Out of the Way Places to Visit in the Philippines

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The Philippine Islands are renowned as one of the top destinations for tourists, travelers, adventurers and water sports enthusiasts. But there are still many parts of these islands that remain off the beaten track, hidden gems that have yet to be discovered by mass tourism. It's always a good idea to research the current situation before you travel, just to make sure it's safe to go beyond the proscribed resort areas. But if you do get a chance to head out on your own initiative, here are some of the most rewarding locations that most visitors never get around to seeing. Depending on where you set off from, the journey may take you up to nine hours even from within the country, so make sure you have everything you’ll need – water, snacks, and a charged phone – and sort some entertainment too. (These Betfair promo codes NJ might help.)

Isla de Gigantes Sur

This is one of the most incredible islands in the whole of the Philippines, but at the time of writing it has yet to be colonized by hotels and resorts. This means it is still largely un-spoilt and is not overrun by tourists. If you want to stay over you'll probably need to make arrangements with a local family, but once you're on the island you should definitely head for Antonia Beach.

On one side this faces right onto the ocean, but on the other there are permanently calm waters for stress-free swimming and bathing. This is an ideal snorkeling location too, and lies just half an hour from the island's main port. You can get there by ferry from Estancia, or hire your own boat to come and go as you please.

Calayan Island

Calayan Island isn't the easiest of the Philippine Islands to get to, but it's definitely worth it. The island's relative inaccessibility, guarded as it is by high waves and a number of different ports you'll need to pass through, is what ensures that its beauty remains un-spoilt and mostly undiscovered. If you want peace and quiet in a remote, stunning landscape, Calayan Island is the place to go.

Once you arrive you'll be rewarded with amazing secluded beaches, friendly locals and striking rock formations. Be sure to check out the white sandy beaches of Cibang Cove and, if you're feeling fit, to climb the Nagudungan Hills, where the views from the top are simply breath-taking.

Dumog Sandbar

There is remote and then there is remote: and then there is this isolated sandbar in the middle of the ocean, only fully exposed at low tide. At one end it actually stays submerged just beneath the surface of the sea for several hundred meters. Walk out along it and you'll feel like you're walking on water!

Located between the islands of Bohol and Cebu, the sandbar has one permanent resident, a caretaker who guards it against the environmentally destructive practice of dynamite fishing. Otherwise it can only be visited for a few hours every day, so plan carefully.

Malawi Island

Although there is a tourist resort on Malawi Beach, the island is usually pretty quiet as it is located in the province of Basilan. While Malawi Island is considered to be completely safe, the province itself has a lingering reputation for crime and military violence that keeps many away. As always, check before you travel, but Malawi Island is just five minutes from Isabella City, the Basilan capital, and away from the resort you'll find a secluded island paradise.

Camiguin Island

Just off the northern coast of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines, "the island born of fire" is one of the archipelago's best-kept secrets. This volcanic island is scattered with unearthly mountain-peaks and spectacular free-flowing waterfalls. For absolute relaxation, just off the island's coast is the pure soft sandbar known as White Island, surrounded by perfect blue seas on all sides.

Abak Beach

Capul Island has several active resorts, but for those who want to go off the beaten track the abandoned resort at Abak Beach has a distinctly eerie charm. The white sands, perfect blue waters and coconut trees should satisfy anyone's beach requirements, but the desolate empty beach huts and derelict resort building add a certain extra frisson.

These are just a few of the amazing out of the way locations to be found in the Philippines. Sometimes it's best to follow your nose instead of following the crowds. With a bit of research and planning, creating your own itinerary can lead to the most memorable vacation you'll ever experience.

The Best Ways To Spend Your Work Break

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Everyone needs to take a break during their work hours at some point or another. You are not a robot, and you shouldn’t act like you are. It’s only natural that your productivity will fade the longer you stare at the same computer screen, and that is why you need to get up from your desk and focus your attention on something completely different.

Perhaps you need to get some fresh air or to spend some time in the office break room. This article will go over what some of the best ways to spend your work break are.

