Pick a destination

Are you tired of shoveling snow, scraping windshields, and wading through slush throughout the winter? Would you prefer having the ability to play golf everyday this winter? If so, you should consider Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, otherwise known as Vallarta or PV by the locals. Being the same latitude as Hawaii and located on the Mexican Riviera, Vallarta has an average daily temperature of 73°F for seven months from November through May. The average high during those months is 82°F while the average low is 64°F.

During those months, there is an average of one wet day per month with .6 inch of rain, which if it exists, will occur during the evening. The weather is absolutely ideal for golfing every single day during that seven month period.
We moved to PV in 1997. There were two golf courses here at that time. One was a decent tract, at least good enough to get some practice and keep the swing in tact. The other was a cow pasture and really not worth playing at any price. Ten years ago, you never saw visitors arriving at the airport with their clubs.

Today, there are seven very fine courses in PV with at least three more in the planning stage or currently under construction. As an example, the Nicklaus course at Vista Vallarta was the setting for the 2002 World Cup Tournament, the 2006 Blue Agave Seniors Tour, the Annual TaylorMade Tournament, the 2001 NCAA Tournament, and numerous others. The Weiskoph course at Vista Vallarta is probably favored by most of the locals because of it’s beautiful layout, and risk-reward holes. Both courses are built in the foothills of the Sierra Madres with elevation changes and an abundance of bougainvilleas and other natural vegetation. These two courses at Vista Vallarta are what you would expect in Paradise, but only four miles from the PV Airport.

The Nicklaus course at Four Seasons in Punta Mita stretches along the ocean side and has what is believed to be, the only natural island green in golf. In fact, hole #3 has two greens, 3a and 3b. The natural island green, 3a, can only be played while the tide is out because there is no access to it when the tide is in!

There are two fine courses in the Nuevo Vallarta area with El Tigre, designed by Von Hagge being preferred by the locals. Marina Vallarta, a Joe Finger course, is a real test of skill requiring accurate iron shots. This course is located on Banderas Bay near the marina and has lakes and water that comes into play on at least half the holes. Bring plenty of balls, and oh yes, watch out for the crocodiles!

The Flamingo course designed by Percy Clifford and located about five miles north of the airport, was the original course in PV. Ten years ago, it was rated a notch above a cow pasture, however, five years ago, millions of dollars were invested in the course upgrading it to a masterpiece that is thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. A new Greg Norman course is well along its way toward completion just north of Punta Mita on the Pacific Ocean shoreline plus there are an additional two or three more courses in the planning or design phase along the Riviera Nayarit.

Traveling 80 miles south of PV, there are a couple of the best kept secrets in the world of golf. Barre de Navidad, by Von Hagge and El Tamarindo, a Robert Trent Jones masterpiece, are two truly magnificent courses, rarely visited by anyone. They are manicured to perfection, lightly played, located on the Pacific Ocean, and ready for any avid golfer willing to drive the scenic highway south of Vallarta.

All courses in the area are available to the public, offering memberships to residents or packages to visitors. Guests of most local hotels receive discounted daily rates. With virtually no chance of rain and absolutely ideal temperatures, everyday throughout the winter is perfect for golfing.

During the ten years we’ve lived in PV, we’ve spent only four entire summers, June through October, here. They are tough with temperatures and humidity similar to Houston. Highs are near 90°F and it rains almost every other evening, usually between 4:00PM and 9:00PM. During those four “off season” summers, we were unable to play golf only twice and those two times were due to residual water from the prior night’s rain. It seldom rains in the daytime during the summer months and the courses are virtually wide open for play.

For those of you that worry about the water, the food cleanliness, the safety, or the language barrier in Mexico, don’t! Forget about the myths “don’t drink the water” and “be careful what and where you eat”. The water system throughout PV has been purified for about seven years, equal to that in the US. There are hundreds of fabulous restaurants in Vallarta with every kind of cuisine imaginable. The grocery stores are on a par with Safeway and Kroger in the States and with Sam´s Club and a mega Walmart, everything is available in Vallarta. The majority of the younger locals are now speaking English, as do all taxi drivers, waiters, and of course, caddies. Safety and cleanliness are of high priority to the native Mexicans, assuring return visits by all tourists.

