Here’s a quickie post. More like a vid-blog or whatever it’s called 🙂
http://instagram.com/p/gpAwYiA5UD/
Category: Travel, travels
Just 42 kilometers and an hour’s drive from Bacolod City is Negros’ very own “Little Baguio” with its cool breeze, mountain vistas and all that space. Don Salvador Benedicto used to be a little-known municipality named to honor a fellow Negrense who was once Vice Governor of the province of Negros Occidental. At 2,495 feet above sea level, this municipality boasts of a lovely mountain range marked by occasional waterfalls. Such unspoilt beauty found in the hinterlands comprising the province’s Northern Territory.
- Don Salvador Benedicto. DSB for short. The Summer Capital of. Negros Occidental. In my book, much more than a “Little Baguio”.
- Malatan-Og Falls viewed from the Lantawan Viewing Deck in DSB.
Malatan-Og Falls in DSB deserves a closer look. Handicapped with kids in tow, we contented ourselves with a distant view of this natural beauty. Thin as a cigarette from afar, DSB has erected a viewing deck —- appropriately called “Lantawan” which literally means “to see or view” —- for visitors eager to see the Falls. I wouldn’t be surprised to find this same area developed as picnic grounds in the future. Come to think of it though, the entire DSB area may well be your own picnic and camping grounds!
- Before long, this Lantawan View Deck will likely transform itself into a picnic ground for visitors.
- ALICIA FARMS. A jewel of a place in DSB.
Nestled in the bosom of Don Salavador Benedicto (DSB) is a leisure place called ALICIA FARMS. Play with the resident horse called George, run around with the friendly children of farm hands and their dogs, pick some flowers, set up a hammock between trees, meditate while viewing Mt. Kanlaon and the rest of the mountain range, or set up your tents while lunch or dinner is cooking.
- Meet GEORGE, the resident horse.
- Your kind of place? Just viewing this photo calms my nerves.
Amidst the empty space stands a hut hemmed in by rows of flowers in vibrant hues. I can only imagine how this place would look like once carpeted with many blooms guarded by trees offering shade. Pitch your tents here, fellas. And savor the silence, stillness, freshness of beauty around you. Soothing to your nerves impaired by the chaos of city living . . . . Definitely good for the soul.
- Pitch a tent. Hang your hammocks. Or just put up your legs, read a book or meditate.
- Local flowers carpet the grounds around the hut.
Once you’ve fed your soul …….then it’s time to feed your bellies. All that running around with George and the resident dog (what’s his name?) revs up one’s appetite. Next time I visit, I’d bring a bike and ride out those slopes! or maybe not. The flowers are enough to keep me busy. KARI NA SA ALICIA FARMS. 😉
- Lunch is served here!
- And that’s the barbecue pit. Think CHICKEN INASAL! ! !
- Back to smelling the flowers……
I earlier planned to throw a big party but at the last minute decided against it. I’m NOT really into parties, anyway. Perhaps I should do that when I turn 65 instead. I would have more wrinkles then, and my double chin and jowl may be more pronounced. Or the big party can wait till I turn a full 70. Then, I’d give a really LONG speech. By that time, not too many would be willing to listen to an old hag so i’d make them suffer! All in good humor, folks. Honestly? I’m thankful — and proud — to turn 60. Forever 60 you say? Well, why not?
At my age, I’m allowing more spontaneity, more randomness, more “irresponsibility” into my life. Like when we went on a roadtrip with kids with no hotel reservations. Or when I hopped on the next train in Atocha Station in Madrid just to go somewhere out of the capital. Or riding a horse, trekking 800 steps to an isolated Bhutanese monastery in 9 degrees celsius, or spelunking in Sagada with a guide who would have carried me if he could, rather than wait every time I stopped for oxygen breaks. Heck, I’m having fun!
