The Resort University

The Visayas State University is not new to me. I have been there many times in previous years and many employees there are my friends, back from our undergraduate years and others gained through work. I am already very familiar with its landscape, landmarks, structures and more. However, my trip there last week, Tuesday to Friday, seem to have been more meaningful. I might not be able to enumerate within my head the reasons, but the positive feelings and all things light and joyful are all gained from there, so i guess it was really a significant one.

We didn't sleep that Monday night in Manila, as we left 2:00am for a 4:30 am flight. We were a bit far from the airport, so we need some time allowance for any eventualities. It was just a 1hr-10min flight from Manila to Tacloban, and another 2 hours road trip to VSU, Baybay, Leyte. Yes we will pass by Tacloban, a just recently famous city because of the vast destruction caused by typhoon Yolanda. That was November 2013, and not much destruction are still visible now.

 wrong side of the sunrise

the real sunrise side

The sunrise on the plane could be a wonderful one, but we were sitting on the wrong side. I wish i had envisioned it, to have chosen the left position. Fortunately, the plane turned left on the way to the landing approach. Sunrise was still lovely but i had a very short chance to take photos, and the sun was already high up on the horizon.

 small islands can be seen on the nearby waters

the landscape of Leyte with patches of communities

The VSU campus is bound on one side by this mountain and on the other side by the sea. Forestry students have easier access on resources for learning. That also goes to students taking up Biology, Taxonomy and systematics. Wider areas are devoted to fields for agricultural and animal researches. The faculty have enough housing facilities inside the campus for their families.

I didn't show the actual academic campus as it is wide and full of buildings. The above is just the end at the north side with a few houses. 

tall trees and coconuts are planted all throughout the VSU grounds

 the sea in front of VSU is a declared marine sanctuary

 three big islands are on the horizon, one is Cebu and the other is the Camotes Island

The big talisay trees are dotted with epiphytes most notable are endemic orchids

a close-up shot shows a clump of flowering Bulbophyllum  and a lot of endemic Dendrobium orchids

 students just linger near the seashore to discuss assignments or just have fun during breaks

 This is one of the most beautiful sites i saw there, tying a hammock between two trees either leisurely or an easy corner to read a book.

 some pairs also just sit there on the expanse of the shore

 a panoramic shot of that expanse is truly inviting

sunsets are wonderful too

a very beautiful tree art form with the sunset background

another sunset before we left 

We reviewed and evaluated some research projects there. We also visited a nearby people's organization, which is the recipient of one abaca twining machine. People are accommodating and we finished our schedules on time. We also had enough spare time to meet and visit old friends, where their actual experiences during Yolanda were relayed to us.  There was also an ongoing garden show, and a friend gladly toured us. 

It is not surprising to hear that the university will be called The Resort University. Amenities and structures to effect such a name are already being done. There are actually special events already being held there for a fee, and income from such events will augment the universities resources. Students enrolled in courses related to hotels, restaurants and tourism will have good training on these grounds. More power to you Visayas State University.

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Nature Notes
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Trees n Bushes

An Unplanned Hike in Arrowtown 2

Post 2

The last post was cut when we were feeding the birds, while resting on the grass under a tree. It was time we start for our next plan, the HIKE. Hiking in New Zealand has another term, TRAMPING.     . I told you earlier we had a plan to do some walking, there are clear marks where the trails are and the time needed to finish them. So we ventured on one, that which needs thirty minutes. We envision it is only on the low plains near the Arrowtown River, we ventured on the left.

the walking maps at the start of the trails

We agreed to try hiking, which the New Zealanders call tramping, just the short one since our legs are not primed to do that. However, there is a very clear way to the roadside and we ventured on that track first. It says there are art houses, so we braved the very hot sun along the road.

At least in Arrowtown, even if the sun is shining bright, the temperature is still a bit cold. We didn't remove our beanies and our sweaters. My sister's name is Emily and we didn't let this label without her photo.

Views are lovely along the road, and we passed by some private houses with nicely landscaped, trimmed gardens. I enjoyed the beautifully flowering hedges.

 We also crossed a few small bridge and found some bikers on the road.

After about 10 min walk we saw this Gallery, but we didn't enter. Instead we played with the dog that hastily welcomed us at the gate. The owner could be inside and his dog assistant is well-trained to entertain visitors. What a beautiful landscape!

 my dream natural landscape to live

We continued walking through the hot sideroad till we saw this wonderful rocky landscape. We both agreed that this is our dream house setting, a medium height rocky mountain at the background, with lush colorful flowers. The entrance walk was long so again we didn't enter, but appreciated the well maintained garden just at the gate. I had a lot of photos here, as this seems to be paradise. The low house fits very well as part of the big landscape. We both feel envious to the owner of this property, he surely knows where to stay as inspiration to create fine arts.

At last i was able to see and touch a hedge of lavender, which i always just see in pictures. 

Another gallery on this road is named David John Gallery, i assumed he sells paintings and prints. 

We like to enter but that will lessen our time for tramping, so we decided to continue walking and find the start of the walk we intend the first time.

There was someone on a horse, wow, and her male companion was on a bike! We were thinking that maybe only one horse was available for rent when they needed it. Those profusely flowering yellow bushes are very prominent vegetation in these areas. I know it is invasive, but it definitely beautifies the total landscape in these areas.

 Eventually, we went back in less than an hour. We looked for the trail forking near us, to go to the real tramping track we intended to take. We  encountered this very tall Bombax tree shedding the white flower parts on the vicinity. My sister covered her face because these are allergens.

The ground is already covered with the shedding flower parts, just like dry snow. That's how we call it in the tropics, because we definitely don't experience snow. Our tree in the tropics is however called kapok, also a cousin of this species. Kapok is our old traditional bedding material.

 We also crossed this small very clear and clean brook. We didn't see the river but definitely this is flowing there. We wondered if it is also a part where gold panning was done in the 19th century. This area developed because of the gold rush.

Above is the beginning of our real trail track, which needs at least 30 min one way. I assure you we didn't finish it in one hour. A lot of things happened on the way, you will be surprised! And this escapade continues for the next part of my post. Stay tuned.

Nature Notes

Our World Tuesday

Outdoor Wednesday

NF Trees and Bushes