Palace in the Sky: What a wonderful nature!

Right now, I am really very confused about my life... I even bought a book entitled "PurposeDriven Life by Rick Warren". The book which I suppose to read day by day until the 40th day is really full of life's lessons on how to live life here on Earth with purpose. Last Saturday,I decided to meet my friend and we went to Tagaytay. The funny thing about this is that I (we) never planned to go there! And everything else happened spontaneously...It's about 10:30pm when me and my friend met in Baclaran. My friend is kinda not feeling well cozwhen they went to Glorietta he lost it and doesn't know the suspect except the childrwan who suspuciously approached them while eating ice cream at the prestigious mall in Makati. "Are you reallydetermined to go there?", he asked. Since we haven't met each other for a long time and I haven't beento Tagaytay, I said yes. After waiting about an hour waiting for a bus, we were able to ride a mini-busand as we climb up or go straight up to the Tagaytay, it's feelin cold. Another funny thing aboutthis adventure is that we don't know where to get off the bus and we don't know where to stay butIm not bothered. When we saw an Internet cafe, we tried to browse for hotels in Tagaytay and wefound three hotels and took note of their contents and we will try to call them when we get out ofthe cafe. "Dito yata tayo magpapa-umaga sa cafe eh...", he jokingly said. After two hours of browsingand chatting and finding the hotels whe wish to stay for the night, we then went out and started towalk coz there are no more vehicles and its really dark in that place that we don't know butwe're sure its Tagaytay already but its a commercial place actually and no Tagaytay view can be seenthere. While we are walking in the Manila route, we saw an apartelle and there we stayed for thenight! Next morning we are planning to Tour places like "Palace in the Sky" and other interesting placesin the tagaytay which we saw in the Internet. Next morning comes, Sunday, March 07, 2004. On our way to eat our breakfast in Chowking in Olivarez,we met some person named Ruel "Totoy" Pamplona and he showed and offered us a package tour toTaal Volcano. The package included the transpo to the resort below tagaytay (i think Batangas area), boat ride to the foot of Taal Volcano and back and forth. Totoy who is a registered tour guide and atthe same time, a tricycle driver, also toured us to the "Palace in the Sky" before we went to Silangto withdraw some money before we go to Taal Volcano. At the "Palace in the Sky", we we're feeling cold coz we don't have any bonet or sweat shirt or jacketcoz it's really an unplanned adventure!!! The most fascinating thing we experienced while on top of that mountain is the very strong wind that carries a white cloud. "When I ride an airplane I am whishing totouch a cloud but now they are the ones touching my body", I said. On that Palace in the Sky, youcan view the swirling clouds or fog, and be able to see the view of the Taal Volcano and the lake.Its really a breath-taking view. A lot of foreigners also go there. The place is somewhat safe andtagaytay locals are somewhat educated in tourism. On top you can see a shrine, a cellsite, an oldbuilding, a wishing well ("better life" is my wish), a store (we bought bonet and cap), and a statue. The place is like the city in Lord of the Rings moview which is is located on top of a mountain.Now the most exciting part is when we went to Taal Volcano!!!After about 20 minute tricycle ride from Tagaytay, we reached the resort in Batangas near a place called Lemery. Small boats and cottages and foreigners and tourists are visible in the area.From the cottage, we can see the very beautiful view of the Taal volcano and and the lake wherewe are going to tour. With a life jacket, the two of us and our tricycle driver and the boat driverstarted our way. At first the trip was good only that we are advised to cover ourselves with araincoat. At the middle of the lake, splashes and big splashes of big waves come our faces. Atfirst, I just laughed but then as we pass the center of the lake, the waves gets stronger and morewater gets splashed into our body. "Ok lang po tayo Manong?", my friends asked. "Ok lang yan, walapa ngay yan tsaka apat lang tayo, Mas delikado pag mga syam tayo", he said to calm us both. Butthen I'm really feeling so scared and would rather stop the boat or go back... I suddenly remembermy mom, dad and bro whom I left in tha haus without telling them that Im going in this kind ofadventure. I suddenly think what if this boat sunk in the middle of this lake and nobody to save us.What if this boat sunk... what will happen to my cellphone and money.... what will happen to myfamily (except from getting money from my sunlife insurance)...how will I tell i get closer againto my family (coz i've been neglecting them)... how will i do things I still want to do...After all this toughts and as waves grows stronger and both of us getting wet in the middle of thelake, I just stayed calm and prayed "Our Father" and "I Believe in God". These prayers and thetoughts of loving my family and work and be nice to everybody when I return safely back home arethe things I promised. Noe, I realized that I must love the people beside me and not just treatthem like ordinary humans. Now, excietd again after that scary and thrilling boating, we are now horse back riding to the top andcrater of the the taal volcano. Here in this village, people get money from tourists. People raisehorses and make boats for tourism. The way to the taal crater is so dusty and steep so you have tohold on to the horse firmly. As I ride the horse with my horse driver "winlove" going to the crater,I suddenly feel the misery and simple life and hard life that the people there are experiencing. Theway is so full of dusts (a little like a desert Afghanistan place). As we reached the cottage nearthe taal volcano crater, our tour guides were given drinks separate from our package tour payment.Only thing I noticed here is that people ask when they want something. "Sir baka gusto nyo po pamiryendahin ang horse guide nyo". I can't complain so I gave them 20 pesos for a coke. It's strangebut these people are accustomed to such ways maybe because of foreigners who are kind to them."Wow, this place is so wonderful!", i said to my friend when we saw the taal volcano crater -- a crater overlooking from top filled with green colored water, with a basin like structure just like a small lake that you won't expect that it's once a hot and lave filled volcano crater.Plants, trees, uwaks (crows) an other ecosystem thrives in the area showing a calm and maybe deadvolcano living or resting underneath. What a place to take pictures! Foreigners also enjoy seeingthe place just like us. As I focus myself on the lake Im wondering what's in there, how deep it was, why is it not hot (or is not?), and so on.... What a wonderful nature!Going back, the funny thing again is the horse back riding coz the horse is running while goin downthe slope and its shaking my body and my "....". But its really fun and Im kinda like a "cowboy"riding and raising in the slopes of the taal volcano. Then, we went to the back trip via boat butthis time prayers have saved me again... promising to be nice and make my life worthy when I safelyreturn. with total darkness on the way up to Tagaytay city proper, we were so silent and tired as ourtricycle roars its strong engine as if there is no stopping point. Then we bought some presents and eatand ride a jeepney (not an airconditioned bus) co its cold there at night! Truly, this adventure is another unforgettable experience in my life. Thanks God!This morning, as I write this diary, Im feeling glad about what's happening in my life. Right now,I feel good and feel better with my relationship with my family an people behind me. Its not only because of the adventure I just had in Tagaytay but most of all the hope of finding my true self againas I have just finished reading the book on "Purpose Driven Life". Yes, Im currently thinking ofmy real purpose in life....As I read the book on my way to work this morning, I was touched by its lessons such as:- Our life on earth is not the end coz we sttill have life after death which is in eternity.- Every single thing that we do on Earth sommehow touches a chord that vibrates in eternity.Knowing that life doesn't end here on Earth, evry human must make every second well spent and thatknowing that everything we do would have consequences in our after-earth life, Im again back to mynormal thinking and wiwshing God would touch me, guide me, teach me and lead me to the right direction.Lord please forgive me and make me your servant....By the way, i had a question in mind... "If it is true that everyone of us has an eternal life,how many souls can the eternal heaven accomodate?"Or is it right to think that our souls is a part of central energy source or a central soul. In thisway we will not think of life as individuals anymore. >>Read more