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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Travel to the Philippines

The Philippines is located west of the Pacific Ocean and is one of the countries in the continent of Asia. Its location and landscape, all makes up for a unique tropical weather ideal for a holiday during the colder months. The country boasts of pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters that are safe for swimming, surfing and a whole lot of water sports.

First time visitors to the Philippines should immediately head to Palawan’s Tubbataha Reef located southwest of Luzon. It’s been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site title and features colorful underwater life forms, both fish and corals, surrounded by unique landforms. The location of the reef also has interesting overhangs, caves and a nearby bird sanctuary.

If you happen to visit the Philippines during the summer months, then the trip won’t be complete without seeing Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills. Observing from an elevated spot, you’d be amazed to see a thousand of perfectly cone shaped hills that looks almost like mounds of chocolate under the summer heat. In addition, the island also features interesting forest animals that can only be found in the country.

Also located on the island of Bohol is Panglao Beach. It offers sandy white beaches and unspoiled beauty being discovered only in the recent years. The beach also has a diving spot for the more
adventurous traveler.
Other destinations suited for the type of traveler looking for adrenalin pumping activities are the islands of Leyte and Samar. The Red Sea at Palo, Leyte offers strong winds for wind surfing. The waves in Calicoan, Samar on the other hand, are ideal for surf boards. The island faces the Pacific Ocean so it benefits from gigantic waves very much suited for surfing.

Aside from beaches, the Philippines also offers tourists interesting land forms and Mt. Apo which is located in Davao City, Mindanao is one of them. It’s the highest peak in the country. A climb up will take a few days and is best done during the months of April and May. During the climb, you’ll definitely see a lot of interesting things: unique flora and fauna, a lake with cold and hot water, and if you’re lucky, may site majestic [endangered] eagles gracing the sky. At the top, the view is just fabulous and breathtakingly beautiful.

The country also boasts to have the 4th largest mall in the world-SM Mall of Asia. It is located in the country’s capital and offers a wide array of shops, restaurants and cafes. Aside from shopping, you can also entertain yourself with one of the daily shows or the weekly fireworks just in front of the bay and esplanade.

Photo sources: Chocolate Hills-Wikipedia, Wind Surfer-taken by author at Palo Beach December 2008, 4 pm

1 comment:

Jo Jo said...

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