By Paul Ukpabio
The beauty of La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills And Cave Resort at Ita'Nla in Ondo State, goes beyond it's lovely scenery, the lovely view of the city from the hilltop and the fact that it is a forest in the heart of a city.
The resort becomes more fascinating when its huge size and the natural endowment of rocks and the beauty of its history which dates back to centuries is being enjoyed and experienced.
At La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hill and Cave Resort, Ondo State, the rocks are not just rocks but monuments that were curated by spiritual giants who lived in this terrain many centuries ago.
According to the Founder of the resort, Tourism Icon, Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, these spiritual giants were called Ogbogiidan and
they once lived as a community in this mountain top. They were very huge spiritual beings who lifted the rocks and arranged them according to the way that it pleased them and enabled their comfort for easy dwelling.
On a tour of the cave which now flamboyantly hosts guests as the First Ever Cave Restaurant on a Hilltop known as EEBIO Cave Restaurant, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye pointed out the various positioning of the rocks, which obviously shows the possible methodology of how the spiritual giants decorated their abode. Some of the settings at the cave, depicted the placing of the rock in such a way that it shows the position of the giants at meal times.
On the other hand, La Campagne, Ondo sits on a hill in the middle of an ancient rock cluster that geologists will tell you is over a million years old, formed by volcanic anger and time.
The rocks, some hanging as if they could flip over, have been like that for centuries. A particular one is like a giant balancing a ball on one finger. For hundreds of years, rain has beaten it, wind has pushed it, yet it holds on proudly, no engineering renovation work, no new patching of cement, no support, but it balances like the others.
There are rocks here that embrace as if they are telling a story. Another two rocks leaning into each other, like husband and wife. Between them, a narrow passage, so narrow only one person can pass at a time, sideways.
And the mysteries continues like at Eebio Cave Restaurant, it is usually cold even during dry season.
And then on top of the hill, is now what many churches have proclaimed as a Prayer Mountain, attracting Christian pilgrimages from far and near! Due to its popular history. People come here to pray and profess of the efficacy of the prayers rendered at the top of the hill. Where all of Ondo State spread below your feet.
But some of the visiting Christian tourists at the resort spoken to, acknowledge that one does not need to reach the top of the hill to receive a miracle. They said that spiritual blessings hangs around the different spaces of the hill.
This is where people come to pray, everyone. Perhaps because, on this Prayer Mountain, prayer does not need loudspeaker.
At La Campagne, Ita Nla, Ondo State, no prayer symbols or temples are hoisted or built, but the people whose prayers have been answered, come here repeatedly.
The spiritual giants who lived here, whose specie according to Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye were also the ones that built the great pyramids of Egypt, left no altars, but their spirituality obviously, remained enbedded in the rocks and atmosphere of the hill. "Everywhere here is a natural altar," said a guide at the resort.
Up on the hill, the wind was doing the choir. The sun was setting behind the hills, turning the rocks into multiple colours. One woman knelt and started praying in Yoruba language. Another started humming a hymn. A man just satand was crying silently, not sad crying, release crying. Broken in spirit, chatting with his creator.
I prayed too. I didn't plan to. But when you are that high, that close to the sky, prayer just comes out naturally.
That is the mystery of La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills And Cave Resort, Ita'Nla, Ondo State.
The beauty of La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills And Cave Resort at Ita'Nla in Ondo State, goes beyond it's lovely scenery, the lovely view of the city, READ MORE...
The rocks are not decoration. They represent spirituality. They represent history. They balance without falling, they embrace without closing, they sometimes sweat without rain. And above them, the Prayer Mountain that listens without interrupting.
In Lagos, La Campagne Tropicana gives you ocean, lagoon and forest.
In Ondo, you get La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hill and Caves, which gives you mystery and miracles.
Some people come here for holiday. Some come for adventure.
But those who sleep and wake on this hill know, you don't just come to this place. The rocks call you. The mountain keeps you.
And when you leave, you leave a part of your prayer there, held by rocks that have been praying longer than you have been alive.
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