First, and most importantly before I say anything else I will go on record stating that not everyone here is a celebrity or star struck. To the contrary we really wish the celebrities would stop creating the impression that everyone in Southern California is like them. In fact, many of us really wouldn't mind if Hollywood moved to some place like Iowa.
Secondly, our weather drives our lifestyle and our decisions. And yes, we do take our weather for granted, thank you very much. We expect it to be gorgeous outside every day. That's why we live here and pay some of the highest friggin' prices in the country for real estate and gasoline! Many of us may not be rich but we figure if we have to be poor we prefer to suffer in paradise. So how does this influence us to be who we are?

Our Personality

• Because of our perpetually great weather we're pretty easy going. Come on, wouldn't you be if you lived in weather like this? But don't mess with us; we're not oblivious. In fact, when I asked a Chicago friend who lived here for 18 months what he thought personified a Southern Californian he said "Southern Californians, while very laid back, have a deep streak of assertive personal confidence that is not readily apparent on the outside." In other words, we are really cool.
• Along with being laid-back, we're genuinely very nice and friendly and we expect other people, particularly visitors, to be too. We don't take kindly to rude Easterners. We don't dislike Easterners. Far from it. We have a lot of friends and family who live east of here. We welcome everyone, just not people with attitude. It messes with our easy-goingness. My advice if you are going to visit us, or even think of moving here, is to leave your attitude back where you came from.

We Have Our Own Unique Way of Expressing Ourselves

• We speak in a vernacular particular to our area. We call everyone "dude". We also use words not commonly heard in other parts of the country such as rad, gnarly, awesome, totally and cool. Their use either started here or gravitated here and never left. In SoCal pretty much everything is "cool". Even though it's a bad habit we use the word "like" a lot. People in SoCal say "like" at least three times more in a sentence as people from the "other" coast. For example, we would say "like that was so cool, dude." A friend would respond, "Totally."
• Besides our funny speech we use a fair amount of Spanglish because we live next to Mexico. Not everyone here speaks Spanish but we all know how to say something in Spanglish. We learn it on the playgrounds in school. It's not unusual to hear someone in a bar ask, "Dude, can I have a really cold cerveza?" The bartender responds, "No problemo, dude. You want any snackolas with that?"

Head to the Beach, Surf's Up

• We swim in the ocean even when it's freezing cold. Why? Because we can.
• People think we never get stressed out. We do! When it happens we head to the beach. Oh heck, we head to the beach even if we're not stressed out.
• We surf or we know someone who surfs. It's part of our culture. The diehards get up at 4:00 a.m., grab their boards and head out to the beach to catch some "awesome" early morning waves. In winter the surfers wear wet suits. It's really cool to drive or walk along the beach at daybreak and see them sitting on their boards out in the water waiting for a big one. From a distance they look like a flock of skinny baby seals bobbing on top of the water.

The SoCal Look

• If you've ever visited Southern California you've seen that our clothing and shoe choices are fairly simple. The basic wardrobe for many, regardless of gender, is two t-shirts and two pairs of shorts. One set for summer and one set for winter. More extravagant people own several t-shirts and pairs of shorts. When men dress up they put on a Hawaiian shirt. They don't own a suit or sports coat. Women don a sleeveless, skinny-strap dress and matching flip-flops, or a mini-skirt, tank top and Uggs. To successfully wear this look it helps to be tan and fairly thin. Big girls and big women really don't look good in these skimpy outfits. But of course that does not stop many of them from wearing them. To top off the look, women use sunglasses to push back their long hair, never a headband.
• Speaking of hair length, the surfer chick look is very popular here. It embodies the above wardrobe along with long, preferably straight hair and a large beach bag type purse. Many women carry most of what they own in these bags, including their dogs. Lest you think the Hollywood starlets started this trend, uh-uh. They borrowed the look from the surfer chicks.
• We wear flip-flops year-round. Women often own a pair in every color.

Our Wheels and Roads

• We refer to the distance between two places as the amount of time it takes to get there. It's never "10 miles', it's "20 minutes" or "that'll take you 45 minutes during rush hour."
• We tend to travel on freeways to everything even if traveling the side streets is more direct. What can I say? We're taxed to the hilt for our freeways and we want our money's worth.
• Most cars in the beach areas sport a surfboard rack.
• Some would say we are obsessed with our cars. It's probably because it takes forever to get anywhere but it could also be because our cars stay in better shape than other parts of the country where winter beats the b'jesus out of vehicles. We don't have that problem.
• We don't fear earthquakes but a little rain will cause considerable damage on the roads. We can't drive in the rain. Ask anyone from Seattle or Portland who has ever been here when it happens to be raining and seen us trying to drive on wet roads. They laugh hysterically and liken it to watching people drive bumper cars. Except for those years when El Nino hits and it rains like a mother causing homes to slide off the hills, what we call rain other parts of the country refer to as drizzle. But for us it's an onslaught. We huddle inside, grumble like the world is ending and pray for the sun to return.

