The Commuter in Munich, Germany: A Neighborhood Walk

In the summer of 2009 (in Europe at least), I had the opportunity to go around selected cities in Germany. It has been a long time dream of mine to visit the country. In this first city that the choir and I have visited (see my previous blogs regarding this choir), I looked forward to a walk around the neighborhood.

Welcome to Munich!

What else could be neighborly than this sign located near the arrival exit of the airport in Munich. The choir and I have gathered around this sign as marking our first ever trip to Germany. We've had lots of pictures taken around this sign and so much more when we exited the terminal building.

Taken just outside the terminal building

Everyone wants to get a shot at the first plaza that welcomed us just outside the terminal building. You see some members of the choir and our luggage scattered almost everywhere. Not that we would want to abandon anything. But you know the feeling of being so excited to come out of the airport, of a country that you've never been to, that you simply want to go around and take pictures of things that are seemingly ordinary? Click, click, click!

A tram terminal similar to a bus stop

Of course, we had to be on our way. So we boarded a train from the airport to our first destination here at Rosenheimer Platz. Why did I take a picture of what looks like an ordinary bus stop? Well, it ain't a bus stop. It is a terminal where people wait to get on board a tram.

Tracks of the tram

Well, the tram hasn't arrived yet. So I took this picture of the neighborhood around the terminal. Here you can see the tracks of the tram. When the tram did arrive however, I had to get a handle on my luggage (we came from the airport, yes?) That means I can't miss this tram! When it did arrive, my hands are full as I was holding on to my luggage, one big and one small. So I missed taking a picture of it.

Beautiful rows of trees, surrounded by a flower bush along a footpath

Instead of living in hostels or paid lodges, my choir and I were hosted by a group of German families. This is thanks to the connection of our German friend, Ralph. My host family escorted us to their apartment, which was walking distance from the school where we were picked up. It was a delight to me. I could see a lot of things and this has truly become a neighborhood walk.

Town Plaza or a roundabout

We met our hostess' hubby here. He came to us riding on a bike and he actually came from work. As our hostess was taking us around, she told us that everything that we need is within walking distance: grocery stores, restaurants, drug stores, bakery, and so much more. One can actually go to work on a bike. Meanwhile, I took a picture of this fountain. Love it!

Looking around the Platz (or town plaza), I happen to see a familiar sight. In the Philippines, you'd normally see this bank in one of the high-rise buildings. Here, it's part of the neighborhood.

The Bakery! Those breads look absolutely appetizing!

Grocery store! Let's take a look inside.

Berries of various kinds: you wouldn't want to miss this before coming into the grocery store.

Food stuff: the interior of the grocery store

Fresh vegetables!

Curiously enough, when we passed by the bakeshop (or the bakery?), my friend and I wanted to take a peek inside. The owner was gracious enough to allow us to take pictures inside. The breads are huge and really enticing to eat. The smell is just awesome...hmmm...freshly baked bread! Moving on we came across a grocery store. It was quite small, but well packed with a lot of fresh items: meats, deli, fruits and vegetables. Wish we had time to actually shop, but we had to go home as our hostess beckons us since it was already time for dinner.

Well, this is the way home to our host family's apartment. See that person with an umbrella? It's suppose to be summer when we went to Munich. Yet the weather, like in Austria, remained cool and also rainy. It didn't actually dampen my spirits at all. Because of this short walk around the neighborhood, I grew to appreciate the new atmosphere and almost looked forward to the prospect of visiting more sights, more places around Munich--rain or shine!

The Commuter In Austria: The Charming Spittal an der Drau

Charming was indeed one of the first few things that came to my mind when my friends and I were given the chance to go around Spittal an der Drau. We didn't have to ride a train again nor go from one place to another by bus or taxi. Just a few blocks from our hotel, we come to the venue of the annual Internationaler Chorbewerb. It was a pleasant change from commuting by train to simply walking around. Aside from the Portia Castle, there is also the park, the churches, and of course, our own hotel looks like a charming, cozy, cabin set against a background of green and snow-capped mountains.

Our hotel in Spittal an der Drau

The side of the hotel

Interior of our room, three of us share this room. My friends are just getting settled on our beds.

The balcony outside of our hotel room

The river, bridge, and roundabout as seen from our hotel room

Close up shot of the roundabout

Schloss Portia

Interior of the Schloss, taken during the opening concert that officially starts the choral festival

The coat of arms

Exterior of the Schloss

The Tower

The Park, located beside Schloss Portia

Flags of the different countries being represented in the choral festival

Here is the Philippine flag, on a windy day like this, the flags get folded and twisted

That's me, enjoying the flowers. Didn't I say the place was charming?

The Crucifix within the church grounds of Sankt Maria

Interior of Sankt Maria, or the Church of the Annunciation of Mary

Trees and snow on the mountains

So that's the second installment of my trip to Austria. This is really a place that's good for walking and relaxing. Being a commuter, walking is a regular exercise. But as a commuter who goes to work, walking to work is truly different from a recreational walk. What's nice about a recreational walk is getting to commune with nature: the trees, the flowers, the bushes...they all offer a source of sanctuary from the usual busy, busy world. I was truly charmed by this place.

The Commuter Goes to Bacolod: Bacolod Public Plaza

It was my first time to go to my dad's province, Bacolod City. I was excited and rearing to go that one February afternoon. In any place that I go to, I make it a point to take pictures of sights and places worth seeing. Not only because I wanted souvenirs, but because I know my vacation would be incomplete if I don't get to go sightseeing. So in this first of a series of blogs on Bacolod, I'd like to take you on a short trip at the Public Plaza.

