A good friend invited us over to try out his boat.  We weren't really expecting a lot. We actually thought that his boat's just a local 'bangka'.  (We must have underestimated his wealth LOL!) To our surprise, it was a yacht and we also had a Jet ski tagged a long. What a treat! :)

Unfortunately, we didn't prepare for the trip.  We didn't bring sunblock, shades, swimming attire, cameras, etc.  Well, it's because there were news about Taal Lake being polluted as there's overpopulation of fish tents.   So I thought, the water would not be clean and it would be murky.  We expected that it will be just a quick tour with not so much activities besides drinking on the boat ;)  LESSON LEARNED.






The boat was parked at Sta. Maria resort.  The resort's actually nice and not crowded.  I saw this link from the net where you can find more pictures and also location  >>Sta Maria Resort

I think it will be nice to stay at this resort for a picnic with friends and family and you can bring your fishing rods/gears too as there are quite a lot of fish to harvest.

I've always wanted to try The Boutique Bed & Breakfast in Tagaytay because of its reviews.  Our experience was so-so, but it was unique though (that actually rhymes!).  Well, it's because first impression was not good.  Nobody helped carry our bags!

Anyway, the rest of the services were quite good.









1. We were asked to choose our own soaps and scents.  I love that it's personalised.


2. We were served with iced tea and Espasol with chocolate dip as welcome snacks.


3. At night, they delivered hot chocolate made of Tableya (local chocolate). Love it!

4. In the morning, breakfast in bed was served.  I was surprised how big the table was.  The food was good and they have lots of selection - from bread, fruits, hot and cold drinks, main course, etc.  You'll be asked to choose from the menu once you've checked-in so they can prepare your breakfast well in the morning.


5. The room was small but very cozy, lots of pillows.  It also has a great view of the Taal Lake and Talisay.   This is the "iDream room" on the 2nd floor.







6. The room has boom box speakers, DVD player (you can ask for DVDs at the front desk) - things you don't normally find in hotel rooms.

Well, the hotel has everything that you need or more than you need.  It's a good place to R&R rest and relax (definitely, not to rock n roll :P ).

 For room rates, visit their website at: http://www.theboutiquebnb.com/new/rates.html

Mt Gulugod Baboy is located in Anilao, Batangas.  "Gulugod Baboy" in english means Pig's back/spine. It was named after that because of its shape and resemblance.  

I booked the hiking tour at Casita Ysabel.  It was P850 per person including a tour guide. 

We left the resort at 8.30am.  From the resort to the jump-off point, it just took us 15 minutes tricycle ride.  

We rented a tricycle (for P600 bucks) because the roads were too narrow and steep to drive.  (We want to go home with our car. LOL!) And from the point, the hike is just less than an hour.  It was an easy climb.  

Our guide said there are 3 peaks.  They are Gulugod Baboy (Peak 1), Gitna (Peak 2), and Pinagbanderahan (Peak 3).  We were at the smallest mountain (or should i say hill?) :) 

Oh, btw, don't wear shorts. The grass is tall & sharp. Wrong move.  

Time for a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Perfect, Anilao is just 2-3 hours away from the city.

August is one of the rainy months in the Philippines. The storm has just passed and lucky we had a very sunny beautiful day.

We stayed at my fave boutique resort - Casita Ysabel.  (I've blogged about it already. Click the link!)  But this time, we rented Casita Maria.  It's a pimped out hut with an ocean view.  It's just super perfect because we don't have to go to the ocean deck or someone else's deck (LOL!) to chill because we have our own! With all the privacy and comfort, P6,000+/night is all worth it.

I'll keep this blog short because I have nothing much to say. :)

It's summer time again! And I'm very excited for the season! It's time for water activities, beach trips, surf trips and everything under the sun.  In the Philippines, the temperature is usually 30+ degrees celsius from April-May.  It's really hot and the sky is blue and cloudless during the day.  Perfect time to travel because typhoons are unlikely. :)

I really like summer because of its colors and vibrancy.  And everyone is just game about going to the beach. You'd find the beach resorts crowded in these months.

So here's a little teaser.  I'm blogging about my trip to Bellarocca soon.  It's a 5-star resort in Marinduque, Philippines.  They offer lots of water activities and the amenities are just great!  It's a destination for ultimate rest and relaxation (if you don't care about the bill). :)

See yah!

I was actually having second thoughts of sharing this B&B resort, Casita Ysabel. I like it so much that I don't want it to be discovered and eventually crowd the place. I want it to be my secret destination for a quick getaway. But since the staff/owner have been very kind and hospitable to me, I'm sharing my experience. :)

So the resort is just located in Mabini, Batangas (next to Anilao town proper). It's a 3-hour drive from Manila, but according to the manager, you can reach the resort in 2 hours given that you drive fast at 130kph (LOL!) and leave 6am in morning to skip the traffic in Bauan town.

Here's how to get to the resort (it's from the website).  To be sure, use Google map as navigator/GPS. It works even without the internet, as long as you set it before the trip.





Why I like the resort?

• It's calm and serene in the area. Good place to relax. 
• The rooms are comfortable
• The resort is eco-friendly
• It's not crowded and the resort is not too big (just right)
• It has a spa! 
• They offer lots of activities from hiking, diving, snorkeling, island hopping, sunset cruise, kayaking, and even night exploration at the beach! 
• The staff is amazing! 
• Best of all, just in front of the resort, is a marine sanctuary.  I didn't expect that it will be full of life (given that it's in Batangas.  I think any beach/reef close to Manila is damaged already). I was snorkeling in the area just by myself, it was really good! They said, there are several white tip sharks in the area (less than a meter long). They don't bite! I was actually looking forward to see one, but the waves are not stable at that time.  Note: the beach is not for swimming (very rocky), but for snorkeling. Bring your booties (or you can rent at the resort).