Top Ten Philippine Destinations

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Ten must-see places in the Philippine archipelago should you find yourself in this side of the world:

10.
Manila – The nation’s capital and the first on the list. You just can’t pass on
the lively nightlife, the biggest malls and the barrage of historical sights.
Start your journey by stepping back in time by visiting Chinatown as well as
the walled city of Intramuros. Then take a fast forward move to Ayala Center in
Makati or at the Fort in Taguig, where being bored is simply not an excuse.

9.
Boracay – The mere mention of the word is in itself synonymous to sun
worshipping with reckless abandon, where powdery white sand is a seemingly red
carpet of continuous arrivals of those ready to partake in all the action
that’s in the island menu. Apart from the famous White Sand beach that
stretches for miles and accommodates a hundred and one havens that cater to
even the most discerning of beach lovers, there is also the other “gem” that
lay, waiting for visitors to discover – Bulabug beach, the eastern part of the
island that lent Boracay the sub-moniker “Kiteboarding Capital in Asia”. A
welcome alternative to the extreme sports lover and adrenalin junkie.

8.
Camarines Sur – Home to one of the best wakeboarding sites in Asia. Tracing its
infancy to only a few years back, more and more people are taking the sport to
heart. There is also Gota beach, the site for the much-hushed upcoming episode
of Survivor.

7.
Palawan – If Boracay is the “party island”, then Palawan is the quintessential
sanctuary of those weary souls ready to unburden themselves from routine.  Touted to be the country’s “Last
Frontier”, this island paradise is the location of the St. Paul Subterranean River
National Park, the world’s second longest (running at an incredible 8.5 km.)
underground river. One can see an amazing natural display of stalagmites and
stalactites that seem to defy the laws of gravity. In the nearby coastal area,
visitors can even witness sea cows or Dugongs feed.

6.
Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada – If you really want to go on an
honest-to-goodness backpacking adventure, you can start by going to the
Mountain Province and taking the Banaue-Sagada route. A scenic road trip that’s
certainly not for the faint hearted, you get to traverse steep roads and pass
by dangerous ravines. But this baptism of fire gives you a rewarding view of
the Banaue Rice Terraces, a 2,000-year-old man made wonder that is under the
UNESCO World Heritage List. A similar payoff awaits when you arrive at Sagada
where you can go spelunking inside Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves and see the Hanging Coffins for which Sagada is famous for.

5.
Siargao – Located at the eastern shoreline of the Philippines, the teardrop
shaped island of Siargao is proudly hailed as the “Surfing Capital of the
Philippines”. For surfing aficionados, there’s “Cloud 9”a world-class surf
break. But Siargao is not only a surfer’s paradise, it is also the site for
international game fishing tournaments where almost 60 participants from all
over the world convene.

4.
Davao ZIP Line – Fly 100km/hour, 200 feet above ground whilst suspended only by
a pulley and propelled by gravity. And this is just at Talomo District where
The Accelator, aptly called is located. This is the longest Zip line in Asia
and the most challenging among the others in Davao. Speed and extreme sports
freaks will surely get their trip’s worth. If you can’t fathom the length, you
can always traverse the 380- meter alternative at Camp Sabros. However, if you
have Acrophobia, you may want to skip to the next destination.

3.
Tubattaha Reef – Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea, just off the
coast of Palawan. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to a myriad of
amazing marine life – from eagle rays to lionfish tortoises, clownfish and yes,
sharks. Composing of two atolls, namely the North and South reefs, Tubattaha is
rated as one of the word’s best diving sites. Come for a visit to the reef and
see for yourself why it has earned this title.

2.
Donsol, Sorsogon – Fearsome as it may look, the largest fish in the sea is as
docile as a bunny rabbit. It may be a rare sight in some of the world’s oceans,
but at Donsol, you can actually swim with a dozen of these Butandings or more
commonly known as the Whale Shark. You don’t even need scuba gear for these
phenomenal encounters. A mask, snorkel and fins would do, since these enormous
creatures usually swim near the water’s surface.

1.
Mt. Pinatubo – Less than two decades ago, Mt. Pinatubo, which had been dormant
for 635 years created the most violent terrestrial explosion of the century,
spewing clouds of ashes and dust which lowered the earth’s temperature by one
degree. Now, the once-again sleeping giant is available for adventure seekers
to cross its terrain in a landscape that can be described as almost surreal.
Think of it as the closest thing you’ll ever get to walk on the surface of
Mars, albeit the red color.

source: gargamelhitsmanila@blogsnitch.com