Edited with Canva
Have you ever been in love? Have you ever felt the warmth of being cherished? To what lengths would you go for love? And, when that love transcends, how do you preserve and share its depth, especially when the one you hold dear has departed?
Hello, hivers it's me again Nine!😊 Come with me as I show you how Teodorico Soriano Adarna preserved his undying love for his wife Leah Villa Albino-Adarna while exploring the charm of Cebu City's Taj Mahal "Temple of Leah".
Temple of Leah is located in Barangay Busay - Cebu Transcentral Hwy, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu. It is very well known as Cebu City's Taj (crown) Mahal (place) - a museum that represents a love that lasts forever, even beyond death💛👫. On the way to this temple, you will experience the freshness of the air, as it is situated almost at the top of a mountain. At the main entrance, the name "Temple of Leah" is displayed. In front of it is the fee section. Of course, there is a separate way for vehicles and individuals who wish to visit the area for safer and easier access.👍👌
FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE AREA
Edited with Canva
Parking areas are conveniently available right from the entrance onward. This setup is particularly beneficial, ensuring that parking spaces are situated within the premises, providing ease of access for visitors with young children or elderly companions.
Edited with Canva
Next to the motorcycle parking area is where their comfort rooms are located. They have separate comfort rooms for males and females, which amazes me due to their blended design that matches the temple's aesthetic. They utilize white-gray marble tiles with quality detailed doors, adding elegance to the area. There is a clean and aesthetic vibe with mirrors, and of course, quality hand soap is provided at each sink, along with a well-functioning hand dryer. The comfort rooms are well-maintained and clean, ensuring your visit is not only safer but also more comfortable with such high-quality facilities.
Edited with Canva
On the left front side of the motorcycle parking area is their go-to snacks section. Here, you can purchase biscuits, candies, water, juices, and soft drinks. Trash bins are provided, along with a sign encouraging visitors to "clean as you go" to maintain the area's cleanliness and encourage responsible disposal of trash.
Edited with Canva
Once you go straight and turn left, the first room is labeled "Ristorante Teodorico," an Italian restaurant offering drinks, coffee, cakes, Filipino and Cebuano foods, as well as Italian menus. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to visit the area as we arrived at 2 pm and already had lunch and desserts at SM Mabolo, actually, we would love to give it a try, but our budget doesn't allow for it. However, I was able to take a photo of their menus with prices. If you wish to try their foods and drinks, you already have budget ideas and choices.
Edited with Canva
This is the panoramic view of the temple, where on the right side, you can see the "Ristorante Teodorico", and on the left side is the vehicle parking area. It has a very wide and spacious layout that can accommodate a large number of tourist visitors. With grand pillars reminiscent of ideal palaces, the area is adorned with statues. Notably, at the center, a fountain showcases three statues of men, each accompanied by horses surrounding its base.
Edited with Canva
And this is the surrounding view of the temple. Situated almost at the top of the mountain, the city view is easily accessible. You can fully enjoy the beauty of the area without worrying if you have sensitive skin as you wish to take in the whole view, a cottage-like structure is available to provide shade, complete with seats and trash bins beside it. Here, you can share a moment with your friend, date, or catch up while appreciating the beauty that the temple offers.
Edited with Canva
On my way inside the temple, the first thing you'll notice is two huge gold-painted lions, resembling palace guards. They emit a vibe, suggesting that this palace is truly precious and deserves to be protected by these brave creatures.
Edited with Canva
And finally, we've come to the main attraction: Leah's own statue. It is gold-plated, portraying the time when she won as the Matron Queen during her studies. The image reveals the statue being guarded by an angel playing a trumpet. I wasn't able to take a clear photo of the area due to the multitude of visitors from different nationalities. As much as I wanted to capture a solo photo, many visitors had the same intention, resulting in shots that included others. Nonetheless, we all enjoyed the beauty it offers, and surely everyone was amazed by the grand gesture Teodorico Adarna made for his late wife.
Edited with Canva
What's even more delightful is the presence of a solemn musician, to whom you can contribute as a gesture of appreciation for their talent. This adds a serene and peaceful ambiance to the area, infusing warmth and love that enhances your ability to truly appreciate the beauty and charm of the place.
Edited with Canva
These are the preserved image collections of the Adarna Family. In the center of the hall where most of their collection is situated, there is a large frame with two large jars on each side featuring Leah and Teodorico. If you wish to capture a photo as a memento of your visit, as I did, there are also friendly staff members roaming around whom you can ask to take a photo for you.
Edited with Canva
These are some of the framed artworks they have. It's not just a simple frame, as presented in the image, it features well-detailed artwork. The horses are in a three-dimensional form, allowing you to have a closer look to pay attention to their details, and appreciate the clean form they provide, even in the smallest parts.
Edited with Canva
These are Leah's favorite personal belongings, mostly acquired during her travels abroad. Through these items, you can truly get an idea of how lavish her lifestyle was. She collected items and mementos from the places she visited, much like many of us wish to do. Among them are figurines from different nationalities, Buddha heads, Chinese vases, and jars, all of which she fell in love with.
Edited with Canva
Jars with various designs and sizes are visible in Leah's collection. There is a separate room for them, as you can see in the picture. From small to large ones, she has them all. What amazes me the most is the detailing they exhibit. While there may be writings about them, I could not understand the content. However, judging by the design, it surely represents a considerable investment due to the effort and high-quality materials involved.
