As the capital of Palawan and the point of entry of tourists who wish to enjoy the natural beauty of the island, Puerto Princesa has made it a point that not only does it have fine resorts and hotels that can accommodate the visitors but outstanding restaurants that cater to many different tastes. Puerto Princesa restaurants are very promising and provide great affordable meals with a relaxed atmosphere.
As one can guess from the name of this Puerto Princesa restaurant, its specialty is grilled chicken. Although many would say that grilled chicken doesn’t get any better than the Chicken Inasal from Bacolod, once one has tried the specialty of Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill Restaurant, one will think twice. Filipino dishes are also one of the good choices at this Puerto Princesa restaurant and it also serves fresh seafood. The ambience of the Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill Restaurant is casual and once inside one will feel a very local setting and the food service personnel are friendly and cheerful. This Puerto Princesa restaurant has chairs and tables made from bamboo adding to the cozy atmosphere that it exudes. The Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill Restaurant is a good place to dine with family and friends and one can also consider bringing one’s date to this place. The food prices at Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill Restaurant are more than budget friendly with a meal ranging from Php 100 to Php 200 on the average. A must try at Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill Restaurant is Calamares which is fried squid in batter and their fresh fruit juices which they only make upon order. This Puerto Princesa restaurant is found on Manalo Extension.
Asian dishes have a distinct taste especially with the spices and herbs used. If one is a fanatic of Asian cuisine and would like to try fine dining, an ideal Puerto Princesa restaurant is the Lotus Garden Restaurant. The Lotus Garden Restaurant is actually the restaurant of the Lotus Garden hotel but this is not exclusive to hotel guests and everyone is welcome to eat here. This Puerto Princesa restaurant is on Rizal Avenue and is accessible by public transportation. Although the Lotus Garden Restaurant is fine dining, it is casual enough to make one feel relaxed. Dishes with curry are among the specialties of this Puerto Princesa restaurant and for vegetarians, a must try is the Vegetarian Thai Curry. The Chicken Satay which is an original recipe from Borneo and comes with peanut sauce and is also a favorite of Lotus Garden Restaurant diners. For those who want something light, the Lotus Garden Restaurant has on its menu several refreshing salads. Prices start at Php 300 per meal at this Puerto Princesa restaurant.
An amazing epic hero from Naguilan, La Union, according to the myth, is Lam-ang. At birth, the myth says Lam-ang was already able to talk like an adult and also possess a powerful physique. While an infant, he decided what his name would be---and that was the name given to him. The myth adds, at nine months, he was fully grown with supernatural physical prowess. He was feared in their village. Yet, despite his superiority, he was discontented. He missed his father. The father had been hunting somewhere in the lands of the Igorot, a feared head-hunting mountain tribe, before he was born and never came back.
So one day, the myth says, Lam-ang decided to look for his father in the land of the Igorots up further North. Then he discovered his father’s remains in an abandoned Igorot camp, beheaded. He determined to have his revenge. So, the myth says he flew (yes, he could fly) up to the Cordillera mountain ranges and attacked tribes of Igorots and defeated them savagely. Having completed his fierce revenge, he went back to his village.
In his village, he recounted the ways he decimated the feared Igorot tribes and the village folks feared him more. Then he heard about a rich heiress who lived in another place---in Caluntian---who was very beautiful. Despite his mother’s pleas not to marry someone outside their tribe, Lam-ang, according to the myth, pursued the heiress from Caluntian, Donya Ines.
In Caluntian, Lam-ang found himself up against formidable rivals But he bested them all with his powers and the supernatural pets he had brought with him—a rooster, hen, and a dog. Finally, the last challenge was to dive for a rare native fish called Rarang. According to the myth, Lam-ang had a premonition of death in this last challenge, but he proceeded with it anyway. He was swallowed by a big shark and died.
Donya Ines suffered the loss of Lam-ang, but his pets promised his resurrection if only his bones could be salvaged from the sea. Marcos, Ines’ servant, recovered Lam-ang’s remains from the sea. And with some magic, the myth says his pets were able to bring Lam-ang back to life. And so Lam-ang, Donya Ines, and the pets lived happily ever after.
