This is a cocktail of a country, potent and heady. The Philippines does not believe in leaving anything out, so its 7,000-plus islands boast Malay, Chinese, Spanish and indigenous influences, not to mention religious traditions rooted in Islam. Catholicism, animism and everything in between. This country crams as much on its plate as it possibly can, so you will need a clear head to take it all in.
Philippines: At a Glance
Capital: Manila- Currency: PHP/Peso (100 Philippine Peso is about USD 2.25)
- Population: 64.38 Million
- Languages: Filipino, English
- National Flower: Sampaguita Jasmine
- GDP (PPP) Per Capita: USD 10,126
- Official Tourism Website: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/
- Wikitravel Travel Guide: http://wikitravel.org/en/Philippines
Experience the Best Attractions of Philippines
A Shot of Culture: Intramuros, the Spanish walled city within Manila, has a history and culture all its own, and is worth spending a day or two exploring. Start at the Intramuros Visitors Centre, located right by the entrance to Fort Santiago, and wander about the lanes lined with lovely casas until you reach San Augustin, Manila’s oldest stone church. You can also tour Intramuros on a kalesa—a horse-drawn carriage, though walking has its own charm.
Surf’s Up: If your beach bum-turn-surfer self is calling out to you, head to Siargao, in the northeast of Mindanao. Time seems to stand still here, as you hitch rides on the famous Cloud 9 break and gaze, over chilled beer, upon skies softening into sunsets. In October, crowds descend on the sleepy island for the Siargao Cup surf competition, one of the Philippines’s largest sporting events.
A Whole New World: The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a marvel of limestone stalactites and stalagmites, and can be accessed on a kayak tour. As you drift into the cave, take in the weird formations sculpted out of the rock over the centuries. You will spot a melting candle by one side, or a rampaging dinosaur on the other!
Fall Off the Grid: Apo Reef is off the tourist map, which means that you will have the secluded Apo Reef Island and its surrounding reef pretty much all to yourself. You will have a great time being one with the fish as you swim, snorkel, and dive to your heart’s content, emerging only for meals of fresh seafood.
An Active Getaway: Climb to the top of the overwhelming Taal Volcano in Talisay, where the bubbling green waters of the Taal Lake await. Within the lake sits yet another volcano, steaming away gently. The trip to the top can be tiring but there are horses available for the less active, and the views from up there are well worth the journey.
Retail Therapy: Indulge yourself in Metro Manila’s financial heart, Makati City, and its Greenbelt mall. You will find a range of treats here—the mall has both open-air and enclosed areas, sit-down as well as fast food eateries, and big international brands (think Calvin Klein, Hermes, and the like) along with high-end and Filipino designer boutiques.
Hop About: Head to the pristine islands off the coast at gorgeous El Nido. There are multiple islands to choose from, each of which is prettier than the other. You can spend your days lazing about on white sands, exploring the area on kayaks and snorkeling among the many colorful fish that call these waters home. If you are lucky you may spot a hawksbill turtle or two, and you may come across dolphins, whale sharks, dugongs, and mantra rays.
Be Bucolic: Get a taste of the Filipino countryside and spend some time amid Banaue’s rice terraces. These rice terraces are a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, gracefully sculpted into the hillside by the Ifugao people of this quiet little farming community.
Get High: You could be forgiven for thinking you are in Scotland when you visit Batanes, the country’s northernmost province. Expect rolling green hills, towering fortresses and the like among the ten islands here.
Life’s a Feast: You will have a great time going on an eating binge in the Philippines, especially if you love meat. Pork, in particular, plays a big role in the cuisine here, and a slow-roasted suckling pig is the best treat to be had. Even if you are not a big pork-eater, Manila is where you should aim to experiment with your eats and get an introduction to the many flavors that make up Filipino food.
In the Hindu mythology, the nagas reside within the earth in an aquatic 
Capital: 
Architecture 101: Former capitals are full of old glory and great architecture, and 
Hunt for Bargains: The 
It’s All Rice: Rice, in all its forms, is a staple in the distinctive cuisine of Myanmar. 
