The Boho Chic Wanderer

Cebu: Queen City of What Now?

2010-10-16T02:28:00.001-07:00

The first time that I went to Cebu, it was just a short two-day visit. I was not satisfied because the trip was like an overnight stay in Cebu only and then we headed to Bohol. So last week, I headed to Cebu for a 4-day vacation and enjoy the city at a slow pace.

It was a mistake for me that during this four days, I did not go to its outskirts where the beautiful islands are, or as they say, where the paradise is. I stayed in the main city and got easily bored with the scenery. I cannot really relate or enjoy the talks with people there, because they seem so proud of their local roots that they appear arrogant to tourists, especially to those coming from Manila. It was very different from Bohol indeed.

With these four days, I went to visit the ever famous Magellan’s Cross and the churches (Cebu Cathedral and Basilica Minor del Santo Nino), Fort San Pedro, tops, taoist museum and Crown Regency Hotel’s sky adventure (sky walk and edge coaster). I did try eating at the barbecue place, where I enjoyed the most; even better that Crown Regency’s buffet. I did not go to museums as I believe (and even Paulo Coelho) that I will not learn anything from it. It’s best to explore local culture by interacting with them rather than looking into the old photos and relics.

For a traveler who’s dying to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, I suggest to avoid the city of Cebu at all cost. Cebu city is far from a peaceful town or small city because for me, it is even nightmare! I have travelled to different Metropolitan cities and I can say that Cebu is even worse than Manila or Quiapo. What’s even an eyesore are the local women in the constant look for foreign husband and vice versa.

With all due respect, I do not generalize that all foreign tourists go to Cebu to look for Filipina bride but based on my observation, it’s almost like most of them are there looking for wives and girlfriends, and not just for a simple travel leisure. From an outsider’s point of view, this can have a negative implication or that it can give Cebu a negative image. This has given me negative vibes on Cebu, specifically Mandaue City. It’s like the Philippines and Cebu specifically, has become the queen city for Filipina dating or for Filipina girls wanting to marry Westerners. In my opinion, this is just absurd and pathetic.

I have yet to discover the islands of Mactan, Bantayan and Malapascua. I am sure that the next time I will go back to Cebu, I will head straight to these islands. And I almost feel it now that the next time I go there, it will be a different experience. I am excited now with my future trip, so that I could write something nicer about Cebu.

Till we meet again Cebu…

XOXO

The 10 Best of Everything

2010-10-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

For travelers, photographers, writers and lover of life! Here’s a book that features the best of everything.

This deluxe, entertaining dream guide showcases the experience and savoir-faire of such luminaries as Prince Charles on architecture, Arnold Palmer on favorite golf courses, Luciano Pavarotti on opera houses, and Baron Philip de Rothschild on the best vintages. Scores of experts name the 10 best islands, poshest pubs and polo clubs, best things to do on Sundays afternoons in the world's best cities, and a treasure trove of musts for the high-end traveler or anyone who aspires to be.

The new Grand Tour includes 20 classic adventures, all experienced by the veteran travelers, with lush and enticing journeys to the Amalfi Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Shanghai, the Greek Isles, Antarctica, and more.

Studded with colorful illustrations, cosmopolitan sidebars, and savvy tips, as well as a wealth of options for getting there via land, sea, or air, this elegant and sophisticated book will awaken yearnings for exotic travel in readers everywhere.

Singapore is a FINE city

2010-09-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, there are many people going to Singapore. This is especially true among Filipinos. Many are tourists and there are also those who go there to find work. The good business environment of the place makes it attractive for job seekers from all over the world. This makes Singapore as a fine city. The discipline of people and the penalties there make it a “fine” city. On the brighter side, this makes Singapore highly systematic and literally squeaky clean in all parts.

For people in Southeast Asia, going to Singapore is easy because it does not require any visa. The cheap airfare or travel packages allow them to go back and forth to the city. Singapore is only a small city. You can tour the place in one day. To experience it fully, you can stay there for a week you will be able to explore most what is there.

When I went to Singapore, Universal Studios is not yet there. Today, this is already one of the main attractions. Visiting Singapore means going to the Sentosa, which is an man-man island resort. It offers a wide-range of tourist activities and facilities. It has gold courses, beaches and hotels. As a matter of fact, the Universal Studios is also housed in here. What I love most in this city is the ‘Songs of the Sea’ or the laser show set at the sea and the Sentosa Luge or the three-wheel cart.

For the shopaholics, they would also enjoy the city as it offers luxury boutiques like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and many more. People here are known for their expensive tastes thus making the stores of luxury goods profitable. The city is packed with malls. Even train stations are connected to malls or shops where people can buy just about anything.

I succeed going to Singapore without signing up to any travel deals or travel packages. As I have mentioned earlier, the city is just small that you will not be lost. Plus, they have one of the most efficient transportation system in the world. Their train can reach various parts of Singapore. And in case of you are not confident with the train, you can always go by the taxi.

Singapore is fine!

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Breathtaking Bohol

2010-09-27T07:40:00.001-07:00

Bohol is one of the places here in the Philippines where both tourists and travelers can enjoy. Unlike other places, it offers almost everything. It has pristine beaches, caves, churches, historic sites, wildlife, extreme sports adventure, the tarsier and the uniquely chocolate hills. For tourists, they will enjoy on the wide range of places to see and things to do. It is undeniable that the attractions are unlimited that on the case of travelers, they can really explore the island and learn more about it – the places, people, culture and its flora and fauna.

The island of Bohol, very cliché as it may sound, is paradise. I have been to the many beaches in Philippines and abroad but I must tell you that the beach in Bohol is one of a kind. It has one of the finest sands that I know. Many places may offer spectacular sceneries or beautiful backdrop of the sunset but Bohol is different. The overall view may be mediocre but the white and very fine sand of the island is something one of a kind. It makes you just want to lay down there all day and night long. Honestly, me and my brother stayed at the beach from morning until 9pm at night. We just can’t get enough of the beach!

You will not be short when it comes to beaches in Bohol. And all of these beaches have unique beauty. Different water sports/activities are also here. There are diving and surfing spots in Bohol also. You can hire boatmen who can take you to the spots where you can watch whales and dolphins play.

