tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20365753121530474942024-02-07T12:02:46.312+08:00Happy TravelerFinding sense and happiness from place to placeMarlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-60417768980154510862019-05-18T17:00:00.000+08:002019-05-18T17:09:21.137+08:00Guimaras: Mangoes and More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you haven't heard of Guimaras, here are two fast facts about the place: first, Guimaras is the smallest and youngest province in Western Visayas, Philippines; and second, its most popular produce are mangoes.<br />
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Guimaras is located between the islands of Panay and Negros and used to be part of Iloilo Province. In 1992, it separated from Iloilo and became a full-fledged province. A few days ago, I spoke at the Women of Wisdom National Conference in Iloilo City hosted by the Church of the Nazarene and on its last day, we had an outing in Guimaras. Fortunately, the Manggahan Festival was still ongoing and we had a taste of the famous Guimaras Mango. By the way, the province is a Special Quarantine Zone for Guimaras Mango. That means, entry of fresh mango fruits, seeds planting materials and/or any part is prohibited.<br />
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The Manggahan Festival is a two-month long celebration from April to May, culminating with special events at the Provincial Capitol Proper in the Guimaras capital of Jordan. When we visited the capitol, there were fruit stalls selling mangoes at P60/kilo for ripe mangoes and P80/kilo for green mangoes. Also, ornamental plants and agricultural and food products like cashews, mushroom crackers, and seaweed noodles were on display. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free taste of Guimaras Mango</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Eat-All-You-Can Mangoes for only P90.00</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mango shake and <i>suman</i> on a hot summer</td></tr>
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Other than their sweet mangoes, Guimaras is also blessed with clean beaches and scenic landscapes. There is no direct flight to Guimaras but you can take a 15-minute boat ride from the Ortiz Wharf at Iloilo City or by pump boat from Negros Occidental.<br />
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Visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuimarasManggahanFestival/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARAexMsfdOcKOH2JvRUBF81_i3abKqdi20BnCc1AlrAJYbLg0lRcrx7dQR0kjX4QIW8zISDzgQ3cygMM" target="_blank">Guimaras Manggahan Festival</a> Facebook page.<br />
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For stories about <a href="https://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/search/label/Iloilo" target="_blank">Iloilo</a> follow this <a href="https://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/search/label/Iloilo" target="_blank">link</a>. Read about <a href="https://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-old-catholic-churches-of-iloilo.html" target="_blank">The Old Catholic Churches of Iloilo</a> and savor the delicacies of the province in the article <a href="https://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-like-iloilo.html" target="_blank">I Like Iloilo!</a><br />
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-45901731669508461632019-02-27T12:16:00.001+08:002019-02-27T21:29:49.886+08:00Making Time for Museo ni Apolinario Mabini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Museo ni Apolinario Mabini erected on the place <br />
where Mabini was born in Talaga, Tanauan on July 23, 1864</td></tr>
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While researching for a values textbook project many years ago, I came across the life story of Apolinario Mabini, considered as one of the brightest among Filipino heroes. Apolinario, or Pule as he was fondly called when he was younger, was born in Tanauan City, Batangas. So when my husband and I went to Tanauan for a speaking engagement, we didn't pass up the chance to visit the museum that was built in his honor--the Mabini Shrine, also known as Museo ni Apolinario Mabini.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A replica of the Mabini Family's nipa house</td></tr>
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Although there is another museum of the same name located in Sta. Mesa, Manila, the museum in Brgy. Talaga, Tanauan City is bigger. It is also erected in the birthplace of Mabini. In fact, a replica of their family's nipa house is built on the left side of the museum's compound. In front of the entrance to the two-storey museum is Mabini's imposing marble tomb embossed with his iconic signature.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hero's tomb</td></tr>
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The two-storey museum has seven rooms, each room dedicated to a significant stage in the life of Mabini. Each room exhibits Mabini's possessions, historical records, documents, photographs, and other memorabilia. Each room is a walk not only through Mabini's life, but a review of Philippine history as well because he was a significant part of it. He opposed the Spanish colonial rule and was called the "Brains of the Revolution". Later on, he would also oppose the American colonial rule. Apolinario Mabini served as adviser to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo during the Revolutionary Government. He also wrote the True Decalogue which encouraged Filipinos to develop qualities like truthfulness, industry, and love for God and country.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facsimile of Mabini's academic records at the Universidad de Sto. Tomas de Manila<br />
where he took up law</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHu6dLz_58mbcJpw7W12iKm82EPIidT27sSZduITKtXUzQYuzMWlrk9nw-N4JxcQlKSVkYIUSt4yzC6cOI9BpVds0HhgBPSZjBgT7Z8qsTfLp-mgokdXhyNdKaDD6Bpq5wOcxp6q_yT0L/s1600/IMG_20190222_155914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHu6dLz_58mbcJpw7W12iKm82EPIidT27sSZduITKtXUzQYuzMWlrk9nw-N4JxcQlKSVkYIUSt4yzC6cOI9BpVds0HhgBPSZjBgT7Z8qsTfLp-mgokdXhyNdKaDD6Bpq5wOcxp6q_yT0L/s320/IMG_20190222_155914.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mabini lost his legs to polio and had to be carried as seen in this painting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paintings and glass art depicting Mabini's life adorn the halls of the museum</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVucGMUKf1iWZn2X9sMKv-pdqT3XuQJHRbC5kKRx6Z75t4bSZPy5dvPR_ok_wR2SiNAI7hyQfQq1hCY5_5Pzl4-kXUmO9kSmM8LsSqUNIlAWRqTSXs7wI9cPWFpn2ntwtL4mYbenN-EqqA/s1600/IMG_20190222_160240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVucGMUKf1iWZn2X9sMKv-pdqT3XuQJHRbC5kKRx6Z75t4bSZPy5dvPR_ok_wR2SiNAI7hyQfQq1hCY5_5Pzl4-kXUmO9kSmM8LsSqUNIlAWRqTSXs7wI9cPWFpn2ntwtL4mYbenN-EqqA/s320/IMG_20190222_160240.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside one of the seven rooms of the museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walls like this narrate Mabini's involvement in Philippine history</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Room Seven are some of Mabini's possessions like his armchair,<br />
full-sized mirror, and cabinet<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't resist taking a selfie with Mabini's mirror behind us</td></tr>
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We appreciate that Museo ni Apolinario Mabini is well-maintained by the <a href="http://nhcp.gov.ph/" target="_blank">National Historical Commission of the Philippines</a>. Aside from being one of the biggest museum under its care, the museum also has audio-visual and interactive features. Museo ni Apolinario Mabini is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. For other historical museums under NHCP, check out their <a href="http://nhcp.gov.ph/history-museums/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
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Looking for more articles on museums? Read about the <a href="https://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-book-museum-cum-ethnology-center-of.html" target="_blank">The Book Museum cum Ethnology Center</a> and <a href="https://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-shoe-museum-of-marikina-city.html" target="_blank">Shoe Museum</a> both located in Marikina City. For more travel stories, get a copy of <i>Traveler's Notebook: Insights from Life's Journey</i> at <a href="https://shopee.ph/Traveler's-Notebook-i.72110075.1507199138?fbclid=IwAR2JDBMZnMW7f9RSOqOi8wtOiqjU04NrQsewc_6gmvma-CL76xuZplCYifc" target="_blank">Shopee</a> and <a href="https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/travelers-notebook-i141811323-s161526363.html?spm=a2o4l.seller.list.57.6b042c8dvbKjoT&mp=1&fbclid=IwAR1ibIHkKCPc73j6atOIkvEyhSl2jSQsz33G_j7HKcJxjO-JuCm8Gv5zE_c" target="_blank">Lazada</a>.<br />
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<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-68314660710908970592019-02-09T15:01:00.000+08:002019-02-22T10:31:41.235+08:00Why You Must Include a Public Market in Your Itinerary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old woman selling freshly harvested fruits and vegetables in Sagada</td></tr>
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When preparing an itinerary, you most likely include popular destinations or best-places-to-visit recommendations by travel sites. But have you ever considered a public market as part of your itinerary? Whether you're exploring a big city or staying briefly in a small countryside, consider visiting public markets. Here are a few reasons why public markets are worth a visit:<br />
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<b><i>Public markets are a good place to experience local culture.</i></b> A public market is a place where people in the community gather to buy and sell their goods. So you'll definitely hear locals interacting with each other in their own language or dialect. You'll learn how a certain fruit, vegetable, or fish is called differently in that part of the country. You'll get a taste of local food. And you'll see how people practice their trade using their tools. When I was in Romblon, I saw a few women skillfully slicing the pith of a coconut trunk (<i>ubod</i>) using a bolo.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dried dolphin fish is commonly called dorado.<br />
In the Pacific Ocean, it's mahi-mahi, but in Batanes it's known as <i>arayu</i> <br />
harvested only between April and May</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB193HEKf9xIaA33b2nQBcB3-C-R242eV2wN4IqGFGcVhtxYeaJLoZTLkuRZivZTo0Mg6mI0JVyNcQ5UT4UtkqNsTfsxTti1E_bVFRHn_SiQen7SdV74AN1ETrNmU6s2Um7Oaku1UhrtQ/s1600/51650042_291910178175274_1348548073709633536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB193HEKf9xIaA33b2nQBcB3-C-R242eV2wN4IqGFGcVhtxYeaJLoZTLkuRZivZTo0Mg6mI0JVyNcQ5UT4UtkqNsTfsxTti1E_bVFRHn_SiQen7SdV74AN1ETrNmU6s2Um7Oaku1UhrtQ/s320/51650042_291910178175274_1348548073709633536_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a public market in Batangas City, you can pick a pizza, <br />
bicho or pilipit for merienda</td></tr>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Public markets are a good place to find products not found anywhere else. </i>That's why whenever we go up to Baguio, I look for strawberries and blueberries. Though some goods are also available in other parts of the country, some food that come from a particular area taste better than those from other regions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruits like mangosteens are cheaper in Davao public markets</td></tr>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Public markets are a good place to buy pasalubong. </i>Most travelers bring home souvenirs from their trips, but Filipinos are particularly fond of buying <i>pasalubong</i>--goods to share with family and friends when they return home. And there are lots to buy at a public market, often cheaper than those sold in malls. Aside from fruits, vegetables, meat, and delicacies, most public markets also have stalls for glassware, footwear, clothes, and other local products.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tGzzfjxs4sFfTfzB19jZi4vnw6DTma8ktIAICHOmm4uiMEqD3mx9ow0dvdJhJOrmjaCbhsoZpvUeHNHKKLWnex1QJmMrdp8Zwf-3bqLFIGXnqDD2rW2Ii9FWHoYLGu8tX9aPVCPJ0jiG/s1600/52263536_236001290641679_2484844159345623040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tGzzfjxs4sFfTfzB19jZi4vnw6DTma8ktIAICHOmm4uiMEqD3mx9ow0dvdJhJOrmjaCbhsoZpvUeHNHKKLWnex1QJmMrdp8Zwf-3bqLFIGXnqDD2rW2Ii9FWHoYLGu8tX9aPVCPJ0jiG/s320/52263536_236001290641679_2484844159345623040_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee beans from Batangas City<br />
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</tbody></table>
<b style="font-style: italic;">Public markets are a good place to find other services. </b>When I went to Laos, a friend took me to a modest beauty parlor at the Talat Sao Morning Market for a refreshing facial wash and massage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-F4oC-7zR2v0w3Qd-5sB25KuFDjxZjkjWHh4sa1tT6StFDm6KzlIcnkd0QNCebL2X7ckkIqOHoIQDc4RHkQv_RAknweCJ25LARI0O9tJ1Mev1kVVcOgGpklQ7NFu4ogYVi52MqodCUYG/s1600/IMGP2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-F4oC-7zR2v0w3Qd-5sB25KuFDjxZjkjWHh4sa1tT6StFDm6KzlIcnkd0QNCebL2X7ckkIqOHoIQDc4RHkQv_RAknweCJ25LARI0O9tJ1Mev1kVVcOgGpklQ7NFu4ogYVi52MqodCUYG/s320/IMGP2319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Public markets are a good place for a visual feast. </i>Because of the variety of items displayed in a public market, the place come alive with vibrant colors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhlOMQaWttKJCrnyVn_p31XIIC8tICLJTl2TE9CTej5bEc5rDjA74QLQP9lEzJFFu27CCffnjmDc4z1cTLV8E8vHqodYR3tUC65VSASdwj4AVQBSU-MYXZcaNL2ETIWRcZDffGEP_O1JE/s1600/51924543_2086442721402600_4086183846205194240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhlOMQaWttKJCrnyVn_p31XIIC8tICLJTl2TE9CTej5bEc5rDjA74QLQP9lEzJFFu27CCffnjmDc4z1cTLV8E8vHqodYR3tUC65VSASdwj4AVQBSU-MYXZcaNL2ETIWRcZDffGEP_O1JE/s320/51924543_2086442721402600_4086183846205194240_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can also find hairbands, lighters, <br />
and dishwashing liquid in a public market<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMv4iHN-Po1BtuDsORxWkoIrGGRn50h8USzYRkwz1yZYUvYzgJ_xIr_glnFQByJsNcXss5fx38seTE1ns8Yv6nLPeFXN1z2bPI0wv4EMCVVm8OhOprlkK1dHSkKgq4ObiEpgjv_3jctHI9/s1600/51454903_317602422221933_6947727462390300672_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMv4iHN-Po1BtuDsORxWkoIrGGRn50h8USzYRkwz1yZYUvYzgJ_xIr_glnFQByJsNcXss5fx38seTE1ns8Yv6nLPeFXN1z2bPI0wv4EMCVVm8OhOprlkK1dHSkKgq4ObiEpgjv_3jctHI9/s320/51454903_317602422221933_6947727462390300672_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fruits and flavor at Farmers Market <br />
at Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Of course, not all public markets are the same. Some may be opened only on particular hours of the day or days of the week. Some are small while some are quite big that you'd need more than an hour to explore the place. Whatever the case, next time you travel consider including a public market in your itinerary.<br />
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Are you a travel junkie, someone who regularly or occasionally travels for business or pleasure, a missionary who traverses continents, a seeker of solitude far from anything familiar, an explorer of anything and everything cultural, or a thrill seeker constantly on the road? Traveler's Notebook: Insights from Life's Journey is for you, a devotional book for the aspiring or seasoned traveler in pursuit of the ultimate journey called LIFE. For inquiries and to order a copy, please send an email to <b>yahmunar@gmail.com. You may also order online from <a href="https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/travelers-notebook-i141811323-s161526363.html?spm=a2o4l.seller.list.57.6b042c8dvbKjoT&mp=1&fbclid=IwAR1XOvmxN1cbjJE43dx1M9VsIXQVpSdU292aK1w7bHzG4839PDjXPzQeFrc" target="_blank">Lazada</a> or <a href="https://shopee.ph/Traveler's-Notebook-i.72110075.1507199138?fbclid=IwAR3i9pkKvipNo3G168K53YrN9WJ5tZTrXNowcX2KeT871lk59l-D6DNj8aA" target="_blank">Shopee</a>. </b></i><br />
<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-26324429600159936232019-01-14T22:21:00.000+08:002019-02-22T10:26:48.597+08:00My 18 Most Memorable Travel Experiences in 2018<br />
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I love traveling, especially to places where nature abounds,
because I enjoy being surrounded by God’s creation. Traveling also provides me with
