12 Best Places and Cities on Earth to Visit

Paris Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
How many of cities in the video below have you visited? I have visited four of the twelve cities listed, New York City, Las Vegas, Honolulu and Vancouver, Canada. The videographer did not specify the reasons why these are the cities he selected. I will add San Francisco, San Diego, New Orleans and Chicago of the US to this list. In addition, I will add London, Rome, the Vatican and Costa del Sol in Spain to this list from Europe. How about you, what cities will you add to this list? Enjoy these videos!

Best 12 cities to visit if you have the time, the energy and the money, before you die or too old to travel.

Amazing Places on Planet Earth

Romantic Guitar-Malaguena and Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Malaguena, a spanish guitar classic was composed by Ernesto Lecuona. I first heard of this composition during my teen-age years in the Philippines played on the piano. I love this music more as I grew older and older. Below is a duet guitar rendition of this memorable music.

Here's a guitar rendition of the popular "Somewhere Over the RAINBBOW"

Music That touches My Heart-Concierto de Aranjuez

This is one of my favorite Spanish guitar music. Do you know what was Rodrigo's inspiration for the Adagio, movement II? Read on for the answer.

The Concierto de Aranjuez is a composition for classical guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is probably Rodrigo's best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century.

The Concierto de Aranjuez was inspired by the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the spring resort palace and gardens built by Philip II in the last half of the 16th century and rebuilt in the middle of the 18th century by Ferdinand VI. The work attempts to transport the listener to another place and time through the evocation of the sounds of nature.

According to the composer, the first movement is "animated by a rhythmic spirit and vigour without either of the two themes... interrupting its relentless pace"; the second movement "represents a dialogue between guitar and solo instruments (cor anglais, bassoon, oboe, horn etc.)"; and the last movement "recalls a courtly dance in which the combination of double and triple time maintains a taut tempo right to the closing bar." He described the concerto itself as capturing "the fragrance of magnolias, the singing of birds, and the gushing of fountains" in the gardens of Aranjuez.

Rodrigo and his wife Victoria stayed silent for many years about the inspiration for the second movement, and thus the popular belief grew that was inspired by the bombing of Guernica in 1937. In her autobiography, Victoria eventually declared that it was both an evocation of the happy days of their honeymoon and a response to Rodrigo's devastation at the miscarriage of their first pregnancy. It was composed in 1939 in Paris. Rodrigo dedicated the Concierto de Aranjuez to Regino Sainz de la Maza.

Rodrigo, blind since age three, was a pianist. He did not play the guitar, yet he still managed to capture the spirit of the guitar in Spain.

CompositionComposed in early 1939, in Paris, amid the tensions of the pending war, it was the first work Rodrigo had written for guitar and orchestra. The instrumentation is unusual: rarely does the guitar face the forces of a full orchestra. Instead, the guitar is never overwhelmed, remaining the solo instrument throughout.

Movements

This concerto is in three movements, Allegro con spirito, Adagio and Allegro gentile.
The second movement, the best-known of the three, is marked by its slow pace and quiet melody, introduced by the English horn, with a soft accompaniment by the guitar and strings. A feeling of quiet regret permeates the piece. Ornamentation is added gradually to the melody in the beginning. An off-tonic trill in the guitar creates the first seeds of tension in the piece; they grow and take hold, but relax back to the melody periodically. Eventually, a climactic build-up starts. This breaks back into the main melody, molto appassionato, voiced by the strings with accompaniment from the woodwinds. The piece finally resolves to a calm arpeggio from the guitar, though it is the strings in the background rather than the guitar’s final note that resolve the piece. The third movement is in mixed metre, alternating between 2/4 and 3/4.
The Palace of Aranjuez

The original Guitar Version ( 2.2 minutes)

This is an orchestral and classical guitar interpretation of the Adagio. The venue of this concert was in the Basilica of St. Francis de Asissi, Asissi, Italy. Macrine and I had been to this Basilica in 1990.

