I brought my boyfriend to the Philippines. Here’s what happened

By Haidee V. Eugenio

He’d never been to the Philippines, and he didn’t know what to expect.

From the moment we got off the plane, Phillip was in for a lot of surprises — from having his world turned upside down to having a meal at the foot of a waterfall, dancing by the rice paddies, crashing a tricycle and having his feet nibbled on by fish.

Here are some highlights of that trip:

1. ‘You turn me upside down’

Yes, this could be the way to blog using your laptop — upside down.

This is how we scale a three-story building.

Literally, our world was turned upside down and life got quirkier than it already is when we got to, well, Upside Down Museum.

This place will not only put your imagination and quirkiness to the test, but will also give you some needed workout.

Flex those arm and leg muscles a bit.

Familiar sights and experiences come with amazing twists. The living room, the kitchen, the office, the bedroom, the bathroom and the laundry room turned upside down without getting that dizzy feeling.

Our gravity-defying stunt. We just got started.

Perspectives shift in funny ways. The small becomes big, and vice versa. The illusions are hilarious. Don’t miss the Mirror House.

“How did you do that?” you’d ask.

No worries, the museum staff are happy to be of help. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Take your time.

All that fun for an equivalent of about $9.

2. Lunch at the foot of a waterfall, and a piece of Berlin Wall

People wait for their turn to the buffet table, while their feet are in gentle water from a waterfall. It’s an eat-all-you-can territory. Come hungry.

Phillip didn’t think a place exists where you can have a feast at the foot of a waterfall, with your feet soaked in shallow running water.

The waterfall restaurant is the most popular and most unique feature of Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort, in the border of Laguna and Quezon Province.

It’s one of its kind in the world. Other restaurants the world over have water views and features, but this one is literally in the water and you are touching the water.

Kids get to frolic in the same water while their families get their food. My nieces and nephews almost ignored the food because of the excitement of being in a huge “swimming pool.”

The waterfall in the background. I was standing on a concrete step, while his feet were in the water.

My niece and nephews totally frolicking in the waterfall.

You can also walk up to the waterfall for a quick splash to beat the heat. Or to take photos. Lots of them. The man-made waterfall is the first working hydroelectric plant in the country.

Filipino cuisines are spread on wooden tables adorned with fresh flowers and leaves, next to the waterfall. We sampled their offerings — pancit or rice noodle, kare-kare or Philippine stew with a thick savory peanut sauce, pork sinigang or pork in tamarind soup with vegetables, grilled tilapia fish, vegetable dishes and fresh coconut juice, among others. He got a second serving of banana cue on sticks.

But there’s so much more than the restaurant waterfall at Villa Escudero, a self-contained working coconut plantation. It was founded in the 1880s as a sugarcane plantation and was converted to a coconut plantation in the early 1900s.

Villa Escudero is a showcase of the country’s rich cultural heritage — from Philippine history to its cuisine, clothing, customs, traditions and rustic rural setting. It is a living and breathing museum. Check out the military relics on the wide lawn, too.

The staff are garbed in traditional Tagalog attire. They also get to serenade you with folk songs, with some western songs in the mix while you’re on a carabao ride on the way to the waterfall.

During weekends and holidays, the same staff and their families perform traditional Philippine dances, songs and musical instruments. They are professionally and artfully done, you’d think you’re watching a performance at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The private collections and world antiquities at Villa Escudero’s museum could put most public museums to shame because of how diverse and eclectic they are. I didn’t expect seeing a piece of Berlin Wall in there, but there it was.

The museum’s pink facade resembles a church, and a huge portion of the ground floor is dedicated to expensive religious relics and statues. It also showcases taxidermy. Lots of them. The second floor collections are equally intriguing.

For nature lovers, there’s a lot to experience: A river, the gardens, koi fish in ponds, the mountain views and resident bird species.

People paddle bamboo rafts in the still waters of the river. People can also fish using rod and reel.

You and your family can paddle a native bamboo raft or catch fish using rod and reel on the still waters of the river. Villa Escudero has also renovated the pools area, which has something for every age level.

If you haven’t had enough of the waterfall restaurant’s spread, there are other restaurants and coffee shops to whet your appetite.

Enjoy your dessert, milk shake, ice cream or coffee while you sit back, relax and enjoy the view of the river.

Villa Escudero’s villas for overnight stays (which I have yet to try) offer different types of accommodation for different types of budget, including riverside suites complete with a large outdoor patio with a hammock and air-conditioned rooms for comfort.

3.Three-wheel ride, and crashing it

We’re trying to properly drive a tricycle.

Sure, he’s been on all types of wheels, but not on a tricycle. It’s a popular mode of transportation in the Philippines, along with jeepneys.

If jeepneys are the kings of the road, well, tricycles are the kings of secondary and tertiary roads.

A tricycle is a three-wheeled public utility vehicle consisting of a motorcycle and an attached passenger’s side car.

As a first-time tricycle driver, he also tried his best to teach me how to drive it.

