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25 Travel Tips That Can Save Your Life!

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travel tips

By John Gentry Travel Channel to travel the world

travel tips

Travel Tips that could save your life is an ongoing project that will grow over time, and we hope everyone is able to enjoy themselves better while traveling since they will be better prepared. Enjoy these simple but easy to understand tips and make your next trip an adventure of a lifetime.

1. Never pass up a good toilet because the next one may be a squat only.


2. Always get cash after customs at your destination airport. Euros and USD Maybe an exception. Don’t risk breaking local customs regulations.

3. Always carry diarrhea medicine.

travel tips
Mysterious Chinese herbs in the traditional medicine shops of Hong Kong

4. Always look up three words before you travel; thank you, yes and no.

5. Always have tissues packages on hand for the bathroom and eating use.

6. Certain medicine needs to be considered. Tylenol, Panadol and any needed prescription drugs.

7. Learn and study body language. Most expressions are international.

8. Use modern technology like Twitter to keep you updated on certain travel areas. US Department of State and the CDC have an alert service.

9. Water usage should be increased to offset times when good clean water is not available.

10. Learn some basics in English, German, Mandarin, and Russian, these languages can sometimes be used in emergencies.

travel tips

11. Study the basic history of a region before going there.

12. Learn the taboos of the area you are traveling to. Remember it is their country, not yours.

13. Don’t assume the water is clean to drink just because locals drink it. They have built up immunities you don’t have.


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14. Traveling causes the body to lose sleep. This in will lower your immune system so make sure to schedule recovery time.

15. Make sure to schedule a time to re-stock your travel pharmacy on the road.

16. Ziplock bags can solve a lot of problems so take several.

17. Understand and get certified in basic life saving first aid.

travel tips

18. Use large backpacks to travel that way you can never have to check in your bag. This will ensure you always have what you need when you need it.

travel tips

19. Don’t take basic hygiene for granted ensure you have it planned for and have what you need to stay healthy.

20. When traveling in crowed unorganized cities try to memorize key locations or landmarks. These can be used to find your way later when needed.

21. Always look and find locals who have language skills that you can use to help gather information that is key to your trip. Young people know some English and older people could know other languages. People and questions are your best resource for information.

22. Don’t assume your cellphone will work. Print out what you need ahead of time.

23. Carry old fashion maps.

travel tips

24. Get a cellphone app that can translate languages. Make sure it can work without wifi or cellphone service.

25. Buy digital offline mapping software for your mobile phone or other devices.

26. Consider GPS

27. You are only as good as your weakest link. So consider others in your travel party and ensure they stay healthy or you could pay the price later on. We hope you enjoyed these 25 Travel Tips That Can Save Your Life! Happy Travels, ExploreTraveler.com

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Are You A Tourist Or A Traveler

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Treasure

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

Are you a tourist or a traveler?

When traveling we need to understand the differences between being a tourist and being a traveler. Their intentions, expectations and experiences are very different.

Here are some observations identifying a tourist.

Tourism is the more expensive form of travel, it involves staying in nicer hotels, where you can get western amenities newspapers, western breakfast, and a concierge helping to lead you safely away from danger and sometimes your adventure. This type of holiday, although very relaxing and tremendously enjoyable, will disconnect you from where you are. You are provided with so many luxuries and home comforts, that you become completely oblivious to your location, you forget to soak in the feel, the smell and the grit of where you are. You could go as far as to say that tourists will never absorb the true feel of a country the way a traveler would.

Now the traveler has more unique characteristics that one should know about in order to mimic when necessary. Since one can go too far in any direction and leave the security of safety far behind if not careful.

Here are a few perceptions distinguishing an Traveler.

– Dirty Clothes, vest, shirt, and no obvious clothing standard. They regularly wash materials in the shower, and resemble a bum or wanderer.

– Flip flop shoes or exceptionally worn shoes/sandals.

– A rucksack with patches, and such demonstrating their ability to travel with less.

– A travelers camera, laptop are seldom seen. Absence of assets, helps to prevent others from stealing from them.

– A travelers hair is frequently unkempt, tangled, non brushed hair or dreadlocks are utilized.

– No adornments, or whatever else that local people can get their hands on to offer to you

– Travelers have a decent propensity for failing to spend any cash by any stretch of the imagination. They will stay at a shoddy as-all-damnation explorers inn, free breakfast being an enormous offering point. They eat regularly one dinner brunch+dinner.

