Sabado, Oktubre 5, 2013

Welcome Viewers...

We (JOEMAR,MILA & KRISTOFFER) would like to share you some interesting places here (Philippines) and around the world.








First, we introduce you the known City of Character  (Tagaytay).

If your looking for a colder place near Metro Manila which is the capital of the Philippines Tagaytay is the right place for you. Only 2-3 hrs. from the Manila you can reach the beautiful place of Tagaytay. Tagaytay is known for their delicious foods like "Bulalo" or bone marrow and if you want some dessert they have the "Halayang Ube" or purple yam jam. The best place for eating those foods is on the "picnic groove" because while you are eating you can breath some fresh air and you can also see the famous "Taal Volcano" one of the most popular and active volcano in the Philppines. If you want to go near to the lake of the Taal Volcano just ask some tricycle driver outside the picnic groove and they will tour you but of course you need to pay them. And last if you are planning to have an overnight, there are many resorts or hotels around the place that you can stay for the night.














Next, try to explore the city and welcome yourself in The Heart of Asia (Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro).
Puerto Galera is a mix of water adventure and camping experience because even the island is surrounded by the water the island itself is surrounded by lush mountains so if you are tired and worn out with the water you should try to go to their mountains and forest and maybe have some overnight camping. But if you really want some water adventures Puerto galera will never run out with their different water activity they have banana boat, jet ski, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and many more. And when the night comes there are still life on it, you can bar hop and meet some other people.













Next, experience The Rock (Corregidor Island) the place you never been...
This place is the last island in the Philippines that captured by the Japanese. This is very historic and sentimental place not only for the Filipinos and Japaneses but also for the Americans. Corregidor and the other fortified islands of Manila Bay fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Cavite, Cavite province.


Corregidor, also known as "The Rock" for its rocky landscape and the heavy fortifications, along with Caballo Island, about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) south, divide the entrance of Manila Bay into the North and South Channel.

















Welcome to the City of Pines  (Baguio City)   


Baguio city is one of the coldest place in the Philippines because of this high altitude location they consider the Baguio city as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, because the best time to go there is obviously summer when the temperature in Metro Manila reach "37 degree Celsius". Baguio city have many tourist spot they have Botanical Garden, Mines View, Wright park where you can ride a horse, Burnham Park where you can ride a boat and bike, "The Mansion" the place where the President of the Philippines stay when they are in Baguio. You can also try mountain climbing because Baguio is surrounded by Mountains and don't forget to buy some souvenirs because Baguio city is also known for their beautiful wooden craft and i almost forgot they cook the best "Halayang Ube" or purple yam jam in the whole entire world. And guess who made it? believe it or not the nuns in "good shepherd" a convent is the one who made the best jam ever. They are also famous with the very delicious and sweet strawberry's.
In November 1900, the Americans establish the first civil government in Benguet. Kafagway was designated as the capital and was later renamed to Baguio. The new name was apparently derived from the native ibaloi word "bigyiw" which is a moss-like green plant that grew around the area where Burnham Park is now located.  


   


                       
















We're going to Ifugao Rice Terraces

The Ifugao Rice Terraces are the priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity. Built 2000 years ago and passed on from generation to generation, the Ifugao Rice Terraces represent an enduring illustration of an ancient civilization that surpassed various challenges and setbacks posed by modernization. Reaching a higher altitude and being built on steeper slopes than many other terraces, the Ifugao complex of stone or mud walls and the careful carving of the natural contours of hills and mountains to make terraced pond fields, coupled with the development of intricate irrigation systems, harvesting water from the forests of the mountain tops, and an elaborate farming system, reflect a mastery of engineering that is appreciated to the present and illustrate a persistence of cultural traditions and remarkable continuity and endurance, since archaeological evidence reveals that this technique has been in use in the region for 2000 years virtually unchanged.
The maintenance of the living rice terraces reflects a primarily cooperative approach of the whole community which is based on detailed knowledge of the rich diversity of biological resources existing in the Ifugao agro-ecosystem, a finely tuned annual system respecting lunar cycles, zoning and planning, extensive soil conservation, mastery of a most complex pest control regime based on the processing of a variety of herbs, accompanied by religious rituals.
















