Found In Hiroshima

A floating house? A restaurant? By the looks of it, looks like it's permanently moored by this bank. I posted up another photo, a crop of the photo above of a sign at the side at Blue Shoe's comment below. Was it for boat rental?

And to think the only other place I see one of those floating dwellings were in Kuala Lipis, along the Sungai Jelai. Don't see them anymore now. Anyone ever experienced visiting or staying in homes built on rafts  or what we called a "rumah rakit" before?

Happy labour day everyone! And to those in Japan, Happy Golden Week. Going somewhere nice for the long weekend?

This is by the way, my second entry for this week's Show Me Japan Vol 1 Issue 23.

Taking a Road Trip to the Northernmost Tip OLA

Pagudpud Beach in the northernmost tip of Luzon, the largest island in the archipelago

I am sipping a cocoa drink before breakfast at the open deck of the beach resort looking out to the South China Sea, our lovely cottage sitting next to an inviting pool. Bill and my daughter April, co-drivers on the exciting road trip to the Philippine North, are still trying to get renewed from yesterday's ordeal. We arrived at Bauang, La Union at 10 PM the night before.  We had traveled about 830 km witht 290 to go to our base in Makati, Philippines. This has been a trip not only of amazing churches but also of tropical beaches!

penitents preparing to carry their crosses

We left in the wee hours of the morning of Holy Thursday, 2011 to avoid the morning surge of Catholic Philippines getting out of the city for annual pilgrimages cum getaways. The North Luzon Expressway now extends all the way to Tarlac City, Tarlac with the Subic-Clark Interchange Expressway but, not being familiar with this freeway, we exited too early into Dau, Pampanga whose streets were teeming with penitents in self-flagellation or chanting the ‘pabasa’ (Passion readings) for 48 straight hours.

   

Isdaan, the floating restaurant

A wonderful breakfast awaited us at Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac, a floating restaurant with all the familiar Filipino fare and international dishes with wandering musicians serenading customers in each group’s favorite genre, just at the exit to the old highway.  At mid-afternoon we arrived in a World Heritage Site, Vigan, Ilocos Sur. It is the one place in the country, in fact Asia, where the 300 years of Spanish rule remains painted in the 17^th century homes preserved as a Heritage Village, undamaged even by war.

the World Heritage Village at night in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

St. Paul's Cathedral in Vigan

Cordillera Inn was our home in the village. We walked alongside ‘kalesas’ that ferried tourists on the cobbled roads. The St. Paul’s Cathedral, another World Heritage Site built in 1641, had its floats (Stations of the Cross) ready for the Good Friday procession. On the opposite side of the plaza is the Vigan Empanadahan, a collection of stands that make the delicious deep-fried sausage, egg, and cabbage rolls. The Crisologo Museum, ancestral home of the town patriarchs, gave us a closer look at life in Vigan.

Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte

Before reaching Laoag, we stopped by Paoay, Ilocos Norte where another World Heritage Site, the Paoay Church, built in 1594, still stands.  This was the highlight of my trip for I was not aware that the Philippines had a structure like this. In serving as the political backbone of Spanish colonial rule, churches were subject to attacks by local revolts. Thus the baroque architecture has the appearance of a fortress, with the large imposing buttresses at the sides and the massive unrestored facade. 

entrance to the Marcos Mausoleum

We passed by the Malacanang (presidential palace) of the North on the shores of Paoay Lake, built by the Marcoses during their infamous rule. At the next town of Batac, Ilocos Norte we found the Marcos Mausoleum where the lavishly waxed body of Marcos still lies inside a large, stately, and gloomy tomb preserved in a vacuum-sealed glass coffin. A cluster of 3 houses complete the Marcos estate and more than 2 decades after the dictator was deposed by a People Power, he still draws a crowd.

