Category Archives: Tourism

TOURISM OFFICIALS WANT TO STOP GOOGLE STREET VIEW IN THE PHILIPPINES

September 17, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – On Wednesday, the Philippines became the 69th country included in Google’s Street View, which shows not just maps and routes but also actual photos of street addresses.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and tourism officials say images of the Philippine capital and the country’s main tourist spots on Google’s Street View could help attract more visitors to the country.

Google country marketing manager Ryan Morales said the images captured over six months last year include panoramic street views of Manila and 39 other cities, 30 historic and heritage sites as well as Pacquiao’s southern hometown where he began his career as one of the world’s most popular boxers.

But in less than 24 hours since the Street View launched in the Philippines, tourism officials asked the Supreme Court to issue a restraining order to stop Google from including Street View on Google Maps.

Apparently, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been receiving thousands of emails from irate potential tourists from all over the world, complaining that the street images they were seeing on Google Maps are a very far cry from the scenic photos and majestic videos that have been featured in Philippine tourism promos.

Instead, Google searches are showing photos of slum areas and other images that are not representative of DOT’s own exotic view of the Philippines.

International, Tourism, Travel

FILIPINOS BETTER OFF THAN U.S. CITIZENS COME 2016 OLYMPICS IN RIO DE JANEIRO

September 8, 2015 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Capture RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Philippine citizens may have a hard time visiting the United States on business or tourism, but the Filipinos are better off than U.S. citizens when it comes to the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Philippine citizens need a visa to enter the United States and thousands are denied their visa applications year after year. This, despite the fact that U.S. citizens do not need a Philippine visa when traveling to the island nation as long as they do not stay beyond 30 days.

But when it comes to Brazil, Filipinos have an advantage over U.S. citizens. Philippine citizens do not need a visa to enter Brazil, but U.S. citizens do.

So when it comes to the 2016 Summer Olympics, Filipinos will have the last laugh, while U.S. citizens will be scratching their heads trying to complete and submit the strict visa application requirements.

Oh, did we already mention the visa processing fee of $160?

Last June, Brazil’s tourism minister said that the country may lift its visa requirements so that Americans can come to see the 2016 Rio Olympics, but nothing has yet been made official.

Religion, Tourism, Travel

BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY TO PROVIDE CHEAP ACCOMMODATIONS DURING POPE FRANCIS’ VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA

August 11, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

CAMDEN, New Jersey (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Pope Francis will visit the city of Philadelphia on September 26 and 27 as part of his U.S. itinerary. If you plan to go see the Pope and have not made your hotel reservations yet, you’re out of luck. Hotel and other accommodations are 100% booked.

But wait, there is some hope.

The Battleship New Jersey , America’s most decorated battleship, has some bunks available for pilgrims who need a place to lay their head during the papal visit to Philadelphia.

Battleship New Jersey, now a museum, is located in Camden and is just literally a stone’s throw away from Philadelphia.

“Guests can come on board, be served dinner and breakfast from the chow line, get a tour of the battleship, ride the flight simulator and, of course, sleep in the bunks used by the former crew of USS New Jersey — all for the bargain price of $69.99 per day,” said Jack Williard, senior vice president fo the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial .

There must be a catch, right?

Yes, but just one minor catch: showers are not provided.

So go ahead and book your bunk. It’s first come, first served.

And pack enough deodorant and cologne, as a courtesy to the thousands of other pilgrims who will be part of the packed crowds you’ll be intimately hobnobbing with at the papal event.