In one of our drives, he crashed it. Don’t worry, we’re perfectly fine and it resulted only in a minor dent on the cover of the sidecar wheel.

My parents and neighbors are probably still talking about it from time to time. After the tricycle episode, he passed up on driving the family SUV.

4. Philippine history in visual form

Since we couldn’t photograph most of what’s inside, we settled for this one with the name of the museum in the background.

No time to read up on Philippine history or want a refresher course? Ayala Museum in Makati’s business district got you covered.

Check out the Diorama Experience on the second floor. The 60 dioramas “are designed to be a comprehensive visual approach to Philippine history,” from pre-contact to different colonial periods to independence.

We also took our time at the “Gold of Ancestors,” a longstanding exhibit of more than 1,000 gold objects. The exhibit is touted as a celebration of the “sophisticated cultures that existed in the Philippines before colonization in the 16th century.”

Our burning question was, “What would you do if you have that much gold?”

5. Dancing in the rice paddies

Zumba workout on a narrow strip of road in the middle of rice fields. The Zumba instructor got right in front of us.

Raise your arms up to the beat of Zumba music, by the rice paddies on a Sunday morning.

We got up early on our first morning in Laguna to check out a weekend farmer’s mobile market and a leisure walk right by the rice paddies. The tricycle ride (it wasn’t him driving by the way) was on a dusty rough road.

We’re pretty sure this used to be a stand for the Zumba instructor in the middle of rice paddies. We tested it out if it’s sturdy enough.

Rice paddies and Mount Makiling in the background were a welcome sight. From a distance, we could hear the sound of dance music and people doing the Zumba on a narrow strip of road in the middle of rice fields.

We couldn’t resist it. We did the Zumba, too, by the rice fields along with dozens of people from different walks of life. It was a different twist to a morning workout, outside the city’s frenetic pulse.

What I also find admirable about all this is that the local government pays for the Zumba instructor and all people have to do is show up in their workout attire, enjoy the sunrise, get comfortable, move their arms, hips, thighs, legs to the beat of Zumba with the help of the instructor. All free of charge to anyone on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

After the unexpected Zumba workout and more leisure walks, we stuffed ourselves with delicacies served up by farmers. We had “goto” or rice porridge with chicken, boiled egg and fried garlic, fresh soursop, wonton or dumpling, quail eggs, and fresh young coconut juice.

Using his bolo, the coconut juice seller chopped off a portion of the shell so we could use it to scoop the coconut’s white meat.

We brought home fresh fruits and vegetables and other delicacies, and stopped by a neighborhood market for some fresh fish and meat products.

6. Want some lambanog?

That neighborhood market was where Phillip discovered Philippine lambanog, a coconut wine or vodka distilled from all-natural coconut nectar.

He got not just one but two bottles, one of which contained raisins for added flavor. It wasn’t even lunch time and we were savoring the newfound drink. Isn’t that the meaning of true vacation?

7. Jollibee: The national fast food chain

We were so hungry by the time we escaped Metro Manila’s traffic, which ran from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Alabang. So the first meal Phillip had in the Philippines was at, you guess it, Jollibee.

It’s the one along South Luzon Expressway, the first rest stop we saw after exiting the city. Jollibee serves food fast.

Plus, I missed Jollibee’s ChickenJoy, gravy sauce, palabok or rice noodle and others on its menu, so I got to have them on the first day back in the country.

Phillip was intrigued by the wasabi french fries, which was also new to me.

8. Enjoying sea life and Dr. Fish

Walk through a glass tunnel that offers an underwater view of sea creatures swimming overhead.

Phillip loves the ocean and the activities it offers, from diving to swimming and stand-up paddling. But because we were on vacation, I thought maybe Manila Ocean Park right on Manila Bay would do until we get back to Guam.

It’s the first world-class marine theme park in the Philippines, packing some 3,000 cubic meters of seawater which was filtered water from Manila Bay.

It features a sizeable Oceanarium, home to some 14,000 marine creatures indigenous to the Philippines and Southeast Asia, according to the facility.

We took our time visiting the different areas. We walked through a glass tunnel that offers an underwater view of sea creatures swimming overhead.

Some other features I remember from the trip was a jellyfish exhibit, the penguin park, and some snow. On top of the Oceanarium is a hotel called Hotel H2O.

Phillip and I took pampering to a different level at the park’s Fish Spa. It took me a while to get used to having therapeutic fish feast on my toes and share a tiny pool for the feet with dozens of strangers. Guess who screamed louder than I did the first time doctor fish came into contact with our feet and legs?

Doctor fish is called other names — nibble fish, kangal fish and bonefish. It nibbles on dead and dry skin cells from your tired feet, “leaving you with rejuvenated skin and a refreshing feeling the natural way,” as advertised.

We did this while watching Manila Bay’s sunset. We stayed there longer than we were supposed to, so we missed the sea lion show.

Doctor fish nibble on dead and dry skin cells from Phil’s feet.