experiences that satisfy my five senses, allow me to meet new people, and take
part in other people’s culture. Plus, traveling also sparks in me an interest
in things I’ve discovered along the way. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, with a grateful heart, I looked back to my travels in
2018 and picked my most memorable experiences. Here they are:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Breakfast by the beach at <a href="https://www.lilomresort.com/" target="_blank">Lilom Resort and Gallery Cafe</a>. I did not only enjoy my breakfast of fruits, <i>cornsilog</i> (corned beef, fried rice and egg), pancakes, and French-pressed <i>kapeng barako</i> that the resort prepared, but I was also refreshed as the sea wind touched my cheeks and swept my hair. </div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Watching
sunset with my husband from the patio of a cottage. Lilom is indeed a
rustic resort that is perfect for laidback guests like us! </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 3. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Selfie with a giant sunflower at Sunshine
Farm</span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">in Tiaong, Quezon.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 4. </span>Family staycation at a small cottage which we found through Airbnb. It was perfect for rest and relaxation. </div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 5. Hanging</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> on a hammock suspended inside a cabana. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 6. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Hearing bird calls, chirps, songs, and vocal sounds made by geckos. We stayed in a hut in a forest by the hill where birds dwell and geckos are plenty.</span></div>
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7. Swimming and sweating in a sauna with old friends in a faraway spring resort. All our body fats may not have been burned that day, but the time we spent overnight rekindled our friendship.</div>
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8. Visiting markets and buying local produce. I like buying local products and delicacies so I made sure I brought home a bottle of coco balsamico from Quezon; greens and blueberries from Baguio; turmeric and ginger tea from Romblon; muscovado and mountain tea leaves from Sagada. </div>
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9. Crossing the Bonbon sandbar in Romblon Island. </div>
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10. Witnessing a glory in the sky. While on an airplane, I saw on top of the cumulus clouds a ring of colors resembling the colors of the rainbow. I later learned it’s called “glory”. </div>
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11. Climbing 200 steps to reach Fuerza San Andres, an old Spanish fortress in Romblon, Romblon constructed in 1645. My companion and I met the elderly caretaker Mr. Deony Macatol who gave us a brief history of the fortress. The fortress made of coral stones was declared by the National Museum as a national cultural treasure. </div>
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12. Feeling like a Mexican wearing sombrero and eating nachos, kesodilla, and ensalada at El Panchito’s in Pagsanjan, Laguna.</div>
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13. Cooling down with the signature halo-halo of Aling Taleng’s Halo-Halo which has been in Pagsanjan since 1933. Aling Taleng's halo-halo is different because it uses sweetened<i> tubo</i>, or the round, fleshy part inside a mature coconut. The other ingredients are mongo, beans, <i>kundol, ube</i>, and <i>macapuno.</i></div>
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14. Reliving childhood memories in a retreat house that’s more than 50 years old. While I was on a writing retreat at the OMF Calapan Training and Retreat Center in Mindoro, its old furniture reminded me of drum lamp shades, small rattan chairs, and floors made of wooden planks in our ancestral home. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">15. Waking up at 5:30 a.m. to a breathtaking view of the rice terraces along the highway of Banaue. We were en route to Sagada and we had a stopover at Banaue. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">16. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Being greeted by a sea of clouds as we approached Sagada. I did not rise anymore at dawn for the trip to Mt. Keltipan to witness the iconic sunrise. I left that adventure to my millennials. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">17. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Taking the Central Sagada Eco-tour with my husband, son, daughter, and a French tourist. </span></div>
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18. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The dizzying bus ride from Sagada to Baguio is definitely not for the faint-hearted. But the exhausting trip was compensated by a fantastic view of the mountains which were covered in clouds most of the time (and partly hidden from view by on-going construction).</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">To be able to travel and discover and experience new things, to feel alive, to witness beauty—that is a treat. But even though there are stresses connected to moving from place to place, a sense of wonder and a positive attitude still make traveling a wonderful experience.</span></div>
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<i>Are you a travel junkie, someone who regularly or occasionally travels for business or pleasure, a missionary who traverses continents, a seeker of solitude far from anything familiar, an explorer of anything and everything cultural, or a thrill seeker constantly on the road? Traveler's Notebook: Insights from Life's Journey is for you, a devotional book for the aspiring or seasoned traveler in pursuit of the ultimate journey called LIFE. <b>For inquiries and to order a copy, please send an email to yahmunar@gmail.com. You may also order online from <a href="https://shopee.ph/Traveler's-Notebook-i.72110075.1507199138" target="_blank">Shopee</a> or <a href="https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/travelers-notebook-i141811323-s161526363.html?spm=a2o4l.seller.list.57.6b042c8dvbKjoT&mp=1&fbclid=IwAR1XOvmxN1cbjJE43dx1M9VsIXQVpSdU292aK1w7bHzG4839PDjXPzQeFrc" target="_blank">Lazada</a>. </b></i>Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-53890807877454658152018-03-17T17:37:00.000+08:002018-03-17T18:08:02.616+08:00Break Time at Pagsanjan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcqMF-Fv6ElrP2-pwesDJnTOuDnJla2SABo_ZR81TEYuDh258GbLW9S1J0moIkq4fx7jGRIi7Sarm8WAgsanJhe4smOrij-EMuopNcLsmqtoONNQzq4ldYbZoIGJo1xVAQZLg360MbDE4/s1600/IMG_20180314_134514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcqMF-Fv6ElrP2-pwesDJnTOuDnJla2SABo_ZR81TEYuDh258GbLW9S1J0moIkq4fx7jGRIi7Sarm8WAgsanJhe4smOrij-EMuopNcLsmqtoONNQzq4ldYbZoIGJo1xVAQZLg360MbDE4/s320/IMG_20180314_134514.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arco Real, the historic town gate of Pagsanjan <br />
built from 1878 to 1880</td></tr>
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Many years ago, I went to Pagsanjan, Laguna to participate in a writing workshop. This time, I return to this small town dubbed as the "Tourist Capital of Laguna" to speak at a college spritual retreat. While we had the chance to shoot the rapids at the river and reach the famous Pagsanjan Falls during my first visit, we didn't have the same chance this time. But during break time, my husband and I had several occasion to go around the town plaza and go on a food trip.<br />
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First stop of course, was Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo along Gen. Luna St. right after descending the bridge from the town plaza. When we asked the tricycle driver for the best place to eat halo-halo, without hesitation he pointed us to Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo. The place was established in 1933 by Catalina "Aling Taleng" Zaguirre as a small stall serving halo-halo. Since then her family has continued the tradition of serving her distinct halo-halo and later expanded the place into a restaurant. Aling Taleng's halo-halo is different from others found in the country because it uses sweetened <i>tubo</i>, or the round, fleshy part inside a mature coconut. The other ingredients are mongo, beans, kundol, ube, and macapuno.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRjUvPJMomylPtph7iuhsDLnjkLNgKksoaEkPN34uThccpkKXJhzKOxk-vnEmJgcO2p_zZ81b7PsjhUlV5cEk9FVNo7GBdrLtEWmzqppcW_TS6ja7N9kY6BGViuOJg1TFY2C1RBNLZas5/s1600/IMG_20180314_161227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRjUvPJMomylPtph7iuhsDLnjkLNgKksoaEkPN34uThccpkKXJhzKOxk-vnEmJgcO2p_zZ81b7PsjhUlV5cEk9FVNo7GBdrLtEWmzqppcW_TS6ja7N9kY6BGViuOJg1TFY2C1RBNLZas5/s320/IMG_20180314_161227.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aling Taleng's halo-halo</td></tr>
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We were delightfully surprised that Aling Taleng's also sells <i>puto bungbong</i> even if it's not Christmas season. You can also buy <i>pasalubong </i>or goodies to take home from the restaurant like <i>uraro, pilipit, broas, pastillas, sampaloc champoy, and chicharon. </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztc-O8gpR6i1elFm9f1DHAZm1a8t-SAao0rrH_FjKEd4PSw3FATJG0fv2HCxKbs-KnC94bOkSAQtXWSsaFxsK4Cbny76M0_qeUHHMt5eCgzgBNNgBB8BvJ_vSIawqgKJ0CqJWHEYu9WOm/s1600/IMG_20180314_171028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztc-O8gpR6i1elFm9f1DHAZm1a8t-SAao0rrH_FjKEd4PSw3FATJG0fv2HCxKbs-KnC94bOkSAQtXWSsaFxsK4Cbny76M0_qeUHHMt5eCgzgBNNgBB8BvJ_vSIawqgKJ0CqJWHEYu9WOm/s320/IMG_20180314_171028.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Puto bungbong</i> topped with grated coconut and <i>tubo</i> </td></tr>
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<i><br /></i>After sharing a tall glass of Aling Taleng's halo-halo and all-beef burger, we stepped outside and asked a young girl in uniform passing by for the best <i>pansitan </i>in town, and we were told to go to Emin and Mila's Canteen along J.P. Rizal St. I like their <i>pansit canton </i>because it has lots of vegetables and crunchy fried pork slices.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUldG-mlp4_GEigM3GuJNT43Dz3gOC7Z6ivJPB69LymyVHrIJd3inzicUlD53LQ9owLJC4xUWdy9CgZM2igKVERUz94Gwjtntkg7rEdeoX2J5lCBmoo9gEZBdLBAtkXZ6AUpDVL16j5O7/s1600/IMG_20180314_164918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUldG-mlp4_GEigM3GuJNT43Dz3gOC7Z6ivJPB69LymyVHrIJd3inzicUlD53LQ9owLJC4xUWdy9CgZM2igKVERUz94Gwjtntkg7rEdeoX2J5lCBmoo9gEZBdLBAtkXZ6AUpDVL16j5O7/s320/IMG_20180314_164918.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancit canton at Emin and Mia's Canteen </td></tr>
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The following afternoon, we headed to El Panchito's Fil-Mexicano Resto along Mabini St. for a serving of Mexican and Filipino street food favorites. The place is near the Arco Real, the historic town gate of Pagsanjan. You can't miss the place because a green guitar-playing mascot with a sombrero stands conspicuously outside the restaurant. I love their fresh garden salad and nachos bravas, but I prefer the traditional halo-halo over their fried halo-halo. Fried halo-halo is so-called because the ingredients are wrapped in lumpia wrapper, fried, and served with ice cream and sweetened <i>tubo. </i>By the way, they serve Lola Taleng's Halo-Halo, in honor of the owner's grandmother who is Aling Taleng.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMS74SL4ZuLVpYxHWNH0nRrS8N7HRKJ-YIenC6YfbdJvUsnyATURJUHqkx4Scn_i5u29bjhTcOrHTbUg-klBlNpPl7CwhqMBG5DrMlU3nGFgJChgjW7RKVRRXOQ2gRWE_KpwGzsj9ZHvn/s1600/IMG_20180315_164823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMS74SL4ZuLVpYxHWNH0nRrS8N7HRKJ-YIenC6YfbdJvUsnyATURJUHqkx4Scn_i5u29bjhTcOrHTbUg-klBlNpPl7CwhqMBG5DrMlU3nGFgJChgjW7RKVRRXOQ2gRWE_KpwGzsj9ZHvn/s320/IMG_20180315_164823.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amigos dining at El Panchito's </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2NOASq-mYPOAmebqw-VxWSvjfAFows0lqiR8EyCMI3TnN5oLEB7boiNrnZv4oAY5_b4qavwP1ZhqX5aSMm1gpoGCNpa3ugfSwCS7v146j3Vvs07IPsLLkoTrSekAQ-v-AsRvLF4avKFA/s1600/28944942_10215491169138120_698724574_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2NOASq-mYPOAmebqw-VxWSvjfAFows0lqiR8EyCMI3TnN5oLEB7boiNrnZv4oAY5_b4qavwP1ZhqX5aSMm1gpoGCNpa3ugfSwCS7v146j3Vvs07IPsLLkoTrSekAQ-v-AsRvLF4avKFA/s320/28944942_10215491169138120_698724574_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kesodilla, nachos bravas, churros, and fried halo-halo at El Panchito's<br />
Photo courtesy of Sarina Ginn Reyes<br />
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If you are going to Pagsanjan to shoot the rapids and see Pagsanjan Falls, or if you are just passing by to get to other towns, stop by for a halo-halo, pansit, Filipino-Mexican street food, or other food offered in the area. We also heard there is a restaurant in the area serving Ilocano dishes. Pagsanjan is mainly popular for the Pagsanjan Falls, but there are also historic landmarks and old houses in this town.<br />
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<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-65691016163224909672017-07-18T08:07:00.000+08:002017-12-08T20:28:21.058+08:00Beautiful BatanesVisiting Batanes, the country's northernmost and smallest island-province, has been on my bucket list. Before coming to this place, I read travel blogs and Googled images of its spots that tourists are raving about--rolling hills, iconic stonehouses and lighthouses, boulder beach, coral sands, cliffs, and the blue waters of both the Pacific Ocean and the West Philippine Sea. I prayed for the opportunity and the resources to travel to Batanes because doing so is expensive; in fact it's often more expensive than traveling to a nearby Asian country. And because God is good, He gave me the opportunity.<br />
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After receiving a tip from my sister of a promo fare by <a href="https://www.flyskyjetair.com/" target="_blank">Skyjet Airlines</a>, I immediately booked a flight to Basco, the capital and center of commerce of the province. Being hosted by my sister and her husband, who's an Ivatan (native of Batanes), was a big blessing. My brother-in-law took us to a tour of North and South Batan as well as Sabtang Island where many of the old stonehouses can still be found.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">For a brief description of the geography of Batanes, read this</span> <a href="http://www.tourism.gov.ph/sitepages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=9" target="_blank">article by the Department of Tourism</a>.<br />
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Without exaggeration, my four-day stay in Batanes gave me many jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring moments. Batanes reveals the beauty and might of God its Creator. Take a look at some of the pictures I took with my camera phone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkYYews998qi9Xm8VCu3on8CFYHQOIb45PwibiNWNeYwFdAW8H4TorQF2qFnVAxFW31ZvnEtAdUGdOh246cNXQtTYVDQgmUqBzCsEqWvRy3YgGr4qlfL4pDD_3BfcTWcq22JtO1D1Dl9_/s1600/Batan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkYYews998qi9Xm8VCu3on8CFYHQOIb45PwibiNWNeYwFdAW8H4TorQF2qFnVAxFW31ZvnEtAdUGdOh246cNXQtTYVDQgmUqBzCsEqWvRy3YgGr4qlfL4pDD_3BfcTWcq22JtO1D1Dl9_/s400/Batan.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, </i></div>
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<i>the world, and all who live in it;</i></div>
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<i>for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.</i></div>
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Psalm 24:1-2</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPWPgocI_t40i3HxfmfSWgc0nWbn32flr_1pFZxPz3S3_XMawGxW-yYgB2Q2jIoFm47zmeykclbfCueAjqtfQxSgEmNxHWa8zjRLyq0SZlCAXJ48gfFW5UHvhoxc7HA4IzWfdfDl9mE6c/s1600/The+Vayang+Rolling+Hills+on+the+west+side+of+Basco+is+a+delight+not+only+to+grazing+animals+but+also+to.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPWPgocI_t40i3HxfmfSWgc0nWbn32flr_1pFZxPz3S3_XMawGxW-yYgB2Q2jIoFm47zmeykclbfCueAjqtfQxSgEmNxHWa8zjRLyq0SZlCAXJ48gfFW5UHvhoxc7HA4IzWfdfDl9mE6c/s400/The+Vayang+Rolling+Hills+on+the+west+side+of+Basco+is+a+delight+not+only+to+grazing+animals+but+also+to.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. </i><i>He makes me lie down </i></div>
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<i>in green pastures... he refreshes my soul.</i></div>
