Palawan - The last frontier of the Philippines

This is a guest post from TravelTours.in.


Palawan happens to be the largest island of Philippines and considered to be the most beautiful one in the world making it an integral part of Philippines tourism. Although it is not yet touted as the most desirable tourist destination, its popularity is slowly and gradually on the rise. The ideal time to pay this island a visit is between October and May and is an hour and a half away from Manila by air.

It has picturesque sandy beaches with emerald green water, green lush mountains which have their bases in the water and small fishing villages spread across the island. However, the biggest reason for visiting this island is to see the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which is now considered to be one of the world’s seven best natural wonders. The reason why it has been declared a wonder is because of the vast limestone and karst deposits found in the complex cave catacomb surrounding the river. A Miocene age fossil was also discovered in the cave system which added to its wonderment. Tourists can enjoy this wonder of the world by kayaking into the caves and enjoying the sights of crystal and limestone formations. Without a tour of Puerto Princesa, any Philippines holiday is incomplete.

Besides this main activity, Palawan Island is also famous for deep sea diving. One of the key attractions is to dive from the Coron Bay. It is considered to be the best site for diving because of the high water visibility of about 20 meters and the beautiful rock formations and wrecks which can be seen, while snorkeling. Diving at Tubbataha Reefs also makes up for an interesting experience as it is one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the region and has an extensive marine life for the viewing of the tourists.

Exploring El Nido Marine Reserve is also a day’s activity at Palawan Island. It is the country’s largest wildlife preservation site and consists of rainforests, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and cliffs with limestone deposits. Visiting the Honday Bay also gives the chance to further interact with the aquatic wildlife. There are islets surrounding this bay, which makes it an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling. The experience is worthwhile primarily because of the great visibility that the clear water offers, allowing the visitor to see and truly appreciate the ocean depth.If you are tired of exploring the water life that Palawan Island has to offer, tourists can always take a day or two to see some of the key landmarks. One such landmark is the Plaza Cuartel, which is a ruin that has been restored to commemorate the memories of the soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. Palawan also boasts of having a Crocodile Farm, which has been developed to further the cause of conserving wildlife. Religious monuments like Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral are also famous because of their architectural uniqueness and warrant a definite visit.

Despite not being one of the most popular tourist destinations, a number of luxury hotels are available which give a five star treatment to their guests. Delicious cuisines and all world-class facilities are easily available on the island to make the travel experience, truly magical.


If you happen to have visited this destination, do leave your views and memories in the comments below.

Dynamic landscapes of Lavasa - valley, mountains and river

I had absolutely fallen in love with the landscapes of Lavasa. The main reason being the various vantage points while getting to and moving around Lavasa. 

So the series continues with a few more shots of the valley and mountains. The flowing river and dramatic clouds add to the dynamism of the landscape, to which, I hope I've done some justice.

Now, let's try create a bit of drama through HDR.

And here's the original for reference.

Worth hearing your comments and feedback for the HDR effort. 


 

Aerial view of Lavasa - hills, valley, civilisation and river

There is little doubt in Lavasa being a serene and picturesque hill station with a lot of it natural beauty still intact. Here are a few aerial views depicting the hills, the valley, civilisation and and the river along with the dam.

An HDR aerial shot of the main town and waterfront

 

 

The Picturesque Pawna Lake

Pawna Lake, alternatively spelt as Pawana, Pavana, Pavna is located on a slightly off-beat route from Lonavla towards Paud. The lake is because of the Pawna Dam, which acts as a reservoir and hydro plant.

Nestled between the mountains, the view is simply breathtaking and serene! The drive is wonderful during the monsoons and the roads are largely pretty good. 

Once you've enjoyed the tranquility out here, the Lohagarh fort isn't very far or like us, you could continue on your way to Pune/Lavasa.

Lavasa Waterfront at Twilight

After a long hiatus, I return for Project 365, where either I'll upload or take a photo each day. So, we restart from where we left, Lavasa, a beautiful hill station nestled in Maharashtra. 

