Nang kami ni kuya ay bumiyahe papuntang Cebu City para um-attend ng conference, isa sa mga lugar na nais kong mabisita ang Philippine Taoist Temple. Sa huling araw namin sa Cebu, niyaya ko si kuya na sumaglit sa templo, at kahit wala pang tulog (siya ay nakipag-bonding sa kanyang nobya at ilan nilang kaibigan, at bumalik sa aming hotel mga alas kwatro ng umaga), sinamahan pa rin niya ako. Marahil, nais din niyang mapuntahan ang lugar dahil baka matagalan pa ang aming pagbalik doon.
{When my brother and I traveled to Cebu City to attend a conference, one of the places I wanted to see was the Philippine Taoist Temple. On our last day in Cebu, I asked brother to visit the temple even for just a short time, and even if he still haven't slept (he was with his girlfriend and some of their friends and got back to our hotel around 4AM), he still came with me. I guess he also wanted to see the place and wanted to maximize the time because no one knows when we can get back there.}
Ang templo ay bukas para sa lahat ng gustong bumisita. Bagamat inaanyayahan ang lahat na libutin ang buong templo, mayroong isang kwarto na hindi bukas para sa mga turista - ang kanilang silid dasalan. Sa totoo lang, bawal ding kumuha ng litrato ng silid mula sa labas, medyo sumimple lamang ako at kinuhanan ko ang imaheng ito mula sa aking silya, salamat sa zoom ng aking camera.
{The temple is open to everyone. Although all were invited to roam around the place, there was one room that was not open to tourist - the prayer room. Truth be told, it was also not allowed to take a picture of the room from the outside, I just did a little trick by zooming my camera from where I sat.}
Kahit malungkot akong hindi nakita ang loob ng silid, naintindihan ko naman ang kanilang hangarin, at kuntento rin naman ako na kahit papaano ay nabisita ko ang lugar bago kami tuluyang nagpaalam sa isang napakagandang siyudad.
{I was a bit sad that I wasn't able to see the room, but I do understand them. Of course certain things have to be kept private, and I was in a way contented that I was able to visit the place before we finally bid the city good bye.}
*** Jenn ***