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Psalm 23:1-2</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXJCVrs4cUt-hNDMzX3k4qBZi8oeOmkdfiScRUVpzwLF_ql_S7rLEE6mJSfGQI1s7GE24A3iY8WLuIM4BdAXCHQX6lqkYTXJpfnTVYa42DjnXQLU6MIT_KMWsLfnTvUATF67S3wxxX8b_/s1600/Racuh+a+Payaman+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXJCVrs4cUt-hNDMzX3k4qBZi8oeOmkdfiScRUVpzwLF_ql_S7rLEE6mJSfGQI1s7GE24A3iY8WLuIM4BdAXCHQX6lqkYTXJpfnTVYa42DjnXQLU6MIT_KMWsLfnTvUATF67S3wxxX8b_/s400/Racuh+a+Payaman+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>You will indeed go out with joy</i></div>
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<i>and be peacefully guided;</i></div>
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<i>the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you.</i></div>
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Isaiah 55:12</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp44-FZwPA4KhjBy9eTomQJFk0nh_0Z6XTjimOqLGTRjJXNRv2YK3GwhGd1JLceiithnFo8gVw65eZ7HgC6aqPv90psRrDm8iIWo7HyPC3CAIxKDhdrzfLWMs34gS7o2Pzz5UIhRu1mYd/s1600/Valugan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp44-FZwPA4KhjBy9eTomQJFk0nh_0Z6XTjimOqLGTRjJXNRv2YK3GwhGd1JLceiithnFo8gVw65eZ7HgC6aqPv90psRrDm8iIWo7HyPC3CAIxKDhdrzfLWMs34gS7o2Pzz5UIhRu1mYd/s400/Valugan.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;</i></div>
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<i> let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation</i>. </div>
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Psalm 95:1</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpxkQPF_2HiSGdvstZT-gkkR6uar4_k5sszEo-cjMsrGxTJBamHR452dPn9ttgOIXlH36UzesZeVTRIK22Fvwjl2oCNkg4azBBeTAdaNlaVW16NRDF_cU_9XMiHzX-oRkrTjL-L6CShgN/s1600/Lighthouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpxkQPF_2HiSGdvstZT-gkkR6uar4_k5sszEo-cjMsrGxTJBamHR452dPn9ttgOIXlH36UzesZeVTRIK22Fvwjl2oCNkg4azBBeTAdaNlaVW16NRDF_cU_9XMiHzX-oRkrTjL-L6CShgN/s400/Lighthouse.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me</i>.</div>
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Psalm 43:3</div>
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<i>Unless the Lord builds the house,</i></div>
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<i> the builders labor in vain.</i></div>
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<i>Unless the Lord watches over the city,</i></div>
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<i> the guards stand watch in vain.</i></div>
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Psalm 127:1</div>
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The entire province of Batanes has been declared by the Philippine government as a Protected Landscape and Seascape. This means that Batanes is "an area of national significance which is characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation and tourism within the normal lifestyle and economic activity of the area." (Source: Philippine Statistics Authority). Batanes is a beautiful, quiet place where people are courteous and friendly. Let us respect the Ivatans and care for their land whenever we have the opportunity to visit them.<br />
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Let's heed the plea of advocate for sustainable tourism development Nico Visser, "I count on you as ambassadors for sustainable tourism and as responsible individual tourists to give tourism and the destinations the future they deserve.” From a spiritual point of view, we human beings are appointed by God to be good stewards of this Earth which He created. Doing so will not only be for our good but more importantly for His glory.Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-23951162832781710252017-05-30T16:44:00.000+08:002017-05-30T16:47:30.474+08:00Passing through Padre GarciaPadre Garcia is a municipality in the province of Batangas bounded on the north by Lipa City, on the east by San Antonio, Quezon, on the south by Rosario, and by both Lipa and Rosario on the west. Padre Garcia is a landlocked area and the town's main source of income is agriculture. In fact, the town hosts the biggest livestock auction market in Southern Tagalog, and for this it has earned the title "The Cattle Trading Capital of the Philippines".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJWml9AQLykXa0AOldplOEFFF3FnCcVNk8YasCwd8rbNn4fUz6Go_Wzs5FfC0UKYDWflOm_AMerue7a8J8YaWscnjjt1ftlj6TseHcXyHrTcqtJxxL2iP2qOq3X_Vy2RWg01ALug3MaDo/s1600/Trading+capital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJWml9AQLykXa0AOldplOEFFF3FnCcVNk8YasCwd8rbNn4fUz6Go_Wzs5FfC0UKYDWflOm_AMerue7a8J8YaWscnjjt1ftlj6TseHcXyHrTcqtJxxL2iP2qOq3X_Vy2RWg01ALug3MaDo/s400/Trading+capital.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The town market</td></tr>
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Last week, my husband and I passed through Padre Garcia on our way to Tiaong, Quezon from Batangas City. There is not much to see in this town but the rows of verdant trees along the road is truly a refreshing sight. You can also visit the retreat facility <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thefaithfarm/" target="_blank">The Faith Farm</a> in Brgy. San Miguel and learn about farming and enjoy organic food.<br />
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Along the stretch of Batangas-Quezon Road (Tiaong-Lipa Road) are many eateries that offer lomi, mami, and goto. Before we entered the province of Quezon, we spotted a goto-mami-lomi house in Brgy. Castillo and decided to try their Batangas goto.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signage like this is common in the area</td></tr>
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Batangas goto is unlike regular goto or rice porridge. Batangas goto is soup made up of, of course, beef tripe, skin, liver, heart and other innards. The ingredients are boiled together for about two hours, resulting in a tasty, protein-rich gelatinous stew. The woman tending the eatery served us our Batangas goto with fish sauce, toasted garlic, chopped white onion, calamansi and red <i>siling labuyo. </i>I ordered sweet <i>pan de coco </i>to complement the savoury beef soup.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batangas goto served with condiments</td></tr>
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If you have the chance to pass through Padre Garcia on your way to other towns of Batangas or Quezon, try Batangas goto.<br />
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Read more about Padre Garcia from this <a href="http://calabarzon.dilg.gov.ph/padregarciabatangas" target="_blank">DILG site</a>.<br />
<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-55200558261280785552017-01-30T21:28:00.000+08:002017-01-31T15:32:02.279+08:00Charmed by Strasbourg, FranceMiss France Iris Mittenaere is crowned as the new Miss Universe before an awesomely enthusiastic crowd in the Philippines. Of course, her victory reminded me of a side trip to Strasbourg, France some years ago while I was visiting Germany.<br />
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Strasbourg is near the France-Germany border and is about 400 km away from Paris. It is the capital and largest city of the Grand Est region of France. Several European institutions can also be found in this city. What impressed me the most during our one-day trip to this French city with German influence, is the towering Strasbourg Cathedral, also known as Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg or Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portion of the facade of the Strasbourg Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Strasbourg Cathedral with my gracious host and aunt Tita Glenda</td></tr>
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But aside from its Gothic and Romanesque architectural structures, Strasbourg charmed me with musicians on the street, books and flowers on the square, plus the pastry beignet and chestnuts sold on a fancy train outside the Strasbourg Cathedral.<br />
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<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-54836804567092981812016-09-07T17:03:00.000+08:002016-09-07T17:03:38.064+08:00Slowing Down in Laiya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Summer is the time to troop to the beach, unwind in the sands, and swim in the sea. It's the perfect time to cool down. But going to the beach during the off-peak travel season has its advantages too. You can practically have the beach all by yourself in the off-peak travel season. During the off-peak season of June to October, resorts often offer discounted rates. I enjoyed both of these benefits when I went to Laiya, Batangas one day in August for a much needed rest and reflection. </div>
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Laiya is a barangay in San Juan, Batangas known for its white beaches. Its proximity to Manila makes it a favorite getaway by many urban dwellers and neighboring towns. Whether you are a company looking for a venue for your team building, a family on vacation, or a solo traveler, you can find a suitable accommodation among the many resorts in the area. I found a rustic nipa hut for an overnight stay in Les Caraibes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long stretch of white sands</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water was very clear in the afternoon<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The sunrise was a breathtaking sight </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fishermen gather around their big fish net</span></div>
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For me, the sand, sea, and sunrise in Laiya was a soothing backdrop for reflection. A quiet beach in August is a convenient place to connect with God. <div>
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For directions on how to get to Laiya and a list of some of the resorts in the area, visit <a href="http://www.laiyaonline.com/" target="_blank">Laiya Online</a>. </div>
Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-25348781494974952032016-08-18T00:44:00.000+08:002016-08-18T05:53:51.743+08:00Bring Me Back to Brazil!The Rio Olympics brought back to me memories of my brief visit to Brazil, though not in Rio but in another major city that is Sao Paulo. By divine favor coursed through the support of family, friends, and an organization, I was able to attend an international publishing conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006. Actually, that was my first time to travel overseas. I was a bit nervous but definitely excited to learn new things. Here are the things I discovered about this biggest country in South America.<br />
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<b><i>Brazil does not require a visa from Philippine passport holders. </i></b>Yes, if you're a Filipino you can tour any part of Brazil without a visa for a maximum of 90 days. When I handed my passport to the immigration officer, I remembered being asked only one question and then was allowed to pass through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDT86BciJKg95YK6eRM-GnX05mFhwj1agGKD8HnlYdiUvG_1Z7oQUyfL5CVsK6_bcIMTlNStExfDGZ28RG0eov9LmK2s3OOKTWOeRivr68krzYbsetiYsc9rRRLmD2EG9tiGR5OU0eOL8/s1600/IMG_20160818_001847-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDT86BciJKg95YK6eRM-GnX05mFhwj1agGKD8HnlYdiUvG_1Z7oQUyfL5CVsK6_bcIMTlNStExfDGZ28RG0eov9LmK2s3OOKTWOeRivr68krzYbsetiYsc9rRRLmD2EG9tiGR5OU0eOL8/s320/IMG_20160818_001847-1.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Brazilians who can afford the cost beat traffic with the helicopter. </i></b>Because Sao Paulo is such a huge city (in fact, it is the biggest city in Brazil) and traffic is always a problem, helicopters are alternative means of transportation. I recently found out (through Google, of course) that Sao Paulo is the first city in the world where commuters can avail the services of Uber helicopters.<br />
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<b><i>Brazilians love coffee.</i> </b>In fact, it is the largest coffee producer in the world. When we went to a supermarket near Atibaia in Sao Paulo, coffee was served for free.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUsnUNRSYcwBNbxcXpSSnhFm2F_qq7wTvEZ1BuVRGrwbYZd-gQkW1W0Ck4euOgd9zW1xPfk3Vmn8WD5Xpta6TLkB5LwKDND_S6xsD1IhkIkRdSEReh6RDjbdR_cUf7O6XHQfDWxNOxX1k/s1600/coffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUsnUNRSYcwBNbxcXpSSnhFm2F_qq7wTvEZ1BuVRGrwbYZd-gQkW1W0Ck4euOgd9zW1xPfk3Vmn8WD5Xpta6TLkB5LwKDND_S6xsD1IhkIkRdSEReh6RDjbdR_cUf7O6XHQfDWxNOxX1k/s320/coffee.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free coffee at the supermarket</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuurrxyr9dnsu9VuHRw4HsAqyGoCp8xBVIxnk_XXIRoz2SnvJe6HLOc_ehBhChH02njmn-J_8etrkfkkcaeedeSdoufSSCO715cCaZ8UYXNtcvdwN8EJ-rGCe1u9uqHHIyrxuGYuQAt-AN/s1600/IMGP0897+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuurrxyr9dnsu9VuHRw4HsAqyGoCp8xBVIxnk_XXIRoz2SnvJe6HLOc_ehBhChH02njmn-J_8etrkfkkcaeedeSdoufSSCO715cCaZ8UYXNtcvdwN8EJ-rGCe1u9uqHHIyrxuGYuQAt-AN/s320/IMGP0897+-+Copy-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sumptuous Brazilian meal of rice, churrasco sausage<br />
and lots of vegetables</td></tr>
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<b><i>When in Brazil, you say "Oi" and "Obrigada".</i> </b>That's "Hi" and "Thank you" respectively in Portuguese. Yes, the official language of this year's Olympic host is Portuguese although most of her neighbors in the continent speak Spanish. Brazilians would spell their country as Brasil because that's the way it's spelled in Portuguese. Want to learn Portuguese? Check this <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/portuguese/talk/" target="_blank">site</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAN6Bn7AxsMAOakqUCpxiDG7IW68nfBqNRW64fGoffZb704jSlapmzYYr43hHgvDvnFRPMQmee_xlvKWKXNFQnDK-u1Ne8CWLqiEeYYWRMCtWIbx0DNKF_tREQrYHh8GtC4Ui2lltGUay/s1600/IMGP0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAN6Bn7AxsMAOakqUCpxiDG7IW68nfBqNRW64fGoffZb704jSlapmzYYr43hHgvDvnFRPMQmee_xlvKWKXNFQnDK-u1Ne8CWLqiEeYYWRMCtWIbx0DNKF_tREQrYHh8GtC4Ui2lltGUay/s320/IMGP0972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Guarulhos International Airport, Sao Paulo</td></tr>
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I didn't have much time to explore Sao Paulo when I was in Brazil and my one-week stay was limited to the conference venue and surrounding areas to buy souvenirs. I bought coffee to give to family and friends, but for myself, I brought home two ref magnets. I still have the ref magnets and they remind me constantly of how God made a way for me to to travel across the globe to learn more about writing and publishing in the company of colleagues from all over the world. If favored once again, yes, I would love to say, "Bring me back to Brazil!"<br />
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<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-69285944752739513652016-08-10T10:19:00.001+08:002016-08-10T10:27:20.843+08:00The Book Museum cum Ethnology Center of Marikina City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other than the <a href="http://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-shoe-museum-of-marikina-city.html" target="_blank">Shoe Museum</a>, Marikina City is also host to another impressive museum--the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center, said to be the first in Asia. The museum houses the personal collection of reading materials from around the world and Philippine artifacts accumulated by Atty. Dominador D. Buhain. Atty. Buhain's love for books is no surprise as he is Chairman and President of Rex Book of Companies. He has also held various posts in different publishers association and is one of the most traveled person in the world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr_AzQg9TDtgd-j1xGTUbGZLvnLDbn59pSxqO_KLqjsPN_pkv0ceeGGi1n_psEA42zF2kOFvaTqoFrNzDYgs4Z96pLfCvYGvJVkwpG0OyRpAmHxlwVvyLD_Hjs5hpBosx_oE1CHltXhV5/s1600/IMG_20160728_105247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr_AzQg9TDtgd-j1xGTUbGZLvnLDbn59pSxqO_KLqjsPN_pkv0ceeGGi1n_psEA42zF2kOFvaTqoFrNzDYgs4Z96pLfCvYGvJVkwpG0OyRpAmHxlwVvyLD_Hjs5hpBosx_oE1CHltXhV5/s320/IMG_20160728_105247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9KWELGkm2ttIegSE4DWhxttLWRpq82B3sILx9AsAwt4tuD-OhOAwtqYO5DeDABCn7A1CDz2OwCgENK3wGGvlPbhS8BtWo_hpTvQo0eZJsjARhQuCN3JEG7kuqau1jj9r1oRYT3eLJ1yX/s1600/IMG_20160728_094827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9KWELGkm2ttIegSE4DWhxttLWRpq82B3sILx9AsAwt4tuD-OhOAwtqYO5DeDABCn7A1CDz2OwCgENK3wGGvlPbhS8BtWo_hpTvQo0eZJsjARhQuCN3JEG7kuqau1jj9r1oRYT3eLJ1yX/s320/IMG_20160728_094827.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the museum with baybayin,<br />
