Backpacking | FindPenguins

Newest first

Backpacking Will Triccas
Lima
November 18, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Got here and had an amazing sandwich lunch, chiccaron and chciken for seconds and tried Inca Cola for the first time. Tasted like Iron Bru. Walked to the Malecon de Miraflores, spoke to Italo a Peruvian man at sunset about life and our backgrounds. Also met this guy called Josh who sold chocolates to people from around the world visiting Peru and bought an almond and pecan one off him Which tasted rly good. Dinner at Miramar Miraflores to have some amazing Ceviche, watched some office and recorded a TikTok in my PRIVATE room which was so nice.

Woke up, breakfast across the road from the hotel before meeting Matilda and going to the inka market. Bought some gifts, looked around the Indian market too then went to this sandwich place and bought an amazing chicharron sandwich with a ridiculous amount of fries to have in a cat park?? Was rly funny there were cats everywhere. Rushed to the Lima airport bus and got through everything very easily before 5 pm flight to Mexico City.

Can’t believe this section is already over. Have had the time of my life here.Read more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Mexico City! Final Stop of Section 2
November 18, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
6 hour flight from Lima - watched crazy rich Asians and Dunkirk on the way over. A TERRIBLE 2 hour wait in immigration which was painful. Made to hostel at midnight ish.

Woke up, had to had wash clothes because no laundry. Got a sim, walked to Zocolo square and checked out the cathedral, got some amazing tacos to start the food frenzy.
Metro’d it to the Anthropologie museum where I spent a couple of hours. Met Rai who was from Chicago and worked in consulting for EY. Museum burnt me out so headed back to have a drink looking over Zocolo square at sunset. Grabbed some of the most chaotic tacos ever from taqueria especial.
Watched a bit of redzone, headed out for dinner and called it a night I was knackered.

Markets walking tour - 3 markets, insects, iguanas armadillos chillis and corn. Super fun few hours. Nicest guy ever found me to give me lunch and glass of wine too. Hopped to the gym - really wanted to go to this one with a view but it was closed as it was revolucion day. Came back and hit power hour (unlimited drinks for an hour) with some people upstairs, with domink, Jesus, Abbie zandra and others. Grabbed a quite taco dinner which I THINK gave me the worst food poisoning in my life later that night. Was the night from hell. This was after karoake where I had to sing beautiful by akon ofc.

Terrible night, had to miss my tour, got 2 Gatorade’s and just layed down. Went to this amazing pasteleria (madrid) where I got a croissant and a cookie. Apart from that sat chilling in the dorm talking to people ans watching Netflix to feel better. Hearty dinner of banana onigiri, popcorn and Gatorade.

Following morning felt MUCH better for the Teotihuacán tour. Loved how the name meant from people to gods. Guide, Boaz, from Holland was rly nice, met Bryan from San Fran, an English girl couple and family that literally lived everywhere. We got back to town super late just before 4 because of crazy traffic. I rushed to the post office which looked seriously majestic, just in time to post a postcard, then wondered around before getting a haircut. Was too scared of Mexican food before a flight so just showered and chilled in chill area before Uber to airport and got a kfc whilst watching grand tour Colombia special. Flight was a lovely 3 ish hour delay which was not nice but excited to go home and see people! This section of the Trip was special nRead more
1 like
Backpacking Will Triccas
Dubai Stop Over
November 29, 2023 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 3 °C
Met with Dan at apartment, walked around Marina, got a coffee to try wake myself up, went and grabbed some traditional emirati lunch, looked around emirates mall, then metro’d to Dubai mall checked out the fountains and Burj Khalifa but couldn’t see the show because wasn’t the evening, accidentally napped for 10 mins in the timeout market, walked past aquarium which was nuts to see with sharks and rays. Got a juice then headed back to the airport absolutely dead, Maccies airport and RAMMED flight with 0 legroom.Read more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Siargao
December 3, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Got here, tiny shack of an airport. Met matt and watched sunrise at Cloud 9. Got some massive meat barbecue for dinner, showered after like 40 hours which was amazing. Organised next stage of the trip then Played monopoly deal with this German and Austrian girl and smoked them.

Breakfast with matt and Robin. Boat trip with Manuel, Jamie, Rosie, Robin and blaze and others so so fun with so much rum and coke. Weather held up too. Beach volleyball was a hit too, amazing lunch, unreal day. Matt slipping and diving off head first to injure his head was also hilarious, chilled in the pool after with everyone. Got dinner at this buffet place, placed some card games and then got an early night.