We also almost missed all of “The Symphony” show, a performance involving fountains that shoot water 130 ft. high, helped by multimedia effects plus some songs. All I remember now is Celine Dion’s Titanic. Imagine that.

Before leaving the park, we saw some pedal cars with neon-colored LED lights. As any tourist would do, we took photos with them in the background.

9. Place your bet, and some luxuries

Marriott Hotel Manila’s rooftop pool overlooks a golf course and nearby skyscrapers and houses.

We tried our luck at the casinos of Resorts World Manila, which is marketed as the country’s first integrated resort, right outside the country’s main international airport. When they say it’s a one-stop, non-stop entertainment area, they’re not kidding.

The inspiration for the original main photo of this whole blog.

It’s also by the five-star Manila Marriott Hotel, thanks to his Marriott Rewards. It’s one of the most luxurious accommodations I’ve had in my years of travel.

The room and the rooftop pool overlook a golf course. Up there, you see the different faces of Metro Manila — from tall skyscrapers to slums, from greenery to not-so-pleasant views. It’s always an interesting case study.

10. ‘Foot for the Gods’

SM Mall of Asia, among the largest malls in Asia and the world, is a nice stop if at least to cool off after a city tour. It’s a retail therapy capital, but we spent most of our “malling” time checking out restaurants.

And then we saw the sign, “Foot for the Gods.” Our feet led us to this relaxation and therapeutic spa, giving our tired feet the deep tissue massage they need after days of walking.

There were no cubicles, it was dim, and most of the clients at the time were males — some in their business suit and some in their casual wear. The silence, however, was broken only by Phillip’s shriek followed by laughter, after his foot got a real deep massage he said he’s never had before. We’ll definitely go back to the place.

11. If these walls could talk

One of the arches in the museum adjacent to the more than 400-year-old San Agustin Church, in the Walled City of Intramuros.

It’s not everyday you get to walk on cobbled streets in the historic Walled City of Intramuros, a 64-hectare stone citadel built by the Spanish colonial government in 1571 to protect the city from foreign invasions.

It’s among the most intact, most visited and most photographed Spanish-era structure in the country.

We explored the more than 400-year-old San Agustin Church, a UNESCO heritage site. The ancient building survived World War II, earthquakes and calamities, and is the oldest stone church currently standing in the Philippines.

We also checked out the adjacent San Agustin Museum, which has a wide selection of religious and other cultural artifacts dating hundreds of years.

Its large stairs reminded us of the structures used in the Harry Potter movie series.

12. Chilling out on the rooftop

We spent considerable time hanging out at my parents’ house rooftop, which has good views of mountain ranges, trees, streets, tricycles and other vehicles passing, buildings, and houses.

It’s where stories and laughter were shared, food and drinks consumed, and relaxing and dozing off was allowed. Until you fell off the hammock. That caught us by surprise.

No time to dive in Palau? Here are 10 other things to do

By Haidee V. Eugenio

Palau, home of the amazing Rock Islands, offers so much more than scuba diving, snorkeling with jellyfishes, or being the location for the 10th season of the reality TV show, “Survivor.”

But first, a lesson in geography. Palau is located about 600 miles east of the Philippines and about 1,000 miles southwest of Guam.

If you live on Guam, you could use 25,000 United Airline miles to and from Palau, just like I did.

Palau has some 340 islands, of which only nine are inhabited by some 22,000 people. It is not a part of the United States. However, it is a constitutional government in free association with the United States.

While this pristine paradise is far from continental U.S., they use the mighty U.S. dollar and English is a commonly used language.

Conservation is big in Palau. Just how big? In 2003, Palau banned shark finning. It was also the first country to create a shark sanctuary in 2009. Six years later, it created the largest fully protected, no-take zone in the world.

And for history buffs, Palau’s Peleliu island was a scene of intense fighting in 1944 between American and Japanese forces during World War II.

Now that you’re quite familiar with Palau, here are some highlights from my own Palauan trip that did not necessarily require underwater explorations. Come join me in saying, “Alii!”

1. Rock Islands from up above

No Palau visit is complete without experiencing any or many of the 250 to 300 unique island formations collectively known as the Rock Islands. It’s the crown jewel of the island republic’s tourism.

If you think the only way to experience it is by diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or via a boat tour, think again. Marvel at their full glory from a higher angle. Hop on a helicopter for a tour.

I shared the afternoon tour with a couple from Czech Republic. They traveled far to get to Palau, and didn’t want to miss this aerial tour.

From this high vantage point, you get to cover a vast area from an entirely different angle. The limestone and coral uprises are undoubtedly a mesmerizing sight to behold so it’s no wonder they were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They’re so beautiful, and I told myself how lucky I was to be even in their presence.

Palau tourism posters and brochures feature many of Rock Islands’ tiny islets, some resembling green mushrooms rising from crystal clear blue water. The most photographed are the cluster called the 70 Islands, the Arch, Jellyfish Lake, Milky Way, Blue Corner, Blue Hole and German Channel.

Heed the pilot’s warning to hold your camera tight, unless you’re ready to lose it to the vast ocean down below.

