"Our city is a picture of dynamism and progress. It is a city where the link to the past harmoniously merges with the development of the future. Its well preserved ancestral houses, collection of steam locomotives, rich cultural heritage, flavorful hometown delicacies, untamed forest and resolute people complement its thrust to become a leading winner destination in the region," said Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano in his welcome address to tourists and patrons who wished to get a closer glimpse of Silay City’s beauty through the city’s official website.  True enough, whenever you are within the city, you can simply visit some of the famous clans’ ancestral homes, its historically famous San Diego Pro-Cathedral (the city’s parish church), and I even saw and read its published book entitled, "Silay City, The Sweet Life," Continue Reading »

Located at Bratlie Place, Ngatea 3503, New Zealand.  Ngatea Water Gardens are an unexpected treat for travellers passing through Ngatea on State Highway 2. Situated only 1 hour from Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Coromandel, they are also a fun day trip destination; and the perfect wedding venue.

Ngatea Water Gardens are privately owned and operated by Roger and Emma Blake. They designed and built the gardens, ommencing development in 1995. Roger, a mechanical engineer, (now gardener) has displayed his engineering skills throughout the gardens, transforming a flat paddock into a contoured array of ponds, paths, bridges and structures.

The gardens constitute a 5-acre property has Continue Reading »

The town of Paeroa is "World Famous in New Zealand" as home of the unique soft drink L&P (Lemon & Paeroa). The town’s giant L&P bottle is a quirky attraction.  When you happen to pass by this town, you would notice the very large bottle at the eastern end of the main street which has plaques that explain the evolution of the drink. You can drop by into any of the main street food outlets to purchase a bottle, sort of like your drinkable souvenir. Continue Reading »

Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano, situated at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It is 23 kilometres northeast of the town of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo.  When you are in Taupo Town Center, you would need at least an hour to reach the mount so I suggest you stuff your tummy well while Continue Reading »

 Northland.  One of the two islands in New Zealand.  I happen to have stayed at Thames which is in Northland and that explains why my travel posts related to New Zealand are mainly in the northland region.

Welcome to Hobbiton. Yes, just what the signboard on the main road says.

Last night on our way home to Thames and when wepassed through Matamata, a creature welcomed us there.  I had myself acquainted with the ever famous Gollum and nope, I was not scared of him at all. Continue Reading »

Auckland perhaps is one of the famous tourist destinations in New Zealand.  I often heard friends or acquaintances ask each other if they had visited Auckland since they set foot on New Zealand.  It’s probably a must to go there and so I did.

On September 2^nd 2010, my sister, her husband and their baby Alex went to Auckland.  Luckily, they tagged me along with them.  Our first stop was the Corn Wall Park and then we went to a stop at One Tree Hill.  For our third stop we went to Auckland Business District.  Our fourth stop was to The Sky City Tower in Auckland City.  This was not my first time to go to Auckland but it was my first time to really get a closer glimpse of its beauty per stop that we took.  Finally, we went to Sylvia Park to feed our starving tummies. Continue Reading »

Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in Maori) City is the largest inland city in New Zealand.  It is situated on the banks of the Waikato River within the Waikato region of the North Island which is approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Auckland.  Its entertainment area is quite vibrant due to the large student population and because its population is growing, traffic congestion is increasing as well.

Waiomu Domain is about 10-minute drive away from Thames.  I went there along with my sister and her husband on one freezing but still fine sunday morning, just after we have attended our sunday mass.

Serenity abounded the whole bay area – with hues of green, blue, brown, white and gray being painted all over.  I saw couples who jogged with their pets at the sandy beaches of Waiomu.  Some even came there with their kids for their regular family-day.  Continue Reading »

Thames was once a wild colonial gold rush town but which is today considered as the largest commercial center in the Coromandel Peninsula. 

I could fairly say that Thames is really an ideal place during holidays because visitors from across the globe have a variety of options from all types of accommodation and places to stay at very reasonable rental fees plus an enjoyable cold breeze, wonderful really.  Take a look at the following pictures of the houses found within the area of Thames: Continue Reading »

How many among us are frequently visiting our public libraries?  Or rather, let me simplify my question: How many books have we read out of mere passion in reading them and not just because we were required to read them, either academically or professionally speaking?

