Ironwulf.net Ver 6: En Route - Philippines, Travel, Photography

“Same Same… but different” is one of the popular quotes you’ll see and hear when you visit Vietnam. And it’s funny in much ways this is how I saw things as well during my recent visit to Northern Vietnam. I guess it’s one of those trips where I’m reminded more of home and really appreciate what we got. Don’t get me wrong, Vietnam and it’s natural wonders have a unique charm on their own, but I found it not that far being a neighboring country of the Philippines.

I never really expected to have an exhibit. But when opportunity comes knocking at your door, you have to be ready to accept and act on it. So I did. When Alcove Perspective, opened themselves for exhibit proposals early this year, I sent 5 4R photos samples and a concept proposal. In truth I was just trying my luck. With a lot of great photographers out there, I thought that I may have a slim chance on passing through their screening committee, but I just had to try or I may regret not having. Besides, I got nothing to loose as well. A couple of days later, I got an email that my exhibit proposal was accepted. I was ecstatic. I mean, who would have thought.

The word Emeishan literally means “Delicate Eyebrow Mountain” describing the quality of its two peaks at the summit. Continuing from where we left, alighting at the Cable Car Station, it is still a few minutes hike at the altitude of around 3000+meters above sea level. At that height, even with the sun already high up in the sky beating down on us, the temperature was still cold, but still ebarable enough without a gloves if have high tolerance for the cold.

Emeishan (Mt Emei, Mt O-mei or Emei Shan 峨嵋山 ) is one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism in China. Located in Sichuan Province, South West of China, it shares its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation with Leshan’s Giant Buddha. Standing at 3,099m above sea level, it boasts of breath taking views, mysterious natural wonders and historical Buddhist Sites which makes it one of China’s popular tourist destination. And this morning we start our ascent to this sacred mountain.

One of the must-see places when you visit Iloilo province in Panay Island is the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church or most commonly known as the Miagao Church. This church is one of the four Baroque churches in the Philippines inscribe in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. On our first day in Iloilo City, the coastal town of Miagao is our first top where we stayed with out kind host Tita Linda.

Continuing on, from the Leshan Buddha Park trail, we are now headed to the actual site of Giant Buddha. The Giant Buddha was carved beside the red sandstones of Mount Lingyun at the eastern part of Leshan City in Sichuan facing the Dadu river. It is still part of China’s Mount Emei Scenic Area and Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We only spent a night at Chongqing and the next day we moved on westward to Leshan. Found at the south west portion of Sichuan Province, Leshan, which means “Happy Mountain” is home to a pair of another UNESCO World Heritage sites. Both sites Emei Shan and Leshan Giant Buddha are a mix of cultural and natural areas. Our first stop was the latter. So after checking out of Nanbin Hostel, we went out to the rainy morning streets, took a cab back to Caiyuan Ba Bus Station.