liliram's Guestbook

Unhappily ever after.
I'm studying the 'Iliad' as part of my course material for Classical Lit. Helen never lived happily ever after; in Homer's epic poem itself, Aphrodite curses Helen to a doomed, miserable life in Book 3 (Teichoscopia). The immortal rounds on her in fury, saying ".. your fate can tread you down to dust." After the burning on Ilium, Helen was abducted by Paris' brother as a concubine; he was killed by Menelaus. Then Aphrodite instructed Hermes to spirit Helen to Egypt, where King Proteus hid her. However, Menelaus tracked her and she returned to Sparta. However, after Menelaus' death, her step-sons Nicostratus and Megapenthes drove her out from Sparta.She fled to Rhodes to live with Polyxo, a Trojan widow, who tried to kill her. Some legends say she was hung from a tree. Others say she died a beggar on the streets. Whatever it was, it was nothing like a happy ending!

Great great blogs
Dear Liliram, Amazing photos, and great family tales and great travel blogs. Particularly enjoyed your piece on Ninoy Aquino. I have followed the phillipines for some years now, and was very familiar with Ferdinand Marcos. You have a splendid country full of dynamic and decent people. (and a few sharks... but hey!) Amazing stuff. Keep travelling. Farhat

Illusion of Freedom
The Philippines will continue to suffer from the irreparable damage that the corrupt dictator Ferdinand Marcos has done to the country and its people. He has put the country in so much debt which Filipinos can never repay. Philippines is now practically a slave to international debt. Philippines revenue just goes to servicing the interest rate on its debt instead of it going to the social welfare and services. The country is deeply buried in poverty due to corruption and injustices at local, national and international level. My heart goes to all developing countries who are continually being exploited by their own corrupt government and rich countries who immorally lent money to have economic gain and indirect control of country and its people.

No reports about this in the western news, but an amazing story. Where were you? What was it like?

Thanks
Thank you for sharing this with everyone. I visited the Philippines in January and absolutely loved it. I must admit that I knew, and know, little about the history of the country and where it came from. Thank you for providing this insight to such a beautiful place, it helps me to appreciate a destination more when I know what it has gone through to get to its present day. Much Respect!

Mary's House
Thank you for sharing your very clear and interesting pictures! I hope you will be able to still read my comment even though it is way beyond May 2009. :) My grandma-auntie is a traveler. She shared with me that her favorite tour was that when she saw our Blessed Mother Mary's house, because of the difficulty she went thru in getting there with all the buses. She admired how very simple the house of our Mama Mary was. Would you happen to have a picture of these buses as well? Will it be possible and alright with you to please send me some more pictures of our Blessed Mother Mary's house? My grandma-auntie is now on her 3rd week in the hospital. I am wishing to give her an enlarged picture of Blessed Mary's house, and if possible with that bus that she is talking about. Maybe this will help her be relieved somehow from her pains in staying in the hospital for a long time now. Take care and thank you so much for your time! God bless you. Marite

ew...snake dish
Wow Ms. Lili, not even the typhoon or the swine flu scare can stop you from satisfying your wanderlust! It's a good thing you were able to shop and go around the place in spite of the weather. But it's too bad you didn't get to eat any snake dish from Snake Alley. That would have been a welcome variety from all the noodle dish you ate. :-)

inquiries about Tagaytay
Hi Sir/Ma'am. I would just like to ask how much is the BOAT RIDE going to Taal Volcano, HORSEBACK RIDING, picnic cottages/huts @ the Picnic Grove or People's Park, and ZIPLINING if you have tried it? and i read that there's a place called Taal Yacht Club, where you pay only 1,500 pesos for one boat (not on a per person basis). i'm hoping for your immediate response. You may email me at the given email address above. Thank you very much!

Indeed...a truly wonderful respite place
Hi Miss Liliram...I have been out of the country for about 4 years now and I realized that I am not only 'gastronomically' homesick of Filipino food but also of the truly wonderful places in the outskirt of Manila. I do miss Tagaytay so much...your write-up and the photos have brought me back to a respite of some sort. Looking at the photos and reading you vivid and detailed yet metaphoric artistry of the pen ( with all your heart felt with it ) - can just bring one back to a spiritual hibernation where enjoyment of silence brought me thoughts about God and nature. Thank you for this inspiration...I bet when I visit Manila, Tagaytay will be the top of the list. Afterall, Ive got relatives and friends in Amadeo...and yes, wherever I am - I can always be proud to recall all my childhood memories of yore - like you did. God bless!

LI, I AM SO GLAD YOU GAVE ME A LOT OF INFO REGARDING THE SUFISM. I WAS IN TURKEY 3 YEARS AGO, BA? AND I REMEMBERED WE WERE BROUGHT TO A CAVE THAT SHOWED US THE DANCE OF THE WHIRLING DERVISHES ON OUR WAY TO CAPPADOCIA. IT GAVE ME MORE INSIGHTS TO THEIR RITUAL. IT WAS FASCINATING AND NOW I UNDERSTOOD MORE ABOUT IT....THANKS

Finally, I was able to read this. Interesting! Wasn't able to go to Anatolya anymore, but took the flight to Denizli as well to go to Pamukkale. Miguel would have loved this place you are featuring. And thanks for mentioning him with such fondness...