Destinations

Prior to my arrival in Manila, the Philippines was (for me) an unexplored and mysterious cluster of islands; I had no idea what to expect!  Though I had no preconceptions of what this far-off place was actually like, I was still shocked when I found some of the best snorkeling and shopping I’d ever encountered!

Though my trip encompassed just two stops in the islands (Manila and an island resort off the coast of Palawan), I experienced the best of both worlds on this 7-day trip, from big city life to the relaxing atmosphere of a secluded paradise.

In Manila, I stayed at the Shangri-la hotel located in Makati (the business district of the city). The hotel offers 699 spacious and beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, each with views of Makati’s famous avenues and the city beyond. The Horizon rooms include in-room high-speed Internet access, buffet breakfast, evening cocktails & hors d’oeuvres and complimentary access to the hotel’s 24-hour fitness centre.

Makati is mecca of shopping, dining and entertainment, and the hotel is located in between two sprawling shopping complexes - Glorietta and Greenbelt. Glorietta is a haven for bargain hunters, while Greenbelt is very much its counterpart, offering a selection of high-end stores and enticing restaurants. Manila offers much more than merchandise, however. Looking for a rousing round of golf or a luxurious spa treatment?  What about the cultural offerings of a local museum? The Ayala Museum’s collections include sixty handcrafted dioramas that chronicle the rich tapestry of Philippine history. The museum also features a one-of-a-kind boat gallery showcasing miniature models of some of the watercraft that contributed to the development of Philippine maritime trade and colonial economy.

After Manila, I set off on a 75-minute flight (in a 19-seater aircraft) to my next destination.  Upon arrival, I boarded a motorized outrigger boat for a scenic 40-minute ride to my secluded island paradise. As a guest of the resort, I had access to 45 islands and islets, and found endless opportunities for adventure and exploration.  The resort offers a wide range of activities, from soft adventure sports to more leisurely pursuits.

The activities include lagoon tours, cave tours, mangrove river tours, bottom fishing, bird watching, sunset cruising, kayaking, windsurfing, hobiecat sailing, snorkeling, rainforest hiking, novice & experienced rock-climbing, and introductory lessons or certified diving.

The resort itself is set in a cove with a backdrop of sheer limestone cliffs. Its quaint charm is enhanced by the crystal clear waters teeming with tropical fish (imagine yourself swimming among the stars of Finding Nemo!). Couples will find a multitude of romantic opportunities. Enjoy a private lunch or dinner on a secluded beach, or ask your special someone to marry you as you dine on a sand barge illuminated by torchlight. The resort also offers cultural experiences; during one of the buffet dinners, the resort staff performed folk songs and dances.  I even participated in the famous tinkling dance in which dancers avoid two tapping bamboo sticks with the skip of their dance steps. If you’re looking for an exotic escape, I couldn’t recommend a better vacation.  The Philippines is the perfect destination for friends, couples, families, and groups. There really is something for everyone! (and, best of all, your dollar will go much farther!)

My wife and I recently took a 15 day cruise on the Costa Allegra on Costa Cruise Lines. The cruise started in Hong Kong and visited Manila, Kota Kinabalu, Brunei, Singapore, Saigon, Danang, Sanya, and back to Hong Kong. We chose this line because of the expansive itinerary and wanted to celebrate our Christmas and New Year’s at sea. However, the experience left much to be desired.

Port of Call - I would not recommend Sanya, China. It is touted as a beach resort where most of the Chinese locals visit, but when we arrived it was clearly not well maintained and the sidewalks did not look clean.

The Ship - I was told the ship had no stabilizers. I don’t know if this is true or not, but the stretch from Hong Kong to Manila is supposed to be the worst. It was very calm seas and smooth going. All the other times we were at open sea - which was about 5 days - were bad. There was a stretch of about 70+ hours where my wife and I were taking Dramamine every 8 hours. I believe everyone was on Dramamine, so much demand in fact, that by about the 60th hour, the ship ran out of it. I was fortunate I had some extra pills.

For about 3 full days, the ship was moving all over the place. Lying in bed at night was no relief. The ship seemed to be moving in all directions, and, it became worst because the springs in the mattress made you bounce up and down like you were on a trampoline! There was one night at dinner where the ship was moving so bad that dishes, glasses, wine bottles were crashing and falling over.

The Menu - On paper, the menu looked excellent. In reality, it turned out to be rather poor quality and hit or miss on the taste. I had shrimp scampi once and lobster twice. All three times the food tasted like it was previously cooked/frozen/cooked mushy/or powdery. Even their pasta was not consistent in quality and taste.

The only saving grace on food was their pizza bar which served fresh pizza from 10pm to 1am. Costa is an Italian cruise line, so I’m glad they got this one right. In addition, their service from the dining and bar personnel was also to a high standard.