800-Meter Palawan Over-Water Zip Line Ride - Puerto Princesa Manlipien Beach Jungle Trail Peak

WATCH: 800-meter over-the sea fantastic zip line of Puerto Princesa Palawan!

There are lots to do in Palawan and when in the capital, Puerto Princesa, there's one trip a tourist should not miss - the St. Paul Subterranean (Underground) River tour. Because it's a trip that's world famous, there's a waiting time of a few hours. To while away the time, you will be given the option by your tour guide to either ride the 800-meter long zip line or take a boat and row among the mangroves that grow near the protected Manlipien Beach area. Most of the adventurous ones choose the zip line. It's a long ride and takes you over the waters of the Sulu Sea like the wings of a bird. To get there, you will take a short hike along a primeval beach, then go up the side of a mountain thickly covered by an ancient forest. At the top, there's a zip line platform where you will be treated to an amazing view of the shore, the sea, and distant mountains!

This zip line isn't scary at all, though the thought of hanging by a cable for short of a minute (my estimate) can give you butterflies in your stomach. Once you're there (hike up the mountain in a dense primeval forest) and you soak in the awesome view and see kids as young as seven taking the ride, then whatever apprehension you might have would likely dissipate with the wind. It's not everyday that you get to ride an 800-meter zip line over water, so when you do get the chance to visit the Underground River of Puerto Princesa Palawan in The Philippines, do so. You will feel alive and if you're lucky, have a zen-like experience. Oh, and there's also a treat on the tiny island below, which is your destination. It's a very primordial island with layered rock formations that are probably more than 20 million years old, if you would consider the gelogical history of the area.

BUY on AMAZON:
Lonely Planet Philippines (Travel Guide) Paperback – June 1, 2015 by Lonely Planet (Author),‎ Michael Grosberg (Author),‎ Greg Bloom

Punta de Fabian Resort in Baras, Rizal Has Great View of Laguna de Bay

Rizal is one big place. It's not exaclty a province separate from Metro Manila, since a big part of it is still well within the urban sprawl of the metropolis, but the fringes are pretty much rural. Lots of resorts are in Rizal and most of them are set either high in the hills or near Laguna Lake (Laguna de Bay). The lake itself is not fit for swimming because it is murky with lots of fish pens. However, the lake does provide a great view (top) and many tourists will find this a good alternative to Tagaytay where Taal lake is viewed.

Shown are portions of Punta de Fabian resort in Baras, Rizal which is a part of Tanay. It is small and is on top of a small and rocky hill. You will need a powerful engine to get to the top since there is a very steep but brief climb after you pass the guardhouse. There are two swimming pools (one small; another an infinity-type) and quaint cottages, most of which have great views. It's ideal for weekend trips with the family and corporate trainings, workshops, seminars, and team-building. The management is courteous and will go out of their way to help out clients with their needs.

The resort has facilities for indoor sports like darts, table tennis, and billiards in the game room. Conference rooms are convenient and spacious and are a short walk to the dining area where clients get treated to packaged European-style meals (below). There is also a videoke bar to release your hidden singing talents. When it rains, it pays to be careful when walking on tiled steps and the mud, both of which can get very slippery.

Giniling (Philippine picadillo) recipe

100 resorts in the PHILIPPINES: PLACES WITH A HEART

Rambutan Fruit Sold on Street in The Philippines

Here are rambutan fruits sold on the street in the Philippines. These were discovered to be of good quality and sweet in spite of the seemingly unripe color. Sold by a young boy, the Rambutan fruit is plentiful come August in the Philippines and much can be found on the street even when not near any public market. Along roadsides, the Rambutan can also be found in makeshift stalls from which sellers flag down travellers. Usually, Rambutan buyers are given a free taste before buying.

Fresh Rambutans (5lb)

Noah's Ark Attracts Tourists in Lucban Quezon

There's a concrete replica of Noah's Ark in Lucban, Quezon, in The Philippines. It's part of the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center of Father Joey Faller, a Catholic healing priest who found his true calling in life as a servant of God after he discovered that he can heal people of many illnesses. After an accident which caused the last finger of one of his hands to curl permanently, he set out to fulfill his destiny to heal people, and eventually established the Center with a church and Bible-themed park for those in search of healing through God.

