A sandbar, technically called a shoal, is a naturally submerged ridge or bank of sand that rises to close to the water surface. It could remain hidden during high tide, therefore constituting an impediment to navigation, but could rise above the water during low tide. Here in the Philippines, many of these sandbars have become picturesque destinations.
Whenever we wander into the towns of Liliw and Nagcarlan in Laguna province, it’s impossible to overlook two red brick structures that trace their roots back to Spanish colonial times. The Underground Cemetery and the San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) Church building are undoubtedly the most recognizable edifices in both towns.
Named after the betel nut of the areca palm that used to grow abundantly in the area, Bunga Falls has always attracted our interest since we first visited this twin cascade ten years ago. Located along a stream that meanders through a forested area, this waterfall sits in a quiet section of Nagcarlan town near the foot of Mt. Banahaw.
Since 2014 we had been touring San Pablo, Laguna’s Seven Lakes, and ended up visiting four of them at least twice. But there was one out of the seven that we never got to visit. Not for any particular reason other than the fact that we could not locate an approach to this lake. Lake... Continue Reading →
For a long time we’ve been wanting to visit the hilly sections of Tanay, Rizal and view its spectacular sunrise. We tried to drive there late last 2020 only to be turned back by local authorities who were enforcing strict lockdown rules. There was no denying us this time as Covid restrictions have been relaxed and with Leo now able to drive longer distances.
Karst is a type of landscape formed by the weathering of rocks, typically limestone, resulting in pronounced, often dramatic topographical features such as caves, underground streams, sinkholes, cliffs and steep-sided towers. We were surprised to find out that karst landscapes cover about 10% of the country's land mass.
With 7,641 islands, the Philippines has plentiful sandy beaches, coves and seaside lagoons. Visiting over 50 provinces of the country has allowed us to relish a good number of these beaches but still left out a considerable number in our bucket list. Compiling lists of this sort almost certainly leaves out quite a number of other outstanding examples but we chose to confine ourselves to the beaches we've personally visited.
Majority of the time when looking to dine near a nature destination not too far from the urban jungle of Metro Manila, we head out to Tagaytay City in Cavite province. Along Tagaytay Ridge are numerous cafes and restaurants that offer panoramic views of Taal Lake and Volcano in the adjacent province of Batangas.
Leo’s continuing recovery and physical therapy means we won’t be able to do those arduous treks that some of the more spectacular cascades here normally require. But our itch to visit these attractions overcame whatever trepidations we might have.
When friends that we haven’t seen for over a year asked to dine out recently we predictably suggested a dinner al fresco date. Friends Boi and Tess proposed we head over to the Seascape Village Bay Market along Manila Bay in Pasay City. This dining destination prides itself as an upscale dampa.
As Leo’s rehab continues after his recent procedure, we’re slowly traveling to places a bit farther away from home. Last week we drove just outside Metro Manila for the first time in over a year to the capital of Rizal province: Antipolo.
During Holy Week here in Metro Manila, residents often take the time to escape the concrete jungle for fresh air and mother nature. During the past years, however, our practice has been the opposite: stay in Manila and leave for the provinces before or after Holy Week.
A favorite destination of ours for a quick getaway outside Metro Manila, this coastal town boasts a variety of attractions – pristine waterfalls, lush forests, fast-moving rivers for white water rafting, a ruggedly beautiful coastline and the raging swells of the Pacific for surfing.
It used to go by the names Sabuluag or Salauag after a tree species endemic to these islands. During the Spanish colonial era, coffins containing oversized human bones were reportedly discovered at a cave in one of the islands.
Another province hit hard by Typhoon Odette (Rai) last December was Negros Oriental, one of our favorite places to visit in the Eastern Visayas. Hammered badly were municipalities in the north and central part of the province, especially Bais City and Manjuyod where dozens were killed and estimated damage ran up to hundreds of millions of pesos.
Leyte for us, and specially for Leo, was a place famous for history – the first landing of American forces in the Philippines during World War 2 and the largest naval battle of that conflict, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, both occurring in 1944. We had not considered this heavily forested and mountainous province as a tourist destination until 10 years ago.
When Category 5-super Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) hit the Philippines last Dec. 16-17, it created a wide swath of destruction over the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Palawan. Many towns in the island province of Bohol suffered catastrophic damage and dozens of deaths.
When it was still largely unknown to local tourists, the Caramoan peninsula was featured in the 2004 edition of an international travel guide book. It was described as a rugged, pristine and beautiful landscape only accessible by boat. Caramoan burst into the scene in 2008 when the French version of the TV series Survivor featured the place. It soon began attracting local and international visitors.
More than a month ago we revisited the walled district of Intramuros in Manila with friends. On the way there we passed by Binondo, Manila’s famed Chinatown, for lunch. It had been a while since we last visited this bustling district of offices, restaurants, food stalls, groceries and herbal stores. Our latest foray into Intramuros and Binondo stimulated Leo’s interest about the history of both districts.
Amidst a dramatic increase in Covid infections in recent days, authorities have again tightened travel restrictions in Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces. This means being practically confined to our home as we try to do our part to help control another wave of the pandemic. We were fortunate to have visited a number of places the past 2 months before the recent round of travel restrictions.
The Shoestring Diaries 
Thanks for visiting! We'll gladly revisit any one of these (except for the last which we've visited 3x already) any…
Wow - I'll take a trip to any one of those, please :)
Makes it even better! 😁
Thanks Len! We're blessed to be able to travel again. Hopefully we'll be able to make it to a beach…
Thanks Pepper! We were the only visitors here on this day and had the falls all to ourselves.