Woke up with the most painful neck ache and a bit of a fever, we went and grabbed french toast breakfast which was amazing at white beard cafe. After that the weather got terrible, but we still decided to venture to the cold springs and this cave. Drive was awwwful and got soaked. Was with John John, TJ, blaze. Rosie, Jamie, Oliver, Puck and Matt. Came back and chilled, got family dinner and had a disco thing at the hostel.

Woke up at 6 to go surfing but the weather went from an amazing morning to terrible in like 5 minutes and scuppered the plans. But we chilled for a bit then went surfing with Robin and Iris at Jacking Horse, current was CRAZY but managed to catch a couple of good waves on a hard board which is continuous improvement! Breakfast at goodies followed by going to the corgi cafe which was AMAZING. I loved it. Pineapple mango Fruit shake was incredible too. Got a transfer to airport and waited for a long time for our propeller flight to Cebu - only took 40 minutes lol. I loved siargao though, would definitely come back for much longer. Like another Kuta Lombok.Read more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Cebu
December 3, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Flew in, grab journey to mad monkey, guy told us all his favourite meals. We were dead so just got some amazing street truck Mexican food, the halo halo special Philippine dessert then got to sleep. Got my VISA the next day in a mall followed by a Denny’s breakfastRead more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Moalboal
December 7, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
4 hour bus here from Cebu, beer at sunset on the beach, met Matt’s friend tage with his ‘gf’, went to hungry monkey for dinner and got some adobo, played beer pong with Maria and Sine(?) from Denmark then did the pub quiz and actually came third despite me and matt answering everything. Then went to near the beach and drank some beer before bed.

Woke up early and got some breakfast from ye old pastry shop lol, met Ella and Tiger to go canyoneering at the badian canyon near Kawasan falls, saw the BIGGEST pig ever in a turn of fate just mentioning him as we finished - Quiz again after dinner at three bears and we won! Played some durac with dodo from Switzerland

Diving to see the sardines early in the morning with Ella, then went snorkelling with matt at nearby beach but started tipping it down. Checked in, then got a massage, went snrokellikg again just before sunset drinks at chillis bar, back to hungry monkey for a SPICY zizzling plate, played matt at chess, and went to Moho quiz again with Leon Richie, Jackie Bulgarian guy.

Breakfast at Bawud, they didn’t have anything lol, dived at Talisay point and saw like 13 turtles - kept it super deep though! German guy in my group had gone to 80 before which is nuts, got lunch at smooth cafe after a crazy good breakfast there yday, got a tricycle to white beach with matt and Tage to meet Abbie Sophie and Sam where we chilled and then watched sunset. Also played baseball with Matt’s weird ball thing. Got dinner at Vens, some amazing pork, then went back to Moho for one last night to win the quiz with a massively oversized team.

Breakfast at Shaka for an amazing smoothie bowl before a very uncomfy bus back to CebuRead more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Bohol
December 9, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Big travel day to Bohol - 4 hour bus to Cebu, 2 hour ferry to Bohol and 30 min taxi to hostel. Matt Tej and I. Got to coco farm hostel, such amazing hosts with the most unreal itinerary and google maps shortcut prepared. Such a friendly welcoming place. Smashed Matt and Tej at scrabble before family dinner with hostel, went to Sisa kitchen, sat with Hannah Matt Tej and Carla and James and Annie who I met in the dive boat in Moalboal which was fun, went wit same group to karaoke and destroyed my vocal cords trying to sing high notes all night. Dale.

Woke up early ish kind of due to the mass accumulation of cockerels and dogs. rented bikes and did the tarsier sanctuary, chocolate mountains, man made forest and bee farm before heading to sunset (and got eaten alive). We also got lost in the woods on the way back. With Carla, Pranod, Tej and Matt. Shoutout to the most anaemic native chicken that we had for lunch. Another family dinner, this one at a vegan restaurant which honestly tasted terrible but the group was really fun. I got beaten at chess by 3 people even though they ran out of time. Headed back and ft’d Amy before bed.

Picked up laundry and started the pilgrimage to Malapascua to meet Matt and Mia!Read more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Malapascua
December 11, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Full day of travelling from 830 to 6pm to get to malapascua! Sunset on the final boat over was amazing. Met Matt and Mia at the dive shop then went for dinner at avrills BBQ.

