TravelPhilippines: Luzon

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Destination: Batanes

Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province in the Philippines. it also has the smallest population in the country. the province is made up of 10 islands often called as the Batanes Group of Island. the province i can say is the most Beautiful province in the Philippines so beautiful that some Filipinos asked whenever they saw pictures of Batanes if its still a part of the country. the islands is made up of rolling hills, mountains,rocky and some white sand beach thats very rich with marine resources and rarest corals in the world. another good thing about Batanes is it has the lowest crime rate in the country so not just beautiful its also very safe to go there. visiting the island will be a great adventure and will be very relaxing you will be able to discover the province rich and colorful history plus you will be able to meet the Ivatans(people living in Batanes) the most friendly people in the country. so what are you waiting for lets go to Batanes.

Getting There:

By Air

SEAIR flies to Batanes from Manila three times a week using a 19-seater Let 410 with the following schedules: Manila 6am to Laoag City 7:30am, Mondays, PhP2,000; Laoag City 8am to Basco 9am or Basco 9:30am to Laoag City 10:30am, Wednesdays, PhP1,950; Laoag City 11am to Manila 12:30pm, Fridays, PhP2,000. Fare excludes Insurance Fee of PhP150 and Security Fee of PhP15.

By Sea The Batanes Multi-Purpose Cooperative now carries the MV Ivatan Princess which runs the Currimao, Ilocos Norte - Basco, Batanes route. It leaves Ilocos Norte at 8pm on Wednesdays and Sundays and arrives in Basco at 4pm the next day. From Basco, it leaves at 3pm on Tuesdays and10 pm on Fridays. Fare is PhP1,200 and travel time is about 18 hours.

What to do:

Historical

Old Loran Station used to house a US coastguard detachment for almost two decades and is about 25 kilometers from Basco.

Radiwan Point at Ivana Seaport is where the Katipuneros landed in September 18, 1898. It is also the ferry station of the falowas plying the islands of Sabtang and Itbayat.

Cultural

Ruins of Songsong A “ghost barangay” which is really a cluster of roofless shells of old stone houses abandoned after a tidal wave that hit the island of Batan in the 1950s. The area has a long stretch of beach. Located 23 kilometers from Basco.

Boat-shaped Stone Grave Markers Chuhangin Burial Site - located at Ivuhos Island, Sabtang, Batanes.

Lime And Stone Houses And Churches Buildings are traditionally two-storey with meter thick cogon roofs believed to last 60 years. These houses were built around 1795 with the help of imported masons, stone cutters and carpenters from the Province of Cagayan. These stone houses, found all over Batanes, are worthy subjects for photography.

Natural

Sabtang Island Chosen as one of the 12 Best Destinations in the Philippines by the Department of Tourism in 1994, this island southwest of Batan Island remains undisturbed and unspoiled. It has intermittent white sand beaches, steep mountains, and deep canyons with small level areas sporadically found along the coastline. Accessible in 30 minutes by falowa from Radiwan Port in Ivana. Also the take off point for Ivuhos Island from Barangay Nakanmuan.

Itbayat Island Located north of Batan Island, it is surrounded by massive boulders and cliffs rising from 20-70 feet above sea level and has no shoreline. It has a dirt airstrip for light aircraft. Ferries run the Batan-Itbayat route; travel time is about four hours by falowa from the Basco Seaport. Light planes fly from Basco Airport to Itbayat in 12-minute trips at PhP700.00/pax.

Batan Island The center of commerce and seat of the provincial government. The most populated island of the province, it is composed of the municipalities of Basco, Ivana, Uyugan, and Mahatao.

Mount Iraya A dormant volcano standing at 1,517 meters whose last eruption was recorded in 505 AD. Ideal for mountaineering, trekking, and trailblazing. It is a walking distance from Basco and can be climbed to the top in about three hours.

Di-atay Beach A beautiful cove with multi-colored rocks and white sand. Ideal for picnics and beach combing. Located along the national highway between Mahatao and Ivana; 9.85 kilometers from Basco.

Songsong (Chadpidan Bay). Famous for its beautiful sunset view and big stone boulders. It is three kilometers or an hour of exhilarating trek from Basco proper.
Naidi Hills. A walking distance from Basco.