Chips, Salsa and Margies

• Because of our proximity to Mexico we eat a lot of Mexican food. Many of us need a daily infusion of Mexican food. We become anemic if we go a day without salsa. We eat fish tacos, carne asada fries, burritos, chips and salsa and guacamole like other parts of the country eat pot roast, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and chicken and dumplings, whatever the heck they are. SoCal babies are born with a predilection for Mexican food. Their moms eat Mexican food throughout their pregnancies so the babies are conditioned right out of the womb to crave taquitos.
• Walk into a SoCal kitchen and you are likely to see avocadoes (for guacamole of course), fresh tomatoes and chiles (for making salsa) and artichokes. In other parts of the country people have no idea what to do with an artichoke. And we're happy about that because it means more artichokes for us.
• In other parts of the country they hold summer barbecue cookoffs. We hold salsa cookoffs.
• We also eat a lot of fresh citrus because citrus trees grow in our backyards the way grass grows elsewhere. We pity the poor soul who doesn't have an orange or lemon tree in the yard. Not sure how those folks get through January without freshly squeezed orange juice. In my yard we grow pixie tangerines and limes. We have to; we need them for margaritas, which brings up another topic.
• Our alcoholic beverage of choice is the margarita. I don't know if there are any statistics but I'll bet we consume more tequila per capita than anywhere in the continental United States. Seriously. You'd agree if you ever drove through Pacific Beach on a Saturday night. You think all those drunk 20-somethings are quaffing scotch? You can find margaritas here of every flavor and concoction, but a true Southern Californian likes em the traditional way made with fresh lime juice or mix and a really really good tequila. Okay, the younger set that's out to get drunk isn't particular about their tequila and would just as soon drink Jose Cuervo Gold ("totally" cheap stuff made gold with caramel coloring.) The rest of us go for the premium stuff: silver, resposado (rested) or anejo (old). We do have standards, ya know.

We Have Our Faults

• If you've never been here and you're under the impression that Southern California is without fault, well, think again. We do have faults. Really big ones in fact that cause earthquakes. Indeed that can be a problem if they are big enough but generally they are not. It just freaks out the tourists who ask us how on earth we tolerate living here. Gee, I don't know. An occasional earthquake that shakes the dust off the window sills versus living in the path of killer hurricanes or tornadoes or putting up with winter so bad our patoosies would fall off? Hmm, not a hard choice.
• Our traffic is another thing we're not proud of but it's not like we're the only part of the country with traffic. We don't let it upset us; instead we go to the beach.
• Finally there is one last blemish and it concerns our weather. No, I'm not going to brag again about our perfect weather (but did I mention we have great weather here?) In fact for two months a year our weather is pretty rotten by our standards. You might think I'm talking about the middle of winter but it's the late spring/early summer. We refer to these months as May Gray and June Gloom. For eight weeks the coastline is socked in with overcast gray skies and fog. Sometimes it's so thick it comes down like rain. And I tell you it is downright depressing! I often feel sorry for the tourists who scamper out here right after their offspring get out of school for summer break. They emerge from the airport wondering what happened to the sun. Sometimes it will peak out after the noon hour but often not. They spend a week at the beach wondering what all the talk was about Southern California being so great. They go home shaking their heads. I consider it a blessing. One more family that WON'T move here. Of course we never tell those folks that the sun comes out in July.

Phuket, the largest island in Thailand is a well known tourist destination. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from dozens of countries. Nicknamed the Pearl of the Andaman Sea, Phuket has much to offer the tourist, not least of all, its beautiful beaches which are generally found on the western side of the island.

The most famous beach of all is Patong, which boasts several kilometers of sandy beach situated in a wide bay. Patong is the most popular resort on the island with many hotels and seafront restaurants. Consequently, it is busy and crowded with sun loungers and parasols. There are also a variety of watersports in which to participate - paragliding, sailing, banana boat riding and jetskis. For those seeking a more peaceful beach experience, either end of the beach is quieter if not exactly secluded.

South of Patong and just along the coast are Karon, Kata and Kata's sister beach Kata Noi. These are the next most popular beaches that appear to strive to emulate Patong. Not quite as brash as Patong, but offering similar amenities, both resorts have expanded quickly to take the overspill from Patong.

Further south still along the coast, can be found Nai Harn beach. Much less developed than the previously mentioned beaches, Nai Harn is in a bay favoured by visiting yachtsmen as an anchorage. There are a number of small restaurants lining one end of the lovely sandy beach.