When I was a child, I was never fond of reading books.  In fact I think I hated them.  I just didn’t have the patience to read them. Even my books related to my studies, I seldom read them.  I was never a bookworm – the term which I believe refered to a person who reads all types of books, sort of a general information. Continue Reading »

Great food, wonderful places, lovely people and soothing comfort — all these are what the passengers are expecting throughout every flight especially by travel-lovers.

It was my first "real" international flight with another airline and outside of Asia – and I could say that I had the smoothest and sweetest flight ever, lol!  I give credit to RBA - Royal Brunei Airlines – for treating me as one of their VIP passengers.  It felt great being considered as a boss and a foreigner in an airline.

For this particular post, I’d like to give emphasis on the meals courteously provided to me by RBA.

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My family used to go to this place when I was growing up.  We held most of our outdoorsy family reunions and celebrations at the resorts.  I even held my 18th birthday celebrations there wherein my immediate family and friends enjoined.  Affordable, accessible, fresh cool air and nature-friendly – just what our family wanted and needed.  What’s even great with Mambukal was that we got the opportunity to do hiking and trekking through its seven waterfalls and seeing its hot sulfur springs . . . oh my, what a lovely experience, worth cherishing!!  The last time I went there was perhaps a decade ago and I kind of missed the place.  Since then,I got so busy and preoccupied that I never got the time to revisit the area, although I heard from the news in print and seen in television, that the place had underwent a massive renovation with the inclusion of installed cables for heights-jumping and rides in the hope that that Mambukal would attract more visitors and tourists to help augment the town’s financial source of income. Continue Reading »

The city of Smiles, The Cleanest and Greenest City, the Most Livable City, the Sugarbowl of the Philippines.  Bacolod City is of many names.  As a Bacolodnon or Bacoleño,  I am really proud to have been born and to have belonged to this city.  I have been to many places, cities and different countries but I keep coming back to this city.  Here, I am at ease, I feel comfortable with the environment and everything is almost accessible.  This is my home.  I can stay and work outside of this city for obvious reasons but when I retire, I really hope to get settled here.  I love this city regardless of the political issues at times, all cities experience that anyway. Continue Reading »

20th day of June 2010, my friend Audrey tagged me along with her to celebrate among the locals of Murcia, Negros Occidental, their 14th Annual Mudpack Festival which was held at Mambukal Resorts.

All of the six participating tribes in the interpretative dance competition reflected this year’s theme which was, ‘Clean Water for a Healthy World.’  Their performances relayed the same message to the audience - we must learn to take action in maintaining and keeping our waters clean in order to let our future generations enjoy a healthy place to live in. Continue Reading »

The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad

Excerpts from the website:

http://exchanges.state.gov/cultural/rhythm.html

"Rhythm Road artists are the new generation of musical ambassadors, reaching beyond concert halls to interact with other musicians and the general public. Their direct engagement with foreign audiences via workshops, master classes and jam sessions presents a positive image of the U.S. and provides a greater understanding of our society. The U.S. artists themselves deepen their knowledge of other cultures, enhance their creativity, and feel the pride of representing their country.

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I thank my friend, Audrey Rose , who got me hooked up into blogging.  She showed me how to do it.  I never realized I have the inclination until I got a first-hand glimpse of it.  With just a few taps on my keyboard soon, I discovered my own little world through it.

Thinking of what to blog, which picture to post, how to relay the messages in written form.  Man, I never thought blogging would be this much of  a fun and not to mention so much challenging!  Oh, and reading comments from various readers also made my heart felt so stuffed.  The experience was really amazing!
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Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) Bangkok, Thailand

I would like to share with you about my trip to Wat Arun and what I have learned about it.

I went to visit Wat Arun, otherwise known as Temple of Dawn, in the company of my sister and one of her generous and courteous students who gave us a tour around the temple’s vicinity. Upon arrival at the site, we right away noticed that the temple of dawn consists of a massive elongated prang (technically known as Khmer-style tower) and which is even surrounded by four smaller prangs. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, this massive elongated prang stands as high as 104 meters. The said prang is decorated by bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China, which embarks the reign of RAMA III.

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO MY MOTHER! MAY YOU HAVE ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE!!