Category Archives: Parks and Plazas

Fitzroy Gardens (Melbourne, Australia)

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

Fitzroy Gardens

After the 6 PM mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we all walked to the nearby 26-hectare (64-acre) Fitzroy Garden. Located on the southeastern edge of the Melbourne Central Business District, the gardens are bounded by Clarendon Street, Albert Street, Lansdowne Street, and Wellington Parade with the Treasury Gardens, across Lansdowne Street, to the west.

Named after Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, a governor (1846-51) of New South Wales and Governor-General of the Australian Colonies (1851-1855), it is one of the major Victorian era landscaped gardens in Australia, adding to Melbourne‘s claim to being the garden city of Australia.

An avenue lined with English elm trees (Ulmus procera)

Here’s the historical timeline of the gardens:

  • In 1848, the 26 hectares (64 acres) of Fitzroy Gardens were permanently reserved as public gardens, with title shared by the State Government and City of Melbourne.
  • In 1856, Edward LaTrobe Bateman was commissioned to produce designs for the garden
  • In 1857, James Sinclair was appointed head gardener.  He worked in the gardens until his death in 1881.
  • In 1858, the border of Fitzroy Square was planted with gum trees and wattles.
  • In 1860, responsibility for Fitzroy Gardens was taken over by the Lands Department.
  • In 1862, a path network was established and a Neo-Classical band pavilion was built near Grey Street entry.  The name of the gardens was also officially changed from Fitzroy Square to Fitzroy Gardens. The path system was also firmly established.
  • In 1864, the small Tudor-style gate keepers lodge was built on the southwest corner.  Four fountains and statuary were also added.
  • In 1865, five gas lamps were installed along main path
  • In 1866, Sinclair’s Cottage was on the main walk
  • In 1873, the “Temple of Winds,” a Neo-Classical rotunda, was built
  • In 1880, many of the blue gum trees were removed, to create more room for existing trees as well as sweeping lawns and ornamental flowerbeds.
  • In 1890, every alternate elm tree on the Avenues was removed
  • In 1897, Lombardy Poplar Walk was planted in line with George Street
  • In 1901, the nursery and stable yard were transferred, from the center of the gardens, to its present site
  • In 1902, Pine Avenue along Grey Street walk was removed
  • In 1908, the original, timber-style kiosk was opened in the center of the gardens. Development of “Mound” in center of gardens was also planted with rhododendrons.
  • In 1915, the external picket fence was replaced by stone edging
  • In 1917, control of gardens passed onto the City of Melbourne
  • In the 1920s, a dining room was added to the kiosk
  • In 1921, work was started on pollarding the Elm Avenue.
  • In 1922, large number of stone pines along Clarendon and Albert Streets were removed.
  • In 1923, advanced specimens of Moreton Bay figs along Wellington Parade were removed
  • In 1927, the plant managers’ house was built
  • On March 13, 1930, the conservatory for displaying glass-house plants was opened
  • In 1934, Cooks’ Cottage was erected after being bought, shipped to Australia and donated by the Grimwade family.
  • In May 1934, artist Ola Cohn completes carving the Fairies Tree and donates it to the children of Melbourne.
  • In 1960, the kiosk was damaged by fire and later demolished
  • In the 1960s, the central section of the creek was piped underground
  • In 1964, the new brick kiosk was opened
  • In the 1970s, the eighteenth century cottage garden was added to Cooks’ Cottage
  • In 2014, an area previously used for depot activities was reclaimed as garden space.

The land on which the garden was built was originally swampy, with a creek draining into the Yarra River. The garden, initially designed by Clement Hodgkinson, was planted by James Sinclair, the park gardener, as a dense woodland with meandering avenues.

The creek, used for the irrigation of the western side of the gardens for fifty years, was landscaped with ferns and 130 willows but this did not stop it from smelling foul from the sewage from the houses of East Melbourne.

Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) is a large, massive and heavily branched spreading tree native to Queensland and New South Wales. This fast growing shade tree, 15-20 m. high, has large leaves and oval, glossy fruit.

In the early 1900s, the creek water substantially improved with the installation of sewerage mains to the residences of East Melbourne.

An ornamental lake

In the early years, to provide wind breaks, quick growing blue gums and wattles were planted while elm trees were planted to create avenues along pathways which, unknowingly, created a pattern resembling the Union Flag. With the creation of new planting in areas like the Mound and the Grey Street Walk, sub tropical planting became a feature of the gardens.

The Dolphin Fountain, installed at the northern end of the lake, adjacent to the Mound, was sculpted by June Arnold and consists of a pyramid of granite boulders upon which are mounted assorted sea creatures – dolphins, octopus, crabs, sea birds, sea horses, starfish, turtles and shrimps. Wealthy benefactors Dinah and Henry Krongold donated $30,000 towards the construction of the fountain and the architectural consultants were Perrott, Lyon and Mathieson.

The trees that line many of the pathways are the most notable feature of the gardens. The gardens, home to rainbow lorikeets, ducks, brushtail and ringtail possums, and microbats (small insect eating bats), are visited at night by grey-headed flying foxes (a large nectar and fruit eating bat) and powerful owls. The presence of these Australian wildlife makes the city gardens especially enjoyable for overseas visitors and locals alike.

