|
JPEG 834x588x16M [57 KB]
On the streets of Cebu. This is the second city in the Philippines, and supposedly the hub for travels in the central part of the archipelago. I got stuck there for three days before finding a means to get away to where I wanted, and I did not enjoy much of it. |
|
JPEG 816x522x16M [42 KB]
Alona beach on Bohol island turned out to be a disappointment. The beach is very long, but overcrowded with "resorts" which serve basically as a base for zillions of tourists with a diving monomania, mostly from central and northern Europe. If you want to spend all your time with german and swedish buddies, drinking beer and eating wurst while you check out each other's latest dive computer, that's the place for you. But be ready to pay for it. The beach itself sucks, but in fact some of the diving spots that they take you to are excellent. |
|
JPEG 822x516x16M [32 KB]
The Chocolate Hills in the central part of Bohol are well worthy the couple of hours drive from Tagbilaran, with some interesting stops along the way. The hills, formerly coral formations on the bottom of the ocean, make for an impressive view, expecially if one considers that they cover an area much larger than the eye can see. If they were in the USA, they would be a serious competitor to the Grand Canyon in the book of superlatives. |
|
JPEG 552x816x16M [64 KB]
Crossing a bridge makes a nice photo shot for the grandchildren. |
|
JPEG 822x540x16M [47 KB]
Washing time. Life in the inner parts of Bohol, away from the major tourist flow, is a far cry away from the Alona Beach style. |
|
JPEG 810x534x16M [57 KB]
The intrepid tourists are about to brave the river. |
|
JPEG 816x534x16M [64 KB]
Not many people live along this river in the interior of Bohol, and a boat with 6 western tourists is a sight to see. |
|
JPEG 816x540x16M [42 KB]
The lifestyle is not exactly the same as in Manila. Yet, wherever you go, you'll always find a basketball court, the biggest craze of young Filipinos. |
|
JPEG 834x522x16M [62 KB]
Schools are closed in May, but these kids sure do not regret it. They are practicising the stunts for the next Tarzan movie. |
|
JPEG 840x534x16M [37 KB]
About to cross over to Cabilao. From there, it's a short motorcycle hop to the northern side, where the best beaches are. |
|
JPEG 798x516x16M [46 KB]
Fishing in Cabilao. |
|
JPEG 828x522x16M [42 KB]
A view from the old lighthouse at the northern side of Cabilao. |
|
JPEG 546x816x16M [43 KB]
The beaches are nice, and not many tourists. In fact, in the beginning of June, I was the only one at the place where I stayed... |
|
JPEG 822x534x16M [50 KB]
... and made friends quickly. |
|
JPEG 858x558x16M [44 KB]
The big ferry (oh well) to Cebu island leaves twice a week directly from Cabilao. Some passengers are a bit reluctant to board and it takes some art to convince them. Later during the crossing, the cow, the goat and the pig engaged in a scatological competition, a real festival of colors and smells. |
|
JPEG 828x558x16M [63 KB]
On Palawan, the penitentiary is not far from Puerto Princesa, but can be reached only if you hire a trycicle. This is a peculiar prison, with no walls and fences. Inmates here work the fields for their own food, and make handicraft. Families can visit and it looks more like a workers village, until you start asking people why they are there: my guide was serving 16 years for drugs, and he wasn't very happy that his term was almost over. Many of them have no better place to go. |
|
JPEG 810x546x16M [41 KB]
On another location on the prison ground, I was introduced to two odd friends. |
|
JPEG 834x540x16M [37 KB]
The baby monkey had lost its mother, and was being raised by the puppy's mother. Naturally, the baby monkey felt that was her brother and wouldn't let go of him for a second. The puppy however did not seem so enthusiastic about it. |
|
JPEG 828x540x16M [48 KB]
Another short trycicle ride from Puerto Princesa, is Honda Bay with tens of islands, most of them deserted. If you hire a banca (a small fishing boat), you can go and visit all that you like... |
|
JPEG 828x540x16M [38 KB]
... and have a chance to see where they shot Bay Watch. |
|
JPEG 828x540x16M [43 KB]
Snake island in Honda Bay. |
|
JPEG 828x540x16M [39 KB]
OK so I wanted a postcard picture. |
|
JPEG 834x546x16M [40 KB]
Just pick your island. |
|
JPEG 834x546x16M [63 KB]
The only island in Honda Bay which actually has some facilities. |
|
JPEG 834x546x16M [50 KB]
The infamous jeepney, during a stop on the 8 hours trip from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton. No trip in the Philippines could be complete, without some hours on one of these creations of local inventive. Bring a towel for the dust and sweat, and pray that they don't haul fish and live pigs on the roof on the day you are travelling. |
|
JPEG 846x546x16M [41 KB]
Port Barton at last. The beach is a nice sight during the day... |
|
JPEG 822x552x16M [29 KB]
... and even a better one at sunset. |
|
JPEG 840x564x16M [68 KB]
I decided to splurge and stayed in this nice bungalow by the beach in Port Barton. Which was a major tactical mistake, since Port Barton is a fishermen village, and sure enough every morning before sunrise the beach turned into a carneval of screams, calls, diesel engines and barking dogs. |
|
JPEG 834x546x16M [43 KB]
While the beach in Port Barton is nice and excellent for swimming, when it comes to diving it sucks. However, you can hire a banca and pick your own private island in the bay. |
|
JPEG 540x816x16M [33 KB]
It's called the Thousand Island bay with good reason, and essentially all of them are desert... |
|
JPEG 822x552x16M [32 KB]
... except for the occasional ubiquitous tourist. |
|
JPEG 834x540x16M [38 KB]
Another unforgettable trip by jeepney, and I land in Roxas, on the opposite coast of Palawan across from Port Barton. The street life may be interesting, but the main reason to go there is to cross over to... |
|
JPEG 834x540x16M [31 KB]
Coco Loco island, which is a tourist trap where it is unusually delightful to be trapped. At least in June, there are almost no tourists. One reason could be the food: you have no choice but to eat at the resort's restaurant, and they seem to know that. |
|
JPEG 822x522x16M [35 KB]
The island is a few hundred meters across, with white beaches... |
|
JPEG 822x522x16M [30 KB]
... and surrounded for the most part by a coral reef within easy swimming distance. The reef is interesting, although it does not hold the comparison to other places in Palawan or Bohol. |
|
JPEG 822x522x16M [46 KB]
The nice thing is that even at the beginning of the wet season, the thunderstorms stay on Palawan at the horizon, and don't spoil the scene on Coco Loco. |
|
JPEG 822x534x16M [25 KB]
If you want to leave Palawan (or shall we say if you really have to), chances are you'll have to go through Manila. If you decide to take the ship, you'll be in one of these. It's nice inside... |
|
JPEG 822x534x16M [28 KB]
... but maybe you are not allowed to take your favorite pet with you. |
|
JPEG 540x816x16M [45 KB]
Another hop by bus, ship and jeepney, and I'm in Puerto Galera in northern Mindoro. A bit of disappointment, because the place turned out to be a major tourist destination and decidedly overcrowded. But with a short tricycle ride... |
|
JPEG 816x534x16M [51 KB]
... you can get away from it all. Just nearby there are some wonderful beaches. |
|
JPEG 816x534x16M [56 KB]
Which made it all worthy. |
|
JPEG 816x510x16M [48 KB]
Just choose your own. |
