bluemaroon's take on things

2005-11-03T14:01:00.000+08:00

Sunsets

It is the grandest finale to the greatest show on earth. It is shown everyday, smooth like clockwork. It is predictable at times but more often it has a twist of glory that leaves the heart yearning for more… more time even for just a few seconds. Although it is one of the most photographed events, it does not cost a penny to be viewed.

It is the great sunset. Bright afternoon skies that gradually change into playful hues of yellow subduing into oranges, reds, purples and blues before finally fading into the darkness. White cotton clouds that give character to the bluest skies become splashes of color and eventually become the shadows that they cast.

For those who have the luxury of time to stop and marvel it – there is a gift of mixed emotions and feelings. Peaceful complexity and unleashed tranquility in a throbbing, shrouding, empowering calm and heart pounding contentment that validates the presence of a Creator.

Sunset signals the end of the day for many and the beginning for more. For those who have called it a day, the promise of rest, quality time with loved ones, sleep. For those who have just begun, bright lights, gatherings, parties, excitement.

In a modern world when time has become a commodity or even a luxury , appreciating the sunset has given way to rush hours and overtime.

Filipinos are one of the few people blessed with beautiful sunsets in more days of the year. With 7,107 islands across the archipelago, the version of this show from one place is just as spectacular as next door. Whether viewed from the white sandy beaches of Boracay or from the pine tree lined peaks for Baguio, The suns magnificent rays never fail to breathe awe into people’s lungs. The fabled and glorified sunsets of Manila Bay helped put the Philippines on the map of tourism.

Beauty. Sweet, natural, powerful beauty that defines poetry. A picture that only the mind can preserve.

The Philippine sunset.

Images of spectacular Boracay and Baguio sunsets can be viewed and downloaded from bluemaroon.com

2005-10-30T15:05:00.000+08:00

The sky is bluer in Kennon

When Filipinos think of Kennon Road of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s they have an image of the popular and treacherous twists and turns. In the 90’s it was synonymous with disasters – landslides and mudslides. Very few dared to ply this route on rainy days especially in the monsoon days. Then it was closed to traffic for renovation. Buses carrying passengers were forced to take the longer but wider and relatively much safer Marcos Highway. To this day, all buses coming from Manila pass through Marcos Highway.

For smaller private vehicles and minivans, Kennon is still a popular choice as it can shave off as much as thirty minutes from the travel time compared to Marcos Highway. And the scenery is just as breathtaking. This time the richness of the mountains is much closer for inspection. Waterfalls are much more common and more prominent. At one time a small gush of water from the mountainside disappeared under the sidewalk and resurfaced on the other side of the road.

But the one thing most noticeable to us is how much bluer the sky is above Kennon Road compared to Marcos Highway. The mountains are much greener and on clear days the contrast is so sharp that it would look like a Windows XP wallpaper. With air that clean and clear, it is most definitely safe to take a deep breath and enjoy its crisp coolness.

While the famous headstone of former president Marcos (after whom the road was named) is slowly falling apart back in Marcos Highway. The presence of the ever popular Lions Head in Kennon is as prominent as ever. For those going up to Baguio in a private vehicle, it is a must to stop and take pictures, browse among the small shops located on the roadside and enjoy the scenery.

After the Lion’s Head which is a project of the International Lions Club, the road gets more noticeably steeper and the “zig” of the road meets its “zag”. For those who suffer from motion sickness, taking Kennon Road is not advised and it is quite a challenge for inexperienced drivers and must take necessary precaution.

Although most of Kennon Road has been successfully renovated and smoothed out. There are still parts where the road would get rocky and at one point is reduced to a single lane where a sign says “STOP. Proceed when Clear”. Another tip for motorists is that just like in Manila, the city observes a traffic coding system and is strictly enforced. Tourists and visitors can obtain a special exemption pass at the nearest PNP (Philippine National Police) station.

When buildings become more frequent and there are more frequent forking of the road. One could feel that the city is just behind the next hill. Just like Marcos Highway, motorists will be greeted by the white buildings of Baguio General Hospital.

Let the fun times begin.

Click here to return to Bluemaroon Bagio

Baguio by Land

2005-10-13T16:25:00.000+08:00

The road trip to Baguio is just as pleasurable as the destination itself, particularly upon entering La Union province where the rolling plains presently a very pleasant array of shades of green and yellow. The gentle sloping hills are thick with foliage from trees of great variety – a perfect site for any Hollywood movie that needs a jungle setting. Clear rivers and bubbling streams offer a welcome distraction and so do quaint little woodcarving shops on the road sides. These stores have a an interesting display of eagle statuettes, life size native braves, wood benches of unique shapes and even wooden Buddha statues with a smiling face and arms raised.

As the bus takes no higher altitudes, a sweeping view of the lowlands that gets more and more breathless by the minute. The hills have turned to mountains, the flora slightly different and if the windows are open, the air lightly nippy. On a clear day, one can actually have a magnificent view of the South China Sea with the shores of La Union, the western tip of Pangasinan and the curve of the Lingayen Gulf very prominent in the horizon. Lucky are those who can stop for a while to stretch the legs and marvel at such scenery.

Then the bus makes one turn and your surrounded by mountains, mountains and more mountains with other vehicles further down the road nothing more than mere dots against a huge wall of green with occasional slashes of white that indicate the presence of waterfalls. There are less tropical plants and more evergreens in this area. The clouds are much closer and the mountain tops seem to kiss the sky.

On rainy days, the scenery disappears as the entire surroundings are blanketed by thick fog down to zero visibility. First time visitors are torn between a silent fear and excitement. When the bus makes a slow steep climb, it is the signal that the City of Pines is less than 10 minutes away. You notice the other passengers starting to gather and secure their luggage, fix their hair and some put on warmer clothing.

Then the conductor announces, “BGH! BGH!”, which stands for Baguio General Hospital, where many passengers get off instead of at the terminal. A sign greets you with “Welcome to Baguio City! City of Pines, City of Flowers and the City of Lights”

Well, indeed, Welcome!

And whatever you do, log on to Bluemaroon.com for the most practical information about Baguio City – hotels, restaurants, events, activities and many other things. Enjoy your stay!

2005-10-13T15:29:00.000+08:00

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