White Beach Located in Vatang, Hapnit, and Mavatuy Point at Mahatao.
Religious

San Jose Church (Ivana). Built in 1814 although its foundation dates back to 1795. Of all the old churches in Batanes, it is the only one that was not built in the espadaña style. It has a crenellated fortress-like campanile or belltower that gives the appearance of a fortification. Fronts the Ivana Seaport and offers a commanding view of the sea and surrounding countryside due to its elevation. Located 14 kilometers from Basco.

San Carlos Borromeo Church & Convent (Mahatao). Founded in 1789 and built in 1873, it has a façade modeled after that of Basco Cathedral, with two round arches at roof level for the bells. On its outer walls are massive buttresses that used to serve as stairways to the roof – a thing of convenience in the olden days when frequent repairs had to be made to the cogon grass roofing. The church still retains its centuries-old features. Located six kilometers from Basco.

Church of Sto. Domingo de Basco (Basco Cathedral) Established in 1783, it is the oldest and most important church in Batanes. To give the façade stability and strength against earthquakes and typhoon winds, the church walls were buttressed with massive pilasters from foundation to top. The church is dedicated to the Immaculate Concepcion, patroness of Batanes.

San Vicente Ferrer Church (Sabtang Island). Another church modeled after the one in Basco. Following an unfortunate incident in 1790, when Spanish emissaries sent to procure goods from the parish were killed by some natives, the people of Sabtang were forcibly resettled across the channel to Ivana and not allowed to return until 1844 when the foundations of the present church were laid.

Others things to do are Surfing,Trekking and Bird Watching.

Where to Stay:

Pension Ivatan
Basco,Batanes
www.pensionivatan.com

Batanes Resort
Tel No. +632 922-9621

Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant
Tel No. +639212290102 or +639178825609

Ivatan Lodge

Shanedels Inn and Cafe

Photo Gallery Of Batanes

For More Info About Batanes Visit:

Batanes Online

Images Via

Adlaw

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Top Dive Sites in the Philippines

Here are some of the most sought after dive sites in the Philippines. so gear up and lets get wet.

Apo Island, Dumaguete

Apo Island is a small volcanic island, 7km off the southeastern tip of Negros Island. it is one of the worlds best known community-organized marine sanctuary.

Getting There:

Negros Oriental is accesible by land, sea and air transportation: It is one hour and 15 minutes by plane from Manila, and 40 minutes from Cebu to Dumaguete City, capital of Negros Oriental. There are daily direct flights from Manila and Cebu. There are also daily sea voyages to and from different points in the Visayas and Mindanao and twice a week to and from Manila.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, Sulu Sea

Its the Mother of all the Dive sites in the Philippines. the Tubbataha's thousands hectares of reefs is a Unesco World Heritage Site. it is also home to big fish,killer currents,manta's,white tip reff sharks,hammerhead,whale sharks and the list goes on and on. getting into the reefs is not that easy you need a "visitor's permit" to be able to dive in. this is not for the beginner so if you are you need a few more dives.

For more information about diving in Tubbataha Click Here

Puerto Galera, Mindoro

It is probably one of my most favorite destination in the country why not you got sun,sand,sea and a wild nightlife. i cant forget my first time in this island i was just supposed to stay for about 2 or 3 days but because it is so beautiful i extended my stay up to 8 days. ok for your info about Puerto Galera it is also designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and it has the most diverse coral reef diving in asia. there are two famous beaches in Puerto Galera Sabang and White beach. Sabang mostly caters to foreigners and divers especially those who are into an adult kind of fun while White beach is the choice of local tourist for its cheaper accomodation and more finer sands.

Getting there:

A tourist transport operator SIKAT LTD operates from the City State Tower Hotel in Mabini St., Ermita Manila. The tourist coach leaves at precisely 8am---7 days a week. You alight at the port of Batangas for your ferry to Puerto Galera. The bus and ferry trip takes about 4-5 hours. Cost is approx US$15 per person return. The ferry leaves Puerto Galera also everyday at 9:00am to connect to the bus in Batangas. More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN which has terminal in Pasay,Cubao and Taft Avenue the earliest schedules of these busses is 6 am usually Fare on these buses range from Php 130 to 150 (3 to 4 $) depending on whether it is regular or an air-con bus.