– They have a tendency to be separated from everyone else. travelers live single, migrant lives outside the explorers lodge

– Ages are between the ages of 18 and 32 overall, and are seldom married.

– They often also have no comprehension of the local tongue, but they will damn-well try. The use of phrases such as ‘chicken please’, ‘I want lighter’ and ‘thank you’.

They often get it right since we think travel is to search for adventure, a traveler wants to be PART of the country he/she is visiting. You gain a special understanding and the most enjoyable experience from diving head first into a foreign country. One needs to consider what they want to accomplish, and what type of adventurer they want to be.

We recommend being a little bit of both worlds, and by doing this you really bring a piece of the place with you will feel richer and more fulfilled. You will be able to authentically describe the country, its people, its food and its landscapes with far more intricacy and passion. To be a tourist is to go on holiday, to be a traveler is to go on a journey, and to be an adventurer is to experience life in all aspects of the trip within the financial means you have to offer.

 

Happy Travels,

ExploreTraveler

Photo of the day – Chili crab Taiwan

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Photo of the day – Chili crab Taiwan

Chili crab in Taiwan “You can never have too much”

Chili crab in Taiwan You can never have too much

Taiwanese Food History

Taiwanese cooking (conventional Chinese: 台灣菜; disentangled Chinese: 台湾菜; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-oân liāu-lí (臺灣料理)) has a few varieties. Notwithstanding the accompanying delegate dishes from the populace of Hoklo (Hō-ló) ethnicity (see Taiwanese individuals), there are likewise Native, Hakka, and nearby subsidiaries of Chinese foods, for example, hamburger noodle soup.

Taiwanese cooking itself is frequently connected with impacts from mid to southern territories of Territory China, most prominently from the area of Fujian (Hokkien), however impacts from all of Terrain China can undoubtedly be found. A striking Japanese impact likewise exists because of the period when Taiwan was under Japanese standard. Customary Chinese nourishment could be found in Taiwan, nearby Fujian and Hakka-style and additionally local Taiwanese dishes, incorporates dishes from Guangdong, Jiangxi, Chaoshan, Shanghai, Hunan, Sichuan and Beijing.

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[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”450″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1pw8vle” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/LTbgtYHqjEI?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=LTbgtYHqjEI&width=450&height=400&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep3308″ /] Pork, fish, chicken, rice, and soy are extremely normal parts. Meat is far less basic, and some Taiwanese (especially the elderly era) still shun consuming it.[1] This is to a limited extent because of the contemplations of some Taiwanese Buddhists, a customary hesitance towards butchering valuable dairy cattle required for farming, and an enthusiastic connection and feeling of thankfulness and on account of the creatures customarily utilized for hard work. Nonetheless, because of impacts from the inundation of out of territory Chinese in the early 1900s, the Taiwanese variant of hamburger noodle soup is presently a standout amongst the most prevalent dishes in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s food has additionally been impacted by its geographic area. Living on a packed island, the Taiwanese needed to look aside from the farmlands for wellsprings of protein. Subsequently, fish figures unmistakably in their food. This fish envelops numerous diverse things, from vast fish, for example, fish and grouper, to sardines and considerably more diminutive fish, for example, anchovies. Scavangers, squid, and cuttlefish are likewise consumed.

[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”450″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1pw8JJi” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/rShTDrra7J0?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=rShTDrra7J0&width=450&height=400&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep8505″ /] A pork kiⁿ (羹, kiⁿ), a thick soup with tofu and surimi-covered pork

As a result of the island’s sub-tropical area, Taiwan has an inexhaustible supply of different apples and oranges, for example, papayas, starfruit, melons, and citrus foods grown from the ground. A wide mixed bag of tropical soil grown foods, foreign made and local, are likewise delighted in Taiwan. Other agrarian items by and large are rice, corn, tea, pork, poultry, meat, fish, and different foods grown from the ground. New elements in Taiwan are promptly accessible from businesses.

In a large portion of their dishes, the Taiwanese have demonstrated their innovativeness in their choice of flavors. Taiwanese cooking depends on a bottomless exhibit of seasonings for flavor: soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, matured dark beans, cured daikon, salted mustard greens, peanuts, stew peppers, cilantro (off and on again called Chinese parsley), and a nearby mixture of basil (九層塔 kau-tsan-tha, truly “nine story pagoda”).

A paramount piece of Taiwanese cooking are xiaochi,substantial snacks along the lines of Spanish tapas or Levantine meze.

