AmazingTravelGuide

The Philippines: Big City, Rainforest, Beaches, Beautiful Bio-Diversity

An archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is a haven for world travellers. 

You can explore it all using inter-island travel via watercraft or jeepneys and buses on land.

Its busiest seaports are Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga. There's a lot ot see and do in the 12th most populous country in the world -- from barrio fiestas (district festivals) to commemorate the feast days of patron saints like the Moriones Festival and Sinulog Festival, stately baroque churches like the San Agustín Church in Manila and unique examples of Spanish architecture like a central square or plaza mayor, enjoy Original Pilipino Music (also known as OPM) or local board games like sungka and Filipino martial arts.

If it's natural wonders you are looking for -- whether beaches, mountains, volcanos or rainforests -- you will find it here, coupled with an mind-boggling array of flora and fauna in one of the world's 10 most biologically megadiverse countries, including over 100 mammal species and 170 bird species not thought to exist anywhere else.

Its waters encompass as much as 850,000 square miles producing unique and diverse marine life and is an important part of the Coral Triangle with 2,400 fish species and over 500 species of coral. The Apo Reef is the country's largest contiguous coral reef system and the second-largest in the world. Philippine waters also sustain the cultivation of pearls, crabs, and seaweeds.

There are many active volcanoes such as the Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century. 

A more serene legacy is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and the white sand beaches made of coral remnants that make Boracay a popular vacation getaway. The reef-protected waters off that beach is ideal for windsurfing andkiteboarding / kitesurfing. The island also has several other beaches and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses and restaurants.

The highest mountain is Mount Apo measuring up to 9,692 feet above sea level on the island of Mindanao. The Galathea Depth in the Philippine Trench in the Philippine Sea is the deepest point in the country and the third deepest in the world. The trench is located . The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay, upon the shore of which the capital city of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, by the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf, and the Moro Gulf are other important bays. The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Samar and Leyte but it is traversed by the San Juanico Bridge.

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate and is usually hot and humid with  an average yearly temperature is around 26.6°C. Sitting astride the typhoon belt, most of the islands experience annual torrential rains and thunderstorms from July to October, the rainy season, with about 19 typhoons every year, so come prepared.

Don't forget to try some local food. Filipino cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Malayo-Polynesian origins to become a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences that have been adapted to local ingredients. Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to the elaborate, like the paellas and cocidos created for fiestas. Some common local ingredients include calamondins, coconuts, saba (a kind of short wide plantain),mangoes, milkfish, and fish sauce. Filipino taste buds tend to favor robust flavors but the cuisine is not as spicy as those of its neighbors and they don't use chopsticks either.

The Multicultural Czech Capital - Prague

Home to about 1.3 million people, Prague has been a political, cultural and economic centre in central Europe for more than 1,000 years. After being the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, playing major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in 20th-century history, both during the two World Wars and during the post-war Communist era, Prague is home to several famous historical and cultural attractions. As a result, the global city is one of Europe's most popular destinations, receiving more than 4.1 million international visitors annually.

  The city grew from a settlement stretching from Prague  Castle ((Pražský hrad – the largest castle in the world) in the north to the fort of Vyšehrad (where many famous Czechs are buried including the composers Antonín Dvořák & Bedřich Smetana) in the south, becoming the multicultural capital the Czech Republic. Love castles, visit Prague!

It contains one of the world's most pristine collections of architecture from Art Nouveau, Baroque, Renaissance to Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultra- modern. Unique sights include the medeival Astronomical Clock (Pražský orloj installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the only one still working) in Old Town (Staré Město), the historic Charles Bridge (Karlův most) that  crosses the Vltava river, the vaulted Gothic Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga) of 1270, New Town (Nové město) with its busy and historic Wenceslas Square, the Lennon wall he Lennon Wall filled since the 1980s with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and lyrics from Beatles songs, the New Jewish Cemetery in Olšany with Franz Kafka's grave, a giant functional Metronome that looms over the city, Milunić and  Gehry's Dancing House (Fred and Ginger Building) the Nationale-Nederlanden building in downtown Prague designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot.

