Gay Palawan – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Palawan - The Nomadic Boys

The Philippines have occasionally been called the treasure islands of the Pacific, but if you were to ask us, we’d say that the largest gem of all can be found within gay Palawan!

As adventurers, we’re always on the lookout for the most exciting destinations to share with the LGBTQ world. So, what if we told you that Palawan is a top-of-the-line oasis where you can find the softest and whitest sand? The deepest and most mysterious caves? Mountains, covered by vast and verdant jungles? Well… It’s true! Palawan has everything that explorers could ever want from a thrilling vacation.

And while there is no primary hotspot for gay activity amongst the various islands and municipalities throughout Palawan, there are still several LGBTQ-owned businesses to be found. Also, just based on our own personal experiences from traveling across the seas to the Philippines, we have met a lot of queer folk flooding into these gorgeous islands. Filipinos are incredibly welcoming and gay friendly, many of our friends have even weighed in on why the Philippines is so gay friendly.

From our perspective, Palawan is not only a safe place for both local and foreign travelers, but it is also a must-stop, bucket list-worthy location. We want to help you plan the best possible island holiday, which is why we’ve created this all-inclusive, gay travel guide!

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Gay Palawan / Indonesia Travel Resources

Gay Langkawi, Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

Lankawi, Malaysia - Deposit Photos

Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, located in the state of Kedah, 30km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia near the Thai border. For years, Langkawi has developed a reputation of being more liberal and relaxed than mainland Malaysia, thanks largely to its status as a duty-free haven…a win for tourism in Malaysia!

We visited Malaysia for 2 weeks, trying out the different hotels and bars on the island, which we summarise in this detailed gay guide to the island. Whilst the island maintains a more relaxed approach compared to mainlanders, this is still very much part of an extremely conservative country, with all the anti-gay sentiments that compliment it. We explore this in more detail below, but our big takeaway tip for LGBTQ travellers to gay Langkawi is that you will have an awesome time here, but we recommend avoiding any PDAs to be on the safe side.

Is Gay Langkawi Safe?

Yes, but…!

On the one side, it’s easy to dismiss Langkawi as a dangerous place you shouldn’t set foot on – it is after all part of a country that criminalises homosexuality and had a local newspaper publishing a ridiculous article about how to “spot” gay people! (In case you’re wondering, if you’ve got a beard, abs and wear branded clothes, then you’re bound for gay jail!)

Yet on the other side, Langkawi is well known for not only being more relaxed than mainland Malaysia, but thanks to tourism, the island is very international. There are many people from all around the world living/working in Langkawi, a large proportion of who are members of the LGBTQ community. Islanders are therefore used to seeing people from all walks of life.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - The Nomadic Boys

Kool-krazy-kat-Kota-Kinabalu, the capital and gateway of Malaysia’s Sabah region on Borneo island. This is the city where treks up to Borneo’s highest mountain (Mount Kinabalu) begin, the tropical waters of the Gaya islands are right on your doorstep, lots of different magnificent experiences can be found, and, the coolest nickname ever for a city: KK!

Whilst most travellers will skip out KK, using it just as a transport hub to enter/leave Sabah, we think you should spend a few nights here. We visited KK during our trip around Malaysia and loved it. It’s a relaxed, modern place that offers so much. It also has a large LGBTQ community and sometimes even a gay bar – ie it closes/reopens a lot (more on this below)!

We’ve put together all our findings from our trip in and around gay Kota Kinabalu in this article. We’ve included important practical safety tips for LGBTQ travellers, gay friendly hotels we tried/loved, queer friendly hangouts and some of our favourite things to do which we hope inspires you.

Is Kota Kinabalu safe for gay travellers?

On the whole, yes, but as long as you’re careful to avoid PDAs. Malaysia is not on par with some of the places in the Middle East, but it’s obviously no Bangkok here!

In relation to progressive LGBTQ rights in Malaysia, there are none at all. There is even a horrible archaic anti-gay law which carries with it a 20-year imprisonment as well as caning, fines and/or deportation! The reality is that the anti-gay law of Malaysia is rarely ever enforced, particularly against foreigners. However, this gives you an idea of how society regards homosexuality and therefore why it’s best to avoid PDAs.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Penang – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Penang - The Nomadic Boys

Penang is one big fat foodie paradise in Southeast Asia. Honestly, we were blown away by the many culinary prizes available here…Asam Laksa, Wanton Noodles, Hokkien Prawn Noodles, Char Koay Teow…Penang is one place we’d definitely rush back to just for the food!

Penang is also famous for its street art murals, particularly in the UNESCO listed cutesy colonial-era capital, George Town. And the biggest surprise of all, despite being a small island of less than 2 million, in a country where homosexuality is a crime(!), there is even a gay scene!