In summarizing, next winter when you’ve had enough cold and blizzards, consider Vallarta for a golfing vacation. You will not find a more hospitable climate or people in the world.

When you travel around the world looking for romantic honeymoon destinations, you will never forget the one destination that stands out the most. A Tahiti vacation has all the components of romance: beauty, tranquility and delicious food! It has the most romantic and relaxing honeymoon packages. It can also be very affordable.

Moorea is a great destination because it is the closest island to Tahiti, the main island for the arrival of all international flights. To travel the twelve miles, one can catch a frequent 10 minute flight or 45 minute ferry ride over to Moorea shortly after landing in Tahiti. The island resembles a vast star-shaped garden branching out into the eight valleys. Moorea appears to the visitor as a tropical garden filled with pineapple fields in the middle of a romantic landscape. It offers wonderful restaurants with complimentary shuttle service. It also offers stunning views of the island and surrounding water, key components to romantic travel.

Recently the Sofitel Ia Ora on Moorea has offered free MAP with a 4 day minimum reservations (certain dates apply). MAP is breakfast and dinner. Averaging at $11/person/meal this is an excellent value for French Polynesia. Consider that the typical breakfast is $25/person and dinner is $50/person making this is a HUGE savings.

The Sofitel Moorea offers garden bungalows and overwater bungalows. Overwater bungalows are the most romantic room category ever created (in this author’s opinion). The Tahitian TV, a clear coffee table showing the ocean floor beneath your bungalow, is the most unique experience. There are ways to enjoy the overwater bungalow without having to break the bank. Only a Tahiti Travel Specialist knows how to arrange this for you.

Package prices depend on the time of year that you travel. Low season is November 1 – May 1 (except the Christmas holiday). Moorea packages with air from LAX and transfers can start as low as $4500/2 people.

Let a professional Tahiti Tiare (countries flower) Specialist help you with your plans including transfers to/from the airport/resort and excursions that will help you save money. Tahiti can be affordable, romantic and fun if you book with a Tahiti Tiare Specialist.

A small, interior country, located in Central Europe, the Czech Republic borders Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia. The Czech Republic has become a well-developed democratic country since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which was a non-violent overthrow of Communism.

Actually, tourism dates from the Velvet Revolution, and offers immense variety and delightful surprises for visitors. Known for its musicians, there are numerous concerts and festivals to choose from, as well as fairytale castles, historical churches, national parks, elegant spas, and medieval towns. Not only that, but it is the birthplace of the world’s finest beer.

The Czech Republic is comprised of two provinces, Bohemia, located in the west, and Moravia in the east. The place is accessible to all sorts of travel medium.

In the east, you will find Moravia. Its capital, Brno, dates from the 13th century, and attractions include the excellent Moravia Museum, as well as an Augustinian Monastery where the Father of Genetics, Gregor Mendel, was Abbot. Gothic arts, mummies and other historic work of arts are all around the cities churchespilberk Castle. In Moravia, wine is more popular than beer, and you will find a rich agricultural heritage, with rolling ranges, wooded hills, and a plethora of vineyards.

To the west is Bohemia. Besides Prague, the Czech capital, tourists enjoy the spa towns and ski resorts. Here you will also find medieval towns like Èeský Krumlov, and the Šumava Mountains offer excellent hiking as well as a wide range of other sports. Southern Bohemia is very popular for its numerous recreational facilities and points of interest, not to mention beautiful lakes and woods. It’s also famed for its caves.

Ceské Budejovice , or Budweis in English, founded its wealth on silver mines, and is home to one of Europe’s largest town squares. However, the local beer is this town’s main claim to fame. The Pivovar Budejovický Budvar, or Budweiser Budvar Brewery, was founded in 1895, and markets its beer under the Budweiser brand name in much of Europe. The American, Anheuser-Busch, has attempted to buy out the Czech brewing company so it can secure global rights to the Budweiser name, but the Czechs refuse all offers, believing it is a matter of national pride to retain this rich heritage.

