Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Season's Greetings from Me and My Family!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
STRADCOM and the R.F.I.D. Scam
(a requested post. not my own personal views)
Subject: Ang Istorya sa Likod ng R.F.I.D. Scam - kung may sasakyan ka, makialam ka
Ang kontrata ng STRADCOM sa computerization ng LTO ay nagtapos na. Subalit dahil nakasaad sa kontrata na "HAWAK NILA SA LEEG" ang LTO, dahil sa pagtatapos ng kanilang kontrata ay dadalhin nila ang mga computer hardware at software, at ang ititira ay ang DATA lamang, nanatili ang STRADCOM sa LTO.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
BASUREROs
(photo courtesy of @LarryPConcepcion)
Ever since it was diagnosed that I am having a posible heart enlargement in the last APE, I have exerted more effort to do physical exercises. I do jogging during week days and do long - ride mountain biking every Sunday.
But this Sunday is a special Sunday to me. While I was on my way to the mountains of Busay (Cebu) hoping to strengtened my heart by this exercise, instead, I personally encountered a heart-breaking scene that changed me.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
New Carjacking scheme - Please Read!
(emailed to me and I want to share it with you)
Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!!
Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the car. Then we received this email yesterday:
WARNING FROM POLICE - THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN:
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE -- NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)
Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!!
Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the car. Then we received this email yesterday:
WARNING FROM POLICE - THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN:
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE -- NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Traveling, Linus Gitahi and the Runners of Kenya
(photo courtesy of @LarryPConcepcion
At one point or another in people's lives they have become a tourist or a traveler. Being a traveler does not mean you have to head across the seas and into another country or part of the world. Traveling simply means going from one place to another for leisure of for business. In any case, people always bring along cameras, maps and even hire a tour guide at the place they are heading to. Once there, all they do is lounge around on the beach or at the pool deck, drink some cocktails at the bar, or spend the whole day watching movies inside their hotel rooms. When they get back home, all they have to show for their travels is a bunch of poorly-taken photographs.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Happy Mother's Month at Han Wok Blue Wave
Mom should not cook on Mother's Day. Treat her to a fabulous Han Wok Chinese Cuisine dinner on her special day!
HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!!!
Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for the Month of May, we will be giving away a bottle of wine for every P2500 food purchase at Han Wok Blue Wave. A glass of wine for the mothers will be given for every food purchase of P1500.
HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!!!
Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for the Month of May, we will be giving away a bottle of wine for every P2500 food purchase at Han Wok Blue Wave. A glass of wine for the mothers will be given for every food purchase of P1500.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
And You Thought You Knew Everything
Some things you can learn when you travel.
================================
Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.
Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.
No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.
Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age or older.
The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.
The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.
A Boeing 747s wingspan is longer than the Wright brother's first flight.
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating 1 olive from each salad served in first-class.
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.
Marilyn Monroe had six toes.
All US Presidents have worn glasses. Some just didn't like being seen wearing them in public.
Walt Disney was afraid of mice.
Pearls melt in vinegar.
Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.
Richard Millhouse Nixon was the first US president whose name contains all the letters from the word "criminal". The second was William Jefferson Clinton.
Turtles can breathe through their butts.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.
On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.
On average people fear spiders more than death.
Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.
The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.
A snail can sleep for three years.
No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH."
Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth,but our nose and ears never stop growing. SCARY!!!
The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
All polar bears are left handed.
In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
"Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. (I would add "No" to the list)
If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
Almost everyone who reads this email will try to lick their elbow. :)
shared by:
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
================================
Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.
Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.
No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.
Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age or older.
The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.
The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.
A Boeing 747s wingspan is longer than the Wright brother's first flight.
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating 1 olive from each salad served in first-class.
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.
Marilyn Monroe had six toes.
All US Presidents have worn glasses. Some just didn't like being seen wearing them in public.
Walt Disney was afraid of mice.
Pearls melt in vinegar.
Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.