The old, square, Corinthian-style Bandstand, built adjacent to the Gipps Street entrance to the Gardens, is enclosed by a low iron fence. It was designed and erected by George Dodd in 1864 at a cost of 322 pounds.

Set within the garden are a visitor information center and cafe, a conservatory, Cooks’ Cottage, a model Tudor village, an ornamental lake, a scarred tree, tree-lined avenues, a band pavilion, a rotunda, the ” Ola Cohn’s Fairies’ Tree,” fountains and sculptures.

The “Temple of Winds,” a Neo-Classical rotunda, was built in 1873 by Thomas Julian and Co. at a cost of £275. The building consists of a domed concrete roof supported by ten Corinthian columns.

The River God Fountain, located at the north end of the gardens at the junction of paths facing south, was designed and cast in concrete by the sculptor, Charles Summers and was erected in the Fitzroy Gardens in 1862. Its central feature is a figure of a man on bended knee bearing an open clam shell on his shoulders.

The Ola Cohn’s Fairies’ Tree comprises a series of lovely carvings (fairies, dwarfs, gnomes, a marvelous jackass, koalas, flying foxes and a host of typical Australian animals and birds), done from 1931 to May 1934 (Victoria’s Centenary Year) by Miss Ola Cohn, on the stump of one of the original old red gum trees.

Fairies’ Tree

The trunk was extracted from the ground, in 1977, for chemical treatment and the removal of rotted wood. During the process, the mummified remains of an over 40 year old brush tail possum was found, perfectly preserved within the trunk. To prolong its life, the tree was remounted on a concrete base.

The Conservatory

The Conservatory, one of Melbourne’s favorite tourist attractions, was opened on March 13, 1930 and provides 5 separate, spectacular floral displays each year.

The Conservatory Fountain (Boy with Serpent), a cast-iron ornamental fountain located near the rear entrance, features a snake coiled around the figure of a boy, atop a granite shaped ball.

Hydrangea and Fuchsias are in Display 1 (November – February); Tuberous Begonia and Gloxinia in Display 2 (February – April); Tropical and Poinsettia in Display 3 (April – July); Cineraria and Cyclamen in Display 4 (July – September); and Schizanthus and Calceolaria in Display 5 (September – November).

The Conservatory’s interior

Built in the Spanish Mission architectural style, it measures 30 x 15 m. and originally cost 4,000 pounds.

Cook’s Cottage

Cooks’ Cottage, which originally stood on an extremity of the village of Great Ayton, Yorkshire, England, was built, rebuilt or bought by Cook’s father in 1755. However, from the date 1755 and the initials of James and Grace (Cook’s mother and father) over the doorway, it is apparent that it is older than the rest of the cottage and it would seem that the cottage was rebuilt, and not originally built by Cook’s father when he bought it.

The Great Ayton family cottage is the only concrete historical link we have with Captain James Cook‘s origins (the original thatched cottage in which Cook was born at Marton-in-Cleveland was demolished in 1786) as it is possible that, during his boyhood years from 1736 until 1745, Captain Cook lived in the cottage. In the winter of 1771/72, on his return from the Australia voyage, he also spent some time with his father in the cottage.

The bronze statue of Captain James Cook sculpted by Englishman Marc Clark in 1973

In 1933, the last owner of the cottage, Mrs. Dixon put the cottage up for sale and the prominent Melbournian Russell Grimwade agreed to buy the cottage and present it as a gift to the Victorian people as an ideal focus piece for Victoria’s centenary in 1934. Grimwade dismantled and shipped the cottage to Melbourne in 253 packing cases, arriving in April 1934.

The garden

As research and guess work would permit, the cottage was accurately restored to its mid 18th century appearance and completed in six months.  A site in the Fitzroy Gardens, with its large shady European trees, was selected to complement the cottage. On October 15, 1934, during a centenary ceremony, the cottage was handed over to the Lord Mayor, H. Gengoult Smith by Russell Grimwade.  The cottage has undergone two restorations in the late 1950’s and the most recent in 1978.

The Model Tudor Village

The Village, situated in the center of the Fitzroy Gardens, was one of three such villages modeled in cement, as a hobby, by the 77 year old Mr. Edgar Wilson, a pensioner who lived in Hamilton Road, Norwood, London, England. In appreciation of Melbourne’s generosity in sending food to Britain during the World War II, one of them was presented to the City of Melbourne through the City of Lambeth, England and was officially opened, on May 21, 1948, by the Right Honorable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Councilor Sir Raymond Connelly.

The delightful village, representing a typical Kentish village built during the “Tudor” period of English history, is composed of models of various thatched cottages, a village church, school, hotel, barns, stocks, pump, a scale model of Shakespeare’s home and Anne Hathaway’s cottage, and all public buildings.

Pavilion Cafe

The Italian Romanesque-style, single storey Sinclair’s cottage, a polychrome brick gardener’s cottage located on the main Elm Avenue, was designed by Melbourne architect Francis Maloney White. It was built in 1866 by Thomas Crowson at a cost of 520 pounds.

Sinclair’s House

This house has a gabled entrance porch with overhanging eaves; walls of alternating cream and red brickwork (with cream as the dominant color) and two notable stripped chimneys, built in alternating red and cream brickwork courses, which dominate the roof.

