Travel To Philippines: The Prized Archipelago

By: Frank Johnson

Somewhere in Southeast Asia between the Philippine Sea and the East China Sea, east of Vietnam, south of Taiwan and just north of Indonesia, lies a much neglected but historically and ecologically prized archipelago known as the Philippines. This understated cluster of 7,107 islands is the perfect tropical getaway balanced with just enough colonial cultural intrigue and undulating urban energy to keep you going. Despite the country's somewhat turbulent recent history, the Philippines has

reached a level of stability making no better time than now to travel the wonders of the island-nation.

Colonial Legacy, Indigenous Heritage
The first western encounter with the Philippines occurred when Spain's Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521, initiating over 300 years of Spanish colonization. A tremendous amount of today's Filipino population is a fraction Spanish, although a negligible number of residents are completely Spanish. The United States took over colonization in 1899 until the Japanese invasion of the strategic islands during World War II. Following Japanese defeat, the Philippines received its independence in 1946. American cultural and military influence still permeates through island culture, although the last U.S. military base has finally been closed. Original human settlement in the region began about thirty thousand years ago when people crossed then-existing land bridges from Asia. Malaysian and Indonesian settlers joined the fray a few thousand years later to constitute a most interesting blend of semi-indigenous cultures still present in the Philippines today. Direct descendents of the first arrivals currently live in the northern province of Zambales.

A Pocketful of Paradise
The nation is divided into three main regions, each with its own metropolitan hub and particular points of interest. Luzon to the north is the most populated region, with the expansive capital city Manila as its main destination. Travel farther north to Banaue where a spectacle of rice terraces had been etched up along the hillside by the Ifugao tribespeople over 2000 years ago. Also, don't miss the truly isolating beauty of Hundred Islands National Park where you may just find a beach all to yourself, as there are literally hundreds to choose from. The central region of Visayas is mostly smaller island clusters and famous for Boracay Island's White Beach and surrounding resort and aquatic activity areas. Make sure to explore the island's less crowded, but just as white-and-turquoise beaches. The southernmost region of Mindanao is home to Davao, the largest city in the world by land area, and the stately Mount Apo, the Philippine's tallest mountain. Enjoy a thrilling river rafting trip in Cagayan de Oro or get back to basic Filipino life in the Tiruray Highlands where the remote shores of Lake Sebu are peacefully inhabited by the T'boli tribe.

While the Getting's Good
With nearly 40,000 kilometers of coastline, a fantasy-like landscape of tropical greenery, and world-class cities offering world-class cuisine and lifestyle, it's hard to imagine that this puddle-jump in Southeast Asia will remain a secret for long. See for yourself why the Philippines is one of the last remaining gems of biodiversity and indigenous culture in this ever-growing region of the world!

For discount airfare to Philippines, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.

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Siargao: The Philippines' Ultimate Surfing Destination

