Miyerkules, Pebrero 1, 2012
Why the
Taal Volcano
complex is special
It is unique in this world because of the positions of its 5
components: Taal
Volcano, Taal Lake, Volcano Island, Crater Lake, and Vulcan Point.
To illustrate their bizarre relationships, view my animated diagram:
Taal Volcano
tips & insights
Near
Manila
Taal
is a popular day trip from Manila. It’s only 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. Taal
is also popular as a summer vacation retreat. The climate is cooler than in
Manila.
Climbing
A
must for adventure travelers is climbing Volcano Island. You take a half-hour
ride in a small boat to the island, then hike (30 to 45 minutes) or horseback
(20 to 25 minutes) up to the ridge for a breathtaking view of Crater Lake.
When
to come, what to wear
During
summer, the sun beats down relentlessly – and there are no shade trees on the
trail to the summit. So plan
an early morning start – and wear sun screen and a broad-rimmed hat.
If
you
are not bent on
climbing Volcano Island
Visit the town of Tagaytay located
on the ridge of Taal Volcano. It has outstanding panoramic views of Taal Lake
and Volcano Island.
Tubbataha Reef
Why the
Tubbataha Reef
is special
The Tubbataha (too-bah-tah-hah’) Reef in the remote center of the Sulu Sea is
one of the world’s finest dive locations. It has a rich and dense marine life
– with several hundred species of both coral and fishes.
Tubbataha Reef
tips & insights
Diver's
paradise
Tubbataha Reef is noted among divers for its abundance of vivid corals,
expansive sea ferns, colorful crustaceans, magnificent
turtles, chromatic small fishes, and striking large fishes. The last
includes sharks,
whale sharks, mantas, tuna, and barracudas.
And the soaring, perpendicular underwater walls are legendary.
Limited
access
Tubbataha
Reef is normally accessible only three months a year, from about mid-March to
mid-June. Sea conditions are too rough for the remaining 9-month span.
Best
months
For
the best underwater visibility and the calmest seas, go in April or May.
Getting
there
You
can reach Tubbataha Reef only by boat. It lies 180 kilometers (110 miles)
southeast of Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. The voyage lasts about 10
hours each way.
Pamalican Island
Why
Pamalican
Island
is special
Pamalican is an alluring small island. It
has tropical foliage and
is studded with coconut trees. It's fringed with powdery white-sand beaches,
and is rimmed with crystal-clear seawaters flanked by coral reefs.
Pamalican
Island
tips &
insights
Amanpulo
Resort
Pamalican Island is
the home of the Amanpulo Resort, one of the world's most secluded luxury
resorts for unwinding and rejuvenating. Amanpulo means
"peaceful island" and that it is.
Accommodations
The
entire island is privately owned and is for the exclusive use of the fewer than 100 Amanpulo
Resort guests. Amanpulo has several dozen posh casitas (cottages) plus some equally stylish
hillside, treetop and villa accommodations.
Small
island
I walked leisurely around Pamalican Island on the beach in under 2 hours.
Getting
there
This luxury retreat lies southwest of Manila. It is slightly over one hour away by
scheduled 19-passenger charter air service. This is the only means of transportation
in and out for guests, which adds to the isolation appeal.
Martes, Enero 31, 2012
Golden Pavilion
Why the
Golden Pavilion
is special
The building in Kyoto, Japan sits on a serene pond, which reflects the beauty of the Golden Pavilion and forested backdrop. This creates one of the world’s loveliest settings.
Golden Pavilion
tips & insights
Long-time painting op
Long before the camera was invented, the Golden Pavilion became a prized subject for Japanese artists.
Boost to tourism
The resulting artistic exposure soon lured countless Japanese to visit Kyoto to view the striking Golden Pavilion firsthand. Today, it draws tourists from around the world.
History
A quick overview:
The Golden Pavilion was built in 1397 by the then ruling shogun.
On his death, it became a Zen Buddhist temple.
Disaster struck in 1950. The Golden Pavilion was burned down to the foundation by an arsonist (a fledgling Buddhist priest).
The Japanese rebuilt the Golden Pavilion in 1955, faithfully following the original design. The major change was in significantly increasing the amount of gold leaf applied to the Golden Pavilion's exterior and interior.