Sinclair’s House

The stables at the back repeat, in a much simpler fashion, the fine details of the main house.

Visitor’s Center

A café and visitor center provides tourism information about Melbourne as well as specific information and services for Cooks’ Cottage and Fitzroy Gardens.

The Children’s Playground, located on the south side of the Grey Street herbaceous border, has a 20-ton sculpted concrete dragon as its centerpiece. The dragon is 7 m. long and 3 m. wide and was sculpted by Martin Moore, Gary Tippet and Aaron Beaucaire from Mothers Art. It was built using a steel frame with a reinforced concrete base.

Fitzroy Gardens: Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, Australia Opening Hours: Open 24 hours; closed from October 28 to November 1.

Parliament Garden Reserve (Melbourne, Australia)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Parliament Garden Reserve

This small triangular park, beside Parliament House and Spring and Albert Streets, is a pleasant respite at the Spring Street end of town, with views of the Royal Parliamentary House, the Old Synagogue, Eastern Hill and St Patrick’s Cathedral. This grassed reserve, originally part of the Parliament House grounds, is enclosed by a wrought iron fence and surrounded by majestic palm trees and lush foliage.  Here, it’s very easy to forget that you’re literally in the city center.

Check out “Royal Parliamentary House“

Garden entrance

One of the garden’s main features is a life-size memorial in bronze, created by Louis Laumen, to Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls (the pastor of Australia’s first Aboriginal Church of Christ, he is the first aboriginal person to be knighted in 1972) and Lady Gladys Nicholls (Australia Aboriginal activist). Two of Australia’s most prominent indigenous leaders and traditional owners, it reminds visitors of their contribution to aboriginal welfare.

Pastor Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial

Memorial plaque

The unusual Coles Fountain, a gift from the G.J. Coles Co., Ltd., a retailing company, was opened on November 27, 1981 by premier of Victoria L.H.S. Thomson.  A pleasant experience on a hot Melbourne day, you can walk inside the curtains of cascading water, cool off in the spray and not get soaked (not unless you want to anyway).

Bryan, Cheska and Kyle at The Coles Fountain

Made of stainless steel on bluestone paving, this series of cascading fountains resemble water balloons in full blast. In 2011, it was refurbished to use recycled water (in the past, it drew water from the city’s mains), an initiative of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle.

Parliament Garden Reserve: 489-531 Albert Street, East Melbourne Victoria 3002.

Carlton Gardens (Melbourne, Australia)

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

Carlton Gardens

The 26-hectare (64-acre) Carlton Gardens, a World Heritage Site located on the northeastern edge of the Central Business District, is bounded by Victoria Street, Rathdowne Street, Carlton Street, and Nicholson Street.Often called the Exhibition Gardens, it was designed by Edward La Trobe Bateman and laid out in the late 1850s.  Most of this work was obliterated when the Gardens were redesigned for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition and the central third excised to accommodate Joseph Reed’s Royal Exhibition Building. 

The rectangular site, gently sloping down to the southwest and northeast, contains the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum and Imax Cinema, tennis courts, maintenance depot and curator’s cottage, and the award-winning children’s playground (designed as a Victorian maze) at the northern section and two small ornamental lakes adorning the southern section of the park.

Check out “Royal Exhibition Building” and “Melbourne Museum“

An example of Victorian landscape design, the Carlton Gardens are of scientific (botanical) significance for their outstanding collection of plants, including conifers, palms, evergreen and deciduous trees, many of which have grown to an outstanding size and form.

Kyle posing beside an ornamental lake

It has sweeping lawns and varied European and Australian tree plantings consisting of deciduous English oaks, White Poplar, plane trees, elms, conifers, cedars, turkey oaks, Araucarias and evergreens such as Moreton Bay figs, combined with flower beds of annuals and shrubs.

The 550 cm. high, circa 1880 bronze French Fountain, at the Nicholson Street entrance, features three youths, each supporting a dolphin, above which rests a cupped scallop shell. The fountain forms the centerpiece of a round garden bed and its waters flow into the large, concrete pool in which it sits.

According to the listing in the Victorian Heritage Register, the elm avenues of field elms (Ulmus procera) and Dutch elms (Ulmus × hollandica) are significant as there are few examples remaining, worldwide, due to Dutch elm disease.

The iconic Hochgurtel Exhibition Fountain, designed by sculptor Joseph Hochgurtel for the 1880 Exhibition, is located in front of the Melbourne Exhibition Center. As described in the plaque, the fountain symbolizes “Arts, Sciences, Commerce, and Trade, and Industry.”

The garden also contains a rare specimen of Acmena ingens (a rainforest tree of eastern Australia, only five other specimens are known), an uncommon Harpephyllum caffrum and the largest recorded in Victoria, Taxodium distichum and, south west of the Royal Exhibition Building, outstanding specimens of Chamaecyparis funebris and Ficus macrophylla.

The pink granite Westgarth Drinking Fountain, manufactured by Alexander McDonald & Co., was presented to the people of Victoria by 1840s pioneer William Westgarth, when he returned to Melbourne to visit the Centennial Exhibition in 1888. This tiered drinking fountain has two cast-bronze drinking spouts, each taking the form of an emu. It has two embracing kangaroos surmounting the drinking troughs, which in turn are surmounted by a finial-like bronze and glass light.

