This past April, I embarked on another journey. Given the circumstances at office (which I’ll explain later), I decided to go somewhere ‘interesting’. This time, a country which upon researching last year, I realized offered so much more than I thought. I’ll go into the details as to why I took the plunge to go as far as Philippines when I begin this series 2 months from now, but until then, here a few of the 5000-plus photos I took from this 2 & 1/2 week long trip.
Flew over the South China sea for the first time -- very pretty (Taken on my cellphone)
First day of sight-seeing: The Manila American Cemetery and MemorialWhere 17,202 soldiers, Filipino and American, are buriedA rainbow caused by the sprinkler and sunlightMet my reader (& now friend) Aimee who helped me a LOT in ManilaArrive in Banaue the next dayGo on a tour by trike through a region quite prone to landslidesEmbark on what became the toughest trek I ever didSeeing these villagers carry livestock and kilos of grain for nearly a 1km through terrain that I found *incredibly* tiring even with hiking boots on, made me want to never complain about corporate life ever again. Listening to pigs squeal (& the resulting echo in the valley) for more than half-an-hour also made me not want to have pork... (that day)After nearly 1 1/2 of trekking, the view I get in Batad. A village with no access via road and one that only got electricity recently.And since these children don't see new faces often (least of all an Indian), played with them for a bit as wellAfter a break, trek all the way back through tracks destroyed by landslides... but this time, with a local I hired to carry my bags. My body just couldn't take the load a second time.End the day with a view of the grand daddy of them all, the Banaue Rice TerracesThe sheer size of the Banaue rice terraces are a bit hard to capture on photographThe next day, take two jeepneys to get to the small town of SagadaA small, but beautiful town!Sagada is also famed for its limestone cavesWhich was an amazing 'first' experience for meSagada is also famous for this, Echo Valley. People laid to rest for years on the side of a cliff.Leave the next day and drive through beautiful terrains to get to BaguioThen, on Good Friday, arrive in the town of San Fernando in Pampanga district for the main reason I chose to fly to Philippines at this time of the year.Warning: The next few photos are going to be graphic in nature.I don't have to time explain what the rituals are about and why they celebrate it this way, but you can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pedro_Cutud_Lenten_RitesMind you, it was scorching hot that day"You want photo? One bottle!"The famed annual re-enactment ceremony of the crucifixion of Jesus ChristPeople volunteer to be actually nailed to the crossAnd in case you don't believe me...Taken on my cellphone because of number of people jostling to get a close up view(Also taken on my cellphone)Street child: "Hey! One photo mister!" (grabs baby sister) (I start to click) Street child: (Oh, he's *actually* taking my photo?) ~shy~The night mass with beautiful floats of... erm, Christian characters from the bible(?)Arrive back in Manila for a guided tour by Aimee. The Manila Chinatown was nothing special, but their fire engines were!Manila Cathedral in IntramurosI get everything... except the 'chicken' part. As seen in Robinson's mall in Manila.Arrived in Cebu to kick off the second leg of my journey. This was the ceiling at the oldest church in Cebu.Take a ferry to Bohol, hire a trike and drive one hour to see this: the Chocolate Hills1,776 hills that make for a phenomenal geographical formationSee Bohol's Tarsiers. An animal I think, became the inspiration for Dobby's appearance (from the Harry Potter films)Arrive in Sambang in Palawan island to visit the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National ParkThe underground river is a 8.2 kilometers long but tourists are only allowed 1.6kms in. The place is in contention for the 'New 7 Wonders of the World' contest.Another interesting and never-done-before experience for me! Also, quite a challenge holding the light *AND* clicking photosTrust me, there's a LOT more photos from inside the cave but no time for me to work on all of them now.Once out, had lunch on Sambang beach.Wake up early the next day, take the local bus to the Northern most town of El NidoHave sandwich bun ice cream for breakfast (Rs. 15)Arrive at my guesthouse in El Nido beach. Sit out, stare into what's right in front of me...and do little else. (Taken on my cellphone)Go on an island-hopping tour the next day. Snorkel in a lagoon wearing a life jacket.....and attempt kayaking for the first time. It was a lot easier than I thought! (Unfortunately no photos of me doing all this because I was afraid to get my valuable camera equipment wet. I've had previous bad experiences with salt water screwing up my equipment)Stop on an island for lunchWhich was barbecued fish and porkKids on this island must be sick of drinking coconut waterWatch the sunset on Las Cabanas beachHave a 'home-cooked' dinner of lobster soup, grilled lobsters, fried tuna and rice, all for Rs.250Leave El Nido the next morning... and leave the island of Palawan at sunset, thereby concluding my sightseeing around Philippines.