St. William's Cathedral in Laoag, Ilocos Norte

In Laoag, Ilocos Norte, St. William’s Cathedral and its Sinking Bell Tower, built in 1612, is another World Heritage Site known for its Italian Renaissance design and its Sinking Bell Tower, which sinks into the ground at a rate of an inch a year. Damaged by hurricanes in 1640, by earthquake in 1706, and by fire in 1843, the church was restored in 1880. The bell tower, however, is already undergoing demolition. To our delight the whole city spilled into the streets, carrying lighted candles for a Good Friday Procession.

and its sinking bell tower, undergoing demolition

the Tobacco Monopoly Monument

Too bad we could not capture all the scenes as the battery of our camera died. But we were able to take a picture of the Tobacco Monopoly Monument which stands right at the town plaza, just after the ‘Hollywood’ sign of the city, visible from the Marcos Bridge as one enters it.  The monument was constructed when the Monopoly which began in 1781 was lifted in 1881. Those 100 years gave the Ilocanos untold miseries as they were obligated to plant tobacco solely for the Spanish government.

Laoag, Hollywood style

the Bangui Wind Farm

The road to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is not as good with an unfinished kilometer of concrete road. But soon after this stretch we were in awe at the Bangui Wind Farm, 20 units of 70-meter high wind turbines with a total capacity of 33 mw, describing a graceful arch as they stretched on a single row along a 9-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay. Finally, we reached the northernmost tip of Luzon, the largest island of the archipelago we luxuriated on the white sands of Saud Beach.

fishermen awaiting their early morning catch

We listened to the music of the ocean by day and relaxed to the music of the bands by night, feasting on local seafood and we lingered till after lunch the following day, thinking that the drive to Bauang would just be 4 hours (it was 8!). The night drive gave us priceless photos of fishermen waiting for their early catch in their bancas, glittering like fireflies on a still ocean below a crimson sky.  Our road trip on the northwestern coast of Luzon not only gave us beach time but an amazing Visita Iglesia, a most fitting getaway during Holy Week in Catholic Philippines!

delicious Vigan empanadas

Next: Enjoying Day Trips from Manila

  

I Miss This... The Vending Machines

Every single time I needed to find a shop or convenience store just to buy a bottle of water and queue for them, I miss this. Or that time when I saw an out-of-order vending machines in KL, I miss these too.

Rows and rows of vending machines - they sell almost everything and can be found almost everywhere in Japan. Gotta love the convenience (and in good working order too)!

There are plenty of vending machines there selling almost everything under the sun but there is one vending machine I hope I don't encounter in any of my visit. Want to know what it is? Hop over to Chris' and check it out yourself. Not for the faint-hearted though (or prudes, for that matter).

And yeay to Anna and her Show Me Japan Vol 1 Issue 23. I'm late this week, but I wouldn't miss participating in this for anything! ^^

Deers Of Miyajima

Tame deers wander freely on Miyajima, much to the delight of our son who was absolutely excited being up close and personal with the deers. He equated those deers with Santa Clause (as in reindeers), and we don't even celebrate Christmas!

Tourists are not supposed to either feed or touch the tame deers that roam around the island, but I guess we were a bunch of clueless, law-breaking tourists, as can be witnessed from the photo below.

The deers didn't really care to be friendly with us, because we had no food with us. Plenty of tourists got followed around by the deers because they smelled of food. XD But them deers sure look scrawny and not really active.

There was an issue about starving deers way back in 2008 and them being carted away or something  and a petition to save them put out. Is there an improvement to this now?

There are monkeys too on the island, but no photo of them monkeys in my collection. Simply because monkeys creep me out.

Taking A Ferry To Miyajima

Once upon a time,we got a couple of JR Passes between us and decided to travel the length and breadth of Japan in a week or two. Granted, we weren't able to cover as much as we would like to, but we sure had fun using it, not only on numerous JR trains but also taking ferries. And one ferry JR Pass covers is the ferry  to Miyajima. And to Miyajima we head to one sunny day in 2008. We got lucky with the weather on the day we set out to Miyajima because it rained the whole day, the day before.