Surigao Del Norte
Surigao Del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in Caraga Region which is found in the northeastern tip of Mindanao Island. Surigao Del Sur and Agusan Del Norte are neighbors in the south region. Its territories include the outlying islands such as Siargao, Middle Bucas, Nonoc, Hinatuan, Masapalid, and many other smaller islands. The province is accessible by air and sea transportation through the airport and seaport of Surigao City. Terrain is mostly hilly and mountainous with small coastal plains. The province has no dry season with very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January.
Let’s tour! We start to introduce you our Provincial Capitol Building,




If you want to pursue your tertiary level we have Northeastern Mindanao Colleges,




For those who willing to stay in a couple of days we also have The Grande Suites of Surigao City Hotel,
The Grande Suites is the perfect place to experience Surigao City and its surroundings. From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer. With its convenient location, the hotel offers easy access to the city's must-see destinations, impeccable service and all the essential amenities to invigorate travelers, array of services, including family room, 24hr room service, concierge, coffee shop, safety deposit boxes. All guest accommodations feature thoughtful amenities to ensure an unparalleled sense of comfort with an excellent variety of recreational facilities, including massage. Discover an engaging blend of professional service and a wide array of features at The Grande Suites.







Need to relax? Cool down? Let’s getaway! to Hidden Island Resort,
Hidden Island Resort is located at Dona Helen, Socorro, Surigao Del Norte. About 45 minutes pump boat ride from Hayanggabon claver to the resort.  The resort feature is live aqua culture for the tourist with its floating cottage along the deep blue sea. Amenities like, cable tv, air conditioned rooms and pump boat servicing to the famous sohoton cove. The resort has 3 function rooms suited for occasions like wedding, birthdays and other special events.
About 15 minutes away from the resort is the CLUB TARA, a well renowned Beach Resort with its best ambiance and amenities.



One of the best places in the Philippines, Siargao Island is the premier surfing destination of the country. Siargao Island of Surigao del Norte Philippines is also known to be the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. This tropical island paradise of the Philippines boasts it untamed and unbelievable waves that attracts surfers around the globe. The famous Cloud 9 of Siargao Island is so popular around the world that many foreign surfers want to try and experience the waves.





Siargao Island Philippines and the surrounding islands are some of the most beautiful and untouched gems in the Pacific. There are many interesting places to go in this beautiful tropical island. It is a paradise to many tourists around have visited this island especially professional surfers. Siargao is a tear-drop shaped tropical island that is a jewel of the Philippines. It is the home of the beautiful white sandy beaches, surfing beaches, tropical landscapes and magnificent dive sites. Siargao island is the watersport activities that attracts many visitors that includes; surfing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, caving, jungle trekking, cockfighting, wildlife watching and many more.









San Jose Dinagat Island

(Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association Incorporated.) The shrine was built for the late Ruben Ecleo, Sr. founder of the PBMA in the 1960′s. Most of the people in Dinagat (as I believe so) are members of the said organization. When Ruben Ecleo, Sr. died, he was succeeded by his son, On our last day, we immediately toured the town of San Jose starting from the PBMA Shrine Ruben Ecleo, Jr. until present. We hired habal-habal or single motorcycle (the main and I think the only mode of transportation so far) for 15php/destination, maximum two (2) persons per habal2x excluding the driver. Fee for waiting time also depends on your agreement with the driver. (Note: You may also want to drop off first at the Local Tourism Office and look for Mr. Danilo Bulabos, the Provincial Tourism Officer and he could help you with arranging trips and even fares. The drivers knows where the Tourism office is so you don’t have to worry how to locate it).






