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Ecotourism

Costa Rica Voluncations for Families - Part 3
2008-05-09 20:18:00
Health related issues for volunteer travelers Taking the kids on a volunteer vacation is a lot more work than parking yourself on a tropical beach for a week while staffers keep your kids busy. But if you're the kind of parent that actually likes spending time with the kids and enjoys learning alongside them, a volunteer vacation is the perfect choice. read more
Costa Rica Volunteerism for Families - Part 2
2008-05-08 19:23:00
Volunteer travel for newbies If you've ever considered trading your fast-pass at Disney in for a week of building a school or working at wildlife refuge, now's the time to make that dream a reality. Got kids? Bring them along and see if they can teach you a thing or two about tolerance. read more
Costa Rica Volunteer Vacations for Families - Part 1
2008-05-07 22:13:00
Is it possible to plan a family vacation around giving back? Planning to travel with the kids this summer? Like that's even a question. Forget the rollercoasters, cotton candy and kid-friendly hotels. Instead, give them a chance to see how easy - and fun - it is to combine family travel with doing something good for our tired planet. read more
Birdwatching Necessities for the Beginner
2008-05-04 22:06:00
Birdwatching is one of America’s most popular outdoor activities. Those of us who love birds, have watched birds, in our back yards or at the local parks, raise and support their families. But every so often we have the urge to escape beyond these confinements and go out into the wild to watch birds in ...
Globetrotting Through Gardens
2008-05-01 16:20:00
Budget Travel explores the most beautiful gardens around the world There are a few things we miss from childhood: story time, crustless PB&J sandwiches, lying in the garden pulling petals off the daisies...he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me... read more
Budget Travel Goes Green
2008-04-25 16:30:00
Road trips to America's 3 greenest cities Think eco-tourism means heading to Costa-Rica? It can, if you're looking for an eco-alternative to a fuel-gobbling Caribbean cruise, but America has plenty of green all its own. Pack up the kids and hit the road this summer on a vacation that won't break the bank - and will leave you feeling better about your carbon footprint. read more
Earth Day Solutions: 6 Steps to Greener Travel
2008-04-22 15:14:00
Since Earth Day began in the 1960s (it picked up speed in the nineties) environmental consciousness has moved from anti-litter campaigns to an anti-carbon worldview. Not good news for travelers' peace of mind: I've never been a litter-bug, but my guilty conscience keeps reminding me of plastic water bottles, unnecessary jet fuel, disposable cameras and lots of pretty shopping bags. read more
Sand dunes of Mui Ne, Vietnam
2008-04-18 13:54:00
The different sand formations around Mui Ne are a major attraction after its beaches. The sand ranges from pure white to gold in the Bau Trang (White Lake), to a fiery red in other areas.We visited several sand formations including the red sand dunes in Fairy Stream and Red Canyon, the white sand dunes in Bau Trang as well as the yellow (gold) sand dunes. If not for the cluster pine trees by the lake, one would think it's a desert in Africa or the Middle East. In Bau Trang, you can ride a horse up the dunes or slide down on a makeshift sled which small kids will tout to you.We booked this afternoon tour in Ham Tien Beach. It was US$14 per person but we had the 4x4 all to ourselves. The ride around was a blast as I enjoyed the wind hit my face as we stood behind the jeep.
Aglicay Beach and Trangkalan Falls in Tablas
2008-04-16 03:10:00
First order of business for the day was to take the ferry from Romblon back to Tablas. Since the SEAIR flight from Tablas back to Manila is early in the morning, you have to be in Tablas a day before departure. The only morning ferry trip back to Tablas was at 8 a.m. so I made sure to get some quality rest the night before. After munching on the pizza leftover from my dinner at Romblon Deli, I made my way to the pier to catch the ferry.Back in San Agustin, I went back to the Madrona Residence in Brgy. Bachawan where I was to stay for the night. About three kilometers from the place is Trangkalan Falls which I decided to visit before lunch. On the way to the falls, I passed by three large bronze sculptures by the late Florante Caedo depicting the crucifixion, the pieta and the resurrection. Indeed, who would expect to find these works of arts tucked in the middle of nowhere?Finally reaching Trangkalan Falls, I immediately noticed its aquamarine catch basin which was most definitely e...
