Sydney+&+Shannon

= = = = =__ Philippines __=

The Republic of the Philippines has two seasons, wet and dry. The dry seasons occurs during November to May. While the Wet season is from June to September. The patterns of the weather are much less predictable then they used to be. May is the hottest month in the lowland regions, which the temperatures reach as high as thirty-eight degrees celsius. Rainfall now comes in sudden burst. Flash flooding is more common than it used to be, due to deforestation and soil erosion. A good time to visit the Philippines is when typhoons are less likely to occur, which is from September to May. If you go around Christmas and New Years, beware of crowding. Many of the workers return home to their families.

The pink dot shows Manila, the capital of The Philippines. =//__Tourist Attractions__// =

**The Chocolate Hills** Legends say that these hills were created from two giants fighting and throwing sand and stones at each other. After they were through fighting, they became friends and left the island, leaving their mess behind. Many tours take place in the Chocolate Hills, all free.



**Paco P****ark** This park will give you the relaxing afternoon you need. The circular, moss covered park is beautiful, with a chapel in the middle. It used to be a cemetery, but they changed it to a park in 1966. Free concerts are held on Friday afternoons.



**Scuba Diving at Panglao Island**

This small limestone island is perfect to start your scuba diving adventure. This deep blue water is one of the best places in the world to scuba dive at. Not all divers are lucky enough to spot a shark or whale though. The countless fish and wide ranges of coral, it will be a trip you cannot forget.

**White Beach, Boracay Island** This beach has a friendly atmosphere. The white sand stretches for 3 miles without ever getting hot. This beach is rated one of the ten top beaches in the world, with the cool sand, warm water, and many hotels on the beach, it should be! There are many things to do at this beach, such as taking a boat to a good scuba diving sight, going fishing, associating with all of the people, and many more.



=**__Currency__** = 1 Peso= $.02 in the U.S. dollars = __ Fligh t__ = 8550 miles Arrive Manila (MNL) **11:00 pm** || Mon **18-May** Duration: 21hr 35mn ||  ||  || **Korean Air** 94 / 623 || Arrive Washington (IAD) **11:25 am** || Mon **25-May** Duration: 22hr 55mn ||  ||  || **Korean Air** 624 / 93 ||
 * **1:25 pm** Depart Washington (IAD)
 * || Connect in Seoul (ICN) ||  ||
 * || [[image:http://www.expedia.com/eta/spaceit.gif]] ||  ||
 * **12:30 am** Depart Manila (MNL)
 * **12:30 am** Depart Manila (MNL)
 * || Connect in Seoul (ICN) ||  ||

=__Visa and Passport__= The Philippines do not require a visa for U.S citizens. Although they do require a passport valid for at least six months after the date of entry into the Philippines.

=__Disease Control ||~ Vaccination or Disease ||~ Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases || || [|Routine] || Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc. Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection ([|see map]) where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors. || || [|Hepatitis B] || Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission ([|see map]), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident). || || [|Typhoid] || Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Southeast Asia, especially if visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives where exposure might occur through food or water. || || [|Rabies] || Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. For updates on the rabies vaccine supply, please check the [|Rabies News and Highlights page] regularly. || || [|Japanese encephalitis] || Recommended if you plan to visit rural farming areas and under special circumstances, such as a known outbreak of Japanese encephalitis, see [|country-specific information]. ||__=
 * || [|Hepatitis A] or immune globulin (IG) ||

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