Negros

It was an early rise on the 20th October 2009 to catch the 6.00am ferry. we went across to Dumaguete on the island of Negros. We had a Philippines Airways flight booked to Clarke on the main island of Luzon, however before we went to the airport we had a lovely breakfast in Dumaguete sitting outside looking back across to Siquijor which  unknown to me at the time would become a regular destination. After breakfast we loaded two trikes with all our luggage and headed for the very small airport.

We stayed at our next destination for two nights before getting a taxi back to Manila and our flight home to the UK.

What a wonderful experience and a great time I had.

Coral Cay

On arrival on Siquijor a local took us to the hotel or I should say resort of Coral Cay. What a smile this put on my face. My room was right on the sandy beach. Just look at the sunset viewed from my room. In my opinion Siquijor is simply paradise. We stayed here two nights. We did some relaxing on the day of arrival and the next day hired motorbikes and went on a trip around this small island.

Siquijor, an island believed to have risen from the ocean in an immense storm is also considered the land masked with mysteries and unusual religious beliefs. The Spanish called it the Fire Island or Isla del Fuego. Black art is a famous practice for most people in the island, where many of them take pride in their mystical powers. During holy week, several rituals combined with Christian faith are performed to enhance their supernatural skills.

Small boat to Siquijor

On the 18th October 2009 we decided not to take the ferry but hired a local boat owner to take us on the three hour journey to the island of Siquijor. This was such a great experience. Lucky the sea was calm, otherwise it might not have been so good.

It was such a beautiful hot and calm day, we even saw a dolphin.

Bohol and Panglao

On the 16th October 2009 we decided to take a ferry from Cebu to the island of Bohol. This stops at the port of Taglibaran and the journey was long enough to watch the film on board; Scooby doo 2.

We took a taxi on arrival and drove to an Island called Panglao which is accessed via a road bridge to the south of Bohaol. We stayed here for two nights.

On the 17th October 2009 we hired a taxi and took a trip around Bohol to see a few of the famous sights.

The Chocolate Hills were a spectacular sight as were the smallest known primate seen on my arm called the tarsier. We had lunch on a small boat trip along the Lobot River which is just a wonderful experience as the boat stops to watch locals sing and dance.

Cebu

We arrived in Cebu on 13th October 2009. We stayed for three nights at a great hotel called Kiwi Lodge in Cebu City. Cebu City is a very busy city and is located on the central eastern part of Cebu Province, an island at the center of the Visayas in Southern Philippines.

The day after arriving we hired a taxi for the day and simply asked him to take us over the mountains and just stop as and when we ask so we could see the views and take photographs. This was a really good day. Seeing life away from the main city.

Arrived in Manila

We arrived in Manila at 11.00pm, 12th October 2009. I was just so amazed at how busy the roads were. The taxi ride from the airport to the hotel seemed to take ages and it was only about 8 miles. The next morning I went out to get some money and experience Manila by day. It was very hot, very noisy and very busy. We use indicators to pass cars in the UK, it seems in the Philippines they use their car horn. This was just a short stay at the Oxford Suites Hotel as we had to go back to he airport for a domestic flight on Cebu Pacific Airways to the Island of Cebu.

My first trip

In October 2009 I travelled to the Philippines. This was my first visit there. My itinerary included five islands:
Luzon, Cebu, Bohol, Panglao, Siquijor and Negros
It was an experience that was so good. The people are so friendly and the scenery was so nice. Just seeing a totally different culture and way of life was so interesting. This photo was taken from my hotel room in Cebu. Flying home from this holiday I started to plan my next trip.

Philippines

The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelago in South East Asia composed of 7,107 islands. It is blessed with rich natural resources and miles of beautiful beaches. For almost 400 years, the Philippines was a colony of Spain, ceded to the U.S. in 1898, occupied by the Japanese during World War II & was liberated by the Americans in 1945. In July 4, 1946, the Philippines was given independence by the U.S. and the Republic was born.