Travel Majorca On Your Holidays In Spain - Discover The Unknown Parts Of Th
2008-04-15 10:29:00
Besides the usual, crowded and hectic tourist areas Mallorca also has other faces. Its wild romantic rocky coastline, the charming, picturesque villages in the Tramuntana mountains and its many historical monuments are largely unknown to tourists. Hiking or biking is the best way to explore the unknown parts of the island.
Capones Island and its lighthouse
2008-04-06 15:29:00
Capones Island has always been famous for its white sand beaches and the Spanish colonial lighthouse perched on top of a hill. It was the last stop for our San Antonio, Zambales trip. From Anawangin, we had prearranged with our boatman to pick us up and bring us to Capones Island. We made it there just in time for lunch.The island was so picturesque as we slowly closed in on it. When we finally made landfall, I was raring to find a shady place to take a nap having had no sleep for the past 30 hours. And I did and found myself cozy on the sand drifting away to lala land.Since we didn't have much time left, we had to forgo the hike up to the lighthouse. Add to the fact it was hot and I had already consumed my supply of water. So we were content with making one round by boat on the way back to Pundaquit.What's sad about Capones Island is that its riddled with tourist garbage and vandalism. The fantastic rock formations have been converted into modern petroglyphs etched with names of...
Anawangin Cove in San Antonio, Zambales
2008-04-05 16:41:00
The famed beauty of Anawangin Cove has spread far and wide as being one of the best beaches in the country. And we were finally there, well almost. It was an exhausting trek to Anawangin Cove. But the hike to the beach was not yet over. At sea level, we still had to navigate a kilometer along a dry river bed.But the bizarre landscape felt mysterious in a way. It didn't look like I was in the Philippines with all the pine trees right beside the beach. Walking the dry river bed with that pyramid-like mountain in the background added an eerie feeling to an already uncanny trek. Anawangin got its name from nuang the Ilocano word for carabao since there is an abundance of it there. Remember the wild carabao?After several meters under the hot summer sun trekking on the rocks, we finally made it to the shady cluster of pine trees. I wonder how they got there. Our guide said many were planted after the Mount Pinatubo eruption but he added the trees were there even before. To add to the mys...
Hiking up Mt. Anawangin and down to the beach
2008-04-04 02:34:00
Anawangin in San Antonio, Zambales is fast becoming a popular destination for those seeking a beach to getaway from it all. There aren't too many amenities on this secluded beach. In fact, there are none. It's a favorite of those who want to camp out with nothing but bare essentials. And that's because there are only two ways to get there, by pump boat or via a 5-hour hike up Mt. Anawangin.We decided to do the latter, a night hike at that! We left Manila at 1 a.m. and after a leisurely drive, arrived in the town proper of San Antonio, Zambales. Our destination was Pundaquit, a barangay several more kilometers down the road by the beach. If you get lost, you could easily ask the tricycle drivers how to get there. We finally made it to the jump-off at 4:30 a.m. just in time to start our night trek.The silhouettes of the mountains showed us why Anawangin is such a popular destination. As the sun slowly rose, a beautifully landscaped environment greeted us. Nature is indeed the best ...
