• Pancake Breakfast- From 8:30 to 11 am there is a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall.
• Parade- There will be a parade and live music starting at 1 pm.
• Independence Day Celebration- Directly after the parade, head to Nehalem Bay Winery for a BBQ and live music and dancing. There is no cover charge, and the whole family is invited to attend. Nehalem Bay Winery is on Highway 53 near Wheeler, one mile from the Highway 101 junction. For more information, call (888)368-9463, or check them out on the web.
• Fireworks-Fireworks will take over the skies at dusk. If you want a real treat, pack some food and head up early to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain north of Manzanita, and enjoy the fireworks displays from Seaside, Manzanita, and Rockaway Beach. Be sure to get there long before the show!

Rockaway Beach

• Parade-A Parade will march through Rockaway Beach starting at 11 am. It will start at the School Administration Building, and head down to Hwy 101 from Bank to Third.
• 4th of July Auction-Directly after the parade, there will be an auction hosted by the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Red Caboose at Wayside.
• Kids Fun Day on the Beach-The Lion's Club sponsors this annual event featuring games and excitement for children of all ages. The fun gets underway at 1pm.
• Fireworks Display-When the sun goes down, the fireworks will fly over the beach. It's truly a site to see.
• For more information call (503)355-2291

Oceanside

• Fireworks-The town of Oceanside, which is West of Tillamook, will be set at dusk. The display can be seen from Netarts.

Pacific City

• Pacific City's Independence Day celebration will coincide with the Clover Days celebration, and be on Saturday, the 5th of July rather than the traditional day, July 4th
• All-you-can-eat breakfast-7-10 am, the Lin's will be hosting a pancake all-you-can-eat breakfast at the VFW Hall. Prices are $6.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children under 12.
• Kid's Corner-From 10 am-3 pm, kids can enjoy a free surrey ride, free ice cream, a bouncy house, a Ferrier demonstration, art, food, and vendors.
• Parade-At 11 am, come see the 27th annual Clover's Day Parade.
• Free Concert-Immediately following the parade, there will be a free convert featuring the popular "Calamity Jazz" from Eugene, Oregon. Bridge street will be closed for the show.
• Fireworks-The fireworks will be set off on the beach at dark.
• Kiwanda Music Festival-At 2 pm, six bands from all over Oregon, with diverse styles of music will play at the southwest corner of the Cape Kiwanda parking lot. There will also be arts and craft vendors. For more information, call (541)996-7746.
• For all Clover's Day information, please contact the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce at (503)392-4340, or email them at manager@pcnvchamber.org. For firework information, call (503)965-7102.

Vilamoura

Possibly the most developed town of the ones I want to talk about. For people that like the town, the technology, this is the right choice for them.

Like we can see in the photo, this town has a great view, close to the sea where rich people park their boats.

Things to do? All kinds of things, the town has discos, golf fields, casino, tennis, diving club, big beach, many 5 and 4 star hotels and for those who like to fish, here we can borrow a boat to go fishing, more precisely shark fishing.

It's the most expensive town of the five.

I recommend to people that don't care of expending more money in their vacation to enjoy it for real.

Albufeira

I can say, because I am Portuguese, that this town has possibly the most habited beach of Algarve, it receives dozens of tourists around the world all years and it's very clean and nice. Another entertainment that this town has is the disco that on Summer nights makes a lot of money thanks to the big number of people that go out at night. I recommend this place to people that want to meet other people of different cultures since that very nations come to this place.

I recommend to people to like to party and meet people.

Tavira

When I go to Algarve this is one of the places that I always visit.

This is a photo that represents the low sea times; fishermen go to the sand to catch crabs.

It's a normal town with many stores for tourists where they can find all kinds of products.

The most attractive part of this town is the island, “Ilha de Tavira”, to go there we must pay the boat trip that lasts between 20-30minutes. Once there we can see a small beach with some fisherman, then, by going in the island we can find a big territory of camping for people that don't want to go to the houses back in the town. At the end of the road we find several restaurants and an HUGE beach, with a football field and volley field.

I recommend to people very interested in a good beach and nice environment.

Portimão

Unfortunately, I can't say much about this place, I apologize to the readers but I like to write articles about what I know, what I saw, what I am sure of saying, not search the different opinion of others (I respect their work and for that I am not going to copy paste their work).

What I can say is that the beach of Portimão, “Praia da Rocha”, is an international known beach that receives so many tourists as the beach of Albufeira.

I recommend to people that want to explore more this town and, again, I apologize for my weak knowledge of this town.

