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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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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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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