Beatles and the love for classics.

I am always fascinated with the classics, history and antiques. Yeah that's right, from classic rock to watching classic films and documentaries about world wars. Even the story on how a car icon or company came to be, I enjoy reading or watching a documentary about it. And I really do not know why, I am just fascinated with it.

Well it is not entirely about history or anything old, it also has something to do with my "likes". For example, popular art like music and movies. Cars and fast cars. Technical innovations, inventions, discoveries (it just happens that most of these were invented, created or discovered during the world wars). Nothing glorious about wars but on the topic of world war I am also fascinated with its stories about survival and humanity.

When I was in grade school, I thought I was the only one (in my age group that is) that knew about the Beatles. I just love listening to the music of the mop-tops. But no, I was not the only one. Surprisingly I lot of my classmates also knew about the Beatles. Can't explain why I enjoy their music, I guess the tunes and lines were catchy. My love for Beatles continued through high school. And again I thought I would be the only one who is listening to the Beatles, but no, found out a lot of my peers also appreciate it. Although not quite as I do. I continued listening to the Beatles up to this day, even if most of my friends and family would say I am an "oldie". Or some would find me weird enough to listen to songs they never heard even to the point of mocking. And what's funny though. Most of those who say they do not listen to oldies and the Beatles, are humming tunes and even singing to the tune of  Beatles music. Little do they know that the music they heard and came to like is just one of the many cover versions of a Beatles song. Ironic. On the topic of Beatles, most people would think only of their early 60's music. They never heard of the late 60's, early 70's music of the band which were entirely different. Totally different and revolutionary.

Without the Beatles, we would not have Music Television (MTV). Yes, they revolutionized MTV as we know it today. They were the first to record a music video and sent to TV stations for promotional purposes. Oasis (heavily influenced by the Beatles, 70% of their songs referenced a Beatle song), Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Cold Play, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, U2, The Verve, Franz Ferdinand and the likes are just some of the bands and artists influenced by the Beatles. Heck, they influenced almost all in the music industry, they shaped music as we know it today. They were the first to do experimental mainstream music. Doing techno, pop, hard rock and even metal rock. They were the first to do music across different genres. The first to have a Sitar in a rock music!

The Beatles music is not only artistically beautiful but is also still very influential and is still very fresh. In My Life, Yesterday, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Here There and Everywhere, Come Together, Getting Better, A Little Help from My Friends, A Day in the Life are just among the few that I love. My favorite album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is just simply amazing.

You cannot say you are a music lover if you do not know the Beatles! Cannot imagine the music industry now if the Beatles did not exist.

Bohol trip

Never been to Bohol after the 2013 quake. So I was a bit curios on what's Bohol like now. And last month I finally went to Bohol with my friends.

Boarded a 6am trip for Tagbilaran from Cebu and arrived there a little after eight in the morning. We went straight to Alona beach where we will be staying. I must say the rooms are pretty good considering the rates. But best of all, the view. The beach is just amazingly beautiful.

So after settling in, we went ahead with our little road trip across Bohol. First stop was on the Bee Farm where we had our lunch.  Our main course or shall I say main attraction, was an organic flower salad. It was great.

Organic flower salad

We also had their very own squash bread with organic spread. Of course we had a platter of grilled goodies (squid, shrimp, fish and pork belly).

 

Meat and Seafood platter

View from our table

Tourists waiting in line, more not in the frame.

After our sumptuous lunch, we went straight to Loboc river. But we did not go there for the river cruise, instead we went there for the zip line above the river. Boy, it was worth the wait. Yes, the line was very long and we had to wait for a few minutes, I think over 30 mins.

And just like that, the zip line experience was over in less than a minute. I would have wanted it to last longer and enjoy the view and the adrenaline rush. Surely I will do it again in the future.

 

On our way to Loboc, we saw some of the devastation brought about by the quake. It is quite amazing actually because the only evidence that they had a strong quake are the destroyed churches. Other than that you won't even notice of any damages since the roads are all new, houses are repaired. But it is really unfortunate that these old churches are destroyed.

From Loboc river we went straight back to Alona for some relaxation in the pool. For dinner we went for their seaside beach restaurants. It was relaxing indeed.

Seaside restaurant

Beach restaurants

If you are after relaxation on a beautiful beach, then for me Alona is way much better than going to Boracay.

The following day was for dolphin watching and snorkeling on their fish sanctuary. The snorkeling was the best part of this tour.

Just after lunch, the last stop before heading home was the Hinagdanan cave. Hinagdanan cave is an underground cave with a cold pool of water where you can actually go swimming.

And since we still have plenty of time before our trip back to Cebu, we headed to a cinema and watched Dawn of Planet of the Apes.

All in all, it was a worthwhile trip for rest and recreation.

old friend

bumped into an old friend
what a sweet charm it was
she was just round the bend
in full  bloom for a cause

it was since we last met
time wandered in between
swamped with all the sweat
and drifted from the scene

we walked by each other
she said hello and I said hi
shes going to be a mother
elated with her new guy

destiny only knows
how it would have been
lovelier maybe than a rose
parted, each with a grin