DISCOVERPHILIPPINES

With the recent surge of European tourists jumping on the bandwagon and experiencing the more popular, well known, destinations such as Thailand for themselves, other des-tinations in Southeast Asia seem to have drifted away into the back-ground. Thailand hasn’t yet turned a blind eye towards this increase in tourism either, with the country reacting in such a way that more hotels, bars and activities are avail-able than ever. And along with this, the local pricing strategy continues to increase also. Tourist hot-spot Bangkok can be seen charging double the price of its less popular neighbour Cebu, located in the Philippines, for items such as beer and wine, whilst the price of a bus ticket is nearly five times as much in Bangkok. Shake off the crowd and discover the unturned stone that is The Philippines. With a whopping 7107 islands to choose from, whether you’re an eager gap-year student hunting for buzzing nightlife and fast-paced activities, a sabbatical looking for days of trawling the markets or looking for relaxation on a secluded island, there’ll be something for you. And whilst the popularity of the country trails behind places such as Thailand, the

prices do just the same.Situated just to the right of Thai-land, the Philippines has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you’re looking for a tranquil getaway, the bright white sandy beaches and warm turquoise waters can be found dispersed across this intriguing country. Why not give Boracay a go? Situated on the western side of the country, its award winning beaches are sure not to disappoint. For the thrill seekers amongst you, tonnes of activities can be found at remark-ably cheap prices. Take a visit to Danao Adventure Park and expe-rience the thrill of ‘The Sui-Slide’ (approx. £4.94), a zip line like no other. Riders lie on their front in a cocoon shaped harness and ‘fly’ 200 metres above the rocky gorge to the other side. And don’t forget to try out ‘The Plunge’ (approx. £9.89) – an adrenaline-filled ac-tivity only for those daring enough! This canyon swing lets you free-fall 45 metres into the gorge before being propelled across, back and forth in a pendulum-like action. The Philippines is an English speaking country, with all schools teaching English as a compulsory subject. Therefore, many Filipinos are bilingual, with good English

speaking skills. Jaymar Enopia, a Cebu local said “We are a very friendly set of people, and I love seeing people from other countries visiting the Philippines”.The Philippines is known for still being a very native country. It is still firmly surrounded by its roots and hasn’t adapted itself for the west-ern holidaymakers, unlike many other popular tourist destinations have. Visiting this country is an experience where you will find your-self living like a local. Yes – you may have the comfort of your hotel room and swimming pool, but that’s where it all stops; or starts, as you may see it! Venturing elsewhere will find you immersing yourself into a culture like no other; local delicacies; markets; local transport; fishing, deserted beaches and much, much more. Taking a food-filled journey around the Philippines is one of the best ways to spend your time there. Sample the Bistek Tagalog, orig-inating from the Tagalog region, this dish consists of strips of sirloin steak that have been cooked slowly in soy sauce, calamansi juice and onions. Or try Kaidereta, a tradi-tional dish from Luzon, made up of cuts of pork, goat or beef with tomato paste and liver spread.