‘Escape to Paradise’
Text Box: Manila City   Manila is the political, economic, social, educational, cultural and recreational hub of this vast archipelago of 7,107 islands that is the Philippines. Nowhere else in the country can the visitor acquire a greater dose of local colour, a better understanding of the country's multifaceted culture, or as many glimpses of its contrasts as in this pulsating, vibrant metropolis. The streets are alive with colourful jeepneys, rumbling buses and sleek automobiles. In old sections of Manila like Intramuros (the old walled city) and Chinatown, clip-clopping horse-drawn carriages pick their way through traffic. Glass and concrete towers rise side-by-side with Spanish colonial houses and neo- classical government buildings. Dragon arches, gold-domed mosques and elaborately-styled mansions define the enclaves of the Chinese, the Moslems, the rich and famous. Outside the civilized bustle of air-conditioned shopping centres, sidewalk vendors haggle and press with the sweaty, hurrying crowds. The glare and gaiety of marketplaces are mere steps away from the peaceful greenery of parks and the hushed silences of churches.   It is the premier gateway to the many islands and tourist destinations north and south of the Philippines, Manila has its own share of attractions to suit every interest. Here, churches, museums and theatres vie for the attentions of history and culture buffs. Malls, boutiques, flea markets and antique shops offer endless surprises for shoppers and souvenir-hunters. Posh restaurants and sidewalk eateries entice gastronomic adventurers. Snazzy discos and cosy bars entertain the night owl. Golfing greens, country clubs and accessible out-of-town resorts provide recreation and relaxation for all. And everywhere, a friendly, festive people who smile readily, adore music and love to welcome visitors with their world-famous brand of hospitality. Text Box: Pansanjan Falls, Laguna Pagsanjan Falls is a popular day-trip about 100 km SE of Manila located in the Laguna province near the town of Santa Cruz. You will go down the riverbank to where the canoes embark. The canoes are close to 6-m long, made of wood, and lack the outrigger you see on most boats (bancas) in the Philippines. Two young men are hired with the canoe which usually carries two passengers. The river is slow and meandering with homes and palms crowding the banks. It doesn't take long before the river valley turns into a deep gorge, with a rainforest canopy, and the quiet waters become cascading rapids. The paddlers often jump out of the boat to manhandle it between boulders while dodging other canoes on their way down. This provides almost as much entertainment as the iridescent birds and butterflies flitting overhead. After a couple of hours, a dead-end box canyon is reached where Pagsanjan Falls tumbles over. Here you can take a raft-ferry across the plunge pool to the base of the falls. The trip down the rapids is fast and exciting and in less than half the time going up, you're back at the top. If you take the trip, be prepared to get wet, bring extra clothing, and be sure to protect your camera. Above are some photos from our trip. Text Box: Tagaytay Taal Volcano is reputed to be the world's smallest and yet most active. It stands on its own island amid a landscape of ash and cinder.   Tagaytay, considered as the country's second summer capital because of its crisp and cool climate all year around, is a treasure box of pleasure points in by itself. At nightfall, one sees the lake sparkle with the pinpoint lights of fishing boats. It is a perfect picnic spot. Here, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Tourism Authority built Picnic Groove, a public park in the city which generates public patronage through user fees and the sale of low priced goods, thus contributing to the industrial growth of Tagaytay. Tagaytay, however, is more than a picnic haunt. The place has given rise to many congregational houses and retreat centres. It is also conductive to spiritual meditation, that is earned yet another title for being the "Centre of Spiritual Retreat."   Thus, the masterpiece of nature that is Tagaytay is a not to be missed item in a tourist itinerary. It should always include a visit to the Volcano Island, and its enumerable side spots. Tagaytay City, located 2,500 feet above sea level enjoys a cool and invigorating climate characterized by a relatively low temperature, low humidity, and abundant rainfall. Average temperature is 22.7 degrees Celsius. For this reason, Tagaytay with its cool weather, balmy winds and foggy mists is called the "second summer capital" of the country after Baguio City.
Text Box: Cebu Cebu is one of the provinces of the Philippines. It lies to the east of Negros Island; to the west of Leyte and to the southeast is Bohol province. Cebu Island is a long narrow island stretching 225 km (140 mi) from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighbouring smaller islands. Of the hundreds of small islands some are uninhabited which make them the targets of adventure-seeking tourists. Cebu is known for its narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus, and coastal plains, all characteristics of a typical tropical island. Cebu also has predominant rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths of the island. Cebu's steep mountains reach over 1,000 meters. Flat tracts of land can be found at the northern tip of the province. Its capital is Cebu City, the oldest city in the country, which forms part of the Cebu Metropolitan Area together with 6 neighboring cities Carcar City, Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Naga City and Talisay City and 6 other municipalities. Cebu is served by Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Mactan Island, thirty minutes drive from downtown Cebu City. Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the country and the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the central and southern parts of the archipelago. It has five-star hotels, casinos, white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, convention centers, and shopping malls Text Box: Boracay Boracay Island is dotted with some 10 different beaches, all within reasonable commuting distance of the main tourist area. The most famous of these is White Beach, which is largely the reason why most people come to the island in the first place. This four-kilometre stretch of powdery white sand on the western shoreline is a favourite spot for swimming, strolling or just hanging out. All sorts of marine sports are available here, such as snorkelling and scuba diving. Many of the island's 20 or so dive shops are located nearby. Outlets such as Calypso Diving School (PADI), Victory Divers and Aquarius Diving offer a wide variety of programs, from half-day courses to full PADI diver certification. Some, like Fisheye Dive Safari, also organize outings to explore undersea coral, or longer trips in search of sunken galleons from days gone by. Hobbie cats, modern sailing craft based on the design of a catamaran, are available by the hour--as are jet skis, water skis, speedboats and banana boats Windsurfing can be enjoyed on both sides of the island, depending on which season the wind blows best. Sunset cruises are available from some of the resorts, and from time to time a parasail can be seen plying through the sky. The local markets are full of people browsing the local shops. Boracay lamps, colourful bags, accessories and native handicrafts can all be found here. You might even want to drop in for a body tattoo at Noel's Tattoo Studio. Head for the beach as twilight descends. It is an opportune time to cool off with a sundowners. Watch the sun from a favourite venue. Wahine Beach Bar and Surf side are places to go for a drink to watch the sun down. At night, Boracay's beachfront is lined with varied international restaurants, open-air bars, karaoke's bars and discos. The most famous part of Boracay is its 4 kilometre stretch of the finest, most pristine white sand beaches, White Beach, where the colour of the sea blends with that of the sky during the day and the white sands glimmer at night. After dinner, you might want to look into one of the many Internet cafés on the island. For a stroll and drop by one of the island's many bars; try listening to the mellow sounds at Bom Bom. As the night wears on, the younger crowd usually makes for the discos like Beachcomber Bar & Disco, or the rowdier bars like Summer Place Bar & Restaurant, where loud techno music is played.