A network of tree-lined paths, providing formal avenues for highlighting the fountains and architecture of the Exhibition building, includes the grand allee of plane trees that lead to the exhibition building.

A duck and its young swimming on the lake

Wildlife found here includes brushtailed possums, ducks and ducklings in spring, tawny frogmouths, kookaburras, Indian mynas and silver gulls while, at night, Gould’s wattled bat and white-striped freetail bats hunt for insects.  When native trees are flowering or fruiting, grey-headed flying foxes also visit the gardens.

The gardens also contains three important fountains – the Exhibition Fountain; the French Fountain; and the Westgarth Drinking Fountain. The gardens, including the Exhibition Building and the fountains, are now a popular spot for wedding photography.

Carlton Gardens: Carlton, Melbourne, Australia

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Melbourne, Australia)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Royal Botanic Gardens

From the Shrine of Remembrance, Grace, Jandy, Bryan, Cheska, Kyle and I walked to the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.  This  botanic gardens, across Melbourne and Cranbourne, is home to the State Botanical Collection which is housed in the National Herbarium of Victoria.

Check out “Shrine of Remembrance“

National Herbarium of Victoria

It includes 1.5 million preserved plants, algae and fungi, and Australia’s most comprehensive botanical library. Under the Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991, the gardens are governed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Board who is responsible to the Minister for Environment.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, founded in 1846, were initially intended to be a horticultural exhibition for the public to enjoy.  It was built on land reserved on the south side of the Yarra River for a new botanic garden.

Melbourne Observatory

Observatory House

Extending across 36 hectares (89 acres) that slope to the river with trees, garden beds, lakes and lawns, it displays, in 30 living plant collections, almost 50,000 individual plants (representing 8,500 different species).

Garden House

Visitor’s Center

Many seeds were traded between early European botanists such as Arthur and Von Mueller, who planted non-native species.

Bust of Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Victoria by Gov. Charles La Trobe in 1853 and, later, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

On occasions throughout the gardens history, the Queen and her grandfather, Dame Nellie Melba and Paderewski contributed plantings.

The author relaxing at a park bench

Since its earliest days, plant research and identification in the Royal Botanic Gardens was done primarily through the National Herbarium of Victoria which is based at the Gardens.

Asteraceae (Olearia pannosa)

The State Botanical Collection, also housed in the Herbarium, includes over 1.2 million dried plant specimens plus an extensive collection of books, journals and artworks.

Cockscomb Coral Tree (Erythrina crista galli)

Wolgan Snow Gum (Eucallyptus gregsoniana)

Research findings are published in the journal Mulleria, a scientific representation of the work done in the Gardens in any one year. More recently, the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology has been established to look at plants which specifically grow in urban environments.

Common Correa (Correa reflexa)

Enfield Grevillea (Grevillea bedggoodiana)

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, established in 1970, was built on land was acquired by the Gardens on Melbourne’s south-eastern urban fringe for the purpose of establishing a garden dedicated to Australian plants.

Kawaka (Liboocedrus plumosa)

Opened to the public in 1989, this generally wild site is significant for biodiversity conservation and focuses solely on Australian native plants.

Liliaceae (Asparagus desiflorus Myersii)

Here’s the historical timeline of the gardens:

  • In 1846, Charles La Trobe selected the site for the Royal Botanic Gardens from marshland and swamp. Initially, much of the native wetlands and swamp lands in the gardens were left.
  • In 1857, botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, the first director, created the National Herbarium of Victoria and planted a range of species from around the world.
  • In 1873, Director William Guilfoyle added tropical and temperate plants and changed the style of the Gardens to something more like the picturesque gardens that were around at that time.
  • In 1877, Sir Edmund Barton, Australia’s first Prime Minister, and Jane Ross were married at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
  • Around the turn of the 20th century, the native wetlands and swamplands were re-landscaped to create the Ornamental Lake.
  • In 1924, a shooting massacre, resulting in the death of four people, occurred at the Gardens.
  • In August 2010, the prominent  Separation Tree, a 300-year-old River Red Gum under which Victoria was declared a separate colony, was attacked by vandals
  • In 2013, the Separation Tree was attacked again by vandals.
  • By 2015, the Separation tree was dead and removal of the canopy and branches commenced.
  • In June 2015, the Gardens brought together the elements of the organization under the name Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. It incorporated Melbourne Gardens, Cranbourne Gardens, the National Herbarium of Victoria and the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology (ARCUE)

Marble Daisy Bush (Olearia astroloba)

Living collections at the Botanic Gardens include:

  • Australian Forest Walk
  • California Garden
  • Cacti and Succulents
  • Camellia Collection
  • Cycad Collection
  • Eucalypts
  • Fern Gully
  • Grey Garden
  • Herb Garden
  • Long Island
  • New Caledonia Collection
  • New Zealand Collection
  • Oak Lawn
  • Perennial Border
  • Roses
  • Southern China Collection
  • Tropical Display-Glasshouse
  • Viburnum Collection
  • Water Conservation Garden

Rose Pavilion

The gardens, including a mixture of native and non-native vegetation, invariably host a diverse range of both native and non-native fauna.

Rhamnaceae (Pomaderris subplicata)

Hosting over 10,000 floral species (the majority being non-native species), the gardens were the origin from which many introduced species spread throughout southeastern Australia.