We visited Penang as part of our big trip around Malaysia and totally fell in love. We were told by both Malaysians and fellow travellers that Penang is a not-to-miss highlight of the country and oh boy were they right! We ended up extending our trip in Penang from a few days to two full weeks. Based on our firsthand experience, we’ve put together our gay guide to Penang setting out the best gay friendly hotels, hangouts, foodie tips, and more.

Is Penang safe for gay travellers?

For the most part, yes…as long as you’re careful and avoid any PDAsIt’s not as bad as the Middle East here, but it certainly ain’t no Barcelona, Bangkok or gay Berlin!!

There is a large LGBTQ community in Penang, both locals and foreigners, living and working quite openly. Penang is after all a touristic hub with a large international population, so people are more likely to be diverse, tolerant and open-minded here compared to other parts of the country.

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

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

Lesbian Travel: Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails – Our Taste for Life

Lesbian Travel: Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails - Our Taste for Life

If you’re looking for reliable information in regards to hiking the Bukit Tabur West or Bukit Tabur East trails in Kuala Lumpur, you’ve come to the right place. We successfully completed this hike in late 2019, despite warnings online of closures, needing permits and other misleading information. This blog post aims to provide all the accurate information you’ll need ahead of hiking Bukit Tabur, including how to get there, safety precautions, important things to know and more.

Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails

When you think of Kuala Lumpur, the last thing that comes to mind is hiking and nature. The modern metropolis is famed for its towering skyscrapers, vibrant culture, and religious temples. But on our 3rd or 4th visit to the city, we were keen to discover something new. That’s when our local friend Ben suggested hiking.

As it turns out, there are several hiking trails in and around Kuala Lumpur. Some of the hiking trails are relatively easy and suitable for beginners. Others, like Bukit Tabur West & Bukit Tabur East, are harder and slightly more precarious.

So with this in mind, let’s get to preparing you for hiking Bukit Tabur. We encourage you to read through the entire article, as there’s a lot of safety information in here that you need to know in advance. Stay safe people!

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Malaysia Lesbian Travel Resources

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

The Gay Philippines – Gay Star News

Manila - Gay Philippines - Pixabay

The Gay Philippines is the most gay-friendly country in Asia, whose gay community has developed its own culture. ‘Bakla’ means homosexual in the Filipino language, while gay people are often considered a 3rd gender.

The LGBT community of the Philippines enjoys the majority of the human rights, especially compared to other Asian countries. Same-sex marriage isn’t legal there yet unfortunately, but it has been discussed several times by the Congress.

In addition to the good living standards of the country’s gay community, Philippines is an excellent destination for gay vacations. You could take your friends or your other half. Gay families are also welcome. The resorts are capable of giving you a full experience of the destination featuring a wide diversity of activities that you can do with your family.

Keep reading to discover some of the most popular gay destinations in the Philippines, and see some of the best gay-friendly hotels and resorts!

By Paraskevas Sklavos – Full Story at Gay Star News

River City Cottage – Wanganui, North Island, New Zealand

River City Cottage

Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:

Jan and Kate warmly welcome LGBTI travellers to our 100-year-old cottage in the heart of the historic river city of Whanganui. Here you will find a peaceful haven, friendly and informative lesbian hosts, and quiet, warm and comfortable rooms.

Guests must love animals, as we have two friendly old dogs and two cats, and 6 hens. Guests must also be ok with sharing a bathroom. We welcome children, and we are pet-friendly.

We have Ultra Fast Broadband Wi-Fi, which is free to our guests, and provide complimentary tea and coffee. You can opt for breakfast of fresh homemade bread and locally made jams and spreads and/or eggs from our chooks and free-range organic sausages. We serve real coffee! You are also welcome to use the washing machine, and share our kitchen if you wish to self-cater. We have a lovely deep bath for your use.

Our Bed and Breakfast is a great base from which to explore Whanganui, being one block from the river and cycleway, and an easy 10 minute walk to the centre of town. There you will find an array of great cafes and eateries, and the art galleries and boutique shopping for which the city is renowned. We love our city, and love to share it’s delights with our guests.

Stroll to the River Traders Market on a Saturday morning, paddle a waka or take a trip on the paddle steamer, visit the famous Sarjeant Gallery or the New Zealand Glassworks and enjoy the relaxed pace of life you will find here.

Whanganui is a great place for cyclists. The New Zealand Cycle Trail runs through the city, and we are a vital hub on the Mountains To Sea leg of the network. We can store your bikes safely while you stay.

If you are travelling by car, we are located 1.5 hours drive from Mt Ruapehu and the skifields, and the Tongariro Crossing. We are 2 hours drive from New Plymouth and Mt Taranaki, and 2.5 hours drive from Wellington.

We offer a free shuttle service to and from the airport or bus terminal.

See the PROPERTY Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in AREA