By Goetz Kohlberg - living in Cebu City, Philippines since 2014. Last updated: 10 June 2026. English context Photo Book My first journeys and the early years after moving to the Philippines, collected as a personal photo book. Start 1 / 73 Previous Page Back to About Next Page All Pages Start Photo Book: My first journeys and the early years after moving to the Philippines, collected as a personal photo book. Contents Contents: The book moves from arrival and everyday life in Cebu through family, culture, sports and travels across the Philippines. Page 1 Arrival In Cebu: The opening places the Philippines in Southeast Asia and then zooms into Cebu City, the practical base for the first years after arrival. Page 2 Arrival In Cebu: The opening places the Philippines in Southeast Asia and then zooms into Cebu City, the practical base for the first years after arrival. Page 3 First Views Of The City: The early impressions are about orientation: skyline, sea, hills and the first feeling for how Cebu City sits between coast and mountains. Page 4 First Views Of The City: The early impressions are about orientation: skyline, sea, hills and the first feeling for how Cebu City sits between coast and mountains. Page 6 One Oasis And Mabolo: This spread introduces the first everyday base in Cebu: living in a condo, finding routines and learning the surrounding district step by step. Page 7 One Oasis And Mabolo: This spread introduces the first everyday base in Cebu: living in a condo, finding routines and learning the surrounding district step by step. Page 8 Settling Into Daily Life: The focus shifts from arrival to normal life: apartment, neighborhood, errands and the first practical habits that make the city manageable. Page 9 Settling Into Daily Life: The focus shifts from arrival to normal life: apartment, neighborhood, errands and the first practical habits that make the city manageable. Page 10 Car, Move And Lahug: Mobility becomes part of the story: getting around, changing location and discovering Lahug as another important part of everyday Cebu. Page 11 Car, Move And Lahug: Mobility becomes part of the story: getting around, changing location and discovering Lahug as another important part of everyday Cebu. Page 12 New Routines: These pages continue the transition from visitor to resident: more local routes, more practical decisions and a clearer sense of place. Page 13 New Routines: These pages continue the transition from visitor to resident: more local routes, more practical decisions and a clearer sense of place. Page 14 Living Instead Of Visiting: The narrative moves beyond sightseeing and shows the small details that slowly turn a foreign city into a working home base. Page 15 Living Instead Of Visiting: The narrative moves beyond sightseeing and shows the small details that slowly turn a foreign city into a working home base. Page 16 Family And Province: Family connections and trips outside the city add another layer: the Philippines are not only Cebu City, but also province, relatives and local rhythms. Page 17 Family And Province: Family connections and trips outside the city add another layer: the Philippines are not only Cebu City, but also province, relatives and local rhythms. Page 18 Province Life: This spread keeps the family and province context together, showing a quieter side of the country away from malls, traffic and city routines. Page 19 Province Life: This spread keeps the family and province context together, showing a quieter side of the country away from malls, traffic and city routines. Page 20 Panglao And Bohol: The story turns toward Bohol and Panglao: nearby islands, coastal impressions and the kind of short trips that shape early expat memories. Page 21 Panglao And Bohol: The story turns toward Bohol and Panglao: nearby islands, coastal impressions and the kind of short trips that shape early expat memories. Page 22 Island Time: The paired pages continue the Bohol context with beaches, island landscapes and the relaxed contrast to the faster rhythm of Cebu City. Page 23 Island Time: The paired pages continue the Bohol context with beaches, island landscapes and the relaxed contrast to the faster rhythm of Cebu City. Page 24 Culture And Lechon: Food and local celebrations are part of understanding Cebu. Lechon and shared meals show how culture is often experienced around the table. Page 25 Culture And Lechon: Food and local celebrations are part of understanding Cebu. Lechon and shared meals show how culture is often experienced around the table. Page 26 Free Time And Sport: The book then moves into leisure and sport: keeping active, finding familiar routines and using free time to understand the new environment. Page 27 Free Time And Sport: The book then moves into leisure and sport: keeping active, finding familiar routines and using free time to understand the new environment. Page 28 Everyday Balance: These pages continue the leisure