Choosing Between the Three Wonders of Puerto Princesa

September 3, 2011 by Anita  
Filed under Travel And Leisure

Rich Quiambao asked:




Puerto Princesa, the famed city of the Palawan Islands in the Philippines, may very well be the last a bastion of nature and man coexisting together. Not that the Philippines has a shortage in nature and wildlife, but Puerto Princesa is unique in making progress to harmonize with its blessings.

This effort in harmony can be seen in the famous city’s three prime destinations for tourists: The Subterranean River, the Honda Bay Islands and the Crocodile Farm.

The Underground River Tour
Deep in the recesses of Mt. St. Paul is an 8.2 kilometer underground river. This underground river has an unofficial status of being one of the seven new natural wonders of the world, so majestic and awesome this river cave is. After two and a half hour land trip from the city, you will each Sitio Sabang, where a lagoon teeming with fish and wildlife greets the tourists.

The underground river is part of the Puerto Princesa River National Park, which is declared as a world heritage site. It is one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world. Here, the locals ban motor-powered boats, since they want to preserve the natural beauty of the cave and do away with pollution. Canoe type boats are used to ferry tourists in and out of the cave.

It is a joy to see the rock formations in this cave, precisely because the locals try their best to preserve them. The Stalactites and stalagmites after all, are meant to be seen, not defiled.

Monitor lizards, monkeys and exotic birds can be seen from the mouth leading to the cave. A deeper exploration of the virgin rainforest is an enjoyable alternative for ******** nature lovers.

Honda Bay
Guides and port staff are just eager to recommend which islands should not be missed in Honda Bay. Island hopping is the best trip for families and beach lovers. Abundant seafood is available for lunch. Only 30 minutes away form the airport here, Honda Bay is open from 7am to 5pm, so it is best to reserve a day of your vacation time to appreciate this.

Snake Island, named for its shape are a popular attraction, while Starfish Island is fun for children hoping t see some starfish. Fish- feeding in Luli Island is a great activity that does not endanger the fishes or the environment itself. There is also Bat Island and Pandan Island. The remarkable thing here is that guides and boatmen see to it that rules are followed, that no littering is permitted. There is a preservation that comes form the locals themselves so foreigners follow.

The Crocodile Farm and Nature Park
The Crocodile Farm and Nature Park is a government conservation project that is nonetheless open to visitors and tourists. There are only so much crocodile conservations in the Philippines and this place in Puerto Princesa is one of them.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to observe crocodiles in their early stages and in their habitat. The remains of a 17-ft long Asian crocodile is preserved in the Farm. It was said that it was actually found in Tubatha Reef in Palawan. This is definitely a mist-see if you are in Puerto Princesa. Once again, the locals have managed to combine the preservation of wildlife while showcasing it.

Man and nature existing side by side, helping one another. This is quite possible, making Puerto Princesa a unique example that should be followed.

Caffeinated Content

Cheap Flights To Manila, Philippines – Why Finding One Is Well Worth Your Time And Effort

June 8, 2011 by Anita  
Filed under Travel And Leisure

Pedro Endo asked:




Philippines is a nice distinctive place to visit. With its tropical weather and excellent varieties of beaches and resorts, anyone would easily fall in love with this wonderful country located in the south eastern part of Asia.

My experience of stay in the Philippines makes me want to plan an immediate return for another vacation. If you are thinking of traveling to the Philippines, you should definitely be a little familiar with its main city capital called Manila. This is where you will most likely plan your flight arrival destination to end up at.

Finding cheap flights to Manila is not that easy, you need to do researching as well as planning ahead of time. Flights to other local airport destinations may not be cheaper since manila is the main capital of the country. So, almost all international flights are routed thru the city’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, thus, more scheduled flights and much lesser expenses for airline companies.

However, Cebu Mactan International Airport has been gaining international flights already. At the time of this writing, they have 6 regular direct international flights. Taipei is the most recently added trip to their list of scheduled flights, and is scheduled for at least twice a week. It maybe a little expensive compared to a Manila flight, but if you intend to go anywhere near Cebu area like Bohol or somewhere around the Visayas region, then it would be a fairly good option to take advantage at. Another international Airport would be in Davao which has 3 international daily scheduled flights, to Singapore, to Koror Palau, and to Manado Indonesia.