Certainly, no trip to the Czech Republic would be complete without visiting Prague, its capital. Located in the middle of Bohemia, Prague is known for its museums, galleries, concerts, and imposing castles. Since the fall of Communism, Prague has regained its café culture, and is now considered the Paris of the East.

South of Prague you will find Plzen, the second-largest city in Bohemia. With its eclectic architecture, ranging from Gothic to Art Nouveau, museums and galleries, it is another popular tourist attraction. Also, do not miss the Plzenský Prazdroj brewery, where beer has been brewed since the town’s foundation, in 1295. The Pilsner beer is world-famous, and actually gives rise to the name of this quaint little town.

Diving in Fiji is a lot like dining at a 5 star restaurant… even if for some crazy reason, it doesn’t quite measure up to expectations, it still a million times better than eating at the local fast food joint around the corner. That being said, for the real diving enthusiast, there are decisions to be made that can significantly alter the experience you may have.

The good people at Tourism Fiji and their team at DiveMe Fiji provided us recently with access to some of Fiji’s top divemasters to offer their opinions on the great debate to help us draw our own conclusions. So let’s take a look at some factors that may help you decide what kind of diving adventure you wish to embark on.

Distance

The distance to some premium dive locations zones can obviously be prohibitive for Fiji shore-based divers. What one makes up for in evening and ‘day off’ comfort and amenities, one loses in access to some truly rare and spectacular dive locations. Fiji liveaboards will traverse some truly impressive levels of nautical miles to bring you to some of the finest (and occasionally secret) dive locales in the world.

Types of Dives

Pinnacle Dives, Wall Dives, Big Blue (Fish) dives, Shark Dives, Soft Coral Dives and Passage Dives… they’re all here in Fiji in multiple places. Fiji liveaboards will escort you to a front and center seat on every one. A shore-based will have a difficult time finding each and every type of dive. If you decide to go on the road and are willing to stay at multiple accommodators, it is possible to more closely recreate a liveaboard level of diversity.

The Yachting Experience

I do say, old chum… it’s certainly a pretty cool feeling to cruise the spectacular Fiji Islands for a week or two in a really big, luxurious boat. Fiji liveaboards generally provide 4 star comfort; with 5 star scenery and 7 star diving. That’s a lot of stars. Fiji shore-based diving also has its advantages… they can be seen in the pampering, the exploring, the awesome activities and the world famous Fiji smiles.

The Sheer Number of Dives

Even the most hardcore of shore-based divers will find it difficult to average more than 2 dives per day. The travel time, the type of oxygen provided and the usual lack of enough crew will make it a ‘tough go’ to get out more than a couple of times per day. For those looking to eat, breathe and sleep diving, liveaboards often provide up to 5 opportunities per day (and evening) to explore the deep blue. Liveaboards also often use a nitrox mix of oxygen and nitrogen which allows for speedy recovery and leaves one with a general desire to get back in and see more of that incredible stuff!

The Cost Factor

For the cost conscious diving enthusiast, liveaboard diving may provide some fiscal advantages. Generally Fiji liveaboards are ‘all expenses paid’ and for those who like to have tight controls on their budget, they will have a very good idea of their outlay. Fiji sore based divers do have an ability to select from a wide range of accommodators, many who can provide great service at budget rates. When one calculates the cost of the full trip, Fiji liveaboards may or may not work out to be more money in the end, but you can be sure that with up to 5 dives per day, they liveaboards will certainly win in the cost per dive ratio.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why someone visiting the Fiji Islands may choose to stay on an island or to stay on a liveaboard while partaking of their diving pleasures. Hardcore diving enthusiasts will swear by the liveaboard option as the ultimate diving adventure, while the more cosmopolitan diver may choose to add land based adventures and fun in the sun options to their travel itinerary. Either way, when diving in Fiji, you will be sure to see some of the most spectacular soft coral, the most incredible passage and pinnacle diving and some of the most thrilling shark dives anywhere, and that makes either choice a winner.