To the north of Patong, a number of rather beautiful , less populated beaches stretch along the coast.

Kamala was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami but has now undergone something of a transformation as there is now a short promenade lining the populated part of the beach, and a number of new small hotels and restaurants have sprung up. This is a beautiful, long beach much less crowded than its southern neighbours.

Laem Sing beach, accessible via a path leading down from the road is a small beach which has become rather popular with the younger tourists as a cool and hip place to gather. They travel from the surrounding resorts such as Patong in tuk tuks or on motorbikes for the purposes of paying homage to the golden globe in the sky and just to look and feel cool.

Surin beach is a relatively small beach which is not only popular with the locals, but it has also been discovered by the tuk tuk and motorbike travelling crowd. There are many restaurants here including a couple of up market, so called "Beach Clubs", one of which belongs to a nearby hotel. It is a great place to sip a cocktail and watch the spectacular sunsets.

Next, up the coast, is Bang Tao Bay which houses a beach of the same name and also Layan beach. The southern end of Bang Tao beach is a fishing community, after which there is a fine stretch of beach eventually leading to the Laguna complex with its several 5 star hotels. The sand is powdery white and there are some good beach restaurants. The length of the beach is such that it is never crowded.

At the northern end is Layan beach, another beach popular with the locals. It is also partly a National Park so should, in theory, retain its natural beauty. A couple of small rivers acting as a haven for long tailed boats and a small offshore island add to the natural beauty of this particular beach.

Nai Thon is a gem of a beach which is still relatively undiscovered. It is, up to now, very quiet as there are just one or two small guesthouses and a few restaurants and bars. The sand here is white with shady spots under the casuarina trees. It is an idyllic place to chill out.

Nai Yang beach is home to a couple of hotels as well as a National Park. It is a very large beach with white sand. Vast expanses of sand are exposed at low tide. Beach restaurants populate one are of the beach whilst the National Park area is colonised by sea gypsies. Although it has gained in popularity over the years, this is still a relatively quiet beach which is well worth a visit. It is very close to the airport affording good views of planes passing over its northern tip to land or take off.

Just around the corner from Nai Yang is the huge expanse of Mai Khao beach which is more or less totally undeveloped except for a large Marriott hotel. The beach is famous for turtles who come ashore at certain times of the year to lay their eggs.

Phuket's beaches are beautiful and inviting as is the sea, but please, take notice of the flags, as swimming on some of these beaches is notoriously dangerous especially during the monsoon season. Every year tourists are drowned on Phukets beaches notably Bang Tao, Surin, Patong and Nai Harn. If you see a red flag, stay out of the water!

The May offers are as followed. Three nights May 2nd -Friday-Monday 5 th for £119 and four nights May 5 th Monday-Friday for £89 both offers include excellent entertainment each night. The price and venues tend to change from time to time.

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 www.blackpooltransport.com 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.

1. Sun

    It's not that I don't get much sun where I live. In fact, we get a lot of sun here. But when you go on a beach vacation, you don't get too bothered when the sun gets too hot. You enjoy it. Over here, when the sun gets too hot, we complain that we perspire profusely since we have things to do and places to go.

2. Sea

   What is it about the sea that has a calming effect? I could just sit at the beach and watch the wide expanse ahead of me. The waves makes you feel like you are being swept away into paradise. You forget about all the stresses at work and simply enjoy the water lapping at your feet as you focus your vision into the horizon.

3. Sand

   I love stepping into soft white sand. Walking on a sandy beach is my favorite. Whenever we go on a beach vacation, we will walk the length of the beach from one end to the other. It can be tiring because your feet has to walk on uneven surface as you plunge into the soft sand at every step. But I still love it. I can't wait to make sandcastles with my daughter. I think she'll love it too.

4. Sky

   Why is it that the sky is so blue whenever we are on a beach vacation? Why is the sky not so blue where I live? I have always wondered about that. Is it only me who thinks that way? It's just so different. At the beach, there doesn't seem to be a single cloud in the sky and you could really enjoy the clear blue sky. Unlike where I live, the sky is often filled with clouds, sometimes threatening to rain.

5. Seagulls

   Seagulls are fascinating creatures to look at. They will fly high and suddenly swoop down into the water and catch a fish in its beak. How do they do that? It's amazing.

6. Sunbathe

   I love to show off my tanned skin after a beach vacation. It helps put a little color into my fair skin. I don't like to just lie around sunbathing, I like to do other things in the sun such as read a book, eat an ice-cream or swim. Seeing my sunburnt cheeks at the end of the day gives me great satisfaction.

7. Swim

   I'm not a good swimmer. So, normally if I'm at the beach, I will just play in the water, feed the fishes with bread or try to look for my husband who has dived into the water and has not surfaced for awhile.

