A Traveler's Spot

The Philippine Archipelago is also the home of many beaches. They are among the many riches of our nature-blessed country. This is a beach found in Sabang, Puetto Princesa, Palawan. Sabang is known as the gateway to one of the greates treasures of the world, the Underground River. Batangas also hosts a great deal of beaches. This beach is found within the parameters of the Laiya Coco Grove Resort. It is a privately owned resort that attracts many tourists, local or foreign. Oh yes, this is one of my favorites. One of the emerging hotspots in the Philippines. This is a beach in one of the islands that comprise the Busuanga group of islands in Palawan. Busaunga (also known as Coron because of its neigbouring town) is known for its many beaches and islands. (Photo of this beach in Busaunga was taken by Michael Trias)

I was blessed to see two great cities in South East Asia in the past year, TWICE! I will be blogging the details about the great experience soon. A shot from the steps of the Batu Caves found in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. It is a tourist spot for the common visitor but a holy place for the Hindu faithful who offer prayers. A shot from the KLCC (Kuala Lumpur Commercial Complex) grounds is this breath-taking image of one of the tallest man made buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers. An elegant structure that crowns the skyline of the Kuala Lumpur business district. The skyline of one of the bussiest and most progressive cities in SE Asia, Singapore. Singapore has become a great tourist attraction because of the many things it can offer - from great food to fun-filled attractions.

The Philippines distinguishes itself as the only Christian nation in South East Asia. Together with this self-acclaimed distinction are living proofs found in structures around the country. Here are some of them which I was blessed to see. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Naga City, Bicol. A flock of devotees come to Naga to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin every third Sunday of September. Many faithful find refuge in times of hopelessness in this sanctuary. Local townsfolk also give accounts of miraculous stories that they encounter. Batulao is a place for finding space and time with the Divine. It is a "hub" for retreat places. This is the Chapel found in the Caleruega compound in Batulao. Caleruega is a retreat house with many function places for religious activities. It is named after the birthplace of St. Dominic De Guzman. It is owned and operated by the Dominicans (Order of Preachers). When I went to Bicol in 2008, I was fortunate to see the Cagsaua Ru...

I just wish to share with you images of the places that I have been to... here's the first batch! Many people find solace on the beach. Some find it in quietly secluded places. For me, it would be the mountains. In withdrawing from the hussle and bustle of the highly urbanized metropolis, I would find myself seated on a betch or strolling the city of a "kingdom" far on top of the mountains. Yes, I am very much fascinated by highlands. In many of my trips outside of Manila, I would go to this place. It is a place of reflection for me. I find serenity whenever I go here. This is taken from the Chpael on the Hill found in Batulao, Batangas. Baguio City is a place to see because of its many attractions. A city on the mountains. Taking a bus ride there is simply breath-taking. This is a shot of the Bell Church. The Tagaytay Highlands. A must see place and also a sanctuary for the elite. I was privileged to be there twice. It offers a great deal of relaxation and other activ...

(taken from my Multiply Blog dated May 6, 2009) The Baguio Cathedral was something to see. Visible from many parts of Baguio City, stood this pink structure that tower the skyline of the commercial business district of the city. During my first visit to the Cathedral two years ago, I found out something more. More than a structure that housed the seat of authority of the diocese, it also served as a tomb. "Well, so what?" as many of you would say. Yes most churches nowadays have facilities as such, but for me this was different. As a teacher of history, there were certain points in my life where I would stand still to appreciate some of the markers that history places before us. In the late 1940s when the American's came back to "redeem" the Filipino peopl e from its Japanese captors, they targeted to claim their air force bases located in Baguio. In order to succeed in this plot, they decided to defeat the enemy through a "carpet bombing." It cla...