Airfares are usually the most expensive part of a vacation trip, next to it would be hotel accommodations, this is why most of those who plan to visit the Philippines would surely want to go after those cheap flights to Manila. Nevertheless, once you arrive in the country, most of the things you will find there have adequately cheap prices, like food, transportation, souvenir items, clothing stuffs, and other accessories you may want to buy, way much cheaper compared to buying the same things from other countries.

Further more tips in finding cheap flights to Manila would be:

o Asking for quotations from travel agencies

o Surfing the internet to compare and get the best rates out there

o If you are from USA, then there are lots of Filipino agents selling cheap airfares to Manila, do try asking for them around your neighborhood

o Planning ahead on specific dates will give you bigger savings

o Most airlines offer huge discounts if booked earlier, but you must be sure about the schedule of your flight, otherwise you may end up getting charged for more should you request to cancel or change your flight schedule later on

o Some companies give discounts if you pay them via credit card, you should take advantage of such offer

o Other companies even accept travel mileage points to cover for your airfare

Caffeinated Content for WordPress

Philippines Travel – My Decision to Live in the Philippines for Good

March 26, 2011 by Anita  
Filed under Travel And Leisure

J.P. Miller asked:




Let me tell you about my decision to move from the comfort and safety of my apartment in the United States for a third world country in Asia. ( The Philippines )

I had a fairly successful internet business in California that was pretty much on auto pilot and producing monthly income that would allow me to live comfortably anywhere in the world. All I needed was an internet connection and a few hours a week to manage the business and do some updates to my web sites. So that left almost any country I wanted to live in available to me.

I decided to move the Philippines. I had lived in the country with my father about 10 years earlier and enjoyed my time there. The people are very friendly and there are many fun places to visit and take in the culture and attractions the country offers.

I put everything I owned in storage and got my plane ticket to leave the United States. It took me 3 weeks from the time I thought about going back to the time I stepped off the plane at Ninoy Aquino International airport in Manila. My friend has a travel agency in Manila so I booked my traveling arrangements through his company.

Once I got through customs I had arranged for the hotel car to pick me up so I just looked for the guy holding up a sign with my name on it and off we went to the hotel. At that time I had to stay in a hotel but I planned on staying a long time, so during the next few weeks I spent a lot of time looking for an apartment to rent.

After about 2 weeks of looking for a place to stay I finally settled into my apartment in Makati, witch is the business capital of the Philippines I used a rental broker that basically drove me around the city to different apartments that I wanted to look at. It is a free service, the broker just gets a commission from the Unit owner for finding somebody to lease there unit.

I have happily lived here for 5 years now and currently looking to try and start a business in manila as my savings has been depleted and my former Internet business in the United States is no longer operational.

Living in this country has been very enjoyable, from the friendly people to the beautiful places to see in this tropical country. I highly recommend to anybody that they visit the Philippines and it is the 3rd largest English speaking country in the world so you seldom have trouble finding somebody that wont understand you.

Some of the things you can do if you plan to vacation or live here are.

1. Scuba Diving

2. Surfing

3. Night Life ( Lots of lovely girls in this country )

4. Back Packing

5. Mountain Climbing

Most people come here to visit one of the many beach resorts on Luzon or one of the many surrounding islands. There are over 7,000 islands in the country. The most popular places are:

Borakay:

The most popular beach island for tourist wanting fun and sun. Borakay has the most beautiful white sandy beaches I have ever seen, there is a lot of night life and water sports available. If in manila there are domestic flights that will take you to borakay. The flight is approximately 1:30

Puerto Galera:

This Is a beautiful place with nice coves and wonderful views of the coral reef. Most of the resorts here cater to scuba diving enthusiasts. They do have beaches and you can always go swimming or rent a jet ski, but the main goal of this peaceful area is to help people go scuba diving. I have been scuba diving there many times and it is very fun, if your a beginner they have PADI dive courses available that will have you explore the underwater world in only a few days. To get to Puerto Galera from Manila you would take a scheduled bus ride that is about 4 hours long, once the bus stops you then board the SEACAT ferry that will take you to Puerto Galera. The boat ride is very relaxing and drinks are served.

