Photo Wednesday: Gates of Heaven

Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were
looking through the gates of Heaven.
- John Lubbock 

 

Baywalk along Manila Bay is a popular place of recreation among Manileños. In the morning, the 2 kilometer stretch is full of people. Runners, joggers, and walkers all share the ample space beside Roxas Boulevard. In the afternoon, the romantics come out and enjoy the world famous Manila Bay sunset. It is said to be one of the most breathtaking sunset in the world. Be sure to check it out when you are in the area. Let your imagination run wild and you might just see the gates of Heaven.

 

 

(Photo: Manila Bay, 2009)

Road Trippin' over at the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

 

 

Cited as one of America's scenic highways, the Blue Ridge Parkway stretches over North Carolina all the way to Virginia. Along the highway, there are several scenic points where motorists can stop and enjoy the  scenery. Ravens Roost is one such place. Located at milepost 10.7 on the Virginia side of the parkway, it is a great side trip prior to a wine tasting spree in the area.

 

 

 

 

Aside from the "official" viewing deck, there are other interesting spots not far from Ravens Roost that offer equally magnificent views of the highway as well as the mountains.

 

 

 

Just be careful while traversing the sharp and pointed rocks over the steep cliff. Be on the lookout also for poison ivies (at least there were some when we went there).

 

 

 Don't lean too far! It's a long way down.

 

 

If you do decide to go on looking for secret cliffs like we had, do it another day or prior to any wine tasting tours you have planned. The idea of danger is always fun, but one wrong step and it would be bye-bye world. Don't do it our way -- that is .. rock climbing after wine tasting.

 

What were we thinking, you ask. The truth is, we were not thinking at all. Our trainer took us wine tasting in the morning and rock climbing after. Maybe he thought his "secret" cliff is too good to pass up when it was just along the highway back to Charlottesville where we were staying.  The wine robbed us of reason for that brief period of time.

 

Looking back, maybe the idea that we had  just wine, were not wearing proper footwear, and that we were about to traverse a steep cliff sort of awakened senses we didn't  know we had.  (read: we were extra careful.) Our senses worked full-time that whole time that we were still full of energy at sun down. It was as if our bodies were recharged. lol

 

It may have been liberating to do something spontaneous and for once not think of the consequence, but we were just lucky nothing bad happened. Not everyone will be lucky so don't risk it. Don't drink and climb!

 

 

 

** Please excuse the morbid closing as I am now back to my lucid and over-analytical state. :)

 

 

Photo Wednesday: Capones beckons

 

 

Capones Island in Pundaquit in the province of Zambales offers a different landscape from the usual coconuts found in a tropical island. It has big boulders and desert-like scenery that is sure to amaze anyone. It is unlike any other island I have been to.

 

 

 

 (Photo: Capones Island, Zambales, 2009)

Hiking at Shenandoah National Park

The Shenandoah National Park is sprawled over eight Virginia counties. A large chunk of its 105 mile stretch also covers the Appalachian Trail.  Hence, there are over 500 miles (800 km) of trails within the park. One of the easier trails is the Whiteoak Canyon Trail in Albemarle County. It is 2.65 miles (4.26 km) of alternating flat and steep hike over smooth and rocky terrain.

 

 

 

There are six waterfalls along the trail.  The first waterfall is a welcome sight to hikers after the first mile. This is the first of the three Lower Whiteoak Falls and is the tallest of the six standing tall at 86 feet.

 

 

 

Just a few minutes from the first waterfall is the second Lower Whiteoak Fall. It is much smaller in comparison but creates a mini slide for the hikers.

 

 

Along the way, the scenery does not fail to disappoint. Wooden bridge, smooth and rough boulders, small ponds, interesting cliffs, and the Blue Ridge Mountain are just some of the views that you can see along the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We only completed approximately 2 miles before we called it a day. We didn't know that it was barely a mile more to the sixth falls. Had we known, it might have encouraged us to go on with the hike some more. Or not. Some enjoyed the hike more than the others. For a pack that consisted of one who is afraid of heights and another who was not into hiking, it was a great hike and a refreshing experience nonetheless. Another one for the books.

 

 

 

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_National_Park
http://backpacking-trips.suite101.com/article.cfm/day-hiking-at-whiteoak-canyon-shenandoah-national-park-va-usa

 

Photo Wednesday: Island Dogs

 

These dogs, their young, and their masters were the only ones living in the island. They looked so adorable wading in the clear waters of the sea while their young looked on from the shore. This was the scene that bid us farewell as we left the island of Antonia in Carles in the province of Iloilo.

 

(Photo: Antonia Island, Carles, Iloilo, 2010) 

Wine Tasting at the heart of the Monticello Wine Trail

It all started with some cheese and crackers and some wine one friday night. One of our trainers invited us to his home for dinner. With no destination set for the weekend, he took us wine tasting in the area.

 

 

 Not known to the general public, Virginia also produces wine. Thomas Jefferson tried to grow them in the 1800s but failed. He would have been pleased to know that there are now over a hundred vineyards and wineries in Virginia.

 

Our first stop was the family owned King Family Vineyards. The vineyard has a stunning ground and backdrop. It seems to be  a popular choice for people as the place was packed when we visited. There was a Polo game going on while we were there. That made the experience more exciting even though we had to content ourselves by watching it from a distance. We were not sure if the event was exclusive or not. It was a first time for all of us to go on a wine tasting tour. The first wine on the list was Viognier (vee-ohn-yay), a white wine. The taste was subtle and became my favorite.  Even though, I liked their Rosé, I learned that I was not a great fan of red wines.  Good: Great setting. Polo games. Bad: Expensive bottles. Crowded in some days.

 

 

 

 

By the time we arrived at our second winery for the day, we already had this funny look plastered on our flushed faces. Just like the first winery, Pollak Vineyards also has a great landscape. It almost felt like being in Italy. Here, I confirmed to myself that red wines and I are not best buddies.  To temper its strong taste, I nibbled my way to all their crackers. I was not alone in this endeavor, I learned later. Their Durant White - a white wine, however, ranked high at the top of my list. Good: Private.  Cheaper bottles than Kings. Fancy interiors. Great outdoors. Bad: Had to share crackers with my co-trainees after my bowl was emptied fast. lol

 

  

   

 

As if two wineries and a bad hangover were not enough. One of my co-trainees and I headed to another winery the weekend after. This time with some of her relatives visiting from Virginia Beach. Jefferson Vineyards, in comparison with the two other wineries we previously visited, had a bit of a rustic feel. Their crowd drawer, however, was that apart from the wine tasting they provide a tour of their grounds complete with a guide who explains the basic rudiments of wine making. Good: Friendly. The sommelier who served us even allowed us to share the wine from our glasses to our non-paying companions. Free tours. Bad: Wine tasting area is smaller in comparison. Not much picturesque landscape.

 

 

  

 

All wineries have a $5 tasting fee with an average of 10 different kinds of wines on their list. All let their guests take home the wine glasses used during the tasting. Coming from someone who is not a wine drinker and a cheap skate at that, it was dollars well spent. Lesson learned: laughter, fun, and wine all make a great combination. Cheers!

 

 

King Family Vineyards
6550 Roseland Farm
Crozet, Virginia 22932

Pollak Vineyards
330 Newtown Road
Greenwood, VA 22943

Jefferson Vineyards
1353 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottesville, VA 22902

 

 

Note: I purposely left out any review about the wines for the reason that I have no expert knowledge about them enough to make an objective assessment. :)

 

Photo Wednesday: Firsts

 

 

What do you do when you have less than 24 hours to spare in a city with countless gambling halls?

Due to a series of unfortunate events (read here), I was left with less than 24 hours to spend in Kansas City, MO. Fortunately, I didn't have to spend it just sleeping in our hotel room. 

After my parents and brother picked me up from the airport, we proceeded directly to Ameristar Casino and Hotel to eat dinner. I'm usually not the best companion to bring in buffets (read: I eat like a bird), but after spending almost 12 hours in airports and airplanes, I was famished. Then we tried the slot machines. It was my first time to set foot in a casino. I was surprised the security people didn't ask for my I.D. (read: I have baby face). Anyway, after spending a few dollars, we called it a night (or day). Surprisingly, I wasn't that exhausted that I was able to snap a picture of the Kansas City Skyline before dozing off and as soon as I woke up the morning after. See pictures, here.

Spending time with my parents for the first time out of the country... it was bliss. Even for just 19 hours.

 

(Photo: Ameristar, Kansas City, Missouri, 2009)