Puerto Galera, Philippines – Beauty Beyond Imagining!Written by Brett Jankowiak
It was not until I had been given my first San Miguel that I realised that this place was hot, humid and sticky. My first San Mig didn’t even touch sides. I was back in Manila sitting at bar in hotel, after dropping off my bag and putting all my important documents in safety deposit box. I took some time to reflect on my first visit to this incredibly diverse country.When you discuss holiday destinations with people, better trodden paths are ones most frequented, not many people I know have traveled to Philippines. Let me tell you, if you enjoy tropical islands with white powdery sand merging into jungle on one side and then disappearing into turquoise blue water on other, then this is place for you! After all there are 7,107 islands in Philippines, take your pick! The Philippines is third largest English speaking country in world, which makes getting around so much easier. Tourism has not really taken off like in neighboring Asian countries, like Thailand and Malaysia and infrastructure is not quite there, which in a way makes it all more exciting because your holiday will become an adventure, it can drag you down at times but once you arrive at your final destination trip getting there will be long forgotten. My journey took me to resort town of Puerto Galera on island of Mindoro. Puerto Galera is port where Spanish Galleons use to take refuge from might of typhoons. Letting your imagination wonder a little as you glance around port, you can almost see Spanish Galleons swinging on their anchors. Puerto Galera has recently won 2005 Most Beautiful Bay in World Award. It is easy to see why.Getting to Puerto Galera From Manila you need to take a bus to Batangas which takes approximately three hours, depending on time of day and which day it is, longest it has taken me was seven hours. From Batangas which is south of Philippine capital of Manila you can catch a ferry across to Puerto Galera which is about an hour to an hour and half. The trip to Batangas is pretty uneventful, real beauty starts when you get on ferry. The water is a deep cobalt blue, if you are lucky you may even see dolphins, turtles and flying fish.
| | Car Rentals - Driving in unfamiliar placesWritten by Carl Spanier
Car Rentals are a great way to help you navigate your way around a foreign city, providing you with a sense of both independence and adventure as you tour new locations. But whether you are an experienced or novice motorist, driving in a new location can be challenging, as you try to navigate your way through unknown streets governed by myriad rules that might be different from what you are used to. So before you hire a car in any unfamiliar place, it is wise to first learn as much as you can about your destination, and particular motoring laws that might apply there. Be aware of speed limits in any unfamiliar driving environment – it is always wise to find out what limits apply in different zones before you get into car, as signage might not be as plentiful as you are used to. Read up too about parking laws, and find out whether you will require permits for any of locations you plan to visit – this will save you an investigation into towing information later! Find out also if there are any particular local laws or habits, and remember that simple things, such as traffic lights, may operate differently than what you are used to. Try not to take any of your driving habits for granted – things you do without thinking in your usual driving environment could very well be dangerous in an unfamiliar place.
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