This is Andre Rieu interpretation of this Spanish Classic


Popular version with nature scenery

My Favorite Broadway Musicals

My wife and my favorite hobby during our working years (1960-2002) was attending Broadway musicals and shows/movies. We must have attended more than 30 Broadway shows/movies since 1960. Among our favorites ( not listed in the top ten below) were, The Sound of Music, Chorus Line, West Side Story, South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie, Miss Saigon, Show Boat, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Evita, Flower Drum Song, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Hair, Kiss Me Kate, Man of La Mancha, The Music Man, Oliver and The King and I. Miss Saigon we saw in London. West Side Story and Rent in New York. Mama Mia in Las Vegas, Phantom of the Opera( the old movie version)/ at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the rest either in Kansas City, Chicago or San Francisco.

To see a Broadway play or musical is to step into a world that envelops you with an experience you cannot find anywhere else. Theatre has been around since ancient times and for good reason. There is absolutely nothing like watching the actors, hearing the live musical scores and going on a journey with fellow theatre-goers. It makes movies seem like flimsy comic books in comparison. Fortunately, today there are many excellent shows on Broadway and in major cities across North America.

The following list is the top ten best musical shows( 2007) you might consider attending with a date or a friend. Each one of these must-see shows delivers an experience you won't soon forget.

Broadway's Best:

1. One of the most popular mega-hits of Broadway is Wicked. Wicked is a musical taking the witches from the Wizard of Oz and recasting them to reverse the loyalties the audience feels in the movie. The play follows the women from school to their eventual fates. The emerald skinned Elphaba, studious and misunderstood, and the beautiful and ambitious Glinda, as they move from unlikely friends to the classic opponents of the movie. The magic lies in the witty recasting of the backstory of the Wizard of Oz, to challenge assumptions and present a tale of friendship and love. And now Wicked is touring the U.S., so there's a good chance it's showing in a city near you.

2. A relatively new show called Tarzan, is a musical about a baby raised by gorillas as he encounters humans, and Jane, forcing him to choose between his two heritages. Tarzan is very popular, with many theatergoers looking forward to seeing the Disney version brought to stage. A show for all ages, the search for where one belongs in the world is a weighty subject for such a deceptively light show. Phil Collins extended his musical score from the Disney movie into a complete theatrical score.

3. The Lion King is a musical about Simba the lion cub and his journey to adulthood and acceptance as King. A play for all ages, the story of a youth growing to accept responsibility and duty is one of the most enduring themes in fiction. The animal puppetry is nothing less than brilliant. If you're looking to instill a little culture in your child, this may be just the ticket. And again, The Lion King is showing in many cities.

4. A disfigured musical genius haunts a theatre and exerts a mysterious control over a young singer. The Phantom of the Opera is a modern classic musical, long-standing show and one of the most well known Broadway plays of the era. The classic music of the show is one of the main draws, with more than one piece from this show recognizable to almost any adult. This is the longest running play in Broadway history, and made Andrew Lloyd Webber a household name. Phantom of the Opera has played in 22 countries, 113 cities and to a combined audience of 10 million.

5. Les Miserables is a musical based on the classic novel of the same name, in which the obsessed policeman Javert pursues the prison escapee Jean Valjean over decades in Revolutionary France. A classic tale of obsession and redemption, this play investigates the big questions like right and wrong, vengeance and justice, and what it takes to achieve redemption, while putting a human face on the issues. Les Miserable originally ran on Broadway for sixteen years, and is back with a fresh cast to renew the magic.

6. Spamalot is based on the legendary Monty Python and the Holy Grail, featuring King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they face such dangers as the dreaded bunny rabbit. The occasionally eccentric Monty Python sense of humor is in full fury in this tale, with jabs at politics, religion, chivalry, bravery, intelligence and the French. There are limbless knights, men in tights and a chorus line of dancing divas. Spamalot is a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and won the 2005 Tony for Best Musical. If you liked the Monty Python's TV show and movies, then this musical will sure to please.

7. Chicago the Musical is another famous musical, in this case about a murder trial. The Fosse choreography is iconic. While the music isn't as iconic as some others, the odds are that most will recognize several pieces they've heard before, such as "Razzle-Dazzle" and "All that Jazz." Chicago returns us to the time of Vaudeville, satirizes the justice system and shows us what great theater is all about. Definitely check this show out of you liked the movie starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere.

