Why You Should Explore Philippines

I remember an old saying from a tourist about the Philippines, “She doesn’t give you any reason to go, but once you’re here, she would give you a lot of reasons to stay.” The Philippines has been out of sync from her other Southeast Asian neighbors for quite some time. She has been under the radar of the mainstream backpacking crowds for decades as well. But that doesn’t mean the country has nothing to offer for the traveling crowd, how’s 7,107 islands for a start?

Lonely Planet branded the Philippines as, “One of the great treasures of Southeast Asia, often overlooked by travelers because of its location on the ‘wrong’ side of the South China Sea.”

National Geographic named her as, “One of the best trips for 2010.”

Underwater Times reported, “Some 100 scientists have declared the Philippines as the world’s ‘center of marine biodiversity’ - not the Great Reef Barrier off east Australia - because of its vast species of marine and coastal resources, according to the World Bank.”

Those are just some feedback from travel authority around the globe. Flip will be naming some of the reasons why YOU should travel in the Philippines.

Let’s start with…

The Islands

(Bais Sandbar, Negros)

The Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world, cradling around 7,107 islands. A lot of islands are uninhabited due to its size and lack of freshwater for some. Island hopping is one of the favorite past time of locals or foreign tourists alike. If you don’t like the island that you’re currently in, you still have 7,106 to choose from. How’s that for an option? LOL

The Beaches

(Moalboal, Cebu)

The country has white sand and black sand beaches and for those who still don’t know it, a pink sand beach known as the Great Sta Cruz Island. The most famous beach in the Philippines would probably be Boracay where people gather in massive numbers to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. If you’re not a fan of big crowds, there are so many other beaches to go to (7,107 islands remember, LOL).

The Flora and Fauna

Flickr Photo by Christian

The Philippines lack big game land animals such as what they have in Africa. But, what we lack in land animals is compensated with an over abundance of marine animals. Are you thinking of swimming with the whale sharks for less than $10 in Donsol? How about seeing one of the world’s smallest primates in Bohol? For flower lovers out there, Philippines is also home to a lot of orchids and other species.

The City

Flickr Photo by DucDigital

Metro Manila may not be as megalopolis as Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore or Hong Kong. But Manila is the city that still has the charm of its colonial roots. One thing not to be missed, is the world famous Manila Bay Sunset and of course, the undisputed Manila nightlife!!!

The People

English is the second language in the Philippines, most people may not have that ‘twang’ or English accent that westerners have, but you’ll definitely find it easy to communicate with Filipinos in comparison to other Asian neighbors.

The Philippines greatest asset though is beyond what your eyes can see. It’s the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino culture towards guests and visitors local or foreign alike. It’s one thing that a lot of visitors find unique and memorable during their stays in the country.

Here are some of my favorite Filipino travel bloggers that you might wanna check out. They have lots of information about different places in the Philippines.

http://www.ironwulf.net/

http://justwandering.org/
http://langyaw.com/

http://www.backpackingphilippines.com/

http://www.ivanhenares.com/

http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/

http://www.fliptravels.com/
http://nomadicexperiences.blogspot.com/

http://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/
http://www.pinaytraveljunkie.com/

http://jerik76raverz.blogspot.com/

Click Here for more Filipino Travel Blogs...