The myth on Lam-ang depicts a man of strength and passion. He was ready to face any challenge till the end, even when the last challenge in his life meant his death. This somehow reflects the courage
The Chocolate Hills are not the only reason to visit the province of Bohol in the Philippines. If you're into caving or cave exploring then Bohol is a great destination. The province has over 1,400 caves. The name Bohol seems to have come from the word "buho" which means a "hole". Locally, this means a hole where spring water would usually burst out; Bohol has lots of that along its coastal towns.
A lot of the caves of Bohol, Philippines have not yet been explored. It is not quite surprising that one might be following a stream during a cool day's trek only to find that it leads to a cave somewhere. The caves of Bohol are home to strange invertebrates, like the albino crabs for instance, who have adapted to life in the dark.
At least two caves in the province of Bohol have historic significance in the Philippines. The first one is the Francisco Dagohoy Cave. This cave is located in the town of Danao and is the most visited by local and foreign tourists.
In 1744, Francisco Dagohoy, a patriot, started a rebellion against the Spanish Regime. This movement lasted until 1829. This cave served as their headquarters during the uprising. One of the passages in Dagohoy's cave has an underwater route that leads to dry land within. It is said that this area was the movement's hiding place when Spanish forces would raid the cave.
The other historic cave is found in the town of Antequera known as Buhong Tiawan, which is just one and a half kilometers away from town. The entrance to the cave is in a wall of a limestone hill. The entrance is three to five meters wide and leads to a cavern 100 meters long.
The cave was used as a refuge in World War II when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. The Japanese raided the place eventually when the imperial army discovered the hide out. Today, the cave is home to different species of birds and bats.
Another famous tourist attraction is the Hinagdanan Cave in the island of Panglao. The cave features stalactites with matching stalagmites that converge towards each other. The cave brings you to a cavern that has a pond about ten feet in depth. It isn't advisable to swim in it since the water in the pond isn't clean.
The caves Bohol, Philippines is a haven for those who love to explore the subterranean world. Some of these caves have been etched into the history of the Philippines through the people who seek refuge and hope for freedom.
This is the Philippines Travel Guide where we tour you around the Philippines and give you the best places to stay while in the Philippines. We will let you systematically travel from the northern parts of the Philippines to the southern parts of the Philippines so that you will experience the best this country has to offer.
Let us start with the Philippines Travel Guide by putting the two most important destinations in northern Luzon together. The first place of the Philippines Travel Guide is Baguio. Baguio is one of the coldest cities in the Philippines which also means that you will not have such a hard time adjusting to the intense heat yet since temperatures in Baguio go to a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. Another spot located in northern Luzon, not far from Baguio is the Ifugao region where the 8th world wonder is located at. The attraction that we are talking about are the Banaue Rice Terraces that you absolutely cannot miss.
Let us continue to the capital of the Philippines with our Philippines Travel Guide. The capital is called Manila and one of the most noteworthy cities within Manila is Makati where the commercial district is located which means translated; shopping, shopping, shopping. If you are into designer labels or into cheap finds, Makati has anything and everything for you. You will also find your favorite delicacies from home in one of their specialty stores around Makati.
After shopping it is time for a good nights’ party and a little fun in the sun. Which better place to travel to than our next Philippines Travel Guide spot called Boracay, located in the Visayan region. You can just relax on the white sand beaches or party all day and night in one of Boracay’s clubs. Scuba diving is great as well and you might find some scary sharks. Let us take another hop from the party island Boracay to the sightseeing island of Bohol where you will see the famous Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier.
For our last two destinations we will have to travel a couple of hours to the southernmost islands of Mindanao. The first destination will be the historical city by the sea called Butuan which is located in the Agusan province. This city and its river is full of archeological finds, and who knows? Maybe you get so lucky you will find another golden statue such as the Golden Image of Agusan that was found in the river. The lat city in our Philippines Travel Guide is going to be the largest city in the world called Davao. In Davao you can finish off your last shopping needs and souvenir needs and then travel back to your home via the international airport.
Now, you have seen the entire Philippines with the Philippines Travel guide and you might even find more places to explore and experience within the Philippines. Enjoy the travels through this archipelago and get to know the different cultures and practices.