Puerto Princesa
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one of the most distinguished protected areas of the Philippines. It is located some 360 miles southwest of Manila, the country’s political and economic capital. It was established as a National Park in 1971primarily to protect and preserve the intact old growth forest, interesting wildlife, pristine white sand beaches, unspoiled natural beauty and one of the most impressive caves systems in the world.

The Park features a spectacular limestone or karst mountain landscape. It contains an 8.2 km long underground river that flows directly to the sea. The lower half of the river is brackish and subject to the oceans tide. A subterranean river flowing directly into the sea and the associated tidal influence makes it the most unique natural phenomenon of its type to exist. The presence of 11 minerals, scientifically and aesthetically unique speleothems, and a 20 million year old Serenia fossil embedded in the walls of the cave justifies the declaration of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The Park also contains a full mountain to sea ecosystems and protects forests that are important for biodiversity conservation. It is a representative of Palawan Moist Forests, which are among the most significant in Asia, and is noted for high levels of regional and local endemism. The Site serves as habitat to numerous endangered, rare and endemic wildlife species. In the coastal area, mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs are found.

The global significance of the Park is recognized by its designation as a World Heritage Site, a Biosphere Reserve, a Ramsar Site, and an Important Bird Area. Inclusion to these prestigious lists confirms the outstanding universal value of the Park that deserves to be conserved for the benefit of the present and future generations. The Park managed by the City Government of Puerto Princesa thru a multi sector Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). It has the distinction of being the first national park devolved and successfully managed by a local government unit. Under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, the Site has become a model for effective protected area management and sustainable tourism in the Philippines.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a source of pride and a key element in the identity of the people of Puerto Princesa in particular and of the Philippines as a whole. It is a symbol of commitment by the Filipino people in the global efforts to conserve our natural heritage. 

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By now on, we have to proceed to wonders of some foreign countries...










                                 The Summer Palace 
The Summer Palace is located on the western edge of Beijing, between the fourth and fifth ring roads, close to the western Fragrant Hills, 12km from central Beijing.
The simplest way to arrive is by subway. Station beigongmen (North Palace Gate, line 4) is right by the north gate entrance, close to the Four Great Regions temple and suzhou Street.
It is not expensive to get there by taxi and does not take long. Use a map to tell the driver you want to be taken to the north gate if you would like to follow our suggested route through the park, or ask your hotel receptionist to add 'north gate' to 'Summer Palace' written in Chinese script on a piece of paper to show the taxi driver.
As its name implies, the Summer Palace was used as a summer residence by China's imperial rulers - as a retreat from the main imperial palace now known as the Palace Museum (or 'Forbidden City') - a pleasure-ground in the countryside, yet near to the city.
The Summer Palace is virtually a museum of traditional Chinese garden arts that blends rocks, trees, pavilions, lakes, ponds, paths and other features to create a poetic effect between different scenes. As you meander around the Summer Palace, you will frequently find the vista changing.
This Summer Palace guide looks at its history, presents a clear map with a suggested route through the palace grounds, and looks at each place of interest in detail.
The guide contains 400 superb photographs that both illustrate each location, and hint at the beauty of the gardens as a whole.
Discover the Summer Palace now…













                                           The Blue Grotto
Capri’s Blue Grotto is known throughout the world for its intense blue tones. Visitors arrive by boat and stop at the entrance, in order to enter the Grotta Azzurra visitors climb aboard small rowing boats, with a capacity for two, maximum three, passengers and, lying on the bottom of the boat, enter the low and narrow mouth of the cave. Passengers are obliged to lie down in the boat whilst passing in to the cave. The boatman sets down his rows and maneuvers the boat inside with the aid of a chain attached to the vault of the entrance.
Entrance to the cave is not possible in the presence of south westerly and mistral wind.

