Having spent an hour or so in Simala, we decided that it was time to head to our next destination, which required us to take the more than two-hour trip again. From a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, we then headed to a shrine built in honor of a wife and mother.

Aptly considered the Taj Mahal of Cebu, the Temple of Leah stands proud on a hill, being engulfed by clouds from time to time. Constructed in 2012, it was built by a certain Teodorico Soriano Adarna in order to preserve the memory of his late wife, Leah Albino-Adarna.

The exterior of the place is really breathtaking, giving a mystic vibe that would bring you off to some distant past when temples were really a thing. The large number of tourists was not even able to affect the ambience of the place, which is somewhere between heavenly and mundane. Despite being a secular tourist attraction, the location of the temple on the top of a hill, being enveloped by a heavenly embrace from the clouds, gives it a solemn vibe.

The place is not only beautiful outside. Inside the temple, one would really develop a sense of spatial appreciation. The high ceiling accentuate the enormous staircases where a statue of the place’s namesake is prominently displayed. The temple also houses a private library where countless books are kept.

After some exploration inside the temple, Ran and I went out again to take some photos and appreciate the view.

While we were on the ledge of an elevated part in the courtyard of the temple taking selfies, a lady approached us and asked if we would want her to take photos for us instead. We did not hesitate and said yes, and we also took their photos in return.

Soon enough, it was time to go. We still had two more locations that we intended to visit, and we need to make the most out of it before our flight back home.