8. Rags to rock to riches, Jersey Boys is the musical story of four blue-collar boys who become the Four Tops. It follows them from their start in the Hood to their apotheosis as one of the greatest music groups of all time, with emphasis on the characters involved. This show has really taken off and become unexpectedly popular on Broadway. Now the Jersey Boys is touring America.

9. Mamma Mia! is a musical built around Abba staples of the seventies, dealing with a single mother whose daughter is about to get married on a Greek island. The daughter invites three of her mother's old boyfriends to visit, hoping to find out which one her father is. The play is built around Abba music, but is an engaging story in its own right and is advanced by the music rather than providing an excuse for it. This is a play where almost everyone attending knows the music.

10. Rent is a musical that explores poverty, disease, and drugs in New York City. It's a modern rock version of the 19th century Italian opera "La Boheme," and is set in New York City's East Village. It is a moving musical where young people strive to make it in a difficult world.


In the above top ten list, we have seen only four as a live show, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Rent and Mama Mia
We saw Chicago and Les Miserables as movies. Lion King we saw in Sacramento, Mama Mia and Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas and Rent in New York City. We missed attending musicals and plays in our retirement years. However, I have a DVD collections of more than 50 Broadway musical and plays that I could watch anytime.

My 12 Favorite Tourist Spots in the Philippines

The Ifugao Rice Terraces
There are more than one hundred tourists spots in the Philippines that is worth visiting if you have the time. However, the following 12 places in my opinion are a must see for first timers in the Philippines. To visit all these places a minimum of 3 weeks is needed or if you have 4 weeks, the better.
1. Metro Manila, Makati and Tagaytay
2. Corregidor Island
Corregidor Island
3. Bagiuo City and Vicinity
4. Ifugao Rice Terraces

5. Marinduque Island and Bellarocca Resort

Panoramic View of Tres Reyes Island, Marinduque
6. Miagao Baroque Church and Guimaras Island,Iloilo
Chocolate Hills of Bohol

7. Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island, Bohol
8. Cebu City or Boracay Island, Aklan
9. Davao City and Samal Island
10.El Nido,(Lagen Island Resort)and the Underground River, Palawan

Mt Mayon

11. Mayon Volcano, Albay
12.One Hundred Islands Marine National Park, Pangasinan

Foreign-Based Names for Resort in Marinduque

I just noticed recently that most new beach resorts in Marinduque have foreign sounding names. In 1996 when we first constructed Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort, it was the only beach resort or hotel with a non-english or tagalog name. Today, there are several beach resorts with either Spanish, Portuguese or Italian derived names. A good example is Bellarocca Resort ( beautiful rock) in Buenavista. Bellarocca is a five-star resort and touted to be one of the best in Southeast Asia. Another example is a small beach resort in Balaring named Tierra Azurras ( is this Portuguese?). Of course,, there is the old Villa sa APLAYA in Ihatub and Casa de Azul ( Blue House) in Buenavista). The older hotels have tagalog or English names such as the Boac Hotel, Tahanan Sa Isok, East Point Hotel, Blue Seas and Love Bay Resort.

I guess naming the resort with non-tagalog names denote class and distinction. In the case of Chateau Du Mer, we selected the name after considering more than dozen names with the goal of attracting European specially French or Canadian tourists. We believe this goal was achieved since our first European guests were from France about 4 years ago. Today, we are attracting more American tourists. The disadvantage of the non-tagalog name, is that majority of the locals have a hard time pronouncing it, thus name recognition is slightly impaired. Anyway, we believed that Chateau Du Mer is a good name and the second building we will be constructing next year will be named Bella Chateau. Cheers and Good Day to ALL!

Amanpulo Resort, Palawan

Just recently, I receive an advertisement about Amanpulo Resort in Palawan. Sorry to say, I felt bad because this is the first time I heard of this resort. The last two years, I have been following the development of Bellarocca Resort in Marinduque, now touted to be the best resort(6-star) in Southeast Asia. But after reading the brochure of Amanpulo Resort( below), I have a feeling this resort is comparable if not better than Bellarocca. So, my dear readers if you have been to both Bellarocca and Amanpulo Resorts, I like to hear from you.

