Lignon Hill was known only for the Philvolcs observatory and an old lighthouse in the summit. But it is now Lignon Hill Nature Park which offers not just a panoramic view of Mayon Volcano and a 360 view of Legaspi City, Daraga and Albay Golf but also various activities like Paintball Fun, Rappelling, Zip lining and Golf Course among others. At the summit is also a landscaped park, restaurant and souvenir shops. But we went up there mainly to see Mayon Volcano and enjoy the sight of Bicol. Hey, enjoy our romance with the most perfect cone volcano in the whole world!
Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte is a coastal town around 13-14 hours away from Metro Manila. We went to Blue Lagoon in Sitio Malingay. Blue Lagoon is where the turquoise waters meet the green mountains and where the West Philippine Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. The Batanes Group of Islands is visible on a clear day. Aside from the serene beach and powdery white sands, we also experienced the bayanihan fishing of the locals there. We dropped by the Bantay Abot Cave for a photo op. By the time that we entered Sitio Malingay, we were greeted with lush vegetation, the paved road was lined with coconut trees, the mountains were peaceful at the left side while the waters were enticing at the right side. This is a small piece of paradise!
Don't miss to take a snap at this Pagudpud signage
The Underground Cemetery of Nagcarlan, Laguna (Sementeryo sa Ilalim ng Lupa) was built by a Francescan Missionary in 1845. On top of the cemetery is a small chapel. The crypt was actually used as a secret meeting place of the Laguna Katipuneros during the Philippine Revolution. Going down to the underground cemetery is quite scary. I wouldn't go down there myself even in broad daylight (I only stayed there in less than 5 minutes). The crypt is cold, murky and has poor lighting. The walls are more than a hundred years old. Those buried underground were only the prominent and most privileged people during Spanish Rule. There is also an old cemetery surrounding the church. This place, however, is now a National Landmark and the grounds are now maintained in excellent condition but the underground cemetery didn't undergo any renovation to maintain it's eerie and mysterious ambiance.
Entrance to the cemetery with the history marker
Inside the cemetery with the surrounding old tombs
Ang bahay ng kapanganakan ng ating Pambansang Bayani na si Dr. Jose Rizal ay sa Calamba, Laguna na ngayon ay isa ng museo. Malapit lang ito sa simbahan ng Calamba kung saan siya bininyagan.
Thai Silk is produced from the cocoons of Thai silkworms raised from caterpillars on a steady diet of mulberry leaves. Thai silk is hand woven so each design is unique and cannot be duplicated through commercial means which makes Thai silk more expensive that other kinds of silk.
Jim Thompson or James Harrison Wilson Thompson is an architect from Greenville, Delaware and a World War II veteran. His last post was in Bangkok, Thailand. According to Time Magazine 'he singlehandedly saved Thailand's silk industry from extinction'. After discharge from war, he returned to Bangkok to buy and restore the Oriental Hotel with some investors. He quit from the venture citing some differences with his associates and partnered with George Barrie to start the Thai Silk Company. The business got their break when a famous designer made use of Thai silk for the musical, The King and I. From then on, Jim Thompson had created an international demand for the glamorous Thai silk. He was able to raise many of Thailand's poorest out from poverty because of his 'cottage industry'. The manufacturers of the silk that he sell to the market are the individual homes in the countrysides thus giving them an adequate source of income because of the high demand.
The Jim Thompson House is located on Soi Kasemsan (2) Song in Bangkok City. He built a traditional Thai house using his expertise as an architect. Antique pieces of ceramics, glass, paintings and sculptures are all over the house since he was also a notable antique collector. The wood used for the house itself came from other hundred year old houses that time. It was completed in 1959. in 1967, Jim Thompson went for a vacation in Penang, Malaysia with some friends. He took an afternoon stroll to a trail in the forest but never came back. A major search was done but he was never found. Until today, no one knows what happened to Jim Thompson - a major loss to Thailand but his legacy and the Thai Silk Company is alive until today.
