The Philippines

Trekking at Mount Pinatubo

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:04:00 +0000

For centuries, the residents of Angeles took nearby volcanoes of Mount Pinatubo and Mount Arayat for granted. That changed suddenly on June 15, 1991, when Pinatubo, the larger of the two volcanoes, literally blew itself apart, sending a column of ash and rock 40 km into the air. The mountain lost 300m in height, and fine dust and fist-sized fragments of rock rained rained down on nearby Angeles, Clark Airbase and Subic Bay.

Compounding the catastrophe, a savage typhoon chose this moment to lash northern Luzon, turning the ash into lethal lahar (mobile volcanic mud), which flooded downhill from the volcano with dire

consequences. In Zambales province to the west of Mt. Pinatubo, lahar flows rerouted rivers and sank entire villages under newly formed Lake Mapanuepe.

The journey up Mount Pinatubo (1450 m) is one of the Philippines' top adventures and can be done as a long day trip from Manila. The jumping off point is Santa Juliana, near the base of the mountain's slope, about a 40km journey from Angeles city. From there you can walk all the way up the mountain with an Aeta guide (this is a two day trek with an overnight at the crater), or you can take a 4WD most of the way up then walk the final one to two hours to the creater.

From the crater you can take a dip in the chilly blue waters of the crater lake or just wander through the canyons and lahar flows of this surreal moonscape. Camping is possible in designated camping areas.

Many tourists do this trip on an expensive organised tour from Angeles or Manila. But you will save a lot of money getting to Santa Juliana on your own and hooking up with an Aeta guide or one of the two companies that run the 4WD trips below:
PDC (tel. 045 493 0031, 0929 702 5058)
Santa Juliana 4x4 Association ( tel. 0919 608 4313)

For foreigners the 4WD trips cost P4000/2000/1500 per person for groups of one/two/three persons, including lunch and a P50 conservation fee. By comparison, travel agencies in Angeles charge P6500/4000/3000, including transfers from Santa Juliana. Aeta guides cost about P700 per day. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

BORACAY ISLAND

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Boracay manages to meet, or exceed or defy most expectations. It rarely disappoints. Visitors are an eclectic mix of international sophisticates, chic Manila urbanites, families of all ages and nationalities, serious water sports enthusiasts, chilled-out backpackers, late-night party animals - in fact travelers of all sorts. Its attractions include a choice of cocktail of beach walks, beach sports, massages, sunsets and time spent lolling in the most turquoise of waters.

How to get to Boracay: The swiftest way to Boracay from Manila is by air to Caticlan. SEAIR has daily small aircraft servicing Manila (one hour). PAL Express and Cebu Pacific fly daily in and out of Manila and Cebu. Rather than take one-minute tricycle ride (40 pesos) on offer, you can easily make the five-minute walk from Caticlan airport to the pier.
A flee of boats shuttles people back and forth between Caticlan and Boracay (120 pesos per person, 15 min) every 15 minutes between 6am and 6pm. All boats arrive at Boracay's Cagban Pier, where - unless you are on a accommodation package - tricycles charge a 100 pesos to take you to your hotel, irrespective of where it is.

Suggested Hotels along White Beach

Orchids Resort (landline: 288 3313; cell: 09172420833)
Villa Camilla (landline: 288 3354)
Casa Pilar Beach Resort (landline: 288 3073)
Frendz Resort (landline: 288 3803)

Suggested Hotels North of White Beach

Microtel Inn (landline: 288 4311)
Nami Boracay (landline: 288 6753)

Suggested Hotels along Bulabog Beach

Windpia (landline: 288 6521)
Lazy dog (landline: 288 4128)
Blue Bayou Bungalows (landline: 288 4740)

Glorious White Beach is the center of Boracay's tourist area. Until recently, three boat stations along its length were the scenic way visitors approached the island from Caticlan. Nowadays everyone arrives at a purpose-built pier at Cagban Bay on the island's southern tip and takes a hot and noisy ride along the main road to the hotels. White beach is dominated by a sandy pedestrian highway - the White Beach path - where motorised vehicles are banned an it is almost compulsory to go barefoot.