PAMALICAN ISLAND, THE PHILIPPINES:Amanpulo is located on the private island of Pamalican, set among the Quiniluban group of Cuyo Islands, 360km south-west of Manila. Lying along the trading routes from Southern China to Borneo, the Sulu archipelago and the Spice Islands, the Cuyo Islands have been known to sailors and traders since pre-Spanish days. The Cuyo archipelago has been largely forgotten since then. The people of these 40 islands live mostly by fishing and seaweed cultivation. Tourism has scarcely touched the islands. Seven square kilometres of reef surround the island. Beyond are sandbanks and a channel where whales, dolphins and sea cows have been glimpsed. At its widest point, the 5.5km island is only 500m across.

ACCOMMODATION
Amanpulo’s native style of dwellings enhances its exclusive island allure. There are 40 casitas fashioned after a Philippine bahay kubo: a centuries old South-East Asian rural archetype where family life was played out beneath steep pitched roofs on timber frames. Amanpulo's 29 Beach Casitas each have private paths that lead through a tangle of bush directly onto the soft white beach. The beach is an uninterrupted wide stretch of fine sand with views over the neighbouring islands. The four Treetop Casitas are above the tree-line on higher ground. The five Hillside Casitas have unimpeded sea views and the resort's two Deluxe Hillside Casitas feature spectacular prospects of the Sulu Sea and neighbouring islands with both sunrise and sunset views.

Private holiday villas located just a few metres from the sea are available for rent at Amanpulo. There are eight 4-bedroom Villas, two 2-bedroom Villas and one 1-bedroom Villa. Each features a private swimming pool, separate bedrooms, living and dining pavilions, outdoor lounge and a kitchen. All villas include a cook, maid, and a buggy for each bedroom. Villa guests enjoy full use of all Amanpulo facilities and services.
Amanpulo (peaceful island) is surrounded by white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and seven kilometres of coral reef commencing just 300m offshore. The coral island’s attraction lies in the pristine beauty of its environment and its complete exclusivity. Guests are greeted in Manila and flown by a 19-seat twin-engine plane, landing on the island’s private airstrip. THE BEACH CLUB - A garden walkway leads down from the pool to the white-sand beach and Amanpulo’s Beach Club. The open air pavilion is a tranquil setting. Mattresses and pillows are spread out on the deck, facing the sea. Shade umbrellas and reclining lounge chairs line the beach. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and refreshments are also offered at the Beach Club. Fresh seafood and Spanish cuisine are specialties. Here's a short video for your vieweing pleasure.


LAGOON CLUB - is located on the east side of the island and functions as an alternate beach club with similar features and amenities. Dinner is served and Vietnamese cuisine is a specialty.

PIZZA @ THE WINDSURF HUT Enjoy a large variety of pizzas cooked in a home-built wood-fire oven. Guests can relax in this tranquil environment with their feet in the sand. The Windsurf Hut opens for lunch.

PRIVATE DINING in a guest casita is available 24 hours. Private picnics and barbecues may be organized at Shigerino’s Place, Lagoon Sala, Shark’s Point Sala and the floating Kawayan Bar. Guests can also take picnic baskets on an island hopping trip or on a visit to the Sandbar. Picnic baskets may also be delivered to guest casitas. Other special venues for a barbecue are the guest casita beachfront, Gary’s Nest and Island Cave.

THE LIBRARY is stocked with novels in several languages, travel guides, newspapers, magazines and coffee-table books on Philippine art, design and culture. DVDs and CDs are available. Internet and Wi-Fi are available.

THE BOUTIQUES specialise in woven rugs, baskets, jewellery, pottery and other crafts from the Palawan region, as well as Asian antiques, furniture and island beach wear.

MASSAGE AND BEAUTY TREATMENTS can be taken in two air-conditioned Spa Casitas, the open-air Garden Sala or in the privacy of your own casita. Manicures, pedicures, facials and body treatments are also available.

MEETING ROOMS can be arranged at the West Villa Clubhouse for small gatherings; audiovisual equipment is available upon request.

