The Bright Lights of Beijing

Forbidden City

The majestic capital of China oozes power and beauty and is a vital stop on your Chinese travel itinerary. Explore the mysterious Forbidden City, which housed emperors for over 500 years. Now the Forbidden City has swapped royalty for artwork, and is the Palace Museum which boasts extensive collections of art and artefacts relating to the Ming dynasty. After drinking in the culture, hire a row boat to float around the stunning Shichahai lakes, surrounded by lush trees and vibrant bars and restaurants serving authentic Chinese cuisine.

Hall of Preserving Harmony

Indulge yourself in a spot of retail therapy by wandering the narrow streets of Nanluoguxiang, which is home to hundreds of shops boasting quirky clothes, excellent souvenirs and wonderful galleries. End your delightful day by dining at the impeccably chic Temple Restaurant; as the name would suggest, this fine dining establishment is housed in a former temple, and serves up gastronomical delights such as succulent lobster, smoked duck and goose liver, all with a Chinese twist.

A World Wonder

Great Wall

The mind blowing Great Wall of China spans a staggering 5,500 miles through stunning and diverse scenery. Comprising of over sixteen sections, it is highly recommended to take a tour of the Great Wall of China to fully comprehend the incredible history and majesty of this landmark, witnessing wonderful rolling hills and tranquil rivers along the way. A visit to this wonderful world wonder is guaranteed to be a truly unforgettable experience.

Total Tranquillity

China is saturated with some of the most staggeringly stunning places on earth, and is a mecca for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. One of the most gorgeous is the incomprehensibly beautiful Jiuzhaigou, Chinas first national park, where bright turquoise pools lie beside snow capped, majestic mountains shrouded in eerie mist, roaring waterfalls and verdant greenery. The breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest canyons in the world, and allows avid hikers the opportunity to scale rocky banks while wandering beside icy, crystal clear rivers and observing incredible wildlife along the way.

You will feel like you’ve stepped straight into an painted masterpiece when cruising down the idyllic Li River, which is bordered by surging peaks, green bamboo and huge water buffalo. This selection of natural wonders barely scrape the surface of China’s incredible offering, so a tailor made tour of these incredible sights is right at your fingertips as your plan your life changing trip to China.

Photos by Sam Gao, See-ming Lee and DragonWoman

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China’s Great Wall

Great Wall of China

You might initially be shocked at this suggestion, because it’s true, China’s Great Wall is crawling with tourists and it’s so packed, you can barely walk along it. However, if you venture away from Badaling and Mutianyu you can explore the 640km of wall that is unknown to most tourists. You can actually hike along this expanse of wall where possible, and you can camp on the wall too! Imagine what it would be like in the wilds of China for a camping holiday; secluded and faced with stunning views and extraordinary unspoilt villages and farmland.

Terelji National Park, Mongolia

Terelji National Park

Venturing across a cold and snowy landscape can seem unappealing at first, but this is an unmissable cultural experience; as you walk the barely used roads you’ll come across tiny settlements and see some of the rarest animals in the world. The great open plains are unlike anything else on earth, and you can break up your walk by staying with a Mongolian family in a traditional Yurt! The cold won’t be a problem if you have a pair of Dubarry Galway Boots however, and a good winter coat. Come prepared!

Haputale, Sri Lanka

Tea Hills, Haputale

Looking for a taste of home in the middle of the Sri Lanken mountains? Head to Haputale and trek part of the journey. You can find markets in this area selling English produce, and the area is surrounded by tea plantations that are still being processed by Victorian machines. It’s all reminiscent of the English occupation of this area back in the days of the empire, and it’s a little taste of history.

Photo by Francisco Diez, François Philipp and Indi Samarajiva

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Given the urgent need to hold on fast to whatever primary forests we have left, it is apparent that Sibuyan Island is precious from the standpoint of ecological conservation. From the tourism perspective, it is both fragile and yet alluring, as the idea of experiencing nature in its untouched state is somehow hard to believe, given the widespread destruction of wilderness to give way to human civilization.

This photo essay puts together a fleeting look at an island that one day soon may succumb to the pressures of tourism, mining and that innocent yet loaded word, “development.” Hopefully, the people of this unassuming island would stand up to external pressures that could reduce their jewel of a homeland to a rubble of mining waste.

Sibuyan can be reached 5 to 6 hours by boat

Part of the reason why Sibuyan Island is still largely inaccessible is because it is isolated from major ports, so long hours at sea are necessary. From the “nearby” port of Culasi in Roxas City, it is 6 hours on boat during summer, and definitely longer in rougher seas during the wet season. Even if you were to travel by plane and land in the bigger Tablas Island, there is still two hours of boat ride to get to Sibuyan.

The town plaza of Magdiwang

The town square is where the community congregates when there are important political and social occasions. Judging from how deserted this “plaza” looks, the locals are either busy in the farms or fishing, or there simply are not enough people willing to endure the summer heat.

