After some debate on where to head next (there are pros and cons to planning!) we jumped onto a bus up the Zambales coast to the small town of San Felipe. We had heard about a backpackers hostel here called The Circle Hostel and wanted to check it out. Unfortunately Katie had misread the information and a bus that we thought would take two hours actually took us about five. After a morning making the most of the Aquarium room we had been staying in with a late check out and a long bus ride this meant that we arrived in San Felipe in the dark. Something we've been avoiding doing! Luckily there were plenty of tricycles waiting for us when we got off the bus. These were probably the tiniest tricycles we have seen so it took some squishing and squashing before we were on our way to the hostel.

We entered the sleeping area to find bunk beds that were stacked three high. There were hammocks everywhere and artwork splashed over every piece of wall, ceiling and stairs available. "No strangers here" is the hostels moto and we could tell that this would be a great place to stay…had there been any other people in the 40 bed dorm. This and the fact that there is little to do in the area apart from surf (the waves were big and scary and not for beginners!) helped us make the decision to leave the following morning.
We took one bus and a tricycle and ended up just thirty minutes down the coast in Pundaquit. Pundaquit is full of expensive resorts and another great beach for surfing. We decided to stay at a hotel with a pool so we could enjoy the water without being threatened by rough waves. Our room was right on the beach and as we woke every morning we could heard the pounding of the waves against the shore. This beach was far more beautiful than San Felipe and we enjoyed two nights here, relaxing in the sun with beers and a pool. For our final night in Zambales we once again headed another hour down the coast to Subic Bay, the playground for the rich vacationers from Manila. We spent far too much on a room that included entry to a small waterpark. We were blessed with glorious weather and made the most out of our stay, spending most of our time sitting on rubber rings in the wave pool. There is nothing like being thrown about and pounded with heavy waves while in the safety of a swimming pool! Due to the fact that it is the off season and they had very few visitors all of the slides were closed. Greg was particularly unhappy about this and while on his way to reception to complain was met with the security guy, who then personally took us to each slide to open each up for us, takes our picture for us on the way down and all while carrying all of our belongings at the same time. So this is how the rich live!

That night, we enjoyed a picnic of beers and fried chicken on the beach while watching the sunset. Bliss.

After a final dip in the pool the next day it was time to head back to the city for our last couple of days of shopping before our journey is over. We spent one whole day in Greenhills market and we're not sure we saw everything. It was a huge market with thousands of stalls, unfortunately each of which sells nearly the exact same thing but we managed to grab some bargains to take home with us.

Today is our final day to enjoy the hospitality that the Philippines has shown us. After some more shopping and just a few hours sleep we'll be jumping onto a plane and heading to our next destination, the UK! We're both excited to see Katie's family, especially her two beautiful nieces and then to spend a few weeks travelling around England and showing Greg what it's all about. Cream teas, Cornish pasties, roast dinners, mums cooking and a proper cuppa….here we come!!!!