the pre-Spanish Philippine script engraved on the door</td></tr>
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Currently, only a quarter of the owner's collection of books are in the two floors of the museum. More are expected to be added later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VLxVHs7IugEXIJbk_xgAktgvAXqE-uSrR91Aqmsk6vAx2KUva5cpBlMvxJESyGk6dQ8BjHWASOitRmzchAykffSYDCRFD84osYF85UnFrTQB9R7A4SqTPDB4EIsFbjNSFwzrfhKLEoxM/s1600/IMG_20160728_101038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VLxVHs7IugEXIJbk_xgAktgvAXqE-uSrR91Aqmsk6vAx2KUva5cpBlMvxJESyGk6dQ8BjHWASOitRmzchAykffSYDCRFD84osYF85UnFrTQB9R7A4SqTPDB4EIsFbjNSFwzrfhKLEoxM/s320/IMG_20160728_101038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books from around the world</td></tr>
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There are enough books to captivate you, most likely ones you've never seen in your life as they are rare.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw__cPVlKyuwa78c80jZbQkn5HQGAPMN7TX1pFP86JaWXeJblWyXK8r1uszMdZutjkAkpI1FstNecmhPQyFe65Ns2t865X_qM4eTZpXlEq3eINyyELJt_uHNCJ0h4TAZhxEka2Yy6smnK/s1600/IMG_20160728_101601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw__cPVlKyuwa78c80jZbQkn5HQGAPMN7TX1pFP86JaWXeJblWyXK8r1uszMdZutjkAkpI1FstNecmhPQyFe65Ns2t865X_qM4eTZpXlEq3eINyyELJt_uHNCJ0h4TAZhxEka2Yy6smnK/s320/IMG_20160728_101601.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smallest book in the world<br />
contains The Lord's Prayer in several languages</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NYYjHpSmI73JaH_W86OouYDpKm7cR1QdlHtO267jul7K9UL5Cv3VaF81crxEVQBTJ_Y2LZ06SpFHsEajXVewb1ov416Ub-u8bio75DDPvGHnHLzcUKF1iEPmFE9HF9CTaUdHKFvSNm7i/s1600/IMG_20160728_101331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NYYjHpSmI73JaH_W86OouYDpKm7cR1QdlHtO267jul7K9UL5Cv3VaF81crxEVQBTJ_Y2LZ06SpFHsEajXVewb1ov416Ub-u8bio75DDPvGHnHLzcUKF1iEPmFE9HF9CTaUdHKFvSNm7i/s320/IMG_20160728_101331.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smallest tablet visible only through<br />
a magnifying glass<br />
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Visit the museum to see one of the oldest copies of classical books including <i>Uncle Tom's Cabin </i>and the second printed book in the Philippines, the <i>Doctrina Cristiana Explicado. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUD-EINSNeI3ygNkJjVKxEvqSDp836dZUXm9Qa6WFEiPeW1khwWLttuTuyHbhhatxEJKk3j8LwiONMlVPAbl-fg_AwQF5oZWa_ZDvodorpoP8Iy0_9jgcTd7XmXAMn_GhRELvH7X33T_C/s1600/IMG_20160728_102101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUD-EINSNeI3ygNkJjVKxEvqSDp836dZUXm9Qa6WFEiPeW1khwWLttuTuyHbhhatxEJKk3j8LwiONMlVPAbl-fg_AwQF5oZWa_ZDvodorpoP8Iy0_9jgcTd7XmXAMn_GhRELvH7X33T_C/s320/IMG_20160728_102101.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_Xn8RE33gaDMCFkJoMW6MU91znGULhvD3QNm6lBxHxE-2kaNHLdT20sl_IyJWQ2d0kaLQLZ_piPc_UvNspm05_UYxPETPWRtC4vy3Uj7jNj-xhK7T7bsmSXwtn_CVrMlHs-HyXznoUkI/s1600/IMG_20160728_102114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_Xn8RE33gaDMCFkJoMW6MU91znGULhvD3QNm6lBxHxE-2kaNHLdT20sl_IyJWQ2d0kaLQLZ_piPc_UvNspm05_UYxPETPWRtC4vy3Uj7jNj-xhK7T7bsmSXwtn_CVrMlHs-HyXznoUkI/s320/IMG_20160728_102114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSivp7NiQ0oSUwx-NvtL-ecwK0SJBoVUwL_z2cvoZCQLIp6u8hnqV_OD9cW2sB2kGmcaL9P5CfmObIJ2dA9LsL1TvNnuRkQciqmqz-8FszQpvsq1FtuKmKhNqgauRG11TTVO4DnpTCUGx/s1600/IMG_20160728_102323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSivp7NiQ0oSUwx-NvtL-ecwK0SJBoVUwL_z2cvoZCQLIp6u8hnqV_OD9cW2sB2kGmcaL9P5CfmObIJ2dA9LsL1TvNnuRkQciqmqz-8FszQpvsq1FtuKmKhNqgauRG11TTVO4DnpTCUGx/s320/IMG_20160728_102323.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filipino comics during and post-Spanish era </td></tr>
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But wait, I shrieked in glee when I saw these! I used to read these pocketbooks in high school.<br />
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There are other contemporary books in the museum classified under various topics including family, marriage, business, management, finances, religion, politics, and many others. Visitors who frequent the place are allowed to stay and read the books on display.<br />
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Outside the Book Museum building are two separate buildings where artifacts from Northern and Southern Philippines are on display.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6AazbC78J8PqHd9LwPwRPQdWxQuypsQ7izngKJO991Qy6R7h-cS50gYH5JXNMQMFwImhCnjjDYDN_J2rOu6aD9QFgLktD8UTN3Zqms0l_pqCQPooQGGTZNI8I0x-93gwKiVbPxYLAAAQ/s1600/IMG_20160728_103514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6AazbC78J8PqHd9LwPwRPQdWxQuypsQ7izngKJO991Qy6R7h-cS50gYH5JXNMQMFwImhCnjjDYDN_J2rOu6aD9QFgLktD8UTN3Zqms0l_pqCQPooQGGTZNI8I0x-93gwKiVbPxYLAAAQ/s320/IMG_20160728_103514.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional wear of tribes from the north</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2k2dYuq7LXOwBFRmSuPeBktjp_j8aBlpTDYgeyZPUpUHl0ltcbNtJxf3EZe5bJ37mCcFNZSzCJ1ctQZDl-5cb0eOf61z6JvQXorWxVLpAuIZjnd1ALD_aHcaPL-W2fwqZ13PyfIaV1pm/s1600/IMG_20160728_104410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2k2dYuq7LXOwBFRmSuPeBktjp_j8aBlpTDYgeyZPUpUHl0ltcbNtJxf3EZe5bJ37mCcFNZSzCJ1ctQZDl-5cb0eOf61z6JvQXorWxVLpAuIZjnd1ALD_aHcaPL-W2fwqZ13PyfIaV1pm/s320/IMG_20160728_104410.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drums from Southern Philippines</td></tr>
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It is so apt that the museum's symbol is that of a foot, signifying readiness, mobility, and progress. A readiness to learn through reading and traveling leads to an individual's growth and development, and a citizen that's continually improving can contribute to national and global progress. As an author of books and someone who loves to travel, I was inspirited by that tour at the Book Museum. I'm itching to write some more and to travel farther. Like other museums, the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center reminds us to preserve the past for posterity, yet it also challenges us to keep going and to keep learning.<br />
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<i>The Book Museum cum Ethnology Center is located at 127 Dao St. Marikina Heights, Marikina City. Visit their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BookMuseum/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> for schedules and other inquiries. Thank you to Ms. Sherleen Bautista for the warm welcome and tour. </i>Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-32767186998468451032016-07-28T22:14:00.000+08:002016-08-10T10:31:22.095+08:00The Shoe Museum of Marikina City<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQDu94pG32Dobg98cw7DWpCPPoohrRptEDtQYrtwjhP6zzaXciOHk-sF0wLk1THzr4lo6cyhcrmCfRMDr9_9qRBZRtkKeIgO7mND9z4eGm8UaSdR5FE1sZ1kSyMsUxlcThNloGlER-0-d/s1600/IMG_20160727_164700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQDu94pG32Dobg98cw7DWpCPPoohrRptEDtQYrtwjhP6zzaXciOHk-sF0wLk1THzr4lo6cyhcrmCfRMDr9_9qRBZRtkKeIgO7mND9z4eGm8UaSdR5FE1sZ1kSyMsUxlcThNloGlER-0-d/s320/IMG_20160727_164700.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoe Museum</td></tr>
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Marikina City earned the title the Shoe Capital of the Philippines because it has the most number of shoe manufacturers in the country. Recently, in a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and other government officials, President Rodrigo Duterte showed off his pair of leather boots made especially for him by a shoemaker from Marikina. But it was not the first time a national figure wore and publicly acknowledged using a pair of quality footwear from the shoe capital. During her time as First Lady, Imelda Marcos was provided with an average of 10 pairs of shoes every week by the local shoemakers and she actively promoted the Marikina shoe industry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Imelda Marcos' 800 pairs of shoes at the Museum</td></tr>
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Today, 800 of her 3,000 pairs of shoe collection are on display at the Shoe Museum of Marikina City. The museum, initially called the Footwear Museum of Marikina opened in 2001 to highlight the city's shoe industry. And here's a trivia. The building occupied by the museum has served various purposes in the past: an arsenal during the Spanish period, detention cell of hero Macario Sakay during the Filipino-American War, and rice mill of the Tuason family after the Second World War. Today the city government of Marikina owns and operates the museum.<br />
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The museum prominently features life-size diorama of shoemakers crafting footwear. Also on display are the tools and materials of the industry. Hundreds of shoe last (the master mold of a shoe) form a tall tower in the middle of the museum's ground floor. Other shoes on display are the ones donated by the country's past presidents, vice-presidents, senators, and movie and sports personalities. There's also an exhibit of shoes made in Marikina as well as unique footwear and traditional shoes from other countries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDcP206AwFZE7RHWlEvikK8QY6i87faR_Yxk3ykPMregZ3cyFwQl6ByK-0qybVz_GrylLhYL_VXau1Tlb7V1aXOiC0qpfe7BJ7MHkwKr_CGnpLSnJ0EyxhyzYqnnTzSz7iBkWyKvijt50/s1600/IMG_20160727_164000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDcP206AwFZE7RHWlEvikK8QY6i87faR_Yxk3ykPMregZ3cyFwQl6ByK-0qybVz_GrylLhYL_VXau1Tlb7V1aXOiC0qpfe7BJ7MHkwKr_CGnpLSnJ0EyxhyzYqnnTzSz7iBkWyKvijt50/s320/IMG_20160727_164000.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoes of past Philippine Presidents</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brazilian clogs</td></tr>
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Do you know when and where the oldest leather shoe was found? What's the oldest sandals made of? Want to see a replica of a Roman strap sandals? If you want to find the answers to these questions and look at the other shoes on display, go to the Shoe Museum of Marikina along J.P. Rizal St. in San Roque, Marikina City. An entrance fee of P50.00 is collected and you may request a tourism officer to give you a guided tour. Although the two-floor museum area is not that big and the shoe collections are properly labeled, the historical notes provided by the tour guide is really interesting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq0OAa27DoPtX2TfwpmpewUwz5pQvhvROV2x3vSqOJcqlNc6_5dUmfXqZhRaui-FVhbWK3UbgKW7SCULHQUSj_ii45E6mVZRW8hc97a9TVgpzH2KWipmg2swvZDC5Gr_28RHBZgGpYQl1/s1600/IMG_20160727_162625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq0OAa27DoPtX2TfwpmpewUwz5pQvhvROV2x3vSqOJcqlNc6_5dUmfXqZhRaui-FVhbWK3UbgKW7SCULHQUSj_ii45E6mVZRW8hc97a9TVgpzH2KWipmg2swvZDC5Gr_28RHBZgGpYQl1/s320/IMG_20160727_162625.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marikina City's version of "Walk of Fame": tiles with shoes bearing<br />
the names of people who donated shoes to the museum</td></tr>
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<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-33112846435246744642016-06-12T17:39:00.000+08:002016-06-13T12:05:49.569+08:00Things I Did in Pratunam, Bangkok for Two Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last month, I had a one-week training in a Southeast Asian country. I've decided earlier that before returning to the Philippines, I would stay for two days in Bangkok. Together with a friend, we made the most of our brief time to taste and see what Pratunam in Bangkok has to offer.<br />
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Shopping<br />
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Pratunam is a popular shopping district in Bangkok with fashion malls like Platinum Fashion Mall, and hundreds of stalls selling clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories. The tallest building in Thailand, the Baiyoke Sky Hotel is also in the area. Pratunam Market is a shopper's delight because items are sold at very cheap prices. I was able to get a flared dress for 100 baht only, and a bracelet and necklace for 60 baht.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open-air Pratunam Market</td></tr>
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Eating<br />
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One never gets hungry in Pratunam as there are many restaurants in the area serving Thai as well as Asian dishes. There's an Indian restaurant a few steps away from the hostel where we stayed and a Filipino restaurant along Petchaburi Road. There are convenience stores too like 711, and of course ambulant vendors selling fruit juices, snacks, fruits, and other street food. On my last morning in Pratunam, I walked on a street serving a variety of breakfast dishes: porridge with meat, grilled sticky rice, rice with various dishes the names of which I don't know. After having slices of sweet papaya, I settled for rice with Thai chicken and cucumber as side dish. It was very tasty and I liked it very much that the skin was very crunchy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first time to taste pomegranate juice!<br />
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Thai Massage<br />
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I promised myself that when I get to Bangkok, I would get a massage. I often get a Thai foot massage back home, so I thought I'd try it too in Pratunam just to see if it's the same whether you're in Thailand or in the Philippines. It's pretty much the same, except that my leg and thigh got an extra stretching and beating. For 200 baht, that foot massage was a great relief, a perfect way to end the day after much walking.<br />
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Riding the Airport Rail Link<br />
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Since we didn't have time to visit other places in Bangkok, my friend and I took the Airport Rail Link to get a bird's eye view of the city. The Airport Rail Link connects downtown Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi International Airport. From Ratchaprarop station, which is walking distance from our hostel, the trip to the Suvarnabhumi Airport is only about 20 minutes. That was enough time for me to see Bangkok's skyline and traffic on the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GPpCmmnZWqrPQzqHusSh64Ko5DFO7V_OzoNZRQ4NQWrcjFImuDY-qSoflKoO8F5qFv77CxvjwdcMYAiJ0GER6f3AqLanY6PZLueNb9TZytorHQr6r0orUBUt1UIMzGRlPBKnAbfx7-37/s1600/IMGP3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GPpCmmnZWqrPQzqHusSh64Ko5DFO7V_OzoNZRQ4NQWrcjFImuDY-qSoflKoO8F5qFv77CxvjwdcMYAiJ0GER6f3AqLanY6PZLueNb9TZytorHQr6r0orUBUt1UIMzGRlPBKnAbfx7-37/s320/IMGP3302.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic in downtown</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in the Land of Smiles</td></tr>
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Shopping again<br />
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My friend told me there's a supermarket in Bangkok where items are sold in big discounts. So before heading to the airport, I stopped by the Big C Superstore which is behind the Platinum Fashion Mall. I was running out of time because I needed to check out of the hostel by noon, so I was only able to grab a few soap bars, a pack of seaweeds, and some snacks.<br />
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I also had a pleasant stay in Bangkok because of the friendly Filipino staff I met at Coop Hostel, especially Jenny. Filipinos really do bring with them a warm, welcoming spirit wherever they go. I hope to meet more of them the next time I travel again, whether it's only for two days or longer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Jenny, Filipino staff at Coop Hostel </td></tr>
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<br />Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-9099689588415880902016-03-11T15:21:00.000+08:002016-03-11T15:21:49.112+08:00What I Learned from Our DIY Trip to Ho Chi Minh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My daughter and I recently embarked on a do-it-yourself trip to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. With a limited budget and only our bags on our backs, we took our first trip to the land of pho and banh mi with much enthusiasm.<br />
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Instead of availing any of the tours, we created our own itinerary after researching online and reading recommendations from travel bloggers. As we took a DIY tour of the city, I learned some things that I feel are worth sharing. Here they are:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The statue of Ho Chi Minh with the<br />
city hall behind it</td></tr>