The Taiwanese xiaochi has picked up much notoriety globally. Numerous voyagers go to Taiwan only for xiaochi. The most well-known spot to delight in xiaochi in Taiwan is in a night market. Every night showcase likewise has its own particular acclaimed xiaochi.

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Besides, the Taiwanese xiaochi has been enhancing to a larger amount. These days, Taiwanese xiaochi served in night showcases as well as some extravagance and top of the line restaurants. The costs generally hop 100% or much higher in the restaurants. Likewise, the Taiwanese government backs the Taiwanese xiaochi and has held national

 

Photo of the day – Cebu Island

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Photo of the day – Cebu Island

Scuba diving near Balicasag Island in the Philippines

[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”450″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1psYTYB” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/gPmPIt8McVI?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=gPmPIt8McVI&width=450&height=400&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=1&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep2831″ /]

With us spending so much time in Cebu we thought some backround history might be helpful in understanding why the island is the way it is.

Scuba diving near Balicasag Island in the Philippines

History

Cebu (/seɪˈbuː/ or/siːˈbuː/; Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Sugbo, Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Cebu; Tagalog elocution: [ˈsebu]) is an island territory in the Philippines, comprising of the island itself and 167 encompassing islands. Its capital is Cebu City, the most established city in the Philippines, which structures some piece of the Cebu Metropolitan Territory together with four neighboring urban communities (which embody Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Talisay City) and eight other nearby government units. Mactan-Cebu Worldwide Airplane terminal, spotted in Mactan Island, is the second busiest airplane terminal in the Philippines.

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Cebu is a standout amongst the most created areas in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the primary middle of business, exchange, instruction and industry in the Visayas. Condé Nast Explorer Magazine named Cebu the seventh best island terminus in the Indian Sea Asia district in 2007,[3] eighth best Asian-Pacific island goal in 2005, seventh in 2004 and in 2009, with well known traveler ends of the line, for example, Mactan Island and Moalboal. In 10 years it has changed into a worldwide center for furniture making, tourism, business handling administrations, and substantial industry.

Between the thirteenth and sixteenth century Cebu then known as Zubu[4] (or Sugbo) was an island occupied by Hindus, Buddhists, animists and Muslims[5] led by Rajahs and Datus.[6] It was a kingdom of the ancient Rajahnate of Cebu.

The Rajahnate of Cebu was a local kingdom which used to exist in Cebu before the landing of the Spaniards. It was established by Sri “Lumay” generally known as ‘Rajamuda Lumaya’, a half Malay and Half Tamil ruler of the Chola administration which had attacked Sumatra in Indonesia. He was sent by the Maharajah to build a base for expeditionary powers to repress the nearby kingdoms, yet he revolted and made his own particular free Rajahnate instead.[7]

The entry of Portuguese voyager Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 secured a time of Spanish investigation and colonization.[8][9]

Losing support for his arrangement of arriving at the Flavor Islands from lord Manuel I of Portugal, by cruising west from Europe, Magellan offered his administrations to ruler Charles I of Spain. On September 20, 1519, Magellan headed five boats with a team of 250 individuals from the Spanish fortress of Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the way to Southeast Asia by means of the Americas and Pacific Sea. They arrived at the Philippines on Walk 16, 1521. Rajah Kolambu the ruler of Mazaua let them know to cruise for Cebu, where they could exchange and have procurements.

Landing in Cebu City, Magellan, with Enrique of Malacca as interpreter, got to know Rajah Humabon the Rajah or Ruler of Cebu and induced the locals of faithfulness to Charles I of Spain. Humabon and his wife were given Christian names and purified through water as Carlos and Juana. The Santo Niño was exhibited to the local monarch of Cebu, as an image of peace and kinship between the Spaniards and the Cebuanos. On April 14, Magellan raised a huge wooden cross on the shores of Cebu. A while later, around 700 islanders were submersed.

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Magellan soon knew about Datu Lapu-Lapu, a local ruler in adjacent Mactan Island, an adversary of the Rajahs of Cebu. It was suspected that Humabon and Lapu-Lapu had been battling for control of the thriving exchange the range. On April 27, the Skirmish of Mactan happened where the Spaniards were crushed and Magellan murdered by the locals of Mactan[10] in Mactan Island. As per Italian antiquarian and recorder, Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan’s body was never recouped regardless of deliberations to exchange for it with flavor and gems. Magellan’s second in summon, Juan Sebastián Elcano took his spot as chief of the undertaking and cruised their armada over to Spain, circumnavigating the world.

