PHILIPPINES TRAVEL DESTINATION

MANILA

 Manila, is the capital of the Philippines and one of the municipalities that comprise Metro Manila. The city is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on Luzon, the country's largest island.

Manila is the hub of a thriving metropolitan area home to over 10 million people. The Metro Manila area also known as the National Capital Region (NCR), of which the City of Manila is a part, is a much bigger metropolis consisting of 17 cities and municipalities.

Manila is the second most populous city proper in the Philippines, with more than 1.5 million inhabitants. Only nearby Quezon City, the country's former capital, is more populous.

BORACAY

Boracay is one of our favourites places to visit in the Philippines.

There is no airport on Boracay but you have two options when flying from Manila.

You can fly from Manila to Caticlan which has a small narrow landing strip which limits the size of planes. The advanatge of flying to Caticlan though is that it is close to Boracay and it only requires a short boat ride to reach "paradise".

Alternatively you can fly to Kalibo, the capital of Aklan. However from Kalibo it will take you approximately 1.5 hours by bus followed by a 15 minute boat ride to reach Boracay.

I must admit we have only utlised the Caticlan airport because the thought of a long bus ride does not appeal to us.

On Boracy getting around is relatively easy with many facilities within walking distance of your accomodation. There are always plenty of pedicabs and mororised tricycles available for hire if required.

Boracay is seven kilometers long and divided into three barangays, or communities. Yapak lies in the north, Balabag in the center and Manoc-Manoc in the south. Within these barangays are smaller villages such as Angol, Manggayad and Bolabog.

White Beach, Boracay's biggest tourist attraction, stretches some four kilometers on the western side of the island, mostly within the barangay of Balabag. It is largely because of the pristine, white powdery sand of White Beach and the crystal-clear blue water of the surrounding sea that Boracay is often called "the world's most beautiful tropical island."

Understandably hotels on White Beach attract the most guests. We thoroughly enjoy staying at Friday's at the northern ednd of White Beach.

Hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and dive shops line the entire length of the meandering footpath. This is where visitors to the island come to see and be seen.

Until early February the short boat trip to Boracay arrived at one of three stations along White Beach. This is no longer possible because of new laws designed to limit the amout of traffic at White Beach.

MACTAN ISLAND

Mactan Island Cebu, located about 1 hour south of Manila by plane is one of the reasons this area is called, Pearl of the South. Hosting not only world class 5-Star resorts, easily accessible by its International Mactan Airport, the island is home for the cities of Lapulapu City,Pusok, and Basak. Cebu City is only a short drive away as well as Mandaue being accessible across either of the two bridges which connect to the island.