Red Rod (Eremophila calorhabdos)

In the mid-19th century, seeds were traded between early European botanists studying the Australian flora.

Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

The 5,000 sq. m. Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, based in South Yarra, off the main site, was designed as a discovery area for children of all ages and abilities. For two months of the year (from the end of the Victorian July school holidays), this area is closed for rest and maintenance.

Running Postman (Kennedia Prostrata)

Royal Botanical Gardens: Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia. Open daily, 7:30 AM – 6:30PM.  Admission is free.

Yangmingshan National Park (Taipei, Taiwan)

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

Yangming Park

From Dihua Street, we again boarded our bus for the short 12-km. (25-min.) drive to Yangming Park, one of the first stops that visitors often make while exploring Yangmingshan National Park.  According to Vincent Chen, our Eagle Tour guide, the park is the place to observe Formosan cherry blossoms (Prunus campanulata), the native cherry trees of Taiwan.

They usually flower in late February through middle of March, earlier than the sakura of Tokyo owing to the fact that Taiwan enjoys a subtropical climate (the rule of nature is that cherry trees flower earlier at hotter places).

Yangming Park Map

The 1.07 sq. km. park contains a Chinese-style garden with elegant buildings, pavilions kiosks, streams, fountains and ponds for visitors to relax and enjoy the cooler climate. Aside from cherry blossoms, some unique flora within and around the park include azaleas, camellias, peach blossoms, thorn apples and plum blossoms, all changing with the seasons (they bloom from December through April and this time period is known as the Flower Festival).

Yangmingshan National Park, next to Shamao Mountain and Qixing Mountain with Datun Mountain on the right and Guanyin Mountain in front, is the only park in Taiwan that has volcanic geography and hot springs. Called Caoshan (Grass Mountain) during Japanese occupation of Taiwan (because it was covered with grass and seldom visited), after World War II, the KMT government renamed the mountain Yangmingshan and built a park here designed in traditional Chinese style.

Today, the magnificent mountainous scenery, natural beauty and comfortable weather have made Yangmingshan National Park a perfect summer resort and has won it the reputation as an urban forest and Taipei’s garden.

 

Near the western entrance to the park is a large, 13-m. (22 ft.) diameter clock, a large garden artwork made with flowers built around a timepiece provided by Swiss luxury watch maker Rado. Started in 1965, it was formally opened to the public in 1969.  Water runs around the flower clock and music is played every hour.

Flower Clock.  In the background is Chihsingshan, the highest mountain of the Tatun Volcano Group

Opposite the clock is a statue of the late president Chiang Kai-Shek.  On both sides of the statue are cypress trees planted by president Chiang himself. Right in the center of the park is the Xinhai Guangfu Building, at the northern edge of the park behind the Dragon Zone and cherry blossom gardens.

Xinhai Guangfu Building

Completed in 1971 in Northern Chinese palace style of architecture, it commemorates the Xinhai Revolution. In addition, there is a statue of Wang Yangming, the famous Chinese scholar in the 17th century.

President Chiang Kai Shek Statue

Yangmingshan National Park: Jhuzihhu Rd., Beitou District,Yangmingshan,Taipei City 11292, Taiwan.  Tel: 886-2-2861-3601.

Eagle Tours: +886-910-130-180 (Mr. Vincent Chen) and +886-932-013-880 (Ms. Joyce Chen).

How to Get There:

  • Take the THSR or train to Taipei Station, continue by Royal Bus (bound for Jinshan) to the Yangmingshan National Park Administration.
  • Take the MRT to Jiantan Station, continue by Bus Red-5 to Yangmingshan stop. Then take Bus No. 108 to Tourist Center stop.
  • Take the THSR or train to Taipei Station, continue by Bus No. 260 to Yangmingshan stop. Then take Bus No. 108 to Tourist Center stop.

There are some buses that start from an earlier bus stop. Once you alight at Yangmingshan bus terminal, look for the bus 125 with the “Flower Clock” sign. It is roughly 10 minutes bus ride, NT15 one way.

Dapitan City Plaza (Zamboanga del Norte)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Dapitan City Plaza

In front of the Church of St. James the Greater is the  Dapitan City Plaza (“Liwasan ng Dapitan”), also known as the City Square.  During his exile, Dr. Jose Rizal beautified and developed this plaza.  With the assistance of Spanish Politico-Military Governor of Dapitan, Gov. Ricardo Carnicero, he made the plaza comparable to the ones he saw in Europe.

Check out “Church of St. James the Greater”

With an estimated land area of 1 hectare, the plaza was laid out in the traditional rectilinear Spanish colonial manner. The plaza was already in existence when Dr. Jose P. Rizal arrived in on July 17, 1892.

With the P500 one of his patients paid him, Rizal equipped the town with lighting system, as part of Carnicero’s project, using coconut oil lamps hung on trees and cut tree trunks placed around the plaza. Rizal also beautified Dapitan by planting white santans, red gumamelas and acacia trees.

Relief Map of Mindanao

With the help of Francisco Paula de Sanchez, his teacher in Ateneo de Manila (he studied here from 1872-77), he also made a huge relief map of Mindanao (based on the map done by French Jesuit Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde in 1752) out of earth, stones and grass during his first two months in Dapitan. Located in the southeast part of the plaza, he intended it to be a teaching aid for geography and history lessons. On June 20, 2005, the Relief Map was declared by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure.

