tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249107902011-08-16T03:44:57.860+08:00philippine travelAn informational travelogue by an Aussie English Teacher living in the Philippines.
This is currently a work in progress, not all category is availiable. Please visit at a later date or email me and I'll try to provide the information you need.Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1148133482261339152006-05-20T21:54:00.000+08:002006-05-20T21:58:02.263+08:00Goverment and Political Situation in the PhilippinesIn a process that's part religious festival, part circus, the president of the Philippines is elected directly by the people for a six year term. The Philippines national government is based on a relatively young, constitutional, US-style model, headed by a president and vice-president. The political engine room is Congress, made up of a Senate (or Upper House) with 24 members and a House of Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1148133194474212942006-05-20T21:50:00.000+08:002006-05-20T21:53:14.476+08:00The Philippines FloraThe country's flora includes well over 10,000 species of trees, bushes and ferns, most of which are endemic to the Philippines. In spite of uncontrolled tree-felling in the 1980s, the islands of the Philippines are still covered with around 10% tropical rainforest, an impressive statistic for Asia. By a curious twist of fate, many forests -in Mindanao, Negros, Samar and Bohol owe their Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1148132361816303072006-05-20T21:34:00.000+08:002006-05-20T21:39:21.816+08:00Ecology and the EnvironmentBefore 1900 most of the land in the Philippin> was densely forested. A mere century later, half of this forest is gone. The battle to save what's left of the upland forests has begun, through indigenous land rights claims and new conservation policies, but there's stil1.enormous pressure on the government from both domestic and foreign land interests.The Department of Environment & Natural Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1148132018085488292006-05-20T21:31:00.000+08:002006-05-20T21:33:51.636+08:00Geography of the PhilippinesThe Philippines comprises more than 7000 islands and islets - depending on the tide which follow the edge of the Pacific plate. Together, they make up a land area of about 307,000 sq km, 94% of which is on the second largest islands. Most of the Philippine islands are volcanic in origin, something that becomes obvious when you look at the mountainous landscape. Other areas, such as the E1 Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1148131253089594992006-05-20T20:48:00.000+08:002006-05-20T21:20:57.843+08:00History of the PhilippinesThe remains of a skull found in a cave in Palawan, dubbed 'Tabon Man', date the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines back at least 22,000 years. Historical theories postulate that the Philippines was populated by waves of migrants from mainland South-East Asia, who are the ancestors of present-day Philippine's indigenous tribes. The first recorded Chinese expedition to the Philippines wasTobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1145259626368569862006-04-17T15:36:00.000+08:002006-04-17T15:40:26.366+08:00Visa and Passport - Visitors VisaVisitors with a passport from: USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada can stay in the Philippines for upto 21 days without needing to apply for a visa - provided you have a return or onward journey ticket. If possible try to get your visa at the Philippines Embassy in your country.Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1145259385266147112006-04-17T15:29:00.000+08:002006-04-17T15:36:25.266+08:00Transportation by Sea - Outrigger Boats, Motorboats and BangkasFor short trips between islands, Bangkas, outrigger boats or motorboats are used. Bangkas can also be hired cheaply if you want to go island hopping or to dive around the reefs.A Bangkas was used to go island hoppingduring our trip to Boracay. Be warned onthat during rough weather, you'll easily getsplashed sitting close to the front.Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1145258941830671292006-04-17T15:27:00.000+08:002006-04-17T15:29:01.830+08:00Transportation by Sea - Fast FerriesFor longer trips between island, you can take air conditioned fast ferries or catamarans. Fast ferrys such as Bullet Express, Delta Ferry Ocean Jet and Supercat mainly cover routes in and around the Visayas. These ferries are quite comfortable and usually have snacks, refreshements and video on board. A word of warning - they almost always have the air conditioning turned on full blast, so make Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1145258840019406312006-04-17T15:25:00.000+08:002006-04-17T16:09:39.900+08:00Transportation by Sea - Passeger ShipsBy far, many Pilippinos prefer island-to-island travel by boat.If you're traveling on a tight budget, scan for advertisements in the local newspaper, such as the Manila Times or the Philippines Daily Inquirer which regularly post cheap shipping deals.One way boat trips Manila-Boracay (Catician), starts at 900 pesos per person for a basic; economy room with air conditioning starts at 1300 pesos Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1144727641388219832006-04-11T11:09:00.000+08:002006-04-16T23:52:39.976+08:00IntramurosManila IntramurosIntramuros is a fortified colonial Spanish town located near Manila's Pasig River. A huge stone wall, originally built in 1590, surrounds Intramurous - making it an extremely well armed settlement area. During world war II, a section of Intramaurous - Fort Santiago, was turned into POW camp by the Japanese. Later during the war Fort Santiago was caught in heavy cross-fire Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1144216088279084452006-04-05T13:44:00.000+08:002006-04-17T15:20:39.263+08:00Food Guide - Danggit and DillisFood GuideDelicious crispy, fried dillis - todays lunch!Not the only thing to power up a pizza or hors d'oeuvres meal - anchovy and danggit can be used in a variety of ways in the Philippines. Dilis (anchovys) dipped in some sweet and sour type sauce was what I had for lunch today. Both Dillis and danggit (a small type of dried fish) is quite popular throughout the Philippines. Most dried fish Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1144045910683458942006-04-03T14:03:00.000+08:002006-04-03T14:35:38.126+08:00My two Phobias - Enochlophobia and SatanphobiaYesterday my wife and I went shopping at Landmark, a large shopping complex in Makati Business District. I usually hate shopping. Thats because I have a social phobia, commonly called Enochlophobia or the fear of large crowds. Symptoms typically associated with Enochlophobia includes irration and stress - at least those are the common symptoms for me. And shopping for me at least, brings on Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1143870195921028022006-04-01T13:03:00.000+08:002006-04-17T15:24:12.380+08:00Accommodation Review - Sleazy Motels in the PhilippinesPutting my wallet in the motel drawer, I discovered, to my amazement, dozens of glow-in-the-dark, fruit flavoured condoms. Hmm... looks like somebody had been doin' the naughty. I also couldn't put my finger on the strange pinkish-Japanese like design of our motel room. Tired as I was from the Manila-Cebu flight, I jumped into bed and started to flick through the cable ... and discovered toTobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24910790.post-1143569930003389982006-03-29T00:37:00.000+08:002006-04-17T15:12:03.650+08:00A Brief History of the PhilippinesHistory of the PhilippinesStilted houses, fishing villages, active volcanoes and fertile soils. These were the strange and exotic new sights that greeted Magellan and the five Spanish expedition ships that approached the island of Samar on March 16, 1521.As was the islands custom, Magellan and his men were warmly welcomed by the islanders and the two Rajas, Kolambu and Siagu. For Ferdinand Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667549822885381040noreply@blogger.com0