In Northern Mindanao lies a small island with a big reputation. It has been dubbed as the ultimate surfing destination in the Philippines. Foreigners and out-of-town locals alike have traveled to Siargao to experience for themselves the waves that have lured many surfers to stay in this island for good. For many, what was once a weekend of surfing has become a lifelong pursuit. Many dedicated American and Australian surfers now call this island home. It is not hard to see why. Siargao has a beauty unique from all others. Its land is unspoiled by commercialism; it has no pollution, and offers a laid-back and relaxed way of life. Many visitors find it very hard to pack up and leave the island. Surfing Since the late 1990s, committed local and foreign surfing enthusiasts have sought out Siargao. The Cloud Nine Surf Break has literally placed Siargao on the map as one of the premiere surfing destinations. The much-anticipated event of the year is the Siargao Cup Surfing Competition. It is held in late September or early October. Siargao does not guarantee surfing waves year-round. However, excellent surfing can be done from April to October. The best time to surf in Siargao is during the northeast monsoon, where spectacular waves appear on the ocean. For the Non-surfers Non-surfers can still go to Siargao and have a great time. They can simply enjoy watching surfers take on the waves. They can also learn how to surf. There are many surfing camps to choose from. Majority of these surfing camps are run by Australian surfers, who could not bear to leave Siargao and had made the island their home. Some foreign surfers as well as local ones offer surfing lessons at reasonable rates. Those who want to enjoy the natural beauty that Siargao has to offer can go on guided day tours to the many beaches and rock pools, as well as the vast mangrove swamps, and waterfalls. Siargao also has lush inland forests where uncommon wildlife such as tarsiers, flying lemurs, and monitor lizards can be found. Trips to the islands surrounding Siargao can also be arranged from most, if not all, of the resorts. The more popular islands are: Guyam, which consists entirely of white sand and palm trees; Dako, which has a stunning beach and is great for snorkeling and diving; Bucas Grande, which has the Sohoton Cave, with an inland lake with unique marine animals such as the non-stinging jellyfish; and Kangbangyo, where you can look for crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Caob. The nightlife in Siargao is not as wild as in other popular destinations in the Philippines. The resorts are good enough to enjoy quiet drinks at sunset. There are many good restaurants to choose from. Most offer Filipino cuisine. Most resorts have their own in-house restaurants. These places serve delicious meals and give visitors enough reason to dine in instead of going out to eat. For surfers and non-surfers alike, Siargao is an ideal place to go on vacation.

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Best Family Vacation Ideas

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It’s time for that tried-and-true tradition - the best family vacation! While time away is an opportunity for fun, relaxation, and togetherness, careful planning and necessary preparations should be done months ahead.

Yes, the family vacation. It's the source of some of our most potent and pleasing memories, both as kids and as parents. If fostering family fun is tops on your to-do list, there’s the assortment of family vacation destinations for children, students, parents and everyone.

1) Disneyland anywhere in the world is first and foremost. The thrill of this theme park is so endless and overwhelming. Your kids could spend weeks here and never experience a single moment of boredom.

2) Families with adventurous streak would love to mountain-climb, or hike and so will those who just like to play in the sand. Whale-watching, snorkeling, and beach frolicking are the most common get-aways but your adrenaline junkies may also enjoy scuba diving, surfing, or biking down a volcano's slope.

3) Thrill seekers may find riding down the mountain slope in an alpine coaster and alpine slide everything they need to drive away the stress of daily responsibilities at home and at work. Race down the elevated track with more than a mile of loops and hair-pin curves at speeds up to 30 mph against your family and friends. Just like your favorite roller coaster - but with refreshing green mountain scenery. Kids can participate in the fun, too!

4) You and your family can also soar above the tree tops with exciting cable rides. You can also take a scenic lift rides for a picturesque mountain view. Once you reach the top, you can hike along the groomed access roads, exploring the beautiful surroundings before enjoying the scenic ride back down.

5) Those who are animal lovers would enjoy the wildlife at the zoo.

6) Even in tough economic times most families are still counting on a summer getaway. But they may take trips closer to home, or even try a "staycation", enjoying and exploring their own town or region the way a tourist would.

Ah, the choices are so endlessly amusing. It just depends on the family’s passions, interests or hobbies. It's a big world anyway, explore where you want to play, relax, and tour. No matter where you take your family for a vacation - a fun and exciting mountain vacation, a Caribbean cruise to lie around in the summer sun, or even a simple trip to the back yard for "staycations" – it can be a very unforgettable experience that you and your kids will treasure forever.

Author: Arlene Cuares is a web content writer and has written a number of articles on different topics. She herself loves to take her family to a best family vacation once in a while to escape the humdrums of a busy life and to spend quality time with her family.

