Little Bridge Resort: Beautiful Sunset

Earlier this month, we went on a random trip to Taal, Batangas just to unwind and to make the most out of the holidays and the summer vacation of the kids. 

Main reason of going though this trip is to go swimming and enjoy the beach.  My excitement was however on checking the town - old houses and of course, the famous cathedral. I've been to Taal thrice and I can never get enough of the old Spanish colonial architecture, the grandeur of the Taal's St. Martin of Tours Basilica and the magic of the Our Lady of Caysasay's well. 

We stayed at The Little Bridge Resort.  I didn't have any hand on planning this trip and as mentioned, it was pretty random, we just went on not questioning where we're going. Yeah, there's a hint of disappointment there because we never get to try swimming in the beach - it was super crowded and the water doesn't seem clean.

Thankfully resort was clean and looks well-maintained.  The staff are also friendly and accomodating.  We stayed in one of their cabanas - we requested for extra mattress since there were around 7 kids and 15 adults in our group. I didn't believe we could fit in one cabana, but we made it happen.  I love how huge their pillows and how soft yet firm their mattresses are, plus their AC was working really well. 

Photo courtesy of The Little Bridge Resort

So aside from our disappointment with the beach, we still had a lot of fun - the kids especially.  The resort's pool was clean (I think they had a total of 4 big pools) and I love how it made me swim long laps.

Photo courtesy of The Little Bridge Resort

I actually had a lot of fun in the waters I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures... but I was lucky to have gotten my camera from the cabana in time for the sunset.   That was one of the highlight for me - the beautiful sunset. 

We never get to explore the town though, which was really ok since Taal is just a few hours drive from Manila, we can always go back.  There were too many of us and we left the resort at around noon, it was too hot to roam around with kids in tow. We just decided to drop by Calaruega on our way back to Manila - that's a different story I have to write about.

At the end of the day, it's the company that makes every vacation fun and memorable. I will never get tired of doing these trips. ;)

Moon Garden Tagaytay: Sanctuary

As I am writing this entry, I am in paradise.   I am not sure if I want to actually post this in my blog because of selfish reasons…  I don’t want to share this little space to other people.

It’s 6PM and the Tagaytay breeze is at it’s naughtiest.  I can hear the crickets and the frogs croaking from the pond around my gazebo.  

If you’re looking for a place where you can just retreat into silence and reflect on things, Moon Garden Tagaytay is the perfect place for you.  

Getting There:  I’ve read several blogs mentioning that they had a hard time looking for Moon Garden, if you/re not familiar with the Tagaytay area, it's a good idea to study their location map beforehand.  Personally though, I didn’t think it was that difficult to find. 

• Take SLEX and take the Sta. Rosa exit…  just follow the road to Tagaytay.    
• Turn right at the end of the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, you will then be on the Tagaytay-Calamba Road.
• Watch out for the SVD Road, it’s a narrow road to your right, there are no road signs except for a small blue billboard that says “Purok 162”, just before Estancia.
• Less than 2 minutes into SVD Road, you will see Moon Garden’s sign on your left, take that narrow graveled road, don’t be intimidated, it’s really narrow. 

After stopping at the gas station to fuel up and to check the tires, we left Manila at 1030AM and arrived in Moon Garden at around 12NN.  That was on a Sunday and on a leisurely pace.

I’ve noticed that there were only 2 other vehicles parked when we got there, which I think is a good sign, that means, the place is not full.  There were no signs on where the reception area is so we took the nearest concrete stairs we can find, we mistakenly turned left after the stairs and followed the path leading to one of the casitas.  So after backtracking, we found the main hall, there were no front desk, it was just a common hall where guests usually dine. We were greeted by Bong, whom I’ve communicated with days ago for our reservations. Before leading us to our casitas, he had us choose our breakfast for the following day. 

Food:  We initially planned to have bulalo for lunch at the Mahogany Market but upon seeing the menu, I suggested to stay in Moon Garden and try their food.  That decision actually turned out well.

Lunch: Fish & Chips (P240) and Paksiw na Conchinillo  (P260) both were served with a siding of pickled vegetables.  That was the best fish and chips I've had!

