In the Philippines, there’s a place called Shambala in Silang, Cavite. True to the Sanskrit meaning, it’s a place of serenity. And more than that, it’s also a place for inspiration, creativity and cultural appreciation.
The property houses several Ifugao huts in a hilly terrain with a stream of running water. The huts were imported from Northern Philippines and were re-assembled and restored at Shambala.
Each of the Ifugao houses look unique. Here are some of them:
Check out the details of the stairs in one of the Ifugao huts. Some work of art which you would think twice about stepping on!
Here’s how the inside of an Ifugao hut looks like.
In the middle of the property, there’s a stone house.
Here are some photos inside the stone house. Beautiful arrangement and interior details.
I love the details of the window pane and door.
Here's the balcony of the stone house.
Chairs in the balcony evoke nostalgia.
There's a collection of glass fishing floats at the balcony. These glass floaters were once used by fishermen worldwide to keep fishing nets afloat. They are no longer widely used and are now considered collector’s items.
Shambala has a main house where guests can congregate.
Look at the long wooden furniture in the foreground of the photo above. Below is the side view. Can you guess what it is?
Apparently, it’s a birthing furniture. This is where Ifugao women traditionally gave birth!
We had yummy traditional Pinoy lunch at the main house. I wasn’t able to take photos of the main courses but here are the colorful salad and desserts. Haha…
And sharing with you what we saw while exploring the grounds.
Shambala is a private property but my friend (whose brother and sister-in-law own the place) said that occasionally, they do accept guests.
And how do you get to Shambala? If you're coming from the Sta. Rosa route, just turn right in the street after Ming's Garden (the street has a waiting shed at the corner so you won't miss it). From there, drive straight around 7 kilometers. When you spot Angels of Hope Orphanage on the right side, slow down and you should see the Shambala signage on your left. The road to Shambala is narrow (1-way only) with bushes on both sides. The bushy narrow path adds to the mystery of this haven of serenity. :)