Fuzeta

My favorite place to go in the Summer, not only is calm and nice but it's also a town with great beach, great environment and sociable people.

Since 1998 I go there and since then I always liked. The years pass by and I see more and more people coming to this little “village” (village compared with the other towns I have spoken of).

This town has a camping field near the beach, “Praia da Ria Formosa” or “Praia dos tesos” (this last one is named “tesos”, that means poor), and near the place where the boats go to the “Ilha da Harmona” or “Ilha da Fuzeta”.

About the first beach I can say that it is a very calm and relaxing place with the water hotter than the one in the island (almost every time) and sometimes clean and other times with seaweeds and dark. When the sea is load many people go to the right of the beach to a kind of abandoned house to catch crabs to eat or use has bait to fish

About the island I can say that the beach as approximately the same size as the island of Tavira but the island is smaller in length. Has a lot of homes to people that want to be there the all day, sleep, etc; it has one restaurant, one snack place and one meal place. The beach is simply beautiful, clean, crystal water but sometimes has seaweeds, good environment and so on. When the sea is low we can catch on the sand kinds of shells with sea food in it. Far from the center of the beach we can find some fishermen depending on the weather conditions.

In the town we have fairs on the first Thursday and the first Sunday of the mount where we can find antiques and other stuff that fairs normally have.

At the night the town is full of coffee houses, some in poor places, and other in rich places (poor-rich to distinguish the places in the same town that can be evaluated this way). Nights of July we see religious events, next to the camping there is a football field (5vs5) that shows games and live music. Nights of August I only remember the great number of people compared with the other months, I don't know much because I only went once on August and I was too young. Nights of September are pretty normal, nothing of interesting happens; it's the month of less people.

I recommend this place to people that like what I described, calm, not the destiny of many tourists, has the minimum requisitions to a relax vacation

Hope you like this article and help you decide where to go in your Summer vacations.

In case of doubt, ask me whatever you want and I will try to help.

 

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Boracay Island is paradise Philippines located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region 6, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.
South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

Palawan, Philippines

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When Chinese explorer Chao Ju-Kua stumbled upon Palawan in 1225, he dubbed the 270-mile-long (435-kilometer-long) island the "land of beautiful harbors" where "lofty ridges and cliffs rise as steeply as the walls of a house." Today, one of these beautiful harbors-Bacuit Bay-is home to El Nido Resort's Lagen lodge, an environmentally friendly property situated on a sculpted island inside the bay. The resort's 18 cottages rest on stilts right next to El Nido's marine sanctuary, where towering limestone cliffs jut from the shimmering surface and unspoiled coral reefs lie just below it. In a single day, guests can scuba dive, kayak, rock climb, and trek-returning just in time to witness a Gauguin-inspired sunset from their cottage's private balcony. Rather take it easy? Just spend your day relaxing on the beach. You certainly won't miss the sunset that way.

The Big Island of Hawaii

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Ever dream of the perfect Hawaiian Island vacation? The Big Island of Hawaii is a tropical paradise that offers hundreds of miles of unique coastline, volcanic black, green gemstone and powdery white beaches, incredible Kona Coast oceanfront resorts, lush jungles, obsidian lava fields, humpback whales wintering and a multitude of fun Hawaiian adventures…from thrills to true bliss.

Sydney, Australia

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Sydney is Australia's largest city with a population of almost 4 million, and is the primary port of entry for international visitors. Most recently renowned as host city of the 2000 Olympic Games, Sydney is also the business and tourism hub of the nation, and is increasingly a major centre within the Asia-Pacific region. Blessed with a wonderful setting on Sydney Harbor, and a benign climate, Sydney is a great tourist's city. Although not the first point at which Europeans landed in Australia, it was the first permanent European settlement, and is Australia's oldest established city.

Today, Sydney is recognized as one of the "lifestyle" capitols of the world; it's melting pot of cultures has given the city a multitude of international restaurants and eateries to choose from; the compatible all year round warm weather; the spectacular harbor views, makes Sydney the ideal city for outdoor bars and cafes which can be found all over the city; this could also be the reason for the friendly outgoing and open attitude of "Sydneysiders" - instantly recognizable by visitors.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Myrtle Beach might be the most desirable vacation spot on the entire East Coast. Located at the center of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of dreamy beaches that attracts millions of tourists every year, Myrtle Beach is the largest resort community in that famed stretch and home to activities that can satisfy any vacation desire. Between its amazing beaches, a wide range of recreational possibilities and primo shopping opportunities, this primary vacation hub on the shores of the South Atlantic is one of the top stretches of oceanfront the country has to offer.

