Page 23 - Manila Up-Vol3#6
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Until... my attention was caught by a dancing, diving   massive money in the bank, though it is helpful, living the
            coot. (A coot is a water bird of the rail family with   life God created us for and enjoying it.
            blackish feathering, lobed feet and a beak that extends   Te place is called Saint James Park. Te name was
            back on to the forehead as a horny shield).          taken from the former hospital for the leper dedicated to
               It dove into the water its whole body fully immersed   Saint James, Te Less. In 1532 Henry VIII developed the
            upside down. I saw what it was doing under water. Its   site as another deer park.
            somersault movements produced a round wave, like it     Elizabeth I and James I contributed to the aesthetic
            was dancing with diamond confetti around it, brought   ambience, but it was Charles II who made exciting
            about by the refection of the sun. Tese confetti like   changes. You cannot fnd a single deer in this park today,
            brightness coming from up above was like angels      but the pelicans have been permanent residents for 400
            throwing heavenly fowers in jubilation. Te bird was   years since the Russian Ambassador donated several
            enjoying itself. It was alone swimming to and from.   of them to Charles II. Tere are so many reasons that
               We are far more important than these birds. Yet   you would like to visit this place and it is just in front
            busyness at times deprives us of quiet moments like that   of Buckingham Palace. I didn’t know how relaxing and
            to think deep and be refreshed. We work to live, and we   mesmerizing the place is. I always took my friends to
            do not live to drown ourselves in work and anxieties. Te   Buckingham Palace not knowing the park that seemed so
            coot did one of the things it was created for, diving and   small is the entrance of this Shakespearean themed Royal
            enjoying. Enjoyment is what makes life bearable, not just   park.


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