A Future Trip to Boracay

     I'm probably one of the few local tourists who haven't been to Boracay, ever.  As you may well know, Boracay is a top tourist destination, for local and international travelers alike.  White, sandy beaches, varying hues of blue waters, beautiful sunset, and relentless partying come summer.  I love the beach, even though I cannot swim, but I do like to frolic in the sand, dip in the cool sea, and just stare at the beauty of nature.  However, I find going to Boracay a tedious process.  You must board a plane to Caticlan, and then ride a boat or something going to the beach.  Also, it's [overly] crowded during the summer and I'm not a party-person.  I'd love to have a more serene atmosphere you see.

     By a stroke of luck, I won a trip to Boracay, all expenses paid, during our Christmas party.  Now, I don't have a reason not to go to Boracay.  I think I'd like to go there in February, but not during March and April.  Let's see if I get the time to go there.  I'll have something to blog about if my Boracay trip pushes through .     

     Wish me luck!

Baguio Adventure: Day 1 - The Manor at Camp John Hay, SM Baguio and Cafe by the Ruins [May 2010]

     We went to Baguio last May.  Suffice it to say that it was work-related, although it was more like a yearly Baguio vacation than work.  Still, our presence was required; we just needed to make sure that we're seen and afterward, we're off to enjoy Baguio on our own.

     For accommodation, we were billeted at the Manor in Camp John Hay because nobody wanted to stay at the old, service house that was provided for us.  For one, it was creepy.  Who knows if ghosts abound.  Ha!  Anyway, it was my second time to stay at the Manor and I was glad to see that it was undergoing a face lift and that the garden at the back was revamped. Besides, if I wanted to "scout" for ghosts, then I'd better do it in style. Heh.  The downside to staying at the Manor, aside from the cost, is its seclusion.  If you don't have a car, then good luck to you.  The good thing?  The Manor promises both rest, relaxation and community with nature.  Plus, if you know how to play golf, you're in luck.  There's a golf course at Camp John Hay.

     Looking back, I realized that we hardly did anything on our first day in Baguio.  We spent the morning resting because we were tired from the four or so hours trip up north.  We had lunch a restaurant a few steps from the Manor, and then we rested, again.  Yup, that happens when you're traveling with a large group.  You end up resting over and over again.

     We had nothing else to do so we decided to go to SM Baguio.  How weird is that?  It's not a tourist spot but we went there.  Funny, really.  That's what happens when girls travel together: they end up in the malls.

     Good thing that one of our peers suggested that we go to a coffee shop called Cafe by the Ruins.  We didn't know where it was, only that it was near Burnham Park but we asked some locals around, including some officers in uniform, for directions. By the time we found the Cafe, it was already dark.  I didn't buy anything from there but I just took pictures inside.  It was quaint, sort of like a cafe with an enclosed outdoor dining area.  According to my companions, the pastries they bought were delicious.  

     Of course, we had to end our day early because we had nothing else to do.  I managed to get out of our room and take pictures at the Manor's back garden.  It was really beautiful and enchanting at night.  It was nice to walk around the garden at night while wistfully hoping for some cute guy to keep me company.  Lol!

Our room:

Manila Chronicles: Driving to and From Tagaytay at Night

 

      Tagaytay is a city some 1 to 1 1/2 hours away from Manila.  It is on an elevation so it's cold in Tagaytay.  There are always mists and fogs,  and it's really beautiful as it overlooks the famous Taal Lake and Taal Volcano.  The volcano, an active one, as you may know, is reputedly the world's smallest volcano: a volcano on a lake within volcano with a lake.  Or, the Taal Lake as the largest lake within an island in a lake on an island.  Phew!  Did I get that right?

     Anyway, a week ago, my cousins with my nieces and nephews went for a drive going to Tagaytay.  We took my cousin's old Isuzu pick-up because my 7 yr old nephew wanted to ride at the back of the truck; he was accompanied by her mother and my other nephew while and I stayed inside the pick-up with my sister and nieces.

     Considering that my relatives just decided on a whim to go to Tagaytay, I rushed dressing up, and I used some of my autumn clothes I bought for travel to Beijing.  Well, it wasn't so cold, just in the 20s C, I suppose, but we were there at midnight. It was not chilly, though.

