 nights and then from Manila on to the US. I’ll be visiting family in the US and will be there for at least a couple of weeks.

Sorry, but I need to go for a swim right now!!

💭 did you know?

 ✈️ World’s Shortest Flight (Scotland)
The shortest commercial flight in the world takes just 1.5 minutes, and sometimes even less. It’s in Scotland’s Orkney Islands, between Westray and Papa Westray.

🛂 Ancient Passport (Mongolia)
In the 13th century, nobles and officials in the Mongol Empire carried a paiza, a small tablet that granted safe passage and food along the empire’s vast network. It was basically the original diplomatic passport, issued by Genghis Khan himself.

🏙️ One City, 300+ Languages (Netherlands and Belgium)
London holds the title for the most linguistically diverse city in the world. Over 300 languages are spoken daily in this city, more than any other city.

Wandering Earl Tours 2026

Next year we’ll be exploring Bhutan, Namibia, Japan, Vietnam, Romania, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan, Iraq, Socotra Island, South Africa, and the Balkans. As always, these trips are small (max 12 people), personal, and built around my local friends who open doors to experiences no other tour company can offer!

Spots are limited, and several tours are already filling fast.

👉 [See all 2026 tours here]

For 2025, I also have 3 spots available on my Iraq tour this November. This trip is personally led by me and also involves our unbelievable local team. If you want a trip that will change your perspective, awe your mind and warm your heart, this is it!

🌐 around the globe

🌾 The Silk Road Valley You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
The Fergana Valley is a lush, fertile region spread across Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and somehow still flies under the radar. Think bustling bazaars, ancient routes, and the original fruit bowl of Central Asia. Explore more

🇮🇳 Bangalore’s Soul
A lovely piece that brings you deeper into the soul of Bangalore, India, all presented by local Christina Khalil. If you’ve been, this one might stir something in you. If you haven’t, it might make you want to go. Read the story

🎥 How to Travel Like Bourdain
This written reflection captures the spirit of Anthony Bourdain, his curiosity, humility, and willingness to say, “I don’t know. Teach me.” Read the post

🇧🇩 From Jungle to the World’s Longest Beach
Bangladesh surprises again. This article follows a route from its green heart to Cox’s Bazar, where the beach stretches for 75 miles. Read more

🕷️ The Spiders That Tell the Truth
Yes, this is real. In Cameroon, a tradition uses spiders to divine the future. It’s less spooky than it sounds, and more profound than you might think. Learn more

🏡 Land Without Owners (Sort Of)
In one Transylvanian village, no one really owns the land. Instead, stewardship and heritage shape how it’s cared for. A fascinating look at communal thinking and living.
Read on

🧳 The Weirdest Things You Can Bring on a Plane
Hookahs? Antlers? Live fish? Apparently, all allowed. This list will either amuse you or inspire your next packing experiment. See the list

🚂 A Train Through Taiwan’s Misty Forests
The Alishan Forest Railway offers old-school carriages, lush mountain scenery, and slow travel at its best. If you love trains, this one’s for the bucket list. All aboard

🥹 Sad Topographies
This amusing Instagram post displays places around the world with depressing names. It’s part of an ongoing series by Damien Rudd. View the photo

🗺️ where in the world?

A big congratulations to those readers who guessed the location of the photo in the previous newsletter! Here’s who guessed correctly:

Elyas, Steve, David, Janet, Mark, Craig and Danny

The location is the Royal Stables and Granary (Heri es Swani) in Meknes, Morocco. While it’s been closed to the public for a while, it was one of my favorite places to visit in the country. Built during the rule of Sultan Moulay Ismail, the stables could house up to 12,000 horses at a time and the architecture is magnificent.

This week’s photo:

It’s time to guess…where was the below photo taken?

If you have a guess (the more specific the better), click reply and let me know. Anyone who guesses correctly will be mentioned in next week's newsletter 😄 

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Thank you so much for reading!

Derek
(my middle name is Earl)

WanderingEarl.com

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