Yet I can’t help working on a travel bucket list. There are plenty of new places I long to visit, and just as many to revisit. And the list keeps getting longer. Maybe I need another lifetime to do all. Hopefully more trips with family and friends. Now, let’s hope those walking legs would hold 😉
My Bucket List
Macchu Picchu + Iguassu
Santiago de Compostela+San Sebastian
Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana
Uganda (mountain gorillas?)
Finland (Aurora Borealis)
New Zealand
Myanmar
India
Luang Prabang, Laos
Hanoi and HaLong Bay
Budapest+Slovenia+Dubronik, Croatia
New York+Niagara
Tibet. Guilin. 3Gorges.
Canada
Galapagos
Iceland
Greenland
It’s rare that I travel without any plan. But that’s what I just did. As soon as I heard my eldest sister needed surgery, I flew to Sydney as fast as I could. The first 2 weeks involved pre-surgery medical procedures. The 3rd week meant life in St. George Private Hospital in Kogarah where my sister had her surgery and subsequent recovery. Thereafter, we waited nearly 2 weeks for the pathology results. It was quite an ordeal but by the 5th week, we were celebrating! All throughout, the family stayed tight and kept faith. We celebrated “being family” as we made excursions to heritage towns and beach spots, visited Abbeys and churches, watched movies, packed picnic baskets, walked through some parks, dined out and in my last week before going home to Manila, partied like crazy. In the midst of adversity, we managed many family outings. This is our story.
DAY TRIPS OUT OF SYDNEY
The Benedictine Abbey in Jamberoo
A Rizal Park In A Sydney Suburb?
Off To CANBERRA’s Cockington Gardens
IN AND AROUND THE CITY (SYDNEY)
Hyde Park, St. Mary’s Cathedral, The Domain, Bondi & Coogee Beaches, Circular Quay, Etc
We’re FAMILY!
No travel plans, really. I came for personal reasons and for my OZ family. Specifically for my older sister who fell ill. Last time I visited was back in 2004. Yes, a long time. I grew complacent as it was always THEM visiting me, rather than me visiting them.
Gratitude is the memory of the heart.
(An afternoon in Mt. Annan Botanical Garden)
One overseas call and I dropped everything to secure that OZ visa and get on a flight to Sydney. Took a while and it felt like decades just waiting. Just when the visa was issued, the weekend flights were all fully booked…. except for one. I got the last seat on Qantas for a direct flight. Just in time to be around for the pre-operation medical procedures, the surgery and hospital stay, and another “decade” waiting for the pathology results. All of 4 weeks in Sydney and we finally heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Lissa and Levy are 2 years apart. I was the “baby” in the family.
Three Sisters. Two Survivors. We terribly miss our middle sister — the talented one in the kitchen who baked breads, muffins, blueberry cheese cakes, strawberry tortes and the finest-tasting sans rival cakes and other pastries. She was only 37. Levy and I took turns at the hospital watching over her. It’s been 30 years since. All 3 of us must have inherited the dreaded C disease from Mama who passed on at age 55. Papa joined Mama in 1991, some 22 years back. Levy and I — 9 years apart — survived. But we were continents apart, and Ate (older sister) Levy has yet to fully embrace this internet technology. [Once she called me and forgot to turn off her mobile. Her bill could have covered nearly half of my airfare!) 🙂
Mama with Ate Levy and Me in Baguio City back in the 60’s.
Family and friends prayed and prayed real hard. We lived from day to day until Week 4 when we received the good news that Ate Levy beat the odds. To amuse ourselves and keep us off the worries, we made family trips here and there. Ate Levy’s children took turns taking leaves from work to drive us around. I only managed ONE DAY with college friends who came by and took me off on a day out to Berrima — a wonderful break from family duties. (Thank you Lin and MA) My other friends based here and around do understand I simply wanted to be around my sister and family. Others I decidedly didn’t get in contact with as I realized it’s not a good time for “first meet-ups” (my apologies, my TravelBlogger friends). It’s just ME —- eager to make up for lost time with my OZ family. Besides, I was just too busy keeping the worries at bay. 😦
The “kids” posing in front of the ancestral house, with their grandfather’s namesign behind. Once I heard my grandnephew Xion say … “We’re cousins. We should love each other.” Makes me proud these babies are being raised as good kids as these nephews and nieces are.
