Travelling 2012: Five Epic Adventures

This would be the annual year-end post of past travels in the previous year. If the theme last 2011 was arranged chronologically, this time, it is presented in my five most epic adventures for 2012.

 

5. Cebu City, Cebu

I did not make a post about this because I got sick during and after the trip. It was my worst colds episode for the year, but the travel was great nonetheless. That made it epic.

 

The Province of Cebu

Getting to the oldest city in the Philippines is very easy. Just book your flights on any of the popular air lines going there, or travel by ferry boat. One cheap place to stay there is the Honeybee Royal Inn, located near the University of San Carlos.

 

Places to see include the site where Magellan planted a wooden cross, signaling the birth of Roman Catholocism in the Philippines, as well as Fort San Pedro, a small triangular fort, with a museum of Spanish photos and artifacts.

 

 

 

 

4. National Museum of the Philippines

When traveling elsewhere, I never fail to visit museums. These are sites where you would see glimpses about a particular place in a historical and physical manner. It enables you to become familiar about the place you are visiting, thus you are not just saying ‘hi’, but also engaging in a conversation to know more about the area.

 

Our national museum is located in Manila, near Intramuros / Luneta Park. From EDSA, you should be at the LRT 1 (yellow line) EDSA station, and alight at the United Nations station. Ask a security guard, or anyone you feel could be asked for directions, for the way to the National Museum. It takes a 10 to 15-minute walk from UN-LRT1 station to the National Museum. The epic factor for me was, ‘wow! i’m finally here at our national museum!’ :p

 

It is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free admission on Sundays, but on regular days; P150 for adults, P120 for senior citizens (and I think for persons with disabilities), and P50 for students.

This is unique and the only intact anthropomorphic burial jar with two arms, nipples, navel and male sex organ on the body that is found in an archaeological context. The head is unpainted and with perforations on the lid that show side parting of the hair. Its lips are colored with red hematite and accented with an incised design. It also has two ear lugs on the lower half of the urn. From: http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Collections/Archaeo/Pots.html

 

3. Penang, Malaysia

Although having been in 4 other states in Malaysia (Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur) last April 2012, my most epic adventure happened in Penang. Having almost circled the area by walking on foot (following the route of the free bus system), I saw a diversity of houses of spiritual worship. It made me think about how each of us should just understand each others’ faith, since we all have reasons as to why we believe in such and such. If you indeed understood those reasons, you would stop judging and classifying who is right or wrong (and therefore stop thinking that ‘I would be saved because this is my religion. They will go to hell, because that is their religion.’ etc.) because it does not matter anymore. If you understood each others’ faith, you would instead think of perfecting your faith.

And how would you do that?

I. Love one another, and since you now believe that there is indeed a God,

II. To live a life of always giving praise to God, which is of course the most important one. You would love your fellow human more, if you live a life of constant praise to God.

A modern landmark amidst a landscape of vintage buildings

An Anglican church. Really nice! Read more in this nice post: http://www.penang-traveltips.com/st-george-church.htm

Oldest mosque in Georgetown

 

 

2. Flora, Apayao

Second most epic? I walked barefoot to visit a remote barangay. Why? Because it is the most cool way of getting there.

 

 

1. Tabuk, Kalinga

Although, the main reason was for research, the trip was of absolute wanderlust. Together with fellows, we went to places simply because we wanted to. Tasted local wine, saw rivers, got up-close with large irrigation dams, visited folks, learned much from here and there, and most of all; we saw how a place in the mountains would soon have three lane highways, side by side fields of rice paddies.

 

 

So again, I hope for you to discover, explore, and understand the world! Discover the beauty of the places you will soon be at. Explore things that you already know and find something much more. Understand that life in this world is really meant to be enjoyed. Have an epic adventure this 2013. Love and Peace everyone! 😉

PS:

ep·ic (adjective)
a : extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope
(from Merriam-Webster online)

 

Malaysian Street Felines

Malaysia, being a major Muslim nation, is abound with cats as Islam law prohibit having dogs as household pets. Cats roam freely on the streets, sometimes striking a pose or just lying like boss on a corner. 😀 (These cats were found during trips to Kelantan and Penang)

 

 

 

 

-and by saying “meow,” you’d get their attention-

 

 

>^..^<

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On 7 Days in Malaysia

This post should have been up last April 29, 2012 (Sunday), – the day after I had spent seven days back- packing Malaysia. I can only cite time mismanagement.

 

To recap, the trip started in April 22 (Sunday), at Kuala Lumpur (click here for my post on my first day). Next, I spent the next two days (April 23 and 24) at Kota Bharu, Kelantan (click this link for more stories). On the 25th, I was at Jitra, Kedah and stayed there until the 28th (more stories by clicking this). But on April 26 (Thursday), I toured Pulau Pinang, Pinang (check the pictures here). On the 27th we (together with my hosts) went to Padang Besar, Perlis (again, click this).

 

On the seventh day (April 28, Saturday), I bade goodbye to Aina and her son Daniel. God has surely blessed me greatly through such wonderful people, that truly, this Malaysian adventure was so epic because of them. Terima kasih banya banya!

 

I recall a not-good-not-bad incident early that day. We were on our way to the bus station that time when we happened to pass by a food stall. It was an assortment of edibles, that I wanted to photograph the palette of colorful dishes on the side of the highway. Of course, I had to seek the approval of the girl at the stand if it was okay for me to take pictures. With the girl’s nod, I did not bother getting down the car and just snapped pictures, my body jutting out of the car’s window.

 

When the car started to move, a man was waving his hand for us to stop. But, stopping was not an option.

 

I don’t know, maybe the man was wondering why I was taking pictures of his stall? I assumed he was the owner. So for reasons that pertain to obtaining something from someone without her/his consent, I deleted the pictures I took of the stall.

 

By 9:30, we were at the bus station. There were about 4 passengers, including a man, probably a teacher, as he was checking examination papers. The bus finally came around 9:45, and I’m off to Kuala Lumpur.

 

It was around 4 pm when we arrived at Putrajaya, and I saw a lot of yellow people. People in yellow shirts. The train stations were crowded. More people wearing yellow t-shirts.

 

It turned out that around 25,000 demonstrators trooped to Kuala Lumpur that day to pressure Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling coalition — which has held power in Malaysia for nearly 55 years — in overhauling electoral policies. (You can read more here on this CBS news report) I overheard passengers in the train, enthusiastically talking about change and the future of Malaysia.

 

I headed to the KL Sentral Station for a late lunch. There were indeed around 25,000 who walked the streets that day!

 

There was a food court nearby and I order Nasi something worth 5 ringgit and milo panas. Yum! but one serving was not enough for me. 😦

I deposited my bags in the locker room services afterwards, and then headed off to KLCC – to the Petronas Twin Towers!

 

It was already dark when I arrived at KLCC. You get out of the train from below and so when you emerge from the stairs, your neck should be ready for viewing a structure about 400 meters high. Here’s a Youtube video:

 

Well, that concludes 7 days in Malaysia. It was a flight back to the Philippines just a few hours after the video was taken. I’ll end this post with two more pictures of the twin towers. It was a truly Asian experience! 😉

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Related articles

• May 25, 2012 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Day 44 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (travelpod.com)
• Kuala Lumpur – A Cosmopolitan Air – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (travelpod.com)
• City Profile: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (roomorama.com)
• KL – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (travelpod.com)
• Kuala Lumpur first day – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (travelpod.com)
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