♫ SIGHTS ♫

BORACAY

Boracay is a tropical island in the Philippines. It is the beach capital of the country. Boracay is renowned for its powdery white sands, which are said to be the finest in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. With over 350 establishments catering to tourists, Boracay has become a favorite travel destination for both foreigners and locals.

Boracay Island is first and foremost a sun-worshippers paradise. Powdery white sand and calm waters conspire to keep visitors coming back. Massages, fruit shakes, drinks, snacks, and even wi-fi make for a one-stop beach experience.

The atmosphere in Boracay Island is very casual. People just walk around in their swim suits all day and all night long, dancing to music barefoot on the beaches until dawn. If you're looking for fun and adventure while getting a nice tan along the way, Boracay Island is the perfect travel destination for you.

Those who tire of lazing about will enjoy traversing the sandy pedestrian path along the white beach. Restaurants, shops, scuba diving, mountain bike rentals, and sea sports of all sorts are available along the beach. There will be no shortage of friendly faces offering sunset paraw (the local sailboat) tours, island hopping and tours by motorized banca, hair braiding and henna tattooing, and even a little Nemo to show you some clownfish through a glass bottomed boat! Internet, phone, and fax are available all over the island.

SOURCE:http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/explore_phi/place_details.asp?content=description&province=98

PALAWAN SUBTERRANEAN RIVER

The Subterranean Underground River in the River National Park is one of the most visited places among tourists. Who will not get mesmerized by the beauty and splendor found from this amazing underground river? Most tourists express their description of the Subterranean Underground River to be an enchanting place. The underground river is an excellent scenic spot to visit. The resembling religious-like images of stalactites and stalagmites are all breathtaking views. Cove dwelling faunas also dwell in the underground rivers and are eye catchers as well.

The cool and calm waters in Palawan’s Subterranean Underground River give leeway for a wonderful banca trip down to the underground river. The river winds around limestone caverns that were carved from the precipitated waters. The underground river directly flows to the sea subjecting its cavern entrance to tidal influences. The underground river, by virtue of Proclamation No. 835 on March 26, 1971 was officially declared to be called as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and is now included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The rocky mountain that comprises the land forms of the park is covered with lush tropical rain forests. A small portion of the park is vegetated with karst limestone. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is also popular with other tourist sites aside from the famous underground river. Worth mentioning are the wildlife preservation park, the endangered Palawan mousedeer and famous peacock pheasants. The Philippines Cockatoo are also found there.

SOURCE: http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/PuertoPrincesa/

BAGUIO

Looking for a place where you could leave all your cares behind? Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines promises a haven to anyone who seeks its comfort. With its numerous tourist attractions and panoramic scenes and invigorating pine scented fresh air it seeks to provide a respite to any traveler, a hideaway to the romantics and respite to the weariest soul. Capture this one of a kind feeling as you browse through the vivid and vibrant scenes of the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

The name Baguio conjures, for both the international and domestic traveler, a highland retreat in the Grand Cordillera in Northern Luzon, with pine trees, crisp cold breezes and low verdant knolls and hillocks. Through the numerous decades Baguio has morphed from what was once a grassy marshland into one of the cleanest and greenest, most highly urbanized cities in the country. It has made its mark as a premiere tourist destination in the Northern part of the Philippines with its cool climate, foggy hills, panoramic views and lovely flowers. Being the ideal convergence zone of neighboring highland places, Baguio is the melting pot of different peoples and cultures and has boosted its ability to provide a center for education for its neighbors. Its rich culture and countless resources have lured numerous investments and business opportunities to the city.

Baguio is not called the Garden City of the north without good reason. Its many scenic parks dot the cityscape and offer the chance for a quiet and tranquil afternoon getaway. Aside from the usual picnicking, one can try their hand at horseback riding or fishing. Very clean and well-maintained, Baguio's parks are the pride of the city.

So these are the following destinations in Baguio wherein you should not miss: Botanical Gardens, Burnham Park, Camp Johnhay, Mines View, Wright Park, Kennon Road, Teachers Camp, Mansion House, Philippine Military Academy, Lourdes Grotto, Bell Church, Baguio Cathedral, Woodcarvers Village, Saint Louis Filigree Shop, Asin Hot Springs, Mount Santo Tomas and a lot more.

SOURCE: http://www.baguio.gov.ph/

BANAUE RICE TERRACES

The Banaue Rice Terraces are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the Batad indigenous people. These are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eight Wonder of The World".

Carved out of the hillside by Ifugao tribe’s people 2000 to 3000 years ago without the aid of machinery to provide level steps where the natives plant rice. And they are still in use today. In 1995, they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces are the priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity. Built 2000 years ago and passed on from generation to generation, the Ifugao Rice Terraces represent an enduring illustration of an ancient civilization that surpassed various challenges and setbacks posed by modernization.

This sight is a memorial to the history and labor of more than a thousand generations of small-scale farmers who, working together as a community, have created a landscape based on a delicate and sustainable use of natural resources. These man-made terraces are also known as giant stairways to the sky.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces

CHOCOLATE HILLS

The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers (20 sq mi). They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.

The Chocolate Hills is a famous tourist attraction of Bohol. It is featured in the provincial flag and seal to symbolize the abundance of natural attraction in the province. It is in the Philippine Tourism Authority's list of tourist destinations in the Philippines; it has been declared the country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Bohol's "main attraction", these unique mound-shaped hills are scattered by the thousands on the island's central plain, concentrated near the town of Carmen.

During the dry season, the precipitation is inadequate such that the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown. This transforms the area into seemingly endless rows of "chocolate kisses". The branded confection is the inspiration behind the name, Chocolate Hills. Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_Hills