The Ark of Noah is just one of the many attractions of the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center, with the main one being the Grotto with the 50-foot monument of Jesus Christ at the top of a hill. Noah's Ark is really a building with an exterior made to resemble the ancient boat where Noah's family took refuge from the Great Flood along with pairs of animals. At the time these photos were taken, it was still under construction.

The Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center is found in Lucban, Quezon. Those interested can read more about it in this article:

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church

God Keeps His Promises Wall Noah and the ark Cross

Have you ever wished you could build your own giant Noah's Ark? You really don't need much! All you have to do is order this Giant Noah's Ark floor jigsaw puzzle. It's cheap!

Mayon Volcano Greets Air Travelers to Legaspi City in Bicol

What could be a better greeting for air travelers to the Bicol region in the Philippines than being greeting upon landing in Legaspi City airport, by majestic Mayon Volcano? Yes, locals say the volcano shows it's whole beauty very rarely as it is often shrouded in clouds. Consider yourself lucky to get a glimpse of it's smoking crater as your airplane lands. The name Mayon comes from the local term for beautiful, maayon.

Sometimes, the pilot will fly close to the peak and will announce that you can take a peek out the windows (usually on the left) to get a really close look at the summit of Mayon Volcano. It's active, so you'll be treated to while smoke and gas coming out of its crater. You will also be able to see the blackish lava flow that has hardened coming down the slopes. During eruptions, the crater spews rolling balls of exploding lava and it can be a spectacular sight from the ground! Upon landing, you will be able to see Mayon on the right side, but it will be much farther away (top; left).

Please click on the images for a bigger picture!

1915 Photogravure Mayon Volcano Active Albay Luzon Philippines Landscape YTMM1 - Original Photogravure

St. Joseph Church Thrives along Busy Aurora Boulevard

The St. Joseph Church and Shrine in Quezon City in the Philippines thrives in spite of the fact that it is in front of congested and polluted Aurora Boulevard. Visitors there will be amazed at how the shiny altar is kept maintained with the metal adorning it still gleaming despite the corrosive pollution from the road. The huge stained glass windows along the sides and rear make it seem that the church is somewhere peaceful and far from the urban din outside. When the choir is singing, the noise from the jeepneys and other vehicles outside are reasonably subdued.

At the time these photos were taken, a priest was conducting a healing session with parishioners. In spite of the long lines, the priest did not hurry his prayers or rushed the faithful along.He gave each one the honor of his time in healing. The scheduled days for healing are one of the reasons why this church is a very popular place of worship. It's right in the middle of a commercial district where commuters and pedestrians frequently pass and the noise and smell of exhaust from the street can be distracting. Nevertheless, church goers still consider it a good church to hear mass in.

 

The Silent Sentinel: San Pablo Apostol de Cabagan Church Reveals 300 Years of Secrets of the Philippines

Popular Vegetable Stall in Taytay Market

There’s this vegetable star in a corner of the Taytay public market in Rizal that’s a favorite of vegetable buyers. It’s tucked in a lonely and less crowded corner of the market where few buyers go, but for those in the know, the prices of vegetables here are actually lower than what’s set by the other stalls. It’s near the fish stalls (left), so it’s not that hard to find.

If you happen to be buying your food at the Taytay palengke, then why not drop by this stall and see what cheap veggies you can buy for your lunch or dinner meal. The walk to the stall may be muddy, but it may be worth it, if you want lower prices. Note that the stall may move in time, so if it is not there, you may look around and simply compare prices before buying. It may take more time, but that’s just the way to go to get the best products that money can buy in a market in the Philippines.

  

Filipino Kitchen Library (Salads & Vegetables)

Antipolo Hills Sunrise Photo

Have you ever wondered what the sunrise looks over the hills of Antipolo in Rizal (Philippines)? Sometimes, you can be too busy flowing with the morning rush that you simply don't care anymore. Otherwise, you just don't get the benefit of a good view of the sunrise with all the houses and buildings around you.

