The Lavender Luggage: November 2011

Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (196 mi) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards numerous times. Boracay was awarded in the "Travelers' Choice 2011" by TripAdvisor as the second best beach (out of 25) in the world. Boracay made a debut appearance on the Top 10 Islands list in the Travel + Leisure travel magazine World's Best Awards 2011, ranking fourth.

The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

Leisure activities available on or near Boracay include scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, cliff diving, and beach relaxation.

Boracay is the site of a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, as of 2010, Boracay has in excess of 350 beach resorts offering more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodations, so tourists are sure to find whatever they are looking for.

In addition, Boracay offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

(Source: Wikipedia.com)

I went to Boracay Island in 2008 & 2011 (I'm planning to go back more often).

Welcome to the island of Boracay

Ferry Boat terminal in Caticlan

Boracay Regency Hotel - where we stayed in 2008

Sand castles along Boracay shore

The famous white beach of the island

Snorkeling time!!!

My very first tattoo, thank goodness its henna!

Kalibo International Airport with my friends (2011)

La Carmela de Boracay - where we stayed in 2011

Shopping for souvenirs

Starbucks in Boracay Island

Thank you Boracay.. See you soon!

With over 86 million people, the country of Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world. It is located in South East Asia on the Indochina Peninsula. China borders the north, with Cambodia to the Southwest, Laos to the Northwest, and the South China Sea to the east.

Vietnam has a very tropical climate in most of its regions. Because of the size of Vietnam, there are some major variations. Flat land only comprises 20% of the country, consisting of hills and densely forested mountains. Tall mountains and highlands make up the rest of the country, where the weather can be considerably cooler.

Tourism is increasing in popularity for Vietnam. The number of visitors for vacations and other tourist activities has increased progressively for the past ten years. In 2006, about 3.56 million international guests visited the country, an increase of 3.7% from 2005. More money is being invested into the coastal cities to stimulate additional tourism in the future. More people with English skills are being hired in the service industries to make tourists feel more comfortable.

For people interested in learning about the history and culture of Vietnam, they should visit Hoi Ạn. From the 15th to 19th centuries, this city was a major international shipping port, catering to Chinese, Japanese, Dutch and Indian settlers. Many of these cultures have left their mark on Vietnam that can still be seen today. Since then, most trading has moved to Da Nang, which left Hoi An as a quiet sleepy harbor. In 1999, Hoi An was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO because of how well the city has been preserved. It is a very modern city with tourist accommodations to fit any budget. Less than five kilometers away from beautiful Cua Dai Beach, there are numerous hotels in the heart of the town as well as on the coast offering great prices. Hoi An is a great place to gain insight into Vietnam’s fascinating past.

Other than sight seeing, there are many other things to do in Vietnam. These would include eating exotic food, fishing, hiking, visiting beaches, and horseback riding. So for an adventurous vacation and a stimulating cultural experience, visit Vietnam.

(Source: http://famouswonders.com/category/vietnam/)

I went to Viet Nam to celebrate my 28th Birthday, July 23 - 26, 2011.

I found Vietnamese peeps nice and easy to deal with just like us Filipinos. One challenge that I think a tourist like me should consider when travelling to this country is that Vietnamese can hardly speak English. They can understand the language but they're having a hard time expressing themselves, so utmost patience is needed when conversing with them.

Xinchao Viet Nam!