Batangas Day Trip
One Sunday, I was casually at ATC and bumped into Coco whom
I haven’t seen in a while. Since they were going to catch a movie, it was a
quick 5 minute hi, hello, how are you situation. During that short time though,
he was able to tell me about their upcoming trip which piqued my interest, it
was a day tour of Batangas that included what they dubbed as Bali in Batangas.
Having seen the place recently in Facebook, I immediately agreed to join them.
After all that travelling and pictures, we were sure hungry and what else to eat when in Tagaytay, bulalo ofcourse! Since it was already night, the weather was already cool and crisp and was perfect for some steaming soup of bulalo. No pictures were taken since everyone was very hungry already (seriously). As soon as food was being placed in the table, we were already eating. This is the only photo I have of our food, lol.
Last stop was SkyRanch but since it was already 8PM (and we should be heading back already) the group just decided to take pictures of the giant Ferris wheel. Our group however decided to get some coffee and celebrated new found friendships.
A few weeks after, I was already waiting at Starmall
Alabang with Coco, Rod and RJ waiting for the van to pick us up. The tour
operator for this trip is 8D/1D which translates to 8 destinations in 1 day
(sounds tiring to me, lol). Our tour coordinator was kuya Mart and he was
tasked to let us experience all destinations listed in our itinerary.
Travelling through SLEX (good thing there wasn't any traffic), were reached Batangas in no time. 1st stop was the pilgrimage site of Marian
Orchard. It was fitting that we started our day here since it is a Sunday and we
needed some divine guidance to keep us safe on our trip and also for us to
reflect and be thankful for the blessings we receive (for blessing us with resources to be able to afford the trip and for a beautiful day (it was definitely a hot day but it's better than a rainy one)).
The property was expansive and lush with a lot of trees and different shrubs. While walking the pathway for the Stations of the Cross, it was really very peaceful, perfect for reflection and meditation. The silence will only be broken by the noise of the chirping birds around you or the sound of the trees swaying in the gentle breeze.
The property was expansive and lush with a lot of trees and different shrubs. While walking the pathway for the Stations of the Cross, it was really very peaceful, perfect for reflection and meditation. The silence will only be broken by the noise of the chirping birds around you or the sound of the trees swaying in the gentle breeze.
There was also a quaint little church surrounded by a
beautiful garden,The steps were filled with blooming bougainvillea of white
and pink that made it a beautiful spot to take pictures.
Outside (should I say along the road), there are different stalls selling religious
items that you can keep as souvenirs. Please note that parking is limited and you'll need to park along the road.
Next stop was a bit farther away and that was the town of
Taal. It was quite a drive and I think all of us in the van were
sleeping until we arrived. Since it was already lunch time, our guide kuya Mart directed us to a nearby
carinderia to get our lunch and try the authentic Batangas lomi.
Since it was a group of 12 people, kuya Mart told us to
roam around the town and come back after 30 minutes after so that the food will be ready.
Close by is the Taal Basilica or Minor Basilica of Saint
Martin of Tours. Again, it was a good that we were starting this trip with a
visit to a church since it is Sunday and we needed to be reminded of all the
good things in our lives.
It was a typical Sunday at the church and I'm happy that going to church was still very much part of the Filipino culture.
It was a typical Sunday at the church and I'm happy that going to church was still very much part of the Filipino culture.
One thing to note as well about Taal is that it is a heritage town, meaning it is known for its old ancestral houses and architecture similar to the ones found
in Intramuros and in Vigan in Ilocos Sur. Walking the streets (yes walking at noon in the sweltering heat) It’s like you’re transported
to the town as it was during the time of the Spanish occupation.
There was an old lady selling balloons outside the church, we didn't get any balloons but we did pay her (three of us) as "rent" for using her balloons as props. It was sweet because she didn't want to accept our payment but we put it in her pouch and gave her a smile.
After all that walking (and the sweating that goes with it), time to head back and grab our lunch. Yes I know, after all that heat outside, the last thing we want to do is eat hot soup right?! Well the lomi was worth it anyway. It was gooey, and full of all the good stuff, like chicharon. To quench our thirst and alleviate the hot day, it really does go well with a glass of water and ice old soda.