Phan Thiet, Vietnam

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Vietnam's Most Beautiful Beach and Bay City. The capital of Khanh Hoa Province, Nha Trang has a full-time population that stands at about 200,000 people, but it far exceeds that with the heavy local and international tourist influx, especially in the summer months. While it's not a particularly charming town, its surf isn't bad and the beach is a breathtaking setting, with views of the more than 20 surrounding islands. There are a few very nice places to stay, and dining is about good fresh seafood.

Phuket, Thailand

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Thailand is the real vacation destination everything is there for you to have a good time. Just choose the right Thailand vacation package or do appropriate Thailand vacation deal and a good time is almost for sure. This can be a Thailand beach vacation, maybe in Phuket with a boat vacation on the sea around or a vibrant nightlife vacation. A Chiang Mai vacation or Kanchanaburi vacation could easily be turned into a adventure vacation with challenging river rafting, hiking and trekking in the mountain jungle. Or maybe Thailand culture tour vacation to Sukhothai, Ayutthaya Thailand and plenty of other places, there plenty of Thailand attractions. A very attractive vacation deal in Thailand is scuba vacation in the Andaman Sea and in the gulf of Thailand.

The Summer months can see temperatures as high as 90 degrees, but the average temperature is 85 degrees. The Summer months are during May through October. The Winter months are from November through April. The temperatures have been as low as 10 degrees but only at night. The average temperature during the day is 78 degrees which is not much different than the Summer months. Yet, during the Winter Hawaii will experience the most rain. Flooding is not uncommon.

There are several little islands that belong to Hawaii. Depending on which side you live on will depend on how much dry or wet weather you will get. Typically, when you live on the windward side which is the northeast side you will get the most rain and the coolest weather. This happens since the winds are coming from the northeast. The driest parts of the island will be the southwest area of the islands. The southwest side is called the leeward side since the winds die down and the rains tend to lighten by the time it gets to the southwest side of the islands.

Hurricanes do not happen as often you may think. The last major hurricane that hit Hawaii was in 1991 which was the most severe hitting Inko, Kauai, and parts of Ohau. For the most part, hurricanes do not hit Hawaii. They may get heavy winds, but nothing too strong to destroy the islands.

If you are looking for a place to go on vacation that has the most reasonable and consistent weather then think about going to Hawaii. If you want to visit the higher elevations of the island then be sure to dress appropriately with pants and a sweater since it can get rather cold up there depending on what time of year you go. It doesn't just have natural beauty but it offers great weather.

All 33 summers of my life are memorable and are etched in my consciousness forever. Most of these memorable summers were spent in my lovely hometown Capul.

Summer in the Island

Capul is a beautiful spec of an island that is hardly visible in the Philippine map. It has beautiful white sand beaches lined with swaying palm trees and is a complete ecosystem with unique flora and fauna both on land and underwater. It is situated on the northernmost point of the island of Samar and is one of the strongholds of Catholicism in the province. In fact, it celebrated 400 years of Christianity in 2001. Its name was derived from the corrupted word Acapulco having been used as anchorage of the Galleon ships plying from Butuan to Manila then Acapulco in Mexico. Formerly, this island was called Abak after the name of the ruler who according to oral lore and written accounts was a Muslim warrior from Borneo. Datu Abak and his subjects settled in the island after evading Christian rulers. But as history would have it, Abak and his subjects soon became converts and embraced Christianity. Up to the present times, the residents speak Abaknon, which according to scholars are very much similar with that of the Malay language.

Life in the island is idyllic and slow paced. But once a year, during summers, the sleepy town awakes and celebrate fiesta!

Inherent Faith

April and May are the fiesta months in the different barangays. The town proper celebrates fiesta in July, which is still a summer month in the island. I grow up in the barangay called San Luis, which has Nuestra Señora de Salvacion or Our Lady of Salvation as the village patron saint. Our Lady of Salvation is a patron saint of travelers so people even from the town would drop by her chapel to kiss and pray for safety especially at sea.

We celebrate fiesta annually without fail or else, something bad would happen to the village like a natural catastrophe like typhoon or drought. During the long drought one summer in the 80's when I was a grade-schooler, the pious people bathed the images of Our Lady and prayed for rain. Several days after, the first rain after several months fell on us and we celebrated the fiesta.

Because of limited food sources in the island, preparations for fiestas are dependent on how abundant the last harvest is. In few instances when the village people decided not to hold a fiesta because of a drought, the Lady would send fish on our shores so the people can celebrate fiesta. That was what we experienced during another drought in the early 90's when I was in high school.