First, do your research. What you want to catch dictates were you want to go and fish. Once you decide where you want to go, find out what charter boats are in the area. Read magazines, get on line and put some time in to find out all you can about your options. When you have a couple of possibilities, call them up, drop them an email, ask them questions, not just “how much is it?” but “what is the best time to come? What fish are in season? What type of tackle do you have on board and in what classes? Can the weather stop you going out? Do you fish under IGFA Rules? Is the skipper an IGFA Certified Captain? What about beginners? Can you put me in touch with a couple of previous clients? What types of fishing can you offer?

Try to find out if they are a serious charter boat with good equipment, a good crew and they know what they are doing!

If you can, talk to the skipper before you go out. Tell him/her what you would like to catch, your level of experience and if you would prefer calmer waters or are happy to corkscrew all day if the fish are there.

You are out there to have fun, not sit in a corner looking green and feeling miserable. If you start to feel unwell, tell the crew ! Here in Kadavu, we can always move to calmer waters.

A good charter boat will take your wishes into consideration when deciding how and where to fish.

When You Step Aboard

Listen to the safety briefing. It’s not just done to fulfil Maritime Safety regulations, it will also give you information about that particular boat, where emergency items are stored, where you can sit and where you should not go or sit during cruising for safety reasons.

Be prepared. Talk to the skipper or deckie. Ask questions like “what do I do when a rod goes off? And how do I do it?” We always establish the experience of our guests and we tell you what to do and show you how to do it. The last thing the deckie or the skipper wants is to lose a fish because of simple confusion on the deck.

I once watched 3 anglers begin, and continue with, a lengthy discussion on who should pick up a screaming rod whilst a nice sailfish of about 100lbs tail walked away from the boat. Despite us backing down, the sail took over 700 yards of 30lb mono and spooled the angler just as he finally reached for the rod.

Don’t fiddle with the equipment, even if you are experienced and understand its operation. Lever Drag Gamefishing reels have their drag settings carefully tested and set to a drag setting appropriate to the type of fishing you are doing and the fish you expect to catch. If you accidentally bump a reel setting – tell the crew. The crew should be more than happy to explain the use of any piece of equipment and why it is set as it is.

On a Game boat, everything has a place. The crew may need to get something quickly so be careful not to move things around. Don’t rummage through tackle drawers or pull out equipment and toss it back in a mess. At best, you will annoy the crew (who will have to sort it all out again and at worst, you may get a hook through your hand.

When the deckie takes a leader or gaff in hand, stay well back. Only the angler and the deckie should be at the back of the boat. It you are there too, you are in the way. If you are marlin fishing, this is positively dangerous. Crowding the deckie not only blocks the skipper’s view, it endangers the life of both you and the deckie. You and he could be pulled overboard if a hand or foot gets tangled in the leader. If the deckie is tracing a big marlin and you get in the way – it’s a tense and potentially dangerous moment. Don’t be offended by the stream of loud four letter words directing you to move back.

You will get your chance to take close up pictures when the fish is tagged and under control.

When a fish comes aboard, stand well back and listen to the deckie’s instructions. They are for his safety as well as yours. Most lures used have 2 or more hooks. One may be in the fish’s mouth, the other may be swinging free – just waiting to catch you.
A good charter boat will do everything it can to ensure you have an action packed, fun filled day of fishing. It is, after all, in their best interests that you go home and tell all your friends how good the fishing was and what fun you had. If you are out there flogging a dead horse (its rare but it does happen)….don’t blame the crew….they will be even more frustrated than you are!

Some Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

* Take a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. You will get a lot of glare reflected off the sea, even on cloudy days.
* Take a camera.
* Wear non marking soft soled shoes.
* Ask if you are fishing under IGFA Rules – You just might catch a World Record!
* Ask, if you want to come up and see the bridge.
* Eat your catch – you won’t ever eat a fresher tastier fish than one that you just landed.
* Respect the boat. Don’t trash it. Rubbish makes its way to the bilge and can block bilge pumps.
* Enjoy the whole day’s experience, not just the fishing!

