Hola! Here’s me and Nina before heading into the caves.

So this is the largest, supposedly, underground river in the world and it’s about 8km long…it also snakes along in a dank cavernous setting where we could hear and sorta see over 40,000 (supposedly again) bats hovering overhead and try to create images of limestone formations in our heads. It’s located in a national eco-park which also has trails.

Somehow, as I look at these pics, I somehow still prefer the beach but hey, adventure has its place on vacay too right?

So here’s another shot of fun in the sun:

I must add: I realize that this year, there was no avoiding of a tan, but it will always be my goal to be pale and I strive for it while resisting all chemical skin whiteners…that stuff still freaks me out

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Now I don’t know what you hear but I don’t always hear praises about this city. But hey, one’s got to try to know right? And well, my experience was uber duber coolness. I had a great time and could’ve stayed longer but only had 2.5 days or so.

In the briefest form possible, this is what we did:

SHOPPING–all girls have to check out the scene especially if in a city with massive mall culture And that’s what you find here–connected malls which good, cheap wares. I only bought one thing which is quite something for a former crazy consumer.

EATING–I was traveling with foodies so they researched and I ate and ate and ate…good times and you know what, Filipino food is really great. Warm, steamy, rice-y, stewy meats, and good garlicked veggies…but since it’s in Asia, the deserts needed help but that’s typical here.

Then we split up. We didn’t have a fight but we had little time and different priorities. So Cathy (the other) and Vernon headed to a foodie market; Nina went to Intramuros, the old walled city; and I opted for the Chinese cemetery.

SIDEBAR
Now I’m not gory but I find cemeteries to be a great place for peace and exploring. When I lived in Paris, two of my fave places were Les Catacombes et la Cimetiere Pere LaChaise which are basically places for the dead. Really good tourist spots if you’re interested….
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OK back to Manilla, the cemetery was huge and had house-like graves and resting places. I had a glimpse in a nearby Catholic cemetery and it was the same thing: humungo structures that could house living creatures as well.

NOTE Filipinos love their music and they’re good at it. I heard remakes of Kung Fu Fighting, that Soulja Boy song, and others that were half in English and half in Tagalog and I was loving it

So selon moi which means in my honest opinion, the city was rockin Go on and visit!

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For one who is much less visual than wordy, I have stumbled upon a type of writers’ block: I am too lazy to write. NOT much of an excuse for one who keeps a blog and hopes that ppl read it….these days, I’d be surprised if I get any hits so thanks once again for stopping by!

It’s August, actually 08/08/08, 888 today which could be why the Chinese Olympics start today? Coincidence? Hmmm!

But I digress. I can’t write much so I show pics…When I’m writing, then I don’t want to post pics but here, let me do one or the another and then eventually, make proper posts with both.

We went to Manilla and then Palawan. But before any city sites, let me show you the beaches in Sabang. Oh and btw, I went on the trip in July, actually over the Independence Day holiday which I get b/c I work for an American company! Yippee!

The point of this post is to show you the various blues that the water here takes…I LOVED IT!

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