Gay Boracay – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Boracay - The Nomadic Boys

“Stefan, let’s go to Boracay and become beautiful mermaids!”

The thing is, Seby wasn’t joking when he said this to me as we were planning our Philippines trip. He showed me the Boracay Mermaids Instagram profile and exclaimed proudly – “this is going to be us!”

And sure enough it was!

Along with our mermaid adventures along Boracay’s gorgeous White Beach (more about this below!), this tropical Filipino island offers so much for LGBTQ travellers. It has an exciting (albeit small) gay scene to check out with many excellent gay friendly hotels, secluded beaches and highly rated restaurants.

Boracay used to be infamous for being a crazy party island where anything goes! However, things got so raucous and out-of-hand that the government decided to close it for a big 6 month clean up in 2018. Post-clean up, Boracay is as buzzing as it was before, but a lot cleaner, with stricter rules in place to adhere to in order to keep it clean.

Following our visit to Boracay, we’ve put together this detailed gay guide summarising the best gay hotels to stay, places to go out, things to do and other practical tips for LGBTQ travellers. We’ve also included a section about the rules in place in Boracay after the big 2018 cleanup.

Is Gay Boracay safe for travellers?

Absolutely!

The Philippines is generally a gay friendly country, particularly by Asian standards: we’d certainly rank it as one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia. This is largely down to the fact that despite being a very Catholic country, the Filipinos are extremely hospitable and welcoming. They are eager to please and show off their country, especially to foreigners.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Philippines Gay Travel Resources

Gay Friendly Philippines – Nomadic Boys

Gay Friendly Philippines - Nomadic Boys

We absolutely fell in love with the gay friendly Philippines. It was the big surprise from our big trip around Asia. Most travellers backpacking around Asia also told us the same thing – they came to the Philippines with low expectations but ended up leaving completely besotted with the place!

The Philippines has 7,641 islands of which only 2,000 are inhabited. That’s a shed load of tropical beaches to discover. The country also straddles the Coral Triangle, which makes it a paradise for underwater adventurers – we had some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving experiences here, particularly in the waters around Palawan.

And, it’s super gay friendly! We rate the Philippines as one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia. Whilst it has a long way to go with its LGBTQ laws (as does almost every country in Asia), this was one of the rare countries in Asia where we felt super welcome as a gay couple.

We put this down to the Filipinos. They are extremely friendly, warm and fun-loving people – the “Filipino hospitality” is a thing which they highly value.

We were fortunate to make many LGBTQ Filipino friends during our travels, both in the gay friendly Philippines and elsewhere. We reached out to them to give us their opinion on why they think the Philippines is so gay friendly and awesome! We specifically asked each of them to answer these 2 questions and have printed their answers below.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Philippines Gay Travel Resources

Bluff Creek Campgrounds – Gay Friendly Campground in Kenilworth, Queensland, Australia

Bluff Creek Campgrounds - Gay Friendly Campground in Kenilworth, Queensland, Australia

SUNSHINE COAST CAMPING

Bluff Creek is a simple campground in the beautiful Mary Valley on the Sunshine Coast. The 100 acres of camping offer guests the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the Mary River, walk through bushland that is home to koalas, kangaroos and many other native animals.

Features and amenities include, hot showers and flushing toilets, bush walking trails, swimming holes and a small farm shop offering local fare and camping basics. We keep numbers low to allow our guests extra privacy and space.

See the Bluff Creek Campgrounds Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Queensland Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

10 Famous Filipino Foods – The Nomadic Boys

Filipino foods are exciting, surprising and full of wonderful flavours.

We travelled around the Philippines extensively as a gay couple and found many traditional yummy prizes to enjoy. With the exception of balut(!), we’ve put together our favourite foods and drinks from the Philippines that we think everyone must try.

This is our video of our travels around the Philippines as a gay couple, focusing on the awesome gay scene of Manila, party island Boracay (pre-cleanup!) and the stunning Palawan.

