A Tropical Paradise Called Bohol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

A Tropical Paradise Called Bohol - Essay Example Visiting a foreign place always gets butterflies fluttering in one’s guts due to the excitement and anxiety of the unfamiliar environment he or she is about to experience.   The thought of a far-off tropical paradise usually arouses much thrill.   This is what I feel right now as I embark on a tour of a province in the Philippines called Bohol, situated in the Visayas, the second largest group of islands in this Asian country (Lonely Planet Travel Information).   I have heard much about the tourist spots in the Philippines, and Bohol is one place garnering much praise.   Perhaps that is why I am among a plane filled with foreigners from America and Europe and yes, also Asia, to visit this pristine place that promises one to forget his worries and indulge in the pleasures it offers weary bodies and souls. The Philippines is a small country in Asia rich in history and culture.   The brown-skinned people have survived centuries of subjugation from foreign invaders. Thre e hundred thirty years as a colony of Spain, forty years of the USA and three years of Japan right before the second World War. Before colonization, a variety of foreign traders and settlers such as the Malays, the Indonesians, Arabs, Chinese, etc. migrated to the Philippines and left their influences on the people (Lonely Planet Travel Information â€Å"History of Philippines†). At present, Philippine culture boasts of a cornucopia of languages and dialects from its people, such as Pampangueno from the province of Pampanga, Ilonggo from the province of Iloilo, Visayan from Cebu, Samar, Leyte and the other Visayan provinces.   The colloquial language is Tagalog, and this is mostly spoken in their national language which is called Filipino (Lonely Planet Travel Information). Food dishes from various provinces abound, tickling the palate with exotic tastes.   A common favorite is Adobo, a meat dish marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, peppercorns and garlic, and Pancit, a noodl e dish filled with meat and vegetables (Lonely Planet Travel Information).   During special celebrations and fiestas, roasted pig is the centerpiece of the dinner table where guests feast on the crunchy skin and succulent meat of the tenderized pork.   The country is also rich in art.   One of their earlier heroes, Juan Luna, painted the â€Å"Spoilarium†, a renowned masterpiece that has won many awards all over the world (Spoliarium Wikipedia).   Music and dance are likewise enjoyed immensely, as a host of native songs, instrumental music and dances are perennially present in programs showcasing the culture of the place the art originated from.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Philippines is home to several tourist destinations.   It has many natural wonders such as the Mayon Volcano, which has an almost-perfect cone shape (Mahalo.com).   It also has the eighth wonder of the world - a man-made rice terraces called Banaue Rice Terraces, which is a mountainous region built by hand and about 2,000 years ago by the Ifugaos, natives of Banaue in the highlands (Banaue Rice Terraces).It was for their rice supply, rice, being the staple food of Filipinos, the people of the Philippines.   The country surely has a variety of land and water forms with its rich natural resources.