Local alternatives to popular int’l destinations

From island-hopping to shopping, dining and adventure, many famous foreign destinations have a local and sometimes better version somewhere in our country's 7,107 islands that you can enjoy for a fraction of the price, and no passport, foreign language dictionary or visa needed.

General Santos City Fish Port Complex (instead of Tsukiji Market, Tokyo)

You might have heard about or experienced the chaotic yet amazing fish auctions in Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. Visitors line up at the administration office as early as 2:30 a.m. just to get one of 120 available free tickets for the day. The first of two fish auctions starts a little after 5 a.m. and the second one ends at 6:15 a.m. The red-eye effort to get tickets to this spectacle was what made me skip this activity the last time I went to the Land of the Rising Sun.

But inside the massive fish port complex in General Santos City is a less touristy, less chaotic, but nonetheless approximate version of what goes on in Tsukiji Market. Waking up a little later at 5 a.m., visitors must first register, put on regulation boots, and then step into foot baths before entering the fish preparation area.

Instant highlights are the huge yellow fin tuna that are transported from fishing vessels to the weighing area. After their insides are cleaned, these are now ready for auction and soon after packed in huge styrofoam containers for export to other provinces and countries.

Cleanliness and hygiene are of top importance to both Tsukiji and GenSan fish port. Unfortunately, compared to the vast choice of restaurants serving sushi and sashimi in Tsukiji Market, tuna and other fresh seafood are nowhere to be found in the establishments within the vicinity of the fish port.

La Paz Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte (instead of the sand dunes abroad)

Located a few kilometers from the Laoag International Airport, La Paz Sand Dunes is the cooler, less skin-scorching alternative to the sand dunes in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or in the US. Sandboarding and well as riding 4x4 vehicles to explore the dunes' peaks and valleys are must-do’s when you're here.

Juan Luna St., Divisoria (instead of Mongkok Ladies Market, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

No travel list will be complete without shopping. Mongkok, a well-known shopping area in the Kowloon side of Hong Kong, is famed for cheap knock-offs, bargains and price haggling practices. The stretch of Juan Luna Street after crossing the bridge in Divisoria is akin to Mongkok's Ladies Market; whether you’re looking for clothes, textile and accessories with a specific budget in mind, bang for the buck, Juan Luna is your best bet.

Bellarocca Island Resort, Marinduque (instead of Santorini, Greece)

From an inspiration point of view, the white rooms, buildings and structures of Bellarocca Island Resort do look like the whitewashed houses of the Greek island Santorini. Just a speedboat away off the main island, it is rather unfortunate that commercial flights have stopped services to and from Marinduque, thus making visiting this Santorini-inspired resort a little bit harder to do.

Coron, Palawan (instead of Halong Bay, Vietnam)

While travel infrastructure and water vessels are better in Halong Bay, not even the vast Thien Cung cave comes close to the natural beauty of Twin Lagoon, Kayangan and Barracuda Lakes that can only be found on the islands of Coron.

Caramoan, Camarines Sur (instead of Phuket, Thailand)

Whether it's the scenery, the beach or the local hospitality, Caramoan in Camarines Sur can go head-to-head with one of the most famous (and touristy) destinations in the world, Phuket. The two-hour ferry trip from Naga City to Guijalo Port maybe a bit of a hassle, but visitors in search of a peaceful or romantic vacation would be better off choosing quiet and rural Caramoan over the party-like atmosphere of Phuket.

The Ruins, Talisay, Negros Occidental (instead of the Ruins of St. Paul, Macau)

While one is the mansion of a sugar baron and the other is a Jesuit-built Catholic church, both landmarks cite fire as the reason for their current states. The Ruins in Talisay, built in the early 1900’s, was razed by USAFFE and guerilla fighters so that Japanese forces could not use it as their headquarters; the Ruins of St. Paul, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was destroyed during a typhoon in 1835.

The best way to visit the Negros ruins is to hire a tricycle at Bata (the Pepsi bottling plant). Be sure to ask your driver to wait for you as it would be next to impossible to hire another one going back.

Little Tokyo, Makati City (instead of going to Japan to eat)

The 10 or so restaurants that comprise Little Tokyo in Pasong Tamo, Makati City may not offer a complete and comprehensive offering of dishes from all 43 of Japan's prefectures, but these are the next best thing locally. Forget the ramen and tonkatsu restaurant chains in the malls; Little Tokyo establishments such as Izakaya Kikufuji and Seryna are as authentic as far as Japanese food come.

The fact that Japanese expats frequent Little Tokyo restaurants should tell you something. Itadakimasu! — BM, GMA News