theme and show how normal life abroad is built from small routines, not only from major travel moments. Page 29 Everyday Balance: These pages continue the leisure theme and show how normal life abroad is built from small routines, not only from major travel moments. Page 30 Travelling Through The Philippines: The travel chapter begins with a wider view of the country: different islands, landscapes and routes beyond the first home base in Cebu. Page 31 Travelling Through The Philippines: The travel chapter begins with a wider view of the country: different islands, landscapes and routes beyond the first home base in Cebu. Page 32 On The Road: The journey continues through varied places and transport moments, showing how much of the Philippines is understood by moving between islands and regions. Page 33 On The Road: The journey continues through varied places and transport moments, showing how much of the Philippines is understood by moving between islands and regions. Page 34 More Islands, More Context: These pages keep the wider travel context together: each destination adds another piece to the picture of what life in the Philippines can mean. Page 35 More Islands, More Context: These pages keep the wider travel context together: each destination adds another piece to the picture of what life in the Philippines can mean. Page 36 Between Nature And Cities: The paired pages connect urban impressions with landscapes, making clear that the country is not one single lifestyle or one single pace. Page 37 Between Nature And Cities: The paired pages connect urban impressions with landscapes, making clear that the country is not one single lifestyle or one single pace. Page 38 Travel Memories: This spread closes the broader travel block with personal impressions gathered on the way, before the book turns north to the mountains. Page 39 Travel Memories: This spread closes the broader travel block with personal impressions gathered on the way, before the book turns north to the mountains. Page 40 Banaue, Sagada And Cordillera: The mountain chapter begins in the Cordillera region, where rice terraces, cooler air and long routes contrast strongly with island city life. Page 41 Banaue, Sagada And Cordillera: The mountain chapter begins in the Cordillera region, where rice terraces, cooler air and long routes contrast strongly with island city life. Page 42 Cordillera Landscapes: These pages continue the northern mountain context with scenery, roads and a slower travel rhythm shaped by altitude and distance. Page 43 Cordillera Landscapes: These pages continue the northern mountain context with scenery, roads and a slower travel rhythm shaped by altitude and distance. Page 44 Mountain Villages And Roads: The spread keeps the mountain journey together: places are connected by winding roads, viewpoints and the feeling of being far from the Visayas. Page 45 Mountain Villages And Roads: The spread keeps the mountain journey together: places are connected by winding roads, viewpoints and the feeling of being far from the Visayas. Page 46 Northern Impressions: The Cordillera section closes with a broader impression of northern Luzon, its landscapes and the way travel there feels different from the islands. Page 47 Northern Impressions: The Cordillera section closes with a broader impression of northern Luzon, its landscapes and the way travel there feels different from the islands. Page 48 Pinatubo, Taal And Boracay: This chapter starts with famous destinations and contrasts: volcano landscapes, lake views and the beach image many people associate with the Philippines. Page 49 Pinatubo, Taal And Boracay: This chapter starts with famous destinations and contrasts: volcano landscapes, lake views and the beach image many people associate with the Philippines. Page 50 Volcano Country: The paired pages continue the volcano context, showing how dramatic landscapes and travel logistics often belong together in the Philippines. Page 51 Volcano Country: The paired pages continue the volcano context, showing how dramatic landscapes and travel logistics often belong together in the Philippines. Page 52 Taal And Surroundings: This spread keeps the Taal impressions together: views, water, volcano context and the sense that nature is always close to daily life. Page 53 Taal And Surroundings: This spread keeps the Taal impressions together: views, water, volcano context and the sense that nature is always close to daily life. Page 54 Boracay: The beach chapter highlights Boracay as a different kind of destination: more tourism, more polish and a very recognizable island image. Page 55 Boracay: The beach chapter highlights Boracay as a different kind of destination: more tourism, more polish and a very recognizable island image. Page 56 Beach And Travel Contrast: These pages continue the contrast between postcard scenery and the practical reality of travelling, arriving and finding your own pace. Page 57 