Among the unique things in Bohol that one must not miss is its chocolate hills, tarsier, floating restaurant and the mahogany forest. The hills in Bohol, which is brown in color during the summer, is a major tourist attraction in the province. Experts say that there are thousands of hills in number. So you can just imagine!

Tarsiers are another must-see in Bohol. They are endangered species which are found in different parts of Southeast Asia. Here is Philippines, they can famously found in Bohol as well as in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao. They are locally known as Maumag and they belong to the family of Tarsiidae. On the way to the viewing deck of the chocolate hills, you will pass a beautiful forest also known as the Mahogany Forest. While it is a man-made forest, you cannot deny of its innate beauty. A butterfly sanctuary is also near the place.

The floating restaurant is an added attraction in Bohol. If you want to have a more exciting lunch, you can go on board the buffet boat and cruise the Loboc River for an hour, accompanied by a band. And if you are lucky, you may also witness the heavenly voice of the Loboc Children’s Choir.

You can also put on your list of places to visit the churches, museums and historic sites.

If you are into extreme sports, Bohol has spots dedicated for extreme adventures also. This is one thing I was not able to do in Bohol that’s why I promised myself to go back to this island. We only stayed for three days and it was not enough. We enjoyed Bohol so much that three days would not be enough. My advise, spend at least a week or more.

Technorati Tags: bohol philippines,last minute travel deals,budget travel,travel package,bohol resorts,bohol beach club,bohol beach resorts,bohol hotels

Quezon Province Adventure: Puting Buhangin Beach and Kwebang Lampas

2010-09-09T21:06:00.001-07:00

The Quezon province has one many good beaches in the Philippines. As I explored this place, I decided to go to one of their beaches known as “Puting Buhangin”. It was good choice for me to go for Kwebang Lampas since I was able to hike and visit a cave also. Before reaching the Puting Buhangin beach, you have to cross a river and hike. And on the side of the beach, there is a small cave named as Kwebang Lampas.

The beach was really excellent. Surfers would definitely enjoy this place because of the big waves. As a matter of fact, the strong waves has prevented me from really spelunking. Before we reached the beach, we passed through a body of water with really really strong waves. I believe it is dangerous to surf there because of the huge rocks on the water. But seeing the waves and the thundering sounds of the splash of the water is an amazing feeling.

Going to this beach, we rented a van from Manila already. This is to avoid all the hassles of going through various modes of transportation, especially that we are going home late. We are afraid that we might not catch public vehicles going home.

But if you plan to go by public transportation, you can ride a bus from Cubao going to Lucena. You need to get off at the Grand Central Terminal of Lucena and from there, you can take jeepneys and vans going to Pagbilao. So, there you go, enjoy the beach!

Here are your guide books in travelling Philippines:

Technorati Tags: quezon,quezon province beach,pagbilao,puting buhangin,kwebang lampas

Living the NOW

2010-09-04T06:17:00.001-07:00

Here’s a little inspiration to help you live your life to the fullest. There's nothing to do with a life but live it. As Gandhi pointed out, "Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."

Technorati Tags: life quotes,live life,how to live life,goal setting,how to be happy in life,thebohochicwanderer.blogspot.com

100 Things to Experience Before You Die

2010-09-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

So I got this list of things to do before you die on the Matador Network (matadorlife.com). It was written by Nick Rowlands and I find it interesting and inspiring. Because of this, I have to post it here.

The author said that this is the bucket list that will end all bucket lists. I agree. I also believe that even if I will not do all of those that are in the list, I will still be fulfilled. So here you go. Enjoy reading and I hope you can consider this list on your own bucket list.

1. Visit Socotra island off the coast of Yemen, which is an international biosphere reserve, and has been called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. Home to dragon blood, frankincense and myrrh, and both Thomas the Apostle and Sinbad the Sailor are said to have visited.

2. Try WWOOF-ing in Australia. This isn’t about communing with dogs, but trading your labor for board and lodging as a Willing Worker On an Organic Farm.

3. Go to Iceland: glaciers, volcanoes, whale watching and the Northern Lights. ‘Nuff said.

4. Visit Syria and travel into the desert to experience Palmyra, one of the lesser known ruins of the world.

5. See the world’s tiny nations and micro-nations. Once you’ve got the biggies under your belt, it’s time to check the dots on the map. Some are legit countries, some less so… which makes them all the more compelling.

6. Drive the Karakoram Highway in Pakistan, one of the highest roads in the world, or hit another of the spectacular roads in the world.

7. Go skinny dipping at least once in your life. Whether it’s alone in the hotel pool at night, with a bunch of mates off a Greek beach, in hot springs or a cold lake, that liberating feeling of letting it all hang free is incredible. But remember, guys, cold water won’t do you any favors!

8. Get your hips moving at Rio Carnaval, or swing over to an alternative carnaval destination in the region. By far and away the wildest, not to mention trippiest, looks like Boi Bumba in the Amazon.

9. Travel to outer space, the ultimate item on every traveler’s bucket list. And here’s the thing: a handful of space tourists have already been, though you need around $20 million + to do so. Here’s hoping prices come down a little soon, and someone works out a good carbon offset scheme.

10. Go penguin watching in Chile, or at other prime spots in the Southern Hemisphere.

11. Lose yourself in Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat. Alternatively, scope out some of the other most alien landscapes on Earth.

12. Head to Angel Falls in Venezuela, the highest waterfall in the world. Then, ignoring the advice of TLC, dogo chasing waterfalls – the more spectacular the better. (And don’t even try to pretend you don’t know which song I’m talking about!)

13. Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It may be a bucket list cliche but is certainly no walk in the park, and must rate as one of the most iconic walks in the world.

14. Crash the night in the Jumbo Jet Hostel in Sweden, or stay a while in another of the world’s most whacked out hotels – such as one totally built from ice, or one which is entirely underwater. I once stayed in Luke Skywalker’s house in Matmata, Tunisia, which was pretty cool.

