English version: She said YES!

8 april 2017 - Mactan, Filipijnen

Dear family and friends,

Friday the 31st of March, we closed the door behind us on our lovely flat in Woking, our home for the last 2,5 years. After saying goodbye to some of our close friends the night before, we were ready, ready to travel the world. But first a few days to say goodbye to family and friends in the Netherlands. And my little special surprise;)

Saturday the 1st of April, I trick Nadine into coming with me to Haarlem, our favorite city in the Netherlands, under the pretence that I just wanted to see it one more time... arriving at 16:00, walking the grand square, it was time... my heartbeat is through the roof, and I feel like I'm about to pass out, as I gently go down on one knee. As soon as Nadine sees this her eyes well up, and she is confused about what's about to happen, I pop the question, being completely overwhelmed Nadine forgets to answer...people around us start cheering her on... SAY YES... SAY YES... honestly it felt like somewhat of a movie scene. She wholeheartedly says YES!! Of course YES! I take her hand, and drag her into a close by restaurant, as we walk in to the venue(Nadine is still overwhelmed) all of our close family and friends yell out SURPRISE!!! Nadine starts crying, and is now in a somewhat state of shock... MISSION COMPLETED;) We party all throughout the night, celebrating life, and catching up with everyone. Pfff what a night!!

Wednesday the 5th of April, it is time....it's time to venture across the world. Two people made for luxury, are now standing scared shitless at the airport....are we really doing this.. It's also time to say goodbye to our dearest, we've done this in the past when moving abroad, however this feels completely different, much more intense, where previously knew what we were doing, this time around we don't! We have a tearful goodbye and walks towards the gate.

Our A350 takes us in just under 13 hours to Singapore, no sleep unfortunately, and our 3 hour lay over is completely done on adrenaline. We board the plane to Cebu, Phillipines, the 3 hour and 45 minis spend sleeping vastly, and as we wake up we're there! Finally 26 hours later we are here, the humidity and 31 degrees hit us square in the face as we walk out of Mactan Airport, we get in a cab to our hotel, spent a couple of hours at the pool, and decide to venture outside for some food. As we ask at the lobby where to go they give us some random advice, and being Dutch we decide to do the complete opposite.....big mistake.. we make two left turns and enter the absolute ghetto of Mactan, everyone including small children stare profusely at these 2 white Dutch people. I don't scare easily, but let me tell you, this is intense... after being called white about 5 times, and semi-shouted at.. we venture back. Decide to follow the hotels advice and end up having a great meal next door;)

Friday the 7th of April, we decide after the jet lagged encounter with the ghetto, to take things easy and go to a nearby resort to hang out... this is semi-paradise and exactly what we were hoping for, clear seawater, hammocks, lounge beds, and great food, paradise! After that we head back to our new found Mall and have a great local meal with a couple of beers and live music..looks like we should listen better sometimes. Currently planning our trip to Bohol, to see Alona Beach and the Chocolate Hills.. true backpacker style, hostels, dorms, streetfood, it'll be epic!

Please see the photos at the Foto folder, to get an impression, please note no pictures from the ghetto, as pulling my phone out there would be suicide.

Thanks for reading, speak soon!

Bas and Nadine

6 Reacties

  1. Matthew Austin:
    8 april 2017
    Wow congrats to you Bas and Nadine on the engagement and sounds the first part of the trip has been eventful!
  2. Elmert:
    8 april 2017
    Great first blog guys! The pics are wonderful and I'm jealous. Enjoy X
  3. Brenda:
    9 april 2017
    YEAH!! I love reading the first days of your experience! Have fun guys!! :) I will live through you the next months so please give details haha :) And yes be careful!! Do not be that Dutch sometimes! Be roots! Hippies! ;) Love you guys!
  4. Yasmin:
    10 april 2017
    Congratulations guys on your engagement! I hope your having a great time exploring! Xx
  5. Charlotte Harwood:
    13 april 2017
    CONGRATULATIONS!!! :) :) So happy for you X
  6. Hans van Hooft:
    16 april 2017
    Hallo, hier ben ik dan, Ga vanaf vandaag hier verder net het volgen van jullie spannende en leuke verhalen hoop jullie natuurlijk snel weer te zien.
    Groetjes,
    Papa