Into the Green Zone: Palawan Islands

Palawan is one of the jewels of the Philippines. And if there's one book about Palawan that will inspire you even more to visit or one that you should have at home to show visitors, Into the Green Zone: Palawan Islands is it!

As expected, the photos are spectacular. We expect nothing less from George Tapan. The coffee table book features landscapes, wildlife, archaeology, built heritage, the people and culture, environment and industry of Palawan among many other very interesting aspects of this beautiful province.

Palawan is such a vast province, I have yet to explore many of its highlights. George Tapan traveled extensively around Palawan to complete this book which gives a glimpse of many places we only read about in books.

The book costs Php3,500 and is very well worth the price. There are discounts for bulk orders. Details are in the book's website. Photos in this post are from the book.

When news of the book's release was announced online, it got me salivating. Little did I know I'd get a complimentary copy from the publisher. Thank you!

Canada: Niagara Falls & winery visits at Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara Falls, at the border of Ontario, Canada and New York, USA, is on the bucket list of many travelers. It's actually a popular day-trip from Toronto, Canada. In fact, we visited Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, a town known for its wineries, during the Philippine Airlines (PAL) inaugural flight to Toronto.

The day actually started quite nice since the sun was out. We visited Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin in the morning to try out their famed ice wine. So what is ice wine? It's a type of dessert wine, really sweet. What makes it sweet is the manner in which the grapes are harvested and processed.

The grapes are allowed to freeze and are usually harvested early in the morning, before the sun comes out, to maintain the cold temperature since the grapes start to thaw by sunrise. Because the grapes are frozen, the water in the grapes freezes, but the sugars do not. So when the grapes are pressed, it produces a smaller amount but more concentrated must (juice) which ferments into a much sweeter wine.

Lunch was at Inniskillin, where we were served salad, salmon and prairie rice, which is not actually rice, but an oat known as Cavena Nuda. It cooks and tastes like rice. But the flavor also reminds me of white corn. I regret not taking a few kilos of Cavena Nuda with me to the Philippines.

On the way to Inniskillin, We also made a brief stop in Fort George, the scene of several battles during the War of 1812, a war between the British and the Americans. Opposite the Niagara River is Fort Niagara in New York.

We also passed by the Living Water Wayside Chapel, the smallest chapel in the world as per the Guinness Book of World Records with only six seats. Yes, some people actually hold their intimate wedding ceremonies there.

We also drove through the town center of Niagara-on-the-Lake before proceeding to the falls. Too bad the afternoon weather didn't cooperate when we visited the Niagara Falls.

By the time we arrived, it had started to rain. So it covered the view of most of the falls. There are actually three falls, two on the American side and one on the Canadian side. They say the view is best in the Canadian side. Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side is the most powerful waterfall in North America. No doubt, because we definitely felt its thunder as we went behind and stayed very close to the falls.

The Journey Behind the Falls offers you an observation platform and tunnels near the bottom of Horseshoe Falls. This attraction is accessible via elevators from the street level entrance. Fees vary depending on the season. From April to December, it's $15.95 (13+ years) and $10.95 (6 to 12 years). It's cheaper from December to April at $11.25 and $6.95 respectively.

If you want an overhead  view of the falls, you can visit Skylon Tower or the Minolta Tower. During the summer months, you can try the Maid of the Mist, a popular boat tour of Niagara Falls.

After exploring the area, we motored back to Toronto.

How to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto
Toronto is about two hours away from Niagara Falls, approximately 133 kilometers. There are various ways to get there. But the most popular would be renting a car, taking the Niagara Airbus or Megabus, or joining a guided tour. The guided tours are convenient options since they usually include visits a winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) flies direct from Manila to Toronto. Thank you for inviting me to join the inaugural flight last November!

Tagaytay: Your own vacation unit at Asilo Tagaytay

Tagaytay is such a charming city, with a majestic view of Taal Volcano from the ridge. On one side of the National Highway, they strictly impose height restrictions so as not to block this beautiful view. On the other side, medium and high-rise living spaces are now rising, providing city residents with an opportunity to enjoy a vacation unit with the famed view.

We were invited by Avida Land, Ayala’s affordable housing arm, to check out their new development in Tagaytay City. Asilo Tagaytay is a mixed-use residential development that offers a second home or vacation unit for buyers who want to enjoy picturesque views overlooking the majestic Taal Lake and Volcano and the cool, refreshing climate that Tagaytay is famous for. It’s perfect for families, couples, and individuals who wish to have a beautiful second home in Tagaytay where they can spend a holiday, a weekend, or take a vacation.

Of course, part of the visit was to experience two popular activities in Tagaytay – food and relaxation. There are so many interesting restaurants in Tagaytay and we had lunch at one of them. For the afternoon, we were pampered at the famous Nurture Spa, definitely among the best in the country.

Before trooping to Tagaytay, we visited their showroom in Alabang Town Center. We were introduced to the development.

Among the features I like about Asilo Tagaytay is that the size and number of the buildings are just enough to let resident fully enjoy the views and the climate—and of course, to maintain as much as possible a natural setting which is very important. I just hate developments that are all concrete. This is evident in the form of the structures and their terracing, where we see how they sort of step back and become unobtrusive parts of the overall landscape.

Corridors are designed to have breezeways and there’s ample space between buildings to allow better cross-ventilation. The roof is pitched so there is a particular character that is appropriate to Tagaytay. Plus, there are more balconies in the upper floors so that residents can fully enjoy their view of Taal and the Batangas mountain range in the horizon.

We all like to have a vacation space in Tagaytay. Asilo Tagaytay could just be your place. For more information, visit the Asilo Tagaytay website. You may also contact Avida thru (+632) 848-5200.