Don’t:

* Brag before you go about how many fish you are going to catch. It’s bound to blank your day.
* Step on board wearing high heels or shoes that may damage or mark the deck.
* Play with fishing equipment settings. (Even if you do know what you are doing)
* Put a rod butt down on a teak deck – It will damage the teak. All rods go in rod holders.
* Crowd round the deckie with a camera when he is tracing or gaffing a fish. STAY WELL BACK.
* Bring a hand held GPS. If the skipper sees it, you won’t be going to any of his secret hot spots.
* Access the foredeck or engine room. They are out of bounds unless the skipper specifically tells you otherwise.
* Litter. Never throw any type of rubbish (including cigarette butts) overboard. Turtles eat butts and die.
* March up to the bridge, plonk yourself down in the deckie’s seat and put your feet up on the console. Unless you want a swim.

According to a research carried out by Expedia, one of the most important online tour operators, Rome has been the Italian city that best managed the tourism drop-off during the black biennium (2008-2009). The credit of this result goes to the differentiation of the touristic offer, with suitable solutions for both pilgrims and fashion-victims, and to the wide range of accommodations succeeding in meeting everyone’s needs: from youth hostels to central apartments, from budget hotels to country villas.

A deep analysis of the data collected by Expedia shows that in the last two years Rome has been the choice of Italian visitors all over the year and, therefore, the most important touristic market nation-wide. Moreover, in 2008 Rome has been one of the few European capital cities, along with London and Vienna, that registered an increase in the tourist turnout, although it is still far from many destinations of the old and the new continent, appearing in the top travel destinations. In particular, New York was, at the end of 2009, the favourite destination for Italian people: a clear sign of the dollar weakness, as already happened in London, where a great number of Italians were attracted by a weak pound. After New York and London, this year Italians chose to spend their Christmas holidays in Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Miami, Amsterdam, Vienna and, eventually, Rome, at the 11th place. However, if we consider only the Italian market, Rome is the most popular city by far: if you plan to spend your holidays there, make sure you book an apartment or an hotel for New Year’s Eve in adequate advance.

If compared to other Italian cities, Rome had positive results not only during Christmas time, but also during summer and spring holidays. The favourite destinations of summer 2009 were, besides classic seaside resorts (Spain and Greece in Europe, Sicily in Italy), London the omnipresent and other European cities, such as Stockholm, Copenhagen and Rome, which registered an increase in reservations in comparison to 2008. During Easter holidays and the 1st of May, in spite of the tourist drop-off of in art cities to the good of small villages, Rome entered the chart, along with Venice during Easter, Florence and Modena on the 1st of May.

As mentioned above, there is a number of reasons explaining the success of The Eternal City as a tourist destination, and the most of them are easy to understand. On the one hand, Rome is a wonderful art city, marked on the maps of the religious tourism. On the other, it is a metropolis rich in events and sites to visit, considered one of the most important fashion districts in the world. However, Rome would not be such a popular destination without the wide range of accommodations offered to visitors: a hostel for young people, maybe attending to the concert of the 1st of May, a cheap apartment or an hotel for families, a simple but cosy room in a bed & breakfast or even a prestigious country villa, if you cannot give up the luxury.

One of the few unspoilt wildernesses left in the world, Botswana is a great place to go on Safari. Safaris make up one of the largest parts of Botswana’s tourist trade, and they can proudly boast that they have some of the best quality safari experiences in Africa!

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world. Rather than flowing into the sea, the Okavango River empties into the Kalahari Desert – a spectacular phenomenon to behold! One of the remotest safari camps in the Okavango Delta is the camp of Duba Plains. The camp is situated on an island surrounded by flood plains that are flooded at different times of year. The area is home to lions, elephants, and buffalo to name but a few of the local residents! Alternatively, for those wanting a few home comforts, the Xigera Camp is situated in the centre of the Okavango Delta with luxury tents. Each room is raised off the ground, with excellent views of the floodplains.

