|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:08 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| I-am-me wrote: |
| Manila, Davao City, Cayagan de Oro, Camiguin Island. I loved Camiguin Island. Not too many foreigners and very cheap lodgings. Great for snorkeling. I am still begging wife to let me go to Mt Apo, the inactive volcano. Maybe on my next trip down. |
Camiguin is on my list of places (among a few others) of places to get to next time down.
Everyone seems to love it, but I hear mostly of it being volcanic and Hawaii-like in the volcanic settings. But haven't heard much of the beaches there. Transparent waters? White sands? Or is Camiguin more of the 'ideal for doing not much of anything at all' type of places?
I'll have to make it there this winter. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
renzobenzo1
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Location: Suji, Yongin
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just Manila and Angeles at this stage.
Plan to go to Tarlac, Mataki, Angeles again! and see some of these nice beach places people talk about. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thatwhitegirl
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Location: ROK
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
Camiguin is on my list of places (among a few others) of places to get to next time down.
Everyone seems to love it, but I hear mostly of it being volcanic and Hawaii-like in the volcanic settings. But haven't heard much of the beaches there. Transparent waters? White sands? Or is Camiguin more of the 'ideal for doing not much of anything at all' type of places?
I'll have to make it there this winter. |
I grew up in the Philippines. In Mindanao (parents were NGO), with all the NPA and fun rebel stuff....
So I've been to Camiguin a few times. It's such a small little island...you can bike around the whole thing in a day. We did it a few times, also can go slowly (2-3 days) and hang out at different resorts around the island. Also can treck through it...over the volcanos. Beautiful place, but not so famous for the beaches. You can get a fisherman/local with a banka to take you out to White Island....a sand bar island 20 min. off. No shelter out there, so take sunscreen and a couple sarongs. You can rig up a little shelter out there using bits of bamboo left from other's impromput shelters. Great place. The water out there is transparent...near the shore it isn't. It's more of an adventure/escape island, rather than a soak-up-the-rays and hang on the beach place. Very isolated and nice, but you can rent bikes or a motorbike and ride around the island. It's a great place. Great food, VERY nice, friendly locals who say "Hello friend" instead of the normal "Hello Joe" that is the normal greeting hroughout the Philippines.
We're going over the winter holiday. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| thatwhitegirl wrote: |
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
Camiguin is on my list of places (among a few others) of places to get to next time down.
Everyone seems to love it, but I hear mostly of it being volcanic and Hawaii-like in the volcanic settings. But haven't heard much of the beaches there. Transparent waters? White sands? Or is Camiguin more of the 'ideal for doing not much of anything at all' type of places?
I'll have to make it there this winter. |
I grew up in the Philippines. In Mindanao (parents were NGO), with all the NPA and fun rebel stuff....
So I've been to Camiguin a few times. It's such a small little island...you can bike around the whole thing in a day. We did it a few times, also can go slowly (2-3 days) and hang out at different resorts around the island. Also can treck through it...over the volcanos. Beautiful place, but not so famous for the beaches. You can get a fisherman/local with a banka to take you out to White Island....a sand bar island 20 min. off. No shelter out there, so take sunscreen and a couple sarongs. You can rig up a little shelter out there using bits of bamboo left from other's impromput shelters. Great place. The water out there is transparent...near the shore it isn't. It's more of an adventure/escape island, rather than a soak-up-the-rays and hang on the beach place. Very isolated and nice, but you can rent bikes or a motorbike and ride around the island. It's a great place. Great food, VERY nice, friendly locals who say "Hello friend" instead of the normal "Hello Joe" that is the normal greeting hroughout the Philippines.
We're going over the winter holiday. |
What kind of NGO work did your parents do? I recently did a MA program that is conflict and development-oriented. I really should put it to use outside of these uni gigs in Korea! I need to look more into NGO type of work.
By the way, as you grew up in the Philippines, do you have a list of favorite places that you'd like to either visit or go back to in the Philippines? What are those places? Just curious... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| I-am-me wrote: |
| Manila, Davao City, Cayagan de Oro, Camiguin Island. I loved Camiguin Island. Not too many foreigners and very cheap lodgings. Great for snorkeling. I am still begging wife to let me go to Mt Apo, the inactive volcano. Maybe on my next trip down. |
Camiguin is on my list of places (among a few others) of places to get to next time down.
Everyone seems to love it, but I hear mostly of it being volcanic and Hawaii-like in the volcanic settings. But haven't heard much of the beaches there. Transparent waters? White sands? Or is Camiguin more of the 'ideal for doing not much of anything at all' type of places?
I'll have to make it there this winter. |
If you want to hook up one Saturday, have lunch and chat about destinations in the Phils, drop me a PM.
I'll drag some pics and info along with me.
