Bohol: a cute encounter..

Bigger eyes than brain and can hold in the palm of your hand: this is the Filipino tarsier!

Bohol is famous for its conservation effort of one of the smallest primate on earth: the cute little tarsier. Nocturnal and fragile, it is threatened by its habitat loss and the pet trade. We visited the tarsier foundation where this little animal can enjoy 200 hectares of freedom. Another particularity of the island are the "chocolate hills". Formed by millions of year of erosion on a limestone landscapes, they look like... well you'll choose:-). And of course, we enjoyed a beautiful day of snorkeling in the amazing reef of Balicasag island closed by. One part had been damaged by a typhoon in November but the rest was just stunning...

Dumaguette, la belle cite etudiante, la bella citta` studentesca

We crossed Panay and Negros islands with the usual ferry/bus/jeepney/tricycle (above) combination to stay for a few nice days in the student city of Dumaguete. From there we swam with turtles in Apo island, we approached the giant whale sharks, observed the Filipino petanque (with coconut and stones!), explored the jungle inland and enjoyed the best massage ever... It was really a great atmosphere with plenty of  Filipinos students making this city looking young and dynamic

Ati-Atihan: Carnival for the "Santo Nino"

Ati-Atihan is one of the biggest "carnival" of Philippines. The Atis were the original inhabitants of Panay island. In the 13th century, tribes from Borneo had to run away from their own land and arrived in Panay. The Atis welcomed them so well that each year a festival was organised where Borneo settlers and the Atis danced and played music together. In honour of the Atis, Borneo tribes darkened their skin. The practice is still done today. After christianisation, a procession for Santo Nino was of course added. An impressive mass schedule is organised but the hit is defnitely the big parade!

Boracay: kitesurfers and Asian tourists paradise

The most vibrant island of the Visayas became famous thanks to its 4km long white sand tropical beach. The beach is long indeed, and the sand is amazingly white. But over-development has got a price: a green algae has developped in the water in the South of the island. Fortunately, the Northern beaches are still protected and very beautiful. And the conditions are perfect for kitesurfers who literally invade the East beach from January to March.

Welcome to the Pacific Ring of Fire: Philippines!

Mamamia che pulito!

It was far from being obvious but after 2 months in India, this is the first and only exclamation we could say when landing in Philippines. Singapore airline and airport had been like an oasis of cleanliness, technology and tropical gardens. A shock was to be expected in the Philippines, which is after all one of the poorest country in South-East Asia, right?

Farewell to India

So the trip to India has just come to an end. Flying from Delhi to Singapore, on our way to Manila, there is just enough time to try to get a sense of what will remain before diving into another culture.

Incredible India as it is everywhere advertised is not for the faint-hearted. Our last day in Delhi helped us to understand the gap between the countryside and the capital. Delhi was supposed to be incredibly tough and dirty. We must have come a long way during the last two months..Strolling in old Delhi, I could only think: waooo pavements, sewers, no cows, people busy doing their own business, no hassle...Of course the electrical equipments hanging in the streets make you pray for your life each time you look up. But I was impressed by the modernity of the metro, by Connaught place which looks like Europe (well, maybe South Europe) and by the standard of our hotel that was not supposed to be that high. Suburbs are different and there are people living in extreme poverty but the capital left me a positive and dynamic impression, despite the fog and the cold.

So eventually what remains is a puzzle.