From up there, you also get to see the whole of Palau’s capital of Koror, the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge, and countless numbers of blue lagoons, lush vegetation, and crystalline white sand beaches.

2. Jellyfish Lake

Jellyfish Lake used to be a part of most tours going to the Rock Islands. For wondrous reason. You get to swim with about 20 million harmless jellyfish in one lake.

But the lake’s popularity with international tourists took a toll on its ecological wonders. The jellyfish population has dwindled dangerously low and experts say it could take years to recover. So these days, tour companies have either limited or stopped their package tours to the lake.

Check back again in a few years. For now, enjoy Jellyfish Lake from above.

3. Micronesia’s oldest museum

Back on the ground, visit Belau National Museum.

Built in 1955, it serves as the oldest repository of ancient artifacts in Micronesia. If “Belau” sounds familiar, it’s because it is Palau’s traditional name.

Step back in time as you stand in front of a traditional Palauan bai or men’s house. An authentic, full-sized sample of this enduring cultural icon stands proudly on the grounds of the Belau National Museum.

A bai is a traditional meeting place for village clan chiefs deciding on matters important to their communities.

In keeping with traditions, building this replica didn’t make use of a single nail or metal screw. Rather, it was built in the traditional style of wood joinery and rope lashing. Its roof was thatched from the nipa palm.

Come closer. The interior beams showcase carved and painted pictographs that speak of Palauan legends and histories. So much to appreciate about unique island art, culture and traditions.

4. Largest, tallest waterfall

My adventures were not all up in the air. I took a long drive from Koror to Babeldaob, connected by the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge. Did I mention it was the first time I’ve driven a right-hand car?

The scenic drive was followed by a hike in the forest, with some muddy parts, to reach Ngardmau Waterfall.

It’s the largest and most photographed waterfall in Palau. It flows from Palau’s tallest peak, the nearly 800-feet high Mount Ngerchelchuus.

You know you’re almost there when you start hiking a trail parallel to the river. And much closer when you reach a bridge.

The waterfall is a great respite. After the hike, have some coconut juice from any of the friendly vendors.

5. Hop on a monorail, or try a zip line

A clunky monorail has found its way to modern times, in the middle of Palau’s jungle. You can access the Ngardmau Waterfall on foot or by this monorail I’m talking about.

If you enjoy a peaceful nature hike, with as much rest stops as you like, then do away with the monorail.

There’s also a zipline in the jungle, but I didn’t see anyone using it at the time. Maybe when it’s your time to visit Palau, there’d be more adventurous souls to join you as you zoom to new heights.

6. Washington, D.C. in Palau

From Ngardmau Waterfall, continue driving along a scenic route for another 20 minutes to reach Palau’s National Capital Complex.

You’d be surprised to see a huge complex resembling the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., so far away in the Pacific.

The place look deserted when I got there. I wasn’t a selfie fan so I asked the only person I saw, who was pruning grasses, to take my photo in front of the complex. Actually, he took several photos, just to be sure.

7. Drive around in a pink Mustang

A friend from Saipan, Nace, treated me to a Pink Mustang rental car. I only did what any tourist does.

To say that the car turned heads is an understatement, especially when I got a bit stuck in Koror traffic.

I got to share the afternoon stroll with fellow journalist, Bernadette, and her daughter, Mayumi, who made me watch parts of “Moana” while on vacation.

8. Lakefront and beach bars

What better way to cap a sun-drenched day of hiking than relaxing and hanging out at beach bars and lakefront properties?

Drop Off became my instant favorite for its atmosphere and food.

9. Dinner on a dive boat

They say if eating (and some drinking), sleeping and diving are the only three things you want to do on your vacation, a dive charter on a liveaboard is perfect for you. My vacation wasn’t perfect but it was close enough.

On my second night, I got invited to a liveaboard dive boat anchored off an area near the port, for dinner. This air-conditioned boat has a spacious deck, a bar, a fully functioning kitchen, a library and TV area. It could only mean food and fun when the dinner host is the chef. I called it “dinner with the Brits.”

10. The people

My trip to Palau was a short one but it was remarkable because of its natural beauty and because of the warmth of the people and the joy of reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen in years and are now in Palau.

I only scratched the surface of what this tropical paradise has to offer its visitors. Next time I visit Palau, I would surely come up with a whole new set of things to do and places to see.

On this American island, a festival is held in honor of mangoes

A wide variety of mangoes greeted festival goers.

By Haidee V. Eugenio

Guam is not only blessed with sun-kissed beaches butalso with good harvests of mangoes.

Mangoes are very much a part of village life that a festival is held in their honor every May.

They grow in abundance on this tropical American island especially in the southern village of Agat, which has been holding the Mango Festival for 12 years.

A mango mascot entices festival goers to a mango slush stall.

The 2018 festival, from May 25 to 27, showcased everything mango — from spicy pickled mangoes to thirst-quenching mango shakes and mango popsicles, doughnut mangoes, mango crepes, mango pies, mango cakes and other flavorful desserts with a touch of the revered fruit.