There are hundreds of concert halls, galleries, cinemas and music clubs in the city from the  renownne National Theatre (Národní Divadlo) and the Estates Theatre (Stavovské or Tyršovo or Nosticovo divadlo) to the National Museum (Národní muzeum) and the Jewish Museum in Prague. The city holds several world class music and film festivals annually as well, from the the Prague Spring International Music Festival to the Febiofest, and the One World, as well as hundreds of Vernissages and fashion shows.Whatever your interest, this world class city has it.

Budapest - The Pearl of The Danube

Built by the Celts, occupied by the Romans, invaded by the Tatars and pillaged by the Ottomans, both Buda and Pest towns were almost totally destroyed in battles. The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 and the amazing civic development that followed resulted in the present day Budapest - the grand Hungarian capital and one of Europe's most beautiful cities.

Known as "Little Paris of Central Europe"or  "Pearl of Danube," Budapest boasts green parks, quaint streets, Renaissance culture and a pulsating nightlife that is on par with its European counterparts.

The great Danube splits the ancient city. Most of Budapest's famous sights are concentrated on the romantic Castle Hill on the Buda side, in downtown Pest and along the riverside walkways. You can get a great view via the funicular railway that takes you to the top.

The 14th Century Buda Castle or Royal Palace is a popular stop housing three large museums, the Vienna Gate, Matthias Church, Fishermen's Bastion and an underground Labyrinth that's a delight for children.

Don't expect cheap accommodation in the Castle Hill area where the views are spectacular and the buys expensive. Consider staying in Buda instead.

The Castle Hill, the River Danube embankments and the whole of the famous street Andrássy út have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

There are eight famous bridges across the river in Budapest that tourists will love to photograph, if not cross. You can have a superb glimpse over the bridges from the Citadella on the top of Buda's Gellert Hill or ride a boat to enjoy both riverbanks at the same time. For romantic views of the city, go at night.

Margaret Island with its large parks, gardens of flowers and old trees  is a great place to spend a sunny day. Or you can head to Hajógyári-sziget Island where Budapest hosts the Sziget Fesztivál every August - Central Europe's most popular outdoor music festival attracting more than 300,000 visitors.

Downtown (Belváros) of Pest  is the administrative and business  centre of Budapest and the whole of Hungary. The main sights here include the majestic Hungarian Parliament Building (Országház) beautifullyoverlooking the Danube; the city's main church St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István Bazilika) with a 96-meter dome and an inside decorated with mosaics; and the Great Synagogue - the biggest in Europe and one of the most impressive ones in the world including a Jewish Museum.
Try to experience an opera at the spectacular State Opera House or a try some forklore or classical music at any of Budapest's many concert halls.

Budapest is a famous spa city, so go "bathing".  The last vestige of Turkish culture in Budapest, the baths are built around hot springs and usually complemented with steam baths, saunas, massage services and drinking cures.  The largest of the traditional public baths is the Gellért Baths decorated beautifully with mosaic tiles.

It's a great walking city but visitors can also take taxis, minibuses, metro, railway  or the newer tram and bus services to get around. Great spots include Andrássy Avenue, the Pest Broadway and the House of Terror.

Try some tasty Hungarian food from goulash to pancakes at the well-known Szent Jupát Söröző & Étterem restaurant, the Kisrablo, or the budget Granny's Pancake. Or you could venture out for pizzas like "Usonka" or "Lenin's favourite" at Marxim; an all-you-can eat feast with unlimited wine and beer at the Mongolian Barbecue or the most authentic Korean food in the area at Seoul House.

 

 

From Angkor Wat to Tonle Sap - Cambodia, a traveler's delight

From the stately temple of Angkor Wat to the majestic Ka Tieng falls in Ratanakiri province, Cambodia offers the best of natural wonders and ancient history in southeast Asia.

Bordering Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap lake. 

The capital Phnom Penh is its largest city was once known as the Pearl of Asia, it was considered one of the loveliest of French-built cities in the 1920s and is still noted for its beautiful architecture and attractions with a number of surviving French colonial buildings, such as the Royal Palace and Phsah Thmei.

Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers, Phnom Penh and the surrounding areas consists of the typical wet plain area for Cambodia.

The two most visited museums in the city are the National Museum - the country's leading historical and archaeological museum, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum -  a former Khmer Rouge prison.

For local festivities, check out the cambodian New Year celebrations in April or the Water Festival in November celebrating the reversing of the flow of the Tonle Sap river.