8. Sunrise and Sunsets

   Why do I get so excited to wake up early in the morning to catch the first glimpse of the sun as it rises? But I don't feel that strong urge when I'm at home. And at the end of the day at the beach, watching the sun slowly disappear in the horizon winds down the beautiful day.

9. Seafood

   Another thing I must have whenever I'm at the beach is the seafood. It's nothing like having great barbecued crabs, prawns and fish at the beach. Yummy!

10. Solitude

    But the great thing about the beach is the feeling of solitude, even if you're with someone you love. You just feel at one with God's greatest gift of nature. Your mind breaks free and you feel calmer and more relaxed. That's why I love the beach so much.

Popular Tourists Attractions

Chocolate Hills

This is the most famous tourists attraction in Bohol consisting of 1,268 haycock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters, the Chocolate Hils is a wonder of nature. The Hills are considered as a Philippine National Geological Monument. During the summer, the dome-shaped, grass-covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown transforming the areas into rows and rows of chocolate "kisses

Diving Sites

Bohol is surrounded by a large number of coral reefs, which are very rich in life, and a delight to observe, and a prime tourist attraction. Bohol is blessed with white-sand beaches and serene dive spots. Panglao Island has a number of beach resorts for sun lovers where various watersports are available. Near Panglao are the island of Balicasag and Pamilacan. Balicasag is considered as one of the best dive spots in the country. The waters of Pamilacan are brimming with schools of tuna, snappers, groupers, mackerel and surgeonfish. Dolphins and pilot whales can also be viewed from a distance.

Beaches in Bohol

Kaingit Beach, Santa Fe Beach, Anda Beach, Laya Beach, Bikini Beach, Imelda Beach, Duero Beach, Canuba Beach, Claring Beach, Lintuan Beach, Alona Beach, Doljo Beach is ideal for scuba diving, and Momo Beach is another white sand beach.

Hiking and Cycling

Bohol's numerous hills, valleys and plateaus are ideal for hiking and cycling. In Bilar, a three-kilometer man-made forest is sanctuary to the province's endangered species including the tarsier.

Hinagdanan Cave

With its breath-taking symphony of stalactites and stalagmites jutting out of the earth, the Hinagdanan Cave is certainly a sight to behold. Bring a swimsuit if you want to swim its cool springs aptly lit from above by natural skylights.

Badiang Spring

An underground freshwater spring gushes from twin pipes near the sea. The large volume of water normally flows over a waterfall but can be diverted to fill an adjacent swimming pool.

Old Churches and Other Religious Institution

One of the earliest Spanish settlements, Bohol is home to one of the country's oldest stone churches, the Baclayon Church. The legendary Dauis Church, which is just a few minutes from Tagbilaran features a fresh water well at the foot of the altar. The waters are said to be blessed with healing powers. Still another religious must-see is the Panglao Church with its marvelous ceiling murals and intricately-carved antique confessionals.

Bohol Museum

One of the homes of former President Carlos P. Garcia and his family. On display are memorabilia, relics and samples of the island's flora and fauna.

Falls

There are three popular falls in Bohol, Busay Falls, Inambacan Falls and Tontonan Falls.

 

Cebu, Philippines

Famous Tourist Attractions

Lapu-Lapu Monument

Proudly standing at Mactan Island is Lapu-Lapu's bronze form. He is the first Filipino leader to resist Spanish attempt of colonization. His statue ironically stands across the street from that of rival, Magellan.

Magellan's Cross

In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross on the very spot where the first Filipinos were baptized People started chipping off parts of the cross because of supposed supernatural powers until the city government encased it in tindalo wood and housed it in a monument. It now stands at the corner of Magallanes and Burgos streets.

Mactan Island

A coral island and famous for scuba diving, where beach resorts of international standards are located.

Badian Island

South of Cebu - Located southwest of Cebu City, famous for beautiful corals and reefs, white sandy beaches excellent for diving.

Kawasan Falls

Located in Badian, one can feel the coolness of the surrounding lush greenery of this panoramic waterfalls.

Olango Wildlife Sanctuary

Olango Island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country. Migration starts from the breeding places of birds in Siberia, Northern China and Japan.

Religious Image of Santo Niño

It is considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. It was on April 14, 1521 that Magellan gave the image to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Forty-four years later, on April 27, 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived, Fr. Andres de Urdaneta who formally Christianized the Cebuanos, found the natives hostile. Legaspi himself besieged the settlement and set the village on fire. It was on one of the burnt houses that Juan Camus, a soldier, found the image of Sto. Niño unscratched. Since then, the miraculous image has been venerated by the Cebuanos as its Patron Saint.

