Amazing Batanes

I was lucky enough to visit Batanes April of 2012. I've heard of people raving about Batanes so I was pretty excited when I got the chance to see how amazing Batanes is. If you're into traveling, I suggest you try going to this place even just for once. I think what sets apart this place from the other tourist attractions of the Philippines is that it's not yet commercialized. You go there and you can expect a laid back lifestyle. The air is so fresh, cool and clean. Everywhere you look, it's all green. It's not heavily populated and motor vehicles are few.

I think it's much more fun if you're able to go around Batanes using this type of open-air vehicle rather than the air-conditioned vans for rent.

Batanes Resort Hotel

Mount Carmel Chapel

Basco Lighthouse

Honesty Coffee Shop 

Alapad Hills

Boulder Bay

 View Deck

Marlboro Hills

Rolling Hills

Mount Mayon

I'm a Bicolana but I only got to see Mount Mayon last September 2010 when my family and I went to Bicol to attend the wedding anniversary of my uncle. It's nice to actually see Mount Mayon and the Cagsawa Ruins up close for the first time. The Cagsawa Ruins are the remnants of the Cagsawa church built in 1724 and destroyed by the 1814 eruption of the Mayon Volcano.

The ruins of the Cagsawa church are now the site of the Cagsawa Ruins Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albay. There are a lot of stalls selling native Bicol products surrounding the park. What was pretty amazing for me were the boys who earn extra money just by serving as guides to the visitors. They would come up to you and tell you about the history of the Cagsawa Ruins and they would readily be your photographers taking interesting shots of you and Mount Mayon or the Cagsawa Ruins.

Camayan Beach Resort

My family's favorite destination whenever we want a weekend of relaxation is SUBIC particularly the Camayan Beach Resort. Subic is just a short 2-3 hour ride from Manila. And thanks to the new SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), the short road trip is not a hassle anymore.

We prefer the Camayan Beach Resort because the guest rooms are situated near the beach. We love it because we can wake up each day and see the beach which is a few meters from our rooms. We can swim whenever we want without having to worry about paying extra for beach entrance fees, cabanas and chairs. Guests also have free breakfast buffet. If we have checked-in in one of the hotels along Waterfront Road in Subic, we would still have to wake up early and travel for about 15 minutes so that we can swim in one of the Subic beaches. More importantly, the resort is also dog-friendly. We actually brought our dog with us during our last trip. ( We've grown so attached with our dog that we carry her around as much as possible wherever we go.)

These additional rooms were just built recently to accomodate their guests.

A band would play at certain times in the afternoon playing reggae songs.
I remember even watching a fire dance perfomance in one of our visits at the resort.

There's also a lifeguard who keeps an eye on the guests!

The guests were playing tug-of-war here.

I prefer these rooms because they're a few meters from the beach.

The view just outside our rooms.

This area behind the wooden fence is for resort guests only
so the guests don't have to rent plastic chairs or cabanas
if they want to stay outdoors.

Caleruega: Close To Nature, Closer To God

Caleruega is a "house of prayer and renewal". It's actually one of those tourist destinations that shouldn't be missed. I can't even remember how many times I've actually dropped by the place before leaving Tagaytay just so I can have some quiet time for myself.

Caleruega is open for outsiders. Weddings, retreats, recollections and seminars are held there all year round.

Fontana Water Park

My family and I went to Fontana Water Park in Clark Field, Pampanga 2 weeks ago. We went there on a weekday so there were only a few guests (which I loved! As you all know, I hate crowds!). Entrance fee is P300 per person. Visitors are not allowed to bring food and drinks so we had to buy food from their small snack stand. And if you're interested, dogs are not allowed too. (so we had to leave our shih tzu at home!)

What's great about Fontana Water Park? It has kid-friendly pools with water level just about one to two feet high. ( My nephew really enjoyed the place!) Lifeguards were everywhere. The place was well-maintained. The shower and comfort rooms were clean as well.

Fontana Water Park

My nephew's fave pool with a big pirate ship in the middle.

Water Factory

Lazy River

The lazy river can be seen at the lower right side of this picture.
It goes around the water park.
You can just ride the big yellow life saver (floaters)
and the water will just carry you around the park.

Giant Slide

Wave Pool
( Visitors get to experience huge waves every 30 minutes)

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