For those who haven't taken the time to look and for those who are simply curious to see a sunrise over the Antipolo Hills, then here are two pictures you may want to look at. These were taken in the rainy season, which should have lessened the haze, but as you can see there's still what appears to be a sheet of pollution that makes the sun look a bit red even during sunrise. It is usually yellow if the sky is clear.

Ghost hunting in Antipolo? Tips on how to use your digital camera to take photos of ghosts.

 

Gaming Mouse Pad with sunscape image from Antipolo, Philippines

Fish Stalls in Wet Market of Taytay Rizal

Wet markets (palengke) in the Philippines have a strange appeal. You don't really want to be there yet somehow, the experience enriches and energizes you. Even if you have no business there, you get the feeling that you've been to a carnival - like a kid who goes out on a holiday.

Crowded, hot, wet, and dirty - you'd get dark mud all over your feet if you don't walk carefully, you can't help but to soak in everything in a wet market, especially in the fish section, where everything's abuzz with activity. Tourists rarely ever visit the wet markets of the Philippines but it can be quite an experience and you get to see the things that people buy to put on the dinner table. You'll see lots of interesting things - fresh fish can literally leap out of their basins looking for an escape, but of course the store owner is there to keep them secure.

If you are a tourist and wish to experience the wet markets of the Philippines like the one shown here in Taytay, Rizal, then be prepared to wear light clothing, sandals, and avoid carrying bags that snatchers, slashers, and snatchers will find attractive. Do ask a local whom you know and trust to accompany you. When in the market, it's best to just keep walking unless you intend to buy something. Otherwise, you will be bumped by so many people you'll end up like a soaked rag.You'll end up sweaty, muddy, and smelly, but you get to experience something only in the Philippines.

Cream Dory fish Iriga-style sinigang recipe 

 

Century Tuna Flakes in Vegetable Oil 180 grams (Pack of 12)

Emerald Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Iriga, Camarines Sur, Bicol Offers Panoramic View

In Iriga, in Camarines Sur in the Bicol region in the Philippines, there's a hill called Calvario. It is where the Emerald Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Iriga can be found. During the Tinagba festival held in February, the first harvests of the season are offered here. In Lent, a crucifixion play is held here.

There is a convention center at the foot of the grotto and a hotel. You can go to the top of the grotto after severl flights of stairs. At the top is an altar, which reminds you of the altar of a church. The statue of the Virgin Mary is to the right, set in the concrete wall. Below the altar is where tourists and locals usually congregate to socialize and to experience the grand view of Mt. Iriga and a few distant mountains, including the famous Mt. Mayon in Legaspi City.

The grotto is accessible through two big gates. If the one beside the hotel is closed, visitors will have to go around to enter from the other side. A guard goes around every once in a while, but the security usually cannot keep up with the activities of people going up to the altar, where debris accumulates. Near dusk,  the lights are switched on which allows the grotto to be a visible emerald gem from a distance.

 

The Secret of Fr.Ludovico Acernese (1835-1916) Diocesan Priest Padua, OFM Cap. / Rediscovering his Historical-Spiritual Journey / Claretian Publications 

Biggs Restaurants in Bicol Feature Collectible Wall Exhibits

If you're looking for a fastfood chain in Bicol, then you won't miss Biggs. Biggs is just one of the most prominent restaurants/diners in Bicol where you can get the usual diner meals like chicken and rice, spaghetti, burgers, and delicious pastries. Bigss is everywhere in Bicol with branches from north to south. Eating at Biggs is an interesting experience because of it's quaint mid-20th-century-inspired interiors with antique collectibles displayed on the walls.

The branches provide a different experience for diners with the different pieces on display. A branch can be like a museum of modern artifacts. Shown below displayed on a second floor of a diner are miniature motorcyles. These can be found in the branch in Legaspi city near the airport. The signs on the walls (top; above-left) are also interesting to look at and are reminiscent of rock and roll designs from the nineteen fifties. The diner appears designed to cater to a young and hip crowd, but it's also popular to the oldies - maybe it reminds them of the old days.

 

The Philippines and International Restaurants Food Recipes