This is the center of the public park. It looks like some sort of bandstand. Perhaps it could be a venue for concerts and stuff. There are lots of people in the park, most of them sitting around on benches. Of course, I didn't spend all my time snapping away at everything I see. I walked around and took some shots of some buildings that encircle the plaza.

This all-blue building seemed fascinating to me. After all, I don't always get to see a building that's colored blue. Also, it wasn't that dirty-looking compared to some buildings in Manila. I guess that's what's about being in a provincial city--less pollution and less traffic. This is La Consolacion College. It's just across the street from the plaza. I think some of my relatives have gone to this school.

Beside the college is the San Sebastian Cathedral. I have other pictures of the interior of this church. I'll being showing them on my next blog. This was taken from across the street, Rizal Street. Finally, let's follow the direction of these public transports that you see in this picture.

Bacolod's very own SM City. Should you decide to go straight along Rizal St., this is where you'll end up. It is built on a reclaimed area by the sea coast. It seems that SM properties has a thing for building their malls on reclaimed areas (like Mall of Asia).

See you next time when we explore other sights during my one-week vacation in Bacolod City.

Capture it! -- Guadalupe Nuevo Cloverleaf Park

This was an attempt to capture the park that you see on the left portion of the picture. This was taken from the MRT train, while it was leaving the Guadalupe Station. I was on my way home and sometimes I get to stand on the eastern side of the train. Every time the train leaves Guadalupe station, I'd see some sort of park at the corner of J.P. Rizal. Well, it's not clear from the picture and I was trying to capture it using my meager camera phone.

If you'd like to know the exact location of this park, you can click here. 

A better looking picture can be found here. 

As a commuter, I would take the time to look around. That is also why I would stand near the windows or the doors of the train. It makes me see things from above and it's interesting to take it the surroundings. It's also my way of relieving stress from work. I've a commuter all my life and looking around wherever I go is something that I'm fond of doing. More "Capture it!" snapshots upcoming in my next few blogs.

The Antipolo Commuter goes spiritual at Serendra

I've heard about Serendra through friends and ads. I just thought it was a cluster of condominiums located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Whenever I go to the Fort, I'd find myself at Market! Market! and so far, that's my only tripping at the Fort. One Easter day, my friends and I decided to go to Serendra. They've been there before (in fact, lots of times) since most of them live in or near Makati City. Yes, I'm the only one in the group who lives in Antipolo. More about my life in Antipolo in the next few blogs.

I went with them wondering what we will see at Serendra. Not wanting to feel naive, I kept silent until we got there. I did not know until then that Serendra was also a park and a strip mall. When we got there, there were lots of people. I know from the picture above, it didn't seem like it. I took this picture attempting to capture the park's landscape. Many groups of families were here and some activities geared towards Easter time, such as Easter Egg hunting. But I did say that I went spiritual on my first trip here. There was actually an area in the park that offered a spiritual journey, in keeping with the recently concluded Lenten season.

In cooperation with the Church Simplified, there is a walkway that was designated as Stations of the Cross. I was surprised to see something like this in a place where people just hangout. My friend and I decided to go through all the stations and it was in fact, a refreshing and spiritual experience.

I'd like to point out some of my favorite points for reflection as I go through the entire walkway.

A nice looking crown, yet with a wreath of thorns...simple, yet easily captures the meaning of Christ's image as the King who suffers to save his people from their sins. It looks like a display in a museum, but I found it clever. The true meaning of it though, one has to turn to the explanations one will find on the stations themselves.

I took a closer shot of this to show what is written. It serves as a helpful guide for us who would reflect on each station. The stations are also designed to be interactive. For example, this station reflects on Jesus carrying his cross. After reading through the reflection, a portion of the station labeled "Act" will ask you to do something concrete there and then.

I saw my companion try and carry one of these things. Someone told me that at this station, some people would actually try and carry these crosses around the park or to move on to the next station. Of course, I tried it too, but only to get a feel for its weight. The guides were there to help and these things are even small compared to what Jesus actually carried. As I read the reflection and carry this cross, it made me humble and definitely more repentant than ever. After all, I am one of those whom Jesus tried to save and he had to carry a really heavy cross. Makes you feel small and ashamed after that...but at the same time, thankful to Jesus for what he did.

That's my friend, nailing a piece of black cloth onto a gigantic wooden cross. Those black clothes symbolize our sinfulness. Jesus brought the weight of all our faults and sins on his cross. It was the only way for us to be saved. This nailing of the black cloth is an invitation for all of us to repent and be sorrowful for our sins. Every time we commit sin, it is like nailing our Lord to the cross once again. He is nailed on it so that we might be saved. Again, this experience was humbling and although it causes one great sorrow, in the end Jesus rises from the dead and we become part of God's family.

In the end, WE become one family; WE become brothers and sisters in Christ; WE become the symbols of God's love and mercy here on earth; WE become a community united through Christ; WE become bearers of peace and good will; WE become heralds of the good news of Christ; WE become a community of friends and who will bring other people to come to a relationship with Christ; WE become the defenders of the poor and the oppressed. It's an ongoing mission that does not end on Lenten season.

After that spiritual journey, I grew more appreciative of life and all the blessings that God gives in my life. I guess I can say that being led to Serendra was one of those blessings. Now, I can better appreciate what life has to offer. The challenge now is to bring this blessing to other people, especially those who wouldn't or even couldn't go to a place like Serendra.

I like fountains. Whenever I see one such as these, the flow of the waters offers a relaxing and cool mood. After my journey of the stations of the cross, I felt refreshed and energized as though a spring of fresh water has entered into my life--it cleansed me, moved me and reminded me of God's love for his beloved people.