Anilao, Batangas

Anilao is very popular to weekend divers as it is not so far from Manila. but offers a wide variety of marine life plenty of corals and amazing diversity of fishes.

Getting There:

Anilao is no longer as difficult for visitors to get to as in the past. It is accessible by land. From Manila, one can typically get to Anilao by taking a bus bound for Batangas City(Buendia /Cubao/Alabang Terminal) and asking the conductor for drop off at the Mabini/Bauan jeepney terminal. By request, a Mabini jeepney driver will then take passengers to the Mabini dock area. From the Mabini docks, visitors can hire a driver to any one of the resorts.

Moalboal, Cebu

Moalboal is a 4th class munipality in the province of Cebu Philippines. the tourism industry in this province can be traced back into the 70's. The municipality had the sole two white sand beaches on the western shore of Cebu Island,

Getting There:

Cebu City ia an hour away by plane from Manila almost all domesti airlines do have everyday flight to the City some international flight like from Singapore can go directly to Cebu. it is also accesible by boat from Manila. then from Cebu City you can get to Moalboal by hiring private car, taxi or if your on the budget side you can get there by passenger bus.

Coron Bay, Palawan

Coron doesnt need a further introduction as it is one of the most favorite among the top dive site in the country. but just for those who are clueless about Coron it is famous for its wreck diving not only in the Philippine but in the whole world it has a large amunt of historic sunken ships which can be visited and seen with great clarity. some of these famous wrecks are Irako Wreck,Okikawa Maru Wreck,The Akitsushima Wreck,Kagyu Maru Wreck,Olympia Maru Wreck and more.

Getting There:

Coron is accesible by air from Manila via Busuanga. and by sea with Superferry and Negros Navigation.

Camiguin, Mindanao

Camiguin is a small volcanic island in the Philippines actually its the second smallest province in the country but as they say small things comes with big package cause this tiny town has a lots to offer from its white sand,hot springs and dive spots.

Getting There:

Camiguin is accessible by air and sea from Manila and Cebu City. Most fly in to Cagayan De Oro in Misamis Oriental Province, the gateway to Northern Minadanao One would then take a 1.5 hours bus or hired van from Cagayan de Oro City to the port of Balingoan Ferries leave Balingoan to Camiguin Island every hour from 6:00 am until 5:00 pm.

(Images Via p@ragon, Bern ,laz'andre,Knox,srcuerpo)

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Destination: Angeles City

Angeles City is a first class city 84 Km. away from manila. its the Philippines "RedLight" district yah you heard that right angeles city offers good time, fun and whole lotsa girls and some ladyboys.the famous "Fields Avenue" houses the best club,and girls in the country just enough to give thai girls a run for there asses. of course filipina girls are one of the best in the world. well angeles city is not all about clubbin and sex. there are some other things u can do while your here. angeles city offers great foods u can try the best "sisig" while your here. if you are curios what sisig is? it is made up of different parts of a pig from ears,face and liver grilled then chop into tiny pieces. it is so delicious that other region in the philippine try to immitate it but of course nothing beats the original. it is so famous in the philippines that the local government of angeles city decided to organize a "sisig festival" it happen every december. and speaking of festival "hot air ballon festival" is bein held here in angeles city every february. we also celebrate october fest here it happen every last weekend of the month of october its a 3 days street party with lotsa lotsa beer. and last but not the least if u visit during holy week u can see some bloddy men on the streets doing there yearly sacrifice some are bein crucifix live. well there are lots of reason to come here in angeles city plus you can visit the now closed clark air base. now it houses some museum,shopping malls,airport,hotels and resort. so c'mon travel philippines travel to angeles city.

Getting there:

u can get here by land or by air
30 minutes by air from manila
and about two hours by land.