15. Explore the stunning landscapes and Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh.

16. Learn to surf in Byron Bay and then, assuming you manage to leave, surf one of the best spots in the world. Putting on rubber masks of dead American presidents and robbing banks is optional.

17. Swim with dolphins and humpback whales off the coast of Madagascar whilst helping marine scientists with data collection. I’ve swum with dolphins in Marsa Alam – and believe me, those playful beasties rock.

18. Track down some Coast Redwoods in California, the tallest trees in the world. Over 100 metres tall, with trunks up to 8 metres in diameter, some of these bad boys have been around since before the time of Jesus. Check out some photos of giant redwoods.

19. Bike the US for MS, from Yorktown to San Francisco, and help raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis research. If you really have time on your hands, take to the roads and cycle another of the long distance bike routes in the USA.

20. Get a job at a research station in Antarctica. It may be the coldest place on Earth, but at least there aren’t any polar bears.

21. Sip wine and watch the sunset in Hossegor, part of the longest uninterrupted stretch of sand in Europe. In 2009, it was voted one of the ten best beaches in the world by the Guardian newspaper. Definitely one to add to your bucket (and spade) list.

22. Browse the Iceland Phallological Museum, which is devoted to penises of all shapes, sizes and species. One of the wackiest museums in the world, it should really be a private members club.

23. Witness climate change first-hand whilst hiking the Chacaltaya Glacier in Bolivia.

24. Visit Burma, but avoid lining the pockets of the military junta wherever possible. The Buddhist monasteries look gorgeous!

25. Get off grid in Baja by pimping up a vintage travel trailer on the cheap, and let the road be your home.

26. Soak your cares away in a Japanese onsen. These natural hot springs are found all around the country, and in northern Honshu you could even end up bathing alongside the local snow monkeys! If you can’t make Japan, there are hot springs all around the world.

27. Visit Afghanistan’s first national park.

28. Learn to scuba dive in the Red Sea, and then explore some of the world’s top diving destinations– it really is another world down there.

29. Discover your own Machu Picchu in Peru.

30. Hitchhike around South Africa. I’ve hitched around Scotland and Syria, and from northern England to Amsterdam, but South Africa would be something else! Thumbing a ride is great fun, though of course there’s always an element of risk involved.

31. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, or attempt one of the other monster mountains of the world that are accessible to mere mortals.

32. Go tribal in Papua New Guinea. If you are smart, you can even do it on a budget.

33. Travel the Trans Siberian railway, but do it independently so you have the flexibility to take some side trips. And if thousands of kilometres of noodle slurping and vodka supping isn’t your thing, try one of the other spectacular train journeys of the world.

37. Do voluntary work in Pakistan with an organisation such as VSO or the UN. There are lots of good reasons for doing voluntary work, and loads of different projects you could get involved with.

38. Go winter wolf watching in Yellowstone National Park, and observe young males trying to join a pack in time for mating season. You might need this gear for winter camping.

39. Trek in the pristine mountains of Kyrgyzstan before the rest of the world cottons on to how beautiful the place is. 93 % of the country is mountainous!

40. Chow down on some crunchy nasties in Bangkok, such as locusts, scorpions, and 10 cm-long water bugs. And if that sounds too pedestrian, try eating live cobra in Vietnam. Pass the bucket!

41. See if Burning Man really does defy description. People who’ve been say so, but I’m not sure I buy that… and it’s a great excuse to go check it out. If camping and sand and pyrotechnics don’t do it for you, then go for the sense of community and the incredible art installations.

42. Go wild on Tortola, home to the most notorious full moon party in the Virgin Islands. Then recover – and get in touch with your inner pirate – on Jost Van Dyke, relaxation capital of the Caribbean.

43. Live the rural dream for a while, even if you’re actually a city slicker. There are loads of resources to help people take up urban homesteading, and you could even set up chicken coops in your backyard.

44. Hit the slopes of Grandvalira in Andorra – there’s almost 5000 acres of skiing, a handful of snow parks, and around 40 different restaurants to choose from.

45. Start your own frozen banana business in Costa Rica. Or any business, anywhere. Any business as long as it involves frozen bananas.

46. Take to the high seas on a cargo ship or work your way around the world on a cruise liner.

47. Camp out and soak up the stars in Pan de Azucar. This national park in Chile, where beautiful coastline meets Atacama Desert, is considered one of the world’s best stargazing destinations. Seeing the stars properly – really seeing them – can be totally mind blowing.

48. Dirt-bike your way to the remote hilltop temple of Preah Vihear in Cambodia. It’s an epic adventure that takes you way off the beaten path on treacherous roads, so make sure you know what you are doing, or hire a rider who does.

48. Cut loose at the New Orleans Mardi Gras, and make a hefty deposit into your indulgence and debauchery account.

50.. Walk the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, the route began outside your front door, but many people choose to walk the 800 km long Camino Frances. I badly injured my knee en route, and had to hobble 700 kilometres using two sticks for support. People could always hear me coming, tap-tap, tap-tap, but the overall experience was magic.

51. Write a book. If you’ve always wanted to be a writer, or you feel that “one novel” inside you is bursting to be released, then go for it. You can publish it yourself if needs be. Just do it!

52. Traverse the world’s longest parallel sand dunes in the Simpson Desert, one of the many natural wonders of Australia.

53. Open your soul to the beauty of Tibet. The roof of the world is home to prayer wheels, yak butter, and the tallest mountain on Earth.

54. Start your own NGO and dedicate yourself to a cause you believe in. Sure, there will be plenty of challenges to overcome, but if you are passionate about making a difference, you can make it happen.

55. Learn a new craft, such as travel photography, kung fu, or juggling. And once you’ve got it, keep it – don’t let it wither away for years, like I did my juggling. (I’m sure you’ll be ecstatic to find out I did recently start again.)

56. Visit the Central and East Asian steppes of Mongolia, one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, and where many of the population still live a nomadic lifestyle.

57. Go hang gliding over Rio de Janeiro for a bird’s eye view of the city and its surrounds that you couldn’t get any other way. Perhaps best not to eat much beforehand, though.

