Exploring the Vibrant Streets of Lapu-Lapu City

Jeepney rides, goat fights, bustling market stalls, and the aroma of delicious home-cooked Pinoy food—welcome to the heart of Lapu-Lapu City! Nestled on the picturesque Mactan Island in Cebu, this vibrant neighbourhood offers a captivating blend of tradition, everyday life, and warm hospitality. As we step off the beaten path, we discover a world so different from our New Zealand home, yet undeniably invigorating - A Real Taste of Filipino Culture

Walking tour of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, in the Philippines

Jeepney Adventures

Riding the Iconic Jeepney

The iconic jeepney—a colorful, hard-to-miss mode of transportation—rules the streets of Lapu-Lapu City. These unique vehicles, adorned with vibrant embellishments, confidently ply through the main thoroughfares. Mid your head when you get in, be prepared to have more people fit than you ever thought possible, and pass your fare hand to hand to the driver, who will return the correct change in the same fashion. Hop on, and let the adventure begin!

A Lesson in Cebuano

Lost in Translation

During our dinner escapade in Maribago, we met CJ, our friendly guide. He graciously offered us a lesson in Cebuano, the local language. From basic greetings to essential phrases, we stumbled through the translations. The locals chuckled, and we joined in the laughter, even though we weren’t entirely sure what was so amusing! If you’re curious about our linguistic mishaps, check out the transcript for some hilarious moments.

Heartwarming Encounters

Celebrating Nana’s Birthday

Our most memorable encounter involved a Filipino family celebrating Nana’s birthday. They invited us to join them in their jeepney ride—a delightful mix of camaraderie and laughter. As we squeezed into the crowded vehicle, we exchanged stories, shared snacks, and sang along to local tunes. The warmth of their hospitality left an indelible mark on our hearts.

Street Dogs and Compassion

A Tale of Two Worlds

Dr. Alison, our resident animal lover and veterinarian, couldn’t resist the street dogs she encountered. Some were fortunate—cared for and fed by locals. Others, sadly, were in desperate need of veterinary attention. As we walked the bustling streets, we pondered how we could all make a difference. Whether it’s a little food, a kind word, or supporting an Animal Rescue Charity, every act of compassion counts.

Conclusion

Lapu-Lapu City is a microcosm of Filipino culture—a place where jeepneys weave through lively markets, where laughter bridges language barriers, and where kindness extends to both humans and furry friends. So, next time you visit, keep your eyes peeled for those colorful tricycles and scooters, share a smile with the locals, and perhaps lend a helping hand to a street dog in need.

And a special shout-out to Cafe Barrio House and Home Stay—a cozy haven where flavors come alive and stories unfold. Visit their Facebook page here, book yourself a homestay or order a coffee, and immerse yourself in the heartwarming spirit of Lapu-Lapu City.

Remember, it’s not just about the destination; it’s about the journey—the jeepney ride, the laughter, and the shared moments that make Lapu-Lapu City truly unforgettable. 🌟🇵🇭

Check out our full you tube episode here.

Heard of a Teacup Chihuahua….

Then what about a Martini Rottweiler ??!!

Having survived the venomous centipede (see the previous blog post) our veterinary adventures on the island of Vanuatu continued

One afternoon a petite Frenchwoman arrived with a very large Rottweiler. Him one bigfella Rottweiler!  It is not uncommon to have a canine patient weight more than me – the heaviest dog I have seen was a 105 kg Saint Bernard.  The problem here was that all 70 kg of Tyson was grumpy.  Very grumpy!  Tyson had a large hot spot skin infection that really required clipping and cleaning.  But he would not let me near it, even with his owner smothering him with kisses on the lips and whispering “Je t’aime”!

Tyson did not like being at the Vet Clinic!

So we gave Tyson a sedative and then proceeded to attend to the problem.  The area was shaved, soothing cream applied, and antibiotic tablets prescribed. We also took the opportunity to apply an Elizabethan Collar – A.K.A “the Cone of Shame”.  To add insult to injury, his owner delightedly decided she wanted to add a couple of giant olives on a stick to his cone, because his cone looked like a martini glass!

That was when the real problem started….Tyson needed to get back in the car.  A Teeny Tiny Convertible Suzuki Swift, that was small enough to be swallowed up by the average Vanuatu Pothole.  Somehow, with his owner pulling from the driver’s side door, and me shoving from the back a growling, grumbling, indignant Tyson was eventually shoehorned into the passenger’s seat, cone and all.  The little car disappeared off into the island sunset with the owner craning her neck around the collar to see where she was going.  Bon Voyage! Lukim Yu!

Lukim Yu - Bye!

We now know why James Herriot wrote so many books…you are guaranteed to have an interesting day when you work at a vet clinic!

Thank you for taking the time to read this veterinary story of ours - we hope you enjoyed it and hope you will follow along on our future adventures!

