- Travel Tales and Destinations

My mom will be flying home for a vacation on January.  Too bad, my dad could not go with her since his contract hasn’t expired yet and is allowed only to take a leave on June.  At any rate, I’m looking forward to mom’s vacation because we’ll be tagging along with her when she’ll visit my grandma in our hometown, Isabela.  It’ll be my 2 year old son’s first time to visit our province and I’m sure he’ll enjoy the refreshing sceneries, the fresh fruits and veggies he’ll be served, his cousins and relatives he’d be meeting for the first time and the farm animals he’ll see.  I heard that we’d be extended communion invitations as well from a niece so that would be a momentous celebration to witness.

Speaking of my home town, Isabela’s not that well known compared to other Northern Luzon provinces such as Ilocos, Pangasinan and La Union but here are some facts worth noting about our lovely province:

- second largest province of the Philippines

- capital is Ilagan City, located in the Cagayan Valley Region (Region II)

- rice and corn granary of Luzon

- Ilocanos are the most prominent group followed by Ibanag, Gaddang, Paranan and other ethnic groups

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One of the most popular tourist destinations here in the Philippines is the Cebu Island. It is known to be the Queen City of the South. The Cebu Island has so many things to offer. It is the very first province conquered by Spain in the 16th century which makes it rich in history.

Cebu City is considered as the oldest city in the country with Calle Colon as its oldest street. Not only is Cebu rich in history, it also has beautiful places that tourist usually visits like the Plantation Bay Resort & Spa in Cebu which is one of the most classy and beautiful resorts in the province.

Cebu also boasts of the beautiful islands surrounding it like Camotes, Bantayan, Malapascua and Sumilon. The Olanggo island in Cebu is now also becoming a part of the tourism industry. It is famous for its bird sanctuary and for the different experience that the Talima resort offers to its visitors.

Another reason why tourists come and visit Cebu is because of its popular festival known as the Sinulog Festival which is celebrated every January. Thousands of people from around the country and even the world come and witness as the Cebuanos join together in dance and worship of the child Jesus. Cebu indeed is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

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From Tampi, it’ll be a 45 minutes ride to get to Bais City. You’d know you’re already in Bais City, Negros Oriental once you see the Narrow Gauge Railway. Sugarcanes will be waving along the highway, welcoming the tourists. The scenery gives a province-serene type of feeling, literally a breath of fresh air, a good way of taking a few days off from the crowded metropolis and busy streets of the city.

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The Santo Nino Shrine and Heritage Centre is located in Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte. Leyte is a province in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines.  

The mansion was built for Imelda Marcos, former President Ferdinand Marcos’ wife. It is a house made of elaborate designs, ornate patterns, obviously expensive materials – porcelain, ivory, jade, Persian carpets among other pricey-pieces. The house is lavishly decorated with paintings of Malakas and Maganda, the Holy Child of Fernando Amorsolo and paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross, a twenty and a thirty-seater dining set, a magnificent furniture collection and antiques from different parts of the world.

The bedrooms downstairs have thematic decors for different regions like Muslim, Ifugao, etc. Each room has an Austrian mirror and a diorama, depicting Imelda’s life story with the use of Russian dolls.

The rooms on the second floor were for the Marcoses. The house has more than 12 bedrooms, none of which were slept in. This paints a clear picture of luxury of the past, the extravagance of the Marcoses and the poverty and confusion of the Filipino people. It is believed to be one of the many proofs of the ill-gotten wealth by the Marcoses.

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Who could have thought that the longest dual zip-line in Asia will be established in the Southern part of the Philippines. Although Nostradamus didn’t seem to predict this event, it has already happened; and it is something every Filipino should be proud of. As for now, the Filipino people still remains triumphant with the title and the legal right to acclaim and proudly say ”the only one in Asia!”

Dahilayan Adventure Park is a famous tourist destination for many. It is peacefully situated on the glorious highlands of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The venue is only 40 kilometres away from the Cagayan De Oro City proper. The exact location is cold despite of the scorching heat in lower areas since the park is elevated 4,700 feet above sea level.

There are plenty of different things to do in Dahilayan Adventure Park. Visitors can go horseback riding. Try the zorbit, rock-climbing, Hop on a mini-boat ski ride or immerse themselves on a wild but safe all-terrain vehicle ride for teens and adults.

