Get to know Kach Umandap, the Filipina who visited 195 countries with PH passport

During her four years in the Middle East, Umandap held diverse roles, including customer service, quality assurance, and serving as secretary to a deputy general manager in both a dental clinic and an oil company.

She eventually decided to quit her corporate life to go on a backpacking trip in 2013. While she admitted being worried at first about letting go of a stable income, she shared she didn’t worry about her career. 

“Hindi ako nag-alanganin na mawawalan na ko ng career or what, kasi nung nag-resign ako sa trabaho ko, alam ko na na meron ako certification at meron akong network,” she said, adding, “If all else fails, babalik ako sa Pilipinas, mag-aaral ako sa law school.”

The content creator first visited Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam—also known as the “banana pancake trail”—and Singapore.  

“And then after I finished the pancake trail, dumiretso naman ako sa India, nag travel ako don ng 3 months, and after that, South America. Lahat lang ng pinupuntahan ko ‘yung mga visa-free countries,” she said.  

Although visiting every country wasn't her original intention, she's driven by a strong desire to travel extensively and experience the world.

Traveling while thriving 

Umandap took a risk to travel the world with her savings, but thanks to her strategic mind, she was able to save more by doing volunteer work in exchange for free food and accommodation. 

“Sa abroad may mga backpacker’s hostel...Halimbawa, $10 or P500 pesos a night pero dahil nga gusto ko makatipid nag volunteer ako. Pero bawal ka kasi magtrabaho kapag naka tourist visa ka, so nagvo-volunteer ako [for] two hours to three hours.  

She has volunteered her time in various ways, including working as a receptionist in exchange for a place to stay and assisting in restaurants in exchange for free meals.

She also taught English and yoga and studied to become an Ayurveda massage therapist in India and Peru.  

Umandap continued with traveling by volunteering, hitchhiking, and couch surfing until she entered the world of blogging.
 

“Doon nag change na ‘yung priority ko,” she said. “[Sa] blogging, nakakuha na ko ng mga libreng hotel in exchange for photo...Ngayon kailangan ko na lang ng pera pang ‘show money’ sa mga visa,” she told L!fe.

She started her blogging site, Two Monkeys Travel Group in 2014 where she gives guides on all things travel. Her blog covers a wide range of topics, from essential tips for first-time travelers to detailed travel guides for specific destinations, and also offers valuable advice for aspiring travel bloggers.

She has also established businesses such as FilipinoPassport.com where she assists travelers in getting tourist visas. Umandap also has a travel agency, Travel with Kach, where she provides tours in underrated destinations like Morocco, Balkans, and Mongolia. She also plans to conduct tours in North Korea and Antarctica.

At age 29, Umandap has visited 100 countries and seven continents. “Sabi ko, ‘Wow doable,’ and ayon na, before I turn 30, sabi ko sa sarili ko, iikutin ko at bibisitahin ko ang lahat ng bansa sa mundo,” she said. 

Umandap shared that she would take a break for two months to save up for her show money and secure the necessary visas. This proved to be a wise decision, as she soon began collaborating with international tourism boards. These partnerships provided her with incredible opportunities, including complimentary hotel stays and exciting tours in exchange for promoting their destinations. Additionally, airlines began to recognize her influence and extended sponsorship offers.

“Wala akong permanent na bahay. Ang diskarte palagi ay, bago ako makakuha ng tourist visa kailangan ko muna ng show money, so for 12 years, ayun lang iniisip ko sa buhay,” she said with a laugh. 

Fulfillment in traveling

Some of her memorable trips were her visit to Antarctica where she said she was among the first ones to ride the iron ore train, her train trip from China to North Korea, her sailboat trip to the Caribbean where she got to visit different islands that are not that easy to travel to. 

For Umandap, getting that stamp is the most fulfilling feeling after the rigorous preparation for a trip.

“After that, everything is a bonus na. You can do whatever na,” she said, adding that gaining friends was also among the achievements she had in her trips. “Sa lahat ng byahe ko, ang talagang proud lang ako ay [‘yung] dami ng naging kaibigan at network ko sa lahat ng bansang napuntahan ko.” 

Like any other situation, traveling is not all rainbows and butterflies; Umandap admitted that she faced a lot of challenges on her trips, like visa application, but what struck her the most was getting into an accident in Pakistan in 2019, which left her unable to walk for three months.  

“Do’n ko na-realize na talagang mas pahalagahan ko ’yung buhay ko, na hindi ko na ilalagay ‘yung sarili ko sa dangerous na situation,” she said. “Mas naging careful na ko.”

Paving the way for aspiring Filipino travelers 

Umandap aims more than just traveling, she also wants to empower the youth by giving talks in schools to help them understand that there are other ways to travel the world. 

“I wanna educate them na it's another kind of career na hindi nag-e-exist nu’ng araw. ‘Di ba kapag sinabi mong gusto mong mag travel to every country in the world, [kailangan mong maging] flight attendant, piloto, o mag work ka sa cruise ship. Pero ngayon, I want them to know that there's an alternative career. You can be a digital nomad,” she said.  

Umandap added that you need three things: time, money, and good health. Afterwards, invest in digital skills.  

“How can you do that kung limited ka sa isang lugar? I recommend the younger generation to learn digital skills, how to edit videos, how to use AI, how to write articles, learn how to use social media because even though you don't like to be an influencer or content creator, maybe you can work for content creators like us,” she said, adding that being equipped with digital skills allows people to work anytime and anywhere. 

“Learn skills habang bata pa,” she continued. “Then eventually you can start your own company. You can start your own business, or you can become an influencer,” she said. 

Empowerment through traveling

With her unwavering passion to learn and explore more, Umandap is empowered through traveling.

“Traveling is empowering because after you travel to one place you feel satisfied, iba ‘yung bilib sa sarili mo, it boosts your confidence, eh,” the entrepreneur said. 

“Traveling also judges your decision-making skills. If you are fulfilled with the way you traveled you feel like, parang wow ‘yung decision mo is good. And then after that, you make good decisions now in your day-to-day life,” she continued.  “Tapos kung hindi naman good, you'll learn a very critical lesson na you don't want to experience it again.” 

What’s next for Umandap? She is now set to visit all 82 provinces in the Philippines. 

“Kung inabot ako ng 12 years sa pag travel sa buong mundo, siguro another 12 years to travel every province in the Philippines,” she said.