May2016
Smile
65
CRUISING THE
ABATAN RIVER IN
BOHOL
SOAKING UP
SUNSETS IN
MANILA
TheAbatancuts throughBohol’sheartland, and lays its
countrysideculturebare throughasingle leisurelyboat that
connectsfiveriverside towns.Guestsof theAbatanRiver
CommunityLifeTourstartatawharf inCortes town,where
theyhopontoa traditional
bandong
paddleboatandproceed
througha four-hour journeydownnipa-linedwatersand
verdant farmland.Bohol’s limestonegeologyensures the
Abatanhasanear-constantclarity—a farcry from thepolluted
riverwaterswe’vecome toexpectcloser tocivilization.Ateach
stop,musicandaseriesofactivitieswelcomeguests,who then
engage inactivities— fromweaving inMaribojoc tobasket-
making inAntequera— that reflect the localwayof life.At the
last riversidestopatKawasanFalls, guestsmayeitherhead
back toCortesorproceed toanadrenaline-filleddiversionwith
theGreenRecreationalEco-AdventureTour (G.R.E.A.T.) in
CatigbianPark. +63917010599;
riverlife.ph
We’veoftensuspected that theSpaniardsdidn’t takeManila
toopenup tradewithChina, but for thegorgeoussunsets.As
theSeptember-to-June “Amihan”seasonbringsclearweather
to thePhilippinecapital, visitors toManilaBayget treated to
anend-of-dayspectacle thatwouldnot lookoutofplace ina
VincentvanGoghpainting: splashesoforange, gray, redand
bluefill theskyas thesunretreatsbeyond thewesternhorizon.
ThisdailyshowcanbeviewedanywherearoundManila
Bay, sochooseyourspot freely.Loversof luxurycanwatch
thesunset from the lawn, sparklingwine inhand, at the
SofitelPhilippinePlazaor thesoon-to-openConradManila.
Romanticsmightbookasunsetviewingcruiseof thebay.Or
youcan justenjoy theview from theBaywalk, proving that the
best things in lifedon’tcostacent.
corregidorphilippines.
com