Get up from your desk

According to Work It Daily, you will find many benefits from simply stepping away from your desk and focus your attention on something else entirely. In particular, you should:

Go outside

Stepping outside is good for your mental and physical wellbeing alike. It will provide you with some much-needed fresh air, and a change in scenery. You could even go for a short walk during your break.

Spend time in the break room

Most companies offer their employees a break room, and for a good reason. Perhaps you don’t have time to leave the office space, especially if you have a looming deadline, but still need to take a short break to clear your mind. In cases such as these, going into another room is the ideal situation.

Talk to colleagues or call a friend if they are free

Have you thought about being social during your break time at work? Why not make an effort to get to know your coworkers better, especially if there are other people in the break room with you? You should even consider asking your colleague if they are free to take their break with you.

You should find that actually getting to know the people that you work with is beneficial for any future projects that you will be working on together, and it simply makes the time pass by more quickly while you are at your job.

Focus your attention on an online game

Nowadays, there is a whole host of online games that you could choose from. Therefore, there is bound to be at least one that interests you. Plus, this can sometimes be the perfect pastime when you want to focus on another task for 10 or 15 minutes.

Aside from downloading something on your mobile phone, you could also try some online gaming options that could even lead you to win some money in the process. This is particularly the case with playing any online casino games, such as through Unibet. Still, keep in mind that you are primarily doing this for fun, so you shouldn’t spend an excessive amount of money betting online, either.

The benefits of taking a break should never be underestimated. When you find that your concentration is lacking, you should always make a point of stepping away from your work computer. When you finally return, you will notice that your creativity was boosted as well.

The Philippine Paradise: An Attractive Retirement Destination

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The number of foreign retirees in the Philippines is currently 53, 355, according to Bienvenido Chy, the general manager of Philippine Retirement Authority. Many foreign retirees are interested to retire in the Philippines because of low living costs, tropical climate, and friendly locals who speak English fluently. For most individuals, the decision to retire abroad is a difficult one, and it is more difficult to choose where to settle down. Here are some issues you need to think about if you are considering Philippines as a retirement location.

Low cost of living

The cost of living in the Philippines is significantly lower compared to the United States. Consider the fact that rental rates in the Philippines is 79.16% lower than in the US. International Living reported that expats can live a comfortable life in the Philippines spending only $800 to $1200 per month. With the low cost of living in the Philippines, you can also plan for an early retirement. You just need to be disciplined in terms of expenses. In a matter of a few years, you’ll be enjoying the retired life in a tropical paradise.

Lots of adventures

If you have a bucket list, you can be sure to tick things off of it while in the Philippines. You can go diving in the sky or in the sea or go on top of a mountain. The Philippines has a lot of beautiful beaches to offer like Boracay in Aklan or El Nido and Coron in Palawan. If you imagine your retirement life to having drinks and listening to the waves of the beach, then you will surely enjoy living in this country.

Friendly and English-speaking locals

One of the most popular traits of Filipinos is hospitality. They are warm and friendly to everyone who’s visiting their country. They are truly a welcoming bunch of people. You can also communicate easily with the locals because they speak English, as the language is the second official language of the country.

Lack of infrastructure

The Philippines is a developing country which is why the infrastructure like transportation and public utilities might not be as efficient or dependable in your home country. These are all available in the Philippines, except in the remote islands, but they do not function consistently. For example, the trains would sometimes break down due to glitches in the trains’ electrical components. However, there are alternative transportation methods such as cabs or Grab cars, which is similar to Uber and Lyft.

Poor internet connection

From checking our e-mails for work or chatting with family and friends on online messaging applications, it seems that the majority of people’s lives revolve around using the Internet. Surfing the web in the Philippines may be something that needs some getting used to as the global average internet speed is 7.2 Mpbs, while the average internet speed in the country is only 5.5 Mbps. This would mean slow internet speed for people using it, but you can still do your basic surfing activities. In recent months, the government and telecommunications company are working together to significantly improve the speed of internet connection in the country.

The Philippines is a country where you can retire if you want lower cost of living and experiencing new things. If you want a trial, you can opt for a short vacation so that you can determine whether you can spend the rest of your life in the country. It’s up to you to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons of retiring in the Philippines.