Next stop was Villa Jovita. This was the highlight of the trip for me and the only thing that made me join this trip anyway. Dubbed as the Bali of Batangas, Villa Jovita offers the Bali experience without leaving the country. Why? I'm sure you've seen a lot of pictures from your friends who visited Bali where they were in a swing with a view of the rice paddies, or a photo where they are inside these huge nests that overlooks the beautiful scenery. Well, all of those has been replicated and are available here in Villa Jovita.
Next stop was Villa Jovita. This was the highlight of the trip for me and the only thing that made me join this trip anyway. Dubbed as the Bali of Batangas, Villa Jovita offers the Bali experience without leaving the country. Why? I'm sure you've seen a lot of pictures from your friends who visited Bali where they were in a swing with a view of the rice paddies, or a photo where they are inside these huge nests that overlooks the beautiful scenery. Well, all of those has been replicated and are available here in Villa Jovita.
Since this was a Sunday (and I'm guessing every weekend), there was a queue on all of the
photo spots available. So pack some patience as a lot of people would also want that IG perfect photo. Ofcourse I came prepared so I brought separate outfits
for each so that I have a different look every time.
The best part for me was the swing. At first you think it
was OK but when you look over the edge, your knees kind of get weak. But then
again safety precautions were made like a seatbelt so you won’t get thrown off
the swing. The first swing was scary but the 2nd and 3rd
was already fun and exhilarating and gives you a good view of the beautiful
Batangas scenery.
What I also liked about Villa Jovita was that you have sweeping views of the very lush Batangas country side which was refreshing. The cool breeze was a nice relief on a hot day.
After all the pictures, it was time for some pool time.
Yes, Villa Jovita is a resort and has rooms, tents and cottages for rent. There
were a couple of pools (I wasn’t able to count) but again since it was a
Sunday, it was packed (since the sizes were on the smaller size). I just
decided to skip swimming and just hang-out at our cottage and enjoy the
relaxing view of the river and the rice fields while the others swam. (P.S. there are outlets in the cottages so you can re-charge your phones/cameras while you swim, I'm pretty sure the batteries are gone by now because of all the pictures being taken).
After 2 or 3 hours, it was again time for our next stop
which was Fantasy World. You might be wondering, where is that? Well you know that
big castle that you thought was already abandoned, right off of Tagaytay,
that’s it. If you think it was already abandoned, think again. There were a
lot of people actually taking photos and just having a good Sunday afternoon.
You have the medieval architecture that would transport you to the time of kings and knights, gardens and fountains, snacks and also some rides. We even saw a
photo shoot going on (I guess the theme was princess or something) with the little girl walking around in her gown and tiara.
Nothing much to do here but sit down, grab a snack and take photos. Maybe a good hour is enough for you to go around the place and take photos. The entrance costs 1000 pesos for 10 pax. The weird thing is that you have to be a group of 10 because if you're just let's say a group of 5 or just 2, you'll still pay 1000.
It was already getting dark and we still had 2 more
places to visit. Next stop was the Gingerbread house in Tagaytay. Well
basically, it’s a coffee shop and a place to take cute selfies. Basically
that’s all you can do there. Sorry not much to say here as I was already tired and hungry and just wanted to go around and take photos.
They also have a little museum that explains how this place started.
They also have a little museum that explains how this place started.
After all that travelling and pictures, we were sure hungry and what else to eat when in Tagaytay, bulalo ofcourse! Since it was already night, the weather was already cool and crisp and was perfect for some steaming soup of bulalo. No pictures were taken since everyone was very hungry already (seriously). As soon as food was being placed in the table, we were already eating. This is the only photo I have of our food, lol.
Last stop was SkyRanch but since it was already 8PM (and we should be heading back already) the group just decided to take pictures of the giant Ferris wheel. Our group however decided to get some coffee and celebrated new found friendships.
It was already late when we left Tagaytay and on our way
back to Manila. It was a fun filled day filled with memories, laughter and a
lot of pictures. Happy to also have met new friends this day and ofcourse bond
with existing ones.
Here’s to our next day trip, now where to next?
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