58. Live or study abroad for a while. I’ve been a periodic expat for almost 10 years now. I really believe that immersion in a foreign culture is a great way to learn more about yourself, the world, and your place within it. It’s also far and away the best way to learn another language.

59. Eat a Goblin Cock in Chicago. Behave – that’s a heavy metal burger with a Chicago dog served on top, arguably one of the finest burgers in the world.

60. Watch the World Cup live in the country that’s hosting. The 2014 World Cup is being held in Brazil, which coincidentally is also home to one of the world’s rowdiest soccer stadiums. See you there?

61. Take part in La Tomatina in Valencia, where 30,000-odd people have the mother of all food fights.

62. Travel wild on the African island of Madagascar, said to be home to 5 % of the world’s plant and animal species. One word: lemurs!

63. Treat yourself to some “Viagra for hair” at Hari’s Salon in London. A true once-in-your-lifetime experience: the treatment is made from Aberdeen Angus bull semen! But the bull is organic, so that’s OK. Sometimes, being bald has its advantages.

64. Camp in the White Desert of Egypt. Yep, I’m biased, but not only are you among eerie, strange-shaped rock formations, but you may wake in the middle of the night to a loving nibble from a desert fox. Deserts are harsh environments in which to camp, but the silence, the sense of space and the stark terrain are profoundly beautiful.

65. Visit the rock-cut churches of Ethiopia, some of the world’s most spectacular places of worship.

66. Trek the mountains of Bhutan, a country increasingly opening up to tourism, for a great combination of scenery, spirituality, and exercise.

67. Take on your demons at a Thai yoga intensive, or learn a meditation technique such as Vipassana.

68. Go on a modern day treasure hunt by trying out geocaching. This is a real 21st Century sport, which everyone from GPS geeks to nature lovers can enjoy. Just remember, it’s 29.978134, 31.132507 marks the spot.

69. Stay on a houseboat in Kashmir, a region with so much more to it than the violence the media portrays.

70. Visit the gorillas in Rwanda’s Parc National des Volcans without breaking the bank.

71. Learn to dance Tango in Buenos Aires. So what if it’s a bit of a cliché? It’s a sexy cliché with rhythm, passion and soul. Sign me up, two left feet and all.

72. Get physically as well as spiritually closer to the Gods by climbing Mount Fuji in Japan. It’s best to climb outside of peak season: it’s one of the most sacred mountains in the world, and everyone likes a good God-Mountain combo.

73. Fling the fire at the Hifuri Shinji festival in Japan, where spinning torches (and setting Mount Aso Volcano alight!) help ensure a good harvest. Take your pyromania even further by learning towalk on fire – although the walk lasts only a few seconds, the bragging rights last forever.

74. Watch the flamingos gather in the shallows of Lake Nakuru. As well as up to two million of these crazy pink birds, you’ve got a good chance of seeing white and black rhinos in this Kenyan national park.

75. Jump off something really high in Interlaken, Switzerland – just make sure you have a long (but not too long) piece of elastic tied to your feet, or are strapped in to a parachute.Skydiving from the edge of space is something you should probably work up to.

76. Learn to sandboard on Colarado’s Great Dunes, which is great if you like snowboarding but can’t be doing with the crowds and the cold. If you feel the need to go one better, how about volcano boarding in Nicaragua? Yes, it is an active volcano!

77. Cosy up with your partner in Santorini, Greece – not only is it picturesque and very romantic, the sunset over the Aegean Sea is one of the most dramatic in the world.

78. Try mountain trekking in the Philippines to experience a totally different side of the country.

79. Go heli-skiing in Alaska in the Chugach Mountain Range. Spectacular mountains and tip-top conditions to enchant the hard-core snow blowers!

80. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Yep, all 2174 miles of it! It’ll take about six months, and might be just the time you need away from the office. And at least by the end you’ll be able to answer the question, “Do bears shit in the woods?” Prepare for backcountry travel, though.

81. Attend the Kumbh Mela in India, a massive Hindu festival where pilgrims bathe in the waters of the Ganges. Thousands of leery holy men and women engage in religious discussions and various off-the-wall devotional activities.

82. Witness the Serengeti to Masai Mara wildebeest migration from a hot air balloon. If you love balloons but are scared of heights (or wild animals), visit a hot air balloon festival instead.

83. Cycle through Cuba for a closer look at a contradictory nation. You might even pick up some Spanish along the way.

84. Explore the rainforests and mangrove swamps of Borneo, home to Bornean Orangutans, Asian Elephants and Bornean Clouded Leopards.

85. Get naked in Cap d’Agde in France, the “world capital of nudism”, where nudity is legal in town as well as on the beach. If this is too much exposure, then work your way up to it by visiting another of the best nudist beaches in the world.

6. Learn to free dive and push your boundaries by seeing how far you can go on a single breath!

87. Explore the incredible untouched wilderness of Glacier National Park in Montana, and enjoy fantastic hiking, camping, fly fishing and cross-country skiing.

88. Feel the burn in Death Valley – the lowest, driest, hottest place in North America – and then cool off by visiting some of the less fierce natural wonders of the USA.

89. Learn to cook traditional Chinese dumplings in Beijing, which is a lot harder than it sounds. Your first few will probably come out deformed, but hopefully they’ll taste OK!

90. Float around the Dead Sea in Jordan, where you really can sit up and read a newspaper. Covering yourself in “therapeutic” black mud is compulsory. Sticking your head underwater most definitely isn’t. And, best not to shave beforehand, ya know?

91. Visit Bali, a Hindu island in a Muslim country, and escape the tourists by heading inland.

92. Get off the beaten path in Columbia and discover deserted surf breaks, rainforest, desert and savannah that you never knew existed.

93. Drink litre steins of beer and eat pork knuckles at Oktoberfest, the largest party in the world. Booze and music and roller coasters and leather shorts… what’s not to like about that?

94. Trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary in Nepal, an 8-10 day trek between Pokhara and the base camp of Annapurna I. With more time, you could do one of the other top treks of Nepal.

95. Cross country ski the trails of Yellowstone, keeping your eyes open for bison, elk, coyotes… and hot springs. Alternatively, for a different way of moving horizontally over snow, try snowshoeing.