I’m sure you will enjoy your time in the Philippines just like I have.

Caffeinated Content for WordPress

Travel Preparation Tips

January 24, 2011 by Anita  
Filed under Travel And Leisure

Robert J. Carlton asked:




Do you have your trip booked and ready to take off on a dream vacation? There are some things to remember when preparing for your trip. Forgetting something or being ill prepared won’t be the end of the world but the added frustration can be prevented. Travel preparation is crucial and here are some tips.

Some people brag about how many outfits or how many shoes they packed. Over packing can create unnecessary headaches and frustration. If you need formal clothing then bring one outfit and several accessories. If you’re going to the beach then don’t bring any cold weather clothes since you won’t need them. Bring clothing that is of the same color scheme so you can mix and match easily. Neutral colors such as black and beige are easy to dress up or dress down and accessorize. Transfer toiletries into travel size containers and put them in leak proof sealable bags.

If you’ll be hiking or trekking then bring a backpack for a carryon since you’re sure to need one. If you’re planning on doing some shopping then consider bringing a half empty bag since you’ll need space for your purchases. Save space in your bag by stuffing shoes and folding your clothes as compact as possible.

If you’re traveling with young children then pack a small bag for them to carry. Include some favorite snacks and some new toys to keep them occupied. Consider bringing a portable DVD player so they can watch their favorite kids show or cartoon. Think twice about coloring books and crayons; they may sound like a good idea but there is a temptation to draw on seats and tray tables.

It can be hard, if not impossible to find prescription medication at an airport or on the road so pack any medications that you may need in your carry on bag. If your child needs medication or has allergies, ensure you bring their medication as well.

If you’re taking a tour to a place like the scenic spots of Benidorm then check with the company or tour guide and find out what amenities are provided. They can also advise you on what items to bring with you. Keep in mind that many things such as toiletries, film and camping equipment can be purchased at your destination.

Never pack your travel documents, medication or money in your checked luggage since there is a chance that your bag may be delayed or lost. Most countries have ATM’s so there is no need to carry large amounts of cash.

If you’re traveling by plane then make sure you get to the airport and check in as early as possible. Many airlines allow you to you check in and print your boarding passes at home.

Now you’re prepared and ready to take your dream vacation. Take plenty for pictures!

Caffeinated Content

Cebu; Central Visayan Metropolis – Philippines

September 19, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under Travel

Peter Garant asked:


Region 7 in the Philippines is characterized as central Visayas with places such as Dumaguete, Bohol, Siquijor and most importantly Cebu. Cebu is one of the biggest cities in the Visayas and it is the ultimate trade city of the south. Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines and has the only International Airport in the Visayas which makes Cebu an important metropolis in the Visayas.

The native language of the Philippines is Tagalog, but the native language of Cebu is Cebuano, which is also spoken in other places such as Bohol, Leyte, Negros Oriental and parts of Mindanao. Every city in the Philippines has a patron saint and the patron saint of Cebu happens to be Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are many religious events in Cebu and the saint that is widely used by the natives is Santo Niño de Cebu. A whole festival is dedicated to him, called the Sinulog which is celebrated every January with street shows and dances.

Cebu is the center of economic activity in the central Visayas. The total investments, export and import of Cebu city totals an amount of an estimated 10 Million US dollars, which makes Cebu a powerful metropolis. Cebu has big industries including electronic, computer, food processing and most importantly mining and shipping industries. When you take a bus to Cebu city you will see the big coal mines near the sea and you will even drive underneath a mining company that is situated alongside the highway. Most of the shipping industries are located in Cebu which makes this metropolis the most and easiest accessible city in the Philippines. National and International shipping is going through Cebu and the city earns millions just from the shipping taxes and toll taxes.

