Chacala Mexico

SURE, there's a great beach here, fresh fish, tall palms and only about 400 locals to share them with. But let's start with the treachery and deception. "You wouldn't believe the snakes. Snakes as big as your head," says Ben Laird, a Wisconsonite who bought a vacation home here last year. "People are poisoned in Chacala every day," deadpans Richard Laskin of Hornby Island, Canada, who has been coming here for 10 years. "Are you sure that was a whale?"

SURE, there's a great beach here, fresh fish, tall palms and only about 400 locals to share them with. But let's start with the treachery and deception. "You wouldn't believe the snakes. Snakes as big as your head," says Ben Laird, a Wisconsonite who bought a vacation home here last year. "People are poisoned in Chacala every day," deadpans Richard Laskin of Hornby Island, Canada, who has been coming here for 10 years. "Are you sure that was a whale?"

Great article on Chacala, Mexico ["Chacala, the Anti-Cancun," Feb. 25]. We have a time share in Puerto Vallarta and always make it a point to take a day trip to San Francisco Beach, near Chacala. One note to those who travel north from Puerto Vallarta: There is a one-hour time change. Thanks again for the great article. We're going to check out Chacala on our next visit. PHIL YOUNG Palmdale

A museum in Istanbul. A pleasant (and Nice) California town. Caves and rice terraces in the Philippines. And a Nevada park irresistibly named 'Valley of Fire.' Readers have gone global and found adventure, history and, often, peace. Here are some of their discoveries. Mountain province, Philippines Many travelers have heard of Banaue in Ifugao province, the Philippines, home of the rice terraces often dubbed the "eighth wonder of the world." Few have heard of Mountain province, Ifugao's northern neighbor.