Others came just for a taste of raw or ripe mangoes, which are seasonal, just like most fruits.

Growers near and far also had the chance to bring home prizes and bragging rights for presenting their biggest, most bizarre, and most beautiful mangoes.

The biggest one was almost the size of a human face, while the most bizarre one seemed like a horn grew on the fruit. For the most beautiful ones, their skins are smooth, their colors are orange to red, and are shaped almost like a heart.

The festival ground was also packed with vendors selling island fiesta plates (attention, barbecue lovers), other fruits and vegetables, local delicacies, ornamental plants, arts and crafts, and carnival rides such as a smaller version of a Ferris wheel.

This mango won first place in the biggest mango category.

The “most beautiful” mangoes, according to contest judges.

Festival goers were also treated to non-stop live entertainment, courtesy of homegrown bands and cultural dance groups.

Capping the three-day event was a fireworks display, transforming the village’s night skies into a magical canvass of colors.

Next year’s festival could only be even better, bigger and tastier than it’s ever been.

Residents and tourists check out what the Mango Festival has to offer.

Train rides and ‘Pablo Picasso’ in California

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the Saipan Tribune

First of a two-part series

From nostalgic train rides to exploring Pablo Picasso’s masterpieces, reuniting with family and friends, learning history through art and architecture, visiting and revisiting city highlights, or riding a taxicab on the way to the airport with an Egyptian-American driver doubling as a love therapist, there’s always something to love about California.

Taking a 7:16 a.m. train ride was not easy when you’ve just traversed a few time zones the past days and still adjusting to Mountain View’s time zone and temperature. When my cousin and I left the house, my nieces were still asleep but I thought I was also sleepwalking.

She helped me buy a one-way ticket to San Francisco in one of those vending machines at a CalTrain station nearest Stanford University where she works. When my cousin left, it didn’t take long for the train to arrive at the Palo Alto station.

I opted for the upper deck, since I already tried the lower decks two years back. Feeling the rumbling under my feet and wondering about the mechanical processes and the sciences that went with it was just the beginning of almost an hour journey.

Do you remember those movie scenes wherein a person looks out a moving train’s window with a smile in his face? I had that smile, too, but mostly of wonderment, against a backdrop of urban jungles, residential areas, giant billboards, graffiti on concrete surfaces, cars, people going about their ways, and greenery every now and then.

The train ride was a mix of speed thrill and nostalgia, bringing back childhood memories of riding a provincial train headed for Manila. But the comfortable ride aboard CalTrain was too much of a luxury when compared to a particular childhood ride in a humid, crammed, and old box-like train car that humans shared with chickens, piglets, sacks of fresh bananas, coconuts, and other luggage. That childhood train ride seemed like eternity, despite the sensory overload of green rice fields, hills and mountains, barrios, towns, and desolate roads.

Snapping in and out of my nostalgia aboard CalTrain, the names of the places where we made stops were no longer strange to my ear every time the driver announces it — San Carlos, Hillsdale, San Mateo, Burlingame, and San Bruno.

Had I not chosen the limited-stop service, we would have also stopped at eight other stations — Menlo Park, Redwood City, Belmont, Hayward Park, Millbrae, South San Francisco, Bayshore, and 22nd Street — before reaching the final destination of San Francisco.

A ticket inspector was making his rounds. The thought of not being able to show a valid ticket, being fined or embarrassed sent me almost frantically searching for it.

In between sightseeing, I was also glancing at the people around me. Each of them had a story to tell without uttering a word. They reminded me of case studies riding Manila’s MRTs. Back on the CalTrain, one was busy with his Blackberry, while another was working on his laptop as if it were his office. Friends were having conversations in hushed tones, with occasional laughs and shrills, while others were reading either a newspaper or a book. I wasn’t sleepy after all.

In less than an hour, the train was at its last stop at the San Francisco station. The train arrived earlier than I expected, so I started reading a free newspaper while waiting for my friend to pick me up. The headline in the San Francisco Examiner was about a police chief defending his men’s actions during a shootout that left one man dead.

Before long, the rush hour crowd disappeared. A man sat beside me and asked what perfume I was wearing because he said it reminded him of a woman he used to know. I told him I wasn’t wearing any, which he and I knew was a lie. They say one could sometimes be more honest and open to strangers than the people he knows, but not at that moment in the train station. I didn’t really want to strike a conversation with a stranger who is sniffing me. I turned to page 5.

A text message came in. “I’m here.”

It’s great to see a dear friend again. Two years ago, he told me he could never drive in the city but as soon as we both settled in his gray car, everything was revealed and we had lots of catching up to do. The stories and questions kept on coming — what have you been up to the past two years? How’s Saipan these days? How is San Francisco treating you? Nothing beats the power of personal interaction when it comes to catching up with friends, despite the wonders of text messages, phone calls, emails, and Facebook.

We missed our turns a few times while navigating San Francisco’s historic districts. I was happy that he’s happy with the city. And who wouldn’t be happy in San Francisco?