We've hit most of the best places south of Luzon. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thatwhitegirl
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Location: ROK
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
What kind of NGO work did your parents do? I recently did a MA program that is conflict and development-oriented. I really should put it to use outside of these uni gigs in Korea! I need to look more into NGO type of work.
By the way, as you grew up in the Philippines, do you have a list of favorite places that you'd like to either visit or go back to in the Philippines? What are those places? Just curious... |
They did community development: schools, clinics, training centers. Motorcycle mechanics, community health...you name it. Now they're in China, in the remote regions. Crazy old folks. Don't know where they get their energy.
As far as places to go...since I lived there, I think where we went would be very different and off the beaten track, since we knew people and spoke the language.
But, I loved going to Camigian, little islands around Davao, Baguio and further north. We did a lot of island visiting in the Davao region, but I wouldn't reccomend it now, due to Abu Sayef. Camigian is still excellent.
Strangely, I've never been to Boracay (too crowded) or any other of the other popular beaches. I have been to Bantayan, but it wasn't the greatest.
I'm planning on going with my husband this winter...want to show him where I grew up. We'll go to Camigian and Bohol (I've never been there), and maybe Palawan (also never been there...to dangerous back in the day). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| thatwhitegirl wrote: |
I have been to Bantayan, but it wasn't the greatest.
I'm planning on going with my husband this winter...want to show him where I grew up. We'll go to Camigian and Bohol (I've never been there), and maybe Palawan (also never been there...to dangerous back in the day). |
Just curious, what was your general feeling on Bantayan? Pictures look good and so do write-ups, but so does Malapascua which I went to and was sadly disappointed. I didn't find the water swimmable or even clean. Someone said it was because of recent typhoon activities that dirtied up the water. I also found Malapascua moderately interesting for a day or two, but overall it was a much more popular diving area than swimming and water-related type of beach. (As many places in the Philippines seem to be). Was Bantayan somewhat similar? I've read travel journals on Bantayan, and few are that positive (as most travel journals seldom seem to be anyways). However, book write-ups and pictures on Bantayan always seem to be good. What was your take on Bantayan when you went there? (If I write off that island, I'll save a lot of time for elsewhere, as I've seen most other places in that area - Malapascua, Silay, Bacolod, Cebu, etc.) So no real need to revisit any of those places for a special trip to Bantayan.
Also, what was most appealing to you about Camiguin? It seems to attract a lot more people, and a lot more positive response from travel journals and everything else. But doesn't seem beach-oriented, and I can't get a real feel what would make it much different from any other island in the Philippines, although it does seem to be a major tourist attraction, most often from most sources, because of the local inhabitants? Are they really that great and friendly to attract tourists to the degree that they do? Is it the volcanoes that really separate it from elsewhere and give it a Hawaii-type feel of some kind? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| thatwhitegirl wrote: |
I have been to Bantayan, but it wasn't the greatest.
I'm planning on going with my husband this winter...want to show him where I grew up. We'll go to Camigian and Bohol (I've never been there), and maybe Palawan (also never been there...to dangerous back in the day). |
Just curious, what was your general feeling on Bantayan? Pictures look good and so do write-ups, but so does Malapascua which I went to and was sadly disappointed. I didn't find the water swimmable or even clean. Someone said it was because of recent typhoon activities that dirtied up the water. I also found Malapascua moderately interesting for a day or two, but overall it was a much more popular diving area than swimming and water-related type of beach. (As many places in the Philippines seem to be). Was Bantayan somewhat similar? I've read travel journals on Bantayan, and few are that positive (as most travel journals seldom seem to be anyways). However, book write-ups and pictures on Bantayan always seem to be good. What was your take on Bantayan when you went there? (If I write off that island, I'll save a lot of time for elsewhere, as I've seen most other places in that area - Malapascua, Silay, Bacolod, Cebu, etc.) So no real need to revisit any of those places for a special trip to Bantayan.
Also, what was most appealing to you about Camiguin? It seems to attract a lot more people, and a lot more positive response from travel journals and everything else. But doesn't seem beach-oriented, and I can't get a real feel what would make it much different from any other island in the Philippines, although it does seem to be a major tourist attraction, most often from most sources, because of the local inhabitants? Are they really that great and friendly to attract tourists to the degree that they do? Is it the volcanoes that really separate it from elsewhere and give it a Hawaii-type feel of some kind? |
Most of the beaches on Camiguin are gravel and black sand, NOT white sand and coral. The exception is Whiteisland (sand bar really) just off the north coast of the island and a bit west of the airport.
The island is great for its hiking and hot springs / cold springs. The diving is OK but not the always usual coral diving that you get in most places.
It is not really a major tourist spot even though there are a few "resorts" on the island. Most of them are only 1 star or 2 star type places. There was a cyber cafe in Mambajao last time we were there. It was new and it used a satellite connection so it was not cheap by pinoy standards (p75 per hour).