Survivors of the Magellan endeavor brought stories of a savage island in the East Indies with them when they came back to Spain. Subsequently, a few Spanish endeavors were sent to the islands however all finished in disappointment. In 1564, Spanish wayfarers headed by Miguel López de Legazpi cruising from Mexico landed in 1565 and created a colony.[11] The Spaniards battled the Lord Rajah Tupas and involved his regions. The Spaniards created settlements, exchange prospered and renamed the island to “Manor del Santíssimo Nombre de Jesús” (Town of the Most Heavenly Name of Jesus). Cebu turned into the first European settlement built by the Spanish Cortés in the Philippines. In 1595, the Universidad de San Carlos (College of San Carlos) was created and in 1860, Cebu opened its fortifications to outside exchange. The principal printing house (“Imprenta de Escondrillas y Cia”) was secured in 1873 and in 1880, the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (School of the Faultless Origination) was made and the first periodical The Notice of Cebu (“El Boletin de Cebú”) started distributed in 1886. In 1898, the island was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War. In 1901, Cebu was administered by the United States for a concise period, notwithstanding it turned into a sanction area on February 24, 1937 and was legislated freely by Filipino lawmakers.

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Cebu, being a standout amongst the most thickly populated islands in the Philippines, served as a Japanese base amid their occupation in World War II which started with the arriving of Japanese warriors in April 1942. The third, eighth, 82nd and 85th Infantry Division of the Philippine Ward Armed force was restored from 1942 to 1946 and the eighth Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was restored again from 1944 to 1946 at the military general home office and the military camps and garrisoned in Cebu City and Cebu Territory. They began the Opposition to Japanese military operations in Cebu from April 1942 to September 1945 and helped Cebuano guerrillas and battled against the Japanese Majestic strengths. Very nearly after three years in Walk 1945, joined Filipino and American powers arrived and reoccupied the island amid the liberation of the Philippines. Cebuano guerrilla gatherings headed by an American, James Cushing is credited for the foundation of the Koga Papers which is said to have changed the American arrangements to retake the Philippines from Japanese occupation in 1944, by helping the consolidated United States and the Philippine Region Armed force powers enter Cebu in 1945. The accompanying year the island attained autonomy from provincial manage in 1946.

Geography

Cebu is spotted to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands. Cebu is a long tight island extending 225 kilometers (140 mi) from north to south and 45 kilometers crosswise over at its vastest point, encompassed by 167 neighboring, more modest islands, which incorporate Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands. Cebu has slender coastlines, limestone levels and waterfront fields. It additionally has moving slopes and rough mountain reaches navigating the northern and southern lengths of the island.

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Cebu’s most astounding mountains are in excess of 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) high. Level tracts of area might be found in the city of Bogo and in the towns of San Remigio, Medellin and Daanbantayan at the northern locale of the territory.

The island’s zone of 4,468 square kilometers backs in excess of 3.6 million individuals, of which 2.3 million live in Metro Cebu. The area’s territory region is 494,372 hectares (1,221,620 sections of land), or 534,200 hectares (1,320,000 sections of land) including the free cities.[1] according to different sources – 4,468 square kilometers (1,725 sq mi).[citation needed]

Shorelines, coral atolls, islands and rich angling grounds encompass Cebu.

Cebu’s focal area, nearness to surprisingly colorful traveler goal, prepared access to an assorted qualities of plant, creature and topographical ponders inside the island, and remoteness from quake and hurricane movement are a portion of the uncommon properties of Cebu.

On February 6 2012, Cebu island accomplished the impacts of size 6.7 seismic tremor on the neighboring island of Negros and was the biggest shudder in the region for 90 years. The tremor shook structures and brought about alarm however there were not reports of significant building harm or death toll on Cebu Island itself. This tremor was brought about by an awhile ago unrecorded “visually impaired” deficiency.

On October 15, 2013, Cebu and Bohol were hit by record setting 7.2 size tremor leaving in excess of 100 dead, 5 chronicled houses of worship fallen sending inhabitants to frenzy, there were in excess of 700 post-quake tremors.

Climate

The atmosphere of Cebu is tropical. There are 2 seasons in Cebu − the dry and wet season. It is dry and sunny the greater part of the year with some infrequent downpours amid the months of June to December. The region of Cebu ordinarily gets storms once a year or none.

Northern Cebu gets more precipitation and hurricanes than Southern Cebu in light of the fact that it has an alternate atmosphere. Tropical storm Haiyan hit Northern Cebu in 2013 murdering 73 individuals and harming 348 others. Despite the fact that most storms hit Northern Cebu, the urban regions in Focal Cebu are now and then hit, for example, when Hurricane Mike (PAGASA name: Ruping), one of the most noticeably bad to hit Cebu, lashed the Focal Cebu zone in 1990.