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<b><i>Learn how to read a map, whether it's on paper or on your gadget.</i> </b>I rarely consulted a map in my previous trips because during those trips, I was either with people who knew where we were going or there was no time for me to explore the city by foot. My daughter and I walked for some 20 minutes from District 3 to District 1 and had to constantly look at the map and the names of the streets. Map reading is a skill any city explorer should have to find the way to a city's gems.<br />
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<b><i>Notice not just the places you visit, but the people you meet.</i> </b>Of course, we made sure we passed by the famous landmarks of Ho Chi Minh (still popularly known by its former name, Saigon) like the Saigon Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Saigon Central Post Office. We also bought tickets to enter the Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) and the War Remnant Museum to get insights into the history of the country, especially the Vietnam War.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saigon Opera House</td></tr>
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But several people we met made an impression on me too. Like the two septuagenarians, sisters in their 70s who are still traveling by themselves for some sightseeing; the French tourist with an atlas who showed us the way to the Notre Dame, a Romanesque structure constructed by his countrymen who colonized Vietnam; and the elderly vendor who helped us cross the street when we were obviously intimidated by the throng of roaring motorbikes (well, actually, it was me, and not my daughter, who was hesitant to cross the street). I realize that as you travel, it's not just the landmarks that amaze you; the individuals who inspire and help you surprise you too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Notre Dame Cathedral</td></tr>
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<b><i>Even with less money, you can travel outside your country.</i></b> Of course, you have to be patient, resourceful, and willing to move out of your comfort zone. After staking out at <a href="https://www.cebupacificair.com/" target="_blank">Cebu Pacific</a>'s website for months, we were able to book a flight on a promo fare six months prior to our travel date. We also found a private room through <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">Airbnb</a> for only 30 euro (around P1,600.00 including other fees). It is not a hotel, but we had the basic necessities like a good bed, air conditioning, wi-fi, toiletries, even free bottled water. Plus, we had the chance to have conversation with our local hosts.<br />
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Food in Vietnam is unbelievably cheap yet truly savory. We ate street food, but also savored Vietnamese dishes in restaurants and cafe, and sipped ca phe sua da and drank tea many times! (Instead of serving water, restaurants usually serve tea with your order) Except for a few mien, candies, and postcards, we didn't buy souvenirs. Call us frugal, but we went home rich with experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our breakfast of bun bo hue (soup with rice vermicelli and beef) <br />at a Saigon eatery<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banh mi at 15,000 Vietnamese dong (PhP 31.00)</td></tr>
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We also had an unpleasant experience with two motorbike drivers, but after that incident, serendipity led me to this quote written on the wall of a cafe where we had our lunch: "Freedom is not worth having if it doesn't include the freedom to make mistakes." <b><i>We can't have a perfect trip no matter how carefully we plan, but we can decide beforehand to have a right perspective to enjoy what's at hand. </i></b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-53639327819160333142016-02-07T21:41:00.000+08:002016-02-08T08:06:31.746+08:00Four's Food Trip in BinondoOur family of four went to Binondo to savor Chinese food. Yes, Binondo, otherwise known as Manila's Chinatown is the place to go to for delicious Chinese cuisine. Established in 1594, it is said to be the oldest Chinatown in the world. After doing our online research on the places to visit, we went on a do-it-yourself Binondo food tour to satisfy our palate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch, entrance to Chinatown</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>Our first stop at eight in the morning was Mei Sum Tea House along Ongpin St. I love their sweet egg pie Hong Kong style! Their hakaw is a delight to the tongue because while the wrapper is soft, its shrimp is cooked al dente.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egg pie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hakaw or shrimp dumpling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hong Kong style fried noodles</td></tr>
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After sampling Hong Kong fried noodles, beef ball siomai, hakaw, and egg pie Hong Kong style, we moved on and stopped by a grocery store with a fruit juice corner called Healthy Options for some drinks.<br />
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We found a small stall along Ongpin cor. Bahama Streets selling Shanghai fried siopao at P18.00 each and a variety of siomai and kikiam. Perfect pasalubong!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp2SqvtF1YdhtTq3zbJLEbFQIEN7rZKeI1GMk-fgdhwwVYeB7LhwvOY2jDVATUJiKpsvTdmPjU8vbdW5zHlBRqZZU-TxopH2jK03-WHygAqRC6V909ixTB2YJl849_ksmzfTyGXX0G2ao/s1600/IMG_20150501_082958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp2SqvtF1YdhtTq3zbJLEbFQIEN7rZKeI1GMk-fgdhwwVYeB7LhwvOY2jDVATUJiKpsvTdmPjU8vbdW5zHlBRqZZU-TxopH2jK03-WHygAqRC6V909ixTB2YJl849_ksmzfTyGXX0G2ao/s320/IMG_20150501_082958.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siomai and kikiam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My man loves vegetables so we didn't pass the opportunity to chomp on some greens at New Quanyinchay Vegetarian Food Garden also on Ongpin St.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xS4Eje4IXjKIj2ZiusajgASm3XuISW4RxgSBioOoO7WvVe7AOx6n6DtOOEiyMp6ALj8xBoshTHqFflufRE6UWVQIiRl59djADCKDXkizI7gkjIoCfpCym1lysEHywJJT3nFvpr7Sb88b/s1600/IMG_20150501_083841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xS4Eje4IXjKIj2ZiusajgASm3XuISW4RxgSBioOoO7WvVe7AOx6n6DtOOEiyMp6ALj8xBoshTHqFflufRE6UWVQIiRl59djADCKDXkizI7gkjIoCfpCym1lysEHywJJT3nFvpr7Sb88b/s320/IMG_20150501_083841.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuROt00OrTFAhRN6fmkI3g1yEhZNvDnbjKJADyZhyphenhyphenPAlQGd9eFK8O-Qrrr7XQB5sscJamDo4g4MhZORukY5O-JLcsVngMZUcXy8nxit55d5W4_LKgV7puwYYLG3ObrOCagG8Mau2DtSDcu/s1600/IMG_20150501_084156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuROt00OrTFAhRN6fmkI3g1yEhZNvDnbjKJADyZhyphenhyphenPAlQGd9eFK8O-Qrrr7XQB5sscJamDo4g4MhZORukY5O-JLcsVngMZUcXy8nxit55d5W4_LKgV7puwYYLG3ObrOCagG8Mau2DtSDcu/s320/IMG_20150501_084156.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okra and polonchoy at P55 each</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After wandering and peeking at several Chinese restaurants, noodle houses, Chinese deli shops, we gave up on scouting the entire place and decided to enter the next restaurant we found. At Four Season Cuisine we tried the more familiar fresh lumpia and added dishes that are out of our ordinary diet--fish cake guisado, sea cucumber, and turtle soup.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HypLZGor9_1IXq1qMf-9ssWoPds33Wml-PEt7fOelg98714GyiTpCnfJKMz5yDrDl-w3GBFrwl3hoEHwq8M78RNJkx8XNExYD3g_VYUeBdigLLUlM-942Cd9XIumA2yafYOCHEa5_xBt/s1600/IMG_20150501_114939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HypLZGor9_1IXq1qMf-9ssWoPds33Wml-PEt7fOelg98714GyiTpCnfJKMz5yDrDl-w3GBFrwl3hoEHwq8M78RNJkx8XNExYD3g_VYUeBdigLLUlM-942Cd9XIumA2yafYOCHEa5_xBt/s320/IMG_20150501_114939.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpsujOy11c_JN9LnE7iVJx532cJcTWcrIUUdLyJ4p0YwojZdGVou3n-wbZZK7o_IPwsxRW6Gekjh5-btnpow5MDY9L0Ui5a5QfSFp6k7PY9Dohy3kwqcUzP2ak0wLPJnXsQ6doqFzW35J/s1600/IMG_20150501_114944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpsujOy11c_JN9LnE7iVJx532cJcTWcrIUUdLyJ4p0YwojZdGVou3n-wbZZK7o_IPwsxRW6Gekjh5-btnpow5MDY9L0Ui5a5QfSFp6k7PY9Dohy3kwqcUzP2ak0wLPJnXsQ6doqFzW35J/s320/IMG_20150501_114944.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtle soup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeCwEZAyRQgsJKJXOp-7lxkNNmzb7D13FmL1tWccdU727qCrmnvYXtVzmvFQJ8RSV6hUN7brlcwBVvxX450_hVCU0JTrrMo3Kitn7M2r0Ccq0pSY3g2TSU0J305nIvhI54Mie_jpc6C13/s1600/IMG_20150501_115438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeCwEZAyRQgsJKJXOp-7lxkNNmzb7D13FmL1tWccdU727qCrmnvYXtVzmvFQJ8RSV6hUN7brlcwBVvxX450_hVCU0JTrrMo3Kitn7M2r0Ccq0pSY3g2TSU0J305nIvhI54Mie_jpc6C13/s320/IMG_20150501_115438.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish cake guisado</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqHxsthMbIm6WlCaBEf6m3nJ2SWw75KmLsW-6czYBDesC8eLnzu77gPkJRSe1AJ6eQRgmvbC5wKCqQvsvzmrbpKqjsc0F3ZJq-wifbTmK_xgoxuCsnLQeUbxMOmygf5ukDzaaE2oegaJI/s1600/IMG_20150501_115222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqHxsthMbIm6WlCaBEf6m3nJ2SWw75KmLsW-6czYBDesC8eLnzu77gPkJRSe1AJ6eQRgmvbC5wKCqQvsvzmrbpKqjsc0F3ZJq-wifbTmK_xgoxuCsnLQeUbxMOmygf5ukDzaaE2oegaJI/s320/IMG_20150501_115222.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh lumpia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There's still much to savor in Binondo and a day is not enough to try all the dishes Manila's Chinatown has to offer. We certainly want to come back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQmOdONs5MIG8uofsIJdxhtdaLFPgeQZgUDYmHKtiyBeZ6a5SNtI2hBLhF2hXO5-OxgTzpE9eVuKfCS2EocgGuHyPD5nkiANX92UquXpje0EX-aJ0X0yxoUBdQCHdvPK_m7SgCZN6TUSa/s1600/IMG_20150501_083606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQmOdONs5MIG8uofsIJdxhtdaLFPgeQZgUDYmHKtiyBeZ6a5SNtI2hBLhF2hXO5-OxgTzpE9eVuKfCS2EocgGuHyPD5nkiANX92UquXpje0EX-aJ0X0yxoUBdQCHdvPK_m7SgCZN6TUSa/s320/IMG_20150501_083606.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you don't want to walk, you can see Binondo aboard a <i>calesa</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink bougainvilleas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r_RwoddfhtiSqlO7XcRy6Kj-Xgs8MEbjuGJ2H5AVXZIY3eREt1-01cl-DQT_8kHQikjPu2B-cZ88nap3NUztRVvo2OR-l3EK03StqxkQPAeNvVETTGWA6xHFWRQoA9sd2UlxpRMBVAge/s1600/IMG_20150501_090659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r_RwoddfhtiSqlO7XcRy6Kj-Xgs8MEbjuGJ2H5AVXZIY3eREt1-01cl-DQT_8kHQikjPu2B-cZ88nap3NUztRVvo2OR-l3EK03StqxkQPAeNvVETTGWA6xHFWRQoA9sd2UlxpRMBVAge/s320/IMG_20150501_090659.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The violet fire truck across Eng Bee Tin where you can<br />
buy <i>hopiang ube</i></td></tr>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-40002856588979038752016-01-19T21:14:00.000+08:002016-01-19T21:59:18.822+08:00There's More to Pangasinan than "Asin" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pangasinan, the third biggest province in the Philippines, derived its name from "asin"or salt, a product for which the place is known for. Pangasinan means "where salt is made". But a trip to the public market proves there are other goodies travelers and visitors can bring back home other than its fine, white salt.<br />
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Because of the abundance of salt and different kinds fish from the surrounding sea, dried fish are common in this area. When we recently visited my in-laws' hometown of Sta. Maria, we passed by the public market of Rosales. I made sure I bought dried beltfish (<i>espada</i>)<i>, </i>a thin, elongated fish with pointed snout, thus its name. When cut into smaller pieces and fried, these thin and crunchy dish becomes a perfect complement to your morning fried rice and eggs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRmvpxF6I0FdSX5ScNIkJ6VdPwtsLscqShbtH4TDtgtwTrVt3l6GfwC4szgsuaVTTxIVc96lDf2XIKhLY42Uz0biTr4fq_zaGZUux7j8juKiBskdqRvlbJvN7-vhI568P9tNqZ5-IZda5/s1600/espada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRmvpxF6I0FdSX5ScNIkJ6VdPwtsLscqShbtH4TDtgtwTrVt3l6GfwC4szgsuaVTTxIVc96lDf2XIKhLY42Uz0biTr4fq_zaGZUux7j8juKiBskdqRvlbJvN7-vhI568P9tNqZ5-IZda5/s320/espada.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried <i>espada</i></td></tr>
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There are also dried anchovy (dilis) and krill or very small shrimps (<i>alamang</i>) to choose from. Of course, Pangasinan is also <i>bagoong</i> country, and you can buy these condiments made from different fish species stored in bottles or packed in small plastic bags. There's <i>bagoong isda, bagoong alamang, bagoong padas. </i>A warning though for those with hypertension: these sauces are salty! So if you need to shy away from them, try instead another specialty for which Pangasinan is famous for-- milkfish (<i>bangus</i>) from the towns of Dagupan or Bolinao. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOWyjyd7ygSDEeKF8_C-a3-Syt2DGYW3GF7C6RvnrSOjwJlkrvj1TlPijM9aCIF2DvRJNLcL30A9wQDmRB2PP5-Lx-TQ-4gHRK1jnwAtYSo2R4Kg0KNCGz1O9BBcegKQ-gkpDc93YgDem/s1600/Dilis+and+armang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOWyjyd7ygSDEeKF8_C-a3-Syt2DGYW3GF7C6RvnrSOjwJlkrvj1TlPijM9aCIF2DvRJNLcL30A9wQDmRB2PP5-Lx-TQ-4gHRK1jnwAtYSo2R4Kg0KNCGz1O9BBcegKQ-gkpDc93YgDem/s320/Dilis+and+armang.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried <i>dilis</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyE3ABduo32tDZ2J3uWZZYANqw7tiND6_wVAvWAHb9Eob6u-4XhEe1_IfMKj7DCCMR2CcUrv5gRcUfVlT_Hz0Gf1clm_VVnP7hCKsmy9hXB7meCJzx19opII5ehmLABQvFldM8sfsp1Tu/s1600/Bagoong+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyE3ABduo32tDZ2J3uWZZYANqw7tiND6_wVAvWAHb9Eob6u-4XhEe1_IfMKj7DCCMR2CcUrv5gRcUfVlT_Hz0Gf1clm_VVnP7hCKsmy9hXB7meCJzx19opII5ehmLABQvFldM8sfsp1Tu/s320/Bagoong+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pails and pails of <i>bagoong</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMXaNTnT60xgXAv4p1oGX5MDguNI_5Kw03naYCfNZc4s2-jC4MQVE-60Rmw4SjuXkgeEPfQUwhsc3TE1u_Sa2Asn-K6qyFulOsZ6TJ-aInzA_UWfbbNjXi3XuRctAOtd_QKQtS2nLeE2e/s1600/Daing+na+bangus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMXaNTnT60xgXAv4p1oGX5MDguNI_5Kw03naYCfNZc4s2-jC4MQVE-60Rmw4SjuXkgeEPfQUwhsc3TE1u_Sa2Asn-K6qyFulOsZ6TJ-aInzA_UWfbbNjXi3XuRctAOtd_QKQtS2nLeE2e/s320/Daing+na+bangus.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daing na bangus</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIct-VQHReoUyb7IgvIF_4ppXwXQzLv9ANqgwFu2ndnr0eZqRSB-m9R7ZtmdpS78e-YHrUDjJDtNkzrToyolviFOnSyUJF4Opm597y94RbkZInmAgTbLgi3h_8qKgMa6GHcHQRJHDpiVn/s1600/Tinapang+bangus+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIct-VQHReoUyb7IgvIF_4ppXwXQzLv9ANqgwFu2ndnr0eZqRSB-m9R7ZtmdpS78e-YHrUDjJDtNkzrToyolviFOnSyUJF4Opm597y94RbkZInmAgTbLgi3h_8qKgMa6GHcHQRJHDpiVn/s320/Tinapang+bangus+-+Copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tinapang bangus</i></td></tr>
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Anyone looking for <i>pasalubong </i>would often ask for local sweets and fortunately we found <i>tupig </i>being grilled by a vendor. <i>Tupig </i>is a delicacy of Pangasinan made of glutinous rice, coconut strips, sugar and molasses. The mixture is shaped into miniature logs, wrapped in banana leaves, and grilled over flaming hot charcoals. At P5.00 each, it's indeed a sweet treat!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tupig</i></td></tr>
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Pangasinan is known for its "asin" but there's much more to enjoy in this province. You'll be satisfied with what it has to offer, whether it's salty or sweet. </div>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-61299866545365365122014-12-30T11:07:00.000+08:002014-12-31T15:22:10.810+08:00At Home sa Bahay ni Rizal <div style="text-align: justify;">
After an overnight stay at a hot spring resort in Pansol, Laguna, hubby and I had a stopover at the Rizal Shrine in nearby Calamba. The Rizal Shrine is a reproduction of the original house where our national hero Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861. </div>
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Like most Filipinos of my generation, I grew up learning about Rizal in classrooms. In fact, I still have in possession an old book which my sister and I read during our early years as students. But it was only now that I had the chance to visit his family's Spanish colonial house. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pages from an old textbook describing Rizal's house</td></tr>
