Philippines

The Philippines in 2016 was island-hopping, cheap buses and some of the friendliest people I've met anywhere. Vendors climb onto the buses selling bagged snacks and crackers, and everyone wants to know where you're from and whether you like basketball. Manila was hot and huge, with a skyline that turns pink in the evening.

The islands are where it gets unreal. I climbed limestone waterfalls in the jungle, the kind of blue-green water that doesn't look like it should exist, and sat by a bonfire of palm fronds on the beach at night. With more than 7,000 islands, every boat ride takes you to another version of paradise. The food was simple and good, the sunsets were stupid, and I left planning a much longer trip that I still haven't taken.