DUKA Bay Resort

DUKA Bay has long been frequented even by Westerners during the 80s. It remains so today. Duka Bay’s beach has a commanding view to both the eastern and western portions of the horizon so magnificent sunsets can really be seen there. The beach itself is ideal to party goers who can enjoy stripping down to their swimsuits, it’s like Duka itself is the setting for Leonardo di Caprio’s 2000 thriller The Beach.

Although I seriously doubt there are glowing planktons around when you dive at night. But one can even skinny-dip at night. The water here is so serene indeed there is no hint of garbage because every beachgoer is responsible enough not to throw trash into the sea.

Most Visited Places in Camiguin

Camiguin, an island Born of Fire! It is one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines. A fresh air and green environment is what you'll see at Camiguin plus its natural cold and hot springs, waterfalls, white beaches, marine life and other historical spots which are worth to experience.

Here are some of the most visited places in Camiguin Island:

White Island (Medan Island) - local and foreigners never missed to visit the white island once in Camiguin. The shape of the island differs depending upon the tide and its perfect for sunbathing, collecting of different shells, swimming and snorkeling.

Ardent Hot Spring - a place that suits to refresh our mind and body. The place is very much ideal for night swimming, a hot spring mixed with the breeze of cold air. It is 6 km. away from Southwest of Mambajao. Picnic huts, restaurant, dormitory rooms and other facilities to accommodate well the tourists. This hot spring also provides therapeutic effect.

Sto. Niño Cold Spring - the spring is about 4 km. north uphill of Catarman proper. The pool measures about 25 x 40 meters with 1/2 deep cold spring water sprouting from its sandy bottom.

Sunken Cemetery - a large white cross marks a cemetery swept into the sea by Old Vulcan Daan's eruption in 1871. From here it is a perfect place to watch the glorious sunset over the ocean. It is also an ideal place for snorkeling and diving. An annual fluvial procession is held by townsfolk in honor of the sunken graves of their forefathers and as a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

Katibawasan Falls - A beautiful, clear stream of water cascading 70 meters into a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. Its cold water provides a refreshing summer splash to all bathers.

Catarman Church Ruins - famous for the name Ruins of Gui-ob Church located in Barangay Bonbon, 16 kilometers from the center of Catarman town. What remains are ruins of adobe walls, belfry and convent that are testimonials to the devastating 1871 earthquake and volcanic eruption which wiped out the illustrious town of Catarman established earlier as a Spanish settlement in 1697.

Camiguin is indeed a Paradise Island in which we Filipinos should be proud of.

Related Sources: www.islandcamiguin.com| www.camiguin.gov.ph |www.archer2605.multiply.com

Back to the colonial era - Tranquebar

The waves tell a story of their own. Im just back from a weekend trip with a school mate of mine from Tarangambadi or Tranquebar, which was a Danish settlement, during the colonial era. The trip was wonderful for many reasons - I was meeting my friend after several years, the location was completely off the tourist track and it was in many ways, a journey that brought me back on track as well..I am back to blogging with a bang and will be visiting all of you soon..and there will be more posts,of course..have a great week

Balai Resorts

“Vast open spaces…
Sweeping views of the sea…
The perfect place to enjoy the outdoors or just relax and let the busy world pass you by …”

This wonderful quotation is from Balai Resorts. In San Teodoro Mabini Batangas atop of huge rocks and views of the sea, Balai Anilao was built. The Balai decks are made of a native nipa and bamboo cottages. Also In San Juan Batangas nestled Balai Laiya where you get to experience its wide sandy beaches.

Although these two Balais' are situated from different site of Batangas, they both have one in common: to provide a very relaxing experience to its visitors. These two also caters wedding services whether you want to spend it at the open sands of Balai Laiya or sunset at Balai Anilao,

Trivia
* Balai in Visayan term is referred to as a ‘house’.
* The reception of the silent wedding between pinoy celebrity couple Judy Ann and Ryan Agoncilllo was held here at Balai Resorts.

Dakak Park and Beach Resort

Dakak Park and Beach Resort is another pride of tourism here in the Philippines. The resort is situated nearby Dumaguete and Cebu provinces. It has fifteen hectares forested land and 750-meter fine white sand.
What makes Dakak Park and Beach Resort a wonderful experience?

Here are some of the things you can enjoy during your stay.

• Jet Ski
• Kayak
• Sailing
• Snorkling
• Whirlpool
• Two Pools (adult pool and kiddie pool)
• Billiard/Bowling
• Disco
• Golf
• Horseback Riding
• Tennis
• Sauna/Massage/Spa

The resort also has an agua center, reception building, convention hall & fusion disco, and a souvenir shop.

Travel and Tours Summer Destination: Dakak Park and Beach Resort

Bukidnon Pride

BUKIDNON ”the food basket of Mindanao" showcase its beauty in the big screen through Love Me Again (Land Down Under). A movie which was first shoot in Bukidnon and it’s played by Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin. Some scenes of the movie were shoot in Impasug-ong Bukidnon and Malaybalay City (Bukidnon’s capital city). The full synopsis of the story can be read here: Love Me Again Synopsis

Because of this movie, Bukidnon will be more visible to the public not only here in the Philippines but throughout other countries as well. This is another pride of Bukidnon. Their tourism industry and other aspects will certainly grow.

Singita - A Paradise in Africa

Singita (‘place of miracles’) is world-renowned for providing ‘the best safari experience in Africa’.