THE GYM is located beside the tennis courts and surrounded by a lush tropical forest. Cardiovascular equipment is available.

THE SWIMMING POOL Amanpulo’s 30m Swimming Pool is bordered by two high bougainvillea trellises. The pool’s aquatiles mirror the Sulu Sea. Three spacious open-air salas are situated around the pool and feature generously-sized mattresses for all-day
lounging.

TENNIS Four synthetic grass, floodlit tennis courts are available with rest pavilions for refreshments. Two courts are located adjacent to the Clubhouse and two are located adjacent to the West Villa Clubhouse. Complimentary tennis balls, rackets and playing partners are available.

SEA SPORTS HUT Adjacent to the Beach Club, the Seasports Hut offers a variety of water sports equipment as well as information on boat charters, water sports, snorkelling and scuba diving sites and sea conditions.

WEDDING BLESSINGS Renew your vows with a sentimental ceremony performed by a Filipino wedding official. A variety of romantic settings are available, including Amanpulo’s white sand beach at sunset, the outdoor chapel otherwise known as the ‘Grotto,’ beneath the bougainvillea-decked poolside trellis or at sea in a boat festooned with island flowers. Blessings include a guitar serenade, champagne, wedding cake, a decorated wedding car and a flower bouquet.

Note: This is No.1 of a series of articles on Beach Resorts in the Philippines that have attracted my attention. I am not paid to write this article and the future articles in this series.

Boracay Island and the Regency Beach Resort

This series of articles about Philippines beaches will not be complete if I do not write about a beach resort in Boracay. There must be more than 100 beach resorts, hotels, boarding rooms and other accommodations (condos, private homes, apartments)in this most popular beach resort in Southeast Asia ranging from 1 star to 5 stars.

I have visited Boracay only once in the mid 1990's, but Macrine has been to Boracay two times. Her first time was with me and the second time was with our 4 adult children and three grand children from California in 2007. They stayed at the Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center, a 4-star hotel. They had a grand time and were very please with their accommodation and experience at the Regency.

In my case, I swear I will never visit Boracay again because of the crowds and circus atmosphere of the island. To me, a beach vacation must be quite, peaceful and a lot of solitude, not night clubs, crowds and mayhem. The following video shows both the commercial and non-commercial side of the island.


Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. In 1990, it was voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world and again in 1996 by British publication TV Quick as the world's number one tropical beach.

The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan. The island was originally home to the Ati tribe. Boracay is part of Aklan Province, which became an independent province on April 25, 1956.

Years ago, Boracay Island was an almost possessively guarded secret so that only a few knew of its existence. Tourism only began to develop in the 1970s, when, it is said, a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise. Others maintain that it was the German traveler, 'Jens Peters' book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted as having the best beach in the world. Whichever story is true, it was around this time that Boracay Island slowly ceased to be a private hangout for travelers. In the 1980s, the island became popular with backpackers. Since then, Boracay has gradually become more and more a cosmopolitan tourism destination and, in the 21st century has become, one of the major tourist destinations in the Philippines.


Note: This is No.4 of the series of articles on beaches in the Philippines that have attracted my attention.

Orchids and Statuaries in the Gardens of Chateau Du Mer

Orchids in the Front Yard of the Main House

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The photos above are some of the statuaries, and orchids from the Gardens Of Chateau Du Me, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines.

Video of Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center

Here's a short video of Chateau Du Mer for your viewing pleasure.

Lagen Island Resort, El Nido, Palawan

The Philippines has a lot of great tourist places to offer foreigners. From it’s great flora and fauna to the great marine life. However the best things that Philippines have to offer are the beautiful beaches. The beaches in the Philippines offer great white sands. If you want to go to a beach where there are lots of people where you can interact with, Boracay is the place to go. If you want to go to a very secluded place just away from it all the beaches in Palawan are best suited for you.
El Nido is a place in Palawan (south western province in the Philippines) that offers a great way to relax without too many people. El Nido is a municipality that is found on the north western tip of Palawan. It is 240 kilometers north-west of Puerto Princesa City, (Palawan's capital) and 430 kilometers south-west of Manila.