Basilica Minor Del Santo Niño

This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565.

Mandaue- Mactan Brigde

Built in 1972 at a cost of P65 million. This 864-meter bridge connects the islands of Mactan and Cebu. The bridge is situated on top of Busay Hills, an excellent sight seeing spot which offers a breathtaking view of Metro Cebu and the islands of Mactan and Olango.

 

Mindoro, Philippines

Tourists Destinations in Occidental Mindoro

Apo Reef National Park -UNESCO World Heritage Center

Apo Reef National Park is acclaimed as one of the best diving sites in Asia. It is a 34-kilometer reef, with a narrow channel running east to west, dividing this reef into two lagoon systems, north and south. Apo Reef is the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world and the largest one in the Philippines.

Mt. Iglit-Bacu National Park- UNESCO World Heritage Center

Mt. Iglit is one of Mindoro's reservation areas, declared as a game sanctuary for tamaraws, wild animals found nowhere else in the world. The tamaraw bears a close resemblance to the Philippine water buffalo, commonly known as carabao.

Mamburao Beach Resort

This resort is within a completely secluded cove covering 14 hectares of developed beach resort amidst coconut trees. It has a four-kilometer long light grey sand beach. The place is ideal for swimming, boating, scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, and water skiing. Water sports facilities such as glass-bottomed boat, speedboat, hobbie cat, and outrigger boats are available.

Mina de Oro Beach Resort

This resort serves as a jump-off point to other attractions of the island of Ilin. There are ancient burial caves of early Chinese traders, ethnic fishing villages, and numerous dive sites from which to view many tropical fishes.

Ambulong Island

The 3,000-hectare Ambulong Island is one of the three islands found in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. It is characterized by white sand beaches, cliffs along pillars jutting out of the water, and underwater caves. Coral gardens and tropical fish are abundant in several coves.

Ilin Island

Ilin Island is the biggest among the group of islands located in San Jose. It lies between San Jose and Ambulong Island. The area abounds in shells which can be obtained inexpensively on the island.

Lubang Island

It was in this island where a Japanese soldier named Hiroo Onoda was found in 1974. He surrendered as a prisoner of war after 30 years of hiding in the mountains. Another Captain of the Japanese Imperial Army, Fumio Nakahira, held out for another six years before being discovered in April 1980 at Mt. Halcon in Mindoro.

Ambil Island

An interesting attraction of Ambil is the scenic Besay Falls.It features a series of waterfalls, each cascading into a crystal clear basin, about five meters in diameter.

Pandan Grande Island

Pandan Grande Island is a 30-hectare islet surrounded by a white sand beach. This beautiful little coral islet is located with snorkeling distance from a submarine drop-off, inhabited by schools of reef.

White Island

It has an almost mile-long beach with smooth and powdery white sand. The tranquil and peaceful island is an ideal place for swimming, scuba diving and fishing. Turtle eggs are occasionally found buried in the sand and visitors are cautioned to keep them undisturbed.

Enjoy your stay in these beautiful islands of the The Pear of the Orient-Philippines.

Holy Week is fast approaching and together with my boyfriend, we decided to spend the long vacation in someplace far, interesting and quiet - more like a honeymoon prone place.

Day 1: March 20, 2008 (Thursday)

We departed Cagayan de Oro City around 8:30AM on a ship bound for Jagna, Bohol. The time spent on board the ship was more on eating, sleeping and a little picture taking. We didn't have much activity. We were conserving most of our energies for the days ahead.

We arrived in Jagna, Bohol around 2:00PM, looked for the terminal and rode a bus (which they termed as "truck") which is bound for Tagbilaran, Bohol - the capital. Since our destination would be for Loboc, we need to make a stop over at Loay and then took a jeepney.

Upon arriving in our destination, we rested for awhile and then proceeded with conquering the place. The only place we were able to conquer was the Loboc River, where they once filmed the "Panaghoy sa Suba - The Cry of the River". My boyfriend was really thrilled and took pictures all over the place.

We retired early in the evening - got really exhausted from all the trip.

Day 2: March 21, 2008 (Friday)

We woke up around 10:00AM and got really excited to try the famous Loboc Floating Restaurant. We paid Php280 for the buffet lunch and supposed to be a trip to Busay Spring, but because it's Holy Friday, there was no trip available - only the lunch.

The next trip we had was to get a look at the famous, smallest monkey - Tarsier. It was just a walking distance from the floating restaurant. There was no "pay per see", but only donation boxes where you could drop any amount you wish to give. Donation boxes are much better than mandatory entrance fee. It's because, a person's experience may vary from one another, and satisfaction too. If you were satisfied, you could donate as much as you want to; and if you were not satisfied on the other hand, you could donate not a single centavo if you like.

