Manny Pacquiao's area - Sarangani Province - One of the best place in Southern Philippines

Phuket Beach Resorts is really where Phuket accommodation comes into its own. The fantastic combination of a stylish resort on absolute beachfront is one that never ceases to please and amaze guests. Have a look at our beachfront resorts listings and you'll find the place of your dreams. Read more >>

Construction work began on September 2, 1973, and the structure was formally inaugurated on August 29, 1975. The mausoleum was inspired by Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow but incorporates distinct Vietnamese architectural elements, such as the sloping roof. The exterior is made of gray granite, while the interior is gray, black, and red polished stone. The mausoleum's portico has the words "Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh" (Chairman Ho Chi Minh) inscribed across it.

The structure is 21.6 meters (70.9 feet) high and 41.2 meters (135.2 feet) wide. Flanking the mausoleum are two platforms with seven steps for parade viewing. The plaza in front of the mausoleum is divided into 240 green squares separated by pathways. The gardens surrounding the mausoleum have nearly 250 different species of plants and flowers, all from different regions of Vietnam.

The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh is preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum, which is protected by a military honor guard. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights. The mausoleum is closed occasionally while work is done to restore and preserve the body but is normally open daily from 09:00 to 12:00 to the public. Lines of visitors, including visiting foreign dignitaries, pay their respects at the mausoleum every day.

Rules regarding dress and behavior are strictly enforced by staff and guards. Legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts). Visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. Smoking, drinking, eating, photography, and video taping are also not permitted anywhere inside the mausoleum. Read more >>

Singapore: Gardens By the Bay

Gardens by the Bay (Chinese: 滨海湾花园; pinyin: bīnhǎi wān huāyuán) is a park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land^[1] in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden.

Gardens by the Bay is an integral part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a "Garden City" to a "City in a Garden". The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

First announced to the public by Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong during the National Day Rally in August 2005, Gardens by the Bay is intended to become Singapore's premier urban outdoor recreation space, and a national icon.

An international competition for the design of the master plan, held in January 2006, attracted more than 70 entries submitted by 170 firms from 24 countries. Two firms – Grant Associates and Gustafson Porter^[2] – were eventually awarded the master plan design for the Bay South and Bay East Gardens respectively. Explore more >>

US publication lists 'best beaches on Earth'

here are an infinite number of beaches, so this year, to determine the best sandy spots, Travel + Leisure launched its first annual Best Beaches Survey—and asked savvy travelers to reveal their favorites.

The list started with 54 famous beaches, grouped by type, which voters then ranked. One point came across loud and clear: you don’t have to travel far to experience a spectacular beach. In fact, U.S. beaches won in most categories, from seclusion to people-watching. 

In the Caribbean, meanwhile, all-inclusive hotels and endless activities—snorkeling, bodyboarding, sea kayaking—are some of the reasons that families love Seven Mile Beach, in the Cayman Islands.  
Read on to find the best beach for your next trip.  Read more >>

The Philippines: Cebu & Bohol

Alona Beach in Bohol. Image courtesy of Alona Palm Beach Resort.

Less than an hour by air from the Manila is Central Visayas, the group of islands between Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south. The province of Cebu highlights the Visayas, with its economic bustle and vibrant character showcased in the island's capital city of the same name. It is the country's oldest city, established immediately following Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's arrival there in 1565. It features a wealth of historical churches, monuments and ancient military forts as a result, most of which are part of highly interesting city tours. Side by side with these priceless relics is a modern city with an international airport located on adjacent Mactan Island that is connected by a modern causeway. Cebu presents the widest variety of sun and sea activities on dazzling island hopping tours - limitless water sports, golf, tennis and beautiful sightseeing within fascinating biodiversity on land and underwater.
There are hotels and resorts of every rating, and the 5-star ones are of the highest international standards and among the best in the country. Shopping in Cebu is a superb experience, the city being the virtual handicraft capital of the Philippines with furniture, wood and iron works, jewelry and accessories expertly hand crafted. Cebu is a major gateway to many other attractive destinations of the Philippines. From the city's major airport, it has flights (or ferry trips from its port) to many nearby vacation spots. In all these ways Cebu is a persuasive option as a intermediate stopover even when it happens not to be one's end destination in the Philippines.
One such extremely appealing destinations is Bohol Island, with its capital, Tagbilaran, only an hour and half by ferry from Cebu. Fifty-five kilometers away from Tagbilaran are the world famous Chocolate Hills, so named because they resemble gigantic drops of chocolates. Along the way one is likely to see a tarsier, the world's smallest monkey. Once done with sightseeing, the perimeter highway around the entire island leads to many spectacular beaches and seaside resorts such as those on nearby Panglao Island.
There is also Pamalican Island tour to avail of, with its waters serving as migrating routes for dolphins and whales. The island is ideal for divers and beachcombers, and its village populated by friendly people. There is even history to take in with relics such as a Spanish military outpost that served as a lookout for pirates or invaders.

The Philippines: Baguio & Cordillera Mountains

Rice terraces in the Cordillera mountains. Image copyright © George Tapan.
The Cordillera in northern Luzon is the highest and largest mountain range in the Philippines. The scenery, culture and environment in the Cordillera mountains are very different from other parts of the country. Whilst most of the Philippines is dominated by sandy beaches, small tropical islands and warm weather, the Cordillera mountains have cool weather, alpine vegetation, and stunning rice terraces inhabited by tribal people called Igorots (literally translated as "people from the mountains").
The Cordillera region is divided into six provinces and seven ethno-linguistic groups:

• Kalinga (home of the Kalinga and the Isneg)
• Apayao (Isneg)
• Abra (Tinggian)
• Mountain Province (Kankanaey)
• Ifugao (Ifugao)
• Benguet (Kankanaey and Ibaloi)

The largest city in the Cordillera mountains is Baguio City – known as the summer capital of the Philippines. Other popular tourist destinations in the region include: Banaue (famous for its ancient rice terraces), Sagada (famous for hanging coffins and burial caves), Bontoc (home to an extensive collection of tribal artifacts in the Museum of Mountain Culture), and Mount Data.
Blue Horizons Travel and Tours operates guided tours from Manila to the mountains of the north. These tours include all of the places listed in the previous paragraph, and can be booked on a private or sit-in-coach basis. Additionally, for those who would prefer to explore on their own, Blue Horizons provides car hire and hotel accommodation.