Europe
has been one of my dream go-to-destinations abroad. Whenever I see videos
or read magazines and blogs about Europe, I often imagine myself traveling to
its different countries, eating their delicious food, getting to know the
people and culture, learning a few languages, and just be simply amazed by all
its beauty and wonder. I am particularly interested in Europe’s rich history as
well as the architectural styles of its different structures like Medieval,
Renaissance, and Neoclassicism.
To
experience all of these is bit of a hurdle as Filipinos need to get the
Schengen Visa which is a relatively tough nut to crack. I like a challenge but it needs a whole lot of preparation so for now, I will settle with my own
version of Europe here in my country and share with you a personal discovery of
my top 5 striking, Instagram worthy, and equally amazing Philippine
destinations that somehow satisfied my European wanderlust.
(Disclaimer: I just based my comparison on the scenes and images I’ve seen in the television, movies, travel magazines, and other reference materials. Please don’t get me wrong teehee.)
National
Museum of the Philippines – Manila
European Vibe: Buckingham Palace – London, England
The
National Museum of the Philippines is located in Padre Burgos Ave., Erminta,
Manila. It is just a few walks away from other attractions like the Rizal Monument
in Rizal Park and Fort Santiago in Intramuros. It houses the most famous
painting by Filipino Artist Juan Luna - the Spoliarium. It also features other
collections on Fine Arts, Archaeology, Ethnography, and Natural History. If
you're into arts and history like I am, then this place is a must visit for
you. Admission to the National Museum is now permanently free of charge for all
visitors, Filipino or foreign, so I suggest that you really check this one out.
.
When I
arrived at the place, I was instantly amazed by the structure of the building.
Its facade had classical features using Corinthian columns and
ornamentation. When I got inside the museum, it felt like I was
transported in another place and time and got a glimpse of the past. What
made me include this in the list is because of its interiors which give you
that vibe of being inside a European palace. Also, the architectural design of
the building somehow resembles that of the Buckingham Palace in London,
England.
Baluarte
de San Diego – Intramuros, Manila
European Vibe: Colosseum – Rome, Italy
Next on
my list is the Baluarte de San Diego located along the walls of Intramuros at
the back of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. This stone fortification was
built by Jesuit Priest Antonio Sedeno as a circular fort in 1587 and then
renovated in 1953 to join the walls of Intramuros. Before entering the site,
one needs to pay an entrance fee amounting to Php 75.00 for Adults and Php
50.00 for Children/Students (with valid IDs). When I went inside, I was greeted
by these beautiful gardens and pergolas. The site is very appealing and it's
suitable for special occasions like wedding receptions or anniversaries. Then I
passed through a stairway that led me to the actual fort. When I set foot on
the place and gazed at the circular stone walls, I felt like I was inside the
Colosseum in Rome. The site gave me the good chills being the remains of an old
city and a hulking reminder of the past.
Pinto
Art Musuem – Antipolo, Rizal
European Vibe: Santorini, Greece
Third on
my list is the Pinto Art Museum located on the hilly landscapes of Antipolo,
Rizal. It is just 40-minute to an hour of travel (depending on the
traffic) from Manila via a private transport. Pinto is home to
several art collections which include paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media
art. It also has other amenities inside like an Italian restaurant, a coffee
shop, and a swimming pool. I could say that Pinto is a place where every corner
is a work of art. The architectural design of the structures themselves is a
beauty to behold which provides a Mediterranean vibe to its visitors. It has
white-washed walls, natural lighting, and good ventilation of fresh air coming
from its surrounding lush greenery. And since it is situated on a mountainous
setting, the gallery structures are connected via different terraces. Personally,
I could compare this place to the white buildings in Santorini, Greece.
Venice Piazza – Mckinley Hills, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
European Vibe: Grand Canal – Venice, Italy
Coming in
at number four on the list is the Venice Piazza which is the newest attraction
in Mckinley Hills, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. This place has residential areas,
commercial complexes, and restaurant chains offering visitors an overall
European and Mediterranean experience. Its top features include the Piazza
Grande for concerts and events, Rialto Bridge, Venice Grand Canal Mall, and St.
Mark's Tower which are exact replicas of the same structures found in Venice,
Italy. To complete your Venetian experience, you can try their Gondola Ride in
the Venice Grand Canal for Php 500.00 per head. The ride is open to the public
every weekend. When I went to the place, there were a lot of people taking
selfies and groufies, most of them are couples on a date. The place is indeed
perfect for lovers out there who want to get the feel of having a romantic date
in Italy. It has lived up to its title as the "most romantic mall" in
the Philippines.
Fortune
Island Resorts – Nasugbu, Batangas
European Vibe: Parthenon – Athens, Greece
Last but definitely not the least is the Fortune Island, which is
an hour away off the coast of Nasugbu in Batangas. This is not your ordinary
Philippine tropical island with white sand beach and turquoise waters. It is an
island made for the gods which features these iconic Grecian pillars of the
acropolis and statues on top of a cliff. When I went to see these
constructions, I imagined myself as if I was one of the Greek gods of Olympus.
I thought that the place was really mystical and was almost like heaven on
earth. Aside from taking Instagram worthy pictures with these beautiful pillars
as your backdrop, there are other stuff that you can do in the island which
include: cliff diving (highly recommended!), trekking to the lighthouse,
snorkeling, and exploring the bat cave. There are no facilities around however,
being an abandoned island beach resort years ago. Tourists need to bring their
own food, water, tent, and other necessities if they plan to visit the island. The
local tourism office offers a day tour and overnight stay in the island for an
entrance fee of Php 300.00 and Php 400.00, respectively. There are a lot of
Bangka drivers in Nasugbu whom you can contract to take you to the site for an
average fee of Php 3,500.00 (at least that’s what we paid for one Bangka on a
day tour). So if you want to have a quick dose of the beach with a mythical
godly touch, then just head your way to Fortune Island - the country's version
of Athens in Greece.
After visiting these wonderful destinations, I
realized that the Philippines has a lot more magnificent places that are just
waiting to be discovered. I may not be able to visit Europe any time soon but
the Philippines has somehow made up for my European wanderlust. Indeed, it is
really more fun in the Philippines so for those of you who haven’t been to
these spots, I highly recommend that you check them out!
0 comments:
Post a Comment