Anyways, we learned that the tarsiers they had in-kept were already tamed. Tarsiers living on the wild are much faster and difficult to spot, probably dangerous. Crickets and other small insects are their food. They are nocturnal - animals that are active at night variation.

In the late afternoon, the local had their usual religious procession. It ended around 7:00PM.

Day 3: March 22, 2008 (Saturday)

On the third day of our trip, we went to Tagbilaran. From Loboc, you need to embark on a jeepney bound to the city and would be paying Php50. We disembarked in one of their famous malls - The Island City Mall. The locals would call it "ICM". We left our baggages inside ICM and headed directly to the nearest Kodak shop where we could burn the images we had stored in our digital camera. We visited a lot of shops inside the mall and one of my boyfriends favorite was Bo's coffee shop.

Another mall we visited was Bohol Quality - this was located much more on the downtown area. My boyfriend got real shocked when he learned that the building we ushered ourselves into was a mall. We had a tour inside and stumble upon Gerry's Grill - again another shock for him. He never quite expected to find it there. He got so thrilled that he decided we'll have our dinner there. We ordered three menu - Chili Cheese Sticks, Pork Sisig and Bicol Express. We got so full and sleepy, that we just did a little grocery and then retired for the night.

Day 4: March 23, 2008 (Sunday)

Early morning, we hired a taxi cab that would take us to Panglao Island - famous for its white sand beaches. It was their rule of thumb that the one-way fare should be multiplied by two, to cover the cost going back the city proper - we paid around Php300 (a total of Php600).

Our destination was Bohol Beach Club (BBC). There was an entrance fee of Php350/person, where the Php250 is consumable. And indeed, we consumed a yummy lot. During our lunch, we ordered for a Beef Steak and Sinugbang (Grilled) Pusit - it was really delicious. We both enjoyed the scenery and the food.

Our journey didn't stop there. We then conquered BBC's white sand beach. Even though it was raging hot, we took pictures of ourselves with the serenic view. A pose here and there, laughing and just plain enjoying.

Later in the afternoon, we had a late swim on the beach and just enjoying the warm water. We also looked for a starfish that we could take it home with us as a souvenir. We got really tired and relaxed with all the beach tripping that we just went directly to sleep afterwards.

Day 5: March 24, 2008 (Monday)

Our fifth and last day in Bohol. Our trip for Cagayan de Oro was due 7:00PM that evening. We spent the early and late afternoons inside ICM buying stuff as "pasalubong". Around 5:30PM, we hired a motorcycle that would take us to Tagbilaran Port where it costs us Php20/person (a total of Php40). Inside the port's waiting area, we took our last look at the place we stayed in for five days - Bohol, before we embarked on the ship that would take us back home.

Hope you enjoyed reading this and soon be able to share similar experiences.

Enjoy golden-sand beaches, lush rainforests, impressive volcanoes, shimmering waterfalls and more. The options are endless on sunny Maui.

WHY SHOULD I GO?

There's a reason honeymooners flock to Maui in droves each year: It's one of the most blissful places on earth. Flourishing greenery, sun-kissed beaches and blue waters set the stage for romance. Add to that an exotic culture, tropical drinks and the soft strumming of a Hawaiian ukulele and you've got a recipe for couples' paradise. Not planning a romantic gateway? Maui offers loads of activities for families and adventurous travelers alike. All that and you don't even need a passport.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

World-class hotels abound throughout the island, but the cream of the crop is the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua. From the moment you arrive and are given a floral lei and a smile, you receive VIP treatment. Staff members go out of their way to make sure each guest feels welcome. Not only will you be impressed by the hotel's service, you will also be dazzled by its setting. The 548-room hotel is located on the northwest coast of the island and is surrounded by a championship golf course and a scenic pineapple plantation. The resort, which was built next to a Hawaiian burial ground back to the year 850, also overlooks a pristine beach and the Pacific Ocean. The resulting environment is a wonderful mixture of modern luxury, spiritual history and natural beauty. What's more, the Ritz boasts a tri-level pool, six tennis courts, a basketball court, walking trails, a state-of-the-art fitness center with exercise classes, a high-end spa and several outstanding restaurants. If you are on your honeymoon the advantage of the hotel's honeymoon packages, which include amenities like champagne and strawberries in your room, rose petals on your bed and a personal concierge. If you're traveling with your children, sign up for the Ritz kids program, which consists of full - or half-day recreation and education activities. If you are interested in learning more about Hawaii's early Polynesian inhabitants, talk to the Ritz's cultural advisor who conducts historical discussions and tours. There is something for everyone at this premier hotel.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ACTIVITIES?

