Top 3 Destinations In The Philippines
December 24, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Tourist Attractions
The Philippines is an archipelago, having 7, 107 islands, and is abundant in nature, warm people, natural wonders, and filled with pleasant discoveries. Philippines is now considered as one of the top destination in the world, having 1.5 million foreign tourist arrivals for the first semester this year.
With hundreds of destinations in the country, the top 3 on my list are the following:
1. Boracay
Boracay is located in the northwest corner of Panay Island that belongs to the Visayas island group of central Philippines in the Pacific. It is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, and now, became an international destination too. The White Beach and Bulabog Beach are just the two primary tourism beaches, which are located on opposite sides of the island.
Aside from taking dip of the crystal blue water, you can also take a boat around the island, hire a motorbike or scooter to explore the place, or go horse back riding, and experience the native villages and sceneries that usual visitors don’t do.
And, did I tell you that Boracay has one of the most beautiful sunsets? Well, you don’t surely want to miss it. And, the fun doesn’t end there yet, since Boracay nightlife is pulsating with so many bars and restaurants around that will give you fun until dawn.
2. Bohol
Located in the Central Visayas region, Bohol is the home of hospitable and warm people. Boholanos, as what the natives are called, are very proud of the natural wonders that are bestowed in the island. To name a few, it is the home of the famous Chocolate Hills! Imagine seeing no less than 1268 hills, that are uniform in shape and will turn chocolate brown during summer, and from which the name was derived. You can also see the Tarsiers, one of the smallest known primates and be amazed when they turned their heads by 180 degrees.
Bohol is also blessed with a numerous white sand beaches, and Panglao Island is one of the famous destinations, having powdery sand. It has a large number of top class diving sites, which both foreign and local divers would consider it as diver’s haven.
3. Palawan
Palawan is located in the Western Visayas Region and the islands stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. The place is for adventure seekers and nature lovers and its famous for its marine sanctuaries, white sand beaches, and exotic wildlife.
One of the “a-must-see” in Palawan is the Tabon Cave. It is a 138-hectares, of rugged cliffs and deep slopes. Because of its importance to Philippine History and heritage, the site was declared a Museum Reservation Site by virtue by the Philippine Government.
Another is the El Nido marine reserve. The scenic landscapes, crystal clear waters and the isolation from the big crowd of the city usually attracts and fascinates the travelers of the place. Kayaking, snorkeling, diving, hiking to the peak of the island, bird watching, sunbathing in a white beach are just some of the activities you can enjoy.
There are still a lot of things that Philippines offers, and it’s just there, waiting to be discovered. So, travel in the Philippines now!
Philippines’ Pamalican Island
December 18, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Hotels
Whenever we hear Philippines, we think of luscious forests, warm smiles of Filipinos and white sand beaches. Speaking of beaches, Boracay always comes to your mind as a beach-freak. Aside from the infamous Boracay, there are other white sand beaches in the tropics. Pamalican Island, apart from Boracay, is a small island that belongs in Cuyo Group of Islands located at the heart of Palawan and Panay. It is also the home of the high-end Amanpulo Island Resort.
Having the name Amanpulo (which means peaceful) spells it’s true meaning and added to that feature is it’s alluring beauty and tranquility. However, to transport tourists from Manila to the island, there is always an airplane standing by. It is also used to transport goods and supplies to the island. The island can accommodate less than 100 people to stay. That is an assurance that the place is not that crowded compared to Boracay and Puerto Galera. The fact that it’s so small you can tour the whole island in 3-5 hours walk.
If you think walking around the island is boring, think again. The island has so many activities to offer just like diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and beach combing. If you feel the romantic ambiance, try to arrange a barbecue night out with your date or simply grab your picnic basket and do your picnicking on the neighbor island. You can also indulge yourself in the island’s casitas (bungalow) that goes with a personal buggy. So if vacation is what you have in mind, always include Pamalican Island in your list of travel destinations in Asia.
Travel destinations: The Philippines – Part 5
December 3, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Restaurants
Asian countries are a sure hit if you are looking for sun destinations. Philippines, located in the South East Asia is one of the most beautiful countries you can find in Asia. The country is rich with the natural resources and cultures that can be found nowhere else in the world. There are many reasons to visit the Philippines and I would love to do the honour of naming you some.
