Philippines High-resolution Satellite Imagery on Google Earth - July 2013

Here's an update to the high-resolution satellite coverage of Google Earth/Maps in the Philippines. I've been making and updating a map like this for the past two years (see June 2012 and April 2011), so might as well keep it going.

Compared to the rather disappointing update last time, in the past year apparently Google's been doing a good job adding high-res coverage to a lot of new areas, including Boracay and Panglao. As you can see on the map, there's now significantly more red than non-red. Amount of coverage is now at 85.8%.

• 54.7% in April 2011
• 60.1% in June 2012
• 85.8% in July 2013

Only big glaring omissions on the map is the large swath of eastern Bohol, and the mountainous areas in inland Mindoro. The largest uncovered city is Kidapawan (population 125,447).

16 Travel Photos from 2012

Here are 16 of my photos from travels in 2012, the year that I was everywhere.

1. Athens

2. Rome

3. Venice

4. Vatican

5. Paris

6. Philadelphia

7. Baltimore

8. Washington DC

9. Skydiving in California

10. Subic

11. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

12. Knotts Berry Farm, California

13. Bacolod

14. Boracay

15. Cagayan de Oro

16. Baguio

My Philippines Island Hopping Update

Last weekend I got to go to Cagayan de Oro for a day to attend a wedding, marking the first time I visited Mindanao, our country's second largest island. The visit was less than 24 hours, but at least I can say I've been there.

This is what the map of the Philippines would now look like if it only included islands that I have set foot on:

Un-visited islands are in very faint gray. Most of the smaller islands I've been to are too tiny to even be visible on this map.

Major islands I've visited (land area over 500 sq. km):

• Luzon
• Mindanao
• Negros
• Palawan
• Panay
• Leyte
• Cebu
• Bohol

Smaller islands, with the city or municipality they're part of:

• Siquijor
• Panglao (Panglao, Bohol)
• Mactan (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu)
• Boracay (Malay, Aklan)
• Crystal Cove (off of Boracay, Malay, Alkan)
• Bantayan (Bantayan, Cebu)
• Malapascua (Daanbantayan, Cebu)
• Apo Island (Dauin, Negros Oriental)
• Balicasag (Panglao, Bohol)
• Virgin Island (Panglao, Bohol)
• Grande Island (in Subic Bay, Bataan)
• Maribago (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu)
• Lagen (El Nido, Palawan)
• Miniloc (El Nido, Palawan)
• Dibuluan (El Nido, Palawan)
• Entalula (El Nido, Palawan)
• Pinasil (El Nido, Palawan)
• Vigan (El Nido, Palawan)
• Corregidor (Cavite City, Cavite)

The only large islands I haven't get been to are Samar, Mindoro and Masbate, and I don't imagine I'll be going there any time soon. Not much interesting to see there I'm afraid.