Edited with Canva
And, of course, many women appreciate having a classy and elegant sitting area, similar to Leah's collection. The quality speaks to the investment Leah made in this collection of hers. There are seats covered for visitors to sit and take photos. However, others are marked do not touch or do not sit due to their age, some parts are already broken but are somehow being preserved.
Edited with Canva
Some parts of the temple, such as the music room, library, and other areas on the next floors, are currently under construction. Consequently, I couldn't have a complete tour of the area and its rooms. However, once this construction is completed, many more of her collections will be displayed, and I eagerly anticipate exploring them soon.
Edited with Canva
After exploring Leah's collections, I took a stroll around the area, where you can still find towering statues, including those of naked soldiers, griffin lions, and angel statue vases. Aged stairs and vases are visible, and I understand the necessity for repainting and conducting minor construction in the area, restricting visitors from fully touring every part of it for safety reasons. Of course, I didn't miss the opportunity to take a photo of their large pillars, emphasizing the temple's aesthetic and making the photo more attractive and pleasing to the eyes.
Edited with Canva
Love truly knows no boundaries, much like how Teodorico expressed and honored his undying love and never-ending devotion for his wife. Many of us have already found our Teodorico—not necessarily the one who built a temple for their loved one, but someone with a passion and commitment to their partner. However, there are still those who are in search of their "the one." Nonetheless, let's all appreciate the beauty of love and its boundless nature.💛
May we all find the true love we deserve, whether it's with a soulmate, family, friends, or within our neighborhood. Love is undoubtedly a cloud-nine feeling, especially when it's pure and strong. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Let's all embrace love and enjoy everything this life has to offer. Have a great day!😇
I always heard and saw this famous teample of leah in my feeds. It is indeed magnificent structure and history on it is interesting. Hoping I will visit this place someday. Thank you for sharing @nineglimpse
Sir, it is indeed worth the visit. I hope you can come soon, especially once all the reconstruction and paintings are completed. Thanks for dropping by, and I look forward to you experiencing its charm the way I did.😇
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Wow! This warms my heart, @pinmapple ! Thank you so much for the incredible honor of featuring my blog on Pinmapple. It's truly a joy and a privilege!😊
Wow! Thank you so much for the virtual tour @nineglimpse. 😍I will surely put it on my travel list.😉 I can see that you enjoyed it and you had a great time there. What if we will wander and explore together the beauty of Cebu? Hmmmmme soon?
Hello @marsventure, I would love to explore different spots with you! 😊 Having someone with the same vibe and energy would create a great experience. I hope we'll have some free days aligning soon for some travel.💛
If the budget will allow, @nineglimpse.🤣. I can surely make ways to make my busy days free. But I know you are aware of how affected we are because of inflation.☹️ And as young adults, we are into savings for unwanted cases. But anyway, You know how much I love adventures and travels! 😍 if wandering with you is equivalent to uncountable happiness, then why not?! I am easy to talk to🤭. Let us brainwash ourselves that Monney can be found and that saving memories is important.🤣
I am living nearby but I haven’t visited the place yet. I wish too one day when I have the energy, lol. What a great place indeed and such a grand way of showing your love to someone. Ellen Adarna’s family is indeed one of the richest here in Cebu City. I could only remember when I have seen on social media when a follower asked her as to why the entrance fee was expensive and she answered it really wasn’t meant to be a tourist destination in the first place. Loved how his grandfather expressed his love. Thank you for taking me on a virtual tour! Loved it!☺︎♡
Others may criticize, suggesting he's making Leah his god, but what they might not see is the boundless nature of love ate-Ma'am @heyitsjian. I hope you can visit too, especially when you're in love. Instead of feeling jealous that your loved one didn't build a temple for you, you'll embrace the warmth and love Teodorico poured into that temple. It's a testament to the beautiful ways people express their love.💖
What a location! I loved that you put some of the shots in mosaics, it was much easier to digest the article due to this! Cheers!
Definitely sir @lemniscate , will be working on my camera shots so that I could give justice to more views and details regarding my blog. I think picture quality would contribute a great interests to the readers. Thanks for dropping by sir!😇
Congratulations @nineglimpse! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 800 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
That's a great achievement to hear @hivebuzz😊😊 Looking forward to more unlocks. Thanks for the update it means a lot💛
You're welcome @nineglimpse! Have a nice day 😊👍
Hiya, @lizanomadsoul here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2058.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community:
This is so overwhelming @lizanomadsoul of @pinmapple. Having recognize from this team is beyond blessed. Thank you so much😇🤗
I've been hearing a lot about the beauty of Temple of Leah but haven't tried getting there. Will surely try visiting here one day.
Worth the visit it is @rhianmaker, especially if you are into photography, you'll definitely have a lot of aesthetic photos and views. Can't wait to hear from you vistiing the area soon. Thanks for dropping by😊
Somehow this place reminds me of the colonial times.. Oh, I love that photo with the heart in the end 😊
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for dropping by @delishtreats 😊😇I, myself was reminded of that era as well. Though not a fan, but seeing this physically made me mersmerize by its beauty. Regarding the heart photo, yes that's me and my best photographer hihihi. Nice to meet you😊😊