Earth Hour: Turn Off the Lights for Climate Change
2008-03-28 14:26:00
Major cities will be in the dark tomorrow night... If you've traveled during a blackout, you know what a horribly disorienting feeling it causes. But on Saturday March 28th, savvy travelers will be prepared for the dark. read more
10 Best Places in the World to Eco-Adventure
2008-03-25 20:28:00
National Geographic lists top 10 countries where you can adventure green Thirty years ago, travelers interested in ecotourism were granola-crunching tree-huggers, hippies. They weren't exactly typical. Today, sustainable, responsible tourism is a blooming success worldwide. It's definitely mainstream now. read more
Adopting a sea turtle at the Pawikan Conservation Center
2008-03-20 16:47:00
For the longest time, I had been wanting to adopt a pawikan or sea turtle. It took quite a while for me to find the contact number of the Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan. And when I finally did, they said there were no pawikan scheduled to hatch yesterday. But they also told me that if it was warm and sunny, some of the turtles would hatch earlier than expected.Since it's quite far, and I didn't want to risk disappointment, I decided to watch the longest Holy Week procession in the country in Baliuag, Bulacan in the evening. But I got a surprise text yesterday morning from the Pawikan Center saying that sea turtles had just hatched the night before and were ready for adoption. Since it's difficult to time a visit when there are hatchlings, I decided to rush there no questions asked.We passed by the newly-opened SCTEx on the way to Subic. It's undoubtedly the most scenic highway in the country. After lunch at Meat Plus Cafe in Subic, we drove down to the Pawikan Cen...
Around Taal Lake
2008-03-18 09:08:00
I visited several towns around Taal Lake yesterday. Our first stop was Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas. It's probably the best residential resort by the lake.Club Balai Isabel has one of the best views of Taal Volcano. At the moment, many parts are still under construction. But the reception area, club house, and several hotel rooms are already complete and ready to accept visitors. We had lunch there as well and ordered some bulalo, fried tawilis, ginataang kalabasa and fried chicken.We then headed off to Tagaytay en route to Taal. But we stopped by Bag of Beans to check out their bread shop. I had a chicken and mushroom pie.As soon as we arrived in the heritage town of Taal, we went straight to the Taal Basilica to check it out. Since we didn't have much time, we made a quick drive around town to check out the wonderful heritage houses.Although relatively intact, there seems to be a lack of continuity in the town since the new structures stick out like sore thumbs in betw...
Department of Tourism Steps Up Ecotourism in the Philippines
2008-03-16 21:50:00
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has stepped up its thrust to highlight ecotourism around the country through Magandang Pilipinas. The said project brings together the DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ABS-CBN Foundation?s Bantay Kalikasan and US-based nonprofit organization Conservation International to identify, develop and promote various ecotourism sites around the country. According to Tourism Secretary ...
Slum Tourism -The Crassest Way to See the World?
2008-03-12 16:25:00
Voyeurism or ethical tourism? What's not in right now: beaches, high-end lux and hedonism. What's in: shantytowns, back alleys and garbage dumps. No, we're not kidding. "Slum Tourism" or "Poorism" is the hottest new trend in travel, according to a New York Times article this week. read more
Your Motor Home Camping in America?s National Parks
2008-03-11 07:36:00
By Andrew Stratton Those of us who live in the States are lucky. We have one of the best National Park systems in the world. We also have fast, efficient Interstates that will take you close enough to most of them that you don’t have to worry about off-roading in your RV! But what makes those parks ...
Ecotourism Needs to Be Understood By More People
2008-03-08 10:59:00
There are a lot of people who will find that there are some interests and then there are some fears that have to be determined and judged. You will want to make sure that you notice what is going on in your environment so that you can decide what is best for you and what you will need to do to educate the community. Keep in mind that it is not just one person who can take care of a community, however, it is something that you need to do collectively for your community and environment. You will also need to think about the components of eco-tourism and how it affects yourself.
Sunset at the Candaba Swamp Reserve
2008-02-17 06:01:00
We ended our Up, up and Away in Pampanga tour with a trip to the Candaba Bird Sanctuary. It was a long drive through rough roads. While the bus was entering the area, several flocks of birds were making their way towards the trees. Sadly, it was getting dark and we didn't see as much birds as locals said there were days before since many of the visiting birds had already started their migration home.Related entriesWandering around the Candaba Bird Sanctuary
High Speed Travel Goes Green
2008-02-07 17:01:00
New planes and trains feature eco-friendly engineering read more
Queensland, Beautiful One Day, Perfect The Next - 2
2008-02-06 07:31:00
If you happen to be Australian you would, quite naturally, divide Queensland into four different regions. The South East corner, which includes Brisbane, the state's capital and the Gold and the Sunshine coasts, The Islands, including the Whitsundays, the Tropical North and, of course, the Outback. In this article you'll find a little information about each region with some links for you to follow, enjoy. - part 2
Empty Cities: Could New York and London Be Car-Free?