Several tourists visit Philippine beaches for the warm and welcoming waters that embrace their 'numb-stricken-due-to-cold-seasons' embodiment. Of course, the number one activity everyone has while on a beautiful beach is to try its waters and swim, swim, swim and...swim. Well, guess what?! There's a whole different way of enjoying the Philippine beach atmosphere other than just swimming!
If you are, of course, into swimming like a fish all day...hey, nobody's stopping you. We do recommend, however, that you explore the islands and see what’s waiting to come out and surprise you. Besides, wouldn't it be nicer and much more fun if you were to see, meet and mingle with different kinds of experiences? Well then, take your swimwear off and dive into the wonderful nature that awaits you!
If you wish to soak in the sun and see Mother Nature reveal herself in different forms, try Nature Tripping...go hiking, have a picnic! Remember, don't just walk the paths to beauty, bask in its atmosphere, listen to the birds and swishing branches of the trees, take pictures, bask in the wondrous Philippine Nature. While you’re at it, why not go Island hopping, so you can differentiate the several scenic views.
Still not satisfied? Why not take a bite? It's a favorite of many tourists...EATING DELICACIES! Don't just order from Room Service, get out of town and try the dishes the locals have to offer. Get a taste of their exotic but delectable food and you'll see that there's more to food in the Philippines than just restaurant cooking! You can even try cooking the dishes yourself and ask for useful cooking tips from one of the locals! Go ahead and try!
Why not be a local for a day?! No, we are not telling you to switch places rather we encourage you to mingle with them. You'll see that their not just rare and beautiful but warm hearted and kind as well.
Here's a tip: enjoy the local's festivities and activities! You'll love it! You'll enjoy watching their ways of celebrating and get to have a look of the different sights and sounds! We are telling you, don't waste your money spending a whole week under water! Enjoy! Then, you won't be just visiting the Philippine beaches but roaming Mother Nature's lair.
See, there's more to beaches than swimming! Discover the Philippine beaches' hidden secrets and then you can say you've been in and out of one. We are telling you, don't just swim...explore!
The Philippines has many great hotels where you can experience luxury and service. The oldest city of the Philippines is no exception to that rule and we are here to give you the Cebu Hotel Guide to show you that Cebu is not as old as it sounds like.
Let us start the Cebu Hotel Guide with one of the most famous and luxurious hotels in the world and in the Philippines; the Marriot Hotel Cebu. The Marriot Hotel Cebu is located right across the Ayala Mall and in the upscale district. This four star hotel has suites, ordinary rooms and presidential suites where you can enjoy the comfort and luxury that only Marriot can offer. The cost per night averages on a $130.
The next hotel in our Cebu Hotel Guide is going to be the Cordova Reef Village Resort Cebu. This resort is close to all the dive sites that you might want to travel too. This four star resort is located in the Mactan Island of Cebu on which one of Philippines international airports is located in. The Cordova Reef Village Resort Cebu has wonderful amenities great for relaxing or you can just lie around in the beach. The cost per night starts at around $150.
Another hotel in the Cebu Hotel Guide is one of Philippines business hotels called the Parklane International Hotel Cebu. This hotel is located right in the middle of the business district which makes this an ideal place to stay for travelling young professionals. This four star hotel has wellness centers and a fitness gym where you can sweat your stress out. The rate per night in this hotel ranges around $110.
The best three-star hotel in the Cebu Hotel Guide with the optimal location is the Midtown Hotel Cebu. This hotel is located directly above a supermarket and a shopping mall and is just a foot step away from restaurants, larger malls and the shopping districts of Cebu. The Midtown Hotel Cebu is yet another one of Philippines business hotels and the ambience remains classy and chic. You can dine in their glass restaurant that overlooks the shopping district of Cebu. The stay per night costs around $65.
The last hotel in the Cebu Hotel Guide is going to be the Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel Cebu. This is a four star hotel located in Cebu, Philippines and this hotel is situated along the white beaches of Cebu. This beach resort offers a spa, a pool area where you can sip your tropical cocktails and a great ambience. The stay per night in this hotel starts at around $110.
We hope that you have found the right hotel for you in Cebu, Philippines with the Cebu Hotel Guide. Enjoy the four and three star hotels that Cebu, the oldest city in the Philippines, has to offer.
Almost everything in Metro Manila is in a hurried pace. Even pedicabs (a manual tricycle with a sidecar) race each other to take in commuters. But it’s a different experience with the local Philippine calesa.
