Visit to the Philippines

[Don Little]

I just concluded a two week vacation with my wife and her family to Cebu City, Philippines.  Our main reason for going was to vacation and to visit family, but of course what would a trip to the Philippines be (where just about any palm can grow) with out some palm pics.  Unfortunately because of the busy schedule and the fact that driving in the Philippines makes the the craziest traffic here look tame, getting around to specificaly go palm spotting is a challenge.  Because of this, most of my pics are Palms were either taken while driving or at the resort where we stayed.  There were many species that I saw but was unable to photograph.  

This first pic is of my wife and I at Lax prior to our departure.

Here is a pic taken at the resort at the end of our trip.  With little time spent in the sun my wife (3rd from the left) was able to tan nicely but I on the other hand remained the same no matter how hard I try don't tan very well   .  I'm the one taken the pic so I'm not in this one (see the first pic and theres no change)

[Don Little]

First off the Philippines is a place of great beauty and very friendly, hospitable people, sadly however there is a great disparity, many are very poor and have little while others are well to do.  

Here are some pics showing the extremes

and the other end

[Don Little]

As I mentioned however we were always treated nicely and often times when slowing down to take a pic some nearby would often smile and wave.  Here is a pic of some of the locals that were glad to allow us to take a photo of them.

[Don Little]

As I mentioned unless you are used to driving in the Philippines, I would not recommend it because as far as traffic rules go, anything goes and it can get quite hectic with pedestrians, bicycleists, and other drivers.

[Don Little]

There are lots of street vendors and small shops

As well as very nice modern buildings and shopping malls like anyother large city and similar to what is here in the U.S. as well as other familiar places

[Don Little]

The Jeepney is a very popular and colorful way to get around

and here is one of the many fresh tropical fruit stands where you can stop at on the way to where ever you are going.

and here is the famous Durian fruit known for it's strong taste and odor

[Don Little]

Here is the house where my wife grew up and is still owned by the family

And here is a few photos of the resort we stayed in (Shangri-La Mactan) is was incredible.

[Don Little]

Now to the Palms.  As you see the pics, some I am uncertain of, some may even be repeats so feel free to correct me or identify the ones I was unable to I.D.

The first one is this Royal that I couldn't pass up.  Not sure what caused the damage, possibly lightning but none the less it is still alive and looks healthy otherwise

The Crown is still green

and one more pic

[Don Little]

There were countless Corypha utans of various sizes.  One can only marvel at their massive size.

at the bottom of these there appears to be some Nypa fruticans which are also common and used for thatch.  I apologize for the glare but many of these were taken while being driven around.

[Don Little]

Of course I had to get some pics of some in bloom as that is also amazing as to their sheer size.  Too bad they die once they do flower

and a closer look

[Don Little]

next to the coconuts Adonidia merrelii was the most common but there was also your other common varieties

The tops cot chopped off in the photos

P roebelinis

Nice triangles

and D lutescens with a partial view of a D lucumbensis

[Don Little]

Here is a Licuala grandis which is the first time I have seen one in person.  Wish I could grow them here.  There is also a small C mitis which I didn't see to many fishtails curiously.

and a L grandis with ripe seed

Also there were some nice Livistona rotundifolias which this is just a small one.  I love the nearly round leaves and long thin petioles these have.  These IIf you look back at the far right of the first pic of this post there is also one.  I also had never seen these in person.

close up of the round leaves

[Don Little]

Here is a C renda whch again I only wish would grow here

closer view of the red

anda nice Royal which there were conuntless of

[Don Little]

Some small Pritchardia sp, could be anynumber of but not sure maybe someone might know.  By looking at pictures it could be P forbesiana but then again they all look very similar.

[Don Little]

The base and petioles (although they seem long and thin to me) on these say Bizzie but to me the leaves do not.  What about Latania loddigesii? not sure, help anyone?

another view

one more

[paulgila]

fantastic pix,don!i was just talking to someone on the forum about how i'd enjoy seeing some pix of the phillipines--what a coincidence!it would be great to see more from anyone who can share with the rest of the forum

[Don Little]

I believe this is P macarthurii especially with the red color of the seed but the leaves seem long to me but could be from stretching due to partial shade.

Not to many foxtails that I saw but these were some nice ones on the resort

[Don Little]

Thanks Paul.

I couldn't believe how green everything is and how well they grow.  I'm sure you saw the same things in Bali.  We could only dream of things growing like that here.

[Don Little]

Not sure what this is but possibly a Pinanga sp by the look of the leaves.  Does anyone know for sure?

and inflorescense to what I believe to be the same sp

[paulgila]

its cool to visit places like that  & have something to be

inspired by!

keep those pix coming,they are really enjoyable!

[Don Little]

Here is a small unknown to me.  Perhaps someone can I.D.

Heres another I'm not sure of.  Could be Ptychosperma but again feel free to correct me.

same plant

[Don Little]

another one that not sure of, then again it could be a sp I already posted.

same plant if this helps

Plenty of nice bottles here are a few

This one happens to be on the same compound my wifes family lives on.  She knows who it is but I don't.

[Don Little]

Can't forget about all the other tropicals that grow so well

[Don Little]

crotons

There were so many varities of Heliconias and gingers as well as orchids.  Too many to post.  There were also many palms that I saw but was unable to get good pics of.  If I can, will post more pics later.