2008-02-04 20:45:00
Can cities known for their congestion get cleaned up? read more
Ecotourism: The Business of Sustaining the Earth through Travel
2008-02-03 03:14:00
After the mighty industrial military complex (the companies behind the missiles and the satellites to guide them), tourism is the world’s largest industry, according to the World Tourism...
Hiking in Mt. Arayat
2008-02-01 08:11:00
Mount Arayat towers over Pampanga. And you definitely cannot miss it since it's the only mountain you'll see in the plains of Pampanga as you drive along the NLEX. Ever thought of climbing it? Well, there are two ways to get up. The first is via the Mt. Arayat National Park in Arayat, Pampanga. While the second is via the town of Magalang, near the Pampanga Agricultural College.This mystic mountain has always been an important symbol in Kapampangan folklore being the home of Aring Sinukwan, the legendary deity of the ancient Kapampangans. There is also a thriving Rizalista community in the Arayat side. I was able to visit their shrine several years back.We did an ocular inspection of Abe's Farm last Sunday in preparation for our tour next week. And we decided to hike up Mt. Arayat. Since we arrived late, reaching the summit was out of the question. So we had to settle for a resting area called 7-11, an hour away from the jump-off point. It's called 7-11 because there is a conven...
Wandering around the Candaba Bird Sanctuary
2008-01-26 14:55:00
Many may have noticed the Candaba Viaduct, that long bridge connecting Bulacan and Pampanga along the NLEX, but do not realize that that around it is a very important ecosystem, the Candaba Bird Sanctuary. The Candaba Swamp has always been a vital haven for migratory birds. It is so important that it has been nominated to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.If you haven't seen the Candaba Bird Sanctuary, here's your chance. On February 1 and 2, Candaba will be organizing the Ibon Ebon Festival. And Candaba has enough reason to celebrate. According to the results of the recent Asian Waterbird Census, the conservation efforts of the town are working! The festival features the migratory birds (ibon or ayup in Kapampangan) and the municipality's growing duck-egg (ebun) industry.For some reason, we found ourselves exploring the Candaba Bird Sanctuary today. I was with my classmates doing a windshield survey in Pampanga for our class project. And we wandered into C...
Trekking and 4x4 to Mt. Pinatubo
2008-01-20 16:07:00
Finally, I got to swim in the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo! And the water was light blue to blue green! There's an annual cycle of water color changes and it usually turns blue when the weather is cold. During other months, it turns murky brown. I still don't know why exactly.I've always wanted to see Mt. Pinatubo. After all those planned trips that never pushed through, I was getting eager and impatient to see its famed crater lake. That's why when I received a message that our trip today might be canceled due to the weather conditions, I was devastated. It was raining in Batulao when I got the message but I said let's decide later. And so we waited. The final decision was to push through!And the sun smiled on us this morning. We left Starbucks 6750 at 6:30 a.m. and stopped over at one of the gas stations along NLEX for a quick breakfast and supplies. The drive was relatively quick since it was a Sunday morning and we arrived in Capas at about 8:30 a.m. From the National High...