Richard Millhouse Nixon was the first US president whose name contains all the letters from the word "criminal". The second was William Jefferson Clinton.
Turtles can breathe through their butts.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.
On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.
On average people fear spiders more than death.
Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.
The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.
A snail can sleep for three years.
No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH."
Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth,but our nose and ears never stop growing. SCARY!!!
The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
All polar bears are left handed.
In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
"Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. (I would add "No" to the list)
If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
Almost everyone who reads this email will try to lick their elbow. :)
shared by:
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Need a place to go to? Try Han Wok Blue Wave
I just had one of the best lunch experience in years yesterday. And it was Chinese cuisine!
I accepted the invitation from Mr. Jack Wong and wife Helen, fellow entrepreneurs from Wong Group of Companies to come and visit their Han Wok Chinese Restaurant at the Blue Wave Commercial Complex at D. Macapagal Avenue. I was really glad that I did.
Together with Jack and Helen, we were joined by Jo Frando of Taxmaster Accounting Services, Nathaniel Torilla of Han Wok Blue Wave and Rome Sherriff Montoya of Worldnet Business Center over lunch. They were a really cool group and I had a chance to learn more about Wong Group of Companies and their world-class services.
We were served with Sauteed Squid with Bell peppers, with really tender and tasty squid with just the right touch of chili and spices. Another dish wash their Chami special, one of the best pancit dish I've ever tasted. Not to be outdone was the Fried String Beans with Minced Pork, that tingles the palate with just the right combination of vegetables and meat. But my favorite was the Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, which I mistakenly thought of as pork due to the very tasty morsels that I began to lose count of calories I'm ingesting.
According to Jack, what we had we're not even Han Wok's specialties although the dishes could rival any Chinese restaurant meals I've laid my taste buds on. Looking at the gallery of food portraits on the wall, I could see that they have 3 Cups Chicken in Hotpot, Poached Tofu, Beef Hofan Guisado, Chili Shrimp with Snow Peas and a whole lot more. I would surely come back for more of these good stuff and write about it here.
I was really surprised with how varied the dishes were, which can cater to any preference and diet that their customers would have. Here's one thing that's awesome - the price was really competitive for a Chinese restaurant of this caliber. They even have econo meals for those on the budget but looking at the flyers they had on these meals, they're only "econo" on the price tag but not on the food. Really cost effective!
At that time, a photo shoot was ongoing as Han Wok Blue Wave is boosting their product offerings with more dish selections, cocktails and delicacies. Looking at the samples used in the shoot, my mouth began to water even after that sumptuous meal and a cup of Han Wok's Syphon Brewed Coffee.
The coffee was really good and could rival any overpriced coffee franchise out there. One thing I noticed was that they're giving out free newspapers to all patrons! According to Jack, he'll be setting up a Wi-Fi station there so every visitor could access the Internet while sipping their coffee or eating their favorite meals.
As I head back home, I can't help but notice how Han Wok stands out among the other food establishments in the area. If you're tired of all the commercialized food out there and want your taste buds pampered, then I advice you to visit Han Wok Blue Wave and try their delectable delicacies. You won't regret it I guarantee.
Han Wok Chinese Cuisine is located at :
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
I accepted the invitation from Mr. Jack Wong and wife Helen, fellow entrepreneurs from Wong Group of Companies to come and visit their Han Wok Chinese Restaurant at the Blue Wave Commercial Complex at D. Macapagal Avenue. I was really glad that I did.
Together with Jack and Helen, we were joined by Jo Frando of Taxmaster Accounting Services, Nathaniel Torilla of Han Wok Blue Wave and Rome Sherriff Montoya of Worldnet Business Center over lunch. They were a really cool group and I had a chance to learn more about Wong Group of Companies and their world-class services.