96. Zipline your way down to a tree house at Finca Bellavista, a sustainable development in the Costa Rican rainforest where people live in tree houses and stilt houses connected by footpaths and ziplines! If there’s no space there, check out one of the other cool tree houses around the world.

97. Live in La Paz, the highest administrative capital city in the world, and study Aymara, an indigenous language that may have been the secret language of the Incas.

98. Wrap your teeth around some rooster testicles in Taiwan, and follow up with some other ball-munching destinations around the world.

99. Travel overland from South Africa to the Middle East, and take your time exploring this fascinating part of the world.

100. Buy a boat, learn to sail, and sail off into the sunset! It’s not so difficult or expensive as you might think. But if you really can’t afford it, learn a skill such as rigging a sailboat and you’ll be able to find work – and perhaps a ride – wherever you go.

Still want more? Browse the books below:

Technorati Tags: bucket list,things to do before you die,living life to the fullest,places to see before you die,list of things to do before you die

Hiking Philippines: Mount Romelo Trek

2010-09-01T05:46:00.001-07:00

My first real mountain trek here in Philippines is in Mount Romelo, which is located in Siniloan, Laguna. Mount Romelo is more popularly called Mount Famy because of maybe of the misconception that the mountain is located in Famy, Laguna. I’m not sure though, haha. Anyway, my friends were able to persuade me to climb this mountain because they say it’s for beginners. And indeed, the trail was relatively easy.

Trekking Mount Romelo gave me new sense of adventure. While the trail is easy enough for beginners, it does not fall short of giving us a view of majestic waterfalls. Surprisingly, the mountain has over three waterfalls – Buruwisan, Batya-Batya and Lanzones Falls. It is truly amazing to come close to nature again by swimming on Mount Romelo’s prisitne waters.

This mountain is a favorite among hikers. When we reached the summit, it’s like a community up there since there are many mountaineers. There are even stores that sell basic necessity like water, noodles, canned foods and many more. Being just a minor climb means that friends who are not that highly experienced in climbing can easily hike in this place. There are even horses which you can rent in order to carry your things. Indeed, friends can bond while trekking this mountain because of its beautiful scenery. This is also perfect for photographers.

There are already hikers/organizers who can accompany you if you want to climb this mountain. I can recommend one, if you need. But doing it yourself is also possible. From Manila, you need to take the train (LRT2) and go down in Legarda Station. From here, you will take a bus (Raymund Bus) going to Infanta. You need to go down on the intersection of Famy and Infanta (landmark: Caltex) and take a tricycle. Just tell the driver of the tricycle that you will go to Buruwisan Falls so that he can take you to the jump-off point.

Here are some links to books that you can read to further enrich your knowledge on mountain climbing:

Technorati Tags: mountain climbing,mt. climbing,climbing books,summit mountain,mountaineering course

Manual for Climbing Mountains

2010-08-30T23:00:00.001-07:00

A guide for mountaineers/hikers/trekkers made by the one and only Paulo Coelho

Feel free to ponder on thoughts of Paulo Coelho regarding climbing mountains. Indeed, I have always believed that climbing mountains should come close to the heart. One should not climb for climbing’s sake. It should have meaning in one’s life. There you go, I hope you will be inspired by Coelho’s wisdom. Indeed, choose the mountains you climb wisely.

A] Choose the mountain you want to climb: don’t pay attention to what other people say, such as “that one’s more beautiful” or “this one’s easier”. You’ll be spending lots of energy and enthusiasm to reach your objective, so you’re the only one responsible and you should be sure of what you’re doing.

B] Know how to get close to it: mountains are often seen from far off – beautiful, interesting, full of challenges. But what happens when we try to draw closer? Roads run all around them, flowers grow between you and your objective, what seemed so clear on the map is tough in real life. So try all the paths and all the tracks until eventually one day you’re standing in front of the top that you yearn to reach.

C] Learn from someone who has already been up there: no matter how unique you feel, there is always someone who has had the same dream before you and ended up leaving marks that can make your journey easier; places to hang the rope, trails, broken branches to make the walking easier. The climb is yours, so is the responsibility, but don’t forget that the experience of others can help a lot.

D] When seen up close, dangers are controllable: when you begin to climb the mountain of your dreams, pay attention to the surroundings. There are cliffs, of course. There are almost imperceptible cracks in the mountain rock. There are stones so polished by storms that they have become as slippery as ice. But if you know where you are placing each footstep, you will notice the traps and how to get around them.

E] The landscape changes, so enjoy it: of course, you have to have an objective in mind – to reach the top. But as you are going up, more things can be seen, and it’s no bother to stop now and again and enjoy the panorama around you. At every meter conquered, you can see a little further, so use this to discover things that you still had not noticed.

F] Respect your body: you can only climb a mountain if you give your body the attention it deserves. You have all the time that life grants you, as long as you walk without demanding what can’t be granted. If you go too fast you will grow tired and give up half way there. If you go too slow, night will fall and you will be lost. Enjoy the scenery, take delight in the cool spring water and the fruit that nature generously offers you, but keep on walking.

G] Respect your soul: don’t keep repeating “I’m going to make it”. Your soul already knows that, what it needs is to use the long journey to be able to grow, stretch along the horizon, touch the sky. An obsession does not help you at all to reach your objective, and even ends up taking the pleasure out of the climb. But pay attention: also, don’t keep saying “it’s harder than I thought”, because that will make you lose your inner strength.

H] Be prepared to climb one kilometer more: the way up to the top of the mountain is always longer than you think. Don’t fool yourself, the moment will arrive when what seemed so near is still very far. But since you were prepared to go beyond, this is not really a problem.

I] Be happy when you reach the top: cry, clap your hands, shout to the four winds that you did it, let the wind – the wind is always blowing up there – purify your mind, refresh your tired and sweaty feet, open your eyes, clean the dust from your heart. It feels so good, what was just a dream before, a distant vision, is now part of your life, you did it!

J] Make a promise: now that you have discovered a force that you were not even aware of, tell yourself that from now on you will use this force for the rest of your days. Preferably, also promise to discover another mountain, and set off on another adventure.

