You are browsing the archive for manila.
Diving in the Philippines
December 18, 2010 in Diving Philippines, Our Liveaboards
DIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Diving in the Philippines has more or less everything, and it’s all in warm waters. There are over 7,100 islands surrounded by clear seas and we have hundreds of coral species and even more species of fish.
Best of all, the Philippines offers incredibly good value diving in a series of high quality comfortable liveboards and resorts.
For beginners, the Philippines provides the highest levels of Instructor care with teaching available in all the major global languages. Just imagine doing your first dives on pristine coral reefs and seeing turtles, rays and a whole host of beautiful marine life. The majority of all the resorts we feature even have swimming pools so much of your initial training will take place in a comfortable and easy environment.
Apo Island, Apo Reef and Tubbataha Reefs are synonymous with pelagics and here you can see Tuna, Sharks and schools of Jacks and Barracuda.
Map of the Philippines
There are steep walls at Pescador Island, Balicasag Island and Cabilao full of sea life and excitement. At Malapascua you will find one of the few dive sites in the world where you have a good chance to see Thresher Sharks.
Siquijor and Boracay have gentle slopes and very pretty reefs. Boracay also has the famed Yapak wall where big Pelagics will glide past you at 30m deep.
Coron is justifiably famous for its World War 2 wrecks, over 10 Japanese boats lie in waters shallow enough for recreational divers to explore them – all set in a backdrop of astonishingly beautiful scenery.
On the north side of Busuanga Island, at Dimakya island, not only can you reach Apo Reef but you can also take the opportunity to dive with dugongs.
Puerto Galera has dozens of dive sites within a very short distance of the resorts. Perhaps the best known being Canyons where strong currents will give you an exhilarating ride and Verde Island home to great numbers of fish.
Anilao which is just a short dive from Manila is home to great reefs and makes for the perfect weekend or short dive break.
There’s night diving, technical diving,rebreather diving, diving in lakes and so much more that you just have to keep coming back time after time.
And all this set in a tropical bliss with warm seas, sandy beaches, green palm trees, fantastic food and drink and friendly people. Your holiday here can be as lively or as quiet as you want it to be, you don’t ever have to travel far to find a deserted cove, beach or tranquil space and yet the impromptu party is always just around the corner!
Airport info for the Philippines
December 18, 2010 in Airports Philippines
Airports:
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)
Location: The airport is situated four miles (7km) south of the centre of Manila.
Time: GMT +8.
Contacts: Tel: +63 (0)2 877 1109.
Transfer between terminals: A Jeepney operates between the terminals for P2.
Transfer to the city: There are numerous taxis awaiting customers outside the airport, but it is best to book one before leaving the airport at one of the Taxi Offices. On presentation of a receipt at the desk outside the airport, an attendant will organise an official metered taxi. There is an airport bus service to the city centre, and regular buses that leave from outside the airport every 15 minutes to traverse destinations along Manila’s ring road. Colorful ‘Jeepneys’ offer services between the airport and a metrorail terminal, which connects to the city centre.
Car rental: Avis, Hertz and National have desks at the airport for car hire services.
Facilities: Passenger services at Manila airport include shops, restaurants and bars; ATMs, banks with currency exchange, left-luggage and postal services. The airport is hot and uncomfortable, however there is an excellent lounge, the Manila Lounge, which offers showers, clean toilets, drinks, magazines and newspapers for only US$11, or free for Diners Club members.
Departure Tax: P750 (international), P200 (domestic).
Website: www.miaa.gov.ph
Communications in the Philippines
December 18, 2010 in Communications Philippines
Communications in the Philippines: The international access code for the Philippines is +63. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Manila. The major towns, cities and popular tourist spots are covered by GSM 900 and 1800 mobile phone networks. Internet cafes are available in Manila and the tourist resorts.
Safety when traveling in the Philippines
December 18, 2010 in Safety Philippines
Safety: Safety and security should be of paramount concern to any visitor to the Philippines. It is vital to be fully informed of threats and developments regarding crime, terrorism and kidnapping before and during a visit to the islands. Vigilance is vital throughout the islands, particularly in Manila, as opportunistic crimes are motivated by circumstances of poverty. Extremist groups have a history of kidnapping foreign tourists, and terrorist bombings have occurred in Manila and Mindanao, targeting transport and public places. Recent explosions in Mindanao have killed and injured many people. Security has been increased across southern Philippines, and many foreign governments have issued warnings against traveling to Mindanao. Terrorist groups have also threatened to attack passenger ferries and other vessels, particularly those operating from Mindanao. The area is prone to typhoons between July and November, when flooding and landslides can occur; Typhoon Fengshen in June 2008 caused flash floods, landslides and rough seas that has lead to hundreds of deaths.
Hospitals in the Philippines
December 17, 2010 in Health Philippines, Hospitals Philippines
Ambulance: There is no national ambulance service in the Philippines. For an ambulance in Manila, call St. Luke’s Hospital at (011-63-2) 722-6161, 723-0101, or 723-0199.
Medical facilities: High-quality medical care is available in Manila, but may be difficult to locate elsewhere. Many expatriates go to St. Luke’s Hospital (279 E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City, tel. (011-63-2) 722-6161, 723-0101, 723-0199; website http://www.stluke.com.ph/; 24-hour emergency room with ambulance services; accredited by the Joint Commission International; member of the international networks of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, two leading U.S. hospitals). Another option is the Makati Medical Center (2 Amorsolo Street, Makati City, tel. (011-63-2) 815-9911, 892-5544; website http://www.makatimed.ph/).
For a comprehensive guide to health care in the Philippines, including lists of doctors and hospitals, go to your Embassy website. Most hospitals will require a downpayment at the time of admission. In some cases, public and private hospitals have withheld lifesaving medicines and treatments for non-payment of bills. Hospitals may refuse to discharge patients or release important medical documents until the bill has been paid in full. Life-threatening medical problems may require air evacuation to a country with state-of-the-art medical facilities.
Social Links