They have the same quality of beaches that can be found in the famous Boracay. El Nido has been declared a protected area because of its geology and diverse wildlife.

The fastest and best way to go to El Nido is from Manila. You can catch a plane flight from the Island Transvoyager Inc. They have daily flights using a Dornier 228 aircraft that is capable to seat 19 people. The travel time from Manila is only an hour and thirty minutes. You will land directly at El Nido’s airport.

The trip will be made much effortless because the plane reservations can be made by the resort you choose. After arriving at the airport, you will be met by the resort’s staff. They will then transfer you to a motorized outrigger boat that will take you for a scenic ride going to the resort. It will then take you another 30 to 40 minutes riding the boats to arrive to the resorts itself.


The two resorts that the tourist can go to El Nido are Lagen Island and Miniloc Resorts. Lagen Island is a set in a cove that is fringed by a lush forest that gives you an experience of being in a tropical hideaway. It is the most luxurious resort in the area. While Miniloc Island Set in a cove surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs. Miniloc resort provides the guest with beach lined with coconut trees that has fine white sand, Thatched-roof cottages made from local materials, and clear waters full of marine life.

One of the things that concerns tourist to go Palawan is the security. Because of past events that some people have been taken away by terrorist groups, people have become afraid to visit the island. In truth, the place is a very safe place and has very well security measures now. El Nido resorts have very strict security because their securities are working hand in hand with the military and national police forces of the Philippine government. As a disclaimer, I can not guarentee your safety to Palawan as of this writing date ( see travel warning to the Philippines)


Note: This is No.3 of a series of articles on Beach Resorts in the Philippines that attracted my attention. .

Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali National Park and Preserve is located in Interior Alaska and contains Denali (Mount McKinley),the highest mountain in North America. The park and preserve together cover 9,492 mi² (24,585 km²).
The word "Denali" means "the high one" in the native Athabaskan language and refers to the mountain itself. The mountain was named after president William McKinley of Ohio in 1897 by local prospector William A. Dickey, although McKinley had no connection with the region. The name is only used by those outside of Alaska. Charles Alexander Sheldon took an interest in the Dall sheep native to the region, and became concerned that human encroachment might threaten the species. After his 1907-1908 visit, he petitioned the people of Alaska and Congress to create a preserve for the sheep. (His account of the visit was published posthumously as The Wilderness of Denali, ISBN 1-56833-152-5). The park was established as Mount McKinley National Park on February 26, 1917. However, only a portion of Mount McKinley (not even including the summit) was within the original park boundary. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. A separate Denali National Monument was proclaimed by Jimmy Carter on December 1, 1978.

Mount McKinley National Park, whose name had been subject to local criticism from the onset, and Denali National Monument were incorporated and established into Denali National Park and Preserve by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, December 2, 1980. At this time the Alaska Board of Geographic Names changed the name of the mountain back to "Denali," even though the U.S. Board of Geographic Names maintains "McKinley". Alaskans tend to use "Denali" and rely on context to distinguish between the park and the mountain. The size of the national park is over 6 million acres (24,500 km²), of which 4,724,735.16 acres (19,120 km²) are federally owned. The national preserve is 1,334,200 acres (543 km²), of which 1,304,132 acres (5,278 km²) are federally owned. On December 2, 1980, a 2,146,580 acre (8,687 km²) Denali Wilderness was established within the park. The national park is located near Denali State Park.

Denali habitat is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga. The preserve is also home to tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, rock, and snow at the highest elevations. Today, the park hosts more than 400,000 visitors who enjoy wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. Wintertime recreation includes dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling where allowed.



Note: This is No.10 of the series of articles on popular national parks in US

Wrangell-St Elias National Park, Alaska

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a United States National Park in southeastern Alaska. It was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The park area is included in an International Biosphere Reserve and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest national park in the United States by area, covering an area of 20,587 mi² (53,321 km²), or over 13million acres (53,000 km²). In fact, it is larger than nine U.S. States, and its size is comparable to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Mount St. Elias is situated on the border of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Canada's Kluane National Park and Reserve. At 18,008 feet (5,489 m), Mt. St. Elias is the second highest mountain in both Canada and the United States. In all, nine of the 16 highest peaks on U.S. soil are located in the park, along with North America's largest subpolar icefield, glaciers, rivers, an active volcano, and the historic Kennecott copper mines. The vast majority of the park is designated as wilderness, and the Wrangell – St. Elias Wilderness is the largest designated wilderness in the United States.