Hotels in angeles city

Kokomos Hotel
Orchid Inn
Oasis Hotel
Hotel Royal Amsterdam
Swiss Chalet Hotel
Swagman Hotel

Travel agents

Beeline Travel
Lakbay Pilipinas(Travel Philippines)

for more about angeles city log on to:

www.angelescity.com
www.philippinediving.com

Photo Gallery of Angeles City

One of the Shopping mall in the city

Mc Arthur Highway

Las Vegas Club a famous strip club

Bus terminal goin to manila or other city

one of the biggest chain of club in angeles

another strip club

my favorite restaurant in the area

Monday, April 23, 2007

Destination: Camarines Sur

Camarinies sur or simply Camsur is difinitely in the hotlist for wake boarding enthusiasts for having one of the worlds best wake boarding facilities. it is the CAMSUR WAKE BOARDING SPORT COMPLEX. it offers a 6-point cable ski system, coupled with restaurants, sand bars, spas, pro-shops and grand stands to hold guests. Riders can also enjoy their favorite water sports at night as the park will be equipped with spotlights that allow for it even to be open on evenings. well dont worry Camsur is not just for wake boarders you can always enjoy camsur's other tourist attractions. they also have Islands with white sandy beaches that can make the beaches in thailand a run for their money,forest reserve and natural park,dolphin watching,bird watching,deer watching,and an enchanting eco village. for more information about camsur just keep reading.

Getting there:

By Air:The Province of Camarines Sur is located in the central part of the Bicol Region, south of Metro Manila. Air Philippines flies daily to Naga Airport in Pili and to Legaspi City. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air also has daily flights via Legaspi City. travel time by air takes 45 minutes to an hour.

By Land:Air Condition/Ordinary Bus travels from manila to Camarines Sur daily. travel by land takes 8 hours.

Where to stay:

The Mansion Suites
Staying at the Mansion Suites is of great advantage to watersport lovers as it is just a stroll away from the world-class Camarines Sur Watersports Complex.

email: mansion-suites@camarinessur.gov.ph
or call: +63(54) 477 51 62

The EcoVillage
Capitol Complex, Cadlan,Pili,
Camarines Sur Philippines

Telephone # (+6354) 477.56.36
or e-mail at: theecovillage@camsurwatersportscomplex.com

Villa Del Rey Villas

For those who love luxury. Visitors who stay at these villas enjoy the finest pleasures in life like their own private garden retreat, personal outdoor hot tub, access to the spa facility, swimming pool and upscale dining.

Pasacao Chain of Resorts
Pasacao, Camarines SurFirst District

Camarines Sur's very own version of the Copacabana Beach in Brazil, Pasacao has about 12-kilometers of beaches filled with people on weekends, either to unwind after a busy week of work or to spend pleasure and fun with the whole family. Just a 45-minute ride by car from Naga City , excursionists can choose from isolating themselves to the nearby Daruanak Island , to enjoying the ambience of a floating cottage to basking under the sun while on a leisure cruise on a motorboat.

Gota Beach Resort
Caramoan, Camarines Sur
Third District

A five-hour trip either by bus from Naga City to Sabang, San Jose and by boat to Caramoan or directly by land through the Caramoan Peninsula Road, one will be amply rewarded with beautiful beaches with fine white sand beside majestic limestone and marble mountains as well as a taste of adventure in its exotic islets with coves nearby.

VILLA CACERES HOTEL
Magsaysay Avenue,
Naga City Camarines Sur

Villa Caceres offers first class accommodation and services. Enjoy its fully ?furnished, wall-to-wall carpeted, air-conditioned rooms with private toilet and bath, in-house movies, cable TV and pipe-in music. Get a taste of luxury in its classy facilities like its swimming pool, fitness gym, sauna bath and Jacuzzi, billiard hall, caf頡nd restaurant and its version of night life filled with music and drinks via Bistro Roberto, Disco Antonio and the newly-opened RJ?s Peak where one can sing his heart our all night long.

CROWN HOTEL
Elias Angeles St.,
Naga City Camarines Sur
054-473-8305/ 054-473-1845

Facilities and Services
- The Park Restaurant- Cafe rederico- East and West Jazz Bar- Do񡠍agdalena Hall- Bistro Jose Piano Bar and Restaurant - Patio Magdalena Poolside Grill - Swimming Pool - Shuttle Service - Guarded Parking Area - Garden Areas - Stand-by Generator - Free Shuttle Service from Pili Airport

MORAVILLE HOTEL
Dinaga St., Naga City
Moraville Drive-In Hotel
NabuaBrgy. Rd. Nabua, CamSur

054-473-1247 to 48; 811-1807
Fax No. 811-1685
www.moraville.com

Moraville Hotel is definitely where luxury meets affordability.
Facilities and Services - Jacuzzi- 24-hour Room Service- Function Rooms- Moraville Restaurant- Powerstrip Bar and Videoke.