Cebu’s temperatures can achieve a high of 36 °c (97 °f) from Walk to May, and as low as 18 °c (64 °f) in the mountains amid the wet season. The normal temperature is around 24 to 34 °c (75 to 93 °f), and does not change much aside from amid the month of May, which is the most sweltering month. Cebu midpoints 70–80 percent

Photo of the day – Downtown Hsinchu Taiwan

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ByExploreTraveler.com:  Photo of the day – Downtown Hsinchu Taiwan

Downtown Hsinchu in Taiwan

“Hsinchu, officially known as Hsinchu City (Chinese: 新竹市; Hanyu Pinyin: Xīnzhú Shì; Tongyong Pinyin: Sinjhú Shìh; Wade–Giles: Hsin1-chu2 Shih4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sin-tek), is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed “The Windy City” (Chinese: 風城; Hanyu Pinyin: Fēngchéng; Tongyong Pinyin: Fongchéng; Wade–Giles: Feng1-ch’eng2) for its windy climate.

Hsinchu is administered as a provincial city within Taiwan. The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the west. Hsinchu is composed of three districts: North District, East District andXiangshan District.

In 1626, after Spain occupied northern Taiwan, Spanish missionaries arrived at Tek-khàm (竹塹; sm: zhúqiàn), where the TaokasTaiwanese aborigines lived. During the nineteenth century, it was renamed Hsinchu. In 1920, under Japanese rule, Hsinchu Street was established, with the founding of Hsinchu Street District Office. In 1930, the city system was applied. It was renamed as Hsinchu City, under the governing of Hsinchu-Chou, with the establishment of Hsinchu City Office. In 1941, its administration district was expanded, merging with Xiangshan and Qiu Kang, and became a part of Liu Jia Zhuang.

In 1945 the incoming Kuomintang (KMT; Chinese Nationalists) established the Hsinchu City Government to govern Hsinchu-Chou. In 1946, the Take Over Committee dissolved and Hsinchu County Government was formed. Hsinchu County Government was moved to Taoyuan. As the administrative districts were readjusted, it became a provincially-governed city, using the original Chou office as its legal office, with seven district offices. In February of the same year, representative congress was formed in every district. On April 15 the City Congress was formed. Provincial Representatives were elected from the city legislators, to become legislative bodies of different levels. On August 16, 1950, the administrative districts in Taiwan were re-adjusted once more, demarcating 16 counties and 5 provincially governed cities.

In June 1982, under the President’s order, the Xiangshan Township of Hsinchu County would merge into Hsinchu City, and the new entity would become a special municipality. The new government of Hsinchu was legally established on July 1, 1982, with 103 lis, and 1635 lins. The City Government is located on 120 Chung Cheng Road, the former Hsinchu-Chou Office.

In end of June 1983, there were three Bureaus (Civil Service, Public Works, and Education), four Departments (Finance, Social Welfare, Compulsory Military Service, and Land Affairs), four offices (Secretary, Planning, Personnel, and Auditing), and 49 sections (units, teams) under the City Government’s organization to provide services for various urban affairs. Affiliate institutions include the Police Department, Tax Department, and Medicine and Hygiene Department.

By the end of 1982, the city was classified into east, north and Xiangshan districts. The east, north and Xiangshan district administration offices were posted on October 1 and then they were formally established on November 1 in the same year.

From 1994 to 1999, as Taiwan made its transition from authoritarian rule to modern democracy and the mostly pro forma provincial level of government began to be dissolved, regulations were established for formal Hsinchu City self-government. A deputy mayor, consumer officer, and three consultants were added to the city government. In 2002 the city added a Bureau of Labor and transferred Compulsory Military Service to the Department of Civil Service.”

Bibliographic details for “Hsinchu”

 

Tacloban City Philippines Part II “The Rebuilding”

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People building around the ships at the new Yolanda Village.

As most of our readers know Tacloban was hit by the largest Typhoon to have ever to be recorded,and The Rebuilding of Tacloban City Philippines will take time. The damage was significant and widespread with numerous buildings destroyed by the very large and surprising storm surge. As with most large disasters people need time to grieve and to become adjusted to the new norm. Tacloban, and the surrounding towns is no different; but the life and the heart of the city is now showing signs of re-birth. While driving around you can now see a return to everyday life. Buildings downtown are opening for business, and one can now even get an espresso in the one and only coffee cafe available. Chicken restaurant chains have opened every location that was repairable, and the Robinson’s mall is operating. Now this does not mean that these businesses are operating at full steam and capacity, but they are open for business.