Next morning I had my shark dive trip! Up at 430 to meet at 5. Was with Danielle from Canada and Selene and Carla from Germany. Saw SO many threshers on first 2 dives then saw a TIGER SHARK on the last dive which was insane. Also shared the boat with Jordan who was doing his advanced. Grabbed some lunch after with him and Danielle then watched the sunset with Matt and Mia with some beers. Got dinner at Angelina’s and had the most amazing pizza , up there with one of the best I’ve had. Shared an 18inch one.

Day after was Gato island trip and luckily got to lay in until 730 what a treat. Dive group of moniek from Holland, Kevin from Taiwan and a dive master who lives in Koh Tao from Spain. Saw my first bamboo shark and some sleeping white tips and a frog fish which was cool, even if visibility was cack. BBQ lunch was amazing. Chilling on the boat was so so nice, soaking in how nice it is to be here. Sunset and cards at matt and Mia’s hotel then we went to dinner at KB merk. Another early night as shattered again.

No diving today in the morning because doing my deep 40 with the sharks tomorrow so not going to do two more shark trips in a row (because was going to dive with matt). Went to agila CrossFit with Jordan and got minced in the heat. Did his workout that he made with some bench and military press thrown in. Feeling weak lol. Also got it for free which was nice. Breakfast at bebots. Went to the north beach with Jordan, ended up falling asleep, went to dive school and did my nitrox cert with Powex (PWX) my instructor (think his real name was Eduardo. Watched sunset then grabbed some dinner at Angelina’s again for another unreal pizza and grabbed some tiramisu for dessert.

Deep 40 day, matt joined for shark dive, so lucky again with amount of sharks we saw. Instructor was a really cool guy and we had quite a lot of fun on the dives, felt super cool going to 40. I had better air than him as well! Made him use the emergency tank instead lol. On the boat with Grace (I think her name was) from Australia who called herself daddy which was weird. Chilled with them for a bit after waiting for an age for a chicken burger for lunch. Watched sunset again then headed to this vegetarian restaurant where I got some crunchy balls and covered In paraffin by the fire dancer. Matt wasn’t happy.Read more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Bohol Part 2
December 15, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Got here checked in quite late - hostel like a hotel at Abraham, happy to have AC over coco farm. Went to Misti for dinner which is the most Christmassy place I’ve been to yet. Amazing sizzling beef for dinner.

Woke up, dive school to book dives, went to beach, slept on beach and chilled, headed to Zara’s cafe for amazing lunch with amazing view, poisonous recluse spider said hello too so I slapped it with my slider, went to Bohol bee farm again for more ice cream and a look around, failed haircut attempt, then went to fishing village for sunset where I lost my key but was great with Coldplay and beers before that. Played in the pool and got to 50 bounces of the ball and dived through a tiny hole. Got dinner at the original paengs which was feral, played cards against humanity before bed.

Dive trip to pamilican island, same size boat as malapascua but only 5 of us on it. Was buddy with a Canadian Jana who has been living in utila who was cool. Saw dolphins on the way back as we sailed through a typhoon!
Came back and watched finding Nemo in bed which was cost then headed to Lekker for dinner. Smashed matt and checkers when we came back whilst eating some lanzones which we got half a kilo for for 50p

Massive storm rolled in and cancelled my dive to balicasag, saw watched some
Sunday night football between raiders and jags before going to gym, picking up a jolibee and playing some pool. Then I had like a 2 hour long nap before we played some ring of fire and drinking cards against humanity. Went to dinner at dos locos Mexican before heading back and drinking whilst watching mr beans holiday.

Woke up at 620 to leave at 7 to get bus from Tagbilaran to ubay - got here and ferries were delayed or just disorganised and 130 got pushed to 330. Had some chicken and lanzones whilst i waited but definitely didnt need to be up so early which was gutting.Read more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Southern Leyte
December 21, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Nightmare of a journey to get here but almost expected in the Philippines now! Late af ferry that lasted longer than expected and watched inside man, deepest breath and friends, dinner with ariel and shelani for bbq and played cards - taught then president, got a private lift to hotel which was amazing

Dive guide is titing, diving with bernd and Rebecca. Last dive was just me and the guide which was nice. Chilled with German room mate, called work about a role and went terribly, had dinner with everyone in the cafe which was so nice then went to bed early to watch some stuff before big trip tomorrow!!