Rush hour is non-existent in Sibuyan

Public transport is scarce in Sibuyan. There are “jeepneys” in the morning but they are no longer available after lunch. Tricycles are another option, but they too, are hard to come by.

Brace for rough roads that stretch for miles

Characteristic of any “undeveloped” town, rough roads such as these could stretch for miles. If you want to summit Mount Guiting-Guiting, prepare to endure hours and hours of seriously rough roads.

Some of the roads are dried up rivers

During summer, rivers do dry up, so locals typically utilize them for transport.

Bicycles like this have become common transport

Bicycles on Sibuyan Island have become a popular and cheap mode of transport. Bicycles like this were thought to have been bought from the post-tsunami surplus of Japan.

Tricycles are major modes of transport

The standard tricycle fare from the main town to the jump off point in Magdiwang could run up to P300 apiece with luggage. Given the scarcity of transport and the difficult conditions of the road, P300 is a fair enough price.

Wooden houses still abound in Sibuyan

The “bahay kubo” is still an ubiquitous structure in this unassuming island. Thatched houses such as this make good use of abundant indigenous materials like wood, bamboo and shingles made of palm fronds. Their light construction and ventilation make it bearable to stay indoors during the hot months.

Coconut-based products are a major source of income

Copra farming is a major economic activity in this island. Coconut trees can be grown easily and need very little maintenance. In dire economic situation, they can even be planted upland making otherwise non-arable areas productive.

Accommodation is basic and few in the island

Accommodation in Sibuyan is still pretty basic, given the fact that the bulk of tourists – mountaineers – bring with them tents and hammocks that they could just set up in designated areas, making inn-keeping a rather slow business.

Sibuyan Island in Romblon Series – Mt. Guiting-Guiting, The K2 of the Philippines >>

Photos by Lester Lope and Maevin Poncejan-Recto

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Rising out of central Philippine seas is a crescent-shaped island that was, millions of years ago, a 2,000-meter seamount pushed up by seismic forces to become the jagged peaks of Mount Guiting-Guiting. Because it was not part of the larger Philippine landmass, the flora and fauna of “G2″ (as Mt. Guiting-Guiting is called in Philippine mountaineering circles) is uniquely its own, worthy of an extensive study by naturalists and biologists who consider the island as having the densest forest in the world. The unbelievably rich plant and animal life G2 contains has made it the “Galapagos of Asia,” a distinction that puts it in the radar of eco-travelers.

Below is a compilation of glimpses that make G2 and Sibuyan Island a compelling destination for all nature lovers.

Thickly canopied mountains of Sibuyan visible from the coast

The sheer cliffs of G2 have worked to the advantage of the preservation of the forests in the island. Logging on its steep slopes would require more effort than usual (not to mention transporting the logs in a punishing 6-hour boat ride to the nearest major port).

A walking stick is an insect that looks like dead twigs

Walking sticks escape their predators by using a common sense technique of camouflage. Predators could easily mistake this clever insect as an unpalatable dried twig.

Wild terrestrial orchids abound on the slopes of G2

Terrestrial orchids also find home on G2’s steep slopes and make for pleasant diversions when mountaineers become too tired to move further up.

This succulent plant may have been once under the sea as staghorn corals

A quick look at this succulent plant reminds climbers of the geologic past of G2. One can speculate that this plant may have been a staghorn coral in its past life because of its uncanny resemblance to the latter.

Silver-bellied insect

This looks like a silver-bellied cicada (with its silver belly and green wings), but because the faunal inventory has not yet been completed, who knows?

A leaf-eating nightfeeding insect

Another yet-to-be-identified nocturnal, leaf-feeding insect found on one of the camps in G2.

Pitcher plants abound on the slopes of Sibuyan

Pitcher plants lure insects into their sticky receptacles and then dissolve them with acid-like enzymes. Pitcher plants, some big enough and capable of devouring rodents, are a minority in the plant kingdom because they are carnivorous.

Slipper orchid

Another wild orchid found on the slope of G2 is the lady slippers orchid because of its unmistakable resemblance to its namesake.

Fruit-bearing rattan

Rattan is a commercially important plant-based raw material in the Philippines because it can be fashioned into tasteful and elegant furniture. The country is in fact one of the major producers of rattan furnitures in Asia.

Pristine canopy extends to lower elevations

The thick canopy of G2 slopes is a refreshing and inspiring sight in a country whose rainforests are fast disappearing due to commercial and illegal logging.

Sibuyan Island in Romblon Series – Sibuyan Island: Way Off the Beaten Path >>

Photos by Lester Lope and Maevin Poncejan-Recto

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Club Scene:

Royal City Avenue, or better known as, RCA, is a place to blow some contained energy. At Flix, you can jump around to some of coolest local bands or to an awesome DJ spinning some house and trance.

