Old Glory!

I was very thrilled to get a chance to visit one of my favorite cities again, Bangkok, Thailand.

I have always felt comfortable in the city that I could actually move there anytime, with the language difference as the only major adjustment.  What made the trip more exciting was that I had a side trip to another major tourist destination outside the present capital which I always wanted to see too, Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya was ancient Thailand's second capital after Sukhothai.  Sadly, the glorious city was burned to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767.  I have always been a fan of ancient ruins, so the city fits right into my to-see list.

I was warned by a friend, however, that I, having seen Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, might be in for a huge disappointment.

I have never listened to my friends.

So, on with the trip!

The tour started with a bus ride to Ayutthaya that gave me an opportunity to see more of the city...

and the beautiful countryside.

First stop was the Bang Pa In Palace...

which is very evidently well maintained.

I don't exactly know what this is, but I'm certain it is revered with all the burned incense and garlands in front.

In front of the Chinese palace with my gorgeous friend.

Wat Maha That, remnants of a glorious past.  Once the residence of the supreme patriarch.

Sitting with Buddha.

One of the many stupas in the area.

A Buddha head entangled in the roots of a very old tree.  You cannot be photographed with your head higher than Buddha's.

Wat Na Phramane, the only temple that was not sacked by the invading Burmese army during the ancient war.

The giant reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutha.  There's unfortunately no historical account of its background.

The tour culminated with a buffet lunch in a ferry that cruised along the Chao Phraya river...

which was again an opportunity for me and my lovely friends...

to see the unique cityscape of Bangkok

with its massive bridges,

and another,

the smaller ferries that ply the vibrant river,

a view of the Grand Palace,

and the Wat Arun.

Yes, Ayutthaya may not compare to Angkor Complex, but the mere fact that I was standing on ancient grounds of utmost historical importance not only to the Thais but to all mankind being a testament of ancient men's architectural superiority was more than enough reason for me to go see and experience it for myself.

Awakened!

I am so back!

After almost a year of neglect, this blog will be up and running again, with big thanks to a very good friend who shook me off from my deep slumber.

During the hibernation, I have collected a lot of adventures that I would like to share to the world.  And I have to do this fast, because I have an inkling that 2013 is going to be as packed.

Coming up!

And so much more!

The Loop

Whenever I go to a vacation anywhere in the Philippines, I make sure that I try to check out the oldest Catholic church in that area.  Although I am not Catholic, I have this fondness for this kind of structures.  I see them on the historical, cultural and aesthetic aspects.


I've had the privilege to see some of the oldest in Luzon and the Visayas, I am yet set foot in Mindanao.


Hands down, I could say with conviction that the Rizal-Laguna Province has the collection of the most stunning churches in the country.  They are very well-preserved that stay true to the original form.  I have seen older churches in a few provinces, but they have already been altered almost blasphemously, like replacing old floor tiles with bathroom tiles, the kind that goes on sale in home depots.


It is hard for me to rank them based on over-all beauty because each has its own particular charm, so I will just present them according to the order by which you see them coming from Antipolo, Rizal and ending with Nagcarlan, Laguna.


SAINT JEROME CHURCH, Morong, Rizal.

The facade is its centerpiece, with the very intricate design...

you can't be unimpressed as soon as you enter the church's elevated compound...

which makes up for the bareness of its interior.

SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH, Baras, Rizal.

What I love about this church is the gruffness of the dark adobe that it is made of inside and out.  I am not sure how much repairs it underwent, but this is probably the most unaltered of all the churches, except for its iron roofing.

It is so rustic bordering on the eerie...

See the bats?

SAN ILDEFONSO CHURCH, Tanay, Rizal.

I also love the dark worn out look to it but it lacked the oomph that makes your heart jump at first sight.

The same can be said about the interior...

it is spacious but lackluster.  But it would still shame some of the old churches I've seen elsewhere.

SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA CHURCH, Pakil, Laguna.

Even if I am biased for this one having half my roots coming from nearby Pangil, I believe you would agree that this one has one, if not the best, facade among the churches.  It is beautifully aged outside...

while having the most elaborate altar inside.  The Pieta painting on the ceiling looks embossed but is actually just artfully hand-painted.

A bonus is that you can access the living quarters of the church caretakers, in which you can also see the collection of dresses of the Lady of Turumba and the exquisitely carved altar in the prayer room as shown above.

SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE CHURCH, Paete, Laguna.

What make this church different are the vine and flower carvings unusually seen in Catholic churches.  The wall for me actually looks like a giant toasted uraro (powdery cookies made of arrowroot flour).

I love the wood parquet ceiling which makes it stand out from the rest of the churches which usually have painted ones.

Another important attraction of this church are the huge centuries old  paintings inside that are sadly left to decay.  I hope the National Historical Institute and the local government do some serious restoration before they become unsalvageable...

but then again, I am not very hopeful when they built this hideous looking platform obstructing what could be a beautiful view from the side.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH, Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Now, this is the kind of simplicity that I like.  Immaculate, that matches the...

simplicity of the altar.  If you would look more closely, you'd see the impeccable skill of the tinsmith in crafting the altar.

PARISH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD CHURCH, Cavinti, Laguna.

Looks a little like Baras Church plus the stained glass windows minus the eeriness...

with plain...

interior.

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, Magdalena, Laguna.

This one has the biggest compound among the churches, partly because the municipal hall shares it.  A favorite location for movies that it is called the Hollywood of Laguna.

The newly restored ceiling.  It fell and was being repaired when we first went there.

PARISH OF SAN GREGORIO MAGNO, Majayjay, Laguna.

This is probably the tallest and the biggest of the churches but the drama is not in the frontispiece...

but in the side walls that evoke a Parisian ambiance!

The very old twin trees also added to the old world feel!

The interior is not one to be ignored as well!

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, Liliw, Laguna.

This one has one of the nicest compounds because even the perimeter wall is made of red bricks.  My only problem is that parking is very limited and the area outside has the busiest and narrowest streets.  But if you want to go shopping for footwear, this is the place for you.

But I'd say this has the most expensively elegant interior. 

It looked solid and meticulous.

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW CHURCH, Nagcarlan, Laguna.

I also love the frontispiece but I am not liking the front yard cum parking space that appears overlooked in terms of maintenance.

The interior is rather dark and...

not quite altogether...

but the climb to the belfry is the clincher...

with the photo op with a huge really old bell...

 and a spectacular view of the mountains and the surrounding towns.

NAGCARLAN UNDERGROUND CEMETERY

I know this is not a church but since you're in Nagcarlan already, you might want to drop by.  I would say that it is a very well maintained historical site.

The chapel...

the interior...

the crypt underneath where only the most affluent but very dead bodies are buried.

It can give you the creeps... sometimes.

So there, our answer to Cambodia-Thailand's old temples in one easy sweep.  See them before some culturally and historically challenged local government officials or church leaders decide to go panic buying at some builder expo somewhere.