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I feel a sense of pride as the nation's hero is also a writer and a well-traveled person. I leaped with glee when I saw facsimiles of his manuscripts and drawings displayed on the ground floor of his childhood house. I was reminded to keep hard copies of my scribbling and scan them for posterity!</div>
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The second floor of the house is the main living quarters of the family. It has a library, a living room, three bedrooms (master's bedroom for Rizal's parents Francisco and Teodora; one bedroom for his nine sisters; and another bedroom he shared with his brother Paciano), a dining room, a kitchen, and azotea. Some artifacts and utensils which the family used are also in display. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you also use an <i>arinola </i>like Rizal's parents did?</td></tr>
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Outside the house is a sprawling garden and a museum that houses other artifacts from Rizal's later years. The Rizal Shrine is accessible to both public and private transportation as the Shrine is in the heart of the City of Calamba. </div>
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If you plan to visit Calamba, Laguna, you might also want to spend a day or overnight at the many hot spring resorts in nearby Pansol, or Los Banos and bring home a <i>pasalubong</i> of <i>buko</i> pie, carabao's milk or cow's milk for which the place is famous for. </div>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-8472484828225295452014-12-08T22:20:00.000+08:002014-12-08T22:22:26.744+08:00Viva, Vigan!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines was voted as one of the <a href="http://world.new7wonders.com/2014/12/07/new7wonders-cities/" target="_blank">New7Wonders Cities</a> of the world. This was announced on December 8 by Bernard Weber, founder and president of New7Wonders Cities. The other cities included in the list are Beirut (Lebanon), Doha (Qatar), Durban (South Africa), Havana (Cuba), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and La Paz (Bolivia). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq_SBB7wGfmKbOP1ciSb0ho0jorgwimOtgMbzIy0HNKlLgqp31KOTgQwyCeuVoU7hW-Uo3q0ReIL0V7vmrII_ETgLhMMqp9DZtaTLLiuIDCAvrcup5xmVyIhZoUM1qvU8_dVVqCiBLImc/s1600/IMGP1855-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>I can see why Vigan charmed voters from around the world. Vigan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where structures from the Spanish colonial period still exist. Last July, I visited Vigan together with my mother, sisters, and nieces. After a seven-hour night trip by bus from Cubao, we arrived in Vigan at dawn. After alighting from the bus at Plaza Salcedo, we immediately walked to Calle Crisologo, the center of the said historical district. It is here where many of the 18th century colonial houses can be seen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cobblestone streets and Spanish houses of Vigan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Souvenir shops and antique stores along Calle Crisologo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour the city aboard a horse-drawn carriage called <i>calesa</i></td></tr>
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We hired a calesa for a tour of the city for P150/hour and saw various historical places.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument for Father Jose Burgos, one of Gomburza, the three<br />
martyred priests during the Spanish period</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOugtwd755_y2H2qnRtW90OUfLouZ-PTqsY57yz1xvxVK3CesX1fTTJZYwA9CbsmM35o1PY-z8edu2MoU-oBTrB8-BFDrTvWadxuXeodTB0GXMsBO9b-MQktkLueFSx0H79jzmet6yB72D/s1600/IMGP1836-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOugtwd755_y2H2qnRtW90OUfLouZ-PTqsY57yz1xvxVK3CesX1fTTJZYwA9CbsmM35o1PY-z8edu2MoU-oBTrB8-BFDrTvWadxuXeodTB0GXMsBO9b-MQktkLueFSx0H79jzmet6yB72D/s1600/IMGP1836-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Paul's Cathedral, the Baroque-inspired Catholic church<br />
completed in 1800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq_SBB7wGfmKbOP1ciSb0ho0jorgwimOtgMbzIy0HNKlLgqp31KOTgQwyCeuVoU7hW-Uo3q0ReIL0V7vmrII_ETgLhMMqp9DZtaTLLiuIDCAvrcup5xmVyIhZoUM1qvU8_dVVqCiBLImc/s1600/IMGP1855-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq_SBB7wGfmKbOP1ciSb0ho0jorgwimOtgMbzIy0HNKlLgqp31KOTgQwyCeuVoU7hW-Uo3q0ReIL0V7vmrII_ETgLhMMqp9DZtaTLLiuIDCAvrcup5xmVyIhZoUM1qvU8_dVVqCiBLImc/s1600/IMGP1855-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bantay Belltower<br />
Nearby is said to be the grounds where Ilocano hero<br />
Diego Silang fought the Spaniards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LR2vTZ-dTD98RMZRAKFBUoWshH2FCFdcH7Xe7MRb3p8tIF1LC5HmYDskAkNZb39ZHgDot9pALKTvsqNEyaLp3Zoox8QwDMTDGKc61VsH30Sh7btS_nY9AaTUFht0h_x3HGf_M3O97Q_y/s1600/Vigan_July14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LR2vTZ-dTD98RMZRAKFBUoWshH2FCFdcH7Xe7MRb3p8tIF1LC5HmYDskAkNZb39ZHgDot9pALKTvsqNEyaLp3Zoox8QwDMTDGKc61VsH30Sh7btS_nY9AaTUFht0h_x3HGf_M3O97Q_y/s1600/Vigan_July14.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antiques from the Burgos Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Vigan is also popular for its abel weaving and clay jar industry. We have been using blankets made of abel cloth and they are really sturdy. We saw a demonstration of how the cloth are woven and were also given a chance to try it at Cristy's Loom Weaving Shop. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWp9pkdb6LyUAVqejmDD5RQXjQOGZmL6AoRTL7XakB7GIquLKEK3UHNUAiKcEiZBJSrvkYz4n-1na3w81eqA6q9R2p_I4_pcmzPreZx2JOueTMQxQQz4vUmd9jkSU_63f6GU9zHRzlTEa/s1600/IMGP1812-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWp9pkdb6LyUAVqejmDD5RQXjQOGZmL6AoRTL7XakB7GIquLKEK3UHNUAiKcEiZBJSrvkYz4n-1na3w81eqA6q9R2p_I4_pcmzPreZx2JOueTMQxQQz4vUmd9jkSU_63f6GU9zHRzlTEa/s1600/IMGP1812-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying my hand at abel weaving</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8VJ24wzZwB_B4cSjvVPQpKWpcgq6OJm-idVqI97hhDh03LwkH1x023afVF0fIO4hJyk8ZgmR0DV5B7hrpa883BuTMyccNBsFP90iV7NEBIYPCbrp1sov3BpUC1GoYUvp4MqQolkxrFGz/s1600/IMGP1822-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8VJ24wzZwB_B4cSjvVPQpKWpcgq6OJm-idVqI97hhDh03LwkH1x023afVF0fIO4hJyk8ZgmR0DV5B7hrpa883BuTMyccNBsFP90iV7NEBIYPCbrp1sov3BpUC1GoYUvp4MqQolkxrFGz/s1600/IMGP1822-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel cloth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyb7gBFeHQe75UPb39OOtikAdFcA_-NM8iZH7akQZfPGEBUjb45XJtj2LIsxFB1feLCHPt_9QMeDFDV7SkOUxWAkO1-alcPk9YvjaM1kw2iR19w8t86o_JH9rvKbYHQcJmmNnLxm_gM-0/s1600/IMGP1894-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyb7gBFeHQe75UPb39OOtikAdFcA_-NM8iZH7akQZfPGEBUjb45XJtj2LIsxFB1feLCHPt_9QMeDFDV7SkOUxWAkO1-alcPk9YvjaM1kw2iR19w8t86o_JH9rvKbYHQcJmmNnLxm_gM-0/s1600/IMGP1894-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potters forming clay jar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Vigan is a city where structures from our Spanish colonial past have been preserved. It is also a city that showcases the craftsmanship of our people with crafts such as weaving and jar making. It is a city that cradled martyrs and heroes. And now it is one of the New7Wonders Cities of the world. Viva, Vigan!</div>
Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-52772637167285136342014-11-22T21:06:00.000+08:002014-11-22T21:15:13.815+08:00Thankful Traveler<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As I turn a year older and make a
list of things to thank God for, I couldn’t miss the blessing of traveling. Hans
Christian Andersen, Danish writer of fairy tales and travelogues once said, “To
travel is to live.” Another writer,
Gustave Flaubert, explained it this way: “Travel makes one modest. You see what
a tiny place you occupy in the world.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s true. There are more than 190 countries in the world. Aside from my country,
the Philippines, I have only been to seven other countries: France, Germany,
Brazil, Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos. Traveling to these places made me
realize there is a big world out there and there is so much to discover. Visiting
these countries has enriched my life experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPSe24HUcyZtIue447etLoYo5GDwPQ5ZMo4SRmQUTvns056r-VOJUqtynvChzDXo1s0nzjNbSrX_QN1Al5zhI7MurWYKd6iM-ao7nJcWSqo7byi-43raH_yju2l32VrONZVx8FhRsGEcH/s1600/IMGP7732+-+Copy-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPSe24HUcyZtIue447etLoYo5GDwPQ5ZMo4SRmQUTvns056r-VOJUqtynvChzDXo1s0nzjNbSrX_QN1Al5zhI7MurWYKd6iM-ao7nJcWSqo7byi-43raH_yju2l32VrONZVx8FhRsGEcH/s1600/IMGP7732+-+Copy-002.JPG" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve experienced autumn, spring,
and summer. I have yet to experience how freezing it would be in winter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJQ5nff02VMzL0am3e8lkKFJv5p9XzI4gtR-Esi71YyVTzFuVrnv6qvMFT4g9hFwgOH7tT7h8CArTOZqar7S9bfMF3dVT3g_SZsqpu73Xhz_Hi7EntTk7Fe7MVGz3hjcpidDxJaMx2eEj/s1600/At+Bonn+train+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJQ5nff02VMzL0am3e8lkKFJv5p9XzI4gtR-Esi71YyVTzFuVrnv6qvMFT4g9hFwgOH7tT7h8CArTOZqar7S9bfMF3dVT3g_SZsqpu73Xhz_Hi7EntTk7Fe7MVGz3hjcpidDxJaMx2eEj/s1600/At+Bonn+train+station.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn in Bonn, Germany</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
To speak with the locals, I’ve
spoken a phrase or two in German, Portuguese, Swahili, Bahasa, Lao, and of
course, English. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92X3CeACp8KytQdWkTVpBeznt0kXCtRhO6w8lvd-PAla4dMA9FbNYMf_UdwytTjCJDTRS8KEbeprlbKPPGkFAdqq4dIPxWZrbKkfo_gXlQV1DK7SstAZT8iCWoUGGicMO1bZAlAQtp4T0/s1600/IMGP0835+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92X3CeACp8KytQdWkTVpBeznt0kXCtRhO6w8lvd-PAla4dMA9FbNYMf_UdwytTjCJDTRS8KEbeprlbKPPGkFAdqq4dIPxWZrbKkfo_gXlQV1DK7SstAZT8iCWoUGGicMO1bZAlAQtp4T0/s1600/IMGP0835+-+Copy-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haggling at The Village Market in Nairobi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve tasted French bread,
Thuringian sausage from Germany, Brazilian churrasco, laksa and nasi lemak of Malaysia, Hainanese
chicken rice of Singapore and yes, sticky rice and fried insects from Laos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MPblgtUMVTpOANRrR7Lv1JoZEnPWw_kbfOnREuqCwA-NBpnTgd7c0r3PbcxoOzriQTPlDX_ism_q9prmXZqmzjpXI2ILXg7_8T-lsC7KPYdKvJ_zJYvCAHlviO3DSea7eGGwntVX_ZgY/s1600/Malaysia4-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MPblgtUMVTpOANRrR7Lv1JoZEnPWw_kbfOnREuqCwA-NBpnTgd7c0r3PbcxoOzriQTPlDX_ism_q9prmXZqmzjpXI2ILXg7_8T-lsC7KPYdKvJ_zJYvCAHlviO3DSea7eGGwntVX_ZgY/s1600/Malaysia4-001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food trip in Malaysia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vv1jllGVH20XwBW_sH3n7TMgvnB0FJr_G3KKC7anprAp6QAIajdDZsaP63k1ECkPPM2_wrfBxb9uDOZ2w3YPjJ39j9ViI3dmeXnDmfA7TLXzoqX6wsBb2ofQqwVc7n-TuTSn3n7yElrE/s1600/JG0038+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vv1jllGVH20XwBW_sH3n7TMgvnB0FJr_G3KKC7anprAp6QAIajdDZsaP63k1ECkPPM2_wrfBxb9uDOZ2w3YPjJ39j9ViI3dmeXnDmfA7TLXzoqX6wsBb2ofQqwVc7n-TuTSn3n7yElrE/s1600/JG0038+-+Copy-001.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free taste of Brazilian coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I flew by plane to reach all these countries. Rode the ICE (Inner City Express) train in Germany, saddled on a
motorbike in Vientiane, toured via a safari van in Kenya, went from place to
place through the MRTs of Singapore and Malaysia. Always rode the taxi in all
these countries, and yes, walked some distance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2kCL5uccq0zdCWDCo2Ozq_EjOFG_1_Uktt_PQUAy1IHEZJUaJNW__uh1BEfVxOGWtm-bULBdpa1lKDOzJ1hL5FYd6h0MH29guq8xJARRv2E9TQlrRurqY-MxrImfeHia2mJS5tqPPQDk/s1600/JG0064+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2kCL5uccq0zdCWDCo2Ozq_EjOFG_1_Uktt_PQUAy1IHEZJUaJNW__uh1BEfVxOGWtm-bULBdpa1lKDOzJ1hL5FYd6h0MH29guq8xJARRv2E9TQlrRurqY-MxrImfeHia2mJS5tqPPQDk/s1600/JG0064+-+Copy-001.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ICE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSFJw5kdff59Pa1L52Xgpv_k6X-9vfyQNCFwSR6-gkXEzF2s2XFohVrO8oY_r_vldsMSAQ3wBw5a8J-fo_npql_3_juhTWTCDGSLYy1Ddn9un2K7ZpiSAY99I9rnSg1glmBc4OkFO1tN4/s1600/10014578_10152545997258541_3651123801929585643_n-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSFJw5kdff59Pa1L52Xgpv_k6X-9vfyQNCFwSR6-gkXEzF2s2XFohVrO8oY_r_vldsMSAQ3wBw5a8J-fo_npql_3_juhTWTCDGSLYy1Ddn9un2K7ZpiSAY99I9rnSg1glmBc4OkFO1tN4/s1600/10014578_10152545997258541_3651123801929585643_n-001.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking in Vientiane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’ve been to centuries-old <a href="http://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/search/label/Thuringia" target="_blank">castles</a>, museums, churches, temples, <a href="http://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-visit-to-vientiane.html" target="_blank">monuments</a>, and parks. I had close
encounters with giraffes and saw hippopotamus from a safe distance in their
habitat. I’ve posed with a tribesman for a souvenir photo, walked into the
writing room of a famous historical figure, and met many interesting people
from different culture. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jBignHKL8kzYuQ4DgkS5cmpWSUDR-JqdaCJEDGGpKPes3HdpZq5gthuFfokqizUEX5u0TtdaaWTe8ScGqA1i1N9sAoYiVsmDFfiMiOkghjYINVGbVA47NFUfNQ2dJ8El5bXcM3e7IwGO/s1600/IMGP0872+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jBignHKL8kzYuQ4DgkS5cmpWSUDR-JqdaCJEDGGpKPes3HdpZq5gthuFfokqizUEX5u0TtdaaWTe8ScGqA1i1N9sAoYiVsmDFfiMiOkghjYINVGbVA47NFUfNQ2dJ8El5bXcM3e7IwGO/s1600/IMGP0872+-+Copy-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Giraffe Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Each time I travel, I learn
something new about a country, its culture, its people. I also discover
something about myself. And always, I see how God provides, protects, leads
me to different places and brings me safely back home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWr5N9_BhyATJzVZ6_XYELV5n8hQonZlZsDnJjfp90n4LbMCCgog_5pTn0fjCTQgJSFYAb2lR05ijmzIdjnxN1FdgCUcQNw4RVs9Z5VSC2vbMTvav2HDqQkojTx_t7hrRUwB-gYmXRXxq/s1600/IMGP0765+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWr5N9_BhyATJzVZ6_XYELV5n8hQonZlZsDnJjfp90n4LbMCCgog_5pTn0fjCTQgJSFYAb2lR05ijmzIdjnxN1FdgCUcQNw4RVs9Z5VSC2vbMTvav2HDqQkojTx_t7hrRUwB-gYmXRXxq/s1600/IMGP0765+-+Copy-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’m aware that there will come a
time when God would call me to that final destination. It’s going to be a
glorious place incomparable to any place in this world. Seeing God’s
providential hand in my journey on earth, I could trust my life to no another
but to Him, my Lord Jesus Christ. I’m one thankful traveler on this earth but I’m
certainly looking forward to that final trip to heaven someday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDJGRw0bJkHXapygx59IbLBE3f2uOqjgMldCYaYlwAKbZs4m_cgEdk7wqqLYPjMkWsabpWhyphenhyphen-VRs_V_54JLeyc-1xlXLOUOD4Hk1cEOw8pD7Syn3w9j0cWj2ZpaGnHGEs-8d3gBzlJsSD/s1600/IMG_20140325_060910+-+Copy-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDJGRw0bJkHXapygx59IbLBE3f2uOqjgMldCYaYlwAKbZs4m_cgEdk7wqqLYPjMkWsabpWhyphenhyphen-VRs_V_54JLeyc-1xlXLOUOD4Hk1cEOw8pD7Syn3w9j0cWj2ZpaGnHGEs-8d3gBzlJsSD/s1600/IMG_20140325_060910+-+Copy-001.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Do you want to know more about heaven? Here's a short article about <a href="http://www.epm.org/blog/2013/Nov/4/longing-heaven" target="_blank">heaven</a>. </div>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-92105600772635063152014-11-12T15:24:00.000+08:002014-11-19T21:04:55.750+08:00Lao Food? Love It!<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the things I enjoyed in Laos was the food. On my
first day, I had a taste of feu, or Lao beef noodle stew. This stew with rice
noodles was served to us with herbs, bean sprouts, and string beans. I've never eaten uncooked string beans, but this time I took them raw. The crunchy uncooked string beans took on a
spicy-sweet-nutty taste when dipped in peanut sauce.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGzFHGNpLbzqJtFfeM7NH1rYNY6ElRKLI0692Oeawj9s9iBqdN5B366BvJ5NzL9hhyphenhyphen3fb-m3RPjufuJvpsb_bvGXlQ13fcBSOMPC8Bh9ADvfdUZPHI9PH7SK2FAZwRV91g-ZlKtDdeX0b/s1600/IMGP2144-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGzFHGNpLbzqJtFfeM7NH1rYNY6ElRKLI0692Oeawj9s9iBqdN5B366BvJ5NzL9hhyphenhyphen3fb-m3RPjufuJvpsb_bvGXlQ13fcBSOMPC8Bh9ADvfdUZPHI9PH7SK2FAZwRV91g-ZlKtDdeX0b/s320/IMGP2144-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feu </td></tr>
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At the recently opened Kap Khao Lao restaurant along
Luang Prabang Road, our local host ordered traditional Lao food for us to savor.