Although new to the area, this place is proving to be popular. LED Club is a hip place that offers some amazing sets by some of the raddest international DJ’s around.

Don’t let the name fool you, Bed Supperclub is not the place to fall asleep (Photo by Ed and Eddie)

If you’re feeling posh and want to hang out with the cool Bangkok kids, head to Sukhumvit Road. First stop, Bed Supperclub. This restaurant turned lounge at night with an adjacent club is a happening place and one of Bangkok’s best. Drum and bass to indie-pop boom through the speakers for one epic night out.

Queue up for your favorite cocktail at Q Bar (Photo by Franklin Heijnen)

Just down the street is Q Bar, and this place has been around. It’s so well-know, celebrities like Colin Farrell have been spotted here. Should you want an interesting fusion concocted by master mixologists while mingling with the young and beautiful of Bangkok, go to Hyde and Seek for an interesting “gastro bar” experience.

Just Chillin':

If you’re hankering for a real good brew to avoid the backpackers common cheap Chang-over, head for The Londoner Brew Pub. They have a reasonable happy hour and beers that could be hard to find elsewhere. Sit back and throw down a few at Bangkok’s only English bitter and pilsner microbrewery.

Need a bit vino in your life? Tucked away on a cosy small soi in the Sukhumvit area is Enoteco Italiana. Here you can choose from over 300 Italian wine selections and sink your teeth into something that will make you think you teleported to Italy. An excellent place for a romantic night out.

Seedy and Sinful

Should you want to plunge into Asia’s seediest red-light district, Bangkok is your spot. Starting with Patpong, as this is where Thailand’s Go-Go culture started, you will experience a long side street between Silom and Surawongse just teeming with over a 100 neon flashing bright signs inviting you into their scandalous little playgrounds. Naughty and sometimes weird shows, pole dancing and everything in between can be found here.

Nana Plaza just kicking off (Photo by Mark Fischer)

Racy, sexy, and themed is what Nana Entertainment Plaza is all about. You will see girls dressed up in any fantasy outfits you can think of like schools girls or leather dominatrix. Don’t be fooled by every beautiful lady that walks by as some of them might be packing a bit more than you are hoping for. Lady-boys are prominent in Bangkok and this area is no certainly no different. Get ready for a visual experience like no other.

No matter what your vice is for the nightlife scene, Bangkok has it. For those who want to party without it being all about sex, then head to some of Bangkok’s classier but still loads of fun clubs and bars. All of these mentioned are in the RCA and Sukhumvit road area. Should you want to give in to your cravings or curiosity, then head to Nana or Patpong for the hottest more erotic nightlife offered in Asia. Whatever you choose, Bangkok will be able to please tenfold. Enjoy Asia’s sin city!

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If you feel like bungee jumping is too much of a risk but would like to be like Superman for the moment, what other activity could you engage in to slake your thirst for adventure?

There are actually several: hang gliding, parasailing and ziplining are a few. Of the three, ziplining is perhaps the least risky, since you will be securely tethered to steel cables while you slide down a la Man of Steel.

Ziplines are recent addition to attractions in the Philippines. In particular, Bukidnon, well-renowned locally as the Pineapple Central of the country because of the vast pineapple plantations maintained by a private company, is in the heart of zipline action. It also does not hurt that Bukidnon is just north of Davao City, the main tourist hub in the south, so getting there should be something like nailing two birds with one stone.

Get ready!

The 840-meter dual cable zipline in Dahilayan Adventure Park in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, is presently the longest in Asia. The launch point starts at a dizzying 4,700 feet above sea level and drops to about 100 meters so flyers zoom past at 60 to 100 kilometers per hour. Since the ZipZone (as the facility is called) can suspend two persons at the same time, you don’t have to conquer your fear of heights alone.

For better security, only zipliners up to 6’3” in height are allowed. This is not a problem with Filipinos, who on average stand at shorter than 5’6″. (Security is one concern, but so is aerodynamics. Bigger people are less streamlined to cut through air, whereas smaller ones or those built of lean frames move much easier through wind resistance.)

To get there, you can catch a flight to Cagayan de Oro City, then take a bus or private transport using the Davao-Bukidnon Highway. Turn right at the Alae Junction until you pass by the pineapple plantation. The adventure park is 25 kilometers from there.

Bukidnon is one of the Philippine’s emerging eco-tourist destination, so on the side you get to enjoy the lush greenery of the region and its varied landscapes defined and accented by waterfalls. Bukidnon is locally regarded as something like the Baguio of the South (Baguio is the summer capital of the Philippines), so a lungful of fresh air is within reach if you were short of breath from the flying adventure you just had.

Here’s a video of the ZipZone in Dahilayan Adventure Park:

Check out the best hotel offers in the Philippines.

Photos by Raleene Cabrera

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