     So, what did we do there?  We just bought coffee from Starbucks and ate a local rice porridge.  That was all.  Of course, we saw no view.  It was so dark, although a saw pantomime in front of Starbucks in Tagaytay.  He was a hoot!

     After consuming our coffees in like, less ten minutes for a grande cup (it was cold outside and the hot coffee got cold way too fast), I climbed up at the back of the truck with everybody else, except for my cousin who was driving, and had a thrill riding in the city.  My cousin would make the pick-up swerve every now and then to scare my nephews and nieces, including his own kids. Well, the older ones in their 20s were freaking out.  They're such a wuss.  They were specially scared when we went up to the Palace in the Sky, apparently, the highest point in Tagaytay.  The fog was so damn thick in there; zero visibility.  But my cousin stopped the car roadside, on a place where there were no lamp posts, turned off the engines and cue in screams by my younger relatives.  Hahaha!  Anyway, the place was just so damn eerily beautiful; haunting but romantic at 2 in the morning.  You could only barely see the road because of the fog but the yellow cast from the lamp post was just so pretty.  Or, maybe because I left my eyeglasses at home and I could barely see (I can only see lights from cars and lamp posts far ahead, but they all look like christmas lanters/lights to me).

     We went back because of the thick fog; I think, we weren't able to reach the peak.  Going down, we drove by a row of flower shops along the road.  I bought a large sunflower, which wasn't cheap at Php 100.00 a piece.  My little nephew wanted a gerbera, so bought him an orange one.  Oh, yes, the flower stalls are open in the wee hours of the night.  We were there around 2:30 a.m.    

     Finally, we drove down back to Manila.  We remained at the back of the truck, with the little kids safety stowed inside, until we reached home.

      I learned one thing about myself while I was riding at the back.  When we got to the flower shop, my little niece told me that my skin looked so pretty; apparently, my face was so white.  Perhaps, due to the cold.  However, I was not even cold, only that cold air was blasting directly on my face (my cousin was driving really fast).  Whenever I'm outdoors, even if it's cloudy, but if it's humid, I'll definitely have rosy cheeks.  That is the reason why I barely use blush-ons.  So now, I know that whenever the cold air blasts, I'll have a paler and whiter skin. 

Tagaytay Adventures - Overnight Stay

I took this photo using my iPhone.  Guess having an iPhone is not so bad after all.

     Today, my family and I are in Tagaytay, and we're going to stay here overnight, the best accommodation I could find in Tagaytay, at a friend's vacation home!  Yipee!

     My cousins told me we're going to Calaruega church later.  So, I better prepare now. 

     Till then!

     EDT:

We passed by a number of cyclists going to Tagaytay.  We took the Cavite route, the one which passes by Gen. Trias and Amadeo, but I was not so happy about it.  I am more comfortable taking the usual route, SLEX to Tagaytay.  But when I saw those cyclists, I thanked the heavens and almost went down the road to kiss the ground.  I mean, those cyclists are all handsome, trim, tall and fit!  Well, save for a few who look like regular joes.  But the pretty ones are real eye candies; they look like celebrities.  There were some foreigners, too. Gosh.  I wish I was holding my camera then.  Oh well.    

Baguio Travel Adventures: June 2010 - Pink Sisters, Camp John Hay, Baguio Country Club and PMA

     Every year, we go to Baguio; it's an official stay.  I've been there for 2 straight years but I forgot to finish my Baguio adventures last year, so I'll start, again, for the year 2010.

     My memory's quite bad, but I can still remember what we did because of the photos I took.

     We went to the Pink Sisters, prayed inside where we could see the pink sisters praying, too.  I think they take turns and the sisters pray 24 hours.  We also wrote our petitions on a piece of parchment.

Pink Sisters

     Not surprisingly, I saw a taho vendor selling strawberry-flavored taho and not just the regular one.  It was so sweet but you do get strawberry pieces.

     We tried walking inwards the street where the Pink Sister's convent is located and we passed by some great looking condominiums.  Apparently, Brent School (International) is located there.

     As I have previously blogged, we stayed at the Manor in Camp John Hay.  Since we're staying there, we went to the Bell House and paid a minimal fee to get inside the premises.  According to the Camp John Hay website, he Bell House used to be the vacation quarters of the Commanding General of the Philippines.  It now serves as a modern museum of colonial architecture and lifestyle.  