Across Boracay's narrow middle from White Beach - just 10 minutes walk from D'mall - is the less-peopled Bulabog Beach. Here is where you will meet plenty of windsurfers and kiteboarders who call this place home for many months of the year - if ti remains affordable, that is.

PUKA Beach, in the north, is a popular picnic spot. Puka are tiny shells of the cone snail that make most of the necklaces, anklets and bracelets you will see all over, and the beach entrance is lined with stalls selling every conceivable design of shell jewelry and handicrafts. Locals says that Puka Grande, the restaurant at the beach does great adobo and best ever ihaw-ihaw pork chops.

The Mount Luho View Deck, high above the east coast, has stunning views across the island, though the steps up to it were apparently designed with nimble, long-legged giants in mind. The cross-country road linking it with the main road is lush, green and forested; quite a contrast of the coast.

Other Activities in Boracay

Boating

Allan Fun Tours (cell: 0921 339 8097) offers daily five-hour boat trips around the island that include snorkelling gear, food and drinks.
Glass Bottom Boat (landline: 288 4599) a two-hour trip with drinks and snacks provided; good for families.
Red Pirates ( landline: 288 5767) does private , full-moon or sunset paraw tours, and can be chartered to take you to many spots around northern Panay and Romblon.

Windsurfing

Greenyard Funboard Center (landline: 288 3663)
Mistral Funboard center (landline: 288 3876)
Windpia ( landline: 288 6521)

Snorkelling

Blue Mango Dive Center (landline: 288 6954)

Calypso Diving Resort (landline: 288 3206)

Dive Gurus (landline: 288 5486)

Lapu-lapu Diving Center (landline: 288 3302)

Massage and Spa

Mandala Spa (landline: 288 5857) First class spa that offers indulgent packages for men and women. Treatments cost from P2600 for a facial to around P10,000 for the "Princess Treatment" or "Emperor World".

Pagudpud, Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Pagudpud has been a hot name in Philippine travel circle for some time but it has never quite lived up to its billing as the "Boracay of the North"- mainly because it was too far away and the resorts stank. Now a clutch of stylishly renovated hotels, improved flight connections to Laoag and the next big thing on the surfing circuit street cred are finally putting this lonely stretch of coastline on the tourist map, although it remains decidedly sleepy compared with Boracay.
Pagudpud actually consists of three vast beaches, strung along Luzon's northern edge and hemmed in by headlands. Coconut-palm-backed Saud Beach is where most resorts are. Idyllic Blue Lagoon is a few headlands east. Deserted Pansian Beach is still further on, near the boarder of Cagayan Province.

At Blue Lagoon, Luzon's whitest sand and bluest water conspire majestically to be situated in one place. There's terrific snorkelling here and despite the recent opening of a few resorts, the beach is rarely crowded. Hannah's Resort hires out sea kayaks (P300 per hour). It;s 16 km from Saud to the beach turn-off, then another 4 km down a sealed road; from Saud it's a 45-minute tricycle ride (return P300). Both Blue Lagoon and Sud Beach are changing rapidly. One reason for this is Pagudpud's sudden popularity as a surfing spot - some real giants occasionally from at Blue Lagoon, and Saud also gets well-shaped if fickle waves. The peak surf season is August to October. Boards (P200 per hour) and lessons (P200 per hour) are available at Kapuluan Vista Resort. Be careful about swimming here when conditions are rough as there's a nasty undertow.

