Ideas for Batangas Overnight

Batangas boasts of sure adventure and fun through its beaches, pools,
and gastronomic foods.

You need wait neither summer nor long holidays to take a break. Just go get your backpack and throw in your trainers, a few clothes, and you are good to go.

Destination? Batangas. Just an overnight though.

Batangas is just an hour and a half  drive from Metro Manila (if you are lucky not to catch the holy traffic hour). In just a nap (if you are not driving), the next time you open your eyes, you are already somewhere near the infamous Mt. Taal nestling amidst the majestic lake. Considered as a first class province in the Philippines, Batangas boasts a wide array of hotels, inns and other accommodations that perfectly fit an excursionist’s budget. Club Balai Isabel is one of the top five options for their quite a number of pools and panoramic view. You could rent a single room or if you are in a group, taking a villa good for 7-14 people is a wise option.

Heck, why do I sound like a PR personnel here? Get up! Time to kick ass in Batangas! Well not really, here are just few ideas on how you could spend a short stay in such beautiful place like I did. Do not worry this is not an itinerary (I personally hate it myself.)

Arriving at around 6 in the evening is just perfect for dinner after settling your stuff. Swear, the food is heaven especially the salad.  Oh, I’ll bet one finger if you won’t like their vinaigrette. The resto fronts the lake gently comb by the wind.  Hey, that’s more than an appetizer! For the eyes.

Once tummy is filled, hmmm, it might then be cool to stroll. Bring a shawl if you get cold easily though. You might get brain freeze. Or if not really up to it, then head back to your room and prepare for swimming. For security reasons, pool accommodation is just until 10pm so better exhaust earlier.

Frozen, eh? Go sip bourbon or whiskey at the nearby bar and party-party! Or if you are not up to it, go play poker with your friends. If you got a car with you, it would be easy to glide up to Tagaytay (just 30 mins away) and check a bowl of steaming soup or boiling black coffee but be sure to be back early and rise before the ball of fire will. You do not want to miss the sun peeks from the lake’s horizon, do you?

But before you do that, you might consider jogging first. The very reason I asked you to throw a pair running shoes, eh?  On the latter part of the day, you could play billiard, basketball, volleyball, dart, or even check out a boat that could take you to the island near Mt. Taal. It is fun also to watch fisher folks catching freshwater creatures or simply bathe under the sun with your sunnies of course.


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When Your Mind Wanders

Because there are just times when I shiver with the touch of other skin…

When I hate hearing my own voice and refuge to silence

When thoughts surge to hypothalamus waiting to be written but deprived

When the sound of cricket reflects not of a peaceful night

When Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Churchill can longer touch me

When winter seeps for the summer call

Deep, crystal clear horizon I turn my gaze watching for dawn…

Hoping for everything to just pass

Looking forward for the ball of fire, bright and splendid

Wishing the sick cycle carousel to halt

Crossing finger not to play the same game again

Crossing finger to keep my words

Benefits of Travelling/Strolling Solo

Got no one to take your pic?
Set timer, go for selfies or ask people around!
They are more than willing to do so. And who knows it might spark
new friendship.

I am a bit hesitant if solo backpackers could not relate how enthralling it is to travel alone. Even just going to nearby coffee shops or malls, doing it with me, myself and I,  is more than exciting. I am obsessed maybe for the following reasons:

      1. Knowing yourself better. Being in a throng of strangers in an unknown place makes one realize it is important to be tough and open-minded to any possible circumstances. Travelling all by yourself unlocks characters you yourself never figured out have.

Eat whatever you want.
Wherever you want.

2.       No other interest to consider. Travelling alone means you have no other person/people bugging where to check-in, what to eat, when to hop from one place to another, etc. I am also up for group activities but what really made me fall in love with solo backpacking is doing things at my own pace.  I really have low tolerance with snail speed company much as those who cannot make do of any situations.

These people taught me how to
eat see urchins' meat.
Then we had few shots of Emperador.

3.       Meet new people. The thought of any possible seatmate on the tricycle, bus, and plane fuels my solo backpacking interest. That person sitting next to you has unquestionably unique experiences of the world and engaging a conversation with him/her is such an encounter you can’t read on books. Some of the folks you encounter understand you are alone and offer a hand to take shot of yourself with the panoramic scene you are in so photo memento is could never be a problem. In case it' a big deal. There are even those who are really kind and would willingly introduce you to people around and take care of you.

  

4.       Challenge resourcefulness. What more can I say? When you are in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people and dilemmas arise, you have not much of a choice but turn on your 'resourcefulness' button.

5.       Independence. I grew up trained to stand on my own feet and travelling alone drifts me back to those days while adding wisdom to my half full experience with the realities of life.


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What I Miss About Tagaytay

Tagaytay is fairly cold from Nov-Feb and I had just the privilege to visit last Jan. Boy, it was the quickest getaway from the polluted metro. It is just approximately two hours away from Pasay via public transportation. Boredom brought me here to sip a can of beer while smoking the world away. Famished? Dare not go home without checking out a bowl of hell hot bulalo! But what I really miss about this place is my phone. Lost it in there so watch out of yours!