Get a Bird’s Eye View: Climb up 
Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Surrounded by greenery and marshes, cool morning mists, villages of houses on stilts and floating gardens, the 
Art Lessons: 
Wander through Ruins: 
Pagoda Sunsets: Make your way up to the 
Find Your Spiritual Side: Go forth and find your holy spirit at 
I am with Stupa: Sagaing lies along the 
Capital: 
Get Your Cocoa On: ‘Monggo’ is Javanese for ‘please, go ahead’ and when you taste these 
Dive into the Deep: Far away and remote, the sparkling clear emerald green waters of the 
Truly In-spired: Huge temples in rice fields seem to be South East Asia’s thing, and, just like 
Tail Tales: Watch out for forked, snake-like tongues on 
Shop Your Way through Seminyak: Glitzy 
Misty Mountaintops: Climb up the 
Art it Up: As you saw in 
Eat Your Heart Out: If you will come back missing something, all bets are on the food. 
Go Local: Just east of Bali, the islands of 
Of Coffee and Rhinos: Java has a fair bit going for it. Surrounded by the 
Capital: 
Time Travel: A trip to 
Easy Riders: Go back to a simpler time with a visit to 
Market Days: Get a taste of modern-day Vietnamese life with a cruise down the River Mekong to the 
A Flash of Color: Once the home of Vietnamese prisoners, the pristine beauty of the 
Tunnel Vision: No matter how much you may have read about it, nothing prepares you for the maze of tunnels that run under 
Hue Calling: Once the capital of the 
Lessons Learned: For an introduction to Vietnam’s history, a visit to the 
Water Ways: While you are in Hanoi, go for a 
Meat Feast: 
Dune Deal: Look out across the desert-like horizon and you will wonder if you are in the Sahara. The 
Capital: 
Luxury in Langkawi: If you are looking for a lazy, luxuriant vacation with lots of sun, sea and sand, head to 
Hippie Hideaway: Lying off the northeast coast of peninsular Malaysia, 
Picture-perfect Tioman: Used as a backdrop in the 
Place to Indulge: A little indulgence is in order on every holiday and you cannot get better than 
Underwater Art: Rising 600 meters from the seabed and formed by living corals growing on an extinct volcano over thousands of years, 
Food & Fusion in Penang: A unique mixture of east and west and deliciously flavorful cuisine makes 
White Sands: Forming a marine park of nine islands off the eastern peninsular Malaysian state of 
Island Getaway: If you are looking for a few days away from the cities, 
No Kidding About: Give your little ones (and yourself) a special treat and pencil in some time for the very cool Legoland that is opened in Johor. Your day will go by before you know it! The resort opened on 15-Sep-2012 with over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions.
Going Sour: A sour fish soup, 
Capital: 
Heavenly Beauty: With a dome made of pure gold, imported marble from Italy and a man-made lagoon, the 
Dive Right In: Some of the best diving sites in the world are located off 
Midnight Feast: You are on holiday; you should be able to eat anytime you feel like it. Indulge those annoying nighttime hunger pangs at the 
Eat What?: 
Get Bucolic: Go back in time and discover the roots of Brunei, its time-honored traditions and rituals showcased through a homestay in a Bruneian village. The residents of 
Early Bird: Get yourself out of bed early for a sunrise safari through the 
Life on the Water at Kampong Ayer: The pulse of Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, 
Wealth of Art: The 
Meet the Royals: The end of Ramadan heralds the festival of 
Live among the Stars: The 
Victor Hugo wrote 
In 1843, Hugo’s oldest and favorite daughter, the 19-year old 
Capital: 
Boxing Days: Grueling training sessions, a rudimentary diet and sparse facilities—these are the staples of training for 
Biker Fun: Thailand is great for two-wheeled exploration, as long as you can deal with crazy traffic. Check out the Big Bike Company in Patong. They rent out Honda CB 400 cc motorbikes that are fun and fast. Your inner petrol head will certainly be happy, especially when you hit the long, winding roads.
Cook up a Storm: If you love 
Leave the Road Behind: Go off the beaten track and indulge in some soft adventure sports in 
Get Wet: Thailand turns into a free-for-all water park once a year. The 
Join the (Yacht) Club: If your sailor self has been feeling neglected for a while, and you are feeling especially indulgent, Thailand has many great yachting options. A sailing holiday in Thailand is an especially beautiful experience with the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea and 
Kick Back: Take a break from all that activity at 
Festival of Lights: Come November, Thailand transforms into a veritable fairyland of lights, 
Soup It Up: Thailand is known for its spicy, flavorful food and 
Get Inked: Experience tattooing like no place else at