Weekend Getaway: Nasugbu, Batangas

Summer bonding with Bigtime Peepz

Maya-Maya Resort

March 2-3, 2012

Weekend Getaway: Tagaytay-Batangas

Chateau Royale Sports and Country Club, Inc.

Nasugbu, Batangas

September 17-18, 2011

Another surprise gift for our friend, a weekend getaway with us and her kids to one of Batangas' best resorts, Chateau Royale, a 4-hr drive from Quezon City. 

We took San Agustin bus but we have to get off in Mendez Crossing along Aguinaldo Highway to get a jeepney that will take us to Batulao. The kids were already hungry so we decided to have lunch first and it happens that in front of the waiting shed is La Trobada Restaurant. We enjoyed the bulalo and pinakbet as well as the music rendered by a local quartet but the best was the view of Taal Volcano.

We checked-in at around 2:30pm and after settling down, we left the mag-iina for a nap while Mace, Gi and I explored the vicinity. It's a great place for relaxation and their log cabins are spacious and cozy it lets you experience the ultimate country-style living.

There's a playground, swimming pool and facilities for big groups such as paintball, obstacle course, wall climbing and horseback riding. You may also visit the Greenhouses for lettuce, bell peppers, and other veggies as well as the orchidarium. Fresh vegetables harvested from the farm can also be bought inside the resort. If you're a fishing enthusiast, the fishing lake is a place to be, you just have to pay everything you catch.

You may want to bring water and snacks, though, if you're in a tight budget because there's no convenient stores nearby. Cost of water, etc. in the cafe are a bit expensive.

Before going back to Manila, we paid a visit to the famous Calaruega Church in Tagaytay. We would want to stay for a little longer to just feel the cool breeze of fresh air but it's getting late so we hopped in to the tricycle we rented and dropped us off to a nearby restaurant. 

We dined-in at Sonya's Garden for an eat-all-you-can lunch. At Php610 per person, we indulged ourselves to a healthy menu: Garden Salad with fruits and eggs drizzled with Sonya's secret dressing, whole wheat sesame bread with different homemade dips and toppings(the basil pesto with white cheese is a personal favorite) pasta with white(chicken cream with mango) and sun dried tomato sauce, topped with shitake mushrooms, black olives, ratatouille, capers, grated Parmesan cheese and deep fried salmon belly for main course and for dessert there's the chocolate cake and favorite pinoy treats; banana rolls with sesame and jackfruit and glazed sweet potato. Meals are served with bottomless freshly squeezed dalandan juice and hot tarragon tea. :)

The kids had a great time, as well as us, the Yayas! :D

Weekend Getaway: Punta Malabrigo

Punta Malabrigo Beach Resort

Lobo, Batangas
May 22-23, 2010

Learn from us!

If you want to explore and try a different type of beach, go to Malabrigo beach located at the Southern part of Lobo, Batangas. It's a 5-hr drive from Manila, so don't overload your car, make sure you are comfortable. Bring lots of food and water and also don't forget to bring your first aid kit since the nearest convenient store is too far from the beach.

Malabrigo beach isn't the usual kind of beach, it doesn't have powdery, white sand and its not a good snorkelling site either. From shoreline to the underwater, its all stones! But the calm and warm water, the scenery and the breeze of fresh air is quite soothing.

I am not supposed to see this place, but the good people at Finance Department invited me to join their funfilled teambuilding. Together with their organizer, Chang, we prepared games and activities for the whole team.

The not-so-anticipated Experience:

We are suppossed to bound South by 9:00 AM but our driver arrived at around 11:00 AM. The sun was already up and at its hottest temperature. Since the other car was suddenly unavailable, we dont have a choice but to compress ourselves into one L300 FB Van. We are 21 including the driver plus 4 kids, and yes we are pretty much overloaded! and so the car's aircon can't do much about the heat, it can't produce cool air because of excessive heat. Add heavy traffic to our suffering...my head just want to burst that time but i dont have the right to complain and im glad i was able to hold on. We stopped over at Jollibee for lunch and then the torture continues.

The FUN part!

Finally, we reached the resort by 4:00 PM, after a quick rest everybody dipped into the water to freshen up. Its the best feeling all throughout the day!

We began our activities by 730 Pm, then later in the evening we just lay down at the rocky shoreline for stargazing and enjoy the relaxing ambience.

Everybody swam early in the morning to take opportunity at the calm water and avoid the skin-burning-sunlight! Series of games follows after breakfast...

We start packing by 2:00 PM. I began praying for patience and tolerance aside from protection and i bet you know what happens next...yep, yep, yep! another torturing trip...whew!!!