But winter’s over. And that’s true literally and figuratively. At the beginning of spring and on my fifth week in Sydney, we made so many unplanned day trips. Our hearts overflowed with joy and gratitude. The first trip — from the surgeon’s clinic to the first church we passed — was most significant. Like we remembered every single step towards the church smiling ear to ear, not even missing each melodious note from street buskers nor the aroma of food delicacies from a neighborhood Filipino store. God in His mercy blessed us with a good sense of humour to survive adversities, a grateful heart for Him and the many prayer warriors, a keen sense of family and unity, and above all, a strong faith that our “winter” will soon be over.
Rookie took many of these shots in Mt. Annan Botanical Garden. Flowers abloom to welcome spring. In our hearts, it was all time-spring.
In our trying times, my sister and I nearly forgot the children have grown. THEY took over. And I’m mighty proud of them all. I have no doubt our grandchildren will all grow up as responsible adults. Like their moms and dads. Knowing that, I don’t mind growing old to welcome more “springs”…….
Here’s an amateur’s video of “Levy Beating The Odds”
http://youtu.be/ASHK8WmpOd8
MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT. Thank you so much for all the prayers.
Sydney is NOT the capital of Australia. Canberra is. Rather, Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales. And it is a most charming state capital. Earlier, I didn’t think much of Sydney. While I love the harbour bridge, opera house and adore Darling Harbour, it ended there. This recent trip of mine changed all that.
The Iconic Sydney Opera House
View of Sydney Olympic Park while having breakfast in “Lilies On The Park”.
This old hag from the Tropics arrived in the dead of a mild winter. Mild, for them. And I came NOT as a tourist but for very personal reasons. All of 6 weeks without stepping foot outside of the state of New South Wales. I wasn’t keen to “tour” around, having visited twice before, and really, not having much by way of expectations. But the family decided for me. After all, we needed the “break”, and we wanted to feel “family”.
Kid-friendly. Seniors-friendly. Lake Belvedere in Sydney Olympic Park.
Finally. BONDI BEACH!
The last 2 trips, I have not visited Bondi Beach. Many friends asked why I missed it, and I grew tired saying there wasn’t time nor a chance. Next time I was asked, I decided to simply lie. And so my family thought it’s about time I come “clean” and finally dig my toes into Bondi sands. Winter or not! Luckily, we had a sunny break and Bondi Beach was teeming with wakeboarders and swimmers in scuba outfits. So, this is Bondi! Frankly, I prefer the more relaxed vibes in Manly Beach, Watsons Bay and Coogee Beach. But that’s just my opinion.
The 9 km walk along the coast. Manly Beach.
Coogee Beach. Lovely. Even with planes hovering above…
Once, I was given some “me” time when I met up with my niece in Hyde Park. I decided to go a couple of hours early. Enough time to round up the park and the gardens before visiting St. Mary’s Cathedral where a Filipino priest said Mass. It was tempting to just stay inside the Church given that cold afternoon. Determined not to “waste” the opportunity, I walked till I grew tired and cold. This stab at solitude was most comforting, if you ask me. Plus it allowed me to see and appreciate Sydney in a different perspective. This country puts a lot of importance on quality living considering its many parks, gardens and safe beaches. Whenever I find filtered water stations, clean toilets and train stations, safe beaches and jetties, I gain a newfound respect for Australia. What clinched it for me was really the fact that I felt safe and undisturbed while enjoying my “me” time. Something I failed to do in other cosmopolitan cities elsewhere in the world. (Read: no touts selling their wares, no beggars or bums asking for a cigarette stick, no pushing crowds).
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Hyde Park.