The park is accessible by highway from Anchorage; two rough gravel roads (the McCarthy Road and the Nabesna Road) wind through the park, making much of the interior accessible for backcountry camping and hiking. Chartered aircraft also fly into the park. Wrangell – St. Elias received 61,085 visitors in 2007 and is quickly gaining popularity through its combination of size, remoteness, and accessibility.


Note: This is no. 28 and the last of the series of articles on national park in the US. I hope you found this series informative.

Zion National Park, Utah

Macrine at the Park, Summer of 2009
Zion National Park is a national park located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the park of 229 square miles (590 km2) is Zion Canyon, 15 miles (24 km) long and up to half a mile (800 m) deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The lowest elevation is 3,666 ft (1,117 m) at Coalpits Wash and the highest elevation is 8,726 ft (2,660 m) at Horse Ranch Mountain. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park's unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Numerous plant species as well as 289 species of birds, 75 mammals (including 19 species of bat), and 32 reptiles inhabit the park's four life zones: desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest. Common plant species include cottonwood, Cactus, Datura, Juniper, Pine, Boxelder, Sagebrush, yucca , and various willows. Notable megafauna include mountain lions, mule deer, and Golden Eagles, along with the reintroduced Bighorn Sheep. Zion´s also has rare and endangered species such as the Peregrine Falcon, Mexican spotted owl, California condor, desert tortoise, and the Zion snail, found nowhere else on earth. Zion National Park includes mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches.

Human habitation of the area started about 8,000 years ago with small family groups of Native Americans; the semi-nomadic Basketmaker Anasazi (300 CE) stem from one of these groups. In turn, the Virgin Anasazi culture (500 CE) developed as the Basketmakers settled in permanent communities. A different group, the Parowan Fremont, lived in the area as well. Both groups moved away by 1300 and were replaced by the Parrusits and several other Southern Paiute subtribes. The canyon was discovered by Mormons in 1858 and was settled by that same group in the early 1860s. In 1909, U.S. President William Howard Taft named the area a National Monument to protect the canyon, under the name of Mukuntuweap National Monument. In 1918, however, the acting director of the newly created National Park Service changed the park's name to Zion as the original name was locally unpopular. Zion is one of the names of Jerusalem in ancient Hebrew. The United States Congress established the monument as a National Park on November 19, 1919. The Kolob section was proclaimed a separate Zion National Monument in 1937, but was incorporated into the park in 1956.

The geology of the Zion and Kolob canyons area includes 9 formations that together represent 150 million years of mostly Mesozoic-aged sedimentation. At various periods in that time warm, shallow seas, streams, ponds and lakes, vast deserts, and dry near-shore environments covered the area. Uplift associated with the creation of the Colorado Plateaus lifted the region 10,000 feet (3,000 m) starting 13 million years ago.

Note: This is No.27 of a series of articles on national park in the US. Macrine and I visited this Park for one day in the summer of 2009.

Selected Photos from the First Beach Wedding Ceremony at Chateau Du Mer

Last December 22, the first beach wedding ceremony was held at Chateau Du Mer. The bride was originally from Marinduque and is an OFW worker from Canada. The groom was originally from Pampanga is an OFW worker from South Korea. The wedding ceremony started at 9AM and ended two hours later. This was followed by a lunch reception at the Conference Hall for around 100 guests. The newly weds are Rick( Richard Servano) and Tin( Catalina Montales).
In preparation for this beach wedding, I had two workers cleaned the beach, raked the beach and placed about 50 chairs under the Talisay trees in front of the beach house. With clear ocean waters and azure blue skies, that day was a perfect day for a wedding ceremony.
Above are some selected photos of this historic event at my beach resort.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the United States' oldest national parks and is located in Arizona. Within the park lies the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, considered to be one of Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The park covers 1,902 mi2 (4927 km2) of unincorporated area in Coconino County and Mohave County.
Most visitors to the park come to the South Rim, arriving on Arizona State Route 64. The Highway enters the park through the South Entrance, near Tusayan, Arizona, and heads eastward, leaving the park through the East Entrance. All park accommodations are operated by the Xanterra corporation. Park headquarters are at Grand Canyon Village, a short distance from the South Entrance, being also the center of the most popular viewpoints. Some thirty miles of the South Rim are accessible by road. A much smaller venue for tourists is found on the North Rim, accessed by Arizona State Route 67. There is no road connection between the two within Arizona except via the Navajo Bridge, near Page, Arizona, entailing a five-hour drive. Otherwise, the two rims of the Canyon are connected via Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Hoover Dam. The rest of the Grand Canyon is extremely rugged and remote, although many places are accessible by pack trail and backcountry roads.