     

     There's something weird, though, at the Bell House Compound: this totem pole made by  Ernesto Dul-ang.  Kinda creepy.

     In the Bell House compound, another interesting structure lies: the Bell Amphitheater.  Apparently, this structure was designed by and named in honor of General J. Franklin Bell.  Moreover, according to the Camp John Hay website, the Amphitheater serves as an engineering marvel, allowing for good acoustics and is an excellent venue for concerts and other performances.

     If you're at the Bell House, don't forget to stop by at the Cemetery of Negativism, the symbolic burial place of negativism, said to be man's greatest self-imposed infliction, his most limiting factor, and his heaviest burden.

       There's also the History trail and the Secret Garden but we didn't go there.

     

     We stayed in Baguio for 3 days and 2 nights, so we had ample time to visit the Philippine Military Academy which is a little far from the city center.  We saw a lot of cadets making their daily run at the PMA.

  

   

     We also dropped by the Mansion, the President's official summer house.

     For pasalubong, we bought the famed raisin bread from our next-door neighbor, the Baguio Country Club.

  

     Of course, we didn't forget to buy goodies like ube jam, strawberry jam and brittle nut from the Good Shepherd convent. Their garden's full of pretty flowers!

     

A Short Weekend in Subic, Philippines - Part 2

   
      After lunch, and after the conclusion of our seminar, my colleagues and I went to shop for some duty free goodies.  I didn't buy much, just some chocolates for my family and co-workers considering that I would be commuting from Subic to Manila by bus.  Anyway, we went to Pure Gold and to Royal Duty Free, and after that, we headed back to the hotel for dinner.  If there is one thing that I hate about Subic, it is haggling with the cabbies; they don't use meters and a five-minute journey would cost you about Php 100.00+; if you asked to be picked up from your hotel or elsewhere, it's going to cost you an additional charge of Php 50.00.  A trip to the Zoobic Safari would be around Php 300.00 and some cabbies charge up to Php 500.00.  It's okay if you're travelling with 4 or more people as the cabs can fit around 8 persons, but it's not very lone-traveller friendly.

     Speaking of Zoobic Safari, we paid a visit to the tigers and other animals on the zoo the following morning.  The travel from our hotel, the Subic International Hotel, to the Safari was just around 15-20 minutes; there's no traffic inside Subic.  We were at the gates by 9:30 a.m. and had to wait for some 10 more minutes before our official tour started.  Inside the waiting lobby for orientation, the tigers surrounded us in their cages.  There was a white tiger, who was restless and kept pacing back and forth, as if he was toying with the people who wanted to take his picture, and about four more and a cub, who was so cute though he's a three-foot long baby.  You can cuddle with the cub and have your picture taken with it.

     Then our tour started.  First, we went to the mini-zoo where animals, some I've never seen before, were kept.  Of all the animals inside the zoo, I was most in love with the ostriches, the deers, which reminded me of Bambi and of Chris Colfer's line in Glee, "I cried so hard when they shot your mommy," and of course, the tigers.

     After the mini-zoo, we boarded the tiger trams; the people who bought the regular tickets took the colorful Tigger-looking trams while the Zooper ticket holders like us took the bland white tiger trams.  The only difference, aside from the slightly higher price we paid, was the refreshments that came with our tickets: mineral water, some chips and thank god, a wet, cold towelette, which relieved us of the blistering heat.

     Our first stop was to a new attraction called the Forbidden Cave.  Before entering, a warning was posted outside which goes something like, not for those who are afraid of snakes, among others.  When we went inside, it was so dark, and the only illumination came from some steady, faint yellow lights which could only illuminate it's immediate surrounding.  It was eerie and there was a man-made hanging bridge which kept wobbling whenever you take a step.  Then we came to the first light and saw a baby crocodile!  It was so still in the near darkness! It was enough to elicit screams from my colleagues.  Then there was a white and yellow python curled up on a branch, then cue screaming; and well, a regular python near the end of the bridge.