Inspired by the horse-drawn carriages of the Spanish elite in early times, Spanish-time Philippine transportation conceptualized the Philippine calesa. But it was a far cry from its Spanish counterpart which was elegant and more suited to the taste of Spanish elitism. The “carwaje” had stylish European features drawn by a handsome and decorated horse manned by a uniformed cavalier (just like the ones in Vigan and Fort Santiago in Manila), while this Filipino re-make was more suited for mass appeal, sometimes drawn by a small and sluggish potbellied horse driven by common folks.
Today, like the transformed Philippine jeepney and motored tricycle, this public Philippine transportation vehicle is overly dressed up and painted. From being a common side street makeshift vehicle that left a trace of horse filth along the way, the Philippine calesa is now one of the major tourist attractions in many places in the country. It is a major Philippine transportation sight in Zamboanga in the South of the Philippines, Vigan in Northern Luzon, and in Intramuros, Manila.
In the walled city of Intramuros, it is a thrilling experience to roam around the historic vicinity in a Philippine calesa. Once a visitor takes his seat in this Philippine transportation carriage, everything seems to stop. The fast city pace becomes arrested in a sudden nostalgic slow-paced tour of the walled city, taking one back to past times. For a tour fee of P250 or more (for a big group) a calesa trip will give the visitor a detailed inventory of the various historic sites in Intramuros. And coming from the calesa driver in the local dialect or in English, the P250 is a real bargain. These calesa drivers are no longer the Spanish-time common folks who plied the city route for a mere livelihood; these are well-trained tourist guides who can recite accurate details on the various sites plus a bonus of warm and enchanting public relations works. Drivers (and horses) of Philippine calesa in Intramuros can be so patient as to drop off and wait for tourists in certain Wall sites for picture taking and reflection. This Philippine transportation certainly adds tourism value to Intramuros.
The Philippine calesa is a vital legacy in Philippine transportation that benefits the tourism industry for all time. To miss riding them is to miss a part of the past.
Now here’s a Philippine Shell stew that will keep the taste buds stirred up. This native cuisine “Tahong” Stew is guaranteed to rouse appetite and the pangs of hunger in a ravenous mood.
Shellfish “tahong” is an affordable native sea food recipe available in all wet markets especially in summer. Buy only from reputable dealers for an edible and fresh variety. It is often sold per 2 or 3 liter-container can at a very reasonable price. For a can of “tahong” this is the list of ingredients of this native cuisine: two small bundles of sliced onion leaves, two small bundles of sliced “kinchay” leaves, a small bundle “malungay” leaves (cleared of small branches), a small bundle native chili “labuyo” leaves (cleared of small branches), a half fist of peeled and sliced ginger, 5 pieces minced garlic, 4 pieces peeled and sliced onion tubers, 3 cups water, 3 tablespoon cooking oil, and salt to taste. With these ingredients in hand, we’re ready to cook this native recipe.
Thoroughly wash the shell, about 3 times, with clean water. Pull out any wool sticking out from the shell, but be careful not to pull out the mussel. Crush small craters, if any, sticking to the shell. Wash one last round with clean water. Sauté garlic, ginger, and onion tubers in cooking oil until brown. Pour clean water and cover with lid. Boil this native cuisine.
When boiling, pour in shell and boil until mussels in the shell turn plump red. This often takes 1 to 2 minutes. Put in the rest of the ingredients and boil again for 1 to 2 minutes. This native recipe serves 5 to 6 people.
A variation of this native cuisine is to sauté the garlic, onion, and ginger till brown and then sauté the shell with them. After half a minute, with a little fish sauce (“patis”), pour a whole bottle of white, non cola softdrink or soda into the native recipe. After a minute, pour in the rest of the ingredients. This makes for a sweet, spicy, and pungent native seafood recipe, stew and mussel, that pleasantly tingles in the mouth.
This native recipe is best partnered with fried or grilled pork chops or fish, or beef. A matching native long chili crushed in a sauce of fish sauce (“patis”) adds to the delight.
This shellfish stew is a native cuisine that is fully spiced up and packed with leafy veggies to come up with a peculiar pungent flavor that makes mouths sampling for more.