Grand Canyon National Park became a national park in 1919. So famous is this landmark to modern Americans that it seems surprising that it took more than thirty years for it to become a national park. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the rim in 1903 and exclaimed: "The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison--beyond description; absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world .... Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see".
Despite Roosevelt's enthusiasm and his strong interest in preserving land for public use, the Grand Canyon was not immediately designated as a national park. The first bill to create Grand Canyon National Park had been introduced in 1882 and again in 1883 and 1886 by Senator Benjamin Harrison. As President, Harrison established the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893. Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon Game Preserve by proclamation in 1906 and Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908. Senate bills to establish a national park were introduced and defeated in 1910 and 1911; the Grand Canyon National Park Act was finally signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The National Park Service, which had been established in 1916, assumed administration of the park. In 1979, UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site.
The Grand Canyon itself, including its extensive system of tributary canyons, is valued for the combination of large size, depth, and the exposed layering of colorful rocks dating back to Precambrian times. It was created through the incision of the Colorado River and its tributaries after the Colorado Plateau was uplifted and the Colorado River system developed along its present path.
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The United States has 58 protected areas known as national parks, which are operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. National parks must be established by an act of the United States Congress. The first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872,followed by Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." National parks usually have a variety of natural resources over large areas. Many of them had been previously protected as National Monuments by the President under the Antiquities Act before being upgraded by Congress. Seven national parks are paired with a National Preserve, six of which are in Alaska. While administered together, they are considered as separate units and their areas are not included in the figures below. The newest national park is Great Sand Dunes, established in 2004.

Twenty-seven states have national parks, as do insular areas American Samoa and the United States Virgin Islands. Alaska and California have the most, each with eight, followed by Utah with five and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell – St. Elias, at over 8,000,000 acres (32,000 km2), followed by three more in Alaska; the smallest is Hot Springs, at less than 6,000 acres (24 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately 51,900,000 acres (210,000 km2), for an average of 895,000 acres (3,620 km2) but a median of only 317,000 acres (1,280 km2). The most-visited national park is Great Smoky Mountains, with over nine million visitors in 2008, followed by the Grand Canyon, with over four million. Fourteen national parks are designated World Heritage Sites.

Note: This is No.1 of a series of articles about National Parks in US. In this series, I will be posting highlights on the 29 out of 58 national parks. Macrine and I had visited this park, North Rim in 2008.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park for most visitors is the show cave, Carlsbad Caverns. Visitors to the cave can hike in on their own via the natural entrance, or take the elevator (the exit for everyone) directly to the Underground Lunchroom some 750 feet (230 m) below.

The park has two entries on the National Register of Historic Places: The Caverns Historic District and the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District. Approximately two thirds of the park has been set aside as a wilderness area, helping to ensure no future changes will be made to the habitat.

Peak visitation typically occurs on the weekends following Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The park entrance is located on US Highway 62/180 approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The park participates in the Junior Ranger Program.

Carlsbad Caverns includes a large cave chamber, the Big Room, a natural limestone chamber which is almost 4,000 feet (about 1,219 m) long, 625 feet (190.5 m) wide, and 350 feet (about 107 m) high at the highest point. It is the third largest chamber in North America and the seventh largest in the world. The largest in the world is the Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia.



Note: This is no.7 of the series of articles on most popular national parks in US.