L] Tell your story: yes, tell your story! Give your example. Tell everyone that it’s possible, and other people will then have the courage to face their own mountains.

Here are some of the few climbing gears that will help you conquer your mountains.

Technorati Tags: paulo Coelho,climbing mountains

Mount Pinatubo Trek

2010-08-13T23:40:00.001-07:00

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."

My first mountain hike here in the Philippines is the Mount Pinatubo. I’m not a big fan of mountain climbing that is why I am reluctant to climb this mountain. But since there have been many tourists professing the beauty of this place, I’ve challenged myself to visit this place also. Plus, they already offer a 4x4 ride, so the trek would not be that difficult. Indeed, it turned out to be true - reaching the crater of the almighty Mount Pinatubo is beyond description.

During the time we went there, it was raining cats and dogs. I was not prepared for the rain. And I even brought my DSLR camera. So at some point, I regret joining the trip. Various worst-case scenarios came up on my mind – flashfloods, eruption, etc etc. I know it’s crazy, but once you’re there, you can’t do anything but pray.

After reaching the crater, all of my pain and worries went away. The view was simply amazing. It was really really majestic. I promised myself to go back to the place when it’s not raining. I wish could back there at least once a year.

If you can do the necessary arrangements by yourself, rather than going through agency, then by all means do so. Seasoned backpackers would find that the charges made by travel agencies are expensive. Based on my experience, the biggest challenge if you do your trek independently is the commute going to the place in itself. As a matter of fact, if you are coming from manila, it’s not really that hard because you just have to take the bus. The 4x4 going to the mountain itself are plenty. You just have to negotiate to the people in charge of the vehicles.

But if you really want to have all the conveniences, then you can opt for travel agencies. At least you will not think anymore of the transportation going to and from the Mount Pinatubo. What is important is that you enjoy the view (on the crater most especially) as well as the journey going to the moth of the mountain. Good luck with the wild ride!

Here are some links to have greater knowledge about Mount Pinatubo:

Technorati Tags: mount pinatubo,pinatubo tour,pinatubo philippines,pinatubo lahar,mount pinatubo travel,travel philippines

Cibo Restaurant Manila

2010-08-05T04:54:00.001-07:00

Italian Food at its Best

The first time I encountered this restaurant, I promised myself that I will go back to this place. The taste of the foods are truly Italian unlike other restaurants here in Manila that feature Italian cuisine. It is a luxe dining restaurant, hence one can expect that the price is a little bit expensive. Nonetheless, this is only a small price to pay for an ultimate Italian food experience.

Aside from the food, the setting is also excellent. They have a well decorated and clean restaurant. I admire every branch of Cibo here in Manila because they see to it that they provide a good atmosphere for their customers. When I’m meeting my college friends, we would usually go to Cibo.

Among the highly recommended dishes in this restaurant are tiramisu croccante, tagliata di manzo and rigatoni al alfonso. Nonetheless, you must try the other food in the menu such as their pizza, pasta, soups and sweets.

Here are some of Italian recipe books:

Technorati Tags: italian restaurant,cibo,italian food,pizza pasta,manila restaurant

Travel Quotes and Sayings

2010-08-03T02:38:00.001-07:00

My favorite quotes and sayings that inspire me to go and see the world

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine

~Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

~We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.
Anais Nin

“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb

~The photograph reverses the purpose of travel, which until now had been to encounter the strange and unfamiliar.
Marshall McLuhan

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

~Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.
Chief Joseph

“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman

~Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs.
Susan Sontag

“Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” – Paul Theroux

~Travel teaches toleration.
Benjamin Disraeli

“The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling

~“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

“What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

~“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca

“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe”……Anatole France

~“Not all those who wander are lost.” –J. R. R. Tolkien

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

~“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T. S. Eliot

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener

~“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – Robert Frost

~“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

~“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” –Jawaharial Nehru

~“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

~“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” –Freya Stark

~“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese

~“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

~“The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.” –Russell Baker

“Knock Knock! Who’s there? Tibet! Tibet who? Early Tibet and early to rise!” – Aha Jokes

Here are some travel books on quotes and many more, that you can bring on your journey:

Technorati Tags: travel,photography,travel quotes,wanderer,travel sayings

SM Supermalls: The Mall of Asia

2010-07-23T01:31:00.001-07:00

Can’t get enough of malls? Come to the Philippines!

Before I’ll blog about the different places that I have travelled, I want to discuss about the malls here in Philippines. When I travelled abroad, I realized that the Philippines is a hub of malls. The most common place where people hang out would be the malls.

It is ironic that Philippines, being a poor country, is full of malls. Even train stations have 2-3 malls strategically built on every stations. Well, that has been the case lately for developing countries. While the metropolitan cities seem to be progressive, one cannot deny the fact, that there more people than the rich ones. Indeed, the rich becomes richer and the only becomes poorer.

I recently went to Mall of Asia, which is considered as third biggest mall in the world and I was awed by the number of people there. It is not that I am not used with having many people in malls but it just struck me now that amidst the global financial crisis or simply even the reality of poverty, there are still many people who choose to spend their money on non-essential things like clothing, accessories, movies and even dining out.

Yes it is fancy going to the mall even though you are just window shopping. But at the end of the day, we would realize that the hard-earned money just went to something that we can essentially live without. I may not be in the position to say this but in my opinion, people have become blinded with material things, with what is really important in life.

During my visit in a remote area in Indonesia, people asked me where do people in my country usually hang out. And as a ponder this question, it became clear to me that the youth here in Philippines have been stuck in malls and any other places that represents modernity or the fast-paced life. A visit to a waterfall or being in touch with nature is becoming non-existent. There are many beautiful places in the Philippines worth visiting than the malls.

Want to travel here? Check out the guidebooks below:

Technorati Tags: philippines,mall of asia,travel philippines

Notes on Traveling by Paulo Coelho

2010-07-21T22:33:00.001-07:00

First of all, I want to profess my admiration to Paulo Coelho and his writings. While there are people who would criticize Paulo as being too “cheesy,” “preachy” or “religious”, I, on the other hand, cannot get enough of Paulo Coelho’s wisdom. His thoughts serve as an inspiration to live the life to the fullest.