There are enough outdoor activities in Maui to occupy you for several vacations, so you won't want for things to do. You could go on a rainforest hike complete with a waterfall swim with Latatudes "N Adatudes/Maui Eco-Adventures. This tour company offers hikes, kayak trips, bike tours and helicopter rides with knowledgeable guides and picnic lunches. One of their most popular excursions is a hike into the crater of Haleakala, the world"s largest dormant volcano crater.

For those who care to brave the waves, take a surf lesson at the Island Style Surf School in Ka'anapali. The instructors coach you on everything from paddling out to the waves to getting - and staying - up on your board. If you prefer snorkeling, go on a catamaran cruise along Maui's coastline with Kapalua Kai, which stops at prime snorkeling spots (scuba diving is also available). If you go on an excursion between December and April, you may see humpback whales.

Interested in sightseeing on your own? Drive along the world-famous Hana coast and take in the gorgeous state parks, waterfalls and beaches. Then, when you want to relax, head to the Boutique Spa at the Ritz for some pampering. Indulge in one of many treatments, such as a green-tea body wrap, a papaya-pineapple scrub or an aromatherapy massage - which is available outdoors in a cozy hut that is enclosed enough to afford privacy yet open enough to let in the gentle breeze.

WHERE I SHOULD EAT?

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a true Hawaiian lu'au. Try out the Old Lahaina Lu'au, known as Maui's best and most authentic. The evening begins with a feast of traditional Hawaiian fare, which includes fish, roasted pork and taro (a root plant that is a staple of the Hawaiian diet). Then, as you sip Mai Tais and watch the sun set, enjoy an unforgettable musical hula performance.

For a fabulous meal overlooking the water, head to The Banyan Tree at the Ritz. All creations are elegantly presented and delicious. The Ritz also has a top sushi bar, Kai, which serves only ocean's freshest catches. Mama's Fish House is another popular spot. This converted beach house with Polynesian décor is located in a coconut grove on a secluded white-sand beach. The menu includes fish, crab cakes, lamb chops, Polynesian lobster soup and organic vegetables.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Most major airlines, including Delta, United and American, fly nonstop out of Los Angeles. There are also several flights from New York with one stopover.

When you arrive in the Philippines you may want to hurry to a beach and retire on a beach chair with a cocktail. Before you do, you should explore the capital city of Manila, on the island of Luzon. Manila is a collection of towns clustered together and each has its own character. They make for a lively destination that buzzes with life day and night. The best way to see the signs is to jump into a jeepney. These brightly colored painted buses were inspired by the US Army vehicles brought to the Philippines during World War II. No two are alike and the owners vie to outdo one another with their designs. Splashed with colors, ornaments and balloons, it's the most fun way to get around. Take a jeepney to Manila's street markets. There you will find stalls selling jewelry, clothes and trinkets for next to nothing. You are sure to find bargain and be sure to haggle over the price.

More shopping can be had at the giant Mall of Asia, which has more than 600 stores as well as an IMAX cinema, ice skating rink and over 150 food outlets. Filipinos love to shop and they are equally passionate about food. Filipino cooking is a mix of Malay, Spanish and Chinese, reflecting the country's ethnically mixed past. A place worth a visit is the walled town of Intramuros, with its huge San Agustin Church (which unfortunately was badly damaged during World War II). You can catch a performance of traditional dancing in Intramuros, much of it influenced by Spain with flamenco style music and costumes.
Of course, the Philippines were inhabited long before the Spanish arrived in 1521, and evidence of human life on the islands dates back over 47,000 years.

North of Manila, in the lush forests of the Cordillera, visitors can get a glimpse into the past centuries. Around the town of Banaue, humans and nature have worked together to transform the landscape. Rice terraces stretch up the hillsides and were carved out of the earth more than 2000 years ago. They were build by a tribe called the Ifugao whose people were skilled carvers and head hunters. They sacred wooden statues, called bulol, still preside over the terraces. This part of the Philippines has a network of trials leading through the mountains to the villages, where local people live much as they've done for hundreds of years. There are also caves and white water rapids, and stretches of beaches to enjoy.

If you are looking for nothing to do at all, but take a short walk to the beach, then head to the Visayas, a collection of islands that are breathtaking. Visayas, about 200 miles from Manila, are dozens of islands and thousands of smaller islets, some so tiny they aren't even marked on a map. Among islands not to be missed are Cebu, where you'll find the capital Cebu City, and Bohol. Each of the Visayas has white sand beaches and lots of palm trees, but most people head for Boracay. It's tiny (just six miles long and less than a mile across) but it has dazzling beaches and turquoise water. The entire island is surrounded by coral reef that teems with life. It is perfect for snorkeling and diving. It's always warm in the Philippines-between 72F (22C) and 90F (32C), but some months are very dry. The best time for sunny weather is between November and May when there are fewer wet days.If you don't want to go too far from Manila, then Puerto Galera, on the island of Mindoro, has some spectacular coral gardens and it's just an hour from the capital.