The Moremi Game Reserve situated within the Okavango Delta is a haven for photographic safaris. at the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve is the Mombo Camp. The Mombo Camp has luxurious tents raised high up off the ground to allow wildlife to roam freely through the camp, making for some very close experiences!

The Linyanti Game Reserve is located in northern Botswana on the corners of the Chobe National Park. The Linyanti Game Reserve is home to a wide variety of species, but is best known for its very large elephant population. The King’s Pool Camp overlooks the hippo filled lagoons, and is probably the most luxurious camp in Botswana.

The Makgadikgadi Pans provide you with the backdrop of lush scenery for your safari holiday. Local wildlife includes meerkats, springboks, and black-mained lions in the dry season, and flamingos and zebra during the wet season. Located in the Makgadikgadi Pans is Jack’s Camp, offering quad biking across the vast salt pans, as well as geology, archaeology, and anthropology to do in between safaris.

Located in the southern part of the Europe, Albania is considered to be one of the most interesting tourist destinations. It is a place where you can get the glimpse of some of the finest aspects of Europe’s culture, history, tradition and beauty. As compared to other European countries, Albania has yet not seen much of economic development; owing to this, the country’s rustic aura is still intact. This aspect makes Albania an attractive place to visit and explore.

There are plenty of low-cost and budget flights available for Albania from UK. Several websites on the internet allow you to make comparisons between various flights available for Albania. Check out these sites to get the lowest possible rates. All flights land at the Mother Teresa International Airport, at Tirana, the capital of Albania.

In 1990, Albania opened up its doors to the world and with time it has become an important tourist destination in Europe. It is absolutely a safe haven for vacationers. However, before you proceed with your bookings, it is essential to look into some excellent travel tips for Albania, which will make getting around really easy.

The locals know English language quite well; therefore English-speaking people do not face any problems while getting around. Nevertheless, if you know a bit of Italian, in addition to English, getting around gets even better.

Good, reasonably-priced hotels are easily available in all the major cities of Albania. With a little search, you can get a decent, clean accommodation in a price as low as 15 Euros. In currency exchange, US Dollars and Euros are widely accepted. Euros and Dollar have large value in compare to Albanian currency. The food here has Turkish influence; the traditional Albanian meal, which is quite cheap and filling, has soup, shish kebabs and meat. This is followed by ice-cream or a cup of hot coffee.

Albania, on the whole, is very safe to travel. However, the northern part of the country, near Kosovo, has landmines, which have not yet been cleared. Hence, if you plan to travel to this part, it is advisable to take a local guide along with you.

Albanians are very hospitable, but at the same time they are also very traditional and religious by nature. Therefore, it is essential to follows certain norms in Albania. For instance, exchange greetings respectfully, do not offend the locals by discussing topics like politics, religion and personal preferences. Lastly, women should dress in modesty. With the above superlative travel tips, you can not only enjoy the beauty of this untouched land, but you can also fully explore and relish the local culture and traditions. At the end of your vacations in Albania, you will take back the fond memories of the time well-spent.

I don’t know about you, but when I hear about Sapporo, the first thing that comes to mind is beer. I’m a long time Sushi eater and Sapporo is my beer of choice when eating. What you might have not known is that there’s an actual city in Japan called Sapporo. In fact, that’s where the beer comes from. Sapporo is a perfect place for making beer. The hops are excellent and it’s cold.

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido Island—located in the West. It’s the fastest growing city in Japan. At last check, there were more than two million living in Sapporo. It is the 5th largest city in Japan.

When many think of Japan, they think of the over crowded life in Tokyo. Life in Sapporo is much different. First of all, the island of Hokkaido is covered with forests. Many Japanese escape to the island and Hokkaido attracts millions of visitors annually. The summer is the peak time.

Earlier I mentioned the beer they make here. Sapporo has been making beer since 1891. If you visit Sapporo, you can take a tour of the facility. It’s one of those must-see attractions. There’s nothing like a fresh Sapporo beer.