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thatwhitegirl
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Location: ROK
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| thatwhitegirl wrote: |
I have been to Bantayan, but it wasn't the greatest.
I'm planning on going with my husband this winter...want to show him where I grew up. We'll go to Camigian and Bohol (I've never been there), and maybe Palawan (also never been there...to dangerous back in the day). |
Just curious, what was your general feeling on Bantayan? Pictures look good and so do write-ups, but so does Malapascua which I went to and was sadly disappointed. I didn't find the water swimmable or even clean. Someone said it was because of recent typhoon activities that dirtied up the water. I also found Malapascua moderately interesting for a day or two, but overall it was a much more popular diving area than swimming and water-related type of beach. (As many places in the Philippines seem to be). Was Bantayan somewhat similar? I've read travel journals on Bantayan, and few are that positive (as most travel journals seldom seem to be anyways). However, book write-ups and pictures on Bantayan always seem to be good. What was your take on Bantayan when you went there? (If I write off that island, I'll save a lot of time for elsewhere, as I've seen most other places in that area - Malapascua, Silay, Bacolod, Cebu, etc.) So no real need to revisit any of those places for a special trip to Bantayan.
Also, what was most appealing to you about Camiguin? It seems to attract a lot more people, and a lot more positive response from travel journals and everything else. But doesn't seem beach-oriented, and I can't get a real feel what would make it much different from any other island in the Philippines, although it does seem to be a major tourist attraction, most often from most sources, because of the local inhabitants? Are they really that great and friendly to attract tourists to the degree that they do? Is it the volcanoes that really separate it from elsewhere and give it a Hawaii-type feel of some kind? |
ttompatz answered that question pretty well. It is definately not a honeymoon type location, unless you want to go hiking/trecking, rent motorbikes/bicycles are ride around the island or over it. There are some ruins; a cool one of an old church. But it isn't a real touristy place as far as offering things to do. You kind of have to make your own plan. Which can be fun. The people are nice...there are quite a few expats married to Filipinas who run restaurants/resorts. The food is very very good, as you can go down to the beach at sunset and pick out your dinner from the fisherman who are coming in. It's a hideaway to us...we always went there because there were very very few backpacking druggies/old pedophiles. You aren't going to find really nice 'resorts', but the places are decent and cheap. I really like the place. It's charming and since you can roam the whole island, it starts to feel like your island.
Bantayan...only went there once, quite a few years ago (late 90's), and were there for about 2 weeks. It was Christmas time, and the jelly-fish were in full bloom, and the water was unswimmable. We moved locations around the island, and the water was swimmable, but the waves were HUGE and dangerous. The beach was beautiful at that spot, and the resort was nice, but very expensive. We had trouble with food on the island, and were dissapointed with the choices and quality. I am sure that Bantayan has changed over the years, but I think there are better places. I was just talking to a friend of mine who grew up in Cebu and she had just gone back to Bantayan, and said the jellyfish were still there. Her family just went there because it was close to Cebu. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rickvaughn
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Location: near Honorary Seoul Drive, Chicago
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
LUZON: Manila, Calatagan, Laguna, Las Pinas
VISAYAS: Cebu, Moalboal, Bohol, Dumaguete
MINDANAO: Cagayan De Oro, Malaybalay, Valencia, Davao |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've been to Cebu twice and Boracay once. I've been warned not to go to Manila because it's dirty, dangerous and dull if you stay longer than a few days.
Cebu gets old after a while because it's mostly malls. I have not hit a beach in Cebu, so perhaps that might change my impression of it. The malls are okay, but they get old, too.
But of course, BORACAY is the BOMB! I loved that place and want to go back so damn bad. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr Freeze
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I've been to Manila. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Mr Freeze wrote: |
| I've been to Manila. |
And that just about says it all. Nothing particularly memorable about it.
Just, "I've been to Manila."
I feel the same way. More than 7000 islands, 85+ million people and Manila is about the least impressive place in the whole country.
The best thing to be said about Manila is that it is easy to get away from. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
newton kabiddles
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I just got back from Cebu City, Bohol, Panglao (Alona Tropical), Dimakya Island (Club Paradise, Palawan)...Someone mentioned Sangat - I'll probably check that out on my next trip to Palawan. Busuanga is beautiful! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rickvaughn
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Location: near Honorary Seoul Drive, Chicago
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ttompatz wrote: |
| The best thing to be said about Manila is that it is easy to get away from. |
I agree.
Although to be honest I do like some of the malls and nightclubs there, and the Baywalk is a nice place to go on a date.
Although, I haven't been to Manila during the current reign of Mayor Lim, and I hear he's back to his old heavy-handed ways, so maybe it's boring again....
http://bongaustero.blogspot.com/2007/08/mayor-lims-unpopular-moves.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