At Miyajimaguchi Station,before exiting and heading to the ferry terminal. Ferries depart every 10 minutes (170yen) and the JR ferries are covered by JR Pass. Don't accidentally take the Matsudai ferries if you have JR Pass!

Exit the station and just follow the sign, and you won't get lost trying to find the terminal.

Boarding the ferry.

It's sure windy on the deck of the ferry! But who wouldn't be up there for choice spot to take photos upon approaching Miyajima, instead of sitting warmly inside?

What do you think of when there's a mention of Miyajima?My first thought was of the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine. I've never posted anything about the shrine or much about the island the year we visited it, so I should rectify it and put up a post soon, shouldn't I?

OLA: Driving to Cool Philippine Mountain Air

Kennon Road from Rosario, La Union to Baguio, built by Americans in 1903

From Ifugao and Mountain Province in the Cordilleras, the Philippines’ mountainous region with temperatures ranging from 17 (winter) to 30 (summer) degrees centigrade, we now go to Benguet. Its biggest city is Baguio, the country’s summer capital, nestled about 5,000 feet above sea level with a population of about 450,000. When Bill sold his business in 2009, we came for his first visit and one of the first things we did was the trip to Baguio, Holy Week 2009. 

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Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan

The road trip itself was quite eventful. In the province of Bulacan we visited 2 friends of mine. The first is a former Commissioner of the Commission on Elections who now owns a private resort in Hagonoy. Going to Pulilan to visit a former Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and her Butterfly Haven, we also stopped at the old Barasoain Church in Malolos, site of the framing of the first constitution of the Philippines.

penitents in Pampanga on Holy Week

The Philippines is 90% Catholic and the next province, Pampanga, is known for classic rituals for the penitent during Holy Week. At a gas station where we were filling up, we chanced upon a group of men who stopped to rest from their procession. With red, bloodied backs, they had been flagellating themselves relentlessly. One of them was carrying a large wooden cross which will be used later on to crucify him, simulating the Passion of Christ.

view from our apartelle

It took us 6 hours to reach Baguio, ascending the steep and winding Kennon Road which the Americans built, together with Camp John Hay, in 1903 for the recreation of Americans in the country. Little by little the unmistakable scent of pine trees signaled the arrival of the precious mountain city! Our chosen apartelle was atop one of the highest hills, overlooking a section of the city. We lost no time getting ready for the day trips we had planned.

the Lost Cemetery of Camp John Hay

First is Camp John Hay which had been turned over to the Philippine government (like Subic and Clark). The historical parts were preserved but new hotels and condominiums have been built. The camp is a haven in a city that has grown beyond the limits of its hills, bursting at its seams. I love going back to the Mile-Hi Recreation Center, its golf courses, the Lost Cemetery where you bury any remaining traces of negativism, the vast gardens and picnic areas.

Baguio Botanical Garden with the natives

The flower-ful Botanical Garden is where we found some colorful tribal people who wanted to earn some money by posing for pictures with a WASC (white Anglo-Saxon Catholic). The Mansion is the summer home of the president of the Philippines with Wright Park and its horseback riding activities just in front of it. Further down is the Mines View Park, overlooking old copper mines, where little boys wait for the coins tourists throw for good luck.

Mines View Park

At the center of the city is Burnham Park with its large man-made lake where families can go boating in swan-like paddle boats and biking or skating on its perimeter roads. Nearby is the city’s main artery, Session Road, where shops, restaurants and bars abound. At the higher end is the magnificent Baguio Cathedral and at the opposite end is the Baguio City Market, famous for cheap souvenir items and fresh local produce that can only be found in the cool capital: strawberries, Baguio lettuce, Philippine grapes, etc.