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The Taste of Iloilo

Iloilo is known for its grand churches but this time food tripping is my mantra. (L-R) Juicy native lechon manok from Mang Tatoy's. The said sea food restaurant is well-known both to the locals and visitors. It is situated quite a distance from the  town proper but the journey is all worth it. They offer a wide array of sumptuous dishes like grilled hito, native chicken curry, chopsuey, cheesy baked tahong, fried crabs and ohh, my mouth waters.  Pork stew with jack fruit. I have tried eating jack fruit cooked in coconut milk but never stewed it was fairly delicious though. Sinigang na baboy. I am never a fan of sour stews but this is a sure hit in my taste. In lieu for  tamarind or calamansi, Ilonggos used batuan for souring.  Batuan or Garcinia binucao is a greenish, yellowish fruit that has firm outer covering that contains acidic pulp and seeds. It made the sourness of the stew just mild while the kadios beans balanced it all. Grilled tangigi. Thumbs up to this splendid bad boy. Fresh from catch. Fresh from grill. That explains the sweet smoky taste of the meat. Molo soup. Noodles from Molo (a place in Iloilo City) bathe in water and chicken flakes. La Paz batchoy is also popular in Iloilo most especially of course at La Paz. Bisocho. Meaning biscuits in Spanish, this baked bread topped with butter and sugar is Iloilo's number pasalubong. Hot spots are hard to find here but in case you need one, I recommend Coffee Break. As a coffeeholic, I could say their coffee is excellent at affordable prices (Like Php80 and up) . You just need a minimum Php100 purchase to avail their wifi.

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Experiencing Samal Summer Quickie

You can ride a boat directly to the resort of your option to easily get there.
Fare is only Php15 gainst RoRo's Php10.

Better late than never. The adage is effin’ shibboleth but the last week of May is indeed not too late to catch-up dating the splendid sea, sun, and sand! Besides, what are you gonna do to spare yourself from boredom while waiting for your flight?

My business trip to Tagum, Davao del Norte allowed me more or less 19 hours to visit and savour the pristine and crystal clear waters of Samal Island.

Right after our training my workmate, college friend, and I had a working snack at around 2 pm. It took us more than an hour to decide if we were to stay at Villa Amparo, Bluejaz, Bluewaters, Paradise Island, or Isla Reta. We were looking for a decent place without harassing our pockets. Our first choice was Isla Reta but given the time and budget we opted for Paradise Island.

Transportation

Tagum to Panacan Port – approx. 1.5 hours-  Bus fare Php90

Panacan to Samal Island –approx. 10 mins- RoRo fare Php10

Samal Port –Paradise Island – 3-5 min – Motorcycle fare Php30

Panacan Port I guess is just 10-15minutes away from the Airport.

Standard room accommodation.

Honestly, I preferred sleeping somewhere under the nipa hut with just a foam on together with fellow travelistas (fun way of meeting people) but we have our gadgets and   bathroom concerns to consider. What we got was the only standard room in the vicinity. In fact it is not even mentioned to be available. Deluxe and premiers range from Php3, 500- Php3, 900 with air conditioner and television of which I think were not essentials in our case.

Accommodation

Standard Room – overnight stay is Php2, 500 (good for two but you could get additional)

Food – dishes ranges from Php150-Php 300

We finally settled at around 5 pm. We agreed to visit the Bat Cave and Hagimit Falls but the three of us were quite drained from the morning activities so we slept for about 30 minutes instead. Our starving tummies dragged us to the restau hall and before we knew it we have devoured curry, ramyeon and gulped smoothies.

There were live acoustic band and fire dancing which I thought to be cool enough. We wished we still had energies to invade the nearby infinity pool (Bluejaz is just a few steps away). I and my friend tripped to the bar for a drink or two while my workmate chose to succumb in slumber.

Morning came and everyone seemed to be oblivious of the white sand outside because the bed wasjust too tempting to let go. If there are schools conducive for learning, this place must be conducive for sleeping. Nevertheless, I got up to catch the sunrise (crossed fingers because it was already 7 am) while both were at the dream land.

After a sumptuous breakfast (their buko juice fresh from the shell is heavenly thirst quenching), the clock began to tick. Oops! We barely had an hour and a half left to wander lust. Kayaking erased. Snorkeling too and all in the list! Time to dive and let our skin taste the salt water.

Lost in water.

I am a bit picky when it comes to beaches. The last time I had a plunged was four years ago. I hate the waves banging my body. More to the sea grasses and shrewd corals that hurt my feet. Thanks to the universe that the beach at that time had less of it. The water was as calm as the pool nestled in ivory ash. It was absolutely a spur of the moment idea. We came just for business and yet despite the limited time we still manage to escape. Never underestimate where boredom leads you!