     After the Forbidden Cave, we proceeded to the Tiger Safari and boarded a modified jeepney with translucent top and grill-protected windows.  We bought a dressed chicken for Php 200.00 which would be fed to the tiger, and then drove in the tigers' lair for some up close and personal encounter.  We had a native aeta who handled the feeding and who called a tiger to eat the chicken.  The tiger's name was Vladimir.  He was so beautiful! I was at the rear of the jeepney and the handler was in front of me, so the tiger was beside me when he was eating the chicken.  My colleagues were screaming a lot; I was enjoying the experience.  Then the handler threw the remaining chicken on top of the jeep which cued in Vladimir to jump over (cue in screaming passengers).  I was shocked, not because Vladimir jumped but because some chicken juice got into my face.  Well, Vladimir was causing disturbance from the passengers who were incessantly screaming and we can only see Vladimir's movements because the glass was not transparent; it was sort of frosted.  I think, the more chicken you buy for the tigers, the more tigers would come to your jeep.

      Then it was time for the Close Encounter with the tigers who were chilling out in their cages.  We were a foot from the edge of the cages and there were so many tigers.  I was really interested with them, though they don't seem to mind us, people, but man, they stink!  The guide said that when the tiger's tail points up, it'll pee and we should run for our lives, err, no, immediately get out of the area to avoid being splattered with tiger pee.  The smell would mark us for 3 to 4 days, and we would not be advised to come anywhere near a tiger during that time, not that we have a tiger at home or at our disposal but, the hey, I don't want to be marked by a tiger. 

     Afterwards, our tiger tram proceeded to where the ostriches and wild boars roam freely.  The guide told us we could hop off the tram if we could outrun an ostrich should it try to chase us.  No, thanks!  We also went to the crocodile farm, and we watched the local aeta's perform some of their tribal dances for us.  One of the aeta's even leapt to a tree because he was mimicking a monkey.  It was pretty amazing!

A Short Weekend in Subic, Philippines - Part I

     I had a sudden official leave Friday last week.  My superior asked me to attend a seminar in Subic in his stead late Thursday.  The seminar was to start at *gasp* 8:00 a.m. that coming Friday.  From Manila, Subic is about 3.5 hours to 4 hours away by public transportation (bus) on the regular route, or 2 hours by car or by bus via SCTEX.  That would mean I have to wake up really early to be on time, and to make sure that I would not be late, I was chauffeured to Subic.  I still had to wake up by 3:00 a.m. to prepare for an overnight stay in Subic.  So, yay.

     I have been to Subic for like 5 times already but it was my first time to go there via SCTEX.  I was so amazed.  The view is just lovely.  There was a mountain range that I did not know existed, the sky was clear and the view was just picturesque.  The most fun parts of SCTEX were the mountainous/hilly areas which were cut through the middle to pave for the highway. 

     Here are some of my SCTEX pictures:

This path carved in the center of a mountain reminds me of the parting of the red sea.

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 1 at the Westnuk Beach Cove

Westnuk Beach Cove on a stormy afternoon.

     Our accommodations at the NPC Village includes a free day pass to the Westnuk Beach Cove.  It is located inside the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong.  Before, you cannot go to the Westnuk Beach unless you know someone from the National Power Corporation who could accommodate you as a guest.  But not anymore!  It is now open to the public, but for a minimal fee.  If I'm not mistaken, entrance for day-trippers is around Php 130.00 per person, more or less, with discount for government employees..

     Now that it is accessible to the general public, the secret of its beauty is now out!  And it says so in its website:

Hidden away in the heart of Morong, Bataan, Westnuk Beach Resort is the perfect getaway for weary travelers looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Our resort is only a two and a half hour drive from Manila. Getting there is an experience in itself as the roads you travel are filled with scenic views of where the mountains and the sea meet.

Even in its simplicity, Westnuk Beach Resort features comfortable accommodations with scenic ocean views. We cater to friends, families, and even companies seeking to have fun under the sun. For larger groups and company outings we can accommodate over five hundred people at our hotel at NPC Resort Village, a twenty minute ride via our shuttle service. That’s two venues to experience in one convenient package.

Be surrounded by nature unspoiled by man. When you’re not swimming, facilities for basketball, beach volleyball and karaoke are available for you to enjoy. Come and enjoy one of the Philippines most beautiful and unspoiled beaches for a holiday you’ll never forget.

