Favourite tourist attaraction?

[Tawi2]

Whats your favourite tourist attraction in Pinas?Chocolate Hills?Banaue Rice Terraces?Mayon?Boracay?Hibok-Hibok volcano?Underground river?I have seen them all,some are overrated,others like the Chocolate hills and mayon are truly beautiful,but my fave is Mt Apo,whats yours?(I hope no-one says MOA:icon_lol:).

[Englishman2010]

I haven't seen them all yet. So far I've seen Bohol (Lobok River and Choc Hills, Alona beach on Panglao Island), Boracay, Puerto Galera and Mansalay and Boktod Beach in South West Oriental Mindoro, and of course the Metro Manila area.

I'll be doing Tagaytay and Taal Lake and Palawan in a few weeks time, and poss Pampanga if I have time?

My favorite so far is probably Bohol, but for a beach holiday Boracay is hard to beat, especially Puka Beach. Maybe my opinion will change after I've seen Palawan:)

[Tawi2]

Oddly enough Boracay was one place I thought was over-rated,used to be decent enough but nowadays with the Henna tattoo'ists and tie-dye it is a pale imitation of a number of Thai islands,Panglao is great,but there are some really good beaches in Pinas which dont get massive amounts of visitors and dont charge western prices for a pizza or charge a pollution-tax before you visit them.One place I visited years ago which I would love to visit again but never got the name for and dont even know its precise location is a tiny sand spit which absolutely stank of rotten shellfish,its near tong-tong,I remember that much,the badjao used it as a shell drop-off/collection point,not your average tourist place but I wouldnt mind having a rummage around the large piles of shells dumped around the place,back then we just stopped there to eat and rest for a few hours.

[jimeve]

Hot springs in Camiguin, loved the place,
was in that long I came out all wrinkly:icon_lol:

[Tawi2]

Camiguin really should be pronounced come-again,because its one of those boomerang places thats always a pleasure to return to ;)

[Englishman2010]

I know what you mean about Boracay, Tawi. It is over priced and probably over rated, but if you want a nice easy holiday, everything is there. I do like it though, and will probably go back in 2011 or 2012. Alona is a much smaller version, but poss a bit more up market and without the bargirls and disco's. There seemed to be a good number of Brit divers in Alona when I was there back in Jan 2010. Puerto Galera, has a shabby chic look about it, like it was in it's prime 20 years ago but no one has bothered to tidy it up since, it also seems to be a magnet for transexual bar workers. I don't mind the odd one, but when you get served by one in every bar and restaurant you go to, the camp voice and over acting start to wear a bit thin.
Boktod beach near Mansalay, in O.Mindoro was a fantastic beach - beautiful sands, no shacks, no shops, just a couple of beach huts for visitors to picnic in, and it was deserted until me and about 20 of my g/fs relatived turned up in a hired jeepney:xxgrinning--00xx3:
Still so much more of the Phil's to see and not enough time or money

[Sim11UK]

Tourist attraction? :Erm: Well I guess I would say Boracay, as we went there on my first trip. I really liked the beach...I'd be happy doing henna tattoos all day to tourists, whilst Ladybug sold handmade jewellery. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Alona beach on Panglao, is perfect for eating by candlelight, with someone special.

[gWaPito]

The wife and I would say it's Coron, Palawan. Breath taking flight approach. Green fields just like what we have in Wiltshire. A world away from Manila.

[bornatbirth]

my fave is Mt Apo

no thx :icon_lol:

[Tawi2]

You want to try it,decent enough trek,I felt like Edmund Hillary(minus the sherpas),I have also done the highest peak(cant really call it a mountain to be honest)in south-east asia Mt Kinabalu,always wanted to try Everest but the 20-25k price-tag,and the fact I have had mild altitude sickness before(due to not acclimatising,flew up to skardu from islamabad)and my cardio is shot to s**t nowadays combined to deter me,got to be better than shopping-malls and sitting on a beach hasnt it :Erm:;)

[alanmf1]

I highly recommend some rather unknown beaches in Bohol. Anda Beach on the far south east corner of the main island and Ananyana on the south west corner of Panglao.
I havent sampled Boracay as yet and would like to do so but the commercialism:NoNo: does not excite me too much!
As Sim says there is much too explore with such a large Archipelago i feel we will always be exploring!:)
Again so long as my Mahal is my guide all will be favourite attractions!:crazy:

The Natural waterfalls at Mag-Aso are also work a look.......
Rgds:Wave:

[stevewool]

only been the once to the phils so all i have seen was great the streets in manila was a site to see, borocay too was amazing seeing it from a boat while going round the island was like paradise, teal volcano what a trip down the mountain to get to the lake on a motorbike and sidecar, then onto the lake, but best of all the food we had when we came back off the boat all cooked and just loking great, then the trip back up the mountain at dusk what a ride what a memory, hope to have lots more soon, but each day was a great day if you had the best guide and she was the best , i married her :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[KeithD]

The exit gate :laugher:

[Doc Alan]

