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Practical
Info
Figures
- more than 7000
islands
- 3000 km length
- Capital : Manila
- 30°C all the year
- Best season : from
December to February
- Typhoons possible
from June to October
- Languages : Tagalog
and English
- Carefull with malaria
- 1 USD = 40 pesos
(in November 1998)
- Landscapes of Volcanos,
Rice plantations and Beaches
- One of the best destinations
for diving
Guide books
I
traveled with the Lonely Planet / the Philippines (in
English only)
All
people whom I met had this same edition, for 2 reasons :
-
There are very few guides about the Philippines
-
Lonely planet is undoubtedly one of the best travel
book
It
should be noted that the Germans have their special edition,
that is not called Lonely Planet but it is written by
the same author : Jens PETERS who lives for more
than 15 years in Philippines.
A bit of
history
The Philippines were colonized
several times until 1965 : by the Spanish, the Americans,
the Japanese...
The Spanish brought the Cigars,
the Americans brought the English language and the basketball,
and the Japanese...?!
Visa
If you remain less than 21
days in the Philippines : you do not need a visa.
- From 21 to 59 days :
you' d better to get one (I can tell you about it),
it costs approximately 35 USD.
- More than 59 days :
you can pay an extension visa for 38 days
- From 59 days to 6 months :
it is another type of visa
- Beyond 6 months
: you need a certificate of residence, more possibly
a test for AIDS...
Highlights
The 10 best according
to Lonely Planet :
- Baguio and rice
plantations in terrace of Banaue, in North Luzon
- The Pinatubo Mount
and Mayon Volcano in South Luzon, considered
as one of the most beautiful in the world (till its
erruption in February 2000)
- The island of Boracay,
although there are too much tourists
- Chocolate Hills
on Bohol Island
- Lake Sebu where live the
T-Boli, in South Mindanao
- St Paul Subtarranean NP
& Underground river, on Palawan
- El Nido & Bascuit
Archipelago, in North Palawan
- Festival Ati-Atihan
in Kalibo, Panay
How to move
There are 5 main solutions :
the bus, the Jeepney, the tricycle, the boat and the plane.
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The
buses are the most economic solution
Jeepney,
not expensive, with local environment in addition...
The taxis
are not expensive if they put on the TAXI METER !
The tricycles
can pile up to 8 people (I saw it), but they are
often more expensive than Jeepney and Cabs
The boat :
essential, not expensive if you take Ferries and
very expensive if you charter a fisherman's boat
The plane :
excellent ratio Price/Time
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In the cities, Manila and
Cebu, it is simpler to move with Taxi or Tricycle. Jeepney
and buses indicate the places of destination with their
summary, short, if you do not know the city you do not
have any chance to get your place...
Apart from the cities, i.e.
about the remainder of the country, you have the choice.
Except if you get on some
islands during the rainy season : the boat will be
the only solution, take a K-Way and a polar wool.
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