Beach And Travel Contrast: These pages continue the contrast between postcard scenery and the practical reality of travelling, arriving and finding your own pace. Page 58 Leaving The Travel Block: The section closes the Luzon and Boracay travel memories before returning to places closer to Cebu and Bohol. Page 59 Leaving The Travel Block: The section closes the Luzon and Boracay travel memories before returning to places closer to Cebu and Bohol. Page 60 Cebu, Bohol And Waterfalls: The final larger travel block returns to familiar ground: Cebu, Bohol and waterfalls, places that are easier to revisit from a Cebu base. Page 61 Cebu, Bohol And Waterfalls: The final larger travel block returns to familiar ground: Cebu, Bohol and waterfalls, places that are easier to revisit from a Cebu base. Page 62 Waterfalls And Day Trips: These pages keep the day-trip context together: nature, water and reachable escapes that balance the routines of city life. Page 63 Waterfalls And Day Trips: These pages keep the day-trip context together: nature, water and reachable escapes that balance the routines of city life. Page 64 Cebu Nature: The spread continues the Cebu nature chapter, showing how quickly the island can shift from urban density to green routes and water. Page 65 Cebu Nature: The spread continues the Cebu nature chapter, showing how quickly the island can shift from urban density to green routes and water. Page 66 Bohol Again: The Bohol context returns with landscapes and island memories that connect family, travel and repeated visits over the early years. Page 67 Bohol Again: The Bohol context returns with landscapes and island memories that connect family, travel and repeated visits over the early years. Page 68 Last Island Impressions: These pages collect late travel impressions and keep the final memories connected before the book moves toward its closing pages. Page 69 Last Island Impressions: These pages collect late travel impressions and keep the final memories connected before the book moves toward its closing pages. Page 70 Looking Back: The final paired pages look back across the first years: arrival, adjustment, travel, family and the everyday reality behind the photos. Page 71 Looking Back: The final paired pages look back across the first years: arrival, adjustment, travel, family and the everyday reality behind the photos. Page 72 End: The book closes as a personal record of the first years in the Philippines and the experiences that shaped the later work on this website.
English context Photo Book My first journeys and the early years after moving to the Philippines, collected as a personal photo book. Start 1 / 73 Previous Page Back to About Next Page All Pages Start Photo Book: My first journeys and the early years after moving to the Philippines, collected as a personal photo book. Contents Contents: The book moves from arrival and everyday life in Cebu through family, culture, sports and travels across the Philippines. Page 1 Arrival In Cebu: The opening places the Philippines in Southeast Asia and then zooms into Cebu City, the practical base for the first years after arrival. Page 2 Arrival In Cebu: The opening places the Philippines in Southeast Asia and then zooms into Cebu City, the practical base for the first years after arrival. Page 3 First Views Of The City: The early impressions are about orientation: skyline, sea, hills and the first feeling for how Cebu City sits between coast and mountains. Page 4 First Views Of The City: The early impressions are about orientation: skyline, sea, hills and the first feeling for how Cebu City sits between coast and mountains. Page 6 One Oasis And Mabolo: This spread introduces the first everyday base in Cebu: living in a condo, finding routines and learning the surrounding district step by step. Page 7 One Oasis And Mabolo: This spread introduces the first everyday base in Cebu: living in a condo, finding routines and learning the surrounding district step by step. Page 8 Settling Into Daily Life: The focus shifts from arrival to normal life: apartment, neighborhood, errands and the first practical habits that make the city manageable. Page 9 Settling Into Daily Life: The focus shifts from arrival to normal life: apartment, neighborhood, errands and the first practical habits that make the city manageable. Page 10 Car, Move And Lahug: Mobility becomes part of the story: getting around, changing location and discovering Lahug as another important part of everyday Cebu. Page 11 Car, Move And Lahug: Mobility becomes part of the story: getting around, changing location and discovering Lahug as another important part of everyday Cebu. Page 12 New Routines: These pages continue the transition from visitor to resident: more local routes, more practical decisions and a clearer sense of place. Page 13 New Routines: These pages continue the transition from visitor to resident: more local routes, more practical decisions