mabuhay!welcome! bienvenue!
as informed i planned to go to Thailand for vacation...but at last minute and as nothing was already organised, i hijacked myself to Philippines, country i didnt even really know the existence until i came to Dubai and its multiethnic people. keep thailand, a country that many would like to visit, to make it with friends and organise it well (so i d better not be alone )
first impression....i feel different...just by looking at people around me waiting for the plane in dubai...
a few hours later, i arrive in manila airport...5min at custom to explain that i find it absolutely normal not to have any hotel booked when i arrive in a totally unknown country...after a few shrug she let me go.
first day in manila, jetlag killed me...i slept half day, tireness and cultural gap make me not really comfortable this first day, i keep it quiet, going to the department of tourism, meeting a french guy, walking in Luneta park, with the statue of Lapu-Lapu (national hero who killed Magellan...apparently he was not so good towards local people...history not the same depending on which side you are...tyran on one side...great traveller on the other side...), took my first jeepney ride(at the origin it was US army jeep that they left after WW2, and customized by local, now it is public transportation).
i didnt spend so much time in Manila, gettign there ebtween 2 bus 2 planes to my other destination, i just visited one day..going to american cemetery, going through Makati (the business part with large road, skyline, embassy, millionaire road), and then visiting intramuros, the old part of Manila remaining from spanish colonisation with a museum/fort dedicated to Jose Rizal, a local hero resisting to spanish government, fighting by poems, not violence...finally arrested and executed...
i didnt feel so comfortable in Manilaeven if it gets better with time...i think that with a little mor erest and time i would have wandered around like i use to do and appreciate, walking without precise defined plan is the best way to discover:)
i then went directly to Banaue, unesco world s heritage...really impressive...local people (ifugao) have modified the mountain thousands year ago to create rice terrace perfectly integrated in the landscape...really impressive to imagine the time and manner they use to modify the landscape without a good interaction with nature...i let you enjoy the picture...
spent the day going to see some spots with our tricycle driver (alex) and my daily korean friend Chau(thanks to him for the pictures of children and a few other one)...
i could have stayed much longer there...as i didnt bring enough cash to pay for hotel and visit..the risk of end of the wolrd cities...they dont take credit card...2nd lesson in my learning of travelling...
i then left to Baguio, 8hours bus through the country, mountain, small village, very enjoyable also, travelling through by bus let discover what you cant see when you goi to main place by plane...the country is so green, villages look poor, but people seem happy:)
i arrived in Baguio, the summer city for many people, climate is fresher, the city is very green also, relaxing, less stress than in manila...after walking through the main park with its small lakes and visiting the market, i slept in tam awan village, in a traditional ifugao hut(the fertility one). i was there only in transit...
next step...bus from Baguio to Vigan, other unesco world heritage site...they preserved part of the ancient colonial city with mansion, "paved(?)" street...i enjoy my guided tour through the museum dedicated to national figures like Padre Burgos. my guide threw me in the local zoo and forced me to go on the scene to take a nice animal...first experience strange but ok
all this was on Luzon, one of the biggest island of phillipines with Manila...after a few days traveling around by bus on the same island it was time to jump form island on island in a country made of more than 7 000 islands, there is no real choice;)
for the second part of vacation, i so went to other famous touristic spot...totally different by nature...the first one is Boracay, one of the most beautiful white sand beach of the world (3km long, nice water, you can go diving, island hoping) and also enjoy nightlife with a nice beach front (bars and restaurant) ...unfortunately i mainly enjoyed the too early rainy season , but i anyway took the time to go have swim...no way that i went there and dotn even swim...now i can say: i was there i did it:)
next step: 2 mysteries of mother earth...i went to Bohol, home of chocolate hills and the tarsier...chocolate hills are ...hills...in form of small domes of 200 m high maximum, many many all around...they take their chocolate color at the end of summer by leaves getting slightly brown...no real good scientific explanation for this phenomena:), so just believe the local legend saying it has been done by giants living there in the past...
Tarsier is the smallest primate of the world...not bigger than a fist...with round eyes...the one in picture has been awaken in frotn of us to enjoy a good insect...not easy to have such a "festin" at breakfast...i share something with him,...we are both living by night and dont like to be awaken too early:)
during the tour, there was also a nice lunch on a boat along the Loboc River...seeing Proni, a big female Python...
and it s already the end of the holidays...tiring one jumping around but enjoying...first meeting with wild life, discovery of another culture, tradition , food...Philippines are quite unknown for many people...but it is worth going there...and on my side, it helps understanding a little bit more the people i m working with...
why not going back oen day to enjoy diving with whale shark, kayaking in subterranean river, seeing the Sagada momies, and so many other beautiful beaches.
thanks for reading...and being so patient waiting for my posts;)
Bruno, the lazy blog updater