(taken from my Multiply Blog dated May 6, 2009) The first time I've been to Minesview Park was in 1994 or 1995, I really can't recall the year. Anyway, during that time there were Igorot children who hung by the cliff or on the steep slopes of the park. They would fetch the coins (one and five peso ones) that the visitors tossed. They were really skilfull, they had their ways and means of getting the coins that they would get. It was really amazing because they were able to see where the coins landed. It would be on trees, on brances that stuck out from the mountain-side or in small holes, regardless where it landed they still got it. During this recently concluded Baguio trip, I was anticipating with a lot o f excitement that I would encounter the same scenario once more. Unfortunately, I was unlucky. I didn't find any Igorot child hanging by the cliff or on the steep slopes. All I found was this signage and a statue of an Igorot boy holding a basket. The signage was a Me...

(taken from my Multiply Blog dated May 6, 2010) I love to eat... well I love to experiment with food. My time in Baguio led to different places... food particularly. O'Mai Khan is a Mongolian inspired resto... it is located near the Rizal Monument right next to Burnham Park. My first encounter with O'Mai Khan was way back in 2002. They have an eat-all-you-can Mongolian Bowl which starts off at 195.00 per person. hehe... it was really satisfying and you get to put flavor to your food according to how you want it to be... (pics of O'Mai Khan downloaded from the blog of "TANYA SPEAKS." I wasn't able to get pics of the place... sorry...) It was in Baguio that I got to taste something unique..."Strawberry Taho." In Manila the syrup used to give this soy delicacy was caramelized sugar together with mini-tapioca (arnibal and sago). Anyway, in Wright Park, when we were taking our stroll we saw taho vendors around. We joked around and asked each other if ever...

(taken from my Multiply Blog dated May 6, 2009) To summarize the 2days/ 1night Baguio Trip... here's the itinerary of what actrually transpired within the two days... April 30 10:30pm-- Meeting place Chowking Maysilo 11:45pm-- Arrival at Dagupan BusLines Day 1 - May 1 1:00am Departure for Manaoag 5:20am-- Arrival at Manaoag 6:00am-- Mass at the Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag 7:00am-- Departure for Baguio 8:40am-- Arrival at Baguio City, Victory Liner Terminal 9:30am-- Drop off things at the transient home (Montecillo Rd., Camp 7... along Kenon Rd) 10:00am-- SM Baguio for a little bit of shopping of the essentials. 11:00am-- O'Mai Khan 1:00pm-- Burnham Park, Boating 2:00pm-- Bell Church 3:30pm-- Strawberry Farm 4:30pm-- Baguio City Market for shopping dinner and breakfast stuff 5:00pm-- Back to the house. Cooked dinner, stayed in the house the entire night. Ellene arrives at around 9:45pm. Day 2 - May 2 6:...

(taken from my Multiply Blog dated May 6, 2009) For several months if not years I wanted to go to Baguio badly. So I had to make arrangements to go. I got some friends to tag along. In going to Baguio, I decided to take the Manaoag route through Dagupan BusLines. It was April 30. I underestimated the crowd that would be flocking the terminal. It was the eve of Labor Day and many flocked the terminal for the long weekend. We left the Cubao terminal at around 1:00am. The travel time was between 4 to 4.5 hrs. We got to Manaoag at around past five in the morning. We freshened up a bit and were ready to go for the 6:00am mass. After the mass, we headed off to baguio. Lucky us, a van was on its way back to Baguio and caught our eye. The van service going to Baguio cost PhP70.00 per head. Travel Advisory: If you wish to go to Manaoag first before heading to Baguio City, it is cheaper compared to going to Baguio directly from Cubao. A trip from Cubao to Baguio would cost roughly PhP 440.00. If...

This blog site shares the travels and journeys that I have enjoyed. I wish to share them with my readers so that they too can learn from my adventures. Happy Reading. :) You can also catch me in my other page http://owellspace.blogspot.com.

I am a traveler by choice and I would say that I have been blessed to have been able to travel to many places from my younger years up to this moment. As a gesture to immortalize my experiences and realizations on these travels, I decided to blog about them. I remember the time when I first went on a plane to Saudi Arabia, I was 5 years old then. The experience was different and from that time, I've always wanted to get on a plane. Then came the times when I watched movies and news of planes crashing, and it scared the living daylights from me to get on a plane. Then again, I came to outgrow that and here I am now always wanting to get on a plane that would take me to other places. I have become a jet-setter and have wanted to see so many new places. This is my story.