A Detour in Antipolo, Rizal

The road to the unknown overwhelms my spirit and as the journey towards strange places continue,I couldn’t help but feel a little bit worried if I am indeed taking the right way to my destination. This journey to the unknown makes traveling a little exciting and I missed doing this for the longest time ever. I missed traveling solo.

May weekends should be a series of beach bumming and exploration but I finally decided to take a weekend off my regular trips and head to the mountains of Antipolo. This should be a back to back getaway but my body reminded me that I am still human and sometimes I need to take a break.

There you go, at 830 in the morning, I found myself walking towards FX Ride to Antipolo with my usual weekend self, backpack, camera and this time I carry something very essential for this trip. My journals :)

After roughly 45 minutes, I finally reached Antipolo City. According to the informative WIKI, it is a city in the Philippines located in the Province of Rizal; about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the largest city in the CALABARZON Region. It is also the seventh most populous city in the country. The city is popular for being a pilgrimage site. It prides itself as the "Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines." The Marian image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or the Virgin of Antipolo, which was brought in from Mexico in 1626, and enshrined in the Antipolo Cathedral has a continuous following among Filipino Catholics since the Spanish era. Said to be the patron saint for sailors and travelers. I didn’t know this until I landed here. So there, I am now aware whom to call and pray for each time I travel.

It was a fine and hot sunny Saturday in Antipolo and my first stop is of course, the Church. Just before I  entered, a lady approached me and gave me prayer leaflets and rosary in exchange for a donation. I brought them with me inside the church. I attended mass and took pictures after. As much as I would like to stay and take more images, the place is just too crowded and there’s an ongoing mass all throughout the day. So, maybe next time, I might get the chance to roam inside.

 

 

 

I hailed a tricycle going to my friend’s place. I was surprised that I have to pay Php 50.00, according to her it’s a special trip. yay! We went to her friend’s place and grab some lunch. We did a little chit chatting, recalling our childhood days and how we missed our beloved hometown.  So long my friend, till we meet again. It was nice seeing you and your kiddos.

 ‘

 

The Journey to the Prayer Mountains ===> An overnight encounter with Him

Technorati Tags: Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage,Virgin of Antipolo

Unspoiled Beauty of Perth Paradise Resort

Summer just started to kick off and what can be a better way to boost the season than to experience a relaxing and fascinating view of paradise. Perth Paradise Resort is one of the newest must visit resort in the southern part of Negros Occidental. A jeweled wonder that will make you unceasingly get fascinated with nature. Unspoiled, serene and simply charming place.

Sipalay City is known for white sand beaches and breath taking views of mountains meeting the seas. No wonder why Perth Paradise can be found here. It’s a mountain and beach resort in one. The cities of Bacolod and Dumaguete are gateways to Sipalay. It is 4 to 5 hours by bus and 3-hour drive by car from Bacolod (depending on your speed,hehehe! )

Heard about this charming place few months back and I wanted to see and experience it myself, so I grab the opportunity of spending a night in paradise. Perth Paradise Resort is located in Sitio Sambulawan, 15-20 minutes away from Sipalay City proper. If you’re taking the public transportation, just get down from the Bus Stop at the City market and hire a tricycle to take you to the resort. Since this is not yet fully developed you will pass by rocky roads so expect a bumpy trip. As they say, experiencing heavenly bliss will never be an easy ride.

According to the friendly owner (Kaycee) of Perth Paradise Resort, this was named after the Perth City in the Western part of Australia. They named it after the place because her father worked there for 5 years but passed away.

Here are the Rates from Perth Paradise Resort FACEBOOK PAGE

You will be greeted by the friendly staff of the resort upon arrival. I had a cabana reserved for this staycation. 

The Receiving Area / Restaurant

 

  

Our Home for the Day

Tired and exhausted from the long bus ride, we rested for few minutes before exploring the place. We were so excited to see the view on top where the infinity pool is located.

Stairway to the Infinity Pool (More Rooms Up There)

Airconditioned Room Facing the Pool

Cottages Available for Day Tours

 

Yes, the place is very relaxing and the view is truly breath taking.  Who wouldn't agree if you will greeted by this stunning islets view upon reaching the top.

 

 

The Bar on top Beside the Pool

 

I just find it weird that when we arrived, we waited for this bar to open. Roughly three hours of waiting for nothing. We just grab dinner instead and doze off. The place is just so peaceful that if you wanted to have the luxury of rest and unwinding, you will definitely be rewarded in here.

Good Morning Sipalay City

Yes, recharged and excited, we found ourselves getting a splash as early as 6 in the morning. We had this entire pool ourselves because the other guests are still sleeping from last nights partying I guess.

After an hour of playing in the water and of course taking pictures, we had breakfast at their restaurant. Cholo and Tin got Baconsilog while I got Longsilog paired with Hot Native Coffee. Price is just right for the generous serving. The restaurant serves from 7 AM to 7 PM.

 

 

 

After feeding our hungry selves, its time for another  adventure. We rented a bamboo raft to cruise the water. Let’s explore the surrounding islets in a different way, a more challenging one. Packed with excitement and confidence, we started pushing the raft towards the open water. It’s a bit tricky though coz the winds are blowing us opposite to where we should be heading but it was fun.

