Go Away: To The Philippines – Edinburgh Style

Eddie Brock and Jack Foottit met waiting tables in an Edinburgh restaurant six years ago. Fed up working for the man, they put their heads and their disparate talents together and are now the directors of a bespoke travel outfit dealing in trips to paradise. Tao Philippines offer boat tours that explore the most remote islands between El Nido and Coron in Northern Palawan. They are a responsible company who support the villages they visit, building schools, employing teachers and strengthening communities along the way.

For five days your home is a Bangka boat and you make your bed on a different beach each night. There is no strict itinerary, as the route is dependent on the weather and currents at any one time. Tao’s one guarantee to you is the unfolding of a unique trip that will have you visiting landscapes rarely witnessed by other tourists.
Days are a haze of snorkelling, exploring magical spots such as the Secret Lagoon and Hidden Beach, fishing and chilling out on deck. Evenings are centred around a fire, drinking Tanduay rum with your new friends and savouring yet another incredible meal, prepared and cooked onboard.

So take a look around your workplace – could one of your colleagues be your future business partner and ticket out of here? Or are they the friend who will accompany you on a short jaunt to paradise? [Janet McInnes]