The Philippines - a horti and cultural journey!

The trip was amazing!!! We trekked, hiked, traveled by boat, ate ourselves silly, drank beer (NEVER drink it at home) and laughed a lot.

Here are some pictures...maybe not ALL of plants...but about what IDs the Philippines for me. We visited and traveled around Palawan...in the SW corner. No problems with Muslims....everyone was wonderful. The entire 10 days averaged out to 116$ per day including airfare...we were 5 people so we divided all expenses for meals, van and driver...as well as lodging.

Carol

Here is one of the trails we hiked...in the Prison Area behind some waterfalls. Trees are covered with a climbing bamboo.

I want one!!! Love these beasts...they are so patient looking and acting.... This is the SUV of the back roads.

The walls are woven...and every house...big or small...has a stand of Euphorbia, croton and bougainvilla...some elaborate, some simple. This is typical...

Our cabins in Sabang....

The view...from the cabin...$7.00 a night

Roommate...no mosquitos!!! UHOH...frame cut off his little (big) head!

This message was edited Mar 13, 2007 8:38 AM

Fabulous Crotons...here is a seedling growing in the forest....

More later...gotta catch up on sleep.

This message was edited Mar 12, 2007 8:11 PM

Oh that sounds like a wonderful trip. Great pictures, thanks for posting.

How wonderful!!!

Judy

Love the pictures; I know you had an amazing time.

Now about those $7.00 cabins, did they have wireless??????? LOL

That Tokay gecko is awesome!!!!

I lived in the P.I. for almost three years and miss it dearly. Thanks for the pictures.

my maternal grandparents were stationed in the Phillipines and I believe they missed this place the most. Grandma had the most fabulous linens for dress and home that I've ever seen anywhere.

What a fabulous trip Carol. But I'm sorry to say, that a $7 a night, you'll have to live in the Phillipines for over 10 years before you rack up enough FF miles, lol. But that wouldn't be such a terrible fate, would it?

croton is fabulous

Sorry I missed it. :-( great pics..did you bring anything back with you??

I spent 1 month in the luzon province a few years back and I must agree that the tropical environment there is absolutely stunning! Thx for the great pics!

I spent almost two years there, about 25 years ago. What a wonderful country to visit. From the flora to the people, it's just a beautiful place. Oh, what I'd give for a San Miguel (the ones they export aren't nearly as good). =/

What a great trip. Possibly the only "one up" to your current home. =D

Carol your trip sounds and looks so neat. Thank you so much for the pictures!!!! Have you gotten caught up around your place? I'm just able to breath here. Some of the La. DGer's are meeting at Forest Hill, La. in the morning to invade about 72 nurseries and see what we can find and drag home. Get some rest and please post more pictures soon.

Jeri

Kyle...no...didn't bring anything home...too dicey.

Here is a Bauhinia...a vining form...yellow... Bauhinias growing wild all over the place.

Lunch: Granola bar, bananas and watermelon. Here is where we saw the green a black striped garter snake with the frog in its' mouth...

Sort of typical cluster of houses beside a very dusty road...

Wonder how this happened?

Monkey Pod covered with a tiny fern...the whole tree is like this...ALL the surrounding trees too.

Absolutely happy Water Buffalo!

Carol, Wow! Nice pictures! The Palawan Island are nice uh! I am half Filipino. I took my family (kids) there a few years back.
Can not wait to go again. Did u bring anything back? Plants?
Did you incounter any Monkeys?

I LOVE geckos! :))) What a cool little housekeeper you had. :) I'd bet he stayed in his part of the house and pretty much left you alone. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures, and the watermelon/banana lunch looks to die for. :)

-Joe

Yes...we did see a troop of Macaque monkeys but they were too far away to take pictures. Also some baby Monitor Lizards only 3 and 4 feet long...scavenging scraps under the picnic tables. Wierd.

I feel like I just went with you....incredible pictures you have shared....thanks

oo oo You guys are sooooo lucky. who told you guys that there are problems with Muslims there? I come from a Filipino family and that's all I hear from my parents...My uncle got sent to Mindanao (Palawan is part of Mindanao) and my relatives were scared that his head might get decapitated....but iunno....I kinda don't believe with what my parents say. I know there's a war going on there right now and stuff, but at the same time my parents scare me by saying that Cebu (the middle part of the Phil. - mostly Islands) has alot of those rebellion groups that would take you for hostage. I swear, parents wanted to keep me on a cage and not let me travel. pfft.

They want to go visit but they want to stay in Manila. Now I want to go to Palawan!! It looks so beautiful and peaceful -_-