Who are the Two Monkeys Travel Group?
Find out all about us Two Monkeys and our team, who we are, what we’re all about, why we started this blog, and more.
Two Monkeys Travel Group, founded by Kach Medina Umandap, is the original travel blog dedicated to Filipino digital nomads. As one of the pioneers in the Filipino travel blogging community, Kach has been inspiring and empowering others since 2013. Through her experiences and insights, she helps remote Filipino workers achieve their dreams of traveling the world while working online.
Meet our Founder
Kach Medina Umandap
Photographer, Wanderer, Blogger
As one of the pioneers in Filipino travel blogging, Kach made the bold decision to leave behind the traditional nine-to-five career and forge her own path. Her journey began in 2013 when she quit her job to backpack through Asia, sparking her passion for a nomadic lifestyle. From there, she traveled extensively, exploring one country after another.
In 2025, after 12 years of traveling, Kach achieved an extraordinary milestone: visiting all 193 UN-recognized countries plus 2 observer states (195/195) using only a Philippine passport. This accomplishment makes her the first woman from a developing nation to achieve this feat, proving that dreams are possible no matter where you come from.
Kach is now focused on empowering Filipino digital nomads through her blog, Two Monkeys Travel Group, where she shares resources, tips, and her personal journey to inspire others to embrace remote work and explore the world. If you’re interested in collaborating with her, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
The Two Monkeys Travel Group Team
Our blog is led by Kach Medina Umandap, an experienced Filipino digital nomad who has traveled to all 195 countries using only her Philippine passport. With her unmatched expertise, Kach personally writes the majority of the articles, sharing her firsthand experiences and insights.
Occasionally joined by guest contributors, including vetted digital nomads, house sitters, and world explorers, the team ensures that every piece of advice, tip, and story comes from real-life experience. From destinations to remote work opportunities, everything we share is tried, tested, and grounded in authentic knowledge.
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About Kach
How old are you?
Kach —> born in 1988
How do you pronounce "Kach"?
It sounds like “catch” =)
Can I travel with my Philippine Passport?
Yes, I’ve been traveling full-time since 2013 using my Philippine passport, and in January 2025, I achieved the incredible milestone of visiting all 195 countries. I’m here to help you with your visa needs!
Where are you from?
Laguna, Philippines
What passports do you have?
It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s absolutely possible. You can find tips and insights for Filipino digital nomads on my blog.
How do you fund your travels?
I started my journey with my own savings and then began teaching English in Vietnam, where I was able to save almost $12,000.
Volunteering has also been a big part of my story. I worked as a waitress, hostel cleaner, and cook while investing in my Tantra Yoga certification and Ayurveda massage therapy in India. After getting certified, I practiced and made a living from it while traveling.
In 2014, I decided to take a leap and started my own travel blog, Two Monkeys Travel Group, which has since become my main source of income and a way to inspire other Filipino travelers!
What were you doing before travelling?
I worked as an OFW in the Middle East, specializing in Admin and Quality Assurance roles in Kuwait and Kurdistan, Iraq.
In 2014, I made the bold decision to quit my job to travel the world. You can read the article I wrote about my journey and why I took that leap.
How many countries / territories have you been to?
When did you start travel blogging?
I first came up with the idea for my blog in May 2014, and by the last week of October 2014, it officially launched!
Since then, it’s become a platform to inspire and empower other Filipino digital nomads. I’ve also written a book packed with tips and insights to help you start your own journey as a Filipino digital nomad—don’t miss it!
How did you managed your finances down the road?
How do you apply for visas if they are required for Philippine Passport?
I usually apply for visas at the embassy of the country I’m traveling to. My process starts with checking the country’s official foreign affairs website to understand the requirements. Then, I visit the embassy with all the necessary documents. Interestingly, I’ve never applied for visas in the Philippines.
Here are some of the tourist visas I’ve successfully obtained abroad:
- USA Tourist Visa
- Multiple Entry Schengen Visa
- Schengen Visa Remonstrance Process
- Japan Visa
- Tips for Traveling to Visa-Free Countries
…and so much more! Dive into the blog to find all the details and tips you need. 😊
We want to know more about you.
I’m Kach Umandap, a Filipina from Laguna with a passion for travel and inspiring others. Since 2013, I’ve been traveling full-time with my Philippine passport, and in January 2025, I became the youngest Filipino and first Filipina to visit all 195 UN-recognized countries.
I share my journey, tips, and advice on my blog, Two Monkeys Travel Group, to help fellow Filipinos achieve their digital nomad dreams. You can also read our media features and watch my latest interview to learn more about my story. 🌏✨
Frequently Asked Questions
How to start a travel blog?
How to make money from travel blogging?
If you’re just starting a blog, here are my tips on how you can start making money.
If you’re already blogging and want to take it to the next level, read my article on how these bloggers earn more than 5,000USD per month! Some are even earning more than $25,000 per month! Yup, per MONTH. =)
Can I travel with my Philippine Passport?
How can I apply for a tourist visa?
For Filipinos, do I need a return flight ticket to the Philippine when I travel long term?
If you’re already based abroad, you will only be required an onward flight ticket and not necessarily a ticket back to the Philippines. This is based on my personal experience, I left the Philippines in 2013 and only returned on 2017 after visiting 100 (as of December 2017).
However, if you will begin your journey from Manila or Cebu then the immigration official will ask you to provide a return flight to the Philippines. Long-term travel is not yet a common thing in the Philippines.
How can I become a backpacker?
Get a backpack, travel on a minimal cost and stay in a cheap backpackers hostels.
What's the best route to travel around South East Asia?
There are different routes but I usually suggest our readers (who are first-timers) to start in Thailand then follow the “pancake trail” – Here’s our complete itinerary guide on how you can do it!
What camera do you use on your travels?
My iphone!
What's the easiest and cheapest way to go to South America from Manila?
We wrote 5 different routes here for you guys, you have to consider your budget and the visa. Here you go. =)
Can I really make money from teaching English?
Yes, we were teaching in Vietnam last 2013. I’m a Filipino citizen but my first salary was $17 per class but when I left in 2014, I was getting paid $25 per hour. My degree is not even teaching and I didn’t have experience.
However, you need to get a TEFL certificate (usually 120 hours is the requirements, read my personal TEFL experience here.
Who is the other monkey?
Kach is one of the “monkeys” behind Two Monkeys Travel Group, exploring the world and sharing her journey as an avid traveler. Her business partner, the other “monkey,” prefers to stay behind the scenes, but she’s just as passionate about travel. Together, they create the ultimate travel resource—one monkey front and center, the other keeping things running smoothly in the background! 