1. Chicken adobo: the famous Filipino dish

Chicken adobo is one of the most famous Filipino foods to try in the Philippines, known and loved by everyone.

Adobo means “marinade” in Spanish and this is just that: chicken (or pork) marinated in a mixture of soya sauce and vinegar. This was traditionally used as a way of cooking meat because the acid from the vinegar and high salt content of the soya sauce produced an undesirable environment for bacteria. Other ingredients are added depending on whose recipe you follow. 

An authentic adobo is cooked in clay pots, but today it’s more common to see them prepared in a wok or metal pot.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

The Dinagat Islands – Keep Calm and Wander

The alarm wakes me up at three in the morning. It’s time to get up and catch the 3:30 bus for Surigao City from Butuan City. By 7, the early morning breeze kisses me as I sit in a motorized boat. Today, I am crossing the Pacific Ocean through Surigao Strait. I’m on my way to explore the mythical group of islands in Caraga Region in the Southeastern part of the Philippines.

The Dinagat Islands

They say that traveling to this place must be done early in the morning to avoid big waves. I’ve heard a lot of stories on how beautiful Dinagat is – unpolluted air, crystal oceans, and white beaches. I was intrigued by all the adjectives my friends used to describe this place – and I can’t wait to see it myself. They told me, too, that there’s an abundance of seafood – and I’m planning to devour as much as I could. 

Our first stop was at San Jose, the island’s capital and center of commerce and trade. If you are planning to discover the entire island or go island hopping, you should buy the things you need from here.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Gay Friendly Asia – Nomadic Boys

Gay Friendly Asia - The Nomadic Boys

We spent 2 years travelling around Asia and completely fell in love with the continent. It offers so much in terms of cultural experiences, food and landscapes, with some of the most humble people you’ll ever meet.

But when it comes to LGBTQ rights, Asia has some serious work to do! In quite a lot of countries in Asia, being gay is either illegal or an arrestable offence, like in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, the Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. If it’s not illegal, then it’s such a strong taboo that you have to stay in the closet to avoid jeopardising your job prospects and embarrassing your family like in China, Russia and Indonesia.

Despite this, there are a number of countries in Asia that are paving the way forward in relation to LGBTQ rights. We’ve selected the top 10 most gay friendly countries in Asia, which we’ve based on the following criteria:

  • Where are they at with same sex marriage legislation, along with other LGBTQ laws?
  • What is the gay scene like and do they have any notable annual LGBTQ festivals?
  • Our personal experience travelling there as a gay couple, with reference to the most recent Spartacus Gay Travel Index.

We have taken it as a given that homosexuality is legal in the countries we’ve selected, which is why we haven’t included Singapore despite it having quite a vibrant gay scene and a famous LGBTQ PinkDot festival in June/July.

We have also included two “places” (Taiwan and Hong Kong) rather than “countries”, because although they’re not officially recognised “countries”, they can still be regarded as a “country” given they have their own flag, currency, national anthem, set of laws etc.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Asia Gay Travel Resources

Kasawan Falls in the Philippines – The Globetrotter Guys

Kawasan Falls - The Globetrotter Guys

The Philippines are incredible and one of our favourite places that we have travelled to in South East Asia. The Philippines has some of the most beautiful beaches, islands, crystal clear waters and also some of the best adventure activities. One of our favourite adventure activities during our time in the Philippines was going to Kawasan Falls and canyoneering in Cebu. It is a must!

Here is everything you need to know about Kawasan Falls and canyoneering in Cebu (specifically Badian).

About Kawasan Falls, Cebu

Kawasan Falls are considered to be the most famous and one of the most beautiful sets of waterfalls in the Philippines.

Kawasan Falls can be found on the island of Cebu, 130km southwest of Cebu City in the mountains of Badian. People are drawn here by the vibrant turquoise waters, the lush jungle and the chance to have an adventure, including of course, canyoneering Kawasan Falls!