Kapuluan Vista Resort (Phone: 0920 252 2528) www.tjhawaii.com/kvr

Saud Beach Accommodations

The resorts listed following are sister resorts clustered at the more attractive west end of Saud Beach. There is really no reason to look anywhere else as these five resorts cover all the accommodation bases. Rapidly expanding Terra Rika and Apo Idon are the fanciest of the lots; the latter has some fabulously designed rooms featuring Ifugao art and the capiz-shell windows. Evangeline's rooms are more austere and set back from the beach, but its wonderfully atmospheric restaurant is on the right beach. Jun and Carol and Northridge are the most backpacker-friendly. All have fre wi-fi.
Apo Idon (phone: 0918 933 4464); www.apoidon.com
Evangeline Beach Resort (phone: 0929 878 0335)
Jun and Carol Beach Cottages (phone: 676 0183, 0921484 7746); www.juncarolbeachresort.com
Northridge Resort (phone: 0920 220 5089)
Terra Rika Beach Resort (phone: 772 1845, 0918 937 1752); www.terrarika.4t.com

About 30 km to the west of Pagudpud is the impressive Cape Bojeador Lighthouse; closer by are the windmills of beautiful Bangui Bay.

WE ARE IN SAGADA - What to do next?

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Lumiang Burial Caves

On the road to Ambasing, near the village Bistro, you can se the Sugong Coffins suspended from the cliff face. A short distance further the road forks at the Right Turn Cafe. Take the left fork, follow it for 200m and look for a path to your left that leads down to the Lumiang Burial Cave. Over 100 coffins are stacked in the entrance, the oldest believed to be about 500 yers old.

Nine hundred metres further down the road, apath leads to exhilirating Sumaging Cave. you need a guide to tour the cave; the guide will provodea gas lantern. Its quite slippery in parts and you will get wet; wear river sandals or othe rshoes with nonslip soles.

Sumaging Cave

The king of Sagada's cave adventures, suitable for reasonably fit and courgeous, is the cave connection, and underground passage that links Sumaging and Lumiang Caves. This three to four hour tour is definitely not for the clastrophobic. Try to remember to bring a lighter or torch in case your guide's lantern falters.

Most of Sagada's famous hanging coffins are high on the limestone cliffs surrounding Echo Valley. Some hanging coffins are centuries old; others were put there recently. To get to the Echo valley, walk behind St. Mary's Episcopal Church and take a hard left on the dirt road that winds uphill to a cemetery. Continue uphill to the top of th ecemetery and beyond, to a big cross next to a mobile telephone tower. From here its just a short stumble down to the lookout where you can hear for yourself while its called Echo Valley.

Echo Valley

You can descend to Echo Valley and follow the myriad paths there, but be aware that many people head out for a stroll and return hours later covered in mud, picking leaves and thorns out of their hair. A guide can lead you to a one-hour walk through Echo Valley that ends with an optional 10 minute walk through Latang Cave, an underground river that spits you out near the Rocky Valley inn and Cafe, from where its a short walk back to town. If you want to walk through Latang Cave, make sure your guide has a torch and trhow some river-friendly sandals in your bag.

About a half-hour walk from the town are the Bokong Waterfalls, where you can take a refreshing dip. To get there , follow the road east out of town and take the steps just after Sagada Weaving on the left. Follow the path through the rice fields down to a small river. Cross the river and continue upstream to the falls. The path continues up to the road leading to the town of Banga-an, 4 km away.

Bokong Waterfalls

Banga-an is where the excellent 45-minute walk to the much larger Bamod-od Falls (Big Waterfall) begins. You will need a guide for thisone, as the walk traverses rice terraces and access is sometimes restricted because of the traditiosn associated with the planting and harvest seasons.

SAGADA - The Tranquil Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:32:00 +0000

Sagada owes its sublime mellowness to its isolation. It's 12 hours from Manila by bus, which keeps away the city weekend warriors. Sagada fills up during Holy Week and the week between Christmas and New Year, but its rarely crowded at other times.