Scaling the summit of Mt. Batulao
2008-01-19 15:03:00
Another surge of adrenaline! I climbed Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas together with the UP Med Outdoor Society. There was a 200-meter rock climb, about 60 to 70 degrees, to get to the peak. I felt I was hanging on for my dear life!Since I wanted to get as much sleep as I could (my lack of sleep during the past climbs proved fatal), I decided to meet up with the group at the jump-off point in Nasugbu giving me an extra two hours in bed and enough to fuel my adrenaline rush. The group took a bus to Nasugbu and got off at the entrance of the Evercrest Gold and Country Club. If you're familiar with Calaruega, that's the same entrance. We caught up with the group just as they got off the bus. And from there, the long hike up Batulao began.Instead of making a right to Calaruega, take the road on the left. A few meters away, you will see an old basketball court and a dirt road to the right which is the road that leads to Batulao. It's straight-forward trek from there.Along the way, yo...
Ecotourism in U Minh Ha
2008-01-18 11:58:00
A peaceful retreat of the Mekong Delta can be found in U Minh National Park, where visitors can canoe, trek through the forests, and taste local honey. U Minh National Park in the southernmost... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Up, up and away in Pampanga!
2008-01-16 18:31:00
After the success of the Ultimate Kapampangan Show-off, we now bring you our second tour offering: Up, Up and Away!!! Huffing, Puffing and Pumping in Pampanga on Sunday, 10 February 2008.Really, another way to pump up your boring weekend and get your spirits soaring as we conquer the high and mighty in Pampanga! Gawk at the giant hot air balloons at 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta! Conquer and hike up the mystic and majestic Mount Arayat! Finally, we'll rest our weary feet over a sumptuous Kapampangan feast by one the country's most artistic restaurateurs, while soothing the afternoon away at a rustic, relaxing retreat! A feast for the body, mind and soul.This tour leaves Makati at 3 a.m. and includes the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, breakfast at the VFW Outpost, a five-hour hike up mystic and majestic Mount Arayat (optional), lunch at Abe's Farm owned by Larry Cruz of Cafe Adriatico, a massage at Nurture Spa Pampanga plus more surpri...
Microtel Boracay in Diniwid Beach
2008-01-12 04:36:00
Up to now, I can't stop raving about the chiropractic-approved beds of Microtel! I was able to get the much-needed quality sleep worthy of a grand vacation.As soon as the second batch arrived, we went straight to the ferry that would take us to Boracay. Remember, that there are fees you have to pay including an environmental fee and the terminal fee which has jumped from PHP20 to PHP50. Cabgan is the only gateway to Boracay after the municipal government prohibited the docking of boats at the various beaches to preserve their beauty. It may be an inconvenience for tourists but it's better that way so that the beaches remain pristine.We took a minicab from the port to Diniwid Beach where Microtel Inn & Suites is located. The only downside of this is we had to deal with all the exhaust from the tricycles. As soon as we arrived, we were given a cold towel, a shell necklace and a welcome drink. Since I was not able to sleep the night before which is usually the case when I have ea...
Butterfly garden at Seair Caticlan
2008-01-11 16:31:00
Since our group was divided into two flights, and I got pushed forward to the earlier one, we had to wait an hour and thirty minutes for the second batch to arrive. It was a good thing there was a new attraction at the back of the Seair office in Caticlan. So if you're killing time at the Caticlan Airport, check out the butterfly garden.
Rice terraces in Hapao and Hungduan
2007-12-04 13:58:00
Today was a fantastic day! I finally visited one of the UNESCO-inscribed terraces, the Hapao and Poblacion clusters in Hungduan. There are five all in Ifugao and the cluster in Banaue poblacion is not one of them! These five are Hungduan, Mayoyao, Nagacadan in Kiangan, and Batad & Bangaan in Banaue.It was a one and a half hour jeepney ride from the Banaue town proper to the Hapao Terraces in Hungduan. Then from there, we motored to the Hungduan Terraces in the Poblacion. We were welcomed by the mayor and other city officials. Lunch was served in front of the municipal hall. Around the area were examples of traditional Ifugao dwellings.Before proceeding back to the hotel, we then passed by Lagud Village Learning Inn, a community-based tourism project where tourists can opt to stay in traditional Ifugao dwellings. In fact, there have been five Japanese exchange student living there for several mounths now, immersing with the community. We also donated P200 for kids to a plant tre...