Of course, we had sticky rice served in bamboo containers. Just like the way it’s
normally eaten in Laos, we shaped the sticky grains into small balls and ate
them with our bare hands together with <i>lab kai</i> (minced chicken salad) and <i>sin
dat dyo</i> (fried dried pork). We also had <i>mok pa</i> (steamed fish in banana leaves),
<i>keng som pa</i> (sour fish soup), and <i>keng nor mai</i> (bamboo soup). For appetizer, we
had <i>tam mak hoong</i> (papaya salad) topped with the familiar <i>chicharon</i> or pork
rind. Lao papaya salad is seasoned with fish sauce and shrimp paste, or
in Filipino, <i>bagoong</i>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sin dat dyo, keng nor mai <br />
and sticky rice (inside the bamboo container)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lab kai</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keng som pa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OpRrpmOU-5yYrM75I9tE2HsFCC_KpQemOaDVTIYOg7gGAWrI9Tz6fGvJbQDg4EeZQzGaDgd03mk4-lE3thJq2Uvg5eTfJZZygFxYIdzbqwRwqbroH8B_0l9vJBzPp2WnhHmvR_ApXfeM/s1600/mok+pa_steamed+fish+in+banana+leaves-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OpRrpmOU-5yYrM75I9tE2HsFCC_KpQemOaDVTIYOg7gGAWrI9Tz6fGvJbQDg4EeZQzGaDgd03mk4-lE3thJq2Uvg5eTfJZZygFxYIdzbqwRwqbroH8B_0l9vJBzPp2WnhHmvR_ApXfeM/s320/mok+pa_steamed+fish+in+banana+leaves-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mok pa</td></tr>
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My food experience in Laos was pleasurable. I’m not fond of spicy food but
I came to enjoy the ones I ate because they were also flavored with refreshing herbs
and spices like basil, lemon grass, mint, lime, tamarind, and galangal which looks a bit
like ginger but not as strong as its taste. The fruits I tasted like dragon fruit, ripe papaya, and lanzones were very sweet, The French bread we had for breakfast were superb. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sticky rice and spring rolls</td></tr>
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I will also remember eating in Laos because for the first time, I was lured into trying <i>kua tuk tan</i> or fried insects. Actually, the small winged creatures didn't look distasteful. They even smelled like citrus and looked palatable because they were fried with herbs. I only chomped on a few
pieces, just enough for a beginner's taste. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-c0n15HHKXJam3p9bImT1z_TSUVg5puid1krILpkLdGhY2S_j32obg2AV3LrXYdPqsqZryYgT0CkuODFKFSc8ve5kBlRXXseRFF6h6HUyAGfPbroqm0O_iTf-zTSjycHJPW_iwGjugvp/s1600/kua+tuk+tan_fried+insect+-+Copy-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-c0n15HHKXJam3p9bImT1z_TSUVg5puid1krILpkLdGhY2S_j32obg2AV3LrXYdPqsqZryYgT0CkuODFKFSc8ve5kBlRXXseRFF6h6HUyAGfPbroqm0O_iTf-zTSjycHJPW_iwGjugvp/s320/kua+tuk+tan_fried+insect+-+Copy-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kua tuk tan</td></tr>
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I gained a few pounds after almost a week of eating Lao
food. I missed the papaya salad so much that as soon as I returned home, I made
my own version of <i>tam mak hoong</i>. Looking forward to more Lao food!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJhRRWTAnmL9Cn4KfJXmvHqW431rLraEms6O3DHSwShm7O9op8HcC8xasCFiQjxT4M6tYMniM7aN-34ayMPLIa-E8IM2tVArAIfb2Hv6opSEaqvkPo-2sbIIrNZAg6fpttUJ2xTU2BYA4/s1600/IMG_20141025_120021-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJhRRWTAnmL9Cn4KfJXmvHqW431rLraEms6O3DHSwShm7O9op8HcC8xasCFiQjxT4M6tYMniM7aN-34ayMPLIa-E8IM2tVArAIfb2Hv6opSEaqvkPo-2sbIIrNZAg6fpttUJ2xTU2BYA4/s320/IMG_20141025_120021-001.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My version of tam mak hoong</td></tr>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-90241384034631463112014-11-12T08:30:00.000+08:002014-11-11T16:47:46.688+08:00A Visit to Vientiane<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Last month, when I visited Vientiane, the capital of Laos, I
did not see any McDonald’s, Jollibee, or any other fast food restaurant that’s
a staple in major cities of the world. What I noticed was the presence of
Buddhist temples in every road, an obvious indication that majority of the
people there are followers of Buddha.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKIWyMA0NxbN4CH4RsPg5FnnTuFTwlFNJnqdedd11zci8g9LqovVOQ2HnW9dX82Kblo9N31n_goJBNS64lQ-OFhg6wiM_rAColGAkTMJ5hcK-LfDs7RVbWpykUqGnJXdgSR-jcddvRtSF/s1600/Pha+That+Luang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKIWyMA0NxbN4CH4RsPg5FnnTuFTwlFNJnqdedd11zci8g9LqovVOQ2HnW9dX82Kblo9N31n_goJBNS64lQ-OFhg6wiM_rAColGAkTMJ5hcK-LfDs7RVbWpykUqGnJXdgSR-jcddvRtSF/s1600/Pha+That+Luang.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pha That Luang, the Buddhist monument<br />
and national symbol of Laos<br />
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Aside from the temples, another famous landmark of Vientiane
is the Patuxai Victory Gate or Monument in the middle of the Patuxai Park. The monument was
built in honor of the people of Laos who fought against France for their independence.
It is similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but the artwork is Laotian. My friend
and I paid an entrance fee of 3,000 kip (about 40 US cents) to climb the tower
where we had a spectacular view of the city.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrIOnHYVBofLm_W5i4G3bhRKaM-y-gK93JAQ8ntW5MvCUQhMlYOCwtkTLKTWwkZJg0arObONDWKIRLnEbXFsetUBxf0qE82U3v0oorZN4UPjUSgrG4eeMX756zc1M_JLPeS_6llEs_ZU8/s1600/Patuxai-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrIOnHYVBofLm_W5i4G3bhRKaM-y-gK93JAQ8ntW5MvCUQhMlYOCwtkTLKTWwkZJg0arObONDWKIRLnEbXFsetUBxf0qE82U3v0oorZN4UPjUSgrG4eeMX756zc1M_JLPeS_6llEs_ZU8/s1600/Patuxai-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patuxai Victory Gate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkFeD2TiROQkNYSqBQEqA0syuAQl3Z4ZvYFEN8hbacd6XKc2zzh3Js3GsNQWfWg_E4GepJXKFqaU2vP4qWz-cv-OWV0tmECgI74JbBcu78VcCK-0qxGWtbwANcI9wqP5kPvH3H55ocvyX/s1600/view+from+the+patuxai-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkFeD2TiROQkNYSqBQEqA0syuAQl3Z4ZvYFEN8hbacd6XKc2zzh3Js3GsNQWfWg_E4GepJXKFqaU2vP4qWz-cv-OWV0tmECgI74JbBcu78VcCK-0qxGWtbwANcI9wqP5kPvH3H55ocvyX/s1600/view+from+the+patuxai-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Vientiane from the rooftop of Patuxai Victory Monument</td></tr>
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A visit to Vientiane would not be complete without a stroll
at the banks of Mekong River. We strolled at sunset and saw long rows of red
tents for the night market. There are numerous food stalls where people can
choose a variety of seafood (big tilapia, clams, squids, shrimps) and meat
(beef, pork, chicken, frog) for dinner by the river. Plastic tables and chairs
are set in the open air for dining. A few mats with pillows are laid on the
floor for those who prefer a more relaxed dining. Next to the food stalls are
the tents where locals sell clothes, bags, paintings, and other souvenir items.
Further down, there was a group of people engaged in aerobic exercises.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Mekong River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcXJYFV-DUJGy3JwXpdPcT14Qt4GRaFyzVV4LupI6UR5lllhiQgfEftkJrS-KG9sXDiJNeTGTATrQjtOVQS0P4kXWCnJSJmKHl8PGuygEuvNsw9wPkMhpQIK8AAJP60fX4kay0yCRFIgf/s1600/Night+market__Mekong-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcXJYFV-DUJGy3JwXpdPcT14Qt4GRaFyzVV4LupI6UR5lllhiQgfEftkJrS-KG9sXDiJNeTGTATrQjtOVQS0P4kXWCnJSJmKHl8PGuygEuvNsw9wPkMhpQIK8AAJP60fX4kay0yCRFIgf/s1600/Night+market__Mekong-001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining at Mekong River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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According to a friend who has been working in Vientiane for
some years, tourists usually just pass through this city before going to the
more popular destination Luang Prabang, the former royal capital. Vientiane is
so small that it can be explored on foot, by tuk-tuk, or by bike. Food and
accommodation are inexpensive. Local food is good, a bit spicy but flavorful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are no direct flights going to Laos from the Philippines
and I had to take a flight first to Bangkok before catching the plane to
Vientiane. Though there are no direct flights going to Laos from the
Philippines, once you’re in Vientiane, if you have the time and patience for
long trips, you could cross-country to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM0GN8q5k4cgEOo1u-FSmeZ7NZu_Moz_NcTHzjsQU6CHZ6f4bl4aPvHz9rJHV19nZEK2LAew4ZE3e078Smb14Kqjg5f38rgMAi6mlYf1CeubVaKJwyAmgqqorCVTM_mGE2GMXh1eBpsII/s1600/Vientiane+marker-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM0GN8q5k4cgEOo1u-FSmeZ7NZu_Moz_NcTHzjsQU6CHZ6f4bl4aPvHz9rJHV19nZEK2LAew4ZE3e078Smb14Kqjg5f38rgMAi6mlYf1CeubVaKJwyAmgqqorCVTM_mGE2GMXh1eBpsII/s1600/Vientiane+marker-002.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Mekong River where you can see Thailand, which is<br />
just across the river<br />
This photo courtesy of B. Lee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-45256156781880354422014-05-02T17:11:00.001+08:002014-05-04T20:19:21.455+08:00Looking Forward to Lobo<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When you hear the word Lobo, you
probably think of a balloon or wolf. But as you read this, remember that Lobo
is a third class municipality in the province of Batangas, about 145 kilometers
from Manila. It is bounded by Batangas
City to the west, the municipalities of Taysan and Rosario to the north, the
municipality of San Juan to the east, and Verde Island Passage to the south. If
you are considering a quiet, charmingly simple vacation spot with beaches and
underwater wonders as well as a side trip to a historical landmark, you might
consider trekking to this place. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I went to Lobo last week with a
companion primarily to take a look at the century-old Malabrigo Lighthouse
built during the Spanish period. We first dropped by at the Tourism Office and
Pasalubong Center at the heart of the town plaza to buy some local delicacies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHot-H5UMHo4V3_aTvO2EPfzKGBl45srvCLHL4I89dE4CPpAi4qVM3uUDm3mt989DIo9OIaZ1D-MbAhmPbzeYlN_iMEPNhpckPYJpQa_tmX-e0NmO1wNzTGolRrl-s7uc5uDIADlZfIuGF/s1600/Pasalubong+Center_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHot-H5UMHo4V3_aTvO2EPfzKGBl45srvCLHL4I89dE4CPpAi4qVM3uUDm3mt989DIo9OIaZ1D-MbAhmPbzeYlN_iMEPNhpckPYJpQa_tmX-e0NmO1wNzTGolRrl-s7uc5uDIADlZfIuGF/s1600/Pasalubong+Center_for+blog.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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We were glad we stopped by that
office first because the tourism staff members were friendly and eager to help
us get to our destination. We didn’t have a private vehicle so a staff member
hailed a tricycle for us. One of their interns even accompanied us to the
historical site. From the town plaza, we passed by the barangays of Olo-Olo,
Mabilog na Bundok, Sawang, Soloc, and finally Malabrigo. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZrtzLNPLhNzRdshCIcSP_x_SI91J5UmphZJ32ceKrvB55wbzzKpeIzFI-uWXGWdHS3kCcsTuN4UI-dvJC9CElT3raIlVa9W7A4vWpiNE6Kz9frSndcFnvMQCyAEluvJyrVlyarXHoOp8/s1600/road_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZrtzLNPLhNzRdshCIcSP_x_SI91J5UmphZJ32ceKrvB55wbzzKpeIzFI-uWXGWdHS3kCcsTuN4UI-dvJC9CElT3raIlVa9W7A4vWpiNE6Kz9frSndcFnvMQCyAEluvJyrVlyarXHoOp8/s1600/road_for+blog.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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After an uphill ride, the 19<sup>th</sup>
century lighthouse and pavilion came into view in the middle of a big lot. The
grounds of Malabrigo Lighthouse is open to the public but visitors are not allowed
inside the tower, adjacent pavilion, and machine room because the structures
are already very fragile. But the cylindrical brick lighthouse still actively
guides international and local seafarers passing through the Verde Island Passage.
Solar panels provide power to the 56 ft Spanish lighthouse also known as Faro
de Punta de Malabrigo. Locals call it
the <i>parola.</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTAmREC3ZRsNlf3Xnc-K8zPQdVzIIXbo2MuKDaPLsBvIpztyJjohoyWS7YZ0DOypeIWdsqtio2H-u1C_lan3eDSnCPjy1eNmvsRTjhyrXdwV25M7zVlVziu8wyloB-mqNsI9dgElru4uu/s1600/Malabrigo+Lighthouse_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTAmREC3ZRsNlf3Xnc-K8zPQdVzIIXbo2MuKDaPLsBvIpztyJjohoyWS7YZ0DOypeIWdsqtio2H-u1C_lan3eDSnCPjy1eNmvsRTjhyrXdwV25M7zVlVziu8wyloB-mqNsI9dgElru4uu/s1600/Malabrigo+Lighthouse_for+blog.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hy27lrqF_gwBvZpJt9tPyBITeFo-LK3A3HkkrVNDmjUc2LG551gWRtotb0_erqlj-dQspHHYMtMPZJZGDP4bD_Zif_Jf0Rcm45P7SQWFwy1dmvFlt8ybz_RK8oQf2GfictiVSWhcvSDu/s1600/marker_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hy27lrqF_gwBvZpJt9tPyBITeFo-LK3A3HkkrVNDmjUc2LG551gWRtotb0_erqlj-dQspHHYMtMPZJZGDP4bD_Zif_Jf0Rcm45P7SQWFwy1dmvFlt8ybz_RK8oQf2GfictiVSWhcvSDu/s1600/marker_for+blog.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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From the hill, we saw a panoramic
view of the Verde Island Passage with
Isla Verde and the island of Mindoro on the background. Farther out into the
sea, the island of Marinduque can also be seen. We went down to the beach using the cemented stairs. According to our
tricycle driver, the stairs were built by Olympic swimmer Akiko Thomson and her
group which advocates the preservation of the lighthouse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8NrMcJ1YJk-VXncmUW_Kd7A84xv3rh6wrQKMP_pOxHcKFVvvqdgtqOGRbsq2oliYCujQ3-sJpqmlhdsUje58oOHugPvTHEyShyphenhyphenmlJLCGvtL5fyBrnvOJQBd_nwovdu32-lvdDv_OWziC/s1600/Isla+Verde+Passage_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8NrMcJ1YJk-VXncmUW_Kd7A84xv3rh6wrQKMP_pOxHcKFVvvqdgtqOGRbsq2oliYCujQ3-sJpqmlhdsUje58oOHugPvTHEyShyphenhyphenmlJLCGvtL5fyBrnvOJQBd_nwovdu32-lvdDv_OWziC/s1600/Isla+Verde+Passage_for+blog.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the Verde Island Passage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHMCJ0AaUvx7v8EVuY-NwMd2DI6blLe_6u2zGXP4MdpYCNS2t4iOR4jJT4zitLib72Yjq8mA8rQtx6Z1EqAORwhgXv1kRUhg86uT5fOb8mVI_NXnjqIijGg_RNzqI1fO3qsga_s1ZGufs/s1600/top+view_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHMCJ0AaUvx7v8EVuY-NwMd2DI6blLe_6u2zGXP4MdpYCNS2t4iOR4jJT4zitLib72Yjq8mA8rQtx6Z1EqAORwhgXv1kRUhg86uT5fOb8mVI_NXnjqIijGg_RNzqI1fO3qsga_s1ZGufs/s1600/top+view_for+blog.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Compared to other beaches in
Batangas, the beaches of Malabrigo are not sandy, but littered with
pebbles. Rock formations are also
common. And the water is so clear. Underneath, one can also see colorful corals
and different marine life. This makes Malabrigo and the surrounding areas a
haven for scuba diving and snorkelling. We also visited a nearby resort which
was chosen as the shooting site for a TV series. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLW9NA-ChskhI8ApYEmXv-nScIHcbBAUZMlk3sTQk6XaKM8cj7Xf1R4-1c6BHf59B5cOjl-Gx57R7IQVn2xpDueMLk4GhvYt63RcJ2jfBZPunAcwEdmyP2zpyouKkB-R7KmwHvIusVpYe/s1600/pebbles_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLW9NA-ChskhI8ApYEmXv-nScIHcbBAUZMlk3sTQk6XaKM8cj7Xf1R4-1c6BHf59B5cOjl-Gx57R7IQVn2xpDueMLk4GhvYt63RcJ2jfBZPunAcwEdmyP2zpyouKkB-R7KmwHvIusVpYe/s1600/pebbles_for+blog.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEmhQXcpY1xCnRtZDK01C8fKMmk7rTf0JWYqdsrm5kHc1eXWQdwiEk61eC9YP2uyGnNC4brHzaw7PWtkL_QCyXat24_Mcvw-Zl1geoNbkH9_PB6Be14aYc32qCt16qOTVhpk3dM0pn6vs/s1600/clear+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEmhQXcpY1xCnRtZDK01C8fKMmk7rTf0JWYqdsrm5kHc1eXWQdwiEk61eC9YP2uyGnNC4brHzaw7PWtkL_QCyXat24_Mcvw-Zl1geoNbkH9_PB6Be14aYc32qCt16qOTVhpk3dM0pn6vs/s1600/clear+water.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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When you visit Lobo, be ready to
navigate through winding roads amidst mountains. At the moment, accommodations
are limited to beach resorts. There are no hotels, inns, or pension houses.