 

Push lang nang Push Tin and Cholo :)

 

Reaching the middle part is an achievement and of course another perfect place to take a splash of salty water and some Photo Ops. The islands we’re seeing afar is now within reach :)

 

 

There’s actually an easier way to cruise the water, have it pulled by a jetski! nyahahah! When we returned to the docking area i suggested the staff to have a Kayak or a smaller raft for a more enjoyable tour :) I can imagine how great this place could be when it’s fully developed.

Damage Report for this Overnight Stay

Items	Cost
Cabana	Php  1,000.00
Food/Drinks and Snacks	Php  1,000.00
Tricycle Fee (RT)	Php    400.00
Extra Pillow	Php     50.00
Raft Rental (Unlimited Use)	Php    500.00
Total	Php  2,950.00 / 3 =  Php 983.00

Fare from Bacolod City to Sipalay City as of April 14, 2014 is Php 187.00

It was a short stay in the resort but I went home happy. Made great memories with two wonderful friends and at the same time reconnected with nature. Truly an unspoiled beauty slowly unfolding its grandeur to charm its visitors, no wonder it’s called Perth Paradise Resort.

Technorati Tags: Perth Paradise Resort,Sipalay City

Recognizing China’s Treasures and Contribution to the Modern World

Speaking of ancient civilization, China has numerous legacies like their famous Forbidden City, Great Wall, abacus, porcelain and dynasties. Here are some of them:

SANXINGDUI BRONZE HEAD

Believed to be used in ancient ceremonies that dates back 12th century BCE, this bronze head were found in a place called Sangxidui, a buried place assumed to be an ancient Chinese City now known as Suchuan, China

 

TERRACOTA SCULPTURE

This is a sculpture that is dried in the sun after being formed then it was placed in the ashes of open hearths to harden. IT was classed as a ceramic material after being fired to high temperature

 

ABACUS

These are bamboo frames with beads sliding on wires. It is a calculating tool used primarily in many parts of Asia, especially in China. The abacus was in use centuries before the adoption of the written modern numeral system and is still widely used by merchants, traders and clerks elsewhere

 

GUAN GONG

He is one of the famous Chinese generals during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China (206 BC – 220 BC). He was always carrying one Guan Dao sword. He played significant role of establishing the Kingdom of Shu. He is respected as the epitome of loyalty, moral qualities and righteousness. Guan Gong is being worshipped by Chinese people from the time of his death until today

 

 ANCIENT CHINESE SWORD

The king of weapon in ancient China, not only was this sword used for a very long time, it was also one of the greatest masterpieces of Chinese craftsmanship. This was used by the cavalry and the infantry, irrespective of the functions that the regiment performed

 

BRONZE DING VESSEL

It is an ancient Chinese vessel shape, a large metal pot with legs a lid and two facing handles. These were used for cooking, storage and preparation for ritual offerings to ancestors. Production can be traced back as early as the 18th century BCE

 

ANCIENT CHINA BRONZE ELEPHANT CARVING CAULDRON RELIC

This was used as a cooking artifact, it was made during middle late Zhou Dynasty 850 BCE. This Ancient Chinese relic is 12 cm high and 11 cm in diameter

 

CHINESE PORCELAIN

These are plates, bowls, jars made of ceramics produced by heating materials like clay in the form of Kaolin, a mixture of clay minerals and chemical compositions formulated by the Chinese since 1,600 BCE. As early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), porcelain was already being exported to different parts of the world

 

GLAZED POTTERY VESSEL

Pottery is made by forming a clay body into objects of a required shape and heating them to high temperatures that changes their share. Glaze is a glassy coating on pottery, the primary purposes of which are decoration and protections. Glazing potteries in China started as early as the 600 CE

TERRACOTTA WARRIOR

A collection of Terracotta Sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210-209 BCE and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The figures were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Shaanxi Province.  Current estimates were over 8,000 soldiers majority of which are still buried in the pits near Gin Shi Huangs’s Mausoleum. Terracota is made of clay ceramics

 

CHINESE TEMPLE

A Chinese temple is a worship place of the Chinese folk religion/Shenism, where people revere ethnic Chinese gods and ancestors.

 

CHINA RICKSHAW

It is a light, two-wheeled cart consisting of a door-less, chair-like body, mounted on springs with a collapsible hood and two shafts; it was drawn by a single rickshaw runner. Although believed to have originated in Japan, it became a very popular transportation in China. It was first seen in 1886 and was used for public transportation. Rickshaw transportation was an important element in urban development in 20th century China, as a mode of transportation, source of employment and facilitation of migration for workers

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

It is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike people or forces

Despite its being one of the four greatest ancient civilizations, the Chinese had a slower progress than any other. They have made countless contributions to the world including paper money, porcelain, noodles and other things that are part of our lives today. There were also many great works of architecture,such as,  The Great Wall of China.

Chinese is the only of the four greatest ancient civilizations that managed to survive and have lasted into modern times. The present-day China is the continuation of that evolution. We, as Filipino’s have been greatly influenced by China and even embracing their cultures and traditions.