The Philippines: From Metropolis to Mountains and Beaches

Posted on February 22, 2012 by ‹

‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ – the new tourism slogan reads. And we can’t agree more.We arrived in the Philippines just a few days ago and in this short time span, we’ve already weaved through Manila’s historical center, sampled its culinary delights, visited the beautiful Mount Mayon in Legazpi, and even swum with whale sharks this morning in Donsol, Bicol.  The diversity of this country is immense and we can’t wait to see what else there is in store for us over the next few weeks. We’ll be tracking tarsiers in the wild, staying on the beautiful Panglao Island, visiting the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and kayaking amidst the stone karsts of Palawan. Meanwhile, here are some snapshots of what we’ve seen so far in the Philippines:

 The 8,000-feet high Mount Mayon poking into the sky

Emerald green rice paddies in Legazpi

Sprawling view of Legazpi and the bay from Ligñon Hill

A typical tricycle standing before the white-washed Daraga Church

The beach in Donsol where we went swimming with whale sharks
Traditional rattan houses in Donsol
The gate of Fort Santiago built during the Spanish colonial days – Manila
The impressive interior of St Augustine Church in Manila
As seen from Fort Santiago, a view of Passig River and Manila’s skyline

This trip was made possible by Department of Tourism Philippines. Special thanks to good friend and local expert Ivan Henares for organizing this. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Read more about our trip through the Philippines here or follow our journey on Twitter using the #WJAsia hashtag.

About Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the co-founder of WildJunket. As a professional travel writer with a special interest in offgrid destinations and adventure travel, she scours through the world in search for a slice of undiscovered paradise. In her quest, she's climbed an active volcano in Guatemala, swam with sealions in the Galapagos and built a school in Tanzania.
View all posts by Nellie Huang →

18 Responses to “The Philippines: From Metropolis to Mountains and Beaches”

  1. @1step2theleft February 22, 2012 10:11 pm
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    Beautiful photos, Nellie. I've been to the Philippines only once, and that was for scuba diving, so I didn't see much of the country, although what I saw was awesome. Will definitely have to go back and explore more of this lovely country!

    • Nellie February 23, 2012 10:25 am
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      hey Simon, good to see you here! Which part of the Philippines did you go scuba-diving? We are going to dive for a few days around Dumaguete and Apo Island. Would love to hear about your experience.

  2. Journeys and Travels February 23, 2012 9:33 am
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    I just love your photos of my lovely country. I am a travel blogger from the Philippines and I say I am most proud that you were able to share this and I thank you.

    • Nellie February 23, 2012 10:23 am
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      Thanks for the kind words! I\’m amazed by the overwhelming response from Filipino readers/travelers on Twitter – I\’ve never had a warmer welcome in any other country! ;)

  3. Micamyx|Senyorita February 23, 2012 11:24 pm
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    Love your shots! I haven't been to Legazpi and Donsol yet, but I'm planning to go soon :) Enjoy your stay here in the Philippines and I'm still hoping to meet you soon!

    • Nellie February 24, 2012 4:51 pm
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      Thanks Mica! They\’re all taken by Alberto. We love it here, glad that we\’re spending over a month in the Philippines, still lots more to explore! Hope our paths cross soon. ;)

  4. Rain February 23, 2012 11:36 pm
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    I love your photo of Mayon Volcano! Some old folks believe that the volcano's almost perfect cone only reveals itself to those with good intentions.

  5. Subic March 16, 2012 1:35 pm
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    Try Subic Bay Philippines http://subictravel.com

  6. Subic March 16, 2012 1:35 pm
    Reply
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    Try Subic Bay Philippines http://subictravel.com

  7. Subic March 16, 2012 1:35 pm
    Reply
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    Try Subic Bay Philippines http://subictravel.com

  8. Subic March 16, 2012 1:35 pm
    Reply
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    Try Subic Bay Philippines http://subictravel.com

  9. Subic March 16, 2012 1:35 pm
    Reply
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    Try Subic Bay Philippines http://subictravel.com

  10. Subic March 16, 2012 1:35 pm
    Reply
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    Try Subic Bay Philippines http://subictravel.com

  11. Travel Magazine - Travelodium June 26, 2012 1:22 pm
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    Those photos are spectacularly brilliant. Palawan is on my very short list of places to visit in the near future.

  12. Palawan Tours October 31, 2012 9:49 pm
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    I love the photos, especially the eagle eye shot of St. Augustine Church.

    P.S. found your blog through Lonely Planet. 'twas recommended under the Palawan blogs. Hope you can post more about Palawan. It's selected as one of the best travel regions for 2013 by the same travel site :D

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