New Year, New Destinations 2009 Contest Winners

Marlboro Hills Grazing Cows

Marlboro Hills Grazing Cows in Batanes, Top Reader’s Choice

The New Year, New Destinations Contest 2009 has ended. It was really interesting to know what my readers wanted to visit and also would like to see more in ironwulf.net. So without further ado, here are the winners for the Xwrap Ballistic Armor and Snap Watch Series II.

random-contest-winner

Xwrap Ballistic Armor Winner HGarcis

Congratulations to HGarcis of Follow Your Foots

After inputting all the names of the valid entries at random.org he came up on top so he gets the Xwrap Ballistic Armor.

The winner for the Snap Watch Series II is really hard to choose as each answer has really good reasons why they chose the places and why. Drei’s entry:

…first would be my hometown, ILIGAN. the challenge is to see all 20+ waterfalls, and avoid random bombings of rebels hehe 🙂

Really challenged my adventurous spirit on going to places with insurgencies much like NatGeo’s Diego Buñuel on “Don’t Tell My Mother I’m In…” series. iRonnie and Ren’s idea of featuring something near and familiar places like Cavite and Baguio and to find something new and interesting about the place is also a good idea. Something for those people who only have time for weekends and don’t have to break the bank to travel.

I read all the entries and suggestions but I only have one Snap Watch to give so I have to give it to Awayfromhome. For one it was wittily written and his choice of Palawan and Cordillera is diverse. And his entry

“…Authentic chao long are as common manila’s fishballs. And contrary to popular beliefs, a Grande-size coffee in Starbucks is actually more expensive than a day’s food allowance in Palawan.”

Not to diss Starbucks, but it is a good comparison on how cheap Palawan travel can be. So Congratulations to Away From Home. I’ll contact each of you winners through email to get your details.

Sabitan Laiya beach limestone

Sabitan Laiya beach and limestones in Caramoan

It was really interesting to hear your ideas. So let me do a recap.

Reader’s Top Destinations

1. Batanes
2. Sagada
3. Coron, Busuanga

Batanes seemed to have majority of votes and it isn’t surprising really. I hope to be back there and do a much more in depth feature than what we usually see.

Also mentioned:
Palanan (Isabela), Bongao (Tawi-Tawi), Tamauni (Isabela), Cebu, Vigan, Palawan Underground River, Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park (Kalinga), Marawi City (Lanao)

Destinations for Ironwulf

1. Caramoan
2. Dumaguete
3. Siquijor
4. Cavite

I’ve been to Caramoan years ago that I wouldn’t mind going back to see how it was developed. I’ve only seen a glimpse of Dumaguete and would also like to see more of its lakes ad outlying areas.

Also mentioned:
Sibuyan Island (Romblon), Samal Island (Davao), EAT Danao (Bohol), Masbate, Mt Kanlaon, Sablayan (Occidental Mindoro), Baler (Aurora), Calauit (Busuanga), Guimaras, Palaui (Cagayan Valley North), Northern Palawan, Iligan, Tubbataha, Spratly’s Island, Palapag (Northern Samar), San Juan (La Union), Baguio, Surigao, Calicoan Island (Southern Samar), Batanes, Cordillera, Palawan, Bacolod, Manila, Bantayan (Cebu)

These are a lot of places and it would be really great if I could visit them all. Thank you very much to all the people who participated and giving all those great suggestions. Congratulations to the winners as well. Hopefully next time I have a contest, I would be giving out bigger prices than these. Thank you!