• Breakfast (Day 2): Homemade Corned Beef and Crispy Adobo Flakes both came as free for the overnight rate that we’ve paid for.  Breakfast was served with a kettle of kapeng barako, their own fruit shake, pickled vegetables and fresh fruits. I love the chunkiness of the homemade corned beef! I don't usually go for fried rice because I'm not a fan of garlic, but the fried rice they served was also really good, I actually finished mine (I usually just eat half a serving).

Accomodation:  This is what actually sold me out to trying Moon Garden.  Their rooms, which are called casitas, are comfortable and spacious.  Casitas are individually scattered in the area which gives guests some privacy.  You have to be intimate to share a casita since the bathroom do not have doors.

• Queen sized bed, 4 huge soft pillows, soft and comfortable mattress, warm comforter.
• Ceiling fan. No AC, but with the Tagaytay climate, who needs AC?
• Cable TV 
• Cabinets and rustic armoire plus a long table
• Hot shower
• Abundant fresh towels
• Basic soap, shampoo and toilet paper  
• Their own version of a bay window

Mosquitoes are nasty at night since well... it’s a garden.  If you plan to hang out in one of the gazebos, slather on some repellant and bring a blanket if you can, who know’s you might even fall asleep to the croaking of the frogs and the sweet sound of the crickets.  

Budget:  Now this little vacation cost more than the usual  "weekender" however, it is a worthy splurge. 

• Gas - PHP1000
• Toll (Sta. Rosa Exit) - PHP175
• Casita (overnight w/ free breakfast for two) - PHP3000
• Lunch - PHP500
• Coffee (Bag of Beans) - PHP390
• Dinner - PHP150
• Toll (Coastal) - PHP24

If you're wondering what we had for dinner...  we went to 711 and bought siopao and a can of pork & beans.

Tips:

• Make your reservations ahead of time especially if you are going on a weekend, you can email them at moongardentag@gmail.com or send an SMS to Bong at 0939 913 9097.
• If you prefer to be “alone” I highly recommend going there on weekdays or maybe do a Sunday-Monday like we did.
• MGT is awesome at night. Despite how tempting it is to stay in bed, I strongly encourage you to explore the garden at night.
• Get to know the plants and flowers around... including the bugs and the insects.
• Look for that pretty cat we saw, who stared at me and allowed me to take a picture. 
• Enjoy the whimsical figurines, statues, and what-nots scattered all over the garden.

If you are looking for activities, there’s none… and that added to the charm.  No pools nor ziplines.  I went there to reflect on what’s happening with my life, read a book, have good conversations… Moon Garden gave me that.  Although I did not go far with the pages of my book because I almost always fall asleep after a few sentences read, the experience brought me to a world where I can say that life is indeed beautiful. 

Yeah, I am posting this entry… to pay it forward. Afterall, they say, happiness comes easily when you give it away.

....
Just before we left we had a chat with Peter, who owns the place, apparently Ayala Land is developing the adjacent lot... which is a shame because it will definitely ruin the view, the silence and the rustic charm of the place.  :(

Sagada Love!

For an overdue "away-from-city-life" escape, I went to Sagada with some friends a few weeks ago.  It's not my first time in this shangri-la but in a lot of moment, I'm still left in awe.

Getting There:

• Cable Tour Bus (MLA-Bontoc) - 12 hours, P650/pax, you can find them along E. Rodriguez Ave, QC.  It's quite tricky finding their terminal, it's inside a compound between St. Luke's Hospital and Trinity College.  Ask around, if I didn't I would be able to find it AT ALL.  I love it that the bus is air-conditioned yet I can open the windows so I can take pictures. Buses leave at 830PM daily. Contact them: 09185216790 / 09282305330.

• Jeep (Bontoc - Sagada) - 45mins, P50/pax, ask around where you can find these jeeps as they don't really have a terminal. We wanted to ride topload but the jeep loaded sacks of cement & rice so we decided to stay put in our seats.

Stay:

• George Guesthouse - P200/pax per night - private toilet/shower, hot water, free wifi, tv. Cheap! :) We made reservations prior to our arrival which I highly recommend that you especially if you are going in a big group or during peak season. Contact #: Teodora +639185480405 or Irenius +639206070994. 