The Jose Rizal Monument (center). On the left is the kiosk

Before Dr. Jose P. Rizal became the country’s National Hero, a kiosk was located in the center of the plaza. Later, the kiosk was moved to the northwest side to give way to the monument in honor of Rizal. The two cannons, formerly placed on top of Ilihan Hill, can now be found in the north of the plaza. Except for its elevated border (constructed in 1996), the City Plaza has maintained its original design.

Dr. Jose Rizal Monument

The plaque at the Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s monument has snippets from one of his letters written in Spanish in 1893. It states: “Yo estoy dispuesto a hacer todo lo que pueda en obsequio de este pueblo. No tengo inconveniente ninguno en quedarme para siempre en este distrito” (“I’m willing to do everything I can for the sake of the people. I have no problem to stay forever in this district”).

Casa Real Historical Plaque

Near the plaza is a plaque marking the site of the Casa Real where Dr. Jose P. Rizal stayed with Governor Ricardo Carnicero, from his arrival until he moved to Rizal Shrine at barangay Talisay in March 1893.

Check out “Rizal Park and Shrine”

Pablo Page Ancestral House

Around the plaza are a number of old structures and ancestral houses, all part of t he Dapitan Heritage Zone or Dapitan Historic Center. Most are in dire need of major repair.

Office of the Sangguniang Panglungsod

They include the Antera Adaza Bajamunde residence (Justice Florentino Saguin St.), the Philippine Coconut Authority Office, the Public Services Division of Dapitan, the Office of the Senior Citizens Association and the Office of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.

Office of the Senior Citizens Association

Philippine Coconut Authority Office

The Antera Adaza Bajamunde Residence, more popularly known as the Pablo Page Ancestral House, was built in 1919.

Public Services Division of Dapitan

Dapitan City Tourism Office: Josephine Bracken St., Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.  Mobile numbers:(0977) 803-1497 (Globe) and (0908) 884-1650 (Smart).

Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark (Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro)

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

The concrete boardwalk at Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark

After lunch at Vencio’s Garden Seafood Café, we proceeded to the Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark located east of Calapan City.  This 41-hectare protected area, opened on November 13, 2013 (Oriental Mindoro Foundation Day), is located on the 87-hectare Silonay Island.

Check out “Restaurant Review: Vencio’s Garden Seafood Cafe“

It is a haven of 14 species of mangroves, fireflies, 2 species of bats, 29 species of migratory birds, fiddler crabs and various kinds of fish. Near the entrance is a mural of Silonay species done by environmental artist AG Saño and local students.

Loop-Root Mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata)

Mangroves in Silonay are highly susceptible to storm surges and mangrove forests here have also been depleted due to rampant cutting of trees by residents to sell for firewood.  These mangroves protect Silonay from these storm surges.   Fish larvae and other small creatures also take refuge from predators among the mangrove roots.

Nypa fruticans

Sama-samang Nagkakaisang Pamayanan ng Silonay (SNPS), a local organization, is dedicated to supporting the mangrove reserve. From the original 26 members in 2012, SNPS’ membership has now grown to almost 80.  Ms. Alma Bool, known locally as the “Queen of Mangroves,” has been a leader in organizing the community for mangrove restoration efforts. The 14 species of mangroves found here are:

Some of the 29 species (7 endemic) of birds found here (the first three are the most common) are: 

The two species of bats found here (at dusk) are:

Some members of Sama-samang Nagkakaisang Pamayanan ng Silonay (L-R): Mr. Benecio “Bobby” Vergara (SNPS President), Mr. Moral Bool (hpneybee farm manager), Aldwin Simblante (eco-tour manager), Mr. Ricardo Ponsones (mangrove seedling nursery manager), Mr. Francisco Fortu (Silonay Barangay Captain) and Alma Bool (full-time volunteer)

Heard from the entrance of the boardwalk are the Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko), the Giant Visayan Frog (Liminonectes visayanus) and the Common Puddle Frog (Occidozyga laevis).  Along the boardwalk are stingless bee hives.  Bees can help in the pollination of mangroves. At the same time, they bring extra income whenever the honey is harvested.  However, the honey harvested may be sweet-sour in taste but it has better medicinal value.

Stingless Bee Hive

Best visited during high tide, this ecotourism zone also offers birdwatching (bring your own binoculars, November to March), and dolphin watching (April and May).

Euden Valdez planting her mangrove sapling

Upon registering, we entered the area, leisurely walking deep into the mangrove forest via a 300 – 350 m. long concrete boardwalk which replaced a previous rickety bamboo boardwalk damaged by Typhoon Nina (international name: Nock-ten) in December 25, 2016.

JL and Kristian, down and dirty, with their respective mangrove saplings

Along the way are three huts, each able to accommodate 10 visitors.  We visited during low tide which was just right as some of us (Euden Valdez, Kristian Marfori, Michelle Soliman and JL Santiago Aquino) were encouraged to plant mangrove seedlings among the exposed mudflats.

PLastic, 2-pax kayaks for rent

The highlight of this destination, aside from the boardwalk, is kayaking through fishermen’s trails, in between mangroves, before exiting via the Silonay River. Colorful 2-seater plastic kayaks are rented out for PhP50/hour. However, kayaking is not possible during low tide. It takes at least 1.5 hrs. to tour and kayak.

