Category Archives: Vacation spots

World’s Best Islands: Palawan, Boracay, Cebu

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Credits: N and People’s Tonight (October 25, 2016)

Once again three beautiful places in the Philippines were included in the list of top 20 islands in the world. These are Palawan, Boracay, and Cebu.

The US travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, named Palawan as the world’s best island for the second straight year.

Palawan, which is home to the famous Underground River, is known for being among the world’s best spots for snorkeling with its crystal blue waters.

“Palawan’s natural wonder is one of the longest underground rivers in the world, traveling five miles through a subterranean cave system. Guided boat tours take visitors down a portion of the waterway, where karsts, natural rock formations created by dissolving limestone, loom in every direction,” according to the Magazine.

In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Palawan’s subterranean river a World Heritage Site.

Although listed as the most densely populated island in the Philippines, Cebu is famous for its beaches.

Boracay, on the other hand, is described as the island “with powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

More than 128,000 travelers participated in the survey. The islands were “judged on a set of criteria relevant to their category, based on a standard five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair and poor.”

CN Traveler’s top 20 islands in the world :

Palawan, Philippines
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Moorea, French Polynesia
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Bermuda
Great Barrier Reef & Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Bali, Indonesia
Santorini, Greece
Tasmania, Australia
Cook Islands
British Virgin Islands
St. John, USVI
Mykonos, Greece
Boracay, Philippines
Maldives
Orkney Islands, Scotland
St. Lucia
Cebu, Philippines
Hvar & Dalmatian Islands, Croatia

Credit: Philippne Star; CNTraveler

Pristine beaches

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Hubby has been planning about this short vacation to Gensan since he went home for his father’s funeral last month. He was enthralled by the pristine beaches in Gensan. One particular beach resort that hubby and his siblings visited was playing some local instrumental music. He’s not sure whether it was eb horn that produces the good sound all he remembers was that the music was apt to the occasion.

What to Expect when Traveling in the Philippines

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Image credit: Tuomas_Lehtinen - FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image credit: Tuomas_Lehtinen – FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many foreigners enjoy visiting the Philippines, so much so that quite a few of them decide to stay for long stretches and even marry a Filipino. You can enjoy a visit to the Philippines for little more than the savings you get from using Groupon Coupons.  There is no denying that the country has much to offer to tourists, not the least of which is the beaches and the friendly people.  However, it would be advisable to know what to expect when traveling in the Philippines.

Heat and humidity

The Philippines is both hot and humid. While many foreigners think that 40 degrees Celsius is not so bad, they are discounting the fact that the humidity levels are very high, especially at the height of summer. This means copious sweating, which is incompatible for anything but the lightest of materials. Cotton is good because it absorbs well; polyester not so much. It is normal to wear jeans and slacks, so you don’t necessarily have to live in shorts. Hardly anyone wears a hat in the cities, although caps are; an umbrella would be more common.

Sunburn and mosquitoes

The glare of the sun is quite strong, so make sure to bring a lot of sun block and wear it at all times. Even if you are visiting the cooler cities in the mountain provinces, you can still get a serious case of sunburn. Mosquitoes are also plentiful, so an effective mosquito repellent is your best friend at night.

Some dangers

Filipinos are friendly, but there are certain areas you really have to avoid if you are a foreigner. Dissidents and insurgents target foreigners that wander into their territory. The latest warnings are for the Sulu Archipelago and most areas in Mindanao. Some areas in Luzon are also danger zones for foreigners. If you must travel outside Metro Manila and other recognized tourist spots, consult your embassy for advice first. Arrange for a reliable guide as well.

As a final note, the municipal water in the Philippines is not potable. Do no drink directly from the tap. It would be advisable to drink only bottled water while you are here. It would also be advisable to avoid eating the street food unless a reliable guide says it is okay.