Ellen's Lot

Bill and I took a look at my sister Ellen’s lot which she wanted to become a memorial to tribal people before she succumbed to cancer in 2003. Her ashes are there and now it is green with Baguio vegetables. The city evokes such precious memories like summer getaways my mom gave us at the Teachers Camp with the cool mountain air and the scent of pine. Baguio has grown so big though that Sagada and Banaue (pop: 11,000 and 21,000) are the new Baguios.

Burnham Park

Next: Driving along the Coast to the Philippine North 

Scouring The Country For A Super Hero

We virtually went all around Japan, just to find Ultraman. There are a few more places we've yet been to, but I think we are pretty happy we visited the big ones already. ^^

Of course, my boy was/is always chuffed to bits being able to meet his favourite super hero!

With a giant Ultraman Mebius statue at Ultraman Festival in Ikebukuro one fine summer in 2006. This was Raimie's second trip to Japan. On his first trip, we went to Ultraman Club in Asakusa (it's now closed though) and he was in seventh heaven meeting up with Ultraman Xenon there.

Ulfes is usually held during the summer holiday, and Zaini suggested if we wanted to cut cost down, we come during the summer holiday and just stayed in Tokyo & visit Ulfes. Much as I like Ultraman and Tokyo, just staying in Tokyo for a week isn't something I want to do while in Japan now. I still have lots of place to cover! 

At Ultramanland in Arao in Kumamoto Prefecture, which we visited in 2007 and 2008. We made sure we didn't miss a single "meet-the-heroes" sessions or the live-action shows.

Meeting Ultraman Mebius and Hikari at Ultraman Stadium in Terai in Ishikawa Prefecture in 2008. It's literally located in a middle of nowhere! The staff there got pretty "excited" when I wrote my son's name (to enter the jungle gym) in romanji. I guess not many non-Japanese speaking foreigners came to that part of town much.

With Ultraman Nice at Tsuburaya Jungle in Yao, Osaka in 2008. Where is it exactly? Let's just say it's on the way to Nara.

With Ultraman Mebius at Ultraman Club in Kawasaki in 2009 and 2010. Raimie made some friends there and was happily shooting "kaijus" with his newfound friends. Language barrier completely forgotten.

It's going to change soon though. Its inevitable I would say, because he is growing up/out of idolising Ultraman. Give him Kamen Riders, Goseiger or whatever ranger now.  However, don't ask him to let go of all his Ultraman figures yet! Those, we can't donate to anyone ever.

Yebisu Beer History

The origins of Yebisu Beer dates back to 1887, when Nippon Beer Brewery started producing beer in the area then called Mita Village. 

Nothing to do with the beer museum, this Yebisu photo
was taken at Dotonburi in Osaka. ^^
People actually lined up to take photo of this!

The name 'Yebisu' was later adopted in slightly altered form to designate the station, and 'Ebisu' has since become familiar to many as the name of the surrounding town. Nippon Breweries, Ltd. changed its name to Sapporo Breweries, Ltd. in 1964.

The Beer Museum Yebisu is dedicated to the history, science and culture of the beverage and the tradition of brewing beer. Beer making made its debut in Japan as early as 1876 when Seibei Nakagawa, who had studied the art of beer making in Germany, was chosen as brewmaster and oversaw the construction of a beer factory in Hokkaido, Japan.

In 1887, Japan Beer Brewery Company was established in Tokyo by a group of local entrepreneurs and they invited a brewmaster from Germany to create what became Yebisu Beer. Production of Yebisu Beer ceased for a period of 28 years, but was re-launched in December 1971 and was the first German-type 100% barley beer to be sold in post-war Japan.

Don't step on the Yebisu God!

The "Yebisu" beer that was launched in 1890

Some beer art

Obligatory cheesy tourist photo shoot. ^^

Don't forget to hit the souvenir shop after you are done touring the Museum! Of course, walk around and enjoy Yebisu Beer Garden too,while you are there!

Lisa is hosting Show Me Japan again this week. Hop over to Ichigoichielove's Show Me Japan Vol1 Issue 22 this week, and check out the Buddha's butt there.