Aside from water sports and other outdoor activities, Puerto Princesa offers another enjoyable activity that everyone will appreciate. Puerto Princesa shopping is something that we all need to do just before our vacation ends so that we have souvenirs to bring home to friends and family and as memorabilia of a great vacation.
The Iwahig Prison Colony is not a place where one should be afraid to go to. Though this is a penal institution, it is also one of the tourist attractions in Puerto Princesa. The prisoners that are able to mingle with the tourists are low security prisoners who are not threatening and during one’s tour, a guard is always around to accompany the visitors. The Iwahig Prison Colony is a community where prisoners are taught productive and legal ways to earn a living so as to rehabilitate them. Puerto Princesa shopping is incomplete without making a stop at the Iwahig Souvenir Shop where the items made by prisoners are sold.
There are actually two Iwahig Souvenir Shops within the premises of the Iwahig Prison Colony. One is found in the main receiving area and the other Iwahig Souvenir Shop is located by the natural pools. What’s good about this type of Puerto Princesa shopping is that even if one only has a very small budget for souvenirs, one will surely have enough to buy more than just two items. The items that are on display at the Iwahig Souvenir Shop are key chains, wooden ashtrays and figurines, hand made accessories such as necklaces and bracelets, pens and many other small items. Puerto Princesa shopping does not mean that one has to spend thousands because at the Iwahig Souvenir Shop, one can buy a souvenir item for as little as Php 15.
Since we’re talking about Puerto Princesa shopping and if one has a keen liking for handicrafts, another good stop is the Kamantian Handicraft. Similar to the Iwahig Souvenir Shop, there are many handicrafts for sale at this store and pretty much everything it sells is finely crafted. The Kamantian Handicraft’s focus is on Filipino culture and the ethnic tribes who have lived for centuries in the area. The members of the indigenous groups themselves sell their hand-woven items to the Kamantian Handicraft. Among the good finds here for one’s Puerto Princesa shopping are figurines, rainmakers, sticks made from mahogany and bamboo canes. Kamantian Handicraft is found on Rizal Avenue in the town proper of Puerto Princesa. The Kamantian Handicraft also sells many useful household items.
A fast advancing and popular tourist destination in the province of Bohol, Tagbilaran City plays home to numerous interesting hospitality service providers in the Philippines. To help travelers have a wonderful and remarkable vacation in the city, there are Tagbilaran hotel guides that they can use to look at the special features of hospitality service providers in the area. Most of the hotel guides offer basic information on the hotels such as their star ratings, facilities, as well as accommodation rates. In this way, tourists can easily decide, which of the hotels suit their budgets and needs.
Star Ratings in Tagbilaran Hotel Guides
For the sake of travelers and vacationers in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, who consider the performance and quality of service of hospitality service providers, they can always look at the star ratings in Tagbilaran hotel guides. For those who prefer to sleep in elegant guestrooms, they can always check in in any of the four-star and three-star hospitality service providers in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, which include Bohol Tropics Resort, The MetroCentre Hotel and Convention Center, as well as Hotel La Roca. However, for those who do not have ample budget to stay in these hotels, they can always stay in two-star and one-star hotels that are commonly featured in Tagbilaran hotel guides like Winward Pension House, Villa Alzhun Tourist Inn, and El Portal Inn.
Facilities and Accommodation Rates of Hotels in Tagbilaran City, Philippines
To those who prioritize the facilities of hotels when choosing places to stay in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, they can refer to Tagbilaran hotel guides because these feature amenities available in Tagbilaran hospitality service providers. For people who want to stay in hotels that have dining and leisure amenities, they can reserve rooms at The Meridian Hotel, Wregent Plaza Hotel, and Gie Gardens Hotel. On the other hand, for those who are content with hotels that have standard amenities but affordable room rates, they can check out the rooms at any of these lodges and pension houses; Charisma Lodge, Villa Camilla Pension House, and Slim Pension House.
Tagbilaran travel guides are surely helpful to everyone who has plans of spending their vacations in the city. By using or referring to these guides, individuals can plan their trips to Tagbilaran City, Philippines well. Additionally, they can also manage their budgets well, since they can have a look at the estimated rates of hospitality service providers. Above all, they can easily locate the places where they want to stay because the guides also provide information on the exact location of these places.