Philippines Attractions

In spite of the fact that Philippines represent a group of islands on the South China Sea with distant mainland neighbours, it has an amazing growth rate both industrial and economical. The busy Manila city during the day is proof of the extent of growth and development Philippines has witnessed over the years.

There are various attractions around Manila and spread across the islands in Philippines. The Casa Manila is one such important landmark that Imelda Marcos the wife of the erstwhile President Ferdinand Marcos has carefully reconstructed. The entrance to this historical Spanish home is through the open courtyard that leads the visitor across various rooms to the kitchen and then out through the kitchen back to the courtyard. The rooms are furnished with antiques of the Spanish period and most of them are undamaged. The kitchen too has its share of antique settings. Ms. Marcos had put in her personal supervision to get this place cleaned and made up with the Spanish legacy of erstwhile Philippines.

The Hanging Coffins of Sagada is one more important attraction in Philippines. The custom of the people of Sagada in those days was to stuff the body after death in a wooden log. The body was to be forced in to the log even at the cost of a few bones being broken. These coffins were then placed hanging from the cliffs of Sagada and were virtually inaccessible to anyone. This was the way rituals went on for about 2000 years. However, with unrestricted tourist movement these coffins were taken away by tourists as mementoes for their homes.

Another major tourist attraction is the Coconut palace again built by Imelda Marcos for the stay of the Pope John Paul II on his visit to Manila. However, the Pope decided not to stay in the exclusive luxury of the palace keeping the overall poverty in Philippines in mind. The coconut palace is built with the help of the wood from the coconut tree specially re-engineered for the purpose of the palace, its roots, leaves, fruits and flowers. The main dining table is said to be made of around 40000 coconuts. The Coconut Palace was in use by various luminaries that have come calling on the people of Philippines over the past before it was converted into a museum.

Heard of the Chocolate Hills in Philippines? Probably you have not, so a visit to the Chocolate Hills is necessary. These hills rise to a height of about 120 feet and area essentially mounds of limestone deposits. They are spread over a wide area covering the areas of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. The grass, which is green during the early spring, turns into brown hay during the hot and humid season. This gives the area a hue of chocolate and the mounds look like chocolate hills throughout.

In the island of Camiguin, is the Katibawasan falls. Cascading down a steep fall of about 250 feet, the Katibawasan falls perennially empties itself into a small lake, which is open for swimming. The enchanting place is surrounded by large green ferns and other exotic foliages that delight the tourist as he emerges from a good swim in the lake.

The Eden Nature Park is a mountain resort about 3000 feet high from the sea. It is a man made park with terraces and slopes covered with pine trees. The pine trees act as a nursery for other plants and vegetation on the slope of the mountain. The Eden Nature Park provides a panoramic view of the Davao city and the Davao Gulf. The 80-hectare park today has more than 100,000 pine trees and has created a forest of its own.

The Manila Bay is one of the best-maintained bays in the whole of South East Asia and is considered as one of the most beautiful bays in the whole world. The Manila Bay provides entry to the Port of Manila with hundreds of ships carrying merchandise moving through the area. The Manila Bay provides an exhilarating view in the evening with the lights of Manila city forming an enchanting background.