Pili, the Capital of Camarines Sur

Pili, Camarines Sur...the town where the seat of government of the province is located. Aside from Naga City, Pili is the next important place in the Metro Naga area.

The provincial capitol is located in the said town. Literally, the seat of government can be found there aside from various public offices of national importance. The Camarines Sur Convention Center is also there. Conventions, special events and other big activities are being held in the venue. Aside from the edifice, the convention center boasts of wide grounds for other different festivities such as the annual Kaogma festival and the like.

The world-reknowned Camsur Watersports Center (CWC) is situated in Pili. Log cabins, a man-made lagoon and their other facilities can be utilized by sports-minded people. Tourists from all over the world flock to CWC for their leisure get-away. There is also the Lago del Rey resort with very good amenities to the delight of guests.

The Naga Airport is also in Pili. Though only small aircrafts can land in the said airport, it is convenient for tourists to go to important areas in the province through this gateway. Besides, Pili can boast of good roads that are breezy for travelers to pass through.

Education institutions abound the first class municipality - a proof how the people of Pili and the people of Camarines Sur give importance to education. No wonder the town has produced a number of its people who have carved names not only for their town and province but in the national front as well.

A must-visit in the town is the St. Raphael the Archangel Church which is the main catholic church that binds the people of Pili. Its yearly Cimarrones Festival is another activity worth witnessing.

Of course, just like any town in the country, Pili is fast becoming an economic hub in the Metro Naga. With the establishment of different businesses, it can contribute to the development of the metropolitan area as well as the province of Camarines Sur. Development is not bad as long as it benefits the people and the community is surely getting its share from income derived from the businesses.

Despite the beckoning of development, the people of Pili, in particular and Camarines Sur, in general know how to take care of their environment. They have a sense of classy aesthetics that are appreciated by the locals as well as tourists. Thanks to their ever-supportive municipal and provincial officials.

When deciding which part of Camarines Sur to visit, choose Pili. It's not only a convenient stop going to Naga City and other municipalities in the province but one will appreciate the provincial setting with rich greeneries that abound. By the way, Pili is where you can see the majestic Mount Isarog.

Special thanks to the owners of some of the photos used in this blog.

Verona: Setting of Romeo and Juliet

Verona in Italy is the setting of Shakespearean play "Romeo and Juliet." Romance is evident in the city.

Entering Verona taking the train, one can feel how romantic the city is. Flowers, plants, parks, statues, etc are scattered everywhere. First time tourists like me can feel it in the air.

Roman architecture is prevalent in the city. Thank goodness for ordinances and laws that protect structures from being renovated for modernization. A good old Roman coliseum is at the center of Verona. It is a popular venue for events that are staged in the city. Other structures of Roman type are still standing and of use.

The street leading to the statue and house of Juliet is lined with typical Italian buildings and stores that cater to the many tourists that visit Verona. The street are made from cobblestones which are typical in Italy.

It is said that you have to touch the breast of Juliet's statue so that whatever wish you may have regarding love, it will come true. At one side where the statue is located, love padlocks upon love padlocks can be seen hoping that those who locked their padlocks will stay in love forever.

Nearby is a mercato and a great number of restaurants to cater to those who have gone hungry from visiting the place where Romeo and Juliet met. Tourists are abundant and shopping stores are there for shoppers' delight.

If you are fond of authentic Italian architecture, Verona is a city to visit. I was astounded by the beautiful structures that I saw. Very Italian!

My visit to Verona may have been short but with all the things that I saw in the city, it's worth another train ride to explore it more. Special thanks goes to Ms. Cecil Silva for taking me and Mama Renee Salud to Verona.

Everything is Big in Beijing

Beijing, one of Asia's foremost cities and one of the world's most populous cities, lives up to the image of its country - everything is big there.

It is typical of a fast-growing city in Asia where east really meets west. I was astounded with the development that Beijing is going through. It is a bustling metropolis that caters to the needs of its people as well as the influx of tourists. With the many modern buildings that are being built alongside with the old structures, it is a delight to see how the oriental mixes with the occidental.

Of course, together with development comes the problem of traffic and pollution of which Beijing is fast-becoming known for. But authorities are doing something about these problems. Traffic may be bad but with its many streets, going around the city is now much of a problem.

Not to be overshadowed is the structure that can even be seen from outer space - the Great Wall of China. Going to this China pride is a must. They say that your trip to Beijing will not be complete with a visit to the wall. Oh, so many tourists there are. There is a vast jade factory in a place en route to the Great Wall. Unlike in other Asian cities, the wares in the said factory are very reasonable.

For shopping hounds, there are many places to go to in Beijing. Signature brands have big stores there. If you want to haggle and see good finds, Xiu Shui is one shopping haven. Floors upon floors of stores are for everyone to go around. Of course, there are other districts where stand-alone shopping stores are also available.

Two popular places to visit in Beijing are the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Enter the former and go out facing the latter. These two are must-visits when you're in Beijing. Our tour guide gave us a comprehensive story of each place and I fully understood the rich culture of China.

When the Olympics was held in Beijing in 2008, various venues were constructed for the purpose and they are visual delights. The Bird's Nest was where the opening of the games and other sports activities were held. The cube was where the water sports were done. Very modern structures in an ancient city which provide a good contrast.

Everything is really big in Beijing. This is evident in the grandiose hotel lobbies they have, the big signature stores that abound in the city and their big international airport.

This city of contrasts should be part of anybody's bucket list. For me, it is one cultural experience in the midst of modernity.

Travel to Beijing from the Philippines is easy because there are direct flights from Manila. Four hours of plane ride is enough to witness Chinese culture at its best. Visit Beijing and you will be surprised at what the city can offer.