     You know what?  NPC got it right.  The roads of Bataan to Westnuk do offer scenic views and are well-maintained; no traffic, too.  And the one from NPC Village to Westnuk Beach showcases rows of fields and clean creeks or streams.  It's very calming.

     It is a treat to go inside the BNPP and to see the Plant itself.  And then, you'll see the cove and it looks amazing.  However, since there was a storm when we were there, we didn't thoroughly enjoy the beach.   At first, the weather seemed fine: the sky was overcast, but no rain.  Thus, we were able to wade in the water but not for long.  Well, the winds started to get crazy and it affected the waves.  Good thing it was a cove so the waves were not intimidating.  Then, the skies suddenly grew darker and darker.  And it started to rain hard.

No rain yet.

But the waves came in succession,turning sea water to foam/bubble.

Heavy rain started to pour, and the waves got a little bigger.

See the rocks in the background shrouded by the rain.

     The Westnuk Beach also offers overnight accommodations, but it is almost always full.  Their ocean-view two-storey guest pavillion has four air-conditioned rooms and three regular rooms able to accommodate a total of forty-two guests.   If you can't get a reservation at the beach, the NPC Village and the NPC Hotel, 15-20 minutes away by car, are the alternatives.

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 1 at the NPC Nuclear Power Village

     Since I am just a short post away from wrapping up my Macau travel adventures, I'm going to blog about my Bataan adventures since I've been itching to do it for a long time already.

     If you remember, last August 2011, the Philippines had a rather extra long weekend because of several holidays.  So, I was so flustered thinking about being stuck at home.  I wanted to go to Baguio but my reservation was put on-hold and when it was finally okay, it was already too late to go.  Anyway, my family and I ended up staying at the National Power Corporation's Nuclear Power Village in Bagac, Bataan.

     It was my third time to set foot in Bataan.  The first one was when I was in college; the second one was for a 2-day work-related matter. But the road we took going to Bagac was different from the one I used before, so it was like my first time going to Bataan.

     Anyway, I liked Bataan.  In fairness, the roads are wide and paved; there are a lot of trees and really, nature still abounds.  However, there are not too many vehicles on the road and Bagac is like 2 to 2 1/2 hours away from Manila.

     To reach the NPC Village, which is now open to the public for rentals of the villas, is really easy.  It's after the Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower, turn right from the gas station and you're there.

The Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower

    The Village is past its glory days.  Really.  The houses are sad looking and old, but for its price, its okay.    I think I paid around Php 3,000  with discount, for 2 days and 1 night.  However, if you need to use a ref, the tv or a gas burner, you'd have to rent it for a fee.  I forgot how much, though. Anyway, they have a maximum number of guests allowed per house but don't worry, they won't make a head count.  We were almost 20 in our group although the allowable people per house is just 10-12.  We didn't pay extra.  If you prefer, they also have a small hotel.

It's easy to know that this place has once been grand.  See the helipad in front of the hotel.

     Most of the amenities are non-operational.  But at least, the pool remains.

But there's a fire station inside!  How cool is that?

     There are 4 huge rooms (or 5?).  We all fit in. I requested for extra sheets and pillows and they didn't charge me for those.

 These are the bungalows.  So huge.  Ours is across this one, but smaller.

These are the abandoned bungalows.

      And bring your own food.  It's difficult to find a place to eat, even at the "bayan."

     There's a good thing about the NPC Village.  It comes with free entrance to the West Nuk Beach at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.  They also have lodgings at the Beach but it was fully booked so we had to settle with the village.  The catch: it's about 15-25 minutes by car from the Village.  But the trip is all worth it, I promise.

     The NPC Village also has a swimming pool; old but clean and decent, and the compound is huge and good for a stroll or for jogging.  And, there are a lot of guava trees.  We just picked from the trees, with blessings from the guard (he says it'll just get rotten anyway), and the guavas we got were so delicious! Juicy and ripe!  Yum.  We even got to take home some.

The guavas either just fall on the ground or get eaten by birds, like this one.

     And, if you don't know it, you can view from the Village, the famous Las Casas Pilipinas, a resort nearby which painstakingly restored, piece by piece, some of the historic houses, mansions and even school buildings, from around Luzon.  

 Las Casas Filipinas as seen from the NPC Village.

     Finally, I must say that the views here are gorgeous.  See the photo below where the road seems to meet the sea and the skies.