It wasn’t foggy and cold as it was when I first visited the city in 2009. Anyone visiting San Francisco should not miss the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, the city skyline, the Victorian and Edwardian houses, the Fisherman’s Wharf and the view of Alcatraz, the Coit Tower and Lombard Street, among other city highlights.

I still remember the roadside parking, the red bricks and the spiral staircase to two of my friends’ lovely apartment in the heart of the city. The wooden floors, the skylight in the dining area, my friend’s paintings that, to me, have always been a celebration of colors, forms and emotions, the electronic gadgets, and the guest bedroom reserved for me! They were always a gracious host, just as they were back on Saipan.

We were then off to Louis Café for late breakfast, overlooking a windswept shoreline, the ruins of Sutro Baths, and Land’s End, which I partly explored two years earlier. But the café/restaurant was closed for renovation. We weren’t about to waste the view so we took turns taking photos.

A man who just parked his car offered to take our photos together. He suggested checking out the nearby Cliff House which, as its name suggests, also has a spectacular view of the sea besides offering hearty meals. It turned out that the man who took our photos was a manager at the restaurant. We got a free serving of their specialty pastry! You never know.

While waiting for another friend to join us, we had a relaxing walk at the Golden Gate Park, touted as “the ultimate haven away from urban chaos.” Golden Gate Park’s beautiful Stow Lake was an experience in itself. Being the largest of the man-made lakes in the park, it is a popular spot for leisure boating, strolling, and picnicking.

Stow Lake, which serves as the park’s reservoir, is a 12-acre doughnut-shaped lake that surrounds Strawberry Hill Island. We walked the trail that follows the lake’s perimeter, passing the 110-foot artificial Huntington Falls, a Chinese pagoda and the Stone Bridge before receiving the call we were waiting for.

The three of us were off to the de Young Fine Arts Museum where Pablo Picasso’s masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso in Paris were on exhibit.

The over 150 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints were drawn from Picasso’s personal collection, representing every phase of his extraordinary life and in essence, shaped his artistic legacy.

The Picasso exhibit runs from June 11 to Oct. 9.

As an art history buff, exploring Picasso’s world was one of the highlights of revisiting San Francisco. You could just imagine my excitement that day, finally seeing Picasso’s work in a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit without setting foot on Europe-or at least not yet. “We all know that art is not truth,” Picasso once said. “Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.”

Art exploration at the de Young Fine Arts Museum was made more meaningful by sharing that experience with a dear friend-an artist whose own artwork is no stranger to exhibits in and outside California. The other person who went with us to the museum set out his own journey.

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is widely acknowledged as the most compelling and groundbreaking artist of the 20th century. This Spanish painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and ceramist instilled in our collective consciousness the world of Cubism and Surrealism, the Blue Period and the Rose Period. He produced works addressing history, sexuality and mortality “filled with allegorical and autobiographical associations.”

Picasso startled the world with “Les Demoiselles d’Auvignon,” which experts say has been the first truly 20th century painting with its synchronicity of different perspectives. His defiance of convention in this painting, decried as being “aggressively erotic,” set off shock waves.

If you look at the “Les Demoiselles d’Auvignon,” the figures looked as if they were hewn with an axe and the hollowed-eyed faces became mask-like. One of the figures in the painting was presented from no fixed perspective but was showing her simultaneously from different sides. Contemporaries construed it as the artist’s homage to the shrill world of deformation, deconstructed myth, and “a general attack on the ideals of European art.”

My friend and I were sharing our thoughts about the paintings and the other artwork imposing their presence on us. We were moved by the vitality and fearlessness with which the artist presented his masterpieces for the world to see.

And while most people were focused on the images in the paintings, my friend and I were also looking at the discoloration of the canvass on the sides of the painting and the nails used.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, Sir, please don’t stay close to the painting. You might set off the alarm,” one of the exhibit galleries’ guards told us.

(To be continued)

88 fun things to see and do in Guam (Part 4)

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the Saipan Tribune

Fourth of a five-part series

53. World’s largest Latte Stone replica. Replicas and images of the iconic Latte Stones—the stone pillars of ancient Chamorro houses and found only in the Marianas—can be seen in many areas of Guam and the CNMI but the largest replica is found at the Guam governor’s complex in Adelup.

Called the Latte of Freedom, the 60-foot structure symbolizes the proud heritage of the Chamorro people and the Guamanian people. The Latte Stone-shaped monument can be seen from flights coming into Guam.

The Latte of Freedom serves as an observation deck where visitors can take in the views of Asan Bay, Agana Bay, and beyond. The monument also invites guests to learn about Guam’s culture. It’s one of the best places to snap a souvenir photo of Guam overlooking the coast.

54. Zip Line Guam. Feel the adrenaline rush as you zoom over treetops, enjoying Guam’s stunning forest views, sparkling Tumon Bay and beyond from an entirely different perspective. With Zip Guam’s opening, residents and visitors to Guam can now add “heading to the skies” to their must-do list, especially since most of the island’s tourist activities have to do with beautiful beaches, walking tours of historic and cultural sites, nature trails, restaurant and bar-hopping, and shopping.

