On my Asia 2002 trip I considered going to the Philippines. I was in Chiang Mai, Thailand and (after 30 days) I needed to leave the Kingdom to extend my visa. To fly to Manila I would (1) need to return to Bangkok, (2) take a jet for $300 and (3) worry about the Moslem insurrection (it was soon after 9/11). So I didn't go to the Philippines. A fellow traveler advised me that the violence was mostly in the south. Even though Manila and Luzon (the large northern island) were safe, this is what he advised: Fly to Manila but don't leave the airport. Go to the domestic terminal and get a flight to Boracay. In an hour you will be on a white sand beach.

I ended up making a traditional "visa run" and crossed the border to Myanmar (for 3 hours), obtaining a new 30 day stamp and saying once again, "What a country"! I realized, honestly, I just wanted to stay in Thailand but that's been a thought and a travel option for 8 years.

And January 2010 I landed in Manila and went directly north to Angeles City. I spent a few days in Subic Bay.

Then I flew from Clark Airbase to Catalan and ferried to Boracay for 6 days, spending the last two in Manila. I'm told Clark is one of the only airports large (and American enough) to be an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle!

It's nice that people in the Philippines learn English in school, but it's not Thailand. With the rest of South East Asia, the option of a short trip by land from any country to a neighboring country is a desirable trait (that goes for SE Asia as well as Europe and Central America). Honestly, I may not go back, but I'm glad I went.

A man on the flight to Boracay was returning from the states and when we met he said he owned a few places here, one being Orchids Resort, where I stayed.

At a few spots around the island, people create these great sand castles. They are rebuilt every day and as you see, dated.