Imagine yourself lying on the beach as the fine white sand seems to dance on your

toes, while the sea in front of you reflects the blue sky due to its clear waters. After ending
a productive day through various activities and tours, you are now sitting on the edge of a
crater as you end the day with a magnificent sunset. These are some of the breathtaking
experiences provided by Palawan in the Philippines and Jeju in South Korea, two of the
most attractive and popular wonders in the world. They are visited by thousands of tourists
each year as they are one of the main highlights of their respective countries. Looking
more closely, Jeju tends to express a more modern aspect, while Palawan focuses on
retaining most of its natural environment. Although Palawan lacks the modern
development of Jeju Island, its tourist activities, natural sights, and marine life are parallel
and perhaps even surpass some of Jeju's richness.

First, the two islands represent different perspectives when it comes to modern
structural development and transportation. According to writers Godfrey Baldacchino and
Daniel Niles, South Korea focuses on developing Jeju Island into a more modern tourist
destination with high-rise hotels and landscaped parks. In addition, the Lonelyplanet
Organization states that Jeju island has an international airport, which allows foreigners to
go there directly. On the other hand, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
(PCSD) has made plans to ensure that resorts in Palawan are designed to blend more
naturally with the environment, so that its natural beauty will be well preserved.
For this reason, Palawan features simple and creative structures, such as small nipa huts
and two story hotels, so that the view of nature is still pristine and preserved. Furthermore,
the Megginson Technologies Organization states that Palawan has 2 regional airports.
This actually assures that the island is rarely crowded with limited number of tourists
traveling at a time. The difference in their style of development can also be experienced in
boat tours. If you want to take a boat tour around Jeju, you can ride large tour boats that
bring you around the island smoothly and comfortably. In contrast to this, an island tour in
Palawan is usually done with simple outrigger boats and mini yachts. Although people will
not be able to travel as comfortably over the water, they do provide a more exciting
experience. People who are traveling through simple structured boats will be able to
experience a more thrilling adventure due to their direct exposure to the cool breeze. They
will actually be one with the natural environment as they go along with the flow of the
ocean. Most importantly, despite the differences in regards to modern designs, these two
islands both provide a pleasant experience for travelers in their own unique way.

Palawan and Jeju Island are also famous for their many tourist activities of which
the main highlight is visiting particular natural sights. Both islands have wide pristine
beaches surrounded by clear blue seas where travelers can swim or simply sunbathe in
the sand. They also have many nature trails along forests where you can relax, while
soaking in the natural environment. However, one aspect that distinguishes each island is
its specific tourist sights. The Korean Culture and Information Service, which listed the
different activities in Jeju, claims Seongsan Sunrise Peak as one of its main sights. It is a
crown shaped crater with a large grassland basin from where you can have a perfect view
of the sunrise and sunset. Another site that tourists should visit is Mt.Halla, the tallest
mountain in South Korea. Tourists can hike up the 1,950 meters to reach the peak of the
mountain, which offers a perfect view of the island. On the other hand, the Travel Guide
Philippines Online Magazine states that tourists in Palawan can travel to Puerto Princesa
in order to visit the huge underground river, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
Also, UNESCO marked the place as a world heritage site as it is the longest navigable
underground river in the world with caves and mountain ranges lying along its path.
Tourists can also go island hopping in El Nido, an area composed of many small groups of
islands, and swim in its crystal clear lagoons surrounded by towering marble cliffs. In
addition to experiencing these sights, both islands also feature similar exciting activities.
They can snorkel or scuba dive in the nearby seashores, hike up mountain trails, take
adventurous island tours, and enjoy many more activities. All of these tourist activities and
sights surely enhance the overall attractiveness of both islands.

Lastly, another aspect of these two islands that really make them stand out is their
diverse collection of corals and marine life. According to Blogger TenThousandThings and
a World Heritage Site, both islands contain rich corals, which are home to hundreds of fish
species and other sea creatures. Jeju Island's southern shore contains abundant coral
reefs some of which grow up to a meter high and are made up of a variety of vibrant
colors. Similarly, one of the most awe inspiring reefs in Palawan is called Tubbataha and
divers can experience the reefs' dramatic underwater terrain. In addition to corals, writer
Anne Hilty and Marine Ecologist Dr. Choi Kwang Sik talks about Jeju Island as home to
three-hundred fifty species of sedentary fish in addition to the numerous migratory fish. It
also contains one-hundred fify species of shellfish and crustaceans. As for Palawan, the
website "Holiday to Palawan" states that Palawan has a more diverse and rich marine life.
In fact, marine biologists stated that there were around eight-hundred fifty species of sea
creatures living in the island and that divers also encountered large marine animals, such
as sharks, turtles, and manta rays. In addition to that, the Guardian News Media stated
that one unique highlight that enriches Palawan is the presence of Palawan Forest Turtles
that is only found in the northern part of the island. Although Jeju and Palawan are equally
rich in corals, Palawan's uniqueness can be seen in its underwater environment due to its
more diverse marine life.

Without a doubt, both Palawan and Jeju island are definitely first class tourist sites
that should be visited and admired. Their similarities show how each island is indeed equal
in certain ways, while their differences make each island a unique experience as both
showcase their beauty in their own style. Jeju blends nature and modernity as it focuses
on developing the island through present-day structures and on providing a more
comfortable transportation. On the other hand, Palawan's beauty is that it is developed in a
more conservative way as it tries to maintain its natural atmosphere to the fullest extent
possible. Their diverse sea life provides exciting experiences for travelers as they dive, or
snorkel through the many sights and activities present in the island. These ensure that
tourists are always in a joyful and satisfied state. For these reasons, both Jeju and
Palawan are considered world class islands that radiate the wonders of nature and
modernity as they stand together. Thus, it is truly worth the experience for travelers to take
full pleasure in these two gifts that nature offers.