A Miracle

One week before the fiesta, the village awake one early morning to find schools of fish on the gulf inching towards the rivers. The people rushed to the shore to find their nets swarmed with fish. Nets were positioned in the mouth of the river as well as in the tributaries. The whole village fished as one community. Families get whatever they could carry and the fiesta was celebrated with so much revelry. The same thing happened a few more times after that year when the island experienced natural calamities before the fiesta. For us, it's a testament of how our beloved Lady loves us her children.

Several more miracles were experienced by the people in different other occasions. During the typhoon on the eve of Christmas in 1981, an elderly claimed to see a Lady on the shore as if pushing the waves away from the houses. In the morning after the storm, the villagers were surprised to see the altar with the image intact even if part of the chapel was torn. For us, the Lady was the one who shield us against the rampage of seawater.

Curacha

The village dance is one inherent feature in our fiesta. It's a venue for politicians and balikbayans to show off their newfound fortune during the special dance called “Curacha”. Curacha is a lilting courtship dance with the movement akin to the flirting hen and rooster. It is a very popular dance in the islands of Leyte and Samar where the pair sways to the beat while their friends and relatives put money in a mat. The money is called “gala” and will be treated as donation money for worthwhile projects usually for the improvement of the chapel, school buildings and plaza. For the politicians, it's a show of force because they literally throw money as gala reminding the resident to vote form him come election time. Balikbayans also take center stage during the Curacha to show how well off they have become. Fiesta organizers count the gala and publicly announced how much money was made. More money made from the Curacha equates a successful fiesta.

Family reunions

Due to limited employment in the island, most families have family members leaving for work in Manila or other cities or even abroad. Fiestas are opportunities for families to get together. In fact, fiestas are more important than Christmases or any other occasion because they do their homecoming during fiestas.

As part of the preparation, we beautify our homes by mending the fence, decorating our windows with colorful curtains and cleaning our surroundings including the shoreline. Of course, abundant food is prepared which is open to friends and relatives and even friends of friends and relatives of relatives. Favorites foods are the lechon (roasted pig), abodo, humba (pork stew similar to adobo but is cooked longer with pork lard), dinuguan (blood stew), menudo, etc. Buko salad, moron (steamed rice or cassava), puto (steamed rice cake) are favorite desserts and breakfast fare. These are also given away to guests as pasalubong for those left at home.

I always look forward to summers because that's when I file my vacation leave to attend our fiesta!

The restaurant is beautifully designed with chairs and tables set out in an orderly fashion. The added attraction is the amazing view of the seafront while you indulge in your food and if you 're lucky enough, you may get the same experience from your hotel room depending on which direction your window is facing.

Though some parts of the room don ' t give much in the way of size, there is a double bed, so there ' s plenty of space to stretch out after a long day. Each room has its own television set with satellite channels as well as local ones. The en-suite bathroom has its own shower, toilet and the usual toiletries.

This city is known for its famous tram service which has been around since the 1 st World War, and with the town centre just 5-10min ride away, it ' s a useful convenience as well as an uplifting experience for first time users. They come in different colours and styles, sheltered and open topped. I never got the chance to travel on the roofless ones, but it worth a try. Ticket prices for trams through Metro Coastline is £5.95 for an adult and £5.45 for a child. More information can be found at here When travelling on one, it gives you an unusual feeling of being on a railway train that ' s travelling on the streets of Blackpool. During your stay, take full advantage of the tram service. They will take you up to Fleetwood and back round to the town centre so you get to see more of the cities attraction.

The centre of town is alive with visitors and locals alike. Here you can buy gifts for friends and family, but don ' t forget to pick up some memorabilia for yourself. You can also find confectioneries such as rock candy, hard boiled sweets and delicious fluffy candy floss as well as jewellery, ornaments and many other delightful trinkets.

However, The Pleasure Beach has so many activities and a variety of indoor and outdoor fun interests. There ' s a theme park made just for the younger kids called Beaver Creak. Here children will be kept amused for hours with non-stop fun. One of the most intriguing rides for kids is the Treasure Beach water ride, but be prepared for the big splash at the end of it. Also the Ghost Train is a spectacular scary treat for them as it takes you to a second level of spookiness, but if that ' s too much for them, then they can always try their skills at Alpine Golf. It ' s like golf, but you have to putt the golf balls into tunnels and slightly obstructed holes in the wall and floor.