Niagara Falls
Why
Niagara Falls
is special
It
is one of the mightiest falls on earth. Although Niagara Falls is
smaller and less breathtaking than Iguazu Falls in South America and
Victoria Falls in Africa, it is awe-inspiring in its own right.
Seasons
The time of the year
makes a big difference
in what you'll experience
Summer - Positive points
Summer is best in terms of water fall strength. The greater the volume, the more spectacular the viewing experience.
Summer - Negative points
Unfortunately,
summer is the season when the lion's share of the 15 million annual
visitors come. Crowds can be overwhelming and line waits unbearable.
Winter is the least
desirable time to visit
Winter can
be bitterly cold, a major factor considering that watching the falls is
primarily an outdoor standing activity. Moreover, in deep winter,
layers of ice can hide the falling water.
Compromises
The two best compromise times are early May and late September.
Best sightseeing
times of day
During the peak
summer period
Avoid
long lines by scheduling your visits to the popular attractions in the
morning (before 10:30 a.m.) or late afternoon (after 4:00 p.m.). And,
if possible, avoid weekends.
Eiffel Tower
Why the
Eiffel Tower
is special?
It's the photo icon of Paris and France - and one of the most recognizable structures on earth.
Eiffel Tower
tips & insights
How to avoid
the long waiting lines
Elevator wait lines (especially for the third level) can be excruciatingly long during the summer tourist season. Be the first in line when the gates open in the morning or arrive after 6 pm. It also helps to avoid weekends.
Photographing the Eiffel Tower
The best photo location for a full-view shot of structure is from the Place du Trocadero terrace across the Seine River.
Origin
It was built in 1889 for an international exhibition in Paris, France and named for its builder, Gustave Eiffel.
Once the world's tallest
The Eiffel Tower instantly became the world's tallest man-made structure. It broke the record held for over 4400 years by the Khufu Pyramid in Egypt (only to lose it 41 years later to the Chrysler Building in Manhattan).
Not everyone liked it
Some people back then thought it was hideous. One sarcastic critic famously said he liked being on the Eiffel Tower because "it's the only place in Paris where I cannot see it".
Today
Times have changed. Almost all Parisian citizens today love it.
Valley of the Kings
Why the
Valley of the Kings
is special
Most of the pharaohs of the 18th and 19th Dynasties in the New Kingdom (circa 1570-1080 BC) were interred in the parched Valley of the Kings, near Luxor and the Nile River in Egypt.
The individual royal tombs were chiseled deep into steep, solid-rock slopes and, after the burial ceremonies, "permanently" sealed.
Valley of the Kings
tips & insights
Tomb robbers
It didn't take tomb robbers long to pilfer the buried treasures that the mummified pharaohs were supposed to take on their voyage to the next world.
King Tut’s tomb
The ancient robbers somehow missed the tomb of the then insignificant pharaoh Tutankhamun (popularly known today as King Tut).
It lay undisturbed in the Valley of the Kings for over 3,000 years until British Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered it in 1922.
Most of the found treasures are now on exhibit in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
However, the burial chamber (see photo) still contains King Tut's mummy encased in his outermost coffin inside the stone sarcophagus.
Decorative tombs
Archaeologists have retrieved few treasures made of gold and precious stones elsewhere in the Valley of the Kings, but many captivating paintings and hieroglyphics on the tomb walls survive.
Of all of them, I found the tomb of Seti I to be the most marvelous.
Chocolate Hills
Why the
Chocolate Hills
are special
Over a thousand tall, natural conical domes dot the landscape in the center of the island of Bohol. Most of the Chocolate Hills soar 30 to 50 meters (100 to 160 feet). The tallest measures 130 meters (430 feet). During the dry season, the grass blanketing these formations turns brown, giving the hillocks the appearance of gargantuan Chocolate Kiss candies.
Chocolate Hills
tips & insights
Two popular legends
One tells us that the Chocolate Hills are the stones and sand that two fighting giants hurled at each other. The other says they are the teardrops shed by a giant for his beloved mortal who passed away.
How were they formed?
No one knows for certain. Geologists have different theories, but most agree that the formations are the wind-and-rain weathered remnants of an uplifted ancient limestone seafloor.
Unique?
They are rare, but not unique. Similar mounds exist elsewhere, notably in Indonesia. However, the Chocolate Hills are by far the most symmetrical and spectacular in the world.
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