Doktor Blong Dog

Working as a Veterinarian (doktor blong dog) in multicultural Vanuatu is guaranteed to provide all sorts of entertainment, especially given my French is rusty, my Chinese non-existent, and the local Ni Van staff were laughingly teaching me Bislama.  I was the only vet on the island for three weeks, while the regular vets were on leave.  As you can imagine I have many stories to tell about this adventure!

My husband Graham accompanied me on this island adventure, and so I put his ship’s medic training to good use over Christmas, when I had no support staff available to help….

A puppy gets checked at the Vanuatu Vet Clinic -photo credit to the Vanuatu Vet Clinic

I was a little hesitant when presented with a dog fight victim that had a proptosed globe – yes its eyeball was not where it should be!  Graham stepped up admirably, acting as my assistant, theatre nurse and anaesthetist while we sutured with dog’s eyeball back into place.

Many of the patients I saw belonged to the expat community, who were able to pay for medications and treatments for their pets.  The concept of ownership is very different in the Ni Van communities – dogs are loosely attached to the communities in which they live, but often do not have one owner who can take care of their health and welfare.  Poorer villages struggle to have enough resources to meet family needs, let alone pay for the care of a dog, so while living on a tropical island sounds like heaven, the street dogs of Vanuatu have a hard life.  Scavenging rice, coconuts or food scraps while dodging being hit by cars on the often-busy roads.  Contending with burdens of parasite no Kiwi dog has ever seen…. pot-bellied with tapeworms, short of breath from Heartworm, and ear canals packed tight with ticks feasting on their blood.

Is it really a dog’s life, living on the beach?

One local dog was brought in because it was having trouble walking.  It was very weak on its back legs and needed assistance even to stand.  This dog was a victim of fish poisoning – it had eaten offal of reef fish containing ciguatoxins.  These toxins are produced by microscopic organisms that get consumed by reef fish.  The only treatment available is supportive care and nursing.  Sometimes the poisoning is so severe it causes paralysis, coma or death.

Luckily the Vet Clinic works closely with SAM’S Animal welfare, to ensure the local dogs have access to parasite treatments, desexing and medical care.  Local families would arrive at the clinic, where I could examine their pets and medications would often be provided free of charge, or in return for whatever donation the family could afford.  SAM’S also helps with fostering and adoption of unwanted or stray animals. They do a great job!

The Vanuatu Vet Clinic

Aside from the veterinary stories and the knowledge that we had done something to help animals and communities, we were also left with many fond memories.  New Year’s Eve fireworks and dancing on the waterfront, and giving high-fives out the window of our car to all the locals we passed as we did a New Year’s Day circumnavigation of the island.  There were even not-so-fond memories; 6-inch-long centipedes that seem to travel at lightning speeds across the kitchen floor!

Vanuatu is a beautiful country with beautiful, friendly people.  If you are visiting the country, do consider helping the animals of Vanuatu with a donation of money or supplies to SAM’S. Follow this link to their website:

Sams Animal Welfare Vanuatu | Supporting Animals In Vanuatu

Beautiful Vanuatu!

Thank you for taking the time to read this veterinary story of ours - we hope you enjoyed it and hope you will follow along on our future adventures!

A Life Less Traveled

It all began with an Idea. A Dream of Escaping from the daily grind of exchanging hours for dollars, and the perpetual creep of expenses keeping in lock step with any salary increases. A Dream of being our own keepers, choosing when and where we want to work, on our own terms. And a Dream of a life of freedom to travel and live a life somehow less ordinary, less ‘normal’.

But where to start? How can you escape the rat race?

For us, it began with House and Pet Sitting. We realized we no longer needed to keep paying high rents for a house just for the two of us, if we could find a new form of accommodation. We were offered a farm sit for several weeks, close to the vet clinic where Alison worked, where we could stay for free in exchange for keeping the house and lawns in order, and supervising twenty sheep and twenty goats. We had a marvelous time, and really enjoyed the antics of the baby goats who turned the rocky cliffs into a rural parkour course.

We are both wanderers at heart, not bound by a need for stability or security, instead we are fired up by the thoughts of change, travel and adventure! So we gave notice to our landlord, sold a lot of possessions, and moved a few things in to Graham’s mum’s place so we had a place to stay if we had gaps between accommodation bookings.

We haven’t looked back!

One successful sit and glowing review lead to another, and another, and another…. all based in our home town within commuting distance to Alison’s vet clinic. We learned to reduce the amount of things we carry, learned to adapt to new homes and pets routines, and have a wonderful time caring for cute cats and crazy dogs. Our house sitting has now become our full time accommodation, and we treat our pet and home care as a profession, looking after every animal and every house as if it were our own.

Our story will continue in following blog posts, where we share how we transitioned to a location independent income and lifestyle, where we can travel wherever we have internet.

Subscribe and follow as we share our adventures, and our journey to become full time travellers. We update our newsletter regularly with animal encounters, tips on how you can start house sitting or developing your own location independent life!

Thank you for taking the time to read this house sitting story of ours - we hope you enjoyed it and hope you will follow along on our future adventures!

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