Hello! How are you all doing? I hope you're all fine. I'd like to thank all of you. I've been staying here almost four months, so today, I want to share my experience with you after the event. This experience is a blessing for us since it helped us release our stress. Now, let's get into my intro.
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It was Thursday afternoon when the chess event was finished, and our coach told us to go out and have fun as a reward. We took it as a gift since we had time to enjoy our trip to Danao. After a few hours, at around 2 pm, we met up with our coach, and he asked us where we wanted to go. Since we didn't know anything about Danao, we had no idea. So our coach suggested that we go to the Sands, and all of us agreed.
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When we came out of the campus, we waited for a jeepney, and fortunately, it came after a few minutes. Once we were aboard, our team was very happy. During the travel, the scenery is beautiful, and for us, it's new; that's why I feel so grateful to become part of this event. I really enjoyed myself. Now, let's continue. When we were riding, we saw a skating place that was really well made. This is the perfect spot for people who love to skateboard.
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Anyway, so when we started walking, I was not aware what the Sands was. Thought it is just a place to eat, but when we headed back, I was wowed with the nice replica structures there.
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The first replica I had noticed was the Tower of Pisa. So far, the information I have gathered was the construction of the leaning tower started back in the 12th century. Italian name is the Torre pendente di Pisa, and it is simply referred to as the Tower of Pisa or Torre di Pisa. It is famous for its four-degree lean caused by instability. Now, let's move on to the next replicas.
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The second replica is the Eiffel Tower. We all know the Eiffel Tower is very famous, and almost everyone in the world knows because it symbolizes love.
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The third replica is the Taj Mahal, which is a beautiful white marble building on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. It was built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He loved his wife Mumtaz Mahal so much that after she died, he wanted to construct this beautiful mausoleum for her final resting place. The Taj Mahal became his love and eternally living grief.
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The fourth one is the Statue of Liberty, which is a famous symbol of freedom and is situated on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It is France's gift to the United States, given in 1886 to commemorate the friendly relationship between the two nations and to stand for the independence of America. The statue stands tall with a torch in one hand and a tablet in the other, symbolizing hope and the idea of freedom. For so many, the first sight of America is the Statue of Liberty, and they arrive by ship with a dream of a better life. It is a strong reminder of the values of liberty and welcome that the United States represents.
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Fifth is the Dutch Windmill, which is the classic symbol of the Netherlands. It is known for its pretty design and a big role in history. It characterizes the ingenuity and heritage of Dutch engineering and country life. These were traditionally used for grinding grains and pumping water and other purposes related to agriculture.
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The last replica is Big Ben, famously known as the clock tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. It finished construction in 1859, and its massive bell and keeping of time precisely have made it a symbol of British tradition and reliability.
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After we viewed the replicas, we rested for a while and ordered some halo-halo. Their halo-halo was so delicious, and we could not finish it because there was just too much. And I'm really grateful to our coach because he paid for it.
That is realized in this blog: what experiences, even the ones that may be considered small, like going to Danao or enjoying halo-halo with friends, may have huge impacts upon our lives. It is not really in the activities per se but in bonding created and memories made, and appreciation of a happy and relaxing moment. It captures just how much one treasures experiences and makes gratitude amidst the simple pleasures of life, reminding one to embrace every opportunity for happiness and connection.