Needless to say, I have many more photos to share and plenty of experiences. This was without a doubt, the best trip I ever made in my life (so far)!
Great photographs. I particularly liked the ones of the cemetery.
Jenny
14/09/2011
Hi,
My name is Jenny and I am the Production Coordinator on a Travel Docu-Series. We are in need of a great shot of the Hanging Coffins in Sagada and we came across your amazing image:
Hi! Im from the philippines and right now I envy you ’cause despite the fact that I live here, I haven’t gone to almost all of the places you went to.. Its like your giving me tour of my own country.. Haha. Thanks!:) and gorgeous photos by the way..
Mithun Divakaran Reply: November 3rd, 2011 at 4:38 PM
He he, thanks Eva. Hope to come back next year and visit the other places I couldn’t visit this time around. Love the country and its people! 🙂
I enjoyed reading your Philippine series! You should be writing in some trsvel magazines. Wish you all the bests… 😉
Mithun Divakaran Reply: December 6th, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Sigh, that is the dream dude… 🙂
paul
21/03/2012
Hi.. nice blog… and nice trip!!!! i enjoy reading and lookin on the pics. thanks..
Mithun Divakaran Reply: March 22nd, 2012 at 2:36 AM
Thanks for the comment Paul.
Tata
02/05/2012
great adventure there dude. those pics and your captions caught my interest. you are a good traveller 🙂
Mithun Divakaran Reply: May 2nd, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Thanks man, appreciate your comment!
Louis
19/06/2012
I’ve read on your other post that you weren’t able to visit Davao. I’m a local of Davao (born and raised here) If you need help or if you have inquiries about the city just let me know. By the way, thanks for the beautiful feature about the Philippines. Hope you come back real soon, bring some friends down here and explore some of the few 7000 plus islands that you weren’t able to visit.
Mithun Divakaran Reply: June 20th, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Thanks Louis, I’m desperate to comeback to the Philippines but I rather find work in Manila so that I can stay longer 🙁
cathy
11/05/2011hi..thanks for writing a beautiful phrases about philippines…..
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
May 11th, 2011 at 2:13 PM
Trust me, its easy. From the people I met to the places I went to, I have only good things to say about the Philippines! 🙂
Lady
20/05/2011Like alot!
Sen1122
27/07/2011Lovely photos of the country. 😉 There are 1,000+ islands more to explore!
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
July 27th, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Thanks, and yes, many more islands to explore. Unfortunately, to fully explore Philippines, one needs time — and some money 🙂
Chintan
30/07/2011Very interesting blog. I loved this post…and some shocking photos there . I would like to visit this country too now…some day insha-allah!
Sudha
01/08/2011Great photographs. I particularly liked the ones of the cemetery.
Jenny
14/09/2011Hi,
My name is Jenny and I am the Production Coordinator on a Travel Docu-Series. We are in need of a great shot of the Hanging Coffins in Sagada and we came across your amazing image:
http://mithunonthe.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/sagada-hanging-coffins-echo-valley-philippines.jpg
I would love to discuss licensing the use of this image for a few seconds on our show. I thank you in advance for your quick response!
I can be reached at jennychan309@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Jenny
Eva
02/11/2011Hi! Im from the philippines and right now I envy you ’cause despite the fact that I live here, I haven’t gone to almost all of the places you went to.. Its like your giving me tour of my own country.. Haha. Thanks!:) and gorgeous photos by the way..
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 4:38 PM
He he, thanks Eva. Hope to come back next year and visit the other places I couldn’t visit this time around. Love the country and its people! 🙂
Ross
06/12/2011I enjoyed reading your Philippine series! You should be writing in some trsvel magazines. Wish you all the bests… 😉
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
December 6th, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Sigh, that is the dream dude… 🙂
paul
21/03/2012Hi.. nice blog… and nice trip!!!! i enjoy reading and lookin on the pics. thanks..
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:36 AM
Thanks for the comment Paul.
Tata
02/05/2012great adventure there dude. those pics and your captions caught my interest. you are a good traveller 🙂
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
May 2nd, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Thanks man, appreciate your comment!
Louis
19/06/2012I’ve read on your other post that you weren’t able to visit Davao. I’m a local of Davao (born and raised here) If you need help or if you have inquiries about the city just let me know. By the way, thanks for the beautiful feature about the Philippines. Hope you come back real soon, bring some friends down here and explore some of the few 7000 plus islands that you weren’t able to visit.
Mithun Divakaran Reply:
June 20th, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Thanks Louis, I’m desperate to comeback to the Philippines but I rather find work in Manila so that I can stay longer 🙁