Paul: inspired is right.  And its what will keep those of us who live in less than tropical environments to keep pushing the envelope on what we can grow untill who knows some day live in such a place.  In the meantime visiting these places is certainly nice to do.

[Gbarce]

Mabuhay Don!!!

If you want to get a tan try going to this country around March or April  which is the peak of summer.

DId you try "danggit"  its the sun dried little fish that they split in the middle and fried till its crispy.  They are kind of like potato chips made out of fish.  

When its in season they also have these really tiny squid that they dry out in the sun also and fried till crisps as well.

Hope you had a great time-- keep the pictures coming.

Did you just stay in Cebu or did you go to neighboring islands as well -- like Boracay?

[amazondk]

Great pictures Don.  It is great seeing some pictures of the Phillapines.  There are a lot of simlarities to the area I live in.  Many of the people here in Amazonia resemble the people there as well.

dk

[Don Little]

Salamat Gene,

I did have a great time and am looking forward to going back when I get a chance.  I did get to try the danggit.  My Father-in-law told me they ate it with breakfast each day almost like bacon but the only squid I tried was not the crispy variety.  

Our plan was to get to Borocay to see some of the worlds most beuatiful beaches but the weather would have spoiled it due to the rain so we put it off for a future trip.  We had also planned to go to Bantayan which is off northern Cebu and to see Bohol but outbreaks of dengue in Bohol changed those plans.  We did however get to Moalboal and Toledo and all the small towns inbetween.  Since we missed the previously mentioned ones that just leaves more for future trips as this was my first but definately not the last.

Our next trip will definately be in March but not likely next year as I have been told that it is the best time to go for diving because of the dry season.

[Don Little]

(amazondk @ Sep. 30 2007,11:06)

QUOTE

Great pictures Don.  It is great seeing some pictures of the Phillapines.  There are a lot of simlarities to the area I live in.  Many of the people here in Amazonia resemble the people there as well.

dk

Thanks Don.  It is certainly an experience to get to travel to other parts of the world, I wish I had the opportunity to travel as extensively as you do.

[amazondk]

Don,

I just noticed that I spelled Phiippines wrong.  I get sort of confused anymore with spelling, sorry.  Anyway, I used to work with a lot of Philppinos in San Francisco at the airport when I worked there loading planes for Western Airlines in the late 70's.  I would like to go to the Philippines some day, but I am pretty tied up closer to home these days.  Thanks again for your pictures.

dk

[Gbarce]

Don,

It looks like you've seen more Philippine islands in your one trip than I have in my life lifetime.

Summer (March to May)is has the perfect weather for all the beach stuff that you would ever want to do.  But it is blazing hot when you are on land.

Christmas time also has very pleasant weather - (December to February).  The Christmas season unofficially starts the first day of September -- without fail the radio stations begin playing Christmas Carols an people start getting into the spirit of things.

Good luck on your next trip and please share future pictures as well.

"Kamusta" to your lovely wife as well.

[Kris]

Dear Don  

thanks a lot of the visuals and the C.Utan,travellers palm,lipsticks,Latonia.L were some of my favouriate palms..i was blown away by their beauty.

thanks for sharing those stills will us,

love,

Kris  

[paulgila]

(Don_L @ Sep. 30 2007,06:35)

QUOTE

Not sure what this is but possibly a Pinanga sp by the look of the leaves.  Does anyone know for sure?

and inflorescense to what I believe to be the same sp

thanks again for posting these pix,don!these palms look more like a ptychosperma sp.to me,especially the infloresence & fruit.also they appear to be in full sun.

its a tough ID,tho,the leaves are really broad & short...

[deezpalms]

Great photo's Don! Thanks mucho mucho!!!

[Dave-Vero]

The clever streetlights in one photo remind me of ones I saw in Taipei--the idea is to light the street, not everyone's apartment!

Traffic looks messier than Taipei.  But maybe fewer scooters?  Taipei has a neat setup for scooters to make left turns at a light.  The scooter turns off to the right, lines up at a scooters-only obedience line in front of the cars but back of the crosswalk, then goes straight ahead when the light turns.

[bubba]

Great shots! Tremendous variety of palms.Personal favorites were the Sealing Wax and Licula. Thank you for your time in posting.

[Don Little]

dk,

              Don't worry about the spelling, I used to get it

              wrong all the time too.  With some countries,

              almost impossible to tell how the spelling is un

              less you actually see it.

Gene:  

           Those were the islands that we had planned to

           visit but the weather prevented us from doing so

           but on our next visit, it will be longer and a

           time of the year so will definately be back on the

           agenda.  Thanks for the complement of my wife, I

           will tell her.

Kris:

         I knew you would enjoy the C utans, glad you

         liked them.  They are truly incredible because of

         there sheer size and they were everywhere.

Paul:

          Initially I thought Ptychosperma too but the short

         leaves which could also be due to the direct sun

         compared to the others, but the way wide

         sections of undivided leaflets like some

         Pinanga sp threw me off.

Dave:

         Thanks, I only wish I was able photograph all the

         different species I saw, there would be alot more

         posted.

Dave-Vero

          All those lights are relatively new and from what I

          was told, they paid alot of money for all them, but

          they do work pretty effectively.  Over in the

          philippines every one turned at their own risk,

          that is an interesting idea for the scooters.  Every

          place has their own way od doing things.

Bubba

         

         Thanks, the C renda was one of my favorites too

         along with the L grandis and its orange seeds.

[palmislandRandy]

Beautifull photos, thankyou for sharing!  Randy