Other multimillion business chances can be found in the Mactan International Airport at Mactan City, Cebu. This International Airport gives access to all the trade opportunities in Asia, Europe and the US. Cebu is also the home of the International Convention Center in which the 12th ASEAN summit has been held where world leaders congregated. This shows that Cebu is already the international metropolis that it should be. The education in Cebu is also very international. The first International Academy of Film and Television has been established in Mactan, Cebu in 2004 and is the only international film school in the Central Visayas.

The central Visayas also have a big network of print media and broadcasting media. Cebu itself has three local newspapers that are published daily and several other little tabloids and community newspapers. Broadcasting outlets are also numerous in the queen city of the south. Cebu has three television stations that can be accessed through cable and a total of 23 radio stations with 13 AM radio stations and 20 FM radio stations. This is just another proof that Cebu City is not only the oldest city in the Philippines, but also one of the richest and economically stronger cities in the Philippines.

You can also find many historical monuments in this central Visayan city. One of the most important and often visited monuments is the Magellan’s Cross. Magellan’s Cross can be found in a small chapel that is located next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, which is fronting Cebu’s city hall. Cebu has something for everybody; good food, great malls for shopping, and monuments for your cultural desires. Cebu will be unlike any other city you can visit in the Central Visayas.



Philippines Hotels- a Perfect Retreat to Experience Nature’s Charm

September 11, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

Ritu Raj Mishra asked:


Configuring 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, Philippines, officially known as Republic of the Philippines, is an Asian beauty that captivates every traveler with its natural charm and magnetism. This archipelago beauty is the only Southeast Asian nation that shares no land boundaries with its neighboring countries. From the rich history that has a combined influence of Asian, European and American cultures to the eye-catching landscapes and from thriving cities that reveals the vibrancy of modern world to the relaxed and pleasant environment of beaches, Philippines is a land of themes and regions that ultimately rocks you. Besides, the cheap transportation, wonderful gourmet delights, and plentiful accommodation choices make it a dream destination for your vacation. Serving all sorts of travelers, hotels in Philippines are a major contributor in the tourism sector of the country.

Philippines has a colorful history of hundreds of ethnic groups and showcase a blend of its art and culture. The country has a sum of 79 provinces divided among three main island groups namely Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Luzon comprises the northernmost island groups, Visayas has the central island groups and Mindanao features the southernmost island groups. Manila is the most popular city and the capital of the country lying in Luzon group of Islands. Other important cities include Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Bohol and Vigan.

Getting in Philippines is very easy as tourists from most foreign countries get a free 3-week tourist visa. Besides, you can even apply for a visa extension valid for 59 days. But, it is better to apply for longer visa before traveling here, to avoid any kind of hassle. To reach this country, international travelers can fly to the capital city or any of the major cities having an international airport like Cebu, Davao, Laoag and so on. Most tourists, though, prefer to travel to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila. Getting around Philippines is also very easy as there are a lot many domestic airlines available to serve tourists who want to travel to different destinations within the country. Trains, cars, taxi, bus, boat, jeep are other modes of transportation that can be used here for commuting.

There are various things to see in Philippines including its beautiful beaches. Boracay Island is popular for its lovely white sand beach. Some of the other beautiful beaches are in Mactan Island, Pagudpud, Panglao, and Puerto Galera amongst others. With its innumerable water bodies, this island provides a good option for scuba diving. As far as food is concerned, the cuisine of Philippines is influenced by different cultures that flourished here. The food available here is a mélange of Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, American, and Spanish tastes. Rice is the staple food of the people of this country.

Most of the reputed chains of hotels in Philippines are situated in its popular cities and main tourist attractions like Manila, Cebu, Boracay, and Davao etc. Bayview Park, Dusit thani Manila, Best Western Astor, and Oxford suites are a few good hotels in Manila. Similarly, Cebu also has some popular hotels namely, Maribago Blue water, Midtown, White Sands, Waterfront etc. To book a hotel in any of the cities in Philippines, you can take the help of the online internet reservation facility. You can directly visit the official website of the hotel and make the booking or can use the help of any other available websites that offer complete information. So, go ahead and enjoy a fabulous vacation in Philippines.