Peddle Cab
Peddle Cab

The driving force of this city has always been small business, and strong signals of a rebound are under way. The building sector, and transportation are in full recovery mode with road side stands popping everywhere. Small grocery stores are opening as well, and banks are open and opening accounts. I suspect that an economic boom is under way since there was nowhere to go but up. Local Filipino businesses should reconise what is happening soon, and a recovery with real financial backbone should rise to the surface. With death and large destruction so wide spread; the emotional impact upon ones psychological health needs to be fully understood. My family and I where glad we could help bring some additional joy, and the understanding that hope is real, and tangimable within the reach of everyone involved. As time marches on we expect the city to continue it’s economic rebound until it reaches the maximum one would expect in this region of the world.

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Tacloban City Philippines

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Tacloban City Philippines

My family and I decided that I should visit Tacloban on December 26th, and visit people we know and to bring some relief , and medical supplies if possible. Getting there right now is still very challenging since it is a disaster zone. Living conditions are still very low; although there is limited hotel service available if they are not booked solid.

With limited time I took off from Taipei and traveled to Manila, and transferred to Cebu arriving around 5:00 PM. Upon arrival I was a little dismayed to find out my large backpack full of medical supplies was not there, and was told it would arrive by 9:00 PM that evening. I was able to find a room across the street from the Cebu airport at a very decent hotel. My flight being at early at 5:00 AM so I didn’t want to be to far away.

IMG-20131229-00244After arriving back at the airport I was able to find food and coffee while becoming aware that the flight time was not 5:00 AM, but really sun rise, due to the fact that Tacloban airport is really only working in daylight hours. Fog had rolled in over Tacloban and there was concern we would not make it on the flight. Since we were able to board and flew to the city, frustration set in since the pilot informed us that he was canceling the landing due to fog and would fly back.

Now having been returned to Cebu with no flight for the day, and only having flight options for late into the very next day. I started asking questions that led me to the option of taking a ferry over to Leyte via Ormac, and then hiring a driver over to Tacloban. So that is exactly what I did, and rushed over to the port ASAP to book a ticket since they were going fast. I secured a 1:30 PM, and was on standby for the 11:30 AM ferry. Having secured the 11:30 AM ticket due to a no show I boarded the ferry for the one and one half hour ride. The trip was comfortable, and they provided coffee, water, and snacks.

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Upon leaving the ferry station there in Ormac, I had several drivers to choose from. It was only a matter of choosing someone I felt comfortable with, and then negotiating the price of the trip. While driving through Ormac it was obvious that they had been hit by a serious storm, but the damage was not as serious as I had expected. Now driving north it became apparent that the storm hit everyone in an unequal manner, and spread the destruction into areas that were not protected by hills or in valley’s.

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As the trip continued through remote villages you could see that rebuilding had begun; new walls from freshly weaved palm leafs were use to fix the side of huts, and metal roofing was already being put into place. However there was several items I had expected. First there was not a single chicken in site, and not a single foreign worker to be seen. It was obvious so far that even though the world was talking about support on the ground the people had left sometime before Christmas. As I arrived much closer to the main city the destruction was made clear with whole villages wiped out or spared, but only because of the geography. The meaning of survival was determined by what you knew about the areas geography in relationship the the oncoming storm. Once I entered the suburban city of Palo, the debris field was most flat with partial structures standing like a wall here and there.DSCN7082

The sun was now going down, and I had already met up with my intended contacts for the evening, so I switched vehicles, and headed into Tacloban to get situated for the night.

Now December 28th, and with little time remaining I headed through the city to see for myself what had transpired there during and after the storm. The downtown was completely gone along the bay where the storm came in. The area from there going out did improve slightly as the elevation and terrain allowed.

DSCN7425Now international support was nowhere to be seen, and I know there was still a few organisations still in town. The one who left did leave behind tents, tarps, and food but organisations were now gone. Now what I did see was a tremendous amount of Filipino people within organisations out of Manila there helping out such as the the local Red Cross.

Later in the afternoon I met up with Boyet

Palma Mijares of Manila, and we went over to an event he organised with a group of business leaders in the Philippines. It will take significant time for this city to recover, but with a helping hand this historic city will recover from the destruction.

Tacloban City Part II the Rebuilding

ExploreTraveler.com

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