Eco Tourism
2007-11-30 09:37:00
It is also called ecological tourism, is a type of tourism which appeals to those who are ecologically and socially conscious. Speaking on a broad base, ecotourism focuses on local culture, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth, and learning new ways to live on the planet; typically involving travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is all about an intense connection of conservation, communities, and sustainable travel.
Cagayan Valley promotes 5 ecotourism tour packages
2007-11-21 02:16:00
TUGUEGARAO CITY, - At least five eco-tourism tour packages in the three provinces of the Cagayan Valley region are now being promoted. Tourism Regional Director Blessida Diwa said the network of caves at the Callao Caves Tourist Zone (CCTZ) in nearby Penablanca town still tops the list of ecotourism destinations where local as well as foreign ...
The waterfalls along Kennon Road
2007-11-12 16:54:00
Finally, a trip I can really call a vacation! I drove up to Baguio a few hours after I had arrived from Iloilo City. I was rushing up to attend the wedding of my cousin at the Baguio Country Club.The trip up Kennon Road was very refreshing. The views were so picturesque and it was only now that I noticed there were so many waterfalls. So I stopped several times to take photos of them. Two of them are quite popular namely Bridal Veil Falls and Colorado Falls. In fact, you could actually swim in Colorado Falls as the water is very clear and there are facilities in the area.
For Prince Edward Island, Ecotourism Presents Old World In A New Light
2007-11-08 14:00:00
SeeTheGlobe.com Travel Article :: Ecotourism or ecological tourism is a trend towards preservation that has in recent years taken on global proportions. It's a relatively recent form of tourism typified by being both socially and ecologically conscious, according to Wikipedia. Focusing on many factors including regional plant and wildlife, and native culture, ecotourism is a growing trend. This new form of travel seeks to protect, inform and educate as much as it does to profile or display.For example: in most countries, it is illegal to remove "found" treasures of ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece or the Roman Empire. In other instances, the protection of underwater habitats is promoted so that coral is not removed (or in some cases, not even stepped upon).
More waterfalls in Biliran
2007-10-29 16:41:00
Biliran is an island province at the northern tip of Leyte. And just like Samar, it's connected by a bridge so there's no need for a boat ride.From Tacloban, I took a van to Naval which was about 3 hours away. I took some photos at the Biliran Bridge. They don't make infrastructure with character nowadays. If there's one thing I liked about Marcos, he made infrastructure grand such as the San Juanico Bridge, and not like the ugly, kitsch infrastructure our current DPWH churns outs.The next day, I took a habal-habal ride to Tinago Falls. The drivers charge so much here in Biliran, it's so difficult to get to these out-of-the-way places without creating a big hole in your pockets. The local government should enforce standard rates to get to these places to save tourists from the hard-bargain, especially since they are vigorously promoting their many attractions which are most definitely worth the visit.There are more waterfalls such as Casiawan Falls, Casabangan Falls, Bagongbong...
Chasing waterfalls in Samar
2007-10-28 16:05:00
Day 4 of my Eastern Visayas trip was around Calbayog, known as the City of Waterfalls. So it's a shame if I didn't visit at least one. After going around the city's historic core, I proceeded to the terminal to take the jeep to Allen. The jump off point in Brgy. Tinaplacan is an hour away, halfway between downtown Calbayog and the port town of Allen in Northern Samar. Looking at the map, Calbayog is almost twice as big as Biliran Province!I ended up in Brgy. Bugtong, a few meters from Tinaplacan. The waterfall is in the territory of Bugtong but you need to pass through Tinaplacan. It's 3 kilometers from the road. And the locals suggested I hire a habal-habal so I have a guide to the falls which turned out to be a good idea since the path was very muddy. The motorbike actually slipped and we fell off on the way there. Luckily, I escaped with minor scratches.To get to the main falls, you had to walk on several cascades. There were some slippery parts so I had to take off my shoes....
