Miriel's posts with tag: travel
|  | While I was not quite as "templed out" as I was in Ankor, my short stint at Japan lead me to 5 temples.
In Tokyo:
Meiji Temple; near Harajuku. Though I heard traditional wedding ceremonies are regularly performed here, I didn't get to see one.
Sensoji Temple; in Asakusa. Probably the one place in Tokyo that feels traditional. The only place I saw women in traditional kimonos.
Zojoji Temple, in Kanto area, at the base of Tokyo Tower. A large temple in the middle of a business district. The contradictions in Tokyo :)
In Kamakura:
Great Buddha, Daibutsu. Uh, really really large Buddha with really large slippers too.
Hasedera Temple. Known for holding the largest gilded wooden statue of Kannon and having a wonderful view of the seaside village of Kamakura. |
| | While browsing through iPhoto, I just realized that I had not sorted, edited and uploaded my Tokyo photos! Life was happening then. This will be a series which I grouped together based on the basic themes that stuck me most while we were in Tokyo.
I call this series "Peace" since being in the many gardens of Tokyo offered just that --a respite from the high speed Tokyo pace. Photos from these series are from Shinjuku Gyo-en and Hama-Rikyu. Shinjuku Gyo-en was a sprawling garden which aside from its huge Japanese garden also featured French and English gardens plus the d*mn biggest chrystanthenums. Hama-Rikyu, though much smaller, did not disappoint either. Being along the river, it also known as the "beach garden" and was the jump off point for the Asakusa river cruise.
Aside from these, I also saw a lot of pocket gardens all over the city. Having all these greenery in a city is what makes it a world class metropolis and not just another urban jungle.
Click on the photos for a better look :) |
| | Again I had the chance to visit this lovely and quaint bed and breakfast in San Pablo, Laguna. Though this time it was only for lunch. Still the charm of the place won me over, reminding me that there is life (which I am obviously missing out on) outside of the city. |
 For the past 2 weekends I've been away from Metro Manila. Both were wonderful, wonderful weekends that deserve write-ups but I haven't had much time lately. Or rather, I've been spending time doing, well, less productive stuff. I've always had itchy feet and travel really stimulates my senses. I always come back feeling renewed despite the long drive. Oh, and I have about 3 new travel destinations in mind... Itchy, itchy feet.
| | The last part of our "up in the mountains" trip. Sagada was the culminating point. We went caving (and had fun!), rode on the roof of a jeepney, cooked our own meal, had a fabulous lunch at Yoghurt house, had good Arrabica coffee, learned the power of posing for pictures (haha!), etc.
I'm definitely going back to Sagada. |
| | The most difficult and challenging part of our Banaue-Sagada adventure. Batad is a remote town in Ifugao, just an hour's drive away from Banaue. What makes this town special is how difficult it is to get to. It takes about 45-minute hike down the mountain just to reach the town. The hike is quite challenging since you're almost always flanked by ravines. But reaching the town, you're rewarded with a wonderful view of unspoilt rice terraces made of stone and soil. I think a travel book even likened it to an amphitheater.
Another beauty of the town is Tappia Falls. It's about a 2-hour hike from the town proper. Challenging, yes, but rewarding in the sense that you will pass through the rice terraces and see the unspoilt beauty of the town. |
| | Taken during our recent trip to the Cordilleras. Out first stop was Banaue. We saw the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Banaue Rice Terraces and met the friendly and cheeful Ifugaos. |
| |
