Philippines!

Fascinating landscapes, active volcanoes, coral waters, splendid beaches and tropical forests would be the right picture to paint while picking up a brush for Philippines. And while you plan a trip to Philippines, know that you have all the 7000 islands to yourself. 

Our first day was quite occupied by the beauty and extravagance of Manila city’s first casino hotel Solaire! Located at the centre of Manila’s entertainment city development zone, Solaire intends to provide a wide range of services, from food to gaming. After spending a night in the heart of the city, we flew down to Boracay, a tropical island surrounded by white sand beaches. 

Boracay gave a brilliant opportunity to us, the water babies, to experience a wide range of sports like sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling, cliff diving, scuba diving and jet skiing. While I was topping my skin up with the beautiful tan, a thought ran into my head, ‘what to do here at night?’ and before I could even have attended the question, I was presented with yet another thought, ‘the fun in Boracay doesn’t end with the sunset!’ 

The jumping off 50 feet cliff adventure was much relished with the superb drinks many bars at Boracay beaches offered. The bars and restaurants there not only offered food and drinks but an unlimited fun until dawn! 

D’Mall was one such place. Along with the white sand beaches, a wide variety of gift shops, boutiques and many high end stores graced the pathway. If there was anything in Boracay that could compete with the splendour of its beaches, it would be the amazing variety of its restaurants. From open air seafood to fine dining, Boracay had it all. All the restaurants around, no matter which one you pick, would sure serve you some of the best food that you would ever have in Philippines. 

Now was the time when we wanted to just relish some food in bed like lazy dogs, lounge and have a few more water sports experiences. Welcome to Bulabog beach, our partner in crime! A white sand beach located at the eastern coast of the Boracay Island was kiteboarders and windsurfers dream. It’s unsure winds gave all the required adrenaline push and landed us into quite a few reasonable food and drink options to soothe the after effects. And once you are done with your two minute nap, freshen up in this supercool tricycle rickshaw which would take over your every experience of a bumpy ride.

It was just wonderful. Well! but not more than one of the new seven wonders of the world. Yes! I am talking about the Puerto Princessa- the underground river! Even I was thrilled when for the first time I heard about it and I couldn’t believe that something like this could also be a wonder created by nature. But when I was in there, the experience was much more thrilling and exciting than I had imagined. 

Boracay’s pride simply lies in the Puerto Princessa which was a stretch of around eight kilometers and it is said to be the longest navigable underground river in the world. It winds its way underneath a mountain before you have even prepared yourself for the adventure. 

The entire river area is actually a national park including many species of trees, mammals, birds, reptiles and bats. There were caves and rock formations which were roofed by thousands of bats hanging upside down. As the dolphins will take a spin, the bats will give them their melodious music. The experience was so enriching, everything was in harmony, the creatures, the water, the souls and the silence where one could only hear the sound of the water while the boat roars. 

Before we head back, I was presented with yet another experience full of nature walks, sunset cruising, and everyone’s dream of waking up in the middle of an island, on top of a mountain. That’s Lagen Island resort at one of the prettiest islands I have ever come across - El Nido! 

Limestone cliffs and rocks made this island so breathtaking that I stood there, in awe for a few minutes. It is also a gateway to Palawan’s greatest natural treasures. Monitor Lizards also seemed to be a part of our presented their local dance before we took a ferry to take a tour to all the nearby restaurants. I would definitely recommend this adventurous trip to all the those who believe that, an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered!.

See you in Turkey! :)