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The Beijing Connection

The City of Beijing is actually governed as a municipality. For all you know, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality will be hosting the China Open 2009 from October 2 to 11 at National Tennis Center. Since its start in 2004, China Open has been held for 5 consecutive years. As a major sporting event, one would ask what connection does the environment in Beijing offer to visitors from all over the world. To get a scenario of what to expect, let us recount a first-hand experience of a friend's visit to Beijing during the 2008 Olympics

Weather

The daily weather in Beijing is referred to as being “overcast” with a one to two kilometer thick by several hundred kilometer wide pall of smog. You hardly see the tops of buildings, or clearly across the wide boulevards. You can feel the smog on your skin, in your nostrils and taste it in your mouth. A haze usually hangs over the city for the early part of the day. Anyone with breathing or respiratory problems must have a hard time with it. Or you better not come.

The temperature is rather warm. At street level with the crowds, the temperature must be about 95 F. Everyone is sweaty, and when greetings are exchanged, the hugs and handshakes are slick.

People

The people of Beijing are wonderful. They are promptly hospitable, friendly and helpful. They love to have pictures with foreigners for posterity perhaps.. Everyone you’d have any interaction with would bring you joy from to waiters to taxi drivers. Just get prepared to be swarmed and run over on the sidewalks. There are literally hundreds of thousands of others, men, women and children, sharing the sidewalks and boulevards with you, but they move deftly around you. There is no rudeness or pushiness. Yes, they are among the friendliest people in the world.

It will really surprise you and impress you mainly with the people and the energy you’d feel from the people. They're just pretty happy people and a great sense of humor and they really are welcoming the world there and that's what you’d feel like. They're really fun people. They're really serious and really intense and you have to be also to get ahead and to be competitive in anything with 1.3 billion people. But they also have a really funny side and you’d see just how proud these people are.

Food

At a Chinese restaurant you’d be served very large dishes of fresh, hot steaming food, plus a couple of large beers and sodas worth a whopping 137 yuan ($23) – that’s for eight people. And no tips for such gracious and prompt service.

Speaking of sense of humor, there was some pretty good Chinglish on the menu when you’d go to a restaurant to enjoy a traditional Chinese hot pot. Among the items was "obese beef," "aftertaste sausage," and "cube roll of moo cow." Doesn't matter what they call it; it was awesome.

There would always be a 24-hour lounge somewhere where those working on the 24-hour clock could stay and relax with a cold beverage whenever the day is done. Here’s an account from a pal:

As I’m picking up a tray or two for the crowd, I need to ask the comely young barkeep how late the joint may be open, trying to figure out how early I’d have to get there. She goes, confers with some supervisor ‘cause I don’t think she quite understands my English and comes back to report: "Sir, we are open all the hours.” A local with some knowledge of the place looks at me like I’ve got three heads and says, “Don’t worry, you can smoke in restaurants here. I think you can smoke in hospitals if you want.”


Streets & Travel

Hutongs are the narrow streets or alleys that are formed by the traditional courtyard residences all over Beijing. The neighborhoods where these alley ways exist are usually referred to as hutongs.
You’d have a lot of offers from the bicycle rickshaw drivers to take you around, but you can stay on foot and maybe much more exciting.

Taxi cab service, so far, needs a serious upgrade. The drivers seem to be from anywhere except this city, for some reason, and don’t know their way around town, or how to find anything. Sometimes a cab driver misses the mark, but still does you a favor.

Even when they’re lost and clueless, though, the drivers are polite and friendly and provide stories for the telling. If you miss the mark a mile away, a local would insist on escorting you for a walk of the entire distance and he wouldn’t even accept beer money in return. What a walk, though. But you could have beautiful grounds, with lakes, giant trees, gardens, temples, fine old buildings, groups of people doing the Tai Chi thing on flawless green lawns. Well, if you get on the right place…

You see a lot of things in the first class lounges of various train stations and airports – not that I go there very often in these budget-conscious times. Things like famous people sometimes. Free food. The odd drink. Comfortable chairs. And, apparently, bugs. Big, stinking scorpion-like bugs.

