Cruising

By Ron de los Reyes; Ron on the Run

I first heard about Mt. Kinabalu from a roommate during my early college days at U.P. The guy was a geology major and he would always talk about places he wanted to go to someday, one of them was Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. I found it quite interesting because almost every other week, my friend would come from a camping expedition from some mining fields and mountains as part of his class activities. I never heard from him after college and I’m not sure if he ever got to climb Mt. Kinabalu. (more…)

By Alice Sun-Cua

A winding stone staircase at the back of the Sanssoucci Castle.

It was already the end of May, but the weather in Berlin was still cold as we were standing at the platform of the Friedrichstrasse train station, waiting for our train to Potsdam. My husband Alex and I were staying in one of the still-being finished hostels (The Bax Pax) in Berlin in the Mitte area, along Ziegelstrasse, a stone’s throw from the big rail station along Friedrich St. (more…)

By MAE LORRAINE S. RAFOLS

Rizal Park, also known as Luneta (Photo by KJ ROSALES)

A stroll along Rizal Park in Manila, can also be described as a walk for patriotism – not only because of its historical significance, but because the place has the power to stir a sense of national pride. (more…)

By PINKY CONCHA COLMENARES

The official marker of the Quezon City Circle

The 26-hectare Quezon Memorial Circle is a natural landmark that locates six main roads of Quezon City –  Quezon, East, Katipunan, Commonwealth, Visayas, and North Avenues – that start from its perimenter.  The three-pylon monument which stands 66 meters, is the official marker of the Circle; it is the monument for Manuel L. Quezon, the first President of the Commonweatlh, and father of Quezon City. (more…)

By ARIS R. ILAGAN

A part of the 35-km bike trail at the La Mesa Dam Nature Park. (Photo by ANJO PEREZ)

A 10-km stretch of bike trail known as Loop No. 4, whetting the appetite for uphill and downhill adrenalin rush, or enduring a 700-meter uphill climb with a 20-degree inclination in the killer Loop No. 12?  It’s not a choice, it’s part of the easy and difficult trails in the 35-km bike trail at the La Mesa Dam Nature Park.  But if one’s stamina fails for any reason – lack of skill, sleep or guts – there’s always a way out that leads to the main road and back to the reception area. (more…)

The mini port at the La Mesa Eco Park

By JOHANNES L. CHUA

Standing on a sea of green on a breezy Sunday afternoon seemed like the best way to welcome a New Year. I was at the La Mesa Eco Park a few days into January because I felt I needed some “fresh air” to boost my sagging spirit after the punishing holiday schedule got me sick and exhausted.   Thankfully, I was able to convince my best friend Kenford (or did I bully him?) to drive me to this park, which I said “was just near the Quezon City Memorial Circle.” (more…)

By Anjo Perez

The La Mesa Dam Nature Reserve

In the outskirts of the metropolis lies a very scenic place where one can commune with nature, learn nature conservation, have a dose of fresh air and even get an adrenaline rush by going through the trails carefully laid out inside 2,700 hectares of forested area.  That place is called the La Mesa Nature Reserve, which can be found in the fringes of Quezon City. (more…)

SUMMER – oh, that season of wonderful memories! The time of the first dance, first kiss, first swim, first camping trip, first trek, first adventure. Summer never seems to leave without some water fun, be that afternoons in the club pool, mornings at the beach, weekends in a farm near a waterfall or river, camping along a lake. How can a summer pass without a water activity? (more…)