Here are three shots of the Lavasa Waterfront, which is the promenade, around the twilight hour. Let's have your pick off the three shots. 

Included are parts of the Dasvino Club

A close-up

The dense cloud cover as the shot dates back to the monsoons

I'd love to know your personal favourite off the three and also if you've got any suggestions on the shots.

A dense cloud cover

A Dense Cloud Cover

Hill stations offer tranquility and scenic views and one such view is a dense cloud cover that literally gives a 'walk in the clouds' feel. 

Doesn't it? 

For those who love soaking up to a downpour, it's all just begun!

Travel and Photos

Travel and Photos

Travel and photos; the return. It's been almost a year and a half since I have unwillingly been away with this blog and my fellow blogger friends. I've also, sadly, not been able to spend enough time with my camera and on my travels.

But then, the time seemed to have come when this aloofness has started to hit me. And here I am continuing where I left to share and learn. 

It's the peak of monsoons here in Mumbai, India, so what better way to start with the current feel and mood!

As always, feedback appreciated and criticism welcomed.

Both shots, en route Lavasa

And I do sincerely hope to be here regularly and respond to comments and email; and of course, kick start Saturday Sareenity very soon!

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The 2012 Calendars

The 2012 Calendars 

Hey, I've been struggling managing time with work and blogs, even photography. The London series is near completion with just a few more bits from the museum and then I wanted to take a break from travel shots. But I just haven't managed to go out enough to get some other good shots, despite getting some new camera kit. 


In the meanwhile, I thought I'll use Saru's idea - I've create two calendars for 2012 with very little markups. Just in case you're interested, please check them and feel free to forward it to someone who you think might me interested. Also, I'd love to hear your feedback on them. You can even e-mail me on sareenityphotos@gmail.com.


Cheers and hope to be regular with posts and visits!



The Seasons 

World Travels

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Scavenger Hunt - Week 22nd January

This is an entry for the Scavenger Hunt - Week 22nd January. The five submissions were for Sunset, Black and White, A Day in my Life, Four and Colourful.

Here is my interpretation and entry for the Scavenger Hunt.

1.Sunset
This was one of the last sunsets from last year. Winter sunsets are always prettier; this one saw people wrapping up their game of cricket on the beach.

2. Black and White
This was near the London Eye; the walkabout along the River Thames. The otherwise busy area was quiet on a cold and windy autumn weekday.

3. A Day in my Life
I'm not a very club-going person; but there is the odd day in my life when I do land up at one.

4. Four
G-force and adrenaline rush at the highest levels; Formula 1 racers Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing and Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber F1 battle it out for track position at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang near the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

5. Colourful
This was the very vibrant show, 'The Lion King', that I had caught at Disneyland Hong Kong.

Participating for: Scavenger Hunt and Simple as That    

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Leicester Square, London - 2

Leicester Square, London 

Here's concluding my walk abouts around Leicester Square. 

Named as the Swiss Court, this is a mark of the cordial relations between the UK and Switzerland

A look at China Town London

The interesting decor at the M&M Store

Participating for: Mosaic Monday, Orange Tuesdays and Signs    

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Leicester Square, London - 1

Leicester Square, London 

If you happen to be in London, a great way to spend your evening would be walking around Leicester Square. It's a very lively place with many street side cafes, comedy stores, souvenir shops, some of the best ice cream parlours, cinemas, eating joints and much more. Also, its a short walk from Piccadilly Circus an China Town too is just around the corner.

 There is a fair bit of redevelopment happening; trust it's for the Olympics

 The Empire Cinema

 The multi-level M&M store

Participating for: Our World Tuesday, Pink Fridays, Live, Love, Travel, The Simple Things     

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National Gallery at Night, Trafalgar Square, London

National Gallery at Night, Trafalgar Square, London

This was taken sometime in October and therefore you'll notice the countdown as 295 days for the 2012 London Olympics

Participating for: Outdoor Wednesday, This or That Thursday, Best Posts of the Week, SOOC Saturday, SOOC Sunday, Scenic Sunday and FPOTW Contest                

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