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