Congratulations Tawi2 for posting an imaginative thread, relevant to the forum, surely of interest to everyone :xxgrinning--00xx3:.
I first visited the Philippines in 1978, while seconded to Universiti Malaya from the UK to teach medical students. But I soon realised there was more to see than Manila hospitals, although the welcome I received from the doctors made that part of the trip memorable, especially the Heart Center for South East Asia. Taal Lake, the Pagsanjan falls, Manila Bay ( MOA had not been built then), Rizal Park and Intramuros were among those early memories.
It took me a long time to return, but I never forgot the Philippines. Why ? The people, above all else !
In May this year the memorable places I visited were Bohol ( Chocolate Hills and River cruise) , Talisay in Cebu, and - surprisingly - Zirkoh, Greenhills, San Juan because there I met Aegis Band.
No matter where I mention, it's the friendship of the people I was with which absolutely made it memorable for me !
Thanks again for a thread which should make us all happy :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Still only visited a few places in Phils. But have enjoyed them all.
But must say I was really impressed with Bohol. Especially Chocolate Hills and surrounds.

I would agree with other comments about Boracay, it is in my opinion now over over commercialised. But I do still enjoy the place for a weekend break. Prefer Panglao though.

A couple of years ago we toured around Ilocos Norte and really enjoyed that time.
Not much to say about Loag from a tourist point, but the surrounding area has some really nice and interesting places.

The historical Paoay Church is a nice place to go and well worth the visit.

There are plenty of white sand beaches at Pagudpud and again other interesting places to visit, such as the spectacular Kabigan Falls. Almost in a true rainforest.(probably the only one left in Phils)
You can swim there too in wonderful tranquility.

Fort Ilocandia Resort, is a five star hotel and casino. Bit expensive. Not so much to do really but plenty of unspoilt beaches around to explore.

Further south in Ilocos Sur, Vigan is quite an interesting and different place to visit
especially the old town.

Currently I am intrigued and excited by the sound of Camiguin. Very high on my list of
places to visit

[stevewool]

like you said Alan its the people that make your holiday, i loved watching people just sitting there and watching the world go buy, you see lots of pictures on tv but being there in the thick of it is so differant, most people said be carefull where we went in manila ,yes you have to be safe and not silly , always hide your money and dont take to much out donmt wear expensive items, i have not got anything expensive:icon_lol:, but i never ever felt threatened or did not like where we was ,

[rani]

sagada in the mountains of cordillera... its famous for its caves, forests, mysterious hanging coffins and the marvelous rice terraces :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Tawi2]

its famous for its...........Cannabis plantations ;) I love Sagada,its got a dark rep though,quite a number of westerners visit for the Baguio gold and suchlikes.

[Doc Alan]

most people said be carefull where we went in manila ,yes you have to be safe and not silly , always hide your money and dont take to much out donmt wear expensive items, i have not got anything expensive:icon_lol:
Of course that's true Steve - madaming manloloko sa mundo (many tricksters in the world) - I've had experience of scammers !
But my problem with my next visit is how to see all my true and trustworthy friends when they're in Luzon, Cebu, Bohol and Mindanao !
This is a great thread, it reminds me of why I joined the forum :xxgrinning--00xx3:.

[Terpe]

(I hope no-one says MOA:icon_lol:).

Sorry to disappoint you Tawi2 (and others no doubt)
Dare I just mention that I do enjoy a nice day at MOA, including lunch and dinner and a walk around Manila Bay just outside. Lots of interesting people watching too.
It's a day out for me almost every time I'm in Manila. Since i have a house in Marikina City that mean every time I go to Phils.
Yes, a nice tourist spot. :D

[Tawi2]

I was in MOA 2 weeks ago today,they have a great christmas tree and super decorations,but a mall is a mall is a mall,I prefer natural beauty,but the pinoys love MOA and no doubt one day it will be a national monument or have listed building status :icon_lol:

[Englishman2010]

Just for you Tawi :D This was from early Jan 2010

[stevewool]

lots to see and do in the moa, i enjoyed everday we had there and rizal park what a very nice place to sit and just watch the world go by, last time walking though the park, vera lynn was playing , made me smile and think what a great place , had afternoon tea at the manila hotel and another great time just people watching, i wish i was wealthy to do it many many times just like our friend Ian:icon_lol::icon_lol:

[Englishman2010]

haha, I'm not wealthy Steve:icon_lol: I've just decided that I'm putting myself first in my life and doing the things that I want to do before I'm past it :D

[stevewool]

thats the way to be Ian, our dreams will happen sooner or later

[Sim11UK]

This is a great thread, it reminds me of why I joined the forum :xxgrinning--00xx3:.

I would definately agree with that. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[bornatbirth]

even thou i have been several times i never really had the chance to sight see as most of my time was with the wife, only going to tagaytay and puerto galera as we lived in las pinas also subic which was on a very rainy day, i would like to spend 6 months just driving from town to town and see where that takes me, i did see a tv programme which was on a very remote island and the thought of just sitting on the bench letting the day drift away in paradise came to mind ....alas it would need to be near a mall as the wife doesnt do camping :D