Whale shark trip! Got so lucky and saw 6, got stung on lips by jelly fish when I was chasing one down at speed which was perfect. We had such amazing weather too so going in and out of the water was lovely. One of the most memorable days of the trip. After we came back I chatted with Rosie from reading (ex bf at RGS) and Em, went to town with her and Lauren from Australia. Got some banana bread and bought a full chicken from boss chicken to eat on balcony. Spend the evening with a Choc milkshake playing cards in the cafe with everyone from earlier.
Falling asleep listening to the waves every night was amazing.

Woke up at 4 and travelled with Tessa to Hilongos. Got in a ‘van’ which was just a saloon car, had a breakfast in a nice cafe before getting ferry back to Cebu to meet Matt and MiaRead more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Cebu
December 22, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Chilled at hotel, went in the pool for a bit at beds and friends. Did laundry. Had a call with Accenture to get a role at LSEG, went out for a Lechon dinner then watched snippet of walle before bed, even after all the sockets broke

Breakfast at hostel, went to airport expecting a 5.5 hour delay but luckily, even tho air Asia didn’t even have a plane?!? We got transferred to Philippine airlines to save the dayRead more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Port Barton
December 24, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Dinner at fat cat for a Caesar salad

Breakfast at flow bar for some steak. Kayaking to coconut beach, sank, capsized, matt was the worst person in a crisis. My shirt literally floated away as I watched it, painful. Also saw deep at some point we saw dolphins/a marlin. Towed the boat across the shallows. Had a chicken Milanese with beers and Fred again in the background on the beach for late lunch. Red horse and free grinch cocktail back at the hostel followed by some ring of fire and hostel games. Then headed to fat cat for their special Christmas dinner. Got a bit short changed on the starters but everything else was lovely. Went back and watched office Christmas party to get me in the spirit

CHRISTMAS DAY! Woke up at went to Milans breakfast place for fruit salad and crepes then hit up the beach and met James and Annie from Moalboal/Bohol and drank with them until we went to the Boodlefight at Cocorico which was amazing. Played some Harry Potter dobble and some weird snap card game which I can’t remember before dinner. Smirnoff mules made this day. Played some jenga with rules after as a group then headed to the beach. Listened to Fred again Kelly on the way back to hostel to collect mums gift for a picture and had a think about how lucky I was for everything I’ve done on these travels. Came back to the beach, spoke to dad, FaceTimed mum and also FaceTimed Andrew and grandma. had a beach Christmas swim with everyone, had PLENTY more drinks, then just played games into the evening with Annie and James with more drinks and more swims. Super special day that I will remember for years to come. Came back and face timed dad with matt before B99 then bed.

Early ish wake up and breakfast pastry at Milano cafe before the boat tour with Annie and James. First stop was star fish bay, then we went to a snorkel spot before going to an island where they cooked us our amazing bbq lunch. After that we stopped at fantastic reef for some snorkelling and I practiced my free diving. We then went to the turtle spot to see 2 turtles. I had to go quite deep to get to them but obviously got the footage (also got a lot of stings). Then chilled in the bay of exotic island until I slept on the deck as we headed back. As soon as we got back we met Tej on the walk and he told us about his jewellery making workshop so we headed to Obra and did this for 40 mins which was rly wholesome, I think Mia’s was definitely the best. Then we went for dinner at Kusinero del Barrio with Annie James and Tej matt and Mia, followed that up with a magnum and scrabble back at the hostel with Tej matt and Mia before calling it a night. Port Barton has been beautRead more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
El Nido
December 28, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Got here, had dinner at Athena’s with a crazy view, booked dives then got tricycle to zip line before chilling on los cabanos beach for sunset, we then hit up Maccies for a quick mayo chicken before maas for a dinner with Annie and James.

Woke up early and did our dive trip at aquanaut dive centre with Matt Mia James and Annie, amazing scenery and great dives. Got back and had a drink at safety stop whilst writing my log book, really taking in how lucky I’ve been this trip with everything I’ve done. We then headed back, showered and had unlimited pasta and 2 mai tais followed by a game of cards and shop bought rum and coke. Then played ring of fire then did horse races then went to town to the pangolin but it was dead so came back but was toasted. Had late night nachos at some random place before heading back.