Eat: 

• Bana's Cafe - all breakfasts were taken here.  Food is great and we adored their homemade bacon! Average cost per meal - P80-P150.

• The Yoghurt House - I love this restaurant when I first visisted Sagada back in 2004. I wasn't that impressed this time - service was really slow and food was just so-so.  I still love their yoghurt though.  I had the one with banana & muesli, K had strawberries... we mixed them together. I'm a big yoghurt fan, so I'm happy.

• Vincent's Cafe - first thing you'll notice here are the paintings on the door and a mural on the wall.  Those were done by Russel who we were able to share a couple of beers with. Had a very relaxed, fun, and cozy feel.  We met new friends here since the place is very conducive for conversations. We were the only Pinoys when we went there. Very global, we made friends with Russel (Canadian), a British guy and two Aussie girls. Order the fish & chips!

• Lemon Pie House -  hands-down, my favorite! It's very homey, coffee (P30/cup) is good and pies (P25)are cheap yet very yummy.  Free wi-fi and stories from Ate Loida. This place is really love.

  Coming Back:

• Lizardo Bus Line (Sagada-Baguio)  - P220/pax, approx 6-7 hours, last trip leaves Sagada at 1PM.  This part is a blur to me (and to my friends) - reckless driver, highest highway in the Philippines (Halsema Highway), and super thick fog. Such a shame because the view in Halsema was really great but we weren't able to enjoy it since we were busy holding on to our seats. Driver drives really fast, takes the counterflow lane even on blind curves, and ignored our not-so-silent gasps. Hmp. Will not recommend this bus line - at all!  Just take the Sagada-Bontoc-Banaue-MLA route.
• Victory Liner (Baguio-MLA) - P460, 7 hours. Leg room, comfortable seats, deep sleep. 'Nuff sleep. :)

These are just the basics.  Will blog about our activities next time. Sagada is really LOVE. :)

***click on pictures to enlarge

Pahiyas Festival 2011

Pahiyas Festival is held in Lucban, Quezon every 15th of May in celebration of the Feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.  You can read more about Pahiyas here.

This year was my first time to be in Pahiyas.  Went there with my FPPF batchmates...  so technically it was my first photowalk with them outside the realms of Intramuros. :)

I anticipated a very long trip but it only took us around 4 hours to get there. At around 7am and after a breakfast of pansit habhab (P10/serving) we all decided to walk around and went trigger-happy with our cameras.

Colorful.

Yummy.

Whimsical.

and HAPPY.

There were just so many people so it was difficult to navigate through the streets and a lot of photo enthusiasts to elbow with for good shots... nevertheless, it was really fun. I'd like to go back next year.  :) 

Anawangin Cove, San Antonio, Zambales

Karen and I went on an-all-girls get-away last January.  Actually, it was just the two of us and we braved to go camping in Anawangin, Zambales. It was a low-cost yet super fun trip.

 

We didn't get to pitch our own tent since aside from having no confidence in doing so, our boatman, Kuya Arnold and his buddies volunteered to do it for us (yeah, what could two tiny girls do).  Kuya Arnold was also protective enough, knowing that it's only gonna be Karen & me, to get us a spot near the sari-sari store so the Manang can keep an eye on us in case the other campers get too 'rowdy'.

After settling out stuff in the tent and arranging a pick-up time with Kuya Arnold the following day, Karen & I went roaming around the forest at the back of the camp site. I was honestly disappointed that the river was dry when we were there. It would have been nice to wade through the cool river water. Before the mosquitoes could get to us, we took pictures with our twin Kiss X3.  Toyed with exposures, apertures and shutter speeds and pretended that we know much about photography. :)

What's for dinner? A loaf of bread, cheese spread, pork & beans and my left over chow fan. We didn't get stuff that needed cooking since we were... no excuse, we didn't want to bother with cooking at all.  We planned to sleep early so we can roam around the cove early the following morning and take more pictures.  