1.The beaches in the Philippines are rich with white sand and natural coral reefs. It offers various diving sites for those in the look for beautiful works of the sea. Some famous diving sites are located in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Anilao Batangas. If you are more adventurous, you can also choose to dive in the sunken cemetery in Camiguin, Philippines.
The famous Boracay beaches are full of tourists on peak seasons. Boracay is famous for its white sand beaches, night life and mouth watering grilled seafood. If you prefer a quieter beach, you can always head to Palawan with several Islands for the budgets that you have. If you want to follow the lifestyles of Hollywood stars who have visited the island, you should visit Amanpulo or El Nido in Palawan. Palawan also houses one of the nominees for the new 7 wonders of nature, the Subterranean River National Park.
2.If you are up for shopping, Philippines is the place to be. There are so many choices for shopping malls all over the country. Including the SM Mall of Asia which is overlooking the Bay. SM mall of Asia offers a wide range of stores and food choices for their shoppers. It is best to dine on restaurants that overlook the bay at night time. Other malls that I will suggest are Glorietta and Greenbelt in Makati City the business capital of the Philippines. SM malls all over the country and Podium in Pasig City.
If you like cheaper goods you could also try to visit the Divisoria mall located at the heart of Manila. You can haggle to lower prices and buy a lot for as little money as you want.
3.If you are on the look for Philippine’s yummiest delicacies you will have to say there’s too many choices and too little tummy to fill. If you enjoy pork barbeque you should not miss the food court outside Market Market Mall in Taguig City. If you are looking for seafood you can visit Dampa in Paranaque City, in there you can shop for fresh seafood and have them cook it for you however you want it.
4.Philippines also offer a lot of historical and religious places to visit. If you are looking for churches to go to, you should visit Baclaran church in the Philippines. The Fort Santiago is also one of the places where the Philippine’s National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was once imprisoned.
5.Tricycles! If Thais have their tuk-tuk, Filipinos have tricycles with 3 wheels of course that are used to travel short distances at a very small price. We also have jeepneys for public transport.
6.Christmas season is one of the best seasons to visit the Philippines. Almost every single place is decorated with Christmas lights and their own sets of designs. The Christmas village in Pampangga City showcases different styles of the “Parol” which is a Star that has lights that can be found only in the Philippines.
Whether you are looking for one of a kind city life or a retreat to nature the Philippines is the perfect place for you. There are so many reason why you should visit the Philippines. You can visit the website of Experience Philippines to find more information about the country http://www.experiencephilippin es.ph/ .
Beautiful places in the Philippines
November 12, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Hotels
There are different places that can be considered as Paradise Philippines. Places that is suitable for the best vacation spots for the tourist, either for foreigners or for locals. Vacations spots like Baguio, Boracay, Siargao, Palawan, Subic Bay, Anilao, Puerto Galera, and other places to be seen.
White-sand Beaches like Boracay, Siargao, Samal, and Palawan are very famous to the tourists who are taking a vacation in the Philippines. They are the best paradises found in the Philippines because these tourist spots are very relaxing.
Boracay is one of the best vacation spots in the Philippines because it is a very famous tourist attraction. Because of the famous white sand beaches, many foreigners go to this island because of the view and tranquillity of the place. Boracay is located in the north western tip of Panay Island, and in western Visayas. There are three barangays that build up the island, Balabag, Yapak and Manocmanoc. Like Baguio city, Boracay became independent in April, 1956 and after being undiscovered, it became a tourist attraction from 1970 onwards. Two beaches are known in Boracay, the White Beach and Bulabog Beach. White beach is named because of the color of the sand. Living in Paradise Philippines
Island where resorts, hotels, and buildings are included in the places to be seen in this beach. Bulabog Island, on the other hand, is a place where people do windsurfing and kiteboarding.