(from left: Nathan Torilla, Rome Montoya, who's that bald guy?, Jack Wong, Helen Wong and Jo Frando)
We were served with Sauteed Squid with Bell peppers, with really tender and tasty squid with just the right touch of chili and spices. Another dish wash their Chami special, one of the best pancit dish I've ever tasted. Not to be outdone was the Fried String Beans with Minced Pork, that tingles the palate with just the right combination of vegetables and meat. But my favorite was the Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, which I mistakenly thought of as pork due to the very tasty morsels that I began to lose count of calories I'm ingesting.
Chami Special
According to Jack, what we had we're not even Han Wok's specialties although the dishes could rival any Chinese restaurant meals I've laid my taste buds on. Looking at the gallery of food portraits on the wall, I could see that they have 3 Cups Chicken in Hotpot, Poached Tofu, Beef Hofan Guisado, Chili Shrimp with Snow Peas and a whole lot more. I would surely come back for more of these good stuff and write about it here.
I was really surprised with how varied the dishes were, which can cater to any preference and diet that their customers would have. Here's one thing that's awesome - the price was really competitive for a Chinese restaurant of this caliber. They even have econo meals for those on the budget but looking at the flyers they had on these meals, they're only "econo" on the price tag but not on the food. Really cost effective!
3 Cups Chicken in Hotpot
At that time, a photo shoot was ongoing as Han Wok Blue Wave is boosting their product offerings with more dish selections, cocktails and delicacies. Looking at the samples used in the shoot, my mouth began to water even after that sumptuous meal and a cup of Han Wok's Syphon Brewed Coffee.
The coffee was really good and could rival any overpriced coffee franchise out there. One thing I noticed was that they're giving out free newspapers to all patrons! According to Jack, he'll be setting up a Wi-Fi station there so every visitor could access the Internet while sipping their coffee or eating their favorite meals.
As I head back home, I can't help but notice how Han Wok stands out among the other food establishments in the area. If you're tired of all the commercialized food out there and want your taste buds pampered, then I advice you to visit Han Wok Blue Wave and try their delectable delicacies. You won't regret it I guarantee.
Han Wok Chinese Cuisine is located at :
Blue Wave Commercial Complex
D. Macapagal Ave.,
cor. EDSA Ext Pasay City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel Nos: 474-5710; 710-3853
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
Friday, March 6, 2009
BLONDE AND BLUE EYES
This is the winning speech delivered by Patricia Evangelista, a Mass Communication sophomore at the University of the Philippines (UP) and a member of the UP debating team, at the 2004 International English Speaking Competition conducted by the English Speaking Union (ESU) in London last Friday, May 14. 2004. This is a bit outdated by I just want to share it with you, particularly in the wake of this global crisis sweeping across the world.
The competition had 60 contestants representing English speaking countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Patricia received her award in November 2004 at Buckingham Palace from His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and president of the ESU. The board of judges' decision was unanimous, according to contest chairman Brian Hanharan of the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).
--------------------------------------------------------------
BLONDE AND BLUE EYES
When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white. I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!
More than four centuries under western domination does that to you. I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines; the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino Diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.
There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, and the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.
Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino - a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.
Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home. Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.
A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and your musical artists in London's West End.
Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!
Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.
In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn’t preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.
And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.
Mabuhay and Thank you.
Shared by:
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
The competition had 60 contestants representing English speaking countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Patricia received her award in November 2004 at Buckingham Palace from His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and president of the ESU. The board of judges' decision was unanimous, according to contest chairman Brian Hanharan of the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).
--------------------------------------------------------------
BLONDE AND BLUE EYES
When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white. I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!
More than four centuries under western domination does that to you. I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines; the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino Diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.
There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, and the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.
Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino - a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.
Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home. Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.
A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and your musical artists in London's West End.
Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!
Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.
In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn’t preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.
And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.
Mabuhay and Thank you.
