Rambo

 Batad is famous because of it's very well preserved rice terraces.

Visitors foreign and local go down this place to experience themselves 

the beauty of the ancient rice terraces 

built by the Ifugaos more than 2000 years ago.

The terrain may be rough and uneasy. But once you have your unusual tour guide, Rambo, the local dog of the Homestay, you'll feel bestfriended minus the financial burden you have to give your guide. ::smiley::

Actually I met 2 tourist guide dogs, i forgot the name of the other one, 

the white with spots.

The tricolor dog, Rambo, can bring you to Tappiya Waterfalls and back, just give him a piece of treat and water, he's good to go.  

Plus more of the cuddling and picture taking with the man's bestfriend, 

my bestfriend for the entire Batad experience. 

Kippings Dwelling

 Leonor Bauzon Rivera aka Leonor Rivera was Jose Rizal's first love, 

immortalized by Jose Rizal in his "Noli Me Tangere" as Maria Clara.

 Henry Kipping was the railway engineer who married Leonor Rivera. 

According to history, Leonor Rivera's mother, Silvestra Bauzon, 

was against to a "romantic relationship" with Jose Rizal; 

there is also this fact that Leonora's father, Antonio Rivera, 

is a cousin of Francisco Mercado, Jose Rizal's father, 

so come and think of it, for most people, it is the "law"; 

and so Leonora's mother burned every letters of Jose, 

so it won't get in the hands of Leonora during those days. 

This story passed on and propagated up to this very moment.
The Rivera-Kipping family has history on their shoulders needed to be told. 

Back in the house of the Kippings,
the house was turned into a private museum before, 

but now closed for possible reconstruction due to leakages 

during the rainy days, so it's an off limits to all, 

to reopen in unknown date and time 

since reconstruction haven't started yet, 

and yes it still is a private abode to the Kippings.

According to Ms. Caroline Kipping, descendant of Henry and Leonor, 

the original home of the Riveras was put down in the 1950s 

and was replaced by the present standing stone house. 

The mansion is noticeable still and the splendor is overwhelming. 

You would wish you could see more than just the black and white floorings, 

the circular stairs, the balcony, and the remembrance of the 

monumental past hanging on the wall of the house. 

Every Sunrise..

Yes, I am a morning person..

Each day I woke up, I stare at the window and look at the sun. 

I surprise  myself of the colors of the sun on the rise. 

And it's always a beautiful sight.

Every sunrise brings new hope- to be happy and to live with tranquility.

All the best for 2013