Grand Canyon ...

The Grand Canyon Visit ... while you are 
there, one could not help but say all praises to 
the beautiful creation of the Almighty ... 
by bus we travelled to the state of Arizona 
from Las Vegas... not minding the long 
travel because reaching the place was 
indeed rewarding.

On tour were people of different nationalities 
with only one purpose to marvel the beauty 
of the mountain, the shapes, the curves that 
were formed as the water passes through.  
So amazing that everyone of us 
just want to be silent and bring home 
the splendor and the grandiose site in 
this world.

Awesome should I say seeing grasses 
clinging to the rocks, the stones sitting 
at the deepest ground, the branches 
of trees reaching out to the other end of the 
line and the sky beautifully adding color 
to this wonderful world of nature. 

I salute those who labored for making 
this park as pretty as it could be, 
a place where man could reach out 
to nature and hopefully be motivated 
with this nature's park of participating 
and at the same time embracing the call of 
protecting the environment. 

If given the chance, I would love to travel 
to the canyon again and again, 
the Grand Canyon ... perfectly amazing !

Travelling by train is more than fun ....

Travelling by train is an experience and a lot more fun ...

Twas my first train ride actually in a foreign land and it 

was a long ride of 18 hours from Orlando, Florida to Washington, DC ...

Since it was a long trip, we checked in our luggage and 

with me in the coach was my hand carry bag with 

some personal effects, cookies and bottled water.

I didn't know it was cold inside but other passengers 

who were regular train riders were prepared for the 

long trip coz they brought with them blankets 

and even pillows.

What I was excited about were the sites that 

this long wheeled train passes through. 

So I made sure my camera was with me all the time. 

I chose the window seat so everything was within my sight ...

After four hours of our travel that started late 

afternoon, it was already night and the cold became so 

intense that I had to move to the cafeteria for some

hot coffee until it was daybreak. After freshening 

up I went back to my coach and there again I started 

clicking my camera ...

I forgot all about the cold discomfort because nature's 

beauty amazed me.

How could one resist what this wonderful world that has

to offer with scenes I captured despite the fast moving 

vechile I was into ... like this monument 

"The Pencil" towering from afar

Nonetheless, all I can say is that never should man 

ever spoil the beautiful creation of God ...

I could only be thankful of the many blessings around 

me ! ... Thanks for this wonderful experience as I 

was able to share some photos I took during that 

one train ride ... with an interesting partner, hubby.

Pretty City in Southern Davao

This city, very near to the city where I reside, is Tagum City. It is an hour travel ride by land to Davao City where I live.

My first local trip early January this year was to this neighboring city for a job related event of covering the inauguration of the first Mindanao Cancer Center there. And to my surprise, Tagum has become an interesting city.

Nearing the place, I was surprised with what I saw - the four lanes road well paved and guarded by tall palm trees lined up perfectly in the highway.

At the downtown area I saw several low rise structures, new establishments, commercial buildings, malls and even coffee shops.

And having the chance  to interview several times before and now the city's chief executive, Mayor Rey Uy is bent on changing the landscape of the city into one that is progessive and developed, building landmarks that will attract visitors and tourists both domestic and foreign.

Of the latest is the ongoing construction of the City Hall and its Ampitheater. The group was toured to the construction site and were briefed on the project.

The designs are sort of futuristic, handled by an architect who hails from Tagum and now resides and works in Australia.

Leaving the site and when I looked back I saw this wide entrance that would lead to the City Hall. With several lamp posts around, I think this is a pretty place with more green space and at night when all the lights are on.

There are other buildings too, like this office and the newest hotel.

Just like in the city that I visited lately, government places are frequented by tourists because the structures are captive and inviting, a landmark which is a must visit place, just like the Capitol and the White House in Washington, DC where tourists come to have their photographs taken. Sharing my photos with the landmarks there.

I think Mayor Uy was inspired by what he observed in his travel to the US as well, where he saw the streets perhaps in downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles, California where tall palms trees lined up on both sides of the road as shown in the four photos below that I myself took during my visit there.

The above photos are really amazing but Tagum City is one to be closely watched where all on going constructions will soon be up even as new ones keep coming. 

And yes the highway road in Tagum City (please see photo below) with the palms on both sides is comparable to LA's well maintained roads and trees. Pretty City !