There are so many extreme Roller Coaster rides to choose from. None of them were for me, I like to keep my feet on the ground, but great for those who like the thrills " n " spills experience. One of the most popular rides in the theme park is the " Infusion " . Unlike the usual method of sitting in a cart, in this one your sitting in a seat that dangles beneath the tracks. The well designed ride is to give you the feeling of diving and with its turns and hoop manoeuvres, it ' s guaranteed to give you the adrenaline rush you seek. It ' s a good idea to take a map of the Pleasure Beach with you, or you may not find what you ' re looking for and you could get lost. These are available at the theme park free of charge or you can print one from their website . When you are there, you will need to purchase special wristbands from their ticket sales office in order to use the facilities. However, you can pre-purchase them before you get their.

Away from the sky-high adventures are some other ideal holiday treats such as the various arcades around the park. This is a place where you can test your skills against some of the most high-tech games and virtual reality simulations. If you ' ve never experience virtual reality, then I highly recommend it. You get to travel through doors and explore the many passageways within the cyber world as well as battling against bad guys. There is also a 4D cinema for the kid where they get to put on their 3D glasses while they watch a movie that seems so real, they can almost reach out and touch it. The seats vibrate with the action as well as twisting and turning while you get sprayed with water. If you want to go for something a little more relaxing, why not try your hand at bowling at the Bowladrome and/or a game of pool. There are many different things to see and do as you go from one arcade to the other.

The seaside is a spotlight destination for those who want to soak up the sun or splash around in the sea. The amazing view of the sea joining with the sky has a definite postcard look. While you are on the sandy beach, you ' ll notice some Donkeys. These are part of the beach resort and kids can ride them up and down the shore for £2. Also the famous Blackpool Tower stands high above all the other surrounding buildings. It was built in the 1890 ' s and just beneath it is a ballroom hall where people came and dance the night away, and over a hundred years later, nothing has changed. People still use it for entertainment venues.

The streets of Blackpool are quite clean especially around the resort areas. However this town truly comes alive at night. The streets are illuminated with thousands upon thousand of multiple coloured lights, even street lamps and buildings don ' t go untouched. It ' s like a British version of Las Vegas 24 hours a day and as you walk down the street, you can hear the music pumping from clubs and coins falling from winning customers slot machine in the nearby casinos. Everything seems to have a good feeling atmosphere to it. At the end of the day, you go back to your hotel room, have a shower and sleep on that luxurious double bed.

For me the city of Blackpool is an excellent choice for a getaway from the busy streets of London. The moment you get of the coach, you can smell the freshness in the air. The town is clean and tidy even on my first day I was worrying if I was getting any dirt from my shoes on the floor. It ' s such a breathtaking experience when you here the sound of the sea crashing and displaying itself in great wonder while seagulls hover above, but watch out for these birds if they get the chance, they ' ll take your food. So if you ' re planning your next holiday why not try this bright city, you ' ll be glad you did.

The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival

The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival is an eight day festival held annually to showcase local and international talents in the field of Jazz. The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival 2008 will be held on June 8-15. This summer festival in Jamaica hosts free concerts everyday comes complete with photo exhibitions of famous Jazz artists on display. The creators of the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival works with the Youth Programme in Jamaica to enrich the lives of young Jamaicans through their music program, mentorship and sponsorship

The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival started in the summer of 1991 as an experimental one day event called The Ocho Rios “Mini” Jazz Festival. From there, it quickly gained much deserved recognition in Jamaica and across the globe. Many tourists come to Jamaica during the summer to hear the melodies and musical styling of local and international Jazz greats.

International Reggae Day

International Reggae Day is held on July 1 each year to celebrate the impact of Reggae music around the world. People across the world first celebrated International Reggae Day in July1994, when millions of persons went online to listen to the broadcast of Reggae music streaming live from Jamaica. People who followed the on air and online media festival on International Reggae Day are also greeted with messages from popular Jamaican artists such as Jimmy Cliff, urging people online to support Reggae music.

But International Reggae Day in Jamaica goes far beyond on air and online media displays. In Jamaica, there is an annual International Reggae Day Festival held in Kingston that features many local Reggae artists, Jamaican poets and dancers. Each year an International Reggae Day Award is presented to a Reggae artist whose creative work extols the virtues and spirit of Reggae music. In the rest of the island there are many local events in places such as Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios; just ask your hotel for any event they have planned for International Reggae Day or local celebrations nearby.

Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest

Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is not only the biggest and best attended summer festival in Jamaica, but it is also the biggest Reggae festival in the world. Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is a week-long summer event held each year on July 13-19 in the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay, except for the Tropical Beach Party.

This summer festival has grown considerably in notoriety since its start in summer 1993 and many popular American, European and local acts grace the stage night after night to fuel the excitement of the events. Local artists such as Damien Marley, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Shaggy, Beres Hammond and Sean Paul are popular among Reggae Sumfest fans from across the globe. The events at Reggae Sumfest are split into categories such as Reggae Night, Dancehall Night, International Artists Night etc. Visit Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest for ticket prices and other details to this summer festival.