Overnight in Borongan, Eastern Samar
2007-10-26 10:47:00
They call Borongan, Eastern Samar the City of the Golden Sunrise. I finally arrived there after a four-hour van trip from Tacloban City. I asked the van to drop me off at the beach house of my brod, Councilor Jesse Solidon, where I was to stay for the night.After getting settled, we took a pump boat to nearby Divinubo Island where they are currently organizing an eco-tourism project among the locals.Aside from it's white sand beach, I was told that behind the island (the side facing the Pacific), there were caves as well as a light house. But since it was getting dark, we could no longer hike to that side. What is peculiar about the island is that during low tide, you can walk to it since a land bridge of coral rocks emerges. This I saw for myself the next morning.Borongan has a lot of potential as an eco-tourism destination. It's a good place to invest for surf camps. In fact, locals were surfing when I arrived. There are several waterfalls in the city inlcuding Tres Marias, Masa...
Las Haciendas and our Ambon-Ambon Falls trek
2007-10-18 16:32:00
Today, we went chasing waterfalls again. I went with Bikoy and Nino to Las Haciendas in Laurel, Batangas. It's an upcoming residential estate and nature resort. And thanks to my MBA classmate, Dennis Morada, we got to visit this great place before the crowds start trooping to the place.Our main goal was to trek to Ambon-Ambon Falls which is located inside the estate. After lunch at the clubhouse, they toured us around the place. We visited the campsite where overnight huts are available for rent. We also visited the Simbahang Bato, a cave which serves as the church of the local community. Then it was off to the jump-off point for the trek. The trail to Ambon-Ambon was very easy, laid back trail. We forgot to bring slippers though. But we managed crossing the four streams on the way without getting our shoes wet.After that easy trek to the falls, we went swimming in the infinity pool. My Pinoy Mountaineer partner Gideon Lasco followed but missed the trek. For more information on tre...
Pagsanjan, Buntot Palos, Bunga and Taytay Falls in Laguna
2007-10-03 17:27:00
After the waterfalls in Rizal, we're featuring four waterfalls of Laguna, namely: Pagsanjan (Magdapio) Falls in Cavinti, Buntot Palos (Hidden) Falls in Pangil, Bunga (Twin) Falls in Nagcarlan, and Taytay (Imelda) Falls in Majayjay. Check them out at Pinoy Mountaineer.Related articlesShooting the rapids in Pagsanjan
Hinulugang Taktak, Daranak and Batlag Falls
2007-09-27 14:23:00
This afternoon, we visited three waterfalls in Rizal. This was a spur of the moment trip which my Pinoy Mountaineer partner Gideon Lasco had been egging me on to do. We tagged along my brod, Bikoy Villanueva and another hiking buddy, Sai Sicad. Their proximity to Metro Manila make them perfect for a day trip. In fact, we did it in one afternoon. We were going to visit Daranak Falls in Tanay, Rizal. But on the way, we saw the sign to Hinulugang Taktak in Antipolo City and decided to stop over.Since it had just rained (or was still raining in some parts) the flow of the water was quite strong. It was a great sight. Hinulugang Taktak was a favorite excursion place for pilgrims who visited the Nuestra Senora de Paz y Buen Viaje in Antipolo during the olden days, thus the folk song "Tayo na sa Antipolo." Sadly, there was a lot of garbage and the falls itself distinctly smelled like detergent. I could just imagine how many women were washing clothes upstream because indeed, it was deterge...
Old houses and powder-white sand beaches in Glan, Sarangani
2007-09-24 15:57:00
The next day, we drove to Glan, one of the southernmost municipalities of the island of Mindanao (Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur seems to edge it out by a few meters). In the town proper, we checked out the old houses which are mentioned in the DOT website. They have intricate wood designs but sadly, most if not all, have been neglected. The local government should do something about it since old houses in Mindanao are quite rare nowadays.We then proceeded to Barangay Gumasa further down south to check the powder-white sand beach. Yes, you read it right, powder-white sand. It could be the next Boracay if the local government plays its cards right.After a few hours of swimming, we drove back to Gen San to catch our flight back to Manila. But we passed by the provincial capitol in Alabel first to meet some officials.Back in Gen San, we had lunch at Nadie's Chicken Restaurant. Then after fixing our check-in luggage which was all fruits, we went to the airport. I had 26 kilos of fruit...