Zip Guam, which advertises itself as “the height of adventure experience in Guam,” is conveniently located on the property of Hilton Guam Resort & Spa in Tumon.

After getting considerable pep talk from friends near and far, I finally had my first zip line experience, courtesy of Zip Guam. It was supposed to be one of those new things “to try” right around your birthday. It’s the closest thing to flying, with especially fitted safety harnesses, helmet, and

gloves.

It has two zip lines—mountainside and ocean side—with three courses each with a length from 220 to 550 feet of steel cable, and up to 25 feet in the air. Zip liners launch from one steel platform to another, each about three-story high. It’s not something you do for only a few minutes.

The whole experience lasts about an hour—including walking from one platform to another, climbing stairwells to the platforms, and the actual zip lining.

Trevor Takasu, president and general manager of Zip Guam Inc., said he was inspired by his experiences with Zip Fiji, when he visited Fiji in the South Pacific in 2010.

Takasu said there have been inquiries from tourism-related businesses in the CNMI about the viability of also building a zip line on Saipan, but nothing is etched in stone so far.

Zip Guam is strict with their requirements to ensure everyone’s safety as to mobility. You should weigh less than 280 pounds or 127 kilos and you should fit in the equipment in a safe manner.

You must be able to walk 15 minutes uphill over uneven ground, and have sufficient mobility and strength to climb a 25-foot stairwell unassisted. As Zip Guam’s website states, “because body weight affects the crossing speed on the traverses and excessive speed can result in injuries, guests may be asked to weigh in prior to participation.”

It’s for people of most ages, from children 5 years old. There is no maximum age limit for adults, and requires no prior experience zip lining. Plus, the zip line guides are friendly, helpful, and professional.

Zip Line is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm. The tours start every hour from 9am to 4pm.

As of this week, there is local promotional price of $30 for children 5 to 17 years old and $40 for those at least 18 years old.

For more about Zip Guam, visit their website at zipguam.com or call (671) 646-9471.

55. Dededo Flea Market. Bargain hunters or those simply curious to discover what Guam has to offer on weekend mornings will find a special treat or two among rows of new and used merchandise at the Dededo Flea Market on Marine Drive. Just be patient when looking for a nearby parking spot free of charge, or you can pay a fee to park near where the action is.

The flea market starts welcoming buyers at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays. Here, you can find everything from arts and crafts to clothes, trinkets, toys, household items, plants, fruits, vegetables, pets, island souvenir items and used car parts.

And if you get hungry or missed your breakfast trying to make it to the flea market on time, you can choose from stalls serving hot meals (try arroz caldo), coffee (don’t look for brewed ones), other beverages, local pastries and delicacies.

It was at the Dededo Flea Market where I was able to buy used and old vinyl records for my turntable. I believe I got three for $5, including a Roberta Flack record and a Cat Stevens’ greatest hits. During my next visit to the flea market, all I was looking for is that makeshift stall selling used vinyl records, to no avail. A friend later pointed me to another area where I could possibly find old vinyl records, which brings me to…

56. Salvation Army Thrift Store. And my friend was right. Salvation Army thrift store in Tamuning sells vinyl records at much cheaper prices. But you have to be patient when browsing through the hundreds of available records, some of them really old and already rotten. But at the end of the day, you still get the best bargain on the island if you know what you’re looking for to add to your vinyl record collection. Plus you help the ministry’s work.

57. Chief Gadao Statue. You won’t miss the statue as you drive through Inarajan, one of the best preserved of the Spanish-era villages, on Guam’s southeastern coast. It is home to Chamorro Chief Gadao who, according to legend, was the strongest and wisest member of his clan. But there’s also another chief named Malaguana from Northern Guam, believed to be of equal strength and stature. Legend has it that Chief Gadao outsmarted Chief Malaguana as the two rowed a canoe in opposite directions, breaking the canoe in half. Today, Chief Gadao’s statue shows the powerful chief rowing his half of the canoe back to Inarajan.

Still based on legend, Chief Gadao drew the story of how he outsmarted Chief Malaguana on a wall in a cave as a remembrance of the event. The same petroglyph or rock engraving is still well preserved in Gadao’s Cave in Inarajan, although there is still debate as to what the cave wall drawing really means.

58. Umatac Arch. When you see that prominent white-and-red European-inspired bridge that still looks new (they were built in the ‘80s), you’re definitely in the southwestern village of Umatac. It doesn’t matter that some think the welcome arch is out of place, because the village itself is rich in history as it is believed to be the first village in Guam to be discovered and landed on by world renowned Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, in 1521.

59. Magellan Monument. And since we’re on the topic of Magellan, an obelisk monument was built at the center of Umatac Bay within a park in honor of Magellan’s first landing in Guam in 1521. The monument, bearing the inscription, “Magellan landed here,” overlooks a scenic view of Umatac Bay’s black rocky coastline.