The National Festival of Arts

The National Festival of Arts is a summer festival in Jamaica that starts at the beginning of summer and ends on August 6 each year. At the National Festival of Arts, many Jamaican artists sell their local arts and crafts, which are sure to add value to anyone's travel souvenir collection. Local competitions are held during The National Festival of Arts to showcase not only Jamaican artistry, but also to showcase other areas of Jamaican culture: the summer festival features competition in culinary arts, speech, drama, painting, sculpture and dance among many others.

Emancipation Day

Emancipation Day is a Jamaican national holiday held on August 1 to commemorate the day slaves in the British Empire were finally emancipated. Story has it that slaves traveled to the hilltops of Jamaica on the eve of Emancipation Day to meet the dawning of a new day in their history on Friday August 1, 1838. And today, Jamaicans still mark this day in history by reenacting the reading of the Declaration of Emancipation and paying homage to their ancestors.

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Each year the Jamaican Prime Minister gives a speech that is broadcast live on local television from Emancipation Park. Emancipation Park is a newly-built Jamaican landmark in Kingston, built for the purpose of remembering the past: Jamaica's historical figures, national heroes, as well as to commemorate the growth of Jamaica since August 1 1838. Emancipation Park is a well-manicured landscape filled with palm trees and beautiful flowers and on Emancipation Day, many Jamaicans fill the park listening to Reggae music, celebrating and awaiting the Prime Minister's speech. This Jamaican summer holiday should not be missed if you want to learn about the culture of Jamaica.

Independence Day

Jamaica celebrates its day of national independence on August 6, just five days after its Emancipation Day celebrations. For this reason, the beginning of August marks a month of national and cultural pride among Jamaicans. Jamaica gained its independence from Britain on August 6, 1962 and since then it has been celebrating the birth of a new, independent country with annual firework displays across the island.

On Independence Day in Jamaica, many Jamaicans flock to the beaches to enjoy music, jerk chicken, fish and festivals and an all round day of fun in the sun. Jamaica's National Marching Band also marches in the streets of Kingston on Independence Day and a Float Parade also happens in Kingston, Jamaica's capital city.

.At night, people across Jamaica have many street dances in their local communities, where they indeed sweat up a storm and celebrate all that it means to live in a free nation. There is no better time to celebrate independence than in the summer and Jamaicans are prime examples of this idea. No matter what part of the island you are on, you are sure to find local Independence Day events, displays and celebrations that you can attend.

The heat in Manila would hark back to every balikbayan that he is finally home and that means local food, home cooked and those sold in the streets, and local restaurants are now easily accessible.

In the road coming from the airport to whichever destination, you can be sure that there are people who are selling different kinds of food products -that is how Filipinos are, being very fond of food. Some of these vendors are selling cashew nuts and Philippine peanuts laid out in native containers, some are vending fish balls and squid balls in street corners; of course not to forget sago't gulaman, and the staple summer snack - halo-halo are also being sold in other stalls.

By dusk, balut vendors will be roaming the streets with their famous one-word advertising spiel "balut" with the second syllable prolonged just to make sure that even those in their homes hear that balut and penoy are already available for the taking.

Nightlife in Manila

In Roxas Boulevard, Manila Bay is hustling and bustling with people. Some are having coffee in one of those small coffee shops, while some are seated in the benches waiting for the sun to set.

The whole stretch of Manila Bay is now a tourist destination both for domestic and international travelers. This place is visited not just for the restaurants that offer Filipino and other foreign cuisines but mainly because of the bay's breathtaking sunset.

This is where the old and the new merges and blends -the brick laden pathways gives a taste of the Spanish influence infused in the Filipino culture while the mani, mais, yosi, diaryo, balut, itlog ng pugo, and mangga vendors is a reminder of Filipino mercantile nature and hard work.

Come night time, the bands in the hippest restos play upbeat music signaling the start of nightlife at the bay.

Just across the street is Malate -where most of the teenagers and yuppies unwind, spending time in the bars dancing the night away or drinking a few bottles of San Miguel beer, Tanduay rum or maybe cocktails for the ladies.

For those who are really interested in the Night Life scene in Manila -Timog, Eastwood, and The Fort are places to see.

In the morning, start the day right and take a walk at the bay, or in Luneta Park or maybe even in the academic oval in the University of the Philippines -one of the oldest universities in the country, located in Quezon City just thirty minutes away from Manila. Taking a walk in any of these places would surely be very relaxing.