The only things that broke my “temporary break from society” were those magpies swooping down as if to hit them dumb ones like moí. I took cover in the shaded areas of the park and royal gardens and then sought comfort in one park corner watching chess played out in a giant board. I found this gem right beside the Saint James Station.
Doesn’t look like winter, right?
The Domain. Be warned. It can be a long walk!
When the magpies took leave, I started walking again towards the church. Right outside were a bride and groom likely doing their pre-nuptial shots. Garbed in their wedding outfits, it looked kind of odd to watch them reviewing their shots. Leaving the odd couple, I walked towards the square fronting the church (or is that the back?) and headed back towards Hyde Park. There I waited till my niece arrived. Thankfully, in time before i started freezing. 😉
Shall i call this the Church Plaza? Or Church Square?
I didn’t mean for this photo to come out this way. Seriously. 😉
It’s the kind of miniature park that will certainly amuse children who’d likely experience their first “trip around the world” here in Cockington Green Gardens. Interestingly, most of the visitors are adults who were all fascinated with the gardens and the fine details of the architecture and landscaping displayed here.
The original section displays Old English architecture and heritage sites in England. Prominently displayed is the old Cockington Village after which this garden was named. Complete with a miniature train which whizzes past all these miniature cottages and mansions as well as popular sites in Great Britain, I was just a tad disappointed not to find a miniature Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Bridge or Tower of London. Yeah, that would have been nice. 🙂
Complementing the original section is an International Section featuring popular sites in many countries in Europe, South America, Asia and Middle East. It is tempting to draw up a bucket list of must-visit destinations here. Miniature parks allow us to see the “big picture”. Ironic, I know. But we do tend to miss many details when confronted with the actual site. Like, Masada in Israel is featured here in its entirety and full glory. Not the ruins I witnessed back in 1996 when I visited the Holy Land. Borobudur at 100% viewing may not offer the lovely details one appreciates while rounding up the temple, but you see it here in a different perspective and newfound appreciation.
Such craftmanship displayed here! Patience and attention to details definitely abound in these creations. Plus the gardens are maintained truly well. Kid-safe too, methinks. Just as we were about to leave, we found a miniature Toragan representing our island nation. Toragan is a Maranao ancestral house where the village chief (called sultan or datu) resides. This architecture is distinctive because of the protruding butterfly-like beams in front of the house. Found in Southern Philippines where many Filipino-Muslims live, these stilted houses bear folk art paintings on its beams. Very, very ethnic. [ I just noticed the Philippine flag here is upside down, with the red above the blue, signifying war. What gives? ]
Today’s one afternoon that’s all ours. No worries. No rush. No serious discussion. We’ve had one too many in the preceding 4 weeks. The gardens and ponds are waiting for us. Today. The empty benches beckon. The ground is carpeted with blooms, signalling the onset of spring. We peeled ourselves off the thicker jackets and got ready for a “walk in the park”.
We have passed this Park many times on our way to my nephew’s house. All of 416 hectares between Camden and Campbelltown. Because it is too near, there was no interest to drop in in this botanical garden claimed to be the largest in Australia! But today is a special day. My bags are packed, nearly all clothes laundered clean and stuffed into a suitcase, ready for my imminent departure. I’m down to my last pair of pants and jacket, along with my pair of boots that will all stay here and wait for my next visit. We all wanted to take a leisurely stroll with the kids, even spend some time in the playground, hike up a small hill, sit by the bench near the pond. Act like a family 😉
It would be nice to have a LONG walk here next time. Or maybe, given its size, biking is the better option. I haven’t biked in decades but I’m confident I can still do this. I should plan my next visit here real well. Maybe bring a picnic lunch. There are picnic tables and benches by the pond. Yes, that should make for a lovely afternoon.
What a relaxing afternoon for us all. A prelude to last-minute repacking and a long flight home. Say hello to Spring. Bye, Winter.
lifeisacelebration 