In March every year, Umatac village people celebrate Discovery Day to commemorate the historic occasion. Across the street is a commercial establishment bearing the name, “Magellan’s Landing,” with beer advertisements on top.

60. San Dionisio Catholic Church. Also overlooking Umatac Bay is the San Dionisio Catholic Church, the last of the several buildings constructed on the site of old churches. The first church was destroyed in 1681 by Chamorros who opposed the Spanish occupation. The second one was ruined by a 1693 typhoon. The present-day structure was rebuilt in 1939. Ruins of its predecessor structures can be found some 50 yards east of the present church.

61. Kamalen Park. Near the Merizo Bell Tower is the Santa Marian Kamalen Park, in honor of the island’s patroness saint. There is still debate on the original statue but legend has it that two crabs with lit candles on their backs guided the patroness ashore more than 300 years ago. The park has a replica of the patroness saint, while the original is housed in the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna.

62. Oldest building in Guam. The Merizo Conbento is believed to be the oldest existing building in Guam built in 1858 by the Spaniards to house the priest assigned to San Dimas Catholic Church. It demonstrates a style introduced by Spain and North Africa during the 1600s. The site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the only Spanish building still in use as a parish house.

63. Tanguisson Beach Park. One of the beautiful northern beaches on the island just outside Dededo is Tanguisson Beach Park, whose main features are picturesque mushroom-shaped rock formations off its shore. Although quite obscured by the Tanguisson power plant built by the U.S. Navy in the 1960s, the beach park is popular among residents. It has barbecue pits for weekend—or weekday—picnics. The name may have been derived from the Chamorro word for parrot fish, “Tanggison,” a favorite of local spear fishermen.

While most visitors to the beach park go there by car or pickup truck, you can also try walking or hiking to it to break a sweat, starting from the road that also leads to Two Lovers Point. Continue down a side road past the power plant that opens to the sprawling beach park.

64. Hilaan Beach. Adjacent to Tanguisson Beach is the serene Hilaan Beach or Sagua Maguas, which requires you to hike along the white sand beach. From Tanguisson Beach, hike some 2 miles north following the beach, around or over rock outcroppings. Walking on the sand burns as twice as much calorie per step as walking on hard ground but it was the least of my concerns that sunny day because the waters were rough and we had to wade in the water cautiously to go round sharp-edged rocks to get to our destination. They didn’t put the sign, “Hike and enjoy activities only if the ocean is calm” for nothing.

The hike ends at an aqua blue-water lagoon called Shark’s Hole, not because there are sharks there but because from atop, the lagoon is shaped like a shark. Hilaan Beach, with its white sand set against a picturesque mountain and green background, is a good spot for snorkeling, swimming, fishing, picnicking, and camping. But don’t just stop there because there’s still more to explore in the area.

65. Lost pond. From Hilaan Beach, a trail leads toward the cliffs and a freshwater pond, or hagoi. It’s worth any Valentine’s Day hike with your loved one to find what others call the “lost” pond. Look for the pink and orange ribbons tied to trees along the trail leading to the pond, so that you won’t get lost. While we didn’t get to see the nearby latte stones of the ancient village of Hilaan on that particular hike, we will go back for sure.

66. Village murals. By now, you must have seen a handful of colorful murals in the villages you have visited or passed by, part of the Guam Visitors Bureau’s branding program “We are Guam.” The murals embody the Chamorro’s “Hafa Adai” spirit that has recently undergone a revitalization effort, thanks to GVB’s efforts in cooperation with village mayors, local businesses, schools, and residents.

Each of the village murals represents unique aspects of the village, whether it’s Sinajana, Hagatna, Piti, or Barrigada, for example. As GVB puts it, each piece of artwork tells a story about the people of Guam—“from the historical significance of Agat to the timeless culture that lives in Inarajan.”

67. Feast of lights. Instead of snow, there’s sand but Guam does sure know how to conjure up images of a typical winter holiday around Christmas and New Year, island-style. The Guam Visitors Bureau lit up the tourist district of Tumon with its holiday illumination project.

Tourists and residents were treated to thousands of festive lights visible after sunset along the medians of San Vitores Road starting from the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa all the way to the Westin Resort. This month, however, Tumon lit up with images in the shape of hearts and flowers to keep up with the Valentine season.

68. Christmas Village. This festival of lights drew thousands of residents and tourists during the 2013-2014 holidays, giving much credence to that island-style winter holiday feel. There’s Santa Claus with a surfboard, a carabao pulling a sleigh, to name a few. Perhaps nobody came to the village without snapping photos. It was an enjoyable spot to be, whether you’re a child or adult. We visited Christmas Village, across from the Hyatt, about an hour before ushering in the Year 2014, until it’s time to watch the fireworks from Ypao Beach.

The Guam Visitor’s Bureau and the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association used three barges floated out to the middle of Tumon Bay for the 15-minute fireworks, seen from a lot of points on the island. Now, are you ready for the next holidays?

To be concluded.