For more pictures follow the below link: http://picasaweb.google.com/tonycesare/CebuManilaAndTagaytay?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHIltOUo9X7Gg&feat=directlink
It has been a while since our last post. During this time we spent a few days in Cebu, Manila (again) and are now in Bangkok, Thailand. Erika’s mom and her friend Judy have boarded the long flight back and should be nearing Carolina.
Cebu is the capital city on Cebu Island, which is located centrally in the archipelago. This historically important city is where Magellan landed in late March 1521 establishing European contact with, and Catholicism in, the Philippines (Arab traders had been coming to the region for some time). Magellan befriended Rajah Humabon, the chieftain of Cebu, convinced him to join allegiance with Spain and began baptisms of the local tribesmen. Unfortunately for Magellan, Cebu was all he got to see. On April 27, 1521, Magellan attacked Rajah Lapu-Lapu, a rival of Humabon. The Spaniards were summarily routed, Magellan met his fate, and his body was never recovered.
Today, Cebu is the center of tourism in the Philippines. Unlike Manila, Cebu city is enjoyable to visit with numerous things to see; coral reefs and beaches for water sports, mountainous terrain and forest, and many historical sites. It also has a 5-star hotel, where we stayedJ. Unfortunately, in Cebu Tony got to experience one of the constants of Asian travel: food poisoning. We will spare the gory details but can say he was physically unable to do much in Cebu. While this dampened the enjoyment of Cebu for everyone else, at least we were in a really, really nice hotel and we were able to take advantage of all of the hotel amenities.
Tony was feeling well enough to return to Manila and climb up a live volcano! In blazing hot sun, Erika, Tony and Judith climbed to the top of Taal Volcano, and the view at the top was worth the effort. The volcano is an hour outside Manila in Tagatay. We took a small boat across a beautiful large crater lake with a small mountain protruding from the water. Climbing to the top of that mountain revealed a smaller second crater with sulfuric water, steaming vents and all the hall marks of a volcano. It was a very hot walk uphill, but we opted to NOT use the small overworked/underfed-looking horses that were available from the locals and instead enjoyed a little leg work. On the way back into Manila we stopped along the side of the road to sample some of the area’s delicious homegrown fruit we bought from local vendors –the sweetest pineapples, mangoes, bananas and lanzones that you could imagine!
Tony’s health turned again, but this time he opted for chemical warfare, and is now making a full recovery with the help of some strong antibiotics.
Our final two days Manila… well, nothing changed in the time we were away. It was still pretty polluted, it was still full of gigantic malls and the traffic was still a nightmare. We recommend upon arrival in Manila, immediately board the next plane out to one of the many beautiful places in the Philippines.
Final thoughts on the Philippines
· BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU EAT!
· Tourism in the Philippines is almost exclusively for the locals. Without Erika’s mom, it would have been a little more difficult to get around (and get any decent deals). If you are not going with a Filipina it would be wise to prepare very well.
· Boracay is touristy but beautiful. In low season, it’s a small paradise.
· Palawan is rugged and beautiful. The Philippines will be wise to protect the natural beauty there and foster its growth into a world-renowned ecotourism destination.
· We will have to go back to Cebu one day and dive or snorkel around its many beautiful reefs!
· Manila (mom always said if you can’t say anything nice…) could use a facelift
· It was a good introduction to SE Asian travel. We were broken in by travelling with a local, we had our first battle with illness, we learned how to bargain a little bit, Tony got to meet the other side of Erika’s family and we enjoyed some the beauty that The Philippines had to offer.
We are now in Thailand and are already tackling its biggest city. Next post from Bangkok.
Cebu is the capital city on Cebu Island, which is located centrally in the archipelago. This historically important city is where Magellan landed in late March 1521 establishing European contact with, and Catholicism in, the Philippines (Arab traders had been coming to the region for some time). Magellan befriended Rajah Humabon, the chieftain of Cebu, convinced him to join allegiance with Spain and began baptisms of the local tribesmen. Unfortunately for Magellan, Cebu was all he got to see. On April 27, 1521, Magellan attacked Rajah Lapu-Lapu, a rival of Humabon. The Spaniards were summarily routed, Magellan met his fate, and his body was never recovered.
Today, Cebu is the center of tourism in the Philippines. Unlike Manila, Cebu city is enjoyable to visit with numerous things to see; coral reefs and beaches for water sports, mountainous terrain and forest, and many historical sites. It also has a 5-star hotel, where we stayedJ. Unfortunately, in Cebu Tony got to experience one of the constants of Asian travel: food poisoning. We will spare the gory details but can say he was physically unable to do much in Cebu. While this dampened the enjoyment of Cebu for everyone else, at least we were in a really, really nice hotel and we were able to take advantage of all of the hotel amenities.
Tony was feeling well enough to return to Manila and climb up a live volcano! In blazing hot sun, Erika, Tony and Judith climbed to the top of Taal Volcano, and the view at the top was worth the effort. The volcano is an hour outside Manila in Tagatay. We took a small boat across a beautiful large crater lake with a small mountain protruding from the water. Climbing to the top of that mountain revealed a smaller second crater with sulfuric water, steaming vents and all the hall marks of a volcano. It was a very hot walk uphill, but we opted to NOT use the small overworked/underfed-looking horses that were available from the locals and instead enjoyed a little leg work. On the way back into Manila we stopped along the side of the road to sample some of the area’s delicious homegrown fruit we bought from local vendors –the sweetest pineapples, mangoes, bananas and lanzones that you could imagine!
Tony’s health turned again, but this time he opted for chemical warfare, and is now making a full recovery with the help of some strong antibiotics.
Our final two days Manila… well, nothing changed in the time we were away. It was still pretty polluted, it was still full of gigantic malls and the traffic was still a nightmare. We recommend upon arrival in Manila, immediately board the next plane out to one of the many beautiful places in the Philippines.
Final thoughts on the Philippines
· BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU EAT!
· Tourism in the Philippines is almost exclusively for the locals. Without Erika’s mom, it would have been a little more difficult to get around (and get any decent deals). If you are not going with a Filipina it would be wise to prepare very well.
· Boracay is touristy but beautiful. In low season, it’s a small paradise.
· Palawan is rugged and beautiful. The Philippines will be wise to protect the natural beauty there and foster its growth into a world-renowned ecotourism destination.
· We will have to go back to Cebu one day and dive or snorkel around its many beautiful reefs!
· Manila (mom always said if you can’t say anything nice…) could use a facelift
· It was a good introduction to SE Asian travel. We were broken in by travelling with a local, we had our first battle with illness, we learned how to bargain a little bit, Tony got to meet the other side of Erika’s family and we enjoyed some the beauty that The Philippines had to offer.
We are now in Thailand and are already tackling its biggest city. Next post from Bangkok.
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