Today was a bit of an explore. We rented bikes (a bit late because that tanduay rum absolutely knocked us down) and drove to duli beach on James’ suggestion. This is now my favourite beach of all time. It was nearly empty, so beautiful and had an amazing surf. James and I surfed for about an hour and a half and I kept catching some really big waves. It felt amazing. We got some burgers for lunch on the beach with some president before heading to nacpan beach. Forgot to mention my bike didn’t have a working back brake so getting to these beaches on dirt roads was a death wish. Basically had a nap on nacpan beach whilst listening to Coldplay under some coconut trees before heading to Lio beach for sunset. Gutted we missed the flyover from the nearby airport during the sunset. Ofc my trash bike didn’t have working lights so had a very dodgy journey back in the dark. Headed to happiness restaurant for dinner with Annie and James and got a mixed platter and some hummous chicken schwarma meal. Was unreal. Needed an early night tonight though.

Next morning we had the tour A boat tour. Waited on the beach for like an hour before we got on but set off to first snorkel spot - saw a turtle! Number 1000 of this trip probably. Felt like my freediving has improved massively in the Philippines. We then checked out 7 commandos beach, secret lagoon with a queue so long we didn’t go in (but did see a beach cat) and then the big lagoon which we kayaked into and saw 2 baby black tip sharks, a ray and the cutest baby bat fish from the kayak. Was awesome. Also had an ice cream from the travelling boat salesman, dived off the boat whilst waiting for everyone then had sunset on the way back. Last night with Annie and James so we hit up Maa’s kitchen again and got 2 bottles of tanduay, and basically repeated the night from 2 nights ago but was just so fun. Music played had to be related to previous song which was fun and we were all totalled. I’ll remember El Nido so fondly. Perfect 2nd last stopRead more
0 likes
Backpacking Will Triccas
Coron - The Final Stop
January 2, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Arrived after a 6.5 hour ferry quite late on New Year’s Eve. Tried to find a dive school for the next day but they were all shut or not running! We got quick dinner at this place and got some chicken rice bowls. After that we wandered around the town and saw the pre- carnage (vuvuzelas everywhere) and then got a bottle of Tanduay and drank this next to the pool for a couple of hours before heading up to the rooftop party. We played some cards with Dana and Juliet before doing the new years count down and watching all the fireworks across the city. Got a horn too and went ham with that. We then listened to the DJ for a couple of hours before heading to bed.

Next day we had a slow morning (woke up for Amy’s new year but then went back to sleep) and had breakfast at Coffee Kong and then went to siete Pecados for some really amazing snorkelling on our tiny little private boat. Even had some big currents and found some big fish. Then headed back and had a very late lunch at the hostel (two chicken and rices lol), watched sunset, booked our dives for tomorrow with Umali and then went and won the Hop Hostel Quiz, the decider was me having the best made paper aeroplane which absolutely smashed everyone else’s. We used our prize on 3 royals because did NOT want to drink again lol. Went to Kuya’s Kocina for some dinner and then off to bed.

Dive day! And my very last one, very sad about it. 3 wrecks today and the second one was incredible. 100 metres long, even had an airpocket in the middle which was so fun. Laid down on the deck as I do on the way back, soaking in how lucky I’ve been in the ocean on this trip German group on our boat were good fun and my French buddy Helene was lovely too. Had free ‘light dinner’ on the Hop rooftop with sunset.

Had to make the last day special and it was. We booked a private tour for just Matt Mia and I. The ‘super ultimate tour’ to kayangan lake, barracuda lake, twin lagoons, skeleton wreck, some coral garden then this beach for sunset. Freediving at barracuda lake was awesome. I felt like I got the most depth out of any time this trip and really upped my time under water. I just don’t want to lose it now! Smashed my head on a rock through a swim through and also smashed my shin and bottom of foot on steps to barracuda lake so it isn’t perfect lol. Driver was Reggie and guide was Danny. Private food was also worth it alone. Multiple beers for the floating 7/11 was memorable. We had the music flowing all day too but it really hit the emotions at sunset, especially as we started to drive off. Fais Rien remix will stick with me in that moment forever now I think. Came back to hostel and had sunset beers and a shot on the roof. Got some free Lumpia (after some waiting) then headed to KTM burger for a surprisingly good Korean burger. Late night dictator watch in the film room before bed. This trip feels complete now but I don’t want it to be.Read more
0 likes

Trip end
January 5, 2024