Most people will do a day trip to Kawasan Falls to spend the morning canyoneering and the afternoon relaxing by the falls. You even have the option of jumping on-board a bamboo raft and floating under the falls themselves!

Treghan Luxury Lodge – Kerikeri, New Zealand Gay Friendly B&B

 Treghan Luxury Lodge

Nestled on over two acres of lovely secluded landscaped gardens, Treghan luxury accommodation in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, is somewhere very special to relax and unwind. Wake up in your own private guesthouse, to the glorious feeling of knowing your space is solely your own.

Every last detail required for your comfort and enjoyment has been carefully considered, from the bed linen, and feather pillows, to the freshly baked organic cookies, air conditioning and free Wifi. You have the choice of a wonderful cottage (Owner’s Cottage) with its own ensuite, separate lounge and kitchenette or from two totally new, two bedroom luxurious cottages (Birdsong Retreat and Tranquility Retreat), each with two bathrooms and fully equipped kitchens, including dishwasher and washing machine.

All three cottages are beautifully appointed and fully equipped to a high standard, self-contained and are serviced regularly. Breakfast provisions (organic where possible) are provided from your arrival.

Serenity is paramount. Our multi award winning guesthouses are designed to give you the freedom to enjoy your stay in utmost tranquility without constant interruptions. Just like a home away from home – with secluded living, spacious decks and lovely rural vistas.

See the Treghan Luxury Lodge Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Northland, New Zealand Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

 

Gay Philippines: Local Gay Stories – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Philippines

In 2018 we visited the Philippines for our honeymoon and fell in love with the country. From a tourist perspective, as a gay couple in the Philippines we had no problems at all. However, we are always interested to learn about what it is like to be LGBT in a country from a local perspective and not through a rose tinted tourist lens.

This is why we got in contact with Brix, a Filipino local to learn more about what it is like to be gay in the Philippines. Check out his interview below!

Hi Brix, please introduce yourself to our readers.

Thank for the opportunity to share a bit of my life experience and insights on LGBTQ travel in the Philippines and my hometown. My name is Ruel Perez, my friends call me Brix. I may look young but I am 30 years old. I used to work in tourism & hospitality and trading in different parts of the world. After traveling around 30 countries I came back to my town, built a farmhouse and became a gardener. I am currently running for town Mayor to fight against corruption and raise awareness for LGBTQ rights in the Philippines.

By Sion and Ben – Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Philippines Gay Travel Resources

 

A Gay Honeymoon in the Philippines

gay honeymoon - the Philippines - The Globetrotter Guys

Deciding on the perfect gay honeymoon destination when we got married in 2017 was difficult to say the least. You want to go somewhere beautiful, a once in a lifetime destination where you can openly be yourselves and enjoy the first few weeks of married life together.

The last thing that you want to experience on your gay honeymoon is any form of discrimination or prejudice, which is why it can be tricky to find that perfect place. Many of the stereotypical ‘go to’ honeymoon destinations such as the Maldives or Mauritius aren’t safe for gay couples. In these places same-sex activity is actually illegal, with severe consequences, and that’s not something you ever want to have to worry about, let alone on your honeymoon.

However, after lots of research we did find the perfect gay honeymoon destination for us: the Philippines!

It ticked every single box for us. Stunning beaches, perfect turquoise waters for scuba diving, lots of islands to explore, and a great mix of adventure and relaxation. Plus there are lots of romantic places in the Philippines making it perfect for honeymooners! Taking into account that the Philippines has been ranked as one of the most gay friendly places in Asia, we knew we were onto a winner.

We spent three weeks in the Philippines – one week on the island of Cebu (Mactan Island), one week in Palawan (El Nido) and one week in Boracay. Read on to learn everything you need to know. Fair warning – by the end you will want to book a flight right away!

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Philippines Gay Travel Resources