We eventually got invited to join a group of campers - we saw them doing some fire dance so we went to check them out so we can take pictures. They were too kind to invite us over when they knew that it was only Karen & I.  They taught us some photography tricks and had us join their bartending 101. Thanks to Chef Janjie, Nano and the girls. :)

Anyway, this is how the logistics of the trip looks like: 

What	Details	Cost	Duration	Remarks
Pasay-Olongapo	Victory Liner	P220/each (P440/roundtrip)	4 Hours	You can opt to take a bus bound for Iba and get off at San Antonio;   You can go to Victory Liner station in Cuba/Caloocan.
Olongapo-San Antonio	Victory Liner (non aircon)	P41/each (P82/roundtrip)	1 Hour	Skip this if you are taking a direct trip to Iba.
San Antonio-Brgy Pundaquit	Tricycle	P30/each (P60/roundtrip)	15mins	Feel free to haggle with the tricycle driver.
Pundaquit-Anawangin (and vice-versa)	Boat	P1000/boat (roundtrip)	30mins	Good for 2-3 pax; Highly recommended - Kuya Arnold (09208289226 - tell him you got his # from Jimi); Be prepared to get wet since waves can get wild - waterproof all valuables and gadgets;  if you are staying overnight, make sure to arrange time of pick-up with your boatman. No network signal in Anawangin.
Overnight Fee	Caretaker	P100/pax		This is to cover for keeping the cove clean but doesn't mean that you can leave your trash around.
Tent	c/o Boatman	P300/tent		Good for 2-4 pax; You can opt to bring your own tent.
Gasera	c/o Caretaker	P50/lamp		You can opt to bring your own rechargeable lamp - safer and  caretaker only have a limited # of lamps to rent out.

The following day, although we didn't get to wake up as early as planned, we were still able to climb the nearby rocky hill to the view deck where we got to see how wonderful the cove was.  We almost got lost because the cogon grass and the baby bamboo plants along the trail are almost as tall as us. We still had so much fun though - gasgas and all. :)  When we got back to the campsite, Check Janjie had some breakfast for us. Spoiled! :)

Staying in Anawangin by ourselves did not prove to be scary since there were a lot of other campers and I think most people were there with a mind set to be in a harmonious union with nature.  I think, even going there alone is not a bad idea at all.   

Some random tips: 

• If you are going in a group, you can split up the cost for the rentals of the boat, tricycle and tent. 
• Send an SMS to Kuya Arnold ahead of time to make sure that he is available (especially on peak months) 
• Wear life vest at all times during the boat ride; the ride can get very rough (not exaggerated at all, ask Karen) 
• Always waterproof gadgets/valuables 
• Don’t bring too much food.  Bring only what you can consume since this will add up the weight of your baggage; There’s a grocery store right inside the Victory Liner terminal in Olongapo, you can get your supplies there. 
• There’s a small sari-sari store in Anawangin, but prices are steep 
• It can get really chilly at night, bring thick night clothes or better yet, bring a human blanket.
• There are two water pumps, but water is not potable; Bring your own drinking water. 
• There are three comfort rooms and 2 dressing rooms; if you are going to do your thing, wake up early to avoid the long queues. 
• You can arrange a side trip to Capones  Island (see the Spanish-era lighthouse) or to Camara Island (will incur additional charge and depending on how big the waves are). 
• When you are in Anawangin aside from enjoying the swim, you can also explore the river at the back of the campsite or climb the view deck at the far left side of the cove. 
• Make friends and meet new people. :)

A Kiss For Luck

Let me start with a vow - I will definitely go back to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Here are the highlights of the trip: 

* Golden Mango Inn - if you are visiting Siem Reap, stay here.  Aside from being clean, spacious and affordable, what sold me to this hotel is the warm & very personal accommodation of Sony and his staff. They truly mean what they said in their website -"People come here as guests and leave as friends." It was actually painful to leave.

* Kim Soryar & Miss Alan (a woman of the world) - the best guides! Providing us a comfy van, making sure that we have cold towels & water, and sharing anecdotes. I can't imagine the trip without them. Kim even booked us the best seats for an Apsara dance.

* Angkor Thom, particularly the Bayon Temple (my favorite) - simply magnificent. Only $20 for a whole day tour of the complex. I tell you though, one day is not enough.