When I stumble upon Paulo Coelho’s blog entry about traveling, I was fascinated since I love to travel and that my favorite author has something to say about it. So, here is the notes of Paulo Coelho when travelling. I believe this is a useful reminder when one travelling so that you can get the most out of place you are travelling.

1. Avoid museums. This might seem to be absurd advice, but let’s just think about it a little: if you are in a foreign city, isn’t it far more interesting to go in search of the present than of the past? It’s just that people feel obliged to go to museums because they learned as children that travelling was about seeking out that kind of culture. Obviously museums are important, but they require time and objectivity – you need to know what you want to see there, otherwise you will leave with a sense of having seen a few really fundamental things, except that you can’t remember what they were.

2. Hang out in bars. Bars are the places where life in the city reveals itself, not in museums. By bars I don’t mean nightclubs, but the places where ordinary people go, have a drink, ponder the weather, and are always ready for a chat. Buy a newspaper and enjoy the ebb and flow of people. If someone strikes up a conversation, however silly, join in: you cannot judge the beauty of a particular path just by looking at the gate.

3. Be open. The best tour guide is someone who lives in the place, knows everything about it, is proud of his or her city, but does not work for an agency. Go out into the street, choose the person you want to talk to, and ask them something (Where is the cathedral? Where is the post office?). If nothing comes of it, try someone else – I guarantee that at the end of the day you will have found yourself an excellent companion.

4. Try to travel alone or – if you are married – with your spouse. It will be harder work, no one will be there taking care of you, but only in this way can you truly leave your own country behind. Travelling with a group is a way of being in a foreign country while speaking your mother tongue, doing whatever the leader of the flock tells you to do, and taking more interest in group gossip than in the place you are visiting.

5. Don’t compare. Don’t compare anything – prices, standards of hygiene, quality of life, means of transport, nothing! You are not travelling in order to prove that you have a better life than other people – your aim is to find out how other people live, what they can teach you, how they deal with reality and with the extraordinary.

6. Understand that everyone understands you. Even if you don’t speak the language, don’t be afraid: I’ve been in lots of places where I could not communicate with words at all, and I always found support, guidance, useful advice, and even girlfriends. Some people think that if they travel alone, they will set off down the street and be lost forever. Just make sure you have the hotel card in your pocket and – if the worst comes to the worst – flag down a taxi and show the card to the driver.

7. Don’t buy too much. Spend your money on things you won’t need to carry: tickets to a good play, restaurants, trips. Nowadays, with the global economy and the Internet, you can buy anything you want without having to pay excess baggage.

8. Don’t try to see the world in a month. It is far bett
er to stay in a city for four or five days than to visit five cities in a week. A city is like a capricious woman (or a capricious man, if you are a woman): she/he takes time to be seduced and to reveal him/herself completely.
9. A journey is an adventure. Henry Miller used to say that it is far more important to discover a church that no one else has ever heard of than to go to Rome and feel obliged to visit the Sistine Chapel with two hundred thousand other tourists bellowing in your ear. By all means go to the Sistine Chapel, but wander the streets too, explore alleyways, experience the freedom of looking for something – quite what you don’t know – but which, if you find it, will – you can be sure – change your life.

My favorite entry among the travel guidelines of Paulo Coelho is the one that speaks about traveling alone. Indeed, Coelho’s statement on traveling alone is an affirmation of my belief that being along in a journey is not tantamount to being lonely. While I have not yet tried travelling alone in a foreign place, I have been meaning to do this in the near future.
I believe that by traveling alone, you’ll get to know yourself well. And by knowing oneself, can only one learn to love him/herself. Finally, it is only by knowing and loving oneself that you can truly learn to love others. So, I dare you, as I dare myself to travel alone in foreign places. Bon Voyage!

Here are the links to some of the gears and accessories that might be useful to your travels:

Or some of the books of Paulo Coelho that you might want to read or DVDs to watch.

Technorati Tags: Paulo Coelho,travel quotes,traveling alone,the zahir

Lessons from the TV Show “Lost”

2010-07-10T21:39:00.001-07:00

It’s time to get Lost!
When I saw the article of Spence Spellman from Matador.com about the TV show ‘Lost’, I could not have been happier. Indeed, it encapsulates my thoughts and feelings about the show. For six years, this show has been an inspiration to live my life to the fullest. On the article of Spellman, the author has successfully connected the lessons of the show with travel and the way to live one’s life. So here it is. Enjoy reading!

Four Things I Learned from the TV Show “Lost” by Spencer Spellman

It’s been over a month now since the TV show Lost came to a close with its two and a half hour Season Six finale. Whereas lots of people claim Lost is one of the greatest television shows in history, many faithful viewers were angry at the ending. Some even went so far as to say they wanted the last six years of their life back!
These things aside, I believe that Lost changed the way most people will watch TV. All the mysteries and ambiguities were a big part of the show’s appeal, and the gut-wrenching season finales brought us viewers back year after year. So profound were these mysteries that thousands of websites, blogs and forums were devoted to answering viewers’ questions, as well as developing their own Lost conspiracy theories.
When we get to the end of our own days… there will be mysteries in our own lives that we can’t comprehend.
Regardless of how you feel about the finale, the show did raise many questions about science and faith, life and death, and everything else in between.
Here are four of the lessons I learned from watching Lost.

1. Travel to unknown places among unknown people takes our ordinary lives and makes them extraordinary

With the exception of a band member, the Oceanic 815 crash survivors were all ordinary people with ordinary vices. Yet these normal travelers all ended up doing extraordinary things that were uncharacteristic of their former lives. We saw kicked drug habits, self sacrifice for the sake of others, and love towards significant others that had not previously been expressed.

I feel that travel abroad can have a similar effect, removing us from our comfortable existence and introducing us to a land and a people that are unfamiliar.
Although we may have extraordinary experiences during the trip itself, it’s often when we return home and notice how our world view has shifted that our life becomes more than ordinary.

