Monday, January 22, 2007

Day 102. Manila. Final thoughts on our stay in the Philippines.

We're off to Singapore bright and early tomorrow, but before we go, a few musings on all things Philippino...

WE LIKED

Feeling the sunshine on our backs after nippy New Zealand.
Climbing el nido 6
The people: Warm, helpful, always smiling.
Batad whippersnappers 1
The scenery: From gorgeous beaches to dramatic limestone cliffs and islands, from tropical rainforests to the unforgettable rice terraces.
beach el nido 3
The price of a pint: Peanuts. Food, flights and accommodation similarly superb value.
Hard at work, flwer island
Jeepneys: Couldn't have managed without them in the end.
and another two

WE WEREN'T SO KEEN ON

The stray dogs: Flea-bitten, rabid, noisy and - without exception - extremely unfriendly.

Roadside butchery: No need for abattoirs here, just get your knife out and kill your dinner. Not really what you want to see just before lunch.

Litter: A bit of civic pride wouldn't go amiss. Reminded us of London at times.

Karaoke: The joke wears a bit thin after a while.

Roaches inside the mosquito net: Only happened the once, but left a big impression on the missus.

Speaking of which...Mosquitoes. We bloody hate them.

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So it's fair to say, the Pro's far outweigh the Con's, and we'd certainly recommend a holiday here to anyone. The scenery is genuinely outstanding, and it is one of those rare places where it's possible to combine a nice bit of beach action with something a little more adventurous.
On the boat to Malapascua
Yet for every tourist who visits the Philippines, there are 12 who head to Thailand, and somehow that just seems plain wrong. OK, the infrastructure isn't quite in place yet, and getting about can be frustratingly slow, but to our mind, that simply adds to its charm.
BRT 10
Yes, it's been an absolute pleasure.
BRT 11

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