Happy Tripper

Tripper 5: Amazing Photos of the Philippines

Posted by Carambs

Well, I’m choosing from among my photos, so these may not necessarily be the best of the best out there. But they’re pretty good photos of the Philippines. I’ve been posting them to different Flickr groups so other people may see how beautiful our country is.

1) Bohol - This photo was taken during our island hopping tour after snorkeling near the Balicasag island. This is a photo of a small, uninhabited island which was somewhere in between Panglao and the snorkeling site. Bohol is a beautiful, beautiful place - if I were rich enough I would buy property there so I can just go back anytime. It’s relatively quiet, the beaches are not yet commercialized, there were so many dolphins to watch it was amazing, and the people were genuinely nice. Bohol is one place I always recommend to business associates and other acquaintances when they ask about interesting destinations in the Philippines.

2) Kadayawan - Experiencing the different fiestas or festivals in the Philippines is awesome. Kadayawan, which is celebrated during the third week of August by Davaoenos, is one of the more popular fiestas in the country. Participants go all out with their costumes, props, and presentations - which end up being truly awesome! Here you can see some very happy participants, still smiling even if they were very tired. Other popular Philippine fiestas are: Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan (third week of January), Sinulog in Cebu (third week of January), Dinagyang in Iloilo (fourth week of January), Panagbenga in Baguio (fourth week of February), Pahiyas in Quezon (second week of May), and Masskara in Bacolod (third week of October).

3) Vigan -This is a photo of Calle Crisologo, the most popular street in Vigan. Cars are not allowed here, so you will either see people walking or riding the kalesa. The street is lined with stores that sell Vigan products such as woven blankets, placemats, and bags. The houses are well-preserved, and they give us a glimpse of what it was like in the past. At night, the lamps are lit, and you will feel that you’ve travelled through time.

4) Antulang Resort - Antulang is located south of Dumaguete City. It’s around 45 minutes from the airport. I recommend this for couples or divers, not so much barkadas who just want to go to a resort. It’s a bit isolated, and there’s not much to do. But it’s a beautiful place - great for taking pictures, and just to relax. This photo was taken from the cliff. Watching the sunset was awesome! The people are very friendly and pleasant. I will try to dedicate one post just for Antulang sometime in the future.

5) Baguio - This is the view from the window of Little John’s in Camp John Hay. Baguio is a good place to get away from Manila mainly because of its cool climate. It’s somewhat crowded, but still a destination of choice for many. For the activities, you can choose from shopping at Ukay-Ukay stores, buying Good Shepherd products, shopping for blankets and walis, eating at Rose Bowl and Cafe By The Ruins, bike around Burnham Park, or ride horses in Camp John Hay. This is our default destination when we can’t think of a new place to go to, and we usually stay in Hotel Veniz.

Tripper 5: Paris

Posted by Carambs

1) Arc de Triomphe – Seeing the Arc de Triomphe up close was a dream come true for me. It holds a special place in my heart because I see it yearly when I follow the Tour de France. The last few laps of the Tour pass by the Arc, and it’s a fitting end to one of the greatest sports event of all time. I was actually teary-eyed when I first saw it up close, when I still inside the shuttle. Last May I was supposed to follow the Tour for 11 days but visa problems did not allow my dream to come true. And so I am grateful for this trip because it partly fulfilled my dream. In the coming years, I still hope to watch the Tour de France live in the mountains of France and the Champs Elysees.

2) Louvre – The Louvre is an amazing place. Words cannot describe how I felt while I was walking around, seeing all of the paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from hundreds, and even thousands, of years ago. We only allocated 3 hours for the Louvre, which is definitely not enough. But we had no choice because we only had 1 day in Paris, and we wanted to see other sights as well. We went to the Scully and Denon wings, mainly for the Mona Lisa and the Egyptian exhibit. Seeing the Mona Lisa was actually anti-climactic. It wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. Maybe it’s because the painting was small, and the bullet-proof glass that covered it did not allow the viewers to truly appreciate the painting’s beauty. Maybe because it was cordoned off and one couldn’t really get near. In any case, it’s still an experience. The Egyptian exhibit blew my mind. I couldn’t believe I was looking at items that were thousands of years old! I also found it so amazing how the human mind works, because at the core of it all, the people then and the people now are just the same. There’s science, self-preservation, art, and even vanity. People think of, worry about, and are concerned with the same things, whether surrounded by stones or surrounded by digital gadgets. I want to go back to Paris mainly for the Louvre – I would like to allocate 2 to 3 full days for it, so that I can see and appreciate all that it has to offer.

3) Eiffel Tower – Though beautiful, I think it’s overrated. Still, that didn’t stop me from taking photos. I wish it weren’t as hard to take pictures at night, because it is more beautiful at night. It was a perfect night – we took some pictures with the Eiffel Tower in the background, had a hotdog sandwich for dinner while viewing the tower from afar, had nutella crepe for dessert, and took pictures up-close while sending MMS images to friends.

 

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Tripper 5: Barcelona

Posted by Carambs

1) La Manual Alpargatera - This is a very famous yet very simple espadrilles shop in Barcelona. It was established in the 1940’s after the Spanish Civil War. It’s a must-visit for tourists, whether or not one is interested in purchasing espadrilles. But believe you me, you will end up buying, what with all the different styles to choose from. The most basic style only costs 7 Euros! The ladies in the store were very helpful - the older one doesn’t speak English though and the other one spoke minimal english. We were lucky that we were with someone who was based in Barcelona, and who could speak basic Spanish. You will probably think of buying “pasalubong” for friends and loved ones back at home - get ready to shell out around 50 to 70 Euros when you visit the store.

2) La Sagrada Familia - This magnificent basilica, one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces, has been under construction since Gaudi was alive. He had been working on it for 40 years until his death in 1926. When asked about the long construction period, he replied with “My client is not in a hurry” referring to God. His vision is still alive today as other people have continued to work on the basilica. La Sagrada Familia is a testament to Gaudi’s brilliant mind. He was meticulous in designing it, making sure that he had plaster models, not just a design on paper. Every detail was planned, and indeed every detailsIt is now a very popular tourist destination in Barcelona.

3) Bus Turistic - Barcelona’s Bus Tour, according to a friend who has travelled to many places, is one of the best. The double-decker buses are relatively clean, the payment and distribution of kits are organized, and it features many destinations. It is definitely worth the cost. (19 Euros for 1 day/23 Euros for 2 consecutive days) There are 2 routes (a third one is being finalized), the red route and the blue route. The routes include the famous destinations in Barcelona such as Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Barri Gotic. The nice thing about Bus Turistic is that you can go around the destinations at your own pace. You’re also given earphones and the background and history of the different sites are explained to you. The second level is the best, you can truly enjoy what the city has to offer.

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