There are no fastfood restaurants but you can savor local food at any of the eateries
in the market. The municipal tourism
officer, Mrs. Lota Manalo, has high hopes for tourism in this town. She shares
to us of her department’s plan to actively promote Lobo’s other natural wonders
like their water falls, mangrove swamp, peat forest, rice terraces, <i>pawikan</i> (sea turtle) nestling area, and
of course, the historical Malabrigo Lighthouse. That is something we can all
look forward to. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nOkJ_2uXVL2q73cvyJ90-dAvHaj96r7jFi2MXxv7ny3ZNbmK5MLLySGpXCqga46ABhtwWvT5DmjIxqrGZHsFfgRVG7SYhxnZp0PgwzhT42fZGClSrGhmfmfpqy8dXTl8uoYCmSQu5raL/s1600/tourism+map_for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nOkJ_2uXVL2q73cvyJ90-dAvHaj96r7jFi2MXxv7ny3ZNbmK5MLLySGpXCqga46ABhtwWvT5DmjIxqrGZHsFfgRVG7SYhxnZp0PgwzhT42fZGClSrGhmfmfpqy8dXTl8uoYCmSQu5raL/s1600/tourism+map_for+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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To get to Lobo by private vehicle, head to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), straight to ACTEX then to the the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway. Exit at the end of the expressway at Balagtas, Batangas City. Turn left onto National Road and follow the signs leading to SM Batangas. From that area, continue onto Gov. Antonio Carpio Road (14.7 km) then Taysan-Lobo Road (16.7 km).</div>
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By commute, take any bus from Manila going to Batangas City. Get off at the Grand Terminal, hop into a jeep going to Batangas City. Get into another jeep plying the Libjo-Batangas City route and ask the driver to drop you at the Lobo jeep terminal. Alternatively, from the poblacion, you can take a jeep going to SM Batangas and get off at the department store. From there you can walk a few meters to the Lobo jeep terminal. </div>
Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-8062879962065494642014-03-24T17:38:00.000+08:002014-03-24T18:00:45.021+08:00Cuenca: Mountain, Lake, Volcano<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IDofdaWxndFFG98CUjklBuLob2qPon-l3Xc3w-pUZYGQss5IS89KRF0lVDMGmwRC1bzb_XjWdjTNs7eB7cH-ZjUPhFdpQT_VtOGay5XoEBGk7lsxDXOxXm_WhVx7ZwFFds7Tc5hvBo-a/s1600/1506949_10152099551813541_1494850803_n-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IDofdaWxndFFG98CUjklBuLob2qPon-l3Xc3w-pUZYGQss5IS89KRF0lVDMGmwRC1bzb_XjWdjTNs7eB7cH-ZjUPhFdpQT_VtOGay5XoEBGk7lsxDXOxXm_WhVx7ZwFFds7Tc5hvBo-a/s1600/1506949_10152099551813541_1494850803_n-001.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas is
one of the mountains close to Manila and its proximity to the city makes it a
favorite among mountain climbers. People who want to climb Mt. Maculot are
advised to register first </span><span style="text-align: justify;">at registration sites in the town. A guide can also be hired to help you with the trek to the
Rockies. The Rockies is a popular site of the mountain so called because of its
rocky terrain. Once you reach the top, you can see a breathtaking view of the Taal Lake and Taal
Volcano below.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">But unlike mountaineers who
follow the trail to the Rockies, I was led to a different route to see Mt.
Maculot, the Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. I went to Brgy. Dita, Cuenca to visit family friends. They live in the Dita side of Mt.
Maculot, hundreds of meters above sea level. The air up in the mountain is so cool and the forest supplies fresh oxygen.
Fruit-bearing and other kinds of trees abound in the forest but what fascinated
me most was the lovely, colorful flowers and ornamental plants, some of which
I saw for the first time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MU4MhaRBGQI719zDydbV1CY7NSGL3wXg9kZoqN_N-3FH-D8dxt779M22u_bjA1_PGFc7SvuhxSEXnTzeRX9Bp74gzlCn6eqVRbXTpGlXbPZSNVPCM5EgXO8IlBcR9MZAKqre8wQ6WAdR/s1600/IMG_20140321_101841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MU4MhaRBGQI719zDydbV1CY7NSGL3wXg9kZoqN_N-3FH-D8dxt779M22u_bjA1_PGFc7SvuhxSEXnTzeRX9Bp74gzlCn6eqVRbXTpGlXbPZSNVPCM5EgXO8IlBcR9MZAKqre8wQ6WAdR/s1600/IMG_20140321_101841.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the towns of San Jose and Lipa City from Mt. Maculot</td></tr>
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From Dita, our friends’ 78-year
old father drove us to the next barangay, Balagbag, so I can have a view of the
mountain peak from afar. Maculot is a wide mountain and we were on the other end of the Rockies, but they told me
that I can also view Taal Lake and Taal Volcano from Balagbag. We found an
elevated spot that gave us a panoramic view of the Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano. The
lake was so placid. Some parts were blue, other parts were sparkling like emerald. From
a distance Taal Volcano protrudes. From where we were, the place was framed in
green foliage with birds flying into the scene, and chickens cackling in the
background. A gentle, cool breeze brushed me. Inspired by the scene, I breathe
in the fresh air. No pollution, no distraction. I felt at peace. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Philip Yancey said, “Wilderness
announces to our senses the splendor of an invisible, untameable God…the world
cannot contain the delight God inspires.”* After going up to Mt. Maculot, I
begin to think that maybe mountaineers are drawn to the mountains because when
they are up there, they sense the presence of God. And indeed, God displays His
beauty and power in the mountains, in the volcano, and in the lake. Our
appropriate response is awe and praise to Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Shout for joy to the
Lord, all the earth,<o:p></o:p></div>
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burst into jubilant song with music;<o:p></o:p></div>
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make music to the
Lord with the harp,<o:p></o:p></div>
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with the harp and the sound of singing,<o:p></o:p></div>
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with trumpets and the
blast of the ram’s horn—<o:p></o:p></div>
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shout for joy before the Lord, the King.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let the sea resound, and everything in it,<o:p></o:p></div>
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the world, and all who live in it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let the rivers clap their hand<br />
let the mountains sing together for
joy.” Psalm 98:4-8</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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Here’s an old <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqiFNierwQY" target="_blank">gospel song</a> about a mountaintop experience with God.<br />
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*Source of quotation by Philip Yancey: Our Daily Bread</div>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-15273007266720286772014-03-02T22:08:00.000+08:002014-03-04T03:55:54.105+08:00A Change of Plan<div style="text-align: justify;">
The sky was dark, threatening to pour rain. The TV screen on the airport flashed the typhoon signal numbers hoisted over the different parts of the country. We were getting restless as we waited for our flight black to Manila. An airline crew has announced on the PA system that Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 654 would be delayed for a few minutes. A super typhoon was expected to directly hit Eastern Visayas in less than 24 hours.</div>
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My husband and I started talking about contingency plans. If our flight is cancelled, we, namely the two of us, our two teenagers, my sister-in-law and her husband would re-book our flight and go back to the hotel where we previously stayed overnight. We didn't really plan to stay in Tacloban, Leyte on November 6, 2013. Seven months earlier in April, I took advantage of a <a href="http://www.cebupacificair.com/" target="_blank">promo fare</a> and booked a flight for our family to Tacloban. From there we would travel by land for three hours to Biliran Island. The island, located north of Tacloban, used to be part of Leyte but became independent in 1992. </div>
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Biliran is not yet a popular tourist destination unlike Palawan, Boracay, or Bohol. But we became interested in this fourth smallest province in the Philippines when we saw it featured on a travel TV show. We were enticed by the host's lovely description of the volcanic island and shots after shots of its waterfalls, islets, sand bars, rock formation, hot springs, and white beaches. It has many natural attractions and accommodations are budget-friendly. Biliran seemed a perfect choice for our next vacation. We envisioned the trip to be a time for bonding, relaxation, fun, and adventure.</div>
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But on November 4, on our way to the airport, it drizzled. I uttered a prayer. <i>Lord, we waited months for this trip. Would you please stop the rain? </i>The rain stopped but when we reached Tacloban airport, it began to rain again. We were grateful that the following morning, November 5, the sky has cleared and we were able to chase three waterfalls--Tinago, Casiawan, and Casabangan. We were also able to dip our feet in the Mainit Hot Springs which is rich in sulfur and other minerals. Along the way, we saw rice stalks heavy with golden grains in rice fields and terraces. And the air was fresh and cool. Biliran offers such refreshing rural sights!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss5M-kSNtyZLnwNP171u3hnRCckVWEg3EmjyFHvziIcnSg7Kcc3lYo2iSrNjKy438fZdIcHImY-uqYOAg-1iSk2quqbMM6e3rBPGZy7UZ-NcEiZ27gsLUMN56dK2Xg9NUoo6ELWid0WQa/s1600/From+Pentax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss5M-kSNtyZLnwNP171u3hnRCckVWEg3EmjyFHvziIcnSg7Kcc3lYo2iSrNjKy438fZdIcHImY-uqYOAg-1iSk2quqbMM6e3rBPGZy7UZ-NcEiZ27gsLUMN56dK2Xg9NUoo6ELWid0WQa/s1600/From+Pentax.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, that night we heard the news that super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) was gaining strength and expected to land in Leyte and Samar by Friday, November 8. Our family prayed for the storm to weaken and hoped that we can still enjoy another day tomorrow. We were planning an island hopping adventure to Higatangan and Dalutan the next day. Since we traveled all the way to Biliran, we wanted to make the most of our trip and see what other natural wonders the place has to offer. Before we slept, I suggested that instead of going to Dalutan Island, we just go to Agta Beach. At least, we could swim, walk along the beach, and take some pictures for our Facebook profile. But my more adventurous son and the husband of my sister-in-law tried to cheer us up. "Tomorrow will be a brighter day. The rain and wind will be gone by tomorrow," they said. "Let's go island hopping!"</div>
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The following morning, November 6, we were greeted by the sun when we woke up. Despite news of a coming storm, it seemed that this day wasn't going to be spoiled after all. But we were still cautious. The report said that it's gong to be a super typhoon and even the President warned the people to take all the necessary precaution. After discussion, we decided to spend only half the day in Dalutan Island and then leave Biliran for Tacloban in the afternoon. We would leave Biliran a day earlier and stay in Tacloban. Our return flight to Manila is on November 7. At least, if it rains harder, we would be in Tacloban already and closer to the airport, closer to home. </div>
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But finding an accommodation in Tacloban at that time became a challenge for us. Because of last minute change in plans, we didn't have a reservation in any of the hotels or inns. If I had known about <a href="http://www.wego.com.ph/" target="_blank">Wego</a> back then, maybe our search would have been easier. We hurriedly moved from one hotel to another apartelle, from one pension house to another lodge in search of an affordable place we can stay in for the night. Finally, we checked-in at a hotel along J. Luna St. </div>
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The rain began to pour intermittently on November 7. Anxious not to be caught in the storm, we went to the airport more than four hours before our flight. We waited along with the other passengers for our plane to arrive and when it finally did, we clapped and sighed in relief. It was the last Cebu Pacific plane out of Tacloban bound for Manila that day. The following morning, we were appalled when we saw how viciously Yolanda pounded on Tacloban. For weeks, I could not get over the thought of what could have happened to us if we were stranded there. </div>
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I will never forget our family trip to Biliran Island via Tacloban that first week of November 2013. It's a reminder for me that whether we're on the road, in the air, at sea, at home or at work, we may plan and hope that all will go smoothly. But sometimes things happen beyond our control. We have to rely on God's help and change plans. There will be delays and calamities, surprises and revelations. Timing is critical and trusting God's leading is essential. These will help us move on to our next destination.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG0ciIvwHyWK4YtPe8BY-yoKU01MVT7RJ_fMG5tyHB5P3NwyZ_457G5Ck4Pc_ruwgceza28pno7BWRLENCn62Vp4B50WaU_z6k54IO0c0wXs1Qtku7tzAEpjUCz_Yr-DUHy1JnzIoPuDZ/s1600/Cebu+Pac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG0ciIvwHyWK4YtPe8BY-yoKU01MVT7RJ_fMG5tyHB5P3NwyZ_457G5Ck4Pc_ruwgceza28pno7BWRLENCn62Vp4B50WaU_z6k54IO0c0wXs1Qtku7tzAEpjUCz_Yr-DUHy1JnzIoPuDZ/s1600/Cebu+Pac.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036575312153047494.post-73594024168002884942014-02-27T11:57:00.000+08:002014-02-27T11:57:18.200+08:00The Casabangan Falls of Biliran<div style="text-align: justify;">
Biliran Island in Eastern Visayas is known for its many waterfalls. The last of the three waterfalls which we visited in November was Casabangan Falls in Brgy. Cabucgayan, Biliran. The falls we had earlier visited were <a href="http://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-tinago-falls-of-biliran-island.html">Tinago Falls</a> followed by <a href="http://travels-of-yah.blogspot.com/2014/01/chasing-casiawan-falls.html">Casiawan Falls</a>. </div>
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Unlike in Casiawan Falls where you have to descend first to get to the falls, in Casabangan, you have to ascend a very steep road. But our climb was made worthy by the view of the sea once we reached the top of the hill. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg83Eil6qfRumlVdxvxq8kiHcTXhZdgSNSeUbAwaqYWteoR9bO2DAF_mXDEq3kEaV5pfxxOwY0DE2sOSSsvwOkQ7joME-5xRvWT9s6dZfuXHGhiKa2peanNiMqvphn8ePQ6XayOoQzb9l/s1600/DSC06815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg83Eil6qfRumlVdxvxq8kiHcTXhZdgSNSeUbAwaqYWteoR9bO2DAF_mXDEq3kEaV5pfxxOwY0DE2sOSSsvwOkQ7joME-5xRvWT9s6dZfuXHGhiKa2peanNiMqvphn8ePQ6XayOoQzb9l/s1600/DSC06815.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a video of Casabangan Falls.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzL4EBT9IPV2eqlyI-InvLi0FEi1VzqxTmEwO8QBYAulucVoxaddmAENjHdKriEo17NoWUpASCLv6R3Zrj1hQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Marlene Legaspi-Munarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844221226331644178noreply@blogger.com0