Dole's Club Kalsangi in Polomolok, South Cotabato and General Santos
2007-09-23 12:48:00
Kalsangi is such a great place. The exclusive residential and golf club complex for Dole managers reminds me so much of the US, maybe because of its lay-out and architecture, open lawns, trees and cool climate. The whole place sits at the foot of majestic Mt. Matutum.It was good the sun was out early in the morning so we checked out Mt. Matutum while the sky was still clear. We went around the Dole Plantation too.Notice the Norfolk pines? They used to be Christmas tree supply for Dole's expat managers. But since most of the resident managers and supervisors are now locals, the trees are no longer cut down every Christmas and have grown tall.After going to church, we visited the Trappistine Monastery (the sister monastery of the one in Guimaras) to buy some chocolate rhum balls and cookies, as well as Gibby's farm, also in Kalsangi. Then is was lunch at the Dole's Club Kalsangi. It's very difficult to get inside since you need to know someone connected to Dole to gain access. I h...
An afternoon in Lake Sebu
2007-09-22 17:38:00
From Sultan Kudarat, we entered South Cotabato. Our main stop for the day was Lake Sebu. The municipality has three lakes including the main Lake Sebu. On the way, we got to see Lake Lahit.Before proceeding to the restaurant, we checked out the viewpoint of Lake Sebu beside the municipal hall. It was a disappointment since the view was not spectacular since it was blocked by trees. What a waste of PTA money! Guess whose name is painted on the structure? This shameless self-promotion in government is really sick. And next time they select and construct a viewpoint, they should make sure there is a view. Anyway, I didn't let that ruin my afternoon in such a great place.We passed by a small house converted into a T'boli Museum. Not so many items inside but we got some souvenirs there. We then had a really late lunch in a floating restaurant of the Punta Isla Lake Resort where tilapia was the main course on the menu. There were over a dozen tilapia dishes in fact. The view was serene....
Speaking engagement in Tuguegarao City
2007-09-20 10:18:00
I'm in Tuguegarao City to speak at the 2nd Regional Youth Leadership Congress in St. Paul University. I took an Air Philippines flight which was two hours delayed! When I got here, we rushed to the Callao Caves to watch the bats fly out but since it was raining, they didn't. Maybe next time.The congress was today. I slept early last night and also slept the entire morning since I wasn't feeling well. For the sights in Cagayan, just check out my older Cagayan entries. For this trip, I just visited the Ermita of San Jacinto which is in front of the campus.Now I'm just waiting for my bus ride back to Manila. I could have opted for a plane but there is no flight which would allow me to make it to my flight to Cotabato tomorrow. This Tuguegarao to Cotabato journey would be my personal record for the farthest distance traveled in the Philippines in a 24-hour period.
Mekong River boat ride
2007-09-14 12:49:00
During my second day in Vietnam, I decided to go on a Mekong River tour. The thing I like about mainland Southeast Asian destinations is that it?s so easy to book tours even if you?re just alone.I spent US$7 for a whole day tour which included lunch. I was picked up at my hotel at 8 a.m. and we were off to My Tho City, one and a half-hours away.We took a small roofed pump boat a few minutes from the city center. The river was very wide and we got to see many fishing boats, ferries and floating houses. Most of the tour was going to be in Ben Tre province across the river. Our first stop was a small coconut candy factory in Turtle Island where we got to see how they made the local delicacies.From there, we went back to the boat and stopped over a fruit orchard where to my surprise, we were given bicycles for a ride around the area. Nothing fancy actually, it was the typical rural life in Vietnam which one can see here in the Philippines. But I?m sure the other foreigners in my group w...
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