* The photo ops - we cannot have enough! Good thing that we have our official photographer, Albert. 

* The cheap thrills - tuktuk ride, souvenirs at the Night Market, the good food, the young hawkers at the temples (with their haunting chants - "one dollar...")

Tidbits:

* I highly suggest going for the Mekong Express Limousine Bus ($23) than MaiLinh Express ($16) if you're crossing from HCMC to Siem Reap.  We had a very bad experience with MaiLinh. When we reached the Vietnamese Immigration at Mocbai, we waited for almost 2 hours for our passports to get through. The MaiLinh personnel who was suppose to assist us just stood there while the other people from the other bus/tour companies sort of "haggled" their way so their group can cross the border. They also speak very little English so it was extremely difficult to communicate with them and know what's going on.  I will gladly pay for the extra $7 for MELB - they serve good pastries, are on time, took care of us at the immigration, and they have a "stewardess" on board who goes chattering giving you updates on your location & trivia about the places you pass by.

- to be continued...

Bukidnon: A Taste of Indigenous Culture

This is my first stop -- my home province, Bukidnon. 

What better way to showcase this cool plateau than the Kaamulan Festival, one of the few remaining authentic indigenous festivals being celebrated in the country.  Kaamulan means "social gathering" in the native Binukid dialect.  The seven hill tribes of Bukidnon gather in Malaybalay (the province's capital city) every March to showcase their traditional dances & songs.  When I was a kid, this festival was held every September but was later moved to March to coincide with the province's foundation day.


I'm sure, just like I did, guests both local and foreign enjoyed the ethnicity and authenticity of the festival through the display of dances, songs, instruments, crafts, and the colorful garments.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

The floats were also judged based on the use of indigenous materials.  This one got the 1st Place in the Float category: 

Dances showed the way of life of the natives - from how they fend for food to how they fought for their lands.

It was truly a feast for all the senses.  The beat of the ethnic drums & gongs made me the people dance along.  It  was a good thing that Malaybalay has a very cool climate, even if the sun was at its highest, everyone remained in such great moods. 

Bukidnon My Home

Wherever I may roam

the distant land to see
I long to go back soon
to sweet Bukidnon home.

Her lovely mountains high
her forest old and grand
bring memories to me
the home I long to see.

There my heart, yearns to be
in far away, Bukidnon land
under its blue and starry skies
where love and joy never die.

This song is very close to my heart... even now, after a decade of living here in the metro,  I can sing recite it without missing a word.  

How to get there: 

• Daily flights from Manila to Cagayan de Oro are offered by Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines.  I usually wait for promo fares but regular-priced fare will be around P3600, one-way.  I told you to wait for the promo fares.
• From the CDO airport (known to locals as Lumbia airport), take a cab to the Agora Public Market where the bus terminals are, cab fare plays around P250-P300 depending on how well you can haggle.  If you are watching the budget, you can take a jeepney to SM (P20+), then another one to Divisoria (P20+),  and one more to Agora (P7).  This is a pretty complicated route, I'd go for the cab ride especially if you have a heavy bag to lug around.
• In Agora, take the Rural Transit bus bound for Valencia or Davao.  There are airconditioned and non-airconditioned trips.  AC trips to Malaybalay City will cost around P150 and will take 2 hours. 
• Approximately 30-45mins into the trip, all buses and public vehicles bound for Bukidnon are required to disembark in a quarantined area and passengers are required to step through a foot bath.  This is to take care of our livestock. ;)

Where to stay: 

• Pine Hills Hotel - convenient since it is located in the city center, just along Fortich Street.  Rates are pretty affordable which starts at P1000 for Standard Rooms to P2500 for the Executive Suites.  It is better to make a reservation especially if you are going during the Kaamulan festival. 
• Haus Malibu - located along Bonifacio Drive, is still convenient (everything seems to be convenient and just a walk away in Malaybalay).  Rooms are said to be cheaper compared to Pine Hills.  I haven't stayed here so I couldn't say anything about their rooms and amenities. Teehee! 
• There are little inns and pension houses scattered around the city, ask around... you'll discover how I'm biased warm the people are. 

You will not lose your way once you are in Malaybalay.  It is a small city with people of big hearts.