the Philippines

I'm going to the Philippines. I'm leaving tomorrow and flying to Hong Kong first, spending a few nights there, a night in Macau, then Monday meeting a friend and off to Manila we go. I'll be spending 11 nights there and the idea is to spend a bit of time up in the north checking out cultural and historical sites such as the rice terraces of Banaue and the northern Spanish colonial city Vigan, then to venture south on a puddle-jumper and check out the beach island of Malapascua. The Philippines is made up of 7000 islands or so, and it's really famous for it's white sandy beaches and clear blue water. I will be updating my blog as much as I can with my whereabouts along with pictures and tales of vegetarian restaurants and disturbing water closets.