Shared by:
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
Monday, February 9, 2009
Heaven Meets Earth at Sun Moon Lake
(Photo courtesy of Taiwan.net)
Three hundred years ago, a group of people from the Thao tribe was seeking food and hunting wild animals in the hills and mountains of Formosa, when they spotted a great white deer running across the hills.1 With great determination and the desire to see more of this wonderful omen from the heavens, the hunters followed the deer. For three days and nights they tracked the great animal until it entered a forest where they lost traces of this seemingly ethereal apparition. Never giving up, the hunters continued with their quest and dared to enter the forest.
They finally got through to the other side, and what beheld them was like heaven on earth. A lake reflecting the brightness of the sun lay before their eyes with a backdrop of lush mountains and virgin forests. In the middle of the lake was a small round island, with the southern part shaped like the crescent of a new moon, while the northern part appeared like the sun. The hunters named the island Lalu and the body of water Sun Moon Lake because of these features. Due to the rich surroundings and magnificent scenery, the tribe decided to settle and live there.2
Located in the middle of Nantou County in Taipei City and rising above sea level at 748 meters is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. The lake has an average depth of 40 meters and covers an area of 7.7 square kilometers. 1 The lake is surrounded by Mount Shuishe and Mount Daijan, appearing like enormous guardians watching over this magical place, which is considered holy ground by the Thao tribe. 2 The emerald green waters of the lake that is almost crystalline in its clarity, reflects these mountains and other hills that the Japanese named Lalu “Jade Island” during their occupation of Taiwan at the height of World War II.
Sun Moon Lake is a very popular tourist attraction in Taiwan, with natural forests ideal for nature lovers and bird watchers. Blessed with an abundance of natural resources and vegetation, the region near the lake teems with birds, insects and other wildlife.3
The combination of mountain and water scenery creates a natural beauty that is often depicted in Chinese landscape paintings that has survived the ages. Visitors are enchanted with the various changes in mist formations at different times of the day, creating a variety of moods that is impossible to capture in one single view. This reason alone makes visitors and tourists prolong their stay in an attempt to see and experience the beauty of the lake in all its forms. 4
The early morning mist at dawn covers the surface of the lake with an eerie blanket that signifies something great and magnificent lies hidden beneath this veil. As the sun slowly rises, the mist gently dissolves revealing the utter beauty of the lake as it reflects surrounding images while the community around the lake wakes up to the sound of music from Mother Nature’s singers. At dusk, the sun settles but leaves rays of brilliant gold shimmering across the surface of the lake. 4 As the evening comes to a close, the fading cacophony of lights and sound ebbs away, appearing like a scene from a brilliantly produced fantasy movie. However, no human creation will be able to reproduce the natural beauty of this piece of heaven on earth.
Aside from its natural beauty, the region around the Sun Moon Lake is home to various cultural and historical sites that makes it a prime tourist destination from visitors from around the world. Famous scenic spots include the Itashao, Lalu Island, the Syuentzang Temple, the Tsen Pagoda and the Wenwu Temple. The Wenwu Temple, which is located in the northern part of the lake, pays homage to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism. This tall and splendid temple that was designed following the features of the surrounding mountains also pays homage to General Yue Fei of the Southern Song Dynasty as well as to the great general Shu States of the Three Kingdoms.
The following diagram shows scenic spots that are located along the periphery of the lake. The lake can be reached by bus directly from Taichung or from Taipei. If by car, the lake can be reached by the major freeways which interconnect to the provincial highways leading directly into the lake. 3
Scenic Spots Surrounding the Sun Moon Lake
(Photo courtesy of SunMoonLake.gov.tw)
REFERENCES:
Δ Travelchinaguide.com: Sun Moon Lake
Δ Wikipedia: Sun Moon Lake
Δ Taiwan.net: Tourism
Δ SunMoonLake.gov.tw
======
Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
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(Photo courtesy of SunMoonLake.gov.tw)
REFERENCES:
Δ Travelchinaguide.com: Sun Moon Lake
Δ Wikipedia: Sun Moon Lake
Δ Taiwan.net: Tourism
Δ SunMoonLake.gov.tw
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Peter Allan C. Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Entreplink Philippines - Moderator
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
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