Kara and Nate return to the Philippines during their world travels, crossing the 1.3-mile San Juanico Bridge and exploring Samar's cave system, Asia's second-largest. They kayak through Sohoten cave and swim in local waters before lunch featuring coconut-milk dishes.
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I feel very one with the Philippines today. What do you think, Nate?
Quick update before we start today's video. We have stopped traveling indefinitely and we are currently on day 15 of self isolation in this hotel room.
Kara's still wearing the same robe that she was in the last video and at this rate, my afro is going to make a comeback. However, before this was our life and before the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic, we filmed a series in the Philippines that we're really excited to share with you.
We know this is difficult situation for everyone and so wherever you are in the world and whatever you're going through, we hope that this series can be a virtual escape during this tough time.
We're Karen, Nate. We've been traveling full time for the last four years. Yesterday we landed in the Philippines where the department of tourism has invited us to explore the provinces of Samar and Leyte. So over the next couple of days, we'll be experiencing the best these provinces have to offer. From a massive underground cave to a jaw droppingly beautiful island.
Yesterday we jumped on a flight from Manila to the city of Tacloban, which we'll be using as our home base for the next few days.
This morning we are driving an hour and a half into the Samar province to visit the Sohoten cave.
We're about 30 minutes into our journey and we're currently driving on the longest bridge in the Philippines. It's called the San Juanico bridge and it's 1.3 miles long.
That was beautiful.
The van took us as far as it could and we are taking the rest of the way to the caves by boat. This river is gorgeous and the weather is perfect.
We think that in 840 hectares we have more than 30 caves.
I feel like we've been dropped off in the middle of a Jurassic park movie.
Thank you. I tried to thank him in the local language and I think he laughed at me. Safety first. There you go.
In the case, if you're like me, when you think of the Philippines, you might think of islands and beaches, But Samar, the province that we're in now, is actually home to Asia's second largest cave system. And Sohotan caves, the one that we're about to enter, is supposed to be one of the most spectacular.
Good morning and welcome to Panhello Gen cave. We must do the light off. 3, 2, 1.
It's very peaceful.
Face tickling me.
So being inside this cave is kind of like when you were a kid and you'd lay in the grass and you'd look up at the clouds, and you would make up the shapes that you were seeing. It's an exercise in your imagination. We're doing the same things here with all the different formations in the cave.
I need you standing so, like, you've.
Got the legs, the feet.
So this stalagtite and this stalagmite are so close to touching and becoming a column. But it takes about a hundred years per cubic inch. So in 300 years, these will finally meet. I'm staying far away so I don't knock over 500 years of work.
Into the name Schweinberth.
Three, two, one.
It was a drastic change in the weather while we were in the cave.
Is it rainy season? No.
Make the most of it, though.
Thank you.
Thank you. How do you say thank you in Malay?
Actually, it's a warai.
How about you start by saying the language right?
We say it salama.
Salama. Most Filipinos speak English, but there are a lot of different dialects based on where you're from. So I'm working on my huarai.
Yes.
And how do you greet someone?
One more time.
That's a lot of syllables.
Yes.
Hello, hello, and welcome.
Okay, one more time.
Is there like, a shortened version?
Y. Hey.
I'm just gonna end there. I'll be practicing up here. Okay. What is delicious?
Marassa.
Marassa. I like that one. How do you say, let's go?
Tarana.
Tana.
We're off.
Tada mas.
For some reason, they laugh every time I try to speak. And we'll ride Tana. Kayaking. Pretty much fluid. Thank you, Salamat.
A little different than the last time we went kayaking.
Ran into an iceberg. This river that we're paddling down, or should I say the car is paddling down, could not be more beautiful. On every side, you're just surrounded by these giant limestone cliffs with vines dripping down off them. And the only thing that you can hear if I'm not talking is the birds, the bugs, and the paddle going through the water.
Rain's back.
The weather has been changing so quickly. Today it was cloud, and we woke up, and then it got really sunny, and then it started raining, and then it got sunny again, and now it's raining again. I kind of like it.
And the stream got too shallow, so we couldn't paddle the kayaks anymore. So we're having to walk. Feels like a real advent.
Are there any animals in here?
We haven't been caught in the rain in a really long time. It helps. So we're already in our bathing suit. Let's jump.
That was scary. How was was good?
I think the coolest part about this place is ever since we left our hotel in Tacoban, we haven't seen a single other tourist. We had the caves, this river, and that swimming hole all to ourselves.
The weather helps.
The weather helps.
Wow.
Really?
Coming down in the jungle, this just happened.
2 seconds ago it wasn't raining and now it's snowing.
Rapid.
Woo. Really want a roller coaster? Wow.
I just was the highest of everything, Right?
I feel very one with the Philippines today. What do you think, Nate, for being inside of the earth in the Philippines too very. Whoa.
Oh, my goodness.
That was crazy.
We did it.
Rye's back's a little colder.
Literally going to get our hands dirty.
All right, now it is time for a well deserved lunch. We're having a typical huarae meal, but I don't know what any of it is.
Oh, so this is the chicken with coconut milk. We call it in our term hinatukan ngamanoka Namanok. Hinatu ka ngamanok.
That's what I said.
That's it.
When it comes to wariware, most of our dish is with coconut milk.
I love coconut milk. So this one has coconut milk too?
Yeah. We call it in our term again, kinilau.
The eggplant is cooked with vinegar. So it's kind of like an eggplant ceviche. And what kind of meat is this?
Grilled pork, Shrimp. Shrimp course. To make it complete, it's always rice.
Lots of rice.
Looks amazing. And you eat with your hands.
Yeah.
Is there a strategy?
Just a little. Get the rice and press it down. Yes.
And you made a mess. I'm going to go for the eggplant ceviche. Some rice.
That is fantastic. Like the coconut milk is like super tangy. As with the vinegar. I never would have thought that those would go together. I'm sure I would do. It's like a pina colada in food for I love it all.
And again, I do one.
You make it look so easy. Okay, I'll pull it through. Oh, yes, I can do that.
Bye.
Heading back to Tecnoban.
We know a lot of people are stuck at home right now. And while now is not the time to be traveling, it is a great time to start planning your next adventure. And if you don't know where that is yet, we think you should strongly consider the Philippines.
We're going to be showing you more awesome places coming up in this series that you can use for your planning, but we also recommend following the Philippines on Facebook, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for more ideas on incredible places to visit in this country.
Didn't build a very good base tan in Antarctica.
So. This is a stalagmite. This is a stalagmite.
I know what they are. I was listening.
You think we're still getting a tan?
Really banking on getting a tan today.
So glad to put on all that sunscreen.
Oh, man, you look really cute.
Is that the right one?
I don't know. I didn't even pack a jacket on this trip.
