Taytay Falls: Majayjay, Laguna

6/29/2014 - Majayjay is a municipality of the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is situated at the foot of Mt Banahaw, south of Manila. It's a 3 hours drive from Manila and less than 2 hours drive from Sta Rosa, Laguna.

There are a lot of tourist attractions found at Majayjay, Laguna. But the most famous is the Taytay Falls. Some people mistakenly called this as the Majayjay Falls. But the truth is Majayjay is the home of Taytay Falls.

I am fortunate to be able to visit this place as an anniversary gift of my partner (also my travel buddy). We travel from Sta Rosa using a motorcycle all the way to Majayjay Laguna. We passed through steep and rough roads. Along the way, we saw the Gigantic Buddha at Isdaan Calauan Laguna, the variety of hot spring resorts in Pansol Laguna, and the Palayan and vegetable farm near the Barangays in Majayjay.

Upon arriving, we paid Php20/head as an entrance fee (The watchmen there used the money for the maintenance and improvement of the place). Since we have a motorcycle, we are to pay Php10 for the parking. Limited stores can be found so I suggest you to bring food since there's also no corkage fee and before walking going to Taytay Falls, vendors are no longer allowed. In our case, we bought "pansit habhab", chips, cupcakes and drinks before going to Taytay Falls (it's optional to buy water since the water in the falls is crystal clear or as good as mineral water if your not the delicate one).

The way to Taytay Falls is pretty smooth because of the blocks placed on the way to the river. There were unfinished infrastructures said to be for room rentals and for the improvement of their public toilets though there were public toilets found but not as orderly as expected. Since there are no cottages available yet, you'll have to bring with you a tent or anything to shelter you and your valuables. There are tent rentals as well as blankets near the barangay, prices ranging from Php 100-300. The temperature is quite low/cold so it's your choice to bring a jacket. Everything in there will be done manually so if you wish to bring hotdogs, fish or pork to roast, you'll have to bring charcoal and matchsticks/lighter.

We rested for a while, eat lunch and change swimming clothes. We passed through gigantic stones to be near the falls. The best words to describe the water in the falls are: icy cold, crystal clear, good as mineral water and unbelievably clean. I was amazed to find out that there are still clean water that you could even drink and an awesome place like Taytay Falls. We swam near the falls itself and the current was really strong. I felt like my hands were freezing and my skin's becoming so white. Though I am not chillin' like most people there, I can feel that if I stayed longer under the water, I'd feel the same thing.

It's my first time to experience this kind of adventure. And I can say that this is remarkably AMAZING!. I will always remember Taytay Falls.

HOW TO GET THERE:
As mentioned above, I was able to visit this place riding a motorcycle, but you may CLICK THIS LINK for instructions.


BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES:
Gasoline (Full Tank) ---> Php 300
Entrance Fee            ---> Php 20/head
Food                         ---> ^_^
Pasalubong/Souvenir ---> Optional

Green Nature Resort: San Mateo, Rizal

6/14/14 - It feels very excited visiting a resort that you haven't been to. And to my surprise the place isn't that near to where I am actually staying. But, it's worth travelling because the place is indeed, a Green Nature Resort.

If you're a nature lover and looking for a place to relax, this one suits your taste. It's an hour or two travel from Quezon City. If you're fortunate, you can even ride a cab going to this place. The rates are affordable and the best of all they offer free fish spa, where you can feel the caress of the doctor fish, or the species of fish Garra rufa.

Green Nature Resort has a swimming pool which you and your loved ones – especially the kids – can enjoy.
o   Daytime Rates (8am-5pm) = Php140 for kids/Php150 for adults
o   Night time Rates (7pm-5am) = Php170 for kids/Php180 for adults
o   Overnight Rates – with room availment (12 nn – 10 am) = Php220 for kids/ Php250 adults

There are also cottages, Gazebos and Treehouses for rent ranging from Php200-3,000 which is good for 4-30 pax depending on how many are you. Rooms are also available for those who'd like to stay overnight. Prices ranging from Php1,200-2,500 depending on your choice. The Videoke or Karaoke Machines are also for rent. Prices range from Php120/hr -daytime only.