Once you reach Sagada go all the way to the tourist information center which is located in the municipal building. It is open form 7 am to 5 pm. The tourist information center is where you get a tour guide that will take you to most of the sights in Sagada.
Internet access is at Golinsan Internet Cafe ( 8am to 8:30 Pm) located below Alfredo's Cabin.

Accomodation in Sagada
I would recommend staying at Sagada Guesthouse (Ph: 09296807849) because it is very close to the city hall and the market. It is very clean and the bathrooms are very neat. You can even cook your own food, and they also have access to television.
Another one I can recommend is Alfredo's Cabin (Ph: 09185883535) because it has its own restaurant and a big fireplace. There is also an internet cafe on the basement.

Note: Before you go to bed ask the attendant to call for a local massage therapist. It costs only 300- 400 pesos. You can ose any type of massage you want. This will give you relaxation as well as forgetting all of your worries.

Eating
If you don ot want to cook your own food I recommend eating at Masferre Inn and Restaurant (Ph: 09483416464). The food here is among the best in town, but what really makes this place stand out are the awesome, powerful prints of the late sagda-born photographer Eduardo Masferre. Ask teh attendant for a tour of the Masferre Gallery.
I also recommend the Yoghurt House. you can fuel up here with mountain coffee and delicious homemade yoghurt before long day of hiking or caving.

ATTRACTIONS IN SAGADA (Click to see all attractions)

Sumaguing Caves
Latang Caves
Lumiang Burial Caves
Sugong Coffins
Echo Valley
Bokong Waterfalls
Bumod-ok Falls

CADLAO ISLAND - EL NIDO

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:50:00 +0000

Cadlao Island is like a mini-Tahiti relocated to the Bacuit Archipelago. In addition to being a wonderful piece of eye candy for those staying on the beach in El Nido, it is also home to lovely Cadlao Lagoon. this lagoon offers some good snorkelling in shallow coral gardens that lie off the beach at the head of the bay.

MATINLOC AND TAPIUTAN ISLANDS - EL NIDO

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:36:00 +0000

Like the back of a half-submetged stegosaurus, Matinloc Island snakes some 8 km along the western edge of the Bacuit archipelago. Along with neighbouring Tapiutan Island, it forms a narrow Tapiutan Strait, the walls of which offer some of the best snorkelling in the archipelago. Likewise, there is some excellent snorkelling and some good beaches on the eastern side of Matinloc.

The adventurous will surely want to check the tiny Secret Beach, which can only be entered by swimming through a keyhole slot in the western wall of Matinloc. But be warned, the entrance is lined with extremely jagged corral - do not even think of swimming through with any waves around as an accident could be fatal.

MINILOC ISLAND - EL NIDO

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:18:00 +0000

Miniloc island is perhaps the most interesting of the islands in nothern Palawan. teh real attractions hera are Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, two of the most photographed sights in all of Palawan.

Big Lagoon is entered by an extremely shallow channel. Inside, surrounded by jungle -clad karst walls, is an enormous swimming hole. to enter Small lagoon, you can swim through a hole in arock wall or paddle through ina kayak at low tide - be sure to leave before the tide changes, otherwise you might not be able to squeeze back through. Inside is a wondrful hidden world, complete witha a small cave that you can swim into and explore.

EL NIDO - Experience the Extraordinary

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:30:00 +0000

EL NIDO

Much like towns the world over that the geteways to beautiful sights, the ordinariness of EL Nido only hightens the contrast between mundane and the sublime; in this case it is the base for exploring the fabolous Bacuit Archipelago. In Spansh it it means "the nest", El Nido sandwihich between towering limestone karst clifs and Bacuit Bay, is full of rickety buildings creeping onto the beach. watching the sunset from the beach in town is like being int the audience for a performance by mother nature - center stage is the looming Cadlao Island just offshore. Taking a room in town means being close to restaurants and beachside bars, but also closer to the everyday sights and sounds; you can stay in one of the nearby communities or dump some cash for accomodation in the archipelago itself .