This unique "Paradise in Africa" has managed to win almost every travel and/or hotel award since the mid-90s, when the resort was opened.




You can read on their homepage:

The balance of hospitality, conservation and community is what sets Singita apart, and has been at our core from the very beginning.

Here one can feel the ancient magic of Earth and Sky, closer to the nature than ever before.


Truely blissful resort, wouldn't you say?



Singita's Webpage: http://www.singita.com/

Paradise Beach Resort

The Villa Arcadia Beach resort offers the finest pure white sand beach and the alluring different forms of rocks. Villa Arcadia beach is a family owned resort located at Calamcam Talisayan, Misamis Oriental. From Cagayan de Oro City, it takes 2 hour bus ride or less than 1 hour for private vehicles.


Villa Arcadia beach offers numerous type of accommodation: for nature lover they have tents, dorm type of rooms for barkadas, family rooms and rooms for couples. The place is also equipped with recreational activities such as mini zoo, sports bar, swimming pool, aqua funfair, snorkeling, diving and a lot more. Embrace the breeze of fresh air in this paradise beach resort.

Journeys in the mind

Ive been travelling a lot..both in the real world and in the mind..The physical journeys have not really been that exhausting, while the latter has really drained me.
I havent been in the blogging world for a while, but will soon get back to catch up on all Ive missed..Until then :)

Whitewater Rafting in CDO

Whitewater rafting is indeed a very exciting recreational activity which is popular all throughout the world. Before, rafting is only a means of transportation. But in this modern age, it becomes a pastime or a sport to some individuals. Rafting isn’t an easy activity. You get to encounter different classes of rapids until you get to bump into the most dangerous rapid: large waves and huge rocks. Safety is always important to this kind of activity.

Cagayan de Oro: a blooming city in Misamis Oriental province never gets too late when it comes to rapids. One of the city’s major tourism attractions are their WhiteWater Rafting Adventure. Aside from being friendly (since the city is known to be as the City of Golden Friendship), the whitewater rafting guides are also equipped with professional skills traversing the Cagayan de Oro River a couple of times.

Get to experience now the thrill and excitement traversing the rapids of Kagay-anon's Whitewater Rafting Adventure

The Sunken Cemetery

The huge cross standing at Camiguin Island which was installed last 1982 had greatly influenced the tourism industry in the province: commonly referred to as "The Sunken Cemetery".

Here's a brief historical landmark about the place:

According to local historians, Mount Vulcan had four historic eruptions. The first one was in 1827 but records of this eruption were nil. The second one was in 1862 when thick ashes from the crater flowed and overtook people who were fleeing towards the sea, resulting in 326 fatalities. The third one started in 1871. Previous experience had taught some of the Camiguin people of the dangerous whims of Mount Vulcan. Thus, when earthquakes were felt, they fled as far away as possible from the volcano, but some stayed behind. There were spasmodic eruptions and the people who fled decided to stay away until the time when the volcano finally subsided in 1875. But when they returned, they have lost their land and their friends. The whole capital of Camiguin, with its cemetery, sunk under the sea. In the following years, the sunken land and the gravestones can still be seen when the tide is low. But in 1948 until 1953, Mount Vulcan erupted again, sinking the whole area deeper, to around twenty feet. In 1982, a large cross was built on the solidified lava to mark the site that became the graves of the ancestors of the Camiguin people.

Today, the sunken cemetery is famous as one of the most exceptional diving sites in the world.

Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival

Peninsula’s largest festival in Zamboanga City is celebrated annually every 12th of October in honour of Our Lady of the Pilar. Citizens of Zamboanga passionately believe that Our Lady of the Pilar marked as their historical symbol and an inspiration to continually achieve cultural unity in the place. The festival is named as “Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival” or commonly known as “Fiesta Pilar”. A grand mass and solemn celebration commences the festival at the legendary Fort Pilar.

It is a twelve days and nights long celebration which starts from 1st of October and ends at 12th of October. As you visit Zamboanga City in these dates expect to see spectacular events done such as the ethnic parade, cultural shows, fireworks display, hermosa dance and REGATTA- the major highlights of the festival. Regatta is a race of boats in which Zamboanga’s vinta contributes great factor in their tourism industry.

Paradise Island of Camiguin

Camiguin is a paradise island, located in Northern Mindanao coast Philippines. It is somewhat called as paradise island because of its many wonders to be found within the place. Hot and Cold springs (Ardent Hot Spring, Tangub Hot Spring, and Sto. Niño Cold Spring), waterfalls (Katibawasan, Binangawan, and Tuawasan Falls); these are just among of the most visited tourists attractions in the Island. The Paradise Island of Camiguin is also surrounded by seven volcanoes; Mt. Hibok-Hibok is the most active and famous one in which mountaineers climbs this for one day only. Other renowned fascinations in Camiguin are the: Sunken Cemetery, Cross Marker and Catarman church ruins.

The Lanzones Festival of Camiguin is also a major attraction in the province. The Camiguin Lanzones are known to be as sweet translucent flesh in the entire Philippines. It is being celebrated annually every third week of October, in which the residents give thanks for its bountiful harvest.

There are indeed a bunch of reasons to visit this Paradise Island. If you plan to take a vacation in the province, don’t forget to bring a pasalubong or some sweet thoughts for your loves ones such as “Pastel “, a sweet delicacy made up of sweet buns and filled with original yema.