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posted on Saturday, February 15, 2020
To say that a whole LOT has happened in the first month of 2020 is an understatement. Ling and I were supposed to spend the last weekend of January doing our opening dives of the year in Anilao, Batangas. But due to the sudden Taal eruption, a change of plan was in order. We turned our weekender dive into a fambam bonding at Bay, Laguna. Travel time to Bay from Manila proper is around 1 ½ hours by car. We had lunch at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan. More than the sumptuous sinigang and sisig meals, our daughter, Xandy, enjoyed fish feeding. Such a pleasant prelude to our much-needed family vacay.
We booked our stay at Lotuspod Bed and Breakfast. I have long wanted to visit the place because of its stunning landscape as seen in social media photos. Weekend rates are slightly higher compared to weekday bookings. Our Mt. Apo casita cost us P11,000, inclusive of light snacks, dinner and breakfast for two. We paid an additional P700 for all of Xandy’s meals.
The spacious room with an open view of rice paddies and the Makiling mountain range made the cost so worth it. Before heading to the pool complex, our fam of three took our time enjoying our casita's very own hot spring tub. Our 8-yo no doubt loved the pool. The parentals, on the other hand, were posing left and right to appreciate the IG-worthy views. We then went around the compound to visit the playground, the tree house and we even tried the zip line. Aside from jumping our time away at the trampoline, Ling was also able to teach Xandy how to bike. It was a back to basics, nature 101 kind of sesh with the kiddo. Everything was breathtakingly peaceful. After dinner, lounging at the room’s terrace while drinking coffee and spotting fireflies from afar was nothing short of amazing.
The following morning was all eat-swim-play-repeat until check out time. An overnight stay might not be enough but it sure is what we needed to jumpstart the adventures of 2020!
See also our visit to Pili Paninap Farm in Tanay, Rizal, Ybonita Farm, The Cabin in San Miguel, Bulacan, Moolk Farm, Balai Tanay, Phillip's Sanctuary in Antipolo, Rizal, Preziosa Botanic Resort in Alfonso, Cavite, Ataalaya Farmhouse in Alitagtag, Batangas, our day trip to Pililla, Rizal and our drive down Cavite.
Alfonso, Cavite
Alitagtag, Batangas
Anawangin, Zambales
Angat, Bulacan
Anilao Backpackers, Batangas
Anilao, Batangas
Anilao Boarding House, Batangas
Antipolo, Rizal
Mt.Sicapoo Apayao Trail
Asipulo, Ifugao
Baguio
Balai Resort, Batangas
Balai Tanay, Rizal
Barlig, Mt. Province: Mt. Amuyao
Bataan: Tarak Ridge
Batad, Banaue
Batanes
Batangas
Bay, Laguna
Bokod, Benguet: Mt. Purtagory Traverse
Borawan, Quezon
Bunker Dive Resort, Batangas
Cabuyao, Laguna
Cagsawa Ruins, Albay
Calaguas, Camarines Norte
Calatagan, Batangas
Cavinti, Laguna
Cavite
Clark, Pampanga
Coron, Palawan
Corregidor
Dive and Trek Resort, Batangas
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido, Palawan 2
Hundred Islands, Pangasinan
Hungduan, Ifugao: Mt. Napulauan
Ilocos
Kiangan, Ifugao
Kibungan Cross Country
Laiya, Batangas
Laiya, Batangas 2
Ligpo Island, Batangas
Mercedes, Camarines Norte
Mt. Batulao, Batangas
Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Batangas
Mt. Maculot, Batangas
Mt. Makiling
Mt. Pigingan, Benguet
Mt. Pinatubo
Mt. Pulag, Benguet
Mt. Pulag, Benguet 2
Mt. Pulag, Benguet 3
Mt. Tagapo, Rizal
Mt. Talamitam, Batangas
Mt. Timbak, Benguet
Mt. Ugo, Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet
Nasugbu, Batangas
Nagsasa, Zambales
Olongapo City
Palawan
Pampanga: Mt. Arayat
Pililla, Rizal
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike
Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike 2
Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy
Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy Version 2
Romblon Island, Romblon
Sabang, Puerto Galera
Sagada, Mountain Province
San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan: Mt. Balagbag
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
San Luis, Batangas
San Miguel, Bulacan: The Cabin
San Rafael, Bulacan: Mt. Secret
San Vicente, Palawan
San Vicente, Palawan 2
Sariaya, Quezon
Silang, Cavite
Subic, Olongapo
Taal, Batangas
Talisayen Cove, Zambales
Tanay, Rizal: Laiban Trilogy
Tanay, Rizal: Maynuba Circuit
Tanay, Rizal: Moolk Farm
Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Batolusong
Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Binutasan
Tanay, Rizal: Nagpatong-Mt. Masungki Twin Hike
Tanay, Rizal: Pili Paninap Farm
Tinglayan, Kalinga
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 1
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 2
Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Bacolod City
Bantayan, Cebu
Biri Island, Northern Samar
Bohol
Boracay, Aklan
Dauin, Negros Oriental
Iloilo
Leyte
Mactan, Cebu
Malapascua, Cebu
Moalboal, Cebu
Oslob, Cebu
Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
Siquijor
Sumilon Island, Cebu
Cagayan De Oro
Camiguin
Davao
Davao City
Davao del sur: Mt.Apo
Maguindanao
Mantangale Dive Resort, Misamis Oriental
Marawi City
Zamboanga
Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.
My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!
Developed by: Brewhildah