Inside the Sohoton Caves

"Sohot" is a Visayan word for "crawl through". So, Sohoton cave means "a cave where you crawl through a rock."

Basey Church

This is the bell tower of the Basey Church, built in 1795(?). The church stands on top of a hill and was destroyed by a typhoon in 1880 and was restored again. This and the convent beside it were used as a hospital for US Marines during the Balangiga Massacre in 1901. It also served as a refuge for Filipinos during the Japanese occupation. What's interesting about this church is that egg yolks were used to build its foundation. Or was that egg whites? For more information, you can visit Samar's website and Heritage Conservation Society's blog.

Marjorie's Garden

Inspired by Hilda's post yesterday, I wanted to post my favorite chocolate cake because, sorry Hilda, from the choices offered in the display, there wasn't anything there that attracted me. For me, nothing can top this chocolate cake at Marjorie's Garden (in Basey, 30 minutes from Tacloban). I haven't been there for awhile though, so I'm not sure they still serve it. In fact, I heard the coffeeshop was sold to a Filipino. Marjorie's Garden used to be owned by an American named Marjorie. I will post a photo of this charming place someday, it was where I shot the sunset photo.

Tacloban sunset

Sunset over the San Juanico strait. The strait separates Leyte from Samar island so technically I am taking this photo from Samar.. thus a Samar sunset? To my knowledge, I haven't seen a sunset in Tacloban yet, it's always sunrises or the orange sky in the distance, sign that the sun is setting somewhere we can't see. Sunsets are always covered by the mountain ranges or by coconut trees. You've to cross over to the Samar side to see a sunset as beautiful as this. I took this photo from a hill near the San Juanico bridge, the mountains in the photo are on the Leyte side.

San Juanico bridge

Okay, one last cliche photo for this week, just to get it over with. The famed San Juanico Bridge that connects the islands of Leyte and Samar. When you're heading towards Samar, the bridge is shaped like an S. When you're heading towards Leyte, the bridge is shaped like an L. Neat huh. As you can see by the shape of the bridge, I'm being reminded that I am indeed driving towards Samar. This bridge was the longest bridge in Southeast Asia in the 70s, probably now there would be others holding that title. This was designed and constructed by Korean engineers, and it's rumoured that street children were tossed down to the swirling waters as offerings. Imelda, who had this bridge built and made the order for the children offerings was cursed by the mermaids below and grew fish scales on her legs and had to be healed by Siquijor shamans. I shouldn't be spreading urban legends like this.. haha. Ok, enough postcard photos and enough of Imelda. Sorry for the rain on the windshield, we are tired of it as well. This is actually an old photo, but it seems like I just took it yesterday.