They also have Function Hall for seminars, events and other social gatherings for 70 – 100 people that costs Php4,000 (Air-con for 4 hours) and for each succeeding hour, they bill Php1000. They also have a non-air-conditioned area which costs Php3,000 for 5 hours only.

For other amenities, they offer rentals of Billiard table for Php150/hr; Train Ride which costs Php30/head for 2 rounds (children and adult); Basketball court for Php200/hr-daytime and Php400/hr-nighttime; Volleyball court for Php150/hr-daytime and Php400/hr for nighttime.


HOW TO GET THERE:

GREEN NATURE RESORT
Upper Patiis, Brgy. Guinayang, San Mateo Rizal near Buenviaje Bldg and Sea Oil after you pass by the San Mateo Municipal Hall on the road going to Montalban.
For reservations, please call (02) 736-5260, (02) 584-8830 or (02) 584-8789.

If you're at Cubao or at Marikina Sports Complex, ride a jeepney going to Montalban. Tell the driver or conductor to drop you off at Upper Patiis, Brgy. Guinayang, landmark is Sea Oil. Get off at Sea Oil and you'll see white tricycles, tell the driver to drop you off at Green Nature Resort.

If you wish to ride a cab, tell the driver to bring you to San Mateo or at Green Nature Resort (ref is the resorts address).

For owned car travelling to Green Nature Resort, head to the resorts address for your reference.


BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES:

Fare: Cubao to San Mateo                  --->Php 30-40 (you may ride jeepney or FX)
Fare: Sea Oil to Green Nature Resort ---> Php14/head

Food:
*You can order foods at the resort but you may also bring if you want. they have a place where you can grill fish, pork, etc..
*Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to bring inside the resort. But, you can buy at the resort. Corcage is not available.

Entrance Fee: Daytime ---> Php150
Room : Standard Room ---> Php 1,200 for 4-6 pax

The City of Pines: Baguio City

053114 - 060214 - Visiting Baguio is sweeter the 2nd time around!
I got the chance to visit Baguio City last year with my family. And now, It's my first time visiting Baguio with my better-half. I've noticed that there were lots of changes from the first time I visited.

The road, the stalls of the ukay-ukay,  and a lot more new establishments. We visited:
Burnham Park-This is 10 minutes away from the Inn where we stayed. You have to be careful in choosing the boat that you're going to rent because there were some who have the boats rented for Php150, where for some it's just Php100. Aside from renting a boat, you can also rent bicycles for as low as Php40/hour. There were also a lot of foods that were sold beside the park. There's also this restaurant in Burnham Park named "Ganza Restaurant" where the foods are great!.

Baguio Market Place
-If you're looking for souvenirs and "pasalubongs", this is the right place. You'd be able to find a lot of things in here. You'll just have to be careful in choosing the products as well as the best price that fits your budget. :)

Baguio Cathedral

SM Baguio (was just curious because it's not air conditioned)-I think all SM malls were the same except that SM Baguio doesn't utilize air conditioner outside their department store. Must experience to believe!

Mines View-There weren't much exciting to see in this place except for Bernard (sooo big dig), the ukay-ukay's, and the view of a lot of pines.

Igorot Place (near Mines View)
-I was fascinated by this place, because they were able to collate all Igorot works of art. I would really want to buy a product of them except that the price is a bit costly.

The Good Shepherd-For great and awesome taste of "ube", strawberries jam and peanut brittle, this is the best place. People would come here to buy "pasalubong". Though 'pasalubong' were widely found anywhere in Baguio, Good Shepherd offers quality foods that you can trust. You will surely keep coming back. Plus they accept credit cards. :D
This is just less than 10 minutes walk from Mines View.

The Mansion-As the name itself, this is the President's place or other Royalties who visits Baguio. The security's is very strong and the only thing that you can do here is to take pictures.

