All posts filed under: Travel

Discovering Central Luzon’s best with DATO travel exchange

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Organized by the DOT 3, the tour aimed to showcase the region’s vibrant attractions and provide firsthand experiences that are memorable for the visitors from Mindanao.

Ha Long’s Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Cave)

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Legend has it that the Thien Cung cave was the ancient residence of the Dragon King and his beautiful bride, May. Their spectacular wedding was once attended by gods, fairies, genies and dragons, many of whose images depict the stalactites and stalagmites that fill the huge cavern like an impressive mural of an ancient lavish banquet.

Love the Philippines Tourism Campaign

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I wasn’t aware of this until photos were sent by a friend of my buddy Joyce Mariscal (Vice Mayor of Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental) about Philippine Tourism double decker buses going around in Auckland, New Zealand with my photo on them.

Sunrise at the Davao Coastal Road (Series 1)

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Here’s a series of my sunrise shoot at the new Davao City Coastal Road last November 11, 2023

“Every day a million miracles begin at sunrise!” ― Eric Jerome Dickey

“Every day a million miracles begin at sunrise!” ― Eric Jerome Dickey

Moving forward in 2023

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“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.” ~Stacy Westfall

Petra Jordan by Jojie Alcantara

The Treasury (Al Khazna)

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On July 7, 2007, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and an even more famous tourist destination than when it was first shown in the movie Indiana Jones. Dating back to the first century AD, its design achievement reflects the advance civilization of the Nabataeans who perfectly carved their city in the rock mountains. The Treasury (Al Khazna) is the first stunning structure upon entering Petra. This masterpiece stands 150 feet tall and 100 feet wide. Petra is famously referred to as a “rose-red” city, but its reddish hue comes in the late afternoon. In midday, the monuments appear pinkish or yellowish depending on sunlight. ©Jojie Alcantara 2017

Halong City

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Halong City in Quang Ninh Province of Vietnam is a quiet but blossoming town right in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay. Quite laid back from other touristy cities, the roads are wide and without traffic (maybe peak season is different). Apart from popular Ha Long Bay cruises, it also offers beach activities, nature treks, local food and night markets. Divided into two main areas: there is Hon Gai on the other side of the bridge where local life, culture and food can be experienced. These are Vietnamese girls in traditional dress called “ao dai”, in a backdrop of Ha Long Bay. Bai Chay is the central tourist area on the other side where Ha Long Bay is filled with luxury cruises or traditional junk boat tours. Other options are: an artificial beach, restaurants, cafes and varying structures from high end resorts to boutique hotels lined along the bay. © Jojie Alcantara This January, Vietnam was the host country of the 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2019.  Held in Ha Long, …

Of ancient ruins and eternity

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“When Moses was alive, the pyramids were a thousand years old. Here people learned to measure time by a calendar, to plot the stars by astronomy. Here they developed that most awesome of all ideas – the idea of eternity.” ~ Walter Cronkite