and a clearer sense of place. Page 14 Living Instead Of Visiting: The narrative moves beyond sightseeing and shows the small details that slowly turn a foreign city into a working home base. Page 15 Living Instead Of Visiting: The narrative moves beyond sightseeing and shows the small details that slowly turn a foreign city into a working home base. Page 16 Family And Province: Family connections and trips outside the city add another layer: the Philippines are not only Cebu City, but also province, relatives and local rhythms. Page 17 Family And Province: Family connections and trips outside the city add another layer: the Philippines are not only Cebu City, but also province, relatives and local rhythms. Page 18 Province Life: This spread keeps the family and province context together, showing a quieter side of the country away from malls, traffic and city routines. Page 19 Province Life: This spread keeps the family and province context together, showing a quieter side of the country away from malls, traffic and city routines. Page 20 Panglao And Bohol: The story turns toward Bohol and Panglao: nearby islands, coastal impressions and the kind of short trips that shape early expat memories. Page 21 Panglao And Bohol: The story turns toward Bohol and Panglao: nearby islands, coastal impressions and the kind of short trips that shape early expat memories. Page 22 Island Time: The paired pages continue the Bohol context with beaches, island landscapes and the relaxed contrast to the faster rhythm of Cebu City. Page 23 Island Time: The paired pages continue the Bohol context with beaches, island landscapes and the relaxed contrast to the faster rhythm of Cebu City. Page 24 Culture And Lechon: Food and local celebrations are part of understanding Cebu. Lechon and shared meals show how culture is often experienced around the table. Page 25 Culture And Lechon: Food and local celebrations are part of understanding Cebu. Lechon and shared meals show how culture is often experienced around the table. Page 26 Free Time And Sport: The book then moves into leisure and sport: keeping active, finding familiar routines and using free time to understand the new environment. Page 27 Free Time And Sport: The book then moves into leisure and sport: keeping active, finding familiar routines and using free time to understand the new environment. Page 28 Everyday Balance: These pages continue the leisure theme and show how normal life abroad is built from small routines, not only from major travel moments. Page 29 Everyday Balance: These pages continue the leisure theme and show how normal life abroad is built from small routines, not only from major travel moments. Page 30 Travelling Through The Philippines: The travel chapter begins with a wider view of the country: different islands, landscapes and routes beyond the first home base in Cebu. Page 31 Travelling Through The Philippines: The travel chapter begins with a wider view of the country: different islands, landscapes and routes beyond the first home base in Cebu. Page 32 On The Road: The journey continues through varied places and transport moments, showing how much of the Philippines is understood by moving between islands and regions. Page 33 On The Road: The journey continues through varied places and transport moments, showing how much of the Philippines is understood by moving between islands and regions. Page 34 More Islands, More Context: These pages keep the wider travel context together: each destination adds another piece to the picture of what life in the Philippines can mean. Page 35 More Islands, More Context: These pages keep the wider travel context together: each destination adds another piece to the picture of what life in the Philippines can mean. Page 36 Between Nature And Cities: The paired pages connect urban impressions with landscapes, making clear that the country is not one single lifestyle or one single pace. Page 37 Between Nature And Cities: The paired pages connect urban impressions with landscapes, making clear that the country is not one single lifestyle or one single pace. Page 38 Travel Memories: This spread closes the broader travel block with personal impressions gathered on the way, before the book turns north to the mountains. Page 39 Travel Memories: This spread closes the broader travel block with personal impressions gathered on the way, before the book turns north to the mountains. Page 40 Banaue, Sagada And Cordillera: The mountain chapter begins in the Cordillera region, where rice terraces, cooler air and long routes contrast strongly with island city life. Page 41 Banaue, Sagada And Cordillera: The mountain chapter begins in the Cordillera region, where rice terraces, cooler air and long routes contrast strongly with island city life. Page 42 Cordillera Landscapes: These pages continue the northern mountain context with scenery, roads and a slower travel rhythm shaped by altitude