2. If we live without taking any risks, have we really lived?

In The Magician’s Nephew, by CS Lewis, there is a poem that says,

Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger,
Or wonder, ’til it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

The characters from Lost took risks that left lasting marks on both their individual lives and the lives of everyone around them. Sure, they didn’t all produce the desired outcome… that’s why they are called risks!
At many points in our lives we might have to take risks with family, friends, love and careers. Yes, there might be unforeseen consequences, but I believe some risks are worth taking. I would much rather deal with the short-term consequences of taking a risk, and enjoy the long-term satisfaction of chasing my passions, than lie on my death bed wondering what might have been.

3. Some Questions in Life Will Go Unanswered

Each week we loyal viewers returned to watch the new episode of Lost, hoping that some of our questions about the series would be answered. And each week, if a question did get answered, then even more questions arose.
It was no surprise that the finale didn’t answer all the remaining questions, and tie up all the loose ends. Did you really think it would?
When we each get to the end of our days, there are going to be questions left unanswered. Who shot Tupac? What happened to Amelia Earhart? There will be mysteries in our own lives that we can’t comprehend, questions of love and faith and why we did the things we did. But it’s the mysteries of life that make it such a ride. Without them, I believe existence would be much duller.

4. Live Together, Die Alone

It seems appropriate to end with Lost’s most used cliché. We first heard this very early in the show, when Jack was addressing the survivors of the plane crash, and it became a kind of mantra running all through the series. The importance of the sentiment was clear: if the survivors couldn’t learn to work together and get along, they wouldn’t make it and would die a lonely death.
Relationships are what bind us together as people. Life often sucks, but it sucks a whole lot worse when our relationships separate us rather than uniting us. We need people around us who can support, encourage and empower us. Without that, we could lead a very lonely and depressing existence. In “real life” as in Lost, it’s true that we either learn to live together, or die alone.

Check out on Amazon the copy of the complete episode of Lost from all of the six seasons!

Technorati Tags: Lost TV Show,Lessons,Season Finale,Travel,Wander

Follow your dreams: 2010 Manifesta

2010-07-08T19:55:00.001-07:00

I found an interesting compilation of inspirational words from kaileenelise.com that would make us follow our dreams. it is like an another version of the Dalai Lama’s Instruction for Life. You can print this out and paste it in a place where you can see it everyday so that you will be reminded of the things that you do in life.

So how do you keep you dreams alive? How do you live your life to the fullest? Share it here!

Technorati Tags: inspirational,follow your dreams,quotes,sayings,life inspirations

Dalai Lama’s Instruction for Life

2010-07-06T02:37:00.001-07:00

How to live your life to fullest according to the Dalai Lama:

Technorati Tags: life,quotes,dalai lama,living life to the fullest

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs:

Respect for self
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realise you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

By following these simple steps, one cannot go wrong.

Maldives: Visiting a Sinking Island

2010-06-19T08:45:00.001-07:00

Technorati Tags: Maldives Beautiful Island Travel Destination Vacation Island Tourist Spot Paradise

When it comes to planning for my next destination, I would usually opt for nature trip since I am a lover of the nature or the environment. With this, the Maldives island tops my list as my next travel destination. Primary on my reasons on wanting to travel in Maldives right now is because of the alarming rate of extinction faced by the island. It is believed that due to the effect of climate change, this sun-kissed island gets most of the impact of the aforementioned environmental problem. If the disappearance of this beautiful paradise will not be prevented anymore, then I would like to take time to enjoy it while it’s there.

This island cannot only be considered as a paradise but a jewel that sparkles in the Indian Ocean. Witnessing its slow death is a shame and a disappointment to mankind.

There are other reasons that are equally meaningful when it comes to choosing Maldives as my next top destination.

Dive in Maldives

Maldives prides itself in having one of the best dive spots in the world because of the rare beauty that one can find underwater. Baros is a world class diving site in Maldives, which is considered as an ideal place not only for seasoned divers but as well as beginners. There is a dive school in Baros managed by outstanding and experienced divers. They are helpful when it comes to determining the best sites to dive, depending on the season, as well as informing tourists about the diverse marine life.

The Great Escape

Maldives is a great escape from one’s everyday busy life. The country offers beautiful beaches and private islands. The hospitality of the locals is also legendary. It is the ultimate getaway for any type of traveler or tourist since the different islands offer different features. Children can enjoy as much as couples will do. Whatever kind of relaxation one is looking for, he/she can find it in Maldives.

Inner Peace

In relation to the earlier reason, the extent of the island’s role as being a great escape is that one can actually find peace and tranquility. It can serve as a form of retreat or some kind of walkabout for people. A vacation on this island can invigorate the mind, body and spirit. Indeed, Maldives is known for its unique and excellent body treatments specifically when it comes to spa, chirobody treatments, detox and stress-reduction.

Under the Sea

Ever heard of a restaurant under the sea? You can find one in Conrad Maldives. The Ithaa Underwater Restaurant ( is one of a kind in the world. Situated below sea level, the world’s first underwater restaurant offers a panoramic view of the marine life. Indeed, seafoods and a variety of cuisine are not the only appeal of the island but even the scenery or the relaxing environment where the restaurants are located.

Little Miss Sunshine

Finally, I love to be under the sun! And Maldives can offer me lots of sunshine. Generally, the country has tropical climate which makes it possible to have a warm temperature all year round. And so unlike other travel destinations, the weather in Maldives is pretty much predictable.

Sources:

http://www.clubairtravel.co.uk/rangali/hilton_maldives_ithaa.asp

http://www.wwwmaldives.com/picture-perfect-top-10-finest-maldives-resorts.html

http://www,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3930765.stm

Welcome!

2010-06-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

You have entered the site where we will give you a glimpse of the world. Travels, life experiences, culture, languages and photography are the main focus. We seek to present the different interesting places in the world and someday perhaps we can gather all together to consolidate our travels and experiences.

Feel free to ask questions, comment or suggest. Email us at thewriteproject@ymail.com

We hope to inspire you to go travel and see the world.

Wander and ponder.

Good day!