A great place to get lost for week is Palawan, a small island lying southwest of Manila. It's harder to get to, which means it's less developed than other islands. But if you go there you will find that Palawan and the small islands around it are packed with beauty and adventure. There are jungles to hike through, lakes to swim in and coral reefs to discover. Just off Palawan's northwest coast is one of the most beautiful places on earth-the Bacuit Archipelago. This is a collection of jagged islands that soar out of the sea. Sheltered bays conceal perfect beaches, blue lagoons and more coral gardens. You can kayak, snorkel and relax on tiny Secret Beach, which can only be entered by swimming through a hole in the island's rock face.

The Philippines has so much to offer and it is well worth looking into more information about these beautiful islands. Lonely Planet, always a great source, can tell you much more about them.

Sitting 6-kilometers northeast of its city location, Maria, accessible through the port of Larena, the government-run Salagdoong Beach Resort boasts of its beautiful scenic treasures. Its shorelines could be considered its most loved views with its white sand, crystal-clear waters, and refreshing breeze.

Over at the Salagdoong Beach Resort, there is an islet close by. It's beautiful to row to, and look back over at Salagdoong's magnificent beachfront, which only leaves you gasping for more of Salagdoong, tucked mysteriously further amidst the coves. Salagdoong Beach Resort satisfies this urge as it provides all the amenities and services for tourists. This includes package tours in and through the private island's best spots.

Tours of course, will journey you to the island's rejuvenating most natural destinations. Consider a visit to Lazi's Kambugahay Falls, and to the magnificent Mount Bandilaan, the highest peak in Siquijor. Its perfect cone-shape will take you away as well as its myriad excursion opportunities like cave spelunking, mountain climbing, and nature treks. Even if you are short of being adventurous, you can still enjoy its attractions of mountain-side rivers and natural springs. Or just hang out with the butterflies. A Butterfly Sanctuary nearby called the "Bandilaan Butterfly Range and Breeding Farm" will charm you along with a thought that you are somehow one of the advocate ecological guardians supporting the nature park.

Special travels will take you to the island's much talked about historical sites that especially takes account of antique house structures and century old cathedrals and convents.

A trip to the Salagdoong Beach Resort will not be complete without venturing into the hearts of the island's gentle people and their rich, and mystical, culture.

From the Bandilaan Natural Park, some 200-steps will lead you to a spiritual hill that homes the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine and The Stations of the Cross. An elevated viewing-tower comes along giving you the perfect position to see all of the surrounding Siquijorian towns below.

Then venture further into Maria's famous ancient church - believed to have once homed a statue of Saint Rita - “a black-clad, evil-eyed woman who killed her husband and hold his skull in her hands” (Lonely Planet Philippines 2003).

More mystery and chills awaits you at the capital-town of Siquijor, domicile of the bell-towered Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, yet, home to legends of pagan rituals and witchcrafts. See for your self as you test on the locals' famous island "mananambals," witch-doctors, and faith-healers. Better yet, try and take home some of the island's oils, amulets, and charms to protect you from evil.

A trip to Salagdoong (either cultural venture or nature escapade) would surely be an exceptional kind.

For those seeking relaxed beaches, start by taking a cruise that stops on a private island. These beaches will only be populated with the cruise ship passengers. Rarely does more than one ship go to an island at a time. This means that you will have access to a beach that is perhaps three fourths of a mile long and a hundred or so feet wide that covered in soft white sand and gently slopes into the sea.

You will share this beach with less than 2,000 people in most cases. That may sound like a lot, but many popular beaches can have five times that number in less space. Because of this, you can usually find your own area away from the crush of people. While you can only spend the six or so hours there that the cruise allows, it will be the most relaxing day of the cruise.

The Grand Caymans offer some of the most famous beaches in the world. In spite of the number of people who head there, if you will talk to the natives, there are uncrowded beaches to be found. With a little effort, you can usually score time at a private beach at some of the resorts. Or, you could just book yourself into an all-inclusive resort and enjoy the beaches without having to do any work.

Any of the Virgin Islands like St. Thomas or St. Maartens will give you a great beach that is not generally overly crowded. Many of the all-inclusive resorts on any of the Caribbean destinations have great beaches and will advise you of the atmosphere of their resort.

For those wanting a little more of the bump and jostle of a crowded beach, just pick any of the hot resorts, and you will not be disappointed. Jamaica has several interesting choices with rum being the drink of choice. Places like Cancun, Mexico, will give you a lot of after hours excitement. Several of the more popular areas in the Bahamas will give you some exciting beach action.