Meet your guide and from pier side you will walk to the nearby marina to board a boat for your scenic 40-minute cruise through the Bay of Naples to the Island of Capri.
Arriving at the colorful Marina Grande, - weather permitting - you will get the opportunity to catch the boat for the visit of the Blue Grotto, then your tour guide will organize  the transfer along the winding road to Anacapri.
In Anacapri you may visit the beautiful Villa S. Michele of Axel Munthe (a Swedish physician and author of the famous book, The Story of San Michele, in which he wrote his life, his discovery of Capri, and his dream of establishing his home on the island) or take the chance to go on the Mount Solaro chairlift with its spectacular view.
You will have time to explore Anacapri before the return drive to Capri Town.
The route will offer magnificent views along the way.
Walk with your tour guide through narrow streets and the central square, La Piazzetta, which is surrounded by intriguing old buildings and filled with sidewalk cafes. Popular with tourists and local alike, Capri is always crowded and bustling with activity.
After lunch, a guided tour to have the opportunity to explore the Gardens of Augustus.
The gardens are filled with many species of plants and you can take in the views of the Faraglioni, a famed offshore rock outcropping, and the Bay of Marina Piccola. Explore Capri's fabled plaza, La Piazzetta, with its many chic boutiques and gift shops before taking the funicular back down to Marina Grande, where you will board on a watercraft for the return trip to your cruiseship.


















                                          Eye of Sahara
The Richat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara or blue eye of Africa, is a prominent geological circular feature in the Sahara desert in West Central Mauritania near Ouadane. It is nearly 50 kilometers across and very visible from space. Initially interpreted as an asteroid impact structure because of its high degree of circularity, and then as a structure formed by a volcanic eruption that also seems improbable because of the lack of a dome of igneous or volcanic rock, it is now argued to be a highly symmetrical and deeply eroded geologic dome that collapsed. So it is now thought by many to have been caused by uplifted rock sculpted by erosion. But the fact that the "rings", are equidistant to the centre and that the Richat Structure is nearly circular remains a mystery.














                               Grand Prismatic Spring
Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, became the world’s first national park when President Ulysses S Grant signed it into law in 1872. It’s not hard to see why the government wanted to preserve this area of great natural beauty, especially with features like this: the world’s third-largest hot spring.
The Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone’s largest at 90 metres (295 feet) wide and 50 metres (164 feet) deep, and works like many of the park’s hydrothermal features. Water deep beneath the ground is heated by magma and rises to the surface unhindered by mineral deposits. As it bubbles to the top it cools and then sinks, only to be replaced by hotter water coming from the depths in a continuous cycle. The hot water also dissolves some of the silica in the rhyolite rocks in the ground, creating a solution that’s deposited as a whitish siliceous sinter onto the immediate land surrounding the spring.
So what makes all the pretty colours? That’s not due to chemicals, anyway. The iridescent pigments are caused by bands of microbes – cyanobacteria – that thrive in these warm to hot waters. Moving from the coolest edge of the spring along the temperature gradient, the calothrix cyanobacteria lives in temperatures of no less than 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), can live out of the water too and produces the brown pigment that frames the spring. Phormidium, meanwhile, prefers a 45-60-degree-Celsius (113-140-degree-Fahrenheit) range and creates the orange pigment, while synechococcus enjoys temperatures of up to 72 degrees Celsius (162 degrees Fahrenheit) and is yellow-green.
The deep blue colour seen in the centre is the natural colour of the water and is too hot for most bacteria, although it’s suspected that aquifex, a microbe that thrives in near-boiling water, lives off the hydrogen gas dissolved in the emerging Grand Prismatic Spring’s waters.
Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park,USA