The Wright Park
-If you want to ride a horse, this is the right place for you. For only Php300 you can now experience the thrill of riding a horse for half an hour or an hour. Plus you can take pictures of Igorot costumes that are for rent for only Php10.

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto-If you're the religious type of person and looking for a peaceful place, visit Grotto. This is a 100+ steps reaching Our Lady of Lourdes or Mama Mary on Top. You can also view the mountain ranges of houses from up there. There were candles, flowers and other religious items that are for sale upon alighting the place. Just make sure to choose the best price that suits your budget.

There were still some places that we weren't able to visit because of the heavy rain. But we manage to enjoy everything else. As for the food, there were lots of Food Chains and other restaurants that can be found. Lodging, Hotels, Inns and Transients are everywhere. Again, find the one that suits your budget and taste. :)

HOW TO GET THERE:

Ride a Victory Liner bus bound to Baguio City at Cubao Terminal. There were lots of cab and Public Utility Vehicles that you can choose to ride when you got there at Baguio City.

BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES:

Bus Fare to Baguio ---> Php 445 (Regular Aircon Bus), Php 715 (First Class or w/ CR)

Cab rate (at Baguio City) starts at ---> Php35+2.50/kms

Lodging                ---> 3days/2nights Php2500 for a Standard Room for 2pax
                                 (at La Brea Inn)

Food                    ---> Ganza Restaurant at Burnham Park, price starts at Php49
                           ---> Mines View Canteen, price starts at Php49
                           ---> Goto, Mami, Arroz Caldo, etcetera at Baguio Market Place, price                                       starts at Php39.

Souvenirs            ---> T-shirt (colored) for Php120, (white) 2 for Php150-160.
                          ---> 8 for Php100 for delicacies (price change depending on the                                               "pasalubong" and sizes you prefer)
                          ---> Key Chains 1 dozen (12) for Php100

If you have a tight budget like us, you don't really have to buy a lot of souvenirs. You just have to bring with you a camera. :D      

Brgy Patabog: Mulanay, Quezon

042414 - 042714 - Mulanay is a municipality in the province Quezon. It consists of 28 Barangays and the one I have visited was, Brgy. Patabog.

It was my first time travelling to Mulanay though I've been somewhere in Quezon. My visit to this place was extra ordinary because I am not with a group of travel buddies nor with friends or family. I am with the family and relatives of my boyfriend. We stayed in Mulanay for 4 days (3 nights - 4 days). I came from Cainta, Rizal (where I am staying) and traveled to Sta.Rosa, Laguna (where Jervi is staying). From Sta. Rosa Laguna, we traveled to the bus terminal (Superlines). We left the house, Thursday night around 9 PM and was able to ride the bus at 1 AM the following day. From that time on, we traveled going to Mulanay and arrived at 7 AM. The travel doesn't just stop there! We rode a tricycle or what they called there habal-habal (we were 9 people in there) and travel for an hour.

After that, we need to ride a boat going to the island where Jervi's grandmother was. It was actually the town's fiesta.


The place was very magnificent. The water was so blue and then was so green in the afternoon. Most houses near the sea were made with "abaca" or the Filipino term "kubo". There were also some houses that were made with cement and blocks. The place were we stayed wasn't really the town proper. You have to walked in the sand for 10 minutes more to be able to see the "plaza" were most of the events can be seen. They said that during fiesta there are celebrities who visit the place and even performed. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see them. Moving on, beside the stage, there were some store that sells halo-halo, palamig, snacks and many more. There were also "perya"- a place where you can play colored games and bet on the color you prefer, if you win you get your many doubled.


HOW TO GET THERE:

Ride a Superlines Bus to Mulanay, Quezon. There's a bus terminal in Cubao. Then get off at Mulanay Town Proper. Ride a tricycle (habal-habal). The tricycle drivers knew where to send you.  Then ride a boat going to the island of Patabog.


BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES:

I can't really itemize the details of the expenses because I am with the family of Jervi and everything is free.