Visitors can also go on a hike and enjoy the goodness of nature. But best of all, to complete the fun and make most out of their trip to Dahilayan Adventure Park; they should try the main attraction of the park. The zip zone is the most honoured amenity in Dahilayan Adventure Park because it is where the Asia’s longest dual zip-line activities begin.

The total length of the dual carrying cable and the safety cable is 840 meters long. The total length of cables is 2,460 meters with an elevation drop of 100 meters and an estimated speed of around 60-100 kilometre per hour. The longest dual zip-line in Asia is perfectly safe; and for the record, a magnificent 2-year old kid and a courageous 77-year old man safely made it through the longest dual zip-line in Asia.

Image Credits:

philippine-travel-blog.blogspot.com

explorecdo.com

cebu-philippines.net

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Are you a beach bum? Have you ever wanted so bad to see beautiful, soft, white sands, clear, aqua blue waters and swim with gorgeous marine life? Have you ever felt that thrilling feeling that washes over you when you see something so beautiful?

The Philippines, a tropical island in the South East part of Asia, is one of the best places to go diving and beach hopping.

El Nido, an island in Palawan is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. With islands like Secret Beach, Hidden Beach and Snake Island, El Nido is as breathtaking as the sunset at 7 Commandos.

Boracay, Philippines’ party island yet famous for powdery, white sands and amazing aquatic life, this island is a yearly tourist spot for people from all over the world.

Pagudpud is located at the northernmost part of the Philippines, making it seem as if on the end of the island itself. This is why; Pagudpud has one of the most breathtaking sunsets you can see on the beach.

Coron, another of Palawan’s bets, this island boasts of gorgeous marine life, amazing beaches and an incredible set of island life for you to enjoy.

Amanpulo is a private island that can only be accessed via the resorts’ Dornier, making it one of the most expensive resorts in the world – yet one of the most beautiful. With serene waters, magnificent scenery, excellent service and world class accommodations, this private resort offers an exclusive diving experience with incredible sea creatures and baby sharks.

Each island has breathtaking scenery and majestic natural environment; once you take a step onto one of these islands, you’ll surely be begging to see the other islands soon!

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What was it about Boracay that magically draws thousands and thousands of visitors all throughout the year? As far as I was concerned, there had to be a logical reason behind all the hype, and why Boracay has been dubbed as the most popular tourist destination in the country. Packed with my lack of swimming skills and the desire to figure out why Boracay is so popular, I went with a couple of my friends for a weekend stay.

The Arrival

Our flight was on time and quick, and we didn’t have any trouble at all. We took our bags and headed for the hotel which we also booked at the same time with our flight – sort of like a packaged deal. The hotel was any hotel you’d expect, nothing flashy but comfy. After settling in our rooms and donning our swimsuits, it was time to head to the beach.

The Beach, The Sand, and Everything Else

I’ve been to other beaches in the northern part of the country, but whoa! When we got to the beach, everything looked absolutely spectacular. I loved how the fine white sand was really what it was – white and fine, and the sand had its way of sneaking in between your toes which wasn’t irritating at all, not to mention the fact that it was very fine in texture. There were a lot of people on blankets and chairs basking in the sun, and a whole lot more in the water having fun.

I think it’s more of the relaxed ambiance that Boracay has during the daytime and the fun, energetic vibe that comes to life at night. We partied all night till dusk, enjoyed another round of fun when we woke up the following day, and sported our tans back to the city. Now I knew what the hype was about, and I sure wasn’t disappointed.

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Traveling in the Philippines is fun and exciting. There is just so many places to visit. Being a country made up of 7107 islands and with a rich culture and history, Philippine travel is a great experience. I have lived in the Philippines all my life, and I’m looking forward to visiting as many islands as I could. For the past two years now, I have been traveling a lot and I have seen that there are just so many things that the Philippines has to offer to foreign tourists. From a variety of great places to visit to great foods and restaurants. The Philippines is also very rich in history. It being a colony of Spain for three centuries, it boasts of great architectural structures from churches to forts used during the war. Philippine culture also never ceases to amaze many foreigners because of it being a mixture of many races. Philippines is also proud of its natural wonders with its great beaches and beautiful volcanoes. For me, Philippines is the best place to travel.

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A breathtaking paronamic breathtaking panoramic view of Benguet’s gold and copper mines and the surrounding mountains taken on one dusky December evening at Mines View Park. Tourists here can shop, explore and view the majesti scenery.

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