Media group with members of Sama-samang Nagkakaisang Pamayanan ng Silonay

Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark: Sitio Singalong, Brgy. Silonay, Calapan City.  Open daily, 6AM – 6PM. Admission: PhP50/head (PhP20 for students).

Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, Calapan City 5200.  Tel: (043) 286-7046 and (043) 441-0306. Website: www.ormindoro.gov.ph.

Ngong Ping Piazza (Lantau Island, Hong Kong)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

New Pai Lau of Ngong Ping Piazza

During our cable car ride to Ngong Ping Village, we already saw the huge Tian Tan Buddha (also called the Big Buddha) statue sitting on the side of the mountain and, after our return from our visit to Tai O Fishing Village, we proceeded to go there.  Along the way, we had to traverse the length of the 1.5-hectare Ngong Ping Piazza.

The author at Bodhi Path

The piazza, where visitors could get started and tour to observe the religions and nature of Ngong Ping, connects with Po Lin Monastery, the Big Buddha, Ngong Ping Cable Car, Ngong Ping Village and the Wisdom Path, a landing with 38 impressive, 8-10 m. high wooden rectangular beams, each beam inscribed with Chinese scriptures that  make up the prayers of the Heart Sutra, one of the most popular Buddhist prayers.

Check out “Po Lin Monastery, Tian Tan Buddha, Ngong Ping 360 and Ngong Ping Village“

This intensely Buddhist piazza has four main components – New Pai Lau (built to reflect the northern architectural style of Qing Dynasty); Bodhi Path; Di Tan (Altar of Earth); and a Chinese landscaped garden constructed to echo with the design of Po Lin Monastery.

Stone statue of General Mihira

As we left Ngong Ping Village, we walked through the New Pai Lau, the towering ornamental archway to Bodhi Path, the central walkway paved with lotus tiles, where we were surrounded by Chinese structures that emit an aura of antiquity, appreciating the stone statues of the 1.8 m. high “Twelve Divine Generals” (each weighing about 1 ton) as well as 40 lotus-shaped stone lanterns installed on both sides.

Stone statue of General Anila

The “Twelve Divine Generals,” the protectors of the Healing Buddha, are also guardians of the hours of the day, each responsible for a two-hour period.

Di Tan at Ngong Ping Piazza

In addition, they represent the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, as denoted by the different zodiac signs on their crowns. Di Tan, the open space of Po Lin Monastery, is primarily tiled with grey granite paving. The four lotus ponds, built on the perimeter, facilitate the staging of religious ceremonies and rituals held from time to time.

Yoyogi Park (Tokyo, Japan)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park (代々木公園 Yoyogi kōen), adjacent to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, is located in a forest within the densely built-up city.  A popular Tokyo destination, it covers an area of 54.1 hectares (134 acres).  The park is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from regions across the entire country when the shrine was established.

The author under the park’s massive, 40 ft. high torii (Japanese gate)

This popular Tokyo destination stands on the site where, on December 19, 1910, Capt. Yoshitoshi Tokugawa made the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan. Later, the area became an army parade ground. From September 1945, during the Allied occupation of Japan, the site housed “Washington Heights,” the military barracks for U.S. officers.

In 1964, the area was used for the Tokyo Olympics, housing the main Olympic village and the distinctive Yoyogi National Gymnasium (designed by Kenzo Tange, it hosted the swimming and diving, with an annex for the basketball). On October 20, 1967, most of the area north of the gymnasium complex and south of Meiji Shrine was turned into Yoyogi Park.

On Sundays, the landscaped park, with its picnic areas, bike paths, cycle rentals and public sport courts, is especially busy when it is used as a gathering place for Japanese rock music fans, jugglers, comedians, martial arts clubs, cosplayers and other subculture and hobby groups. During hanami, thousands of people visit the park to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Street performer at Jingu Bashi Bridge

Rock band performing at same bridge

The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo and the spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll.

Cheska and Bryan admiring the colorful karadizu, wrapped in straw and having wonderful unique graphics, containing sake

Along the path to Meiji Shrine is a great wall of colorful kazaridaru (which means “decoration barrels”) containing saké (Japanese rice wine), all wrapped in straw and having wonderful unique graphics. These sake barrels, offered every year to the enshrined deities at Meiji Jingu Shrine, were donated by sake brewers from around Japan. The sake is used for shrine ceremonies and festivals.

Across are barrels of wine to be consecrated at Meiji Jingu.  These have been offered by the celebrated wineries of Bourgogne in France on the initiative of Mr. Yasuhiko Sata, Representative, Hourse of Burgundy in Tokyo, Honorary Citizen of Bourgogne and owner of the Chateau de Chailly Hotel-Golf.

Provenance of the Bourgogne Wine for Consecration

Yoyogi Park: 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0052, Japan.  Tel: +81 3-3469-6081.

How to Get There: The park is located near the JR Line’s Harajuku Station or Yoyogi Station, or Tokyo Metro’s Meiji-Jingumae Station. 

