Maryknoll offers a "cosmic" journey on their property where you can enjoy nature, thus, ecological sanctuary, and at the same time a little bit of this and that of history.
Let's begin.
Getting to Maryknoll is easy. You can take public utility jeepney beside Igorot Garden or take a cab and ask the driver to take you to Maryknoll. Simple as that. If you have your own vehicle, then there are available apps that can lead you to it. This is not far from the center anyway. If you like walking, then you can walk from Burnham Park to Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary.
The green museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Walk straight up to the main building where a guard is personnel is waiting at the Eco Shop. You have to register first and then pay the necessary fee which is PHP75.00 (USD1.36) per person.
Rules while within the Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary compound are plastered on a board.
These bird houses were displayed on a table by the entrance.
Once done registering, you will then be accompanied to the entrance, which is beside the main entrance, where you are to start your journey. So you have to go back down again to the main entrance then to the start of the path.
These wooden hand figures points to where you should go. You will see a lot of these along the trail. However, they are easily missed for they blend in to the trees that's why additional arrows were placed along the way to guide you.
This path leads to the a small chapel which I wanted to go to take photos of. But then...
These fur guards came out suddenly and in full force. I froze and proferred the back of my hand for them to smell willing myself to project a friendly aura. Of course I had to suppress my fear of being bitten. After making sure that I am friendly and I am no harm to them, they went back to where they came from but for us, we didn't pursue going to the chapel.
You will be entering a path of bamboo first which sets up the mood already as bamboos have that vibe that just makes you feel good.
Then as you reach the top of the stairs, you'll see right away these ruins.
There's also a wide sitting area around this tree beside the ruins which one can sit and relax. A lot of tables and areas like this are scattered throughout the place anyway.
Then you will reach this bell. Below this is the chapel and a house where we met the dogs again. By now we are friends. They didn't bark as much anymore. Someone from the house spoke to us through the window saying that we should ring the bell which I willing obliged. The woman said that is to signal that there is someone there.
There are different stations as you go along the trail starting with this.
This second station reminds me of Stonehenge. I couldn't get a photo of the entirety of this because of limited space. I do like the floor though and the pattern of sun that was created.
One of the wooden hand signs. I thought I was able to mimic it but looking at the photo now, I was unable to. Can you? It seems my fingers are too short.
I think this is a gazebo. I like how nature just made it its own.
This well represents the ocean I guess. It is enclosed in a cemented sitting area as well.
Then as we continued down the path, we have now reached the dinosaur age. We just took a photo quickly for this is where we started to encounter a swarm of mosquitoes.
I didn't notice the rosary that was hanging on the sign where this sculpture of an eagle was perched. It was only while editing the photo did I see it.
The seventh station I think was about plants because the next photo I have is station eight already.
Now we come to the cavemen.
I like the lens flare effect here. So many rainbows.
This mini cave is said to have been patterned from Tabon Cave which is the start of the Philippine civilization as what was said by the experts. The original Tabon caves are found in Palawan.
There is a really narrow path that exits to the other end of this cave which would lead you to another cave. This one is darker and smaller. I have a hard time taking photos but this is what I was able to manage to take.
This depicts the old practices of our ancestors and how they bury their dead. Some through cremation or mummification and some would leave their dead in a coffin on a cliff just like what you can see in Sagada.
Then you exit to this bridge.
This is one of my favorite spots here. It is more lush now. The bamboos are taller and the trees are bigger too. This bridge gradually rises and then arches a bit steeply down.
From cave-dwelling people, we now arrive at the village people.
These are life-size models of traditional houses. You can still see some of these here in the Cordilleras.
I believe this is an unfinished lusong/alsong or wooden mortar where we traditionally pound rice, corn, coffee, etc. The pestle we call it al-o. The other version is chiseled out of a rock or made out of cement. We have one like that back home and the last time we used it was in making lubi-lubi - a traditional food made out of cassava.
There is a campsite below the village area but that was neglected. Nature just took its course. Whatever thrives or grows there, the management just let them be.
More sitting areas and a picnic table.
Finally, we come to the Earth House.
You can read more about that here.
That's not really the end of the tour for after the earth house, there are other things to be seen just beside the exit. This time, it is more about different religions.
As civilizations prospered and develop, so did beliefs and religion.
A tiny buddha faces the wailing/praying wall.
The last time I visited this, there were a lot of notes, I'm guessing prayers, inserted in between these rocks.
So that is how the cosmic journey through Marknoll Ecological Sanctuary looks like. It is said to be cosmic and from what I understand of the word cosmic it is about the universe, spirituality, beyond this earth. Being with nature is almost a spiritual experience. From prehistoric animals to cavemen to modern man, there is God or if you don't believe in God, a supreme being, an all-knowing power, a god/deity, a creator, a mastermind that had brought us here to where we are know.
That is my take from that experience.