Colourful jeepneys will pass you by while you are doing your walk. In the sitios and villages in the metro, tricycles are also available to take passengers for a ride; fare for a kilometer is only Php 12.00. These modes of transport, more popularly known as the jeep and the trike by the locals, could only be found in the Philippines, nowhere else.

The Filipino Shopping Experience

The malls open up for business at 10 am sharp. To cool down a little in the urban summer heat, most go for a day's shopping or window shopping in the malls. Popular shopping malls in the metro include, Trinoma, Gateway, Greenbelt, The Podium, Rockwell, SM Megamall and SM City.

The Philippines is famous for its enormous shopping centers filled with shops that sell a range of products. High end shops are also available but for us Filipinos to enjoy our shopping experience, we have to get high quality products at reasonable rates.

Shopping in Divisoria may be tiring but this is part of the bargain. You can find anything and everything there; from clothes to shoes to jewelry to gadgets to plants, even fruits and vegetables. The ride is not such a long one but due to the heat, it is a little fatiguing but it will be all worth it because of the low low prices. If you are looking for cell phones, ipods, television sets, and house appliances go to 168, a mall located in Manila's Chinatown.

A few blocks away, is Quiapo -where you can find Chinese herbal medicine and of course other bargains such as clothes, blankets, bags, watches, among other things. Just down the road is the Quiapo Church -famous for its Fiesta ng Nazareno hosted every first month of the year- where vendors of local Filipino products sit on benches and lay their goods on the pavement.

Greenhills in San Juan is also a good place to buy gadgets and software but for those who love jewelry this is the place to be. The prices are crazy so to speak, crazy in a good way because the rates are very low.

For those who go gaga about bags and shoes, you may want to travel by bus and go to Liliw in Laguna. Liliw sells locally made bags, shoes, and other items at cheap cheap prices you would want to buy all of the things you like.

For the more adventurous, you may want to try to go to Baguio City and get great bargains in ukay-ukay shops. If you speak Ilocano, you may even get greater discounts.

The Beaches and the Sun

Although swimming is still available in the outskirts of Metro Manila where resorts are located; swimming is not really swimming without the beach and the hot summer sun. Batangas is a good place to get a tan and sleep in a rented cottage made out of nipa and bamboo. Accommodations are cheap, only Php 500.00 a night per cottage in Nasugbo resorts. This place is very quiet even in the peak season, the sand is white and the water is blue, anyone who goes there for two days or so would surely enjoy the serenity of the place.

Boracay is also a place to see but if you are not fond of crowded places, you may go up north to the Ilocos Region and see the white beaches in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. It's a 12 hour bus ride from Metro Manila but once you see the blue green water and the white sand, the stress from the bus ride would be well worth it. Before you reach Pagudpud, you'd have to pass-by a bridge built on the side of the Cordillera Mountains where the clouds actually hide the bridge itself. If you want to travel fast though, it's just a 15 minute plane ride from Manila to Laoag City and a two hour bus ride from Laoag to Pagudpud. Once in Pagudpud or in Laoag, you may want to go to Batac or to the Paoay area and see the sand dunes -Ilocos Norte is the only place in the country that mimics weather in the desert.

For the surfers its either you go north again and visit La Union or go south to Siargao. Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines. The island also hosts an International Surfing Cup yearly. Surfers from allover the globe enjoy dancing with the waves in Siargao Island.

Some travelers say that the seven hour ride is backbreaking. If you are coming from the country's capital you will have to go to the airport and board for a one and a half hour flight to Butuan City then another two hours for the bus ride to Surigao. The traveling does not stop there though because you have to take a 20-minute jeepney ride to Surigao's pier so you could board a ferry to Siargao's main port town called Dapa. Once you are in the island, there will be another jeepney ride to reach General Luna where Cloud 9, the country's surfing paradise, is located.

Aside from the surfing, Siargao could also accommodate less dangerous activities such as kayaking, swimming, and island hopping. Siargao Island is truly a place to see.

For those who love diving and snorkeling, Mindoro and Palawan are good choices. In Mindoro, you will see very fascinating wildlife under the sea, the coral reefs; a great view on their own too. There are several beautiful dive spots which reaches down to Palawan Island where you can see sunken war vessels dating back from the Second World War.

The Mountains

If you want to cool down from the summer heat from all those island hopping and beaches, Baguio, the country's coldest city is the place to go. You can go pick strawberries or bike around Burnham Park's man-made lake. Horseback riding is also available in Baguio, you just have to go rent a horse at Mines View Park or in places near the area.