MAIN ISLANDS AT EL NIDO

Miniloc Island (click for more info)
Matinloc & Tapiutan Islands (click for more info)
Cadlao Island (click for more info)

Getting To El Nido by Air

Considering El Nido is one of the Philippine's prime tourist destination, it is surprisingly very difficult to reach by air. In the meantime, only ITI is flying to El Nido's Lio Airport, 4 km north of the town. A tricycle to or from the airport costs P150 (Philippine Peso). You can also hire a boat from town to take you to the airoirt for P600 for hour.

Getting to El Nido by Boat
The most important boat service or visitors to northern Palawan is the El Nido- Coron connection. the Jessabel 1 and Jessabel 2 (Ph:09093518234) leave Tuesday and Friday at 7:30 am (P2000, 7 hours ride). Another larger boat, the M/B Asian Fairy (Ph:09186613960) services the El Nido-Coron route every Wedneday and Sunday.

Sleeping In El Nido

Rosanna's Beach Cottages Ph: 091869374280; email: rosannascottages_elnido@yahoo.com

Cliffside Cottages Ph:09197856625

Tandikan Cottages Ph: 09203184882; email: tandikan_elnido@yahoo.com

Island Front Cottages Ph: 09176183030

One to Two Months Stay in the PHILIPPINES

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:33:00 +0000

Manila is the obvious place to start. After a couple of days exploring the capital, head north to the mountanous Cordillera region, stoping in Banawe to se the world famous reice terraces, and laidback Sagada to enjoy the cool mountain air. Form Noth Luzon, head back through Manila nd and continue south by bus to Souteast Luzon's Bicol region. This is the Philippines' adventure capital, with surfing, wakeboarding, volcano climbing and diving. Around Legaspi you can experience whale sharks of Donsol or climb part of the way up Mt. Mayon Volcano.

Proceeding south , cross the san Bernardino Strait to the rugged easternVisayan islands of Samar and Leyt. Stop of in Imelda Marcos's town, Tacloban, for some great food and World War II experience at nearby Red Beach. use Tacloban as a base to explore Sohoto caves and Natuaral Bridge National Park before catching a boat to the Visayan capital Cebu City. Board a ferry to Bohol, with its famous tree-dwelling tarsiers and Chocolate Hills , plus the diving wonderlands of Panglao Island.

Adventurous travellers will want to make their way to Ubay, near Anda, and returna ferry to Southern Leyte, where ferries head south to Mindanao. In addition, Mindanao features legendary surfing in siargao and superb diving, island hopping and outdoor activities on Camiguin Island. If you dont want to visit Mindanao, you could head from Bohol to Negros, then follow the beautiful rugged coastlines of Negros and neighbouring Panay north all the way to Boracay for a few days of well-deserved tropical indulgence on the Philippines' most hippest and beautiful island.

Staying One to two weeks in the PHILIPPINES

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:59:00 +0000

Many visitors to the Philippines use Manila as a jumping-off point to more popular tourist spots, but the capital offers plenty to keep you occupied for a day or two. If you have a week to spend in the country, start off with 2 days in Manila doing a one-day tour of historic sights, such as Intramuros, and another day for modern Manila as embodied by Makati City and other centers of contempoprary urban development.

Having experience a little of Philippine life in the big city, you will be ready to hit the countryside. Beach lovers should fly straight to Boracay with its unmatched white beach, and plenty of activities and nightlife to keep you entertained. For a more mellow beach experience, fly to Dumaguete and find a secluded spot in the southern Negros or Siquijor.

Divers can head to Puerto Galera where you will find plentyof dive buddies, and fish along with some mischievous nightlife. If you prefer to hike some mountains go north to the "eight wonder of the world" where you can find the ancient rice terraces of Banawe. If you have time while in the Cordillera, tack on a trip to nearby Sagada or explore more rice terraces around Bontoc before heading back via the Philippines' summer capital - Baguio City.