WE were leaving Lake Tahoe in California as I write this article in the car after a two-night stay there. Days earlier we were at the Yosemite National Park and those were days spent in nature tripping at its best. My visits to the United States in past years were mostly spent in the malls and visits to historical sites. This nature-tripping gives me a different perspective of this other side of the US—that of a nature-loving people instead of just being materialistic or worldly whose lives are mostly spent in the urban jungle.
The parks rake in millions of dollars for the country and proof that no matter where the people come from, most, if not all, are drawn to nature. The government plays a great part in the development of these parks. And you can see that the money is really put to good use since these are well-developed parks. We went there on weekdays but still the parks were full. The roads are well paved even if the roads stretch out so many miles up the mountains. This is where you can also see public infrastructure contributing much to the success of the parks. The roads are of good quality and it looks like they can last many years compared to most roads in the Philippines where one is surprised that a new road that was just finished undergoes repairs again in a few year’s time.
The grandeur of the mountains and lush forest with deer hopping about and bears roaming freely (although I have not seen the bears and only my friends saw the deer) show that other side of life in America, which is the love and care for nature. We even saw tall waterfalls and came near one. As dusk began to set on our way home we saw the interplay of the sun on gold and yellow autumn leaves at the park and the intermingling of colors reflected in the sky above the mountains. Yosemite Park was made a national conservation park way back in 1864 and until now is being taken care of by the government. There are no cell sites and we were incommunicado from the rest of the world during our stay there. We paid a fee of $15 per person and with the number of people flocking in to see the sights everyday, the funds should make more than enough to support the operations of the park. But the entrance fee is worth it as John Muir (who resided in the place) once said, and I quote “never before have I seen so glorious a landscape, as boundless an affluence of sublime mountain beauty…” For me it was indeed a one-time life experience no one should miss.
Lake Tahoe National Park is another must-see tourist spot in the US. From Yosemite we drive to Lake Tahoe Park which is more modern than the former. On our way to the top was a long winding road that passed through the center of the lake. It seemed we were passing between two lakes and it was breathtaking as we savor the amazing sight and the thought there were no barriers on the side of the road. If you accidentally moved out of the road you will fall from a very tall cliff and smack into the deep blue lake.
How I wish we develop our own national parks for tourism just like the parks are developed here in the US. But whenever a government property is developed in the Philippines, it usually turns out to be a mediocre project or even an outright poor project because not all the budgeted funds were used for it. Our government may not be as financially capable as the US government but if the funds are properly used, we see a better “fruit” of such projects and reap the rewards of pure and unadulterated enjoyment of the facilities and its beautiful sights.
Ecotourism contributes significantly to the economic growth of a country aside from providing the people places to enjoy nature at its best. There is a basic human need in each of us to commune with nature and both local and foreign tourists, if properly provided with the space they need, will generously give back to help maintain ecotourism sites.
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Wilma Inventor Miranda is the chairman of the Media Affairs Committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines; managing partner of Inventor, Miranda & Associates; and treasurer of KPS Outsourcing Inc. The opinion expressed herein does not reflect that of these institutions.