and distance. Page 43 Cordillera Landscapes: These pages continue the northern mountain context with scenery, roads and a slower travel rhythm shaped by altitude and distance. Page 44 Mountain Villages And Roads: The spread keeps the mountain journey together: places are connected by winding roads, viewpoints and the feeling of being far from the Visayas. Page 45 Mountain Villages And Roads: The spread keeps the mountain journey together: places are connected by winding roads, viewpoints and the feeling of being far from the Visayas. Page 46 Northern Impressions: The Cordillera section closes with a broader impression of northern Luzon, its landscapes and the way travel there feels different from the islands. Page 47 Northern Impressions: The Cordillera section closes with a broader impression of northern Luzon, its landscapes and the way travel there feels different from the islands. Page 48 Pinatubo, Taal And Boracay: This chapter starts with famous destinations and contrasts: volcano landscapes, lake views and the beach image many people associate with the Philippines. Page 49 Pinatubo, Taal And Boracay: This chapter starts with famous destinations and contrasts: volcano landscapes, lake views and the beach image many people associate with the Philippines. Page 50 Volcano Country: The paired pages continue the volcano context, showing how dramatic landscapes and travel logistics often belong together in the Philippines. Page 51 Volcano Country: The paired pages continue the volcano context, showing how dramatic landscapes and travel logistics often belong together in the Philippines. Page 52 Taal And Surroundings: This spread keeps the Taal impressions together: views, water, volcano context and the sense that nature is always close to daily life. Page 53 Taal And Surroundings: This spread keeps the Taal impressions together: views, water, volcano context and the sense that nature is always close to daily life. Page 54 Boracay: The beach chapter highlights Boracay as a different kind of destination: more tourism, more polish and a very recognizable island image. Page 55 Boracay: The beach chapter highlights Boracay as a different kind of destination: more tourism, more polish and a very recognizable island image. Page 56 Beach And Travel Contrast: These pages continue the contrast between postcard scenery and the practical reality of travelling, arriving and finding your own pace. Page 57 Beach And Travel Contrast: These pages continue the contrast between postcard scenery and the practical reality of travelling, arriving and finding your own pace. Page 58 Leaving The Travel Block: The section closes the Luzon and Boracay travel memories before returning to places closer to Cebu and Bohol. Page 59 Leaving The Travel Block: The section closes the Luzon and Boracay travel memories before returning to places closer to Cebu and Bohol. Page 60 Cebu, Bohol And Waterfalls: The final larger travel block returns to familiar ground: Cebu, Bohol and waterfalls, places that are easier to revisit from a Cebu base. Page 61 Cebu, Bohol And Waterfalls: The final larger travel block returns to familiar ground: Cebu, Bohol and waterfalls, places that are easier to revisit from a Cebu base. Page 62 Waterfalls And Day Trips: These pages keep the day-trip context together: nature, water and reachable escapes that balance the routines of city life. Page 63 Waterfalls And Day Trips: These pages keep the day-trip context together: nature, water and reachable escapes that balance the routines of city life. Page 64 Cebu Nature: The spread continues the Cebu nature chapter, showing how quickly the island can shift from urban density to green routes and water. Page 65 Cebu Nature: The spread continues the Cebu nature chapter, showing how quickly the island can shift from urban density to green routes and water. Page 66 Bohol Again: The Bohol context returns with landscapes and island memories that connect family, travel and repeated visits over the early years. Page 67 Bohol Again: The Bohol context returns with landscapes and island memories that connect family, travel and repeated visits over the early years. Page 68 Last Island Impressions: These pages collect late travel impressions and keep the final memories connected before the book moves toward its closing pages. Page 69 Last Island Impressions: These pages collect late travel impressions and keep the final memories connected before the book moves toward its closing pages. Page 70 Looking Back: The final paired pages look back across the first years: arrival, adjustment, travel, family and the everyday reality behind the photos. Page 71 Looking Back: The final paired pages look back across the first years: arrival, adjustment, travel, family and the everyday reality behind the photos. Page 72 End: The book closes as a personal record of the first years in the Philippines and the experiences that shaped the later work on this website.
