Jungle River Cruise

Probably the most exciting ride in Hong Kong Disneyland is the Jungle River Cruise. You will be taken on a guided boat cruise around the man-made lake where lots mechanized and life-like animals can be found from elephants to alligators and even piranhas. Also exciting are the views that includes waterfalls, lost civilization, amazons and fire-spewing volcanoes.

Victoria Harbour @ Hong Kong

In my three-day stay in Hong Kong, I never saw the sun. The morning sky up to the late afternoon sky are all the same - hazy. During this time of the year, Hong Kong's weather is just that. Smogs and rains. And during those few times that it wasn't raining, I went to Victoria Harbour which is just a half-hour walk from the hotel I was staying.

Hong Kong's Teddy Bear Expo

They are cute, cuddly and many times better than your boyfriend. Teddy Bears has been there for more than a century. There are numerous stories on how they started but the most famous one is that it was named after US President Theodore Roosevelt who have ordered the mercy killing of a young bear which was wounded in the hunt.

Once Imeldific

Oh No! If you are looking for Imelda's world-famous shoe collection, this post has nothing to show about it. Instead, this post is about a place built for Leyte's favorite daughter and how ostentatiously extravagant this place once were.

The Santo Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum was once the residence of Philippine's First Family in Tacloban City Leyte. It has a chapel in the first floor with various themed room on the upper corridors while the second floor serve as the residence of Imelda Marcos, her husband and her children.

Imelda, during her time, received a lot of gift and some of these gifts where displayed here from jade sculptures to antique vases and jars. And as you wander around the place, you will be awed with the details of every corner and every room of the place.

Here are some photos I have taken of the place.

Beautifully Sculptured Door in Entrance

Church Altar

Altar Made-Up of Native Materials

Tiled Painting of Jesus

A Large Painting of Imelda on the Dance Hall

One of the Many Wooden Sculptures

Every Room shows a Diorama of Imelda doing an act of kindness.

One of the Many Salas

Sleep Like a Queen

Sadly, the place now needs renovations. There are broken roofs, walls and ceilings all around specially outside. There are also evidence of looted articles and the guide even told us that there used to be fine collections of paintings and jewelries and furnitures in the place but these are looted or taken away by past administrators of the place when the Marcoses were ousted.

At present, the Museum is under the protection of PCGG and you have to pay a minimum entrance fee for the maintenance of the facilities.

Tacloban City Landmarks

Tacloban City is a premier city in Eastern Visayas and boasts of historical destinations that served as backdrops in the struggle to regain Philippine independence. And when you talk of Tacloban, what comes to mind are the Statue of Gen. Mac Arthur, which you may have seen in various postcards and magazines, and the San Juanico Bridge.

I have featured the former in my previous post and I will feature the latter on my next post but for now, let me share to you images taken from various landmarks in Tacloban City.

You can complete roaming around the city in just a couple of hours. The City Tourism council has an Icot-icot Tour which will take you to various historical and religious places that the City offers. Alternatively, you can just hire a tricycle (like what I did) and the driver there will double as your tour guide. Be sure though that you have gotten a Guidebook from the Airport or the Tourism Office so that you won't miss out on anything.

So, here are some shots I have taken while exploring Tacloban City:

Sto. Nino Church

Leyte Provincial Capitol Facade

Leyte Provincial Capitol - A Neo-Classical Building

Tacloban City Hall

Park of Steps and Palms leading to City Hall

President Osmena Residence

Madonna of Japan

Map of Leyte @ Kanruhaw Hills

San Juanico Bridge on my next post...

Better Leyte Than Never

HAPPY 111th INDEPENDENCE DAY MY DEAR PHILIPPINES!!!

I know, this is a late post for this should have been posted June 12th. But the slightly extended Puerto Galera Series is the culprit here. Not that I am complaining, I mean I love that Series and I do hope that you will enjoy this Leyte Series too starting with one of the famous Landmark of the Place - The Douglas Mc Arthur Landing Memorial at Red Beach in Palo, Leyte.

He Returned

Filipinos and Americans share great history together. They are allies in the World War and historical markers and tributes are plenty in the Philippines commemorating the heroism of both Filipino and American soldiers during the war.

One of the most famous marker found in Leyte is the Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur Landing Memorial Park. Located along the Red Beach and within a man-made lagoon stands the larger-than-life statues of the liberators led by Gen. Mac Arthur. He promised to return... and he did just that.

Commemorative Markers

The Mac Arthur Landing Memorial was built to commemorate the historic return of Gen. Mac Arthur on Philippine shores on October 20, 1944. It was declared a national historical land mark in 2004.

And while on the area, one should not miss enjoying the scenic beauty of Red Beach. Although this ain't your typical white sand, beach-combers still enjoy the beach because of its fine sand and shallow shore. Enjoy these pics:

Red Boat @ The Red Beach

Red Beach : To The Right

Red Beach : To The Left

After the historical and visual treat, it is time for something to satisfy your palate. When Estan Cabigas of Langyaw learned that I was going to Leyte he texted me to not forget to try Leyte's Binagol and Moron. So I did just that.

Binagol is made from Taro mixed with eggs, butter, coconut milk, sugar and nuts. It is packaged in a coconut shell, called bagol, thus the name Binagol. Moron, on the other hand, is made from glutinous rice mixed with sugar and chocolate and wrapped in banana leaves. Both are perfect for snacks or desert:

Binagol

Chocolate Moron

Smile

I would like to share this to all my friends at My World. To see other amazing photos and the blogger who shared them, please click here.

More photos and stories from Leyte on my next posts...

White Beach @ Puerto Galera

For weekend travelers and beach-goers, there is only one destination in Puerto Galera, and that is the White Beach. In fact, most visitors refer to White Beach as Puerto Galera not knowing that the island has much more to offer. I have featured those not-so-often visited beaches and places in Puerto Galera in my previous post and decided to end the series with a post on the island's most famous destination.

Bulabod Beach @ Puerto Galera

Secluded. If there is one word that amply describes this beach in Puerto Galera, "secluded" is the perfect word. Located in Dulangan Village, about 500 meters away from the road to Calapan, Bulabod Beach is an ideal hide-away where lovers can have the place for themselves and commune with mother nature.

Three West End Beaches of Puerto Galera

To continue with the Puerto Galera series, let me bring you three connecting beaches located in the west portion of the island. The Sabang, Small Lalaguna and Big Lalaguna Beaches:

SABANG BEACH

Sabang is famous for its girls. It is considered the red-light district of Puerto Galera. It is a highly-developed area with nearly all sorts of facilities sprung-up around the village.

Sunset...

Sunset is parting. It is the time when the sun says goodbye and darkness envelopes the sky. Parting... such a lonely word but really, everyone have to go through this pace in one way or the other.

We all wish for a perfect sunset but most of the times, we do not get what we wish for. No... I am not ok but at least I am trying. Thank You everyone for your words of encouragement and let these words guide me through one of the most difficult sunsets of my life.

"we're all on a quest to find what makes us happy..." - luna miranda

SILENCE NO MORE...

I just have to let it out. Nobody has the right to treat somebody like dirt. I resigned from one of my jobs but it was ugly. They accused me of being ungrateful and manipulative. But what can I do? I am no longer happy working for something that does not interest me. I don't think ill of others but I just pray to God to let them feel what they made me felt.

Talipanan Beach @ Puerto Galera

June ushers the start of the school year and unfortunately for travelers and island-lovers, it is also the start of the rainy season. But this blog is not about to bring out the raincoats and the umbrellas just yet because there are few more beaches from Puerto Galera in store for you - and one of them is Talipanan Beach.