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The Fine Line Between Education and Tourism

I have one Filipino blogger friend who contacted me and requested me to comment on his decision to fly to London and take his masteral studies in tourism there. He's an English instructor at a state university in his province and he is working on her student-visa application at the British Embassy in Manila. He just wanted a review or maybe an edit of his responses to three questionnaire items in his visa application. His responses are posted below. Please read through them because I am reserving some questions that I myself haven't yet settled.

WHY DID YOU SELECT YOUR PROPOSED COURSE AND HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT?

My work experiences (as an English Instructor, Coordinator for Cultural/External Affairs, Co-Adviser of the School Publication, Coordinator of Sports/recreational Program, Adviser of Student Council, Service Staff for Marketing Services in a fast-food chain, Head Waiter with managerial and supervisory functions in a resort hotel, photographer/camera man for a foto-video shop, and my recent involvement in internet marketing) all add up to my emergent desire to broaden my knowledge and enhance my readiness to handle higher level tasks on business promotion, entrepreneurial management and tourism.

As coordinator/adviser of various committees, I have somehow engaged myself on problem-solving and analysis. As an English instructor and school publication adviser, I have developed self-confidence and effective communication. As a former student leader covering all the four(?) campuses of Pangasinan State University, I have had a foretaste of exercising managerial leadership and responsibility. As a webmaster and blogger, I have considerably immersed myself into the IT/Internet realm which exposed me to the exciting and rewarding world of promotion, marketing and travel.

Recently, I have learned that these preparations could be strengthened or enhanced for effective managerial leadership in the tourism and hospitality industry. But much more than this conceptual premise is the realization that further training, studies and research along this line are better attained on internationally-established tourist destinations and highly-urbanized marketing and fashion hub such as in Europe or specifically in London. Then I heard about Harrow International Business School from a friend who is presently studying there. I browsed across the school’s website and was even more convinced to pursue my studies there. My persistence brought me before Harrow’s Dean of Hospitality Studies (?) who affirmed my passion and advised me to really chase my dream with the course MBA in International Hospitality and Tourism Management.

WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS WILL THIS COURSE BRING YOU?

The Philippines has been building up its image as a major tourist destination for people around the world, and the prospect in this sector is promising. Tourism-related courses in most local schools and universities popularly draw a big slice of students’ population in the country. I believe that my MBA course from a London-based university like Harrow will give me a wide competitive edge in terms of high quality training, relevant knowledge and unparalleled exposure to the international tourism industry, Europe-based at that. This edge would come in terms of my future employment (locally or abroad) in higher-level or managerial/supervisory positions, my consequent entrepreneurial effectiveness in successfully managing my own business, and that quenching fulfillment for my passion for greater wisdom in life as an educator, as an online advertiser, and hopefully as a businessman. The offshoot of improving my language proficiency in an English-speaking country and that unique educational experience on service, promotion and marketing – related course such as in Hospitality and Tourism management, also bring greater benefits.

HAVE YOU STUDIED ANY RELATIVE COURSE, IF SO WHAT? WHAT DOCUMENTS HAVE YOU PRODUCED TO DEMONSTRATE THIS?I

In my Bachelor of Secondary Education degree, major in English, I learned how to efficiently manage and convince people, how to communicate or market effectively my message, how to lead and take responsibility, how to develop and condition minds, etc. which are all necessary player qualifications in the hospitality and tourism business. I believe that my Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education attaches indubitable relevance to my choice of MBA in International Hospitality and Business Management. Both courses somehow tackle human services and management. My transcript of records and Diploma shall demonstrate the connection.

Every idea or concept belongs to a traversable network of entwined philosophies, experiences, analogies and intentions. Every motive and model is relevant to a certain degree. But do you see a direct connection between teaching profession and a career in the tourism business. You bet you do. It's not difficult to trace a connection, I did too. But are you convinced? Honestly? Please guide me through...

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