Sapporo is also famous for its snow festival, Yuki Matsuri. It takes place for one week each year in February. It continues to grow each year. It started out as a couple of snow sculptures and has now grown to a main event held at multiple sites. Many come for the international snow sculpture competition.

Perhaps the most interest aspect of the Yuki Matsuri is the community effort given to one giant statue each year. If you arrive in Sapporo just before the festival, you can participate in the creating of this statue. It’s advised that you book your stay ahead too. More than two million tourists flood into Sapporo for the Yuki Matsuri.

Another aspect I find interesting about Sapporo, as someone that doesn’t speak fluent Japanese, is the fact that the tourist information centers are English-friendly. They are always staffed with personnel that speak English well. At the International Information Corner, they have maps and information handouts in English. This makes any English-speaking traveler—that doesn’t speak Japanese—at home.

Another great first stop is the Sapporo International Communications Plaza. It’s just across the street from the Tokeidai Clocktower and right by City Hall. It has more literature in English, including newspapers and magazines. You are bound to meet Japanese people there who know English as well. There is so much more to talk about, but this article was meant to wet your whistle for Sapporo, Japan.

Countries of the world have their own cultures made more colorful, beautiful and vibrant because of folk dances that are a reflection of who they are and what they are. In the East, the Chinese have their symbolical dragon dance; the Japanese have the ancestral dance Bon Odori. In the West, the Americans have their Square Dance. The Scottish people have their world-famous dances (Highland and Country Dance, Jig and Reel). On the other hand, the Philippines will not be left behind! The “Pearl of the Orient” boasts of a variety of Philippine folk dances.

The Filipinos pay tributes and owe itself to cultural heritage. One way of showing such love and respect for the country gave birth to the development of Philippine ethnic folk dances. And there are several of these; namely, Binasuan, Sublian, Itik-itik, Tinikling, Maglalatik, Cariñosa etc.

Binasuan is a native dance of Pangasinan. This dance literally means “dancing with glasses.” The steps are executed with glasses filled with rice wine balanced on the head and the hands of the dancers. Danced to show balance and to reflect rural gaiety, Binasuan is performed usually in wedding ceremonies and occasions in the barangay.

Sublian owes its meaning to native words “subsub” meaning to fall with the head and “bali” or broken. This meaning is reflected in the dance steps. The dancers move feebly and tortuously as if without vigor. This dance, however, traces its roots to Batangas where it was originally played as a ritual dance which evolved into a symbol of religious tradition performed during town fiestas.

Itik-Itik is one of the Philippine folk dances which have an interesting origin. According to stories, a Filipina maiden-dancer of Surigao del Norte was asked to perform a native dance in one special occasion. She started to improvise new steps and imitate the courtship movements of a local species of duck known as “itik.” The spectators began to imitate her and that is how the dance came to be.

Tinikling is another Philippine folk dance that is inspired by an endemic bird called “tikling.” The steps of this dance are an imitation of the movements of a “tikling” bird that hops and escapes the traps set by hunters. Moving with poise and grace, the dancers skip in-between two bamboo poles that are held to pound rhythmically against each other. This dance is a specialty of Leyte.

Maglalatik is danced to mimic the early battle against Christians and Moros to win coconut meat or “latik” during the time of Spanish colonization. This is also performed to pay homage to the town saint of Biñan, Laguna – San Isidro Labrador. This dance is divided into four parts: baligtaran, palipasan, paseo and escaramusa. This is performed by all-male dancers who wear blue pants to represent the Christians and red pant for the Moros. All dancers, however, have coconut shells mounted on their body parts.

These aforementioned Philippine folk dances are ethnic in nature and origin. On the other hand, there are several Philippine folk dances that were influenced by some Western countries as some of these had colonized Philippines in the past. One such country is Spain. Some of the so-called “influenced” Philippine folk dances are the following: Pandango sa Ilaw, Cariñosa, Balitao and Rigodon.

To conclude, these folk dances whether ethnic in origin or not reflect the lively culture that the Filipinos have. These dances may be diverse but through these cultural forms, the Filipinos are unified and proud by way of having Philippine folk dances that are truly one of the bests in the world.