Calauit Safari Park (Busuanga, Palawan)

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

Calauit Safari Park

Part of the Sophia’s Garden Resort-sponsored tour

We all woke up 4 AM early in the morning as we were to slated to experience one of Coron’s as well as the country’s popular eco-tourism attractions – the 3,760-hectare Calauit Safari Park. Formerly known as Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, it would be the closest we would get to an African safari.

Check out “Calauit Island Game Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary“

Malecachiao Pier

It was still raining when we all boarded our van (4:30 AM) for our 2-hour drive to Macalachao Pier in Salvacion, Busuanga, arriving there by 6:30 AM.  The pier has a souvenir shop selling really beautiful Calauit T-shirts. Here, we all had our packed breakfast before proceeding on our short, 10-minute motorized boat ride to Calauit Island.

Boat ride to Calauit Island

This would be my second visit to this island, the first happening nearly 25 years ago (February 25, 1995 to be exact) with my mother and sister Tellie.  We went there all the way by a motorized outrigger boat from Club Paradise Resort in Dimakya Island.

Calauit Island

Making landfall at Calauit Island

Located just off Busuanga Island’s northwestern coast, this park was established on August 21, 1976 by Presidential Proclamation 1578 issued by the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and opened to tourists since 1985.  To transform it into a savanna, the island residents were relocated and its bamboo forests were cleared to provide a suitable environment for the animals.

Information Center

Park rates

Upon arrival, we were all requested to sign up on the registration area of the Information Center and, from here, we walked a short distance (the tour truck, the park’s safari vehicle, wasn’t available), accompanied by our local guide Orlando “Orlan” Cruz, to where the animals grazed.  It had stopped raining by then.

Briefing with guide Orlando “Orlan” Cruz (right)

At the time of my 1995 visit, the park still had 8 species of herbivores from northern Kenya (Africa) comprising 43 Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), 78 Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) and 6 types of antelopes –  155 Impala (Aepyceros melampus), two Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), 122 Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), 50 Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx), 14 Topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela) and 16 Bushbucks (Tragelaphus sylvaticus).

A pair of Gervy’s Zebras

Since my first visit, the original individuals imported from Africa have all died, leaving behind only the offspring of the Reticulated giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, waterbucks and common elands (the Thompson gazelles, bushbucks  topis and impalas have all died because of infighting and poaching), which were all born in Calauit.

A small herd of Reticulated Giraffe

Of the remaining four species, we only spotted some the 24 zebras and the 32 giraffes (the 14 waterbucks and elands are shy and prefer to distance themselves from tourists).  The giraffes, captivating us with their magnificent colors, stood tall in full regal and charm while the zebras, with their black and white stripes, looked so classic.

Celine and Gabrielle bonding with a giraffe at the Feeding Station

The highlight of the tour was the Feeding Station.  Here, within an enclosed pen, we got to feed the giraffes with leaves from the bakawang gubat or malwandit (Carallia borneensis) provided by Orlan and got up close to them, something I wasn’t allowed to do during my first visit.

The author up close and personal with a giraffe

This was my first time close encounter with this graceful and beautiful animal, among the iconic and the tallest land animal in the world. The giraffes have names such as Isabel (the biggest giraffe of the lot), Miller, Terrence and Mylene, all named after their sponsors.

Calamian Deer

Though the giraffes and zebras are the crowd favorites, there were other animals in the sanctuary too. We also saw local, critically-endangered Calamian Deer (Hyelaphus calamianensis) grazing with the giraffes and zebras.

Palawan Bearded Pig

Philippine Porcupine

We also observed, in their pens, pools and cages in the mini zoo, the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) , the Philippine porcupine (Hystrix pumila) , freshwater turtles, reticulated python, leopard cats, the Palawan bearded pig (Sus ahoenobarbus) and the Philippine macaque.

The author besides a camouflage tree

There was also a tree they called the camouflage tree because it looks like the camouflage uniform of servicemen.

Philippine Freshwater Crocodile

Leopard Cat

Today, the park now faces a number of challenges. The number of workers in the park has dwindled from 300 to 30 dues to budget cuts. The former inhabitants (mostly from tribes of Tagbanwas) of the peninsula who were relocated decades ago are returning via the Balik-Calauit movement. Currently, The provincial government is still reaching out to settle the disputes between the locals and the authorities in the park.

A pair of freshwater turtles

Philippine Macaque

Reticulated Python

Calauit Safari Park: Brgy. Salvacion, Busuanga.  Mobile number: (0926) 114-4443 (Mr. Froilan Sariego – park manager). Admission: PhP200 (Filipinos) and PhP400 (foreigners).  Use of tour truck: PhP1,000/2 hours (divided by how many you are in the group, maximum capacity is 20 pax). Feeding time of the giraffes is from 7 -9:30 AM. The Calauit Office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays and all tours desired to be taken from Saturday to Monday mornings should be reserved by Friday afternoon. All reservations received later than Friday afternoon will be confirmed Monday morning at 10 AM.

Sophia’s Garden Resort: 5 Dinagpan Rd., Sitio Jolo, Brgy. Poblacion 5, Governor’s Dr., Coron, 5316 Palawan. Tel: (048) 723-1871.  Mobile numbers: (0917) 543-5775 and (0939) 915-0274. E-mail: sophiasgardenresort@gmail.com. Website: www.sophiasgardenresort.com. You can also follow them on Facebook: Sophia’s Garden Resort