What to do in Camsur:

WakeBoarding
Camsur Watersports Complex
Camsur Watersports Complex Office:Provincial Capitol ComplexCadlan, Pili, Camarines SurContact Number: +63(54) 477-3159Fax Number: +63(54) 475-7806
E-mail: info@camsurwatersportscomplex.com info@camarinessur.gov.ph

is a unique watersports park designed for wakeboarding, wakeskating and waterskiing. For beginner riders to the professional wakeboarders and skiiers from all over the world, CWC offers a 6-point cable ski system, coupled with restaurants, sand bars, spas, pro-shops and grand stands to hold guests. Riders can also enjoy their favorite water sports at night as the park will be equipped with spotlights that allow for it even to be open on evenings. Because of the good weather 10 months a year, the variety of sites to see and competitive pricing. Camarines Sur will be the cable skiing Mecca of Asia.

Dolphin Watching
Camarines Sur's latest addition to the roster of ecological sites is the Ragay Gulf where marine enthusiasts will be fascinated by the dolphins of Camarines Sur. Spotted dolphins, Indo Pacific bottlenose dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are permanent residents of the stunning exhibitions.

Bird Watching
CamSur is home to a great diversity of endemic and migratory birds. Bird watching in Camarines Sur can be done in a variety of areas such as the Caramoan National Park, the marshlands of Calabanga, the Ragay Gulf and even in the Ecovillage located within the Provicial Capitol Complex, in Pili, Camarines Sur.

The Deer Farm Ocampo
The deer farm is entirely stocked with different species of Australian deer such as Blackbuck Antelope, Fallow Deer, Chital Deer, Red Deer, and Elk. Owned by the Camarines Sur government.

The Ecovillage
Discover this enchanting retreat within the provincial capitol complex. A perfect harmony of modernity and natural splendor, the Ecovillage is an ideal tourist destination.

Beaches
Sun, sand and sea... hundreds of islands waiting to be explored... seascapes with varying depths and infinite shades of blue, dazzling underwater coral gardens, skyscraping limestone formations covered in a rich green hue.

Top place to visit for beach lover is the Caramoan island.
The Caramoan Peninsula has gained tourism popularity in recent years. After the place has been featured in the news and local television programs, local and foreign travelers started to explore the virgin beaches of the peninsula.
To get to Caramoan from Manila, one may either take a 9-hour bus ride or a 1-hour plane ride to Naga City (377 km South of Manila). From Naga City Central Terminal, one may take a van to Sabang port. Travel usually last for 1 hour. From Sabang port, there are small commercial boats that ferry passengers to the Caramoan Port. Schedule of hourly boat departure starts at 5 AM. Boat ride usually lasts for 2-hrs and cost Php120.(3$) One may take a jeepney or a tricycle to go to the Centro or the Gota Beach.
It is best to travel the place with a local since the best beaches and sights are far from the Centro and Gota Beach. Activities may include diving, swimming, snorkeling and spelunking by day; and stargazing in the evening. There is no electricity or mobile phone signal on the island.

Landmark
there are several historical landmarks to visit in Camsur from old churches, spanisg garrison camp and old universities.

Museums
yes museums are also worth a visit in camsur.

When to go:
Being situated in a tropical country, Camarines Sur offers only two seasons: the wet and dry season. Dry season ranges from March to June providing for a sun and sand summer holiday for the beach lovers. It is also summertime making it the busiest season of the year where everyone has to sit back and relax at any quiet spot of one's liking or frolic at any famous or not-so-famous beach resort. The month of June to August suggests an ordinary school and work day for most Camarinenses. While the ?ber? months carry with them not only a cool change in the breeze but also a string of seasonal events such as the renowned Pe񡦲ancia festival, the ?undas? (All Soul's Day) and the Christmas season.

Banks and Credit Cards
Commercial banks are open from Monday to Friday. Banking hours are from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. There are however a number which starts banking transactions as early as 8:30 and ends at 5:30 in the afternoon.
Major establishments such as department stores, malls, some restaurants, boutiques which are mostly found within the two cities of the province already accept credit cards.

Exchange Rate:

1.00 USD =47.56PHP

Camsur Photo Gallery: