Home for the Holidays (Part 1): Bangar and Luna, La Union

- Dec. 23-25, 2023, Saturday to Monday.

- Since my last series in Japan (which isn't a long time ago), a lot has happened in my life. The most significant being the passing of my mom. Since we're one less person in the family now, we decided to spend the holidays in the province so my sibling and I can spend more time with our dad. For me, personally, it was a chance to see the province again after not being there for so long.

- On the 23rd, we left Manila early in the morning to go to Bangar, La Union, where our store is. Along the way, my dad was kind enough to have a brief stopover at the Sikh Temple (gurudwara) in San Fernando, La Union. My dad has mentioned this temple to me for many years now, but this was my first time to visit it. For the longest time, the gurudwara here in Manila has been the only gurudwara in the country, until the past decade when more Hindu and Sikh temples across the country have been built. This is officially the first gurudwara outside Metro Manila that I have visited, and the third in the Philippines, after Manila and Marikina.

Shri Guru Nanak Niwas Temple.

Stained glass window from the inside. This is an image of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

Main prayer hall.

Instruments for kirtans.

Image of Guru Nanak at the langar.

- After having some chai and mithai (tea and Indian sweets) with the volunteer at the gurudwara, we went ahead to Bangar, which wasn't too far away from San Fernando. Not long after settling down, we had dinner. While the rest of the family called it a night, I still had much energy to explore and absorb the festive energy of Christmas in the province. That night I went around the plaza and the town carnival. They were exactly how I wanted them to be: cozy, colorful, and chaotic. (Yes, I think there is such as thing as a cozy kind of chaos. It's the same feeling I have when going around the streets of Chinatown in Manila.)

Plaza.

Giant tree.

At the carnival.

I'm intrigued by these little games.

I honestly stick out like a sore thumb. They just know I'm not from there.

HAHAHAHA. You ride this train inside the horror house.

Bangar Arch.

- On the 24th I had a chance to visit De Castro's Loom Weaving, one of the prominent weaving centers of inabel fabric in the Ilocos Region. Since it was the holidays, the weavers were not in their stations so I was not able to interact with them. However, I was still able to get some inabel products from their store!

I love their colorful weaves!

See the design.

Like the colors of the rainbow!

King-sized blankets.

Visit them in Bangar!

Weaving looms.

Too bad there wasn't anyone there.

Here is Ms. Lucia, putting fringes on the white blanket.

- I did not do much for the rest of the day, although the family was able to have a hearty meal to welcome Christmas later that night. I didn't think of doing much on Christmas since I figured most places would be closed. Boy was I wrong.

- I thought of visiting the Luna Watchtower, also known as "baluarte", which refers to some kind of fortification. The Luna Watchtower is a 400-year-old tower (or what's left of it) during the Spanish era. As most watchtowers, it was used to see if any danger was coming, like pirates or forces of nature.

- There were so many tourists at the watchtower and it was nearly impossible to take a nice photo because it was also during the peak time of the afternoon. Gladly I was still able to take nice photos, and even meet one of my friends there! By the way, there are also locals who will offer to take photos of you with the baluarte. When they approach you, try to see if they're legit or not (because they're not official employees). If you see that they seem to have customers, then it's most likely safe to give your camera or phone to them. These people don't charge a specific amount; they live on tips. I gave the lady a nice tip because she was able to take photos EXACTLY the way I wanted, and many other shots with her own style. I was frankly impressed!

Baluarte from the back.

Fancy seeing you here, Cathy!

Inside the baluarte.

Photo by one of the "photographers" in the area.

I mean just look at that nice shot.

We were asked to do a "candid" shot.

This is just me again, from the back.

From the front side.

The very rocky beach in the baluarte area. More on the rocks in a bit.

- My friend Cathy told me that Bahay na Bato ("House of Rocks") was open on Christmas, and it was a place I really wanted to visit again. Last year, my family went to Bangar for New Year's and we visited this place. I didn't know this existed, so I wasn't prepared. I only took photos of my mom, who really enjoyed it there. It was one of my last few travel memories with her. This year, I made it a point to have my own photos in this place. Bahay na Bato was only a few kilometers away from the baluarte, around a 5-minute drive. 

- "Bahay na Bato" was a rest house owned by doctors until they hired Korean stone and wood artist Bong Kim to create artworks for the house. The house and its surrounding area are now surrounded by endless rock and pebble mosaics, sculptures, you name it. The rocks are all from the beach in front of the house. "Bahay na Bato" opened to the public in 2015. Part of it is open today for accommodations, and the place can also be rented for events. It reminds me a little bit of Pinto Art Gallery in Rizal (see here).

Here we are!

I like the idea of the room, but there were just too many rocks haha.

Balcony at the second floor.

A mix of color, wood, and rocks.

Ground floor, what I gues used to be the living room?

The full moon was huge that day.

Chill by the beach.

Another cottage also served as a "museum" with plenty of local artefacts displayed in an artistic way. 

Mosaic floors. I love the giant squid.

Another cottage full of rocks.

- I spent so much time walking around and taking many many photos of myself. As expected it was also crowded with tourists. But hey, at least I was still able to enjoy myself, and I didn't spend my Christmas idle!

- My first few days in the province proved more exciting than I thought they would be, and the fun was just beginning. The next leg of my adventures was one I looked for ward to the most - Vigan City!