You can get around via the traditiona tuk tuks and cyclos or rent a motorbike. To see the newly-emerging modern city, stop by the green-domed Sorya Mall or walk down the Sisowath Quay, aka Riverside - an attractive boulevard along the banks.

While you sample the variety of local food, don't forget to try the delicious ka tieu - the local variation on rice-noodle soup, amok - a coconut milk curry, or the famous Cambodian pancake.

Largely agricultural, Cambodia's major exports are rice, fish, timber, garments and rubber.

Cambodia also boasts a variety of wildlife and nature from Bokor National Park -  a former French hill resort to the Tonle Sap Lake - a huge lake with floating villages and Southeast Asia's premier bird sanctuary.

Khmer culture has had a rich and varied history, heavily influenced by India, and you can  find vibrant forms of literature, music, dance and art forms throughout the country, be it classical or folk.

For lesser-known but beautiful retreats, Cham - a countryside village on the Mekong river; Kep - a seaside area which predates Sihanoukville as the main beach resort; Kampot - a small town and the gateway to Bokor National Park; Krek - a small village on the backpacker trail; or Koh Ker - ancient ruins north of Angkor.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; the Sea of Cortez; the Best of Baja California

Pristine beaches, rugged coves and blue-green waters makes for a veritable Eden at the tip of Mexico’s 1,000-mile long Baja California peninsula. Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are the two main towns there, both easy to get to from North America, and provide travelers with the right mix of relaxation excitement. A popular spot for Spring Break and a coveted hideaway for the rich and the famous, Cabo San Lucas has a large marina and beautiful bay where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

Popular sights include the distinctive El Arco, a magnificent natural rock formation at Land’s End; the Iglesia de San Lucas on Calle Cabo San Lucas near the main plaza; and the long sandy main beach El Medano which is a haven for swimming and watersports. It also hosts the largest marlin tournament in the world and provides rich whale watching opportunities.

Restaurants on Marina Boulevard transform into tequila-flowing nightclubs after midnight. Whether you want to take a quick siesta at a happy hour or kick your heels up among mariachis at a fiesta, you’ll be able to do it.

Restaurant Sunset Da Mona Lisa is Los Cabos’ premier place for sunset-watching with spectacular Arch views, dramatic terraces, and delicious seafood. The most popular watering holes are El Squid Roe and the Cabo Wabo Cantina. For a more refined setting, head to Hemingway's, a cigar lounge with famous mojitos.

The town spreads out north and west of the harbor of Cabo San Lucas Bay, edged by foothills and desert mountains to the west and south. There are many hotels, B&Bs and resort options but the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort is one of few with a swimmable beach in the dangerous waters.

For day trips to San José del Cabo 20 miles northeast, catch a bus or a cab. The sister city is a charming old colonial town, founded as a mission in 1730. The historic downtown is peppered with art galleries, courtyard restaurants and a twin spire church. A great destination for families, it provides perfect surf beaches, amazing reef diving opportunities, a sea turtle nursery, an estuary for bird watching and the grand La Laguna mountains to explore.

The Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is located just 60 miles north and takes you back to nature. Cabo Pulmo, known as the “Jewel of the East Cape,” is a small picturesque beach village that boasts a protected reef showcasing a deep blue bay.

  The Cabo Pulmo Reef has eight fingers of hard coral, providing a safe haven for many of the 800 species of marine animals found throughout the Sea of Cortez where John Steinbeck once took part in a marine expedition. It is also the best snorkeling and diving spot in the area.
From Mermaids Beach, a protected bay loaded with juvenile fish, to the Sea Lion Colony, you can snorkel with thousands of fish or swim with friendly sea lions in startlingly clear waters. You can also go deep sea fishing, drive over the sand in semi-auto ATVs, fly in the sky parasailing, take a zipline tour or go horseback riding.

There's one general store, one cantina, no paved roads, no church, no school, and six restaurants. The privately owned El Caballero, Tito's Bar, Nancy’s, Juan’s Tacos "La Palapa" provide an incredible variety of tasty Mexican food.

   There are no hotels but plenty of charming options available, from the Cabo Palmo Beach resort to the artsy El Encanto house, for a sleepy, rustic vacation off the beaten path.