If you are tired of the urban jungle and really want to go up in the mountains, you can trek to Benguet, or to Cagayan where it is colder and the air relatively fresher.

In Benguet, hot springs are found in almost every municipality, an interesting fact that most travelers; even those from within the Philippines do not know about. Another interesting fact is the existence of mummies in the area, truly a discovery not only for the locals but for the Philippines as a country as well.

In the town of Kabayan, the people preserve their dead through mummification, a ritual that the tribal group has done for years as a way to pay respects to the dead. Some of these mummies could now be viewed at the Kabayan municipal hall.

For the more adventurous, climbing volcanoes is another exciting activity; climbing the active ones would be very dangerous though and is not advisable.

Most of the Philippine Islands are volcanic in origin; there are in fact, more than thirty within the country's jurisdiction, thirty-seven volcanoes to be exact. Around 18 of which are active.

Taal volcano is one of the most visited volcanoes in the Philippines. What many do not know is that the lake surrounding the small volcano is just accumulated water in the crater of a bigger volcano which is Taal while Mount Mayon, the most active volcano in the country is just majestic and is indeed a place to see. If you want to climb Mount Mayon though, the best start would be at the height of 762 meters above sea level -there is a research station located in that area where you might want to drop-by. From there, the trail becomes harder to traverse but the climb would lead you to a forest.

Almost all of those who took up the challenge of climbing the volcano had a hard time reaching the summit especially the last 550 meters up. In fact, at the height of 1920 meters, the jagged terrain begins while at the last half of the 550 meters, your feet will be on loose volcanic cinder and land out of hardened lava.

Maybe going there just to see these volcanoes will be satisfiscing enough, and not to climb the active ones so as to ensure the traveler's safety.

It would surely take more than one summer to see all the beautiful places here in the Philippines. In the month of May, most of the country's towns celebrate their town fiestas to pay respect to their patron saints. Most of these summer fiesta are very colourful and you can even go house hopping and get a taste of the local cuisine, for free! Even people who have lived in the Philippines for very long would say that there is not enough time to see and experience what the Philippine Islands could bring.

The first time I went, it was breathtaking, the panoramic view from the top, and looking down at every thing makes you realize how good those birds have it that they can see something of great magnificence from such a perspective. But it should not be surprising to that Pilot Mountain is home to some of the most wonderful creatures such as squirrels, quails, etc. It's a haven for any breathing thing.

However, besides sightseeing and bird watching, you can do a lot more on Pilot Mountain. Elevated at about 2,500 feet, it's ideal for rock climbing and hiking, as well as camping. It is a little chillier than ground level, but that can be to your advantage during the summer. If you are a parent, with teenagers, or even pre-teens, this is the perfect summer destination for you and your family. The hiking is my favorite, but I never really have to climb the rocks. Bummer! However, the best part of the whole experience is the time I got to spend with family and loved ones.

For example, we slog it out all year sustained by the promise of a peep of summer that starts about December, well, it gets warmer then anyway even if it is raining, and finishes about March. This is our only crack at the nostalgic summers that we all seem to remember as kids. You know the ones, long days, hot blue skies, salt drying on sunburnt skin, the smell of a zinky nose and the crunch of sand in your sandwiches. So anyway, almost the entire population (except those in the hospitality industry) take their holidays at the same time in order to “have a summer”. All other business is suspended. Fair enough, but for some reason this year, the prospect of the usual summer holiday routine did not seem so appealing, we needed a fresh approach, we decided to go further a field. We decided to go to Vietnam.

Once we had decided to go to Vietnam, it seemed that every second person I spoke to knew someone who had just come back from an amazing holiday in Vietnam. Friendly, lovely people, incredible Asian/French fusion food, not too commercialized (yet), beautiful scenery, and cheap! Further reports of $2 margaritas, yummy local beer, delicious coffee and even French patisseries and bread make it sound like an ideal holiday destination. It is of course a tropical climate, so it will also be hot (even though it is their winter) but for us this means summer guaranteed.

Although we wanted a bit of an adventure, we also wanted to relax and not be too stressed about where we were going, staying, eating etc. We decided to book a tour from Hanoi right down the coast to Ho Chi Minh so that all this would be organized for us. The idea of group tours has never really appealed but we found this one by Active Asia, where they do all this for you, but you do not travel in a group. You can chose the standard of hotels you prefer from budget to top end, a guide will meet and greet you at airports etc, transport you to hotels, and then escort you to local tourist attractions, restaurants etc. There is a lot of time when you do your own thing as well, which is great.

So that's the plan, we'll see how it all works out.

Vietnam adventure here we come!