Another known as Paradise Philippines is Siargao Island, located in the east of Surigao Del Norte and southeast tip of Mindanao. It is also famous for its white sand beaches and one of the best places for surfing. Palawan’s beaches are also beautiful because of their white sand beaches and awesome exotic flora and fauna that can be rarely found. Saint Paul’s National park is another famous place that can be found in Palawan because of its caves lying in the underground river. El Nido is a famous resort that can be found in Palawan because of the limestone cliffs.
Anilao maybe is the nearest famous beach near Manila. Being famous for its accommodations and diving facilities, many tourists are very interested to this place because it is famous for diving purposes. Anilao is just three hours journey from Manila. You can just take the bus or drive by a private car. Although, Anilao’s beaches are not recommended for swimming, but they are also considered as the best vacation spots in the Paradise Philippines.
Subic Bay is another tourist spot in the Philippines because of its white beaches. Subic is a former naval base for the United States forces. Being famous for its attractive bay, beaches in the Grande Island, the Aeta tribal village.
Puerto Galera or Galleon port is also a famous place for tourists because of its beautiful scene, shallow coral reefs, and sandy beaches. It is one of the many paradises here in the Philippines. It has many beautiful vacation spot for the tourists, even in summer. You can ride through the port of Batangas by riding a ferry service to Mindoro.
Non-beach wonders like Baguio is also the best place for vacation. Because of its cold temperature, many of the tourists go to this place. The famous Burnham Park, Session road and other tourist attraction in this place are found in Baguio.
Travel Destination Philippine Beaches
May 15, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Nightlife
The Philippines is an island archipelago in Southeast Asia with more than 7,100 islands. With a coastline twice the span of that of the United States and at least a beach on every island, the Philippines is Asia.s beach capital. Just the mention of the Philippines brings images of warm crystal blue waters and long, white sandy beaches.
Here is a list of the numerous popular Philippine beaches:
Boracay Beach – the most popular beach located on the northwestern tip of Panay island, Western Visayas. Boracay has 4 kilometers of powder-white beach touted as the finest beach in the world. Today the island of Boracay has numerous restaurants, bars, cafes and has one of the most vibrant nightlife among Philippine beaches.
Mactan Island, Cebu – located also in the Visayas, Cebu’s Mactan Island has hotels and resorts water sports facilities, bars and restaurants to guarantee most every tourist an enjoyable stay within the day and a nightlife of music, food and drinks.
Panglao Island, Bohol – Panglao is a small island on the southwest of the bigger island, Bohol. The island has the majority of resorts along beach with accommodations, restaurants and bars. Panglao is famous for its splendid underwater corral reefs surrounding the island. Puerto Galera, Mindoro – A favorite vacation hideaway for local and intercontinental travelers due to its proximity to Manila.
Puerto Galera is composed of multitude of beaches in northern Mindoro where tourist can choose which beach to go. Puerto Galera has accommodations for all kind of travelers – from the classy to the basic. For the budget conscious, Puerto Galera is the beach to go. It also has one of the proper dive regions in the archipelago – a favorite for diving enthusiast.
Honda Bay, Palawan – North of the capital city of Palawan is Honda Bay. One can find islets dotting the bay with fantastic sand beaches. Take a boat ride and island hop to the different islands to swim, snorkel, dive or have a picnic on the beach and enjoy the view of clear blue waters. The bay is studded with patches of coral and sand. The rich marine life of the bay will surely make snorkeling and diving more pleasurable.
El Nido, Palawan – Surrounded by towering marble cliffs such a are places to a number of tropical birds, El Nido is the source of one of the most scrumptious soups specially found in Chinese restaurants – the Nido Soup, made out of the bird.s nest discovered on the cliffs the present abound in the area. Palawan is wellknown as the country.s last frontier, with its virgin forest, unspoiled beaches, corral reefs, caves and beautiful sceneries unmatched anywhere in the Philippines.
Pearl Farm, Davao – located in the Philippine island of Samal, off the coast of Davao City, Mindanao. Pearl Farm is a world class beach resort that was in the wake of a pearl farm at which thousands of oysters were cultivated for their white, pink and gold pearls. The pristine island of Samal boasts of its beautiful white sand beaches, panoramic landscapes and seascapes. Pearl farm is a relaxing vacation retreat set in a tropical paradise.











