Blogs from Philippines, Asia - page 323

Today I climbed Mt. Pinatubo. For those that don't remember its an active volcano that exploded back in April of 1991, and its still active... just not blowing up anymore. The trek up starts with a 4x4 ride through the lahar on all the old volcanic ash. You then hike about 2 hours up a river valley until you reach the crater rim, which is now filled with a lake. My guide told me that while the river was now a valley after the eruption it the valley floor was much higher, almost filled to the top with ash. But what is more important to me than actually climbing Pinatubo was how I managed to do it. This is why you budget travel and even more do it alone. I was told to expect to pay ... read more

The air con bus to Banaue was more arctic than air con. At one point I was dreaming of those little airplane blankets, all I had was my fleece. Next air con bus I take I'm putting on every piece of warm clothing I can find with me. But it worked out, we arrived in Banaue just in time to see the sunrise and to be hassled by tricycle http://www.travelblog.org/Admin/edit-entry.htmldrivers... either to take me into town or out to the Junction so I could hike to Bataad. We ended up renting a Jeepney with the Germans (Norbert and his girls Claire, and Colleen, I think). Oh yeah, we is Glenn and I. We met in the Hostel in Manila and both just happened to be going to Banaue to see the rice terraces and do some ... read more

I never really thought that Tagaytay would be an interesting place to go. I mean, I've been there several times, but mostly for school retreats (Catholic school's way to make you reflect), picnics, or just a weekend sleepover. Overlooking Taal Volcano, the province provides most city-dwellers a weekend getaway. Being two hours away from smoke filled Manila, it offers clean, crisp and cool breathing air and scenic spots to unwind from the daily stresses of the metro. Tagaytay for me was nothing more than a place to relax. Nothing interesting. It’s a trivial, easily accessed, one-day affair nonchalant province. But this year, along with some of my friends (Iyay the designated driver, Arvin our little boy, and Aisa who ate most of the ginger bread cookies), I saw a different side of the province. It was ... read more

Ok, are you ready. My thoughts on Hong Kong and Manila. They are really big cities. Hong Kong is amazingly clean, Manila not so much. That pretty much sums it up. I've determined that I'm not a city person. Funny after 10 years in Atlanta. But to just show up in a big city.... what do you do, where do you go. It will be interesting to see how or if that changes as the trip goes on. But for now I spent most of yesterday planning on how I was going to get out of the city. Manila does have some interesting charm. Everyone is constantly warning you about pickpockets and to be careful. That was all Miguel would say. That is the guy at met at 6:30AM yesterday morning because I couldn't sleep and ... read more

Sorry I didn't get a chance to ge on the internet in the past few days. It's been quite a hectic trip! The night we got home from boracay we all just relaxed. We were all a bit tired from the crazy boat trip (or at least I was). Millie trated me to a manicure and pedicure (round 3) at the parlor around the corner from my Tita Mila's it was a whopping P120 (thats $2 and some change). And that included tip. I will be back in that salon before I leave. My cousins said "When you wake up in the morning and don't like your color just walk over there and have it changed!" When they were living there they said they would go every other day - why not, it's so cheap! We ... read more