                                   Salar de Uyuni
The world’s largest salt flats in Bolivia, is an other-worldly experience that has to be seen to be believed. Join us on a trip to one of the strangest places our third rock from the sun has to offer.
Have you ever wanted to visit another planet but don’t quite have the wallet power or for that matter the decades it may take for commercial space flight to Mars to become available? If you want an out of this world experience you could try, as an alternative, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. It is one of the few landscapes on planet Earth where you may feel that you are somewhere else in the universe entirely.
This place is immense. It is over 12,000 square kilometers in area, which makes it the largest salt flat in the world. To give you an idea, that is over twenty five times larger than the more famous Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States. It also has the distinction of being the highest salt flats in the world at 3,700 meters above sea level. The mounds in these photographs are not, as you may first suspect, a naturally occurring phenomena. The hand of man is at work here.
The salt is literally scraped away from the surface and piled up in the mounds that you can see here by the locals. Salar de Uyuni is what remains of a prehistoric lake. All around it there are mountains which means there are no drainage outlets and the salt is left on the old bed of the lake. After it is scraped up these mounds are then created. This allows the water to evaporate more quickly and certainly makes the salt easier to transport away from the salt flats.
The origins of the Uyuni goes back some 40,000 years. Then it made up part of the huge prehistoric Lake Minchin. With time the lake dried up. Two lakes still remain – the Uru Uru and (no sniggering at the back) the Poopó. Two salt flats were left, the smaller Salar de Coipasa and the Uyuni. Twelve thousand square kilometers is pretty large by anyone’s standards.



















                                   Marble Cave
General Carrera Lake (Chilean side) or Lake Buenos Aires (Argentine side) is a lake located in Patagonia and shared by Argentina and Chile. Both names are internationally accepted.
The lake has a surface of 1,850 km² of which 970 km² are in the Chilean Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region, and 880 km² in the Argentine Santa Cruz Province, making it the biggest lake in Chile, and the fourth largest in Argentina. In its western basin, Lake Gen. Carrera has 586 m maximum depth.
The lake is of glacial origin and is surrounded by the Andes mountain range. Lake drains to the Pacific Ocean on the west through the Baker River.
The weather in this area of Chile and Argentina is generally cold and humid. But the lake itself has a sunny microclimate, a weather pattern enjoyed by the few settlements along the lake, such as Puerto Guadal, Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez and Chile Chico in Chile, and Los Antiguos and Perito Moreno in Argentina.
The area near the coast of the lake was first inhabited by criollos and European immigrants between 1900 and 1925. In 1971 and 1991, eruptions of the Hudson Volcano severely affected the local economy, especially that of sheep farming.
The Argentine side of the lake is relatively easy to access, through strip of plains that was first used by the Tehuelches, and then by explorer Francisco Moreno. The National Route 40, created in the 1920s, also makes uses of it. The Chilean side of the lake has been mostly isolated, and was for years accessed through Argentina, until the creation in the 1990s of the Carretera Austral, which connected it to the rest of Chile, and permitted the expansion of tourism in the area.
A car ferry operates between Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez and Chile Chico in the Chilean sector of the lake.
The lake is known as a trout and salmonidae fishing destination.
Unusual geological formation is Marble Caves with Marble Chapel and Marble Cathedral located at the centre of the lake and representing a group of caverns, columns and tunnels formed in monoliths of marble. Marble Caves have been formed by wave action over the last 6,200 years.
















                                   Christ Redeemer Statue
This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.
















                                       The Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is a large submarine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 70 km (43 mi) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 300 m (984 ft) across and 124 m (407 ft) deep.
It was formed during several episodes of quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower - the analysis of stalactites found in Great Blue Hole shows that formation took place 153,000, 66,000, 60,000, and 15,000 years ago. As the ocean began to rise again, the caves were flooded. The Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
















                                        Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Another specific feature of Halong Bay is the abundance of lakes inside the limestone islands, for example, Dau Be island has six enclosed lakes. All these island lakes occupy drowned dolines within fengcong karst.


















                                               Taj Mahal

A white marble tomb built in 1631 - 48 in Agra, seat of the Mughal Empire, by Shah Jehan for his wife, Arjuman Banu Begum, the monument sums up many of the formal themes that have played through Islamic architecture. Its refined elegance is a conspicuous contrast both to the Hindu architecture of pre-Islamic India, with its thick walls, corbelled arches and heavy lintels, and to the Indo-Islamic styles, in which Hindu elements are combined with an eclectic assortment of motifs from Persian and Turkish sources. Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman Architecture. The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India" and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.















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