(Part 4) Germany's Bavarian South: A Peasant in Munich's Fancy Palaces!!

- December 23, 2018, Sunday.

- Munich's well-preserved old-time charm has definitely made it one of Germany's most popular tourist destinations. Even though I have seen much of Munich's old town, I knew I had to see the royal side of Munich. While I had a good background on Bavarian royalty during my visit to Hohenschwangau (see Part 2 here), Munich itself has its own royal treasures to brag.

- At the north exit of Munich Hauptbahnhof (main stration,) I took an early morning tram ride to the Nymphenburg Palace (Tram 19, Nymphenburg Palace stop) located at the western side of Munich. It was the summer palace of the Bavarian rulers in the late 1600s, and until today, some of the distant descendants of royal family reside in certain parts of the palace. Most of the castle, however, functions as a museum and is open to the public.

Nymphenburg.

Even though it was winter, there were still many swans and ducks.

I'm glad none of them chased and bit me.

Main entrance.

- The Nymphenburg Palace is well known for its ornate interiors and Roman-god-adorned gardens. The statues of the Roman gods, however, were hidden in wooden boxes when I went there; this is usually done to stone/marble statues in Europe during winter so they won't be damaged by harsh winds, rain, and snow. Inside the palace, guests are welcomed by its pastel-colored marble hall. I was lucky that I met a Japanese lady who was good at taking photos, since I couldn't bring or use my tripod inside the castle.

The Marble Hall.

The Chinese Cabinet.

The Gallery of Beauties. This room has picture frames with paintings of women from different ethnic groups and occupations.

The room where King Ludwig II of Bavaria was born.

Just before leaving. Thank you kind Japanese lady.

- Outside the main palace, one can find several buildings surrounding it. In the early days, these functioned as storage buildings or bathing houses, but all them are museums today. The most prominent museums are located in the royal stables. The building of the former royal stables now houses an exhibition on royal carriages and porcelain.

The horses are fake (or perhaps taxidermied horses?)

Chariot from behind.

They had royal sleds too!!

This is porcelain!!

More porcelain.

- After leaving the palace I rode the tram back to Munich Hauptbahnhof, passed by St. Pauls' Church, and walked to Theresienwiese, which is an open space familiar to many because as it is the official venue of the Munich Oktoberfest. However, I was there for a different reason, and Oktoberfest was long over. (People can also reach both St. Paul's Church and Theresienwiese via the U-Bahn, Theresienwiese Station.) Every winter, Theresienwiese holds the Tollwood Festival (and in Olympiapark during summer.) The Tollwood Festival is an even that is supposed to celebrate ecological awareness, though it is usually known as an art and culture event. Apart from its international bazaar, with unending stuff from India, Africa, Nepal, and other parts of Europe, it also serves a wide range of cuisines around the world. I was able to eat my first bowl of "pierogi" (pi-RO-ghi), or Polish dumplings.

St. Paul's Church, built in 1906.

Tollwood at Theresienwiese, with the St. Paul's Church at the back.

- That afternoon, I walked back to the old town and spent the afternoon at the Residenz Museum. In Part 1 (click here), I showed a photo of the Residenz's facade, which to many people might look plain and gray. Do not be fooled!! This is the biggest palace in Munich, so big that it can easily take up half a day to see everything. I only bought tickets to see the main residence halls since the museum was closing a bit earlier that day, and I wasn't allowed to buy tickets to see the other wings anymore because I wouldn't be able to maximize my time. Well, the main residence is the most important part of the palace anyway, so I didn't mind.

No to bullying.

Saw this (including the one before) on the way to the Residenz Museum/

Had to pass by this one on the way to the Residenz too. This was another palace called the Alter Hof, the former residence of Louis IV.

- If the Nymphenburg Palace was a bit easy to navigate since it was a bit small, the Residenz Museum was Munich's answer to Hogwarts. The rooms were all over the place despite the guide arrows, and some pathways gave interesting surprises, like a walkway that goes through the second floor of the palace chapel - and it also happened that there was a flautist and a harpist practicing for a performance later that night. The most impressive rooms were the Renaissance Antiquarium (hall of antique Roman artifacts) and the Baroque Ancestral Gallery. The palace is quite old by the way, being built around the 1300s until it was expanded in the next few centuries.

First room, and boom, antiques.

The Renaissance Antiquarium.

Of course they also had artifacts from the east.

The beds were really high and they didn't look comfortable. Interestingly, people back then were a lot shorter. 

Music room.

Musicians practicing at the big hall. They were have a performance that night.

Stone Room.

See the harpist and the flautist?

King's private prayer room.

Function hall.

Chinese goods, and a Chinese boy.

Bedroom of the elector.

Baroque Ancestral Gallery.

- I hastily went back to my hostel after visiting the Residenz Museum because it was raining that afternoon. I also wanted to rest, perhaps have an early dinner, and pack my things again for the next leg of my trip. Four days was too short to explore the whole of Munich! While I was already being comfortable in Munich, especially since I also had a wonderful at my hostel, I had a hard time containing my excitement since I was off to another country beside Germany, and to a city made famous by "The Sound of Music" - Salzburg, Austria!!

- Please don't forget to read about my other adventures in Germany, Austria, and Slovakia here:

GERMANY:

Berlin and Potsdam: Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here

Munich and Schwangau:  Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here

AUSTRIA:

Salzburg: Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here

Vienna: Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here
SLOVAKIA:

Bratislava: Click here