Tagaytay Evening Trip

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This happened about a year ago. This was really an unplanned event. We just came to SM Dasmarinas for a short talk but ended up going to Tagaytay and then decided to meet a friend.

How to get to Tagaytay? 

Since we came from a town near, it's very accessible for us. If you came from SM Dasmarinas, just move towards the exit to Robinson's Dasmarinas. Crossing the street will give you plenty of options to go to Tagaytay, either a bus or a jeepney. This will cost you not much from there. We opted to take the bus.

We alighted at Olivarez Plaza. We really haven't decided where to go. The funny thing is, we ended up walking from where Rotonda is, passing straight Aguinaldo Highway until we reach plenty of restaurants. It's been really a long walk. It's not our first time but we were not familiar with the place. 

Since we are walking down the road, we managed to get good views at any establishments we get to pass by. Our first stop was at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. Upon entering the church premises, you'll notice some kind of positive aura around the land. It's a real good place to meditate and reflect. You may also want to have your wedding be held here. This place is really nice and well-maintained.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church

Mama Mary's statue outside the church

 After the parish tour, we went on walking until we reach the place where there are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and stores to find. Our friend works at FiliBeans. It's located inside the Leslie's restaurant. We arrived there at almost 7pm so it's dark around. If you go here while the sun is up, you'd be in a great place to take a good photo where the famous Taal Volcano can be viewed in your background. More information about FiliBeans can be found in this blog - http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/2014/02/filibeans-coffee-shop-tagaytay-cny-2014.html.

The girl in white is our friend who works at FiliBeans.

We do not get to have photos in Leslie's restaurant since it's really not on our plan to have dinner there. Instead, since we're in Tagaytay and it's cold, we decided to go to another coffee shop near, the everybody's choice, Starbucks Coffee, Tagaytay!

But wait, it's cold and yet here's what we ordered. Several Frappes and Cinnamon Breads! Yes, we love to taste and feel the chill up to our bones. Oooozy! Just like any other Starbucks Coffee branches out there, nothing is much different to this one except for the good ambiance, cold weather and it's scenery that is capable of viewing Taal Volcano in it's full size.

It's one of my favorite spots here in Tagaytay. We ended this day with smiles and laughter and a lot of stories have been told to each and everyone. You better come along with friends, you'll see lots of couples and families 'round here and I know, you don't wanna feel lonely.

Matabungkay Beach Resort, Lian, Batangas

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The date has long been planned (2012). It's just the venue that we need to settle before alighting to our vehicles. Alas, since we are a group of 16-20 people, being college mates, we decided to go on a beach resort (any beach resort actually) at Batangas. After long hours of battling over to what resort in Batangas we should be, we went to a well-known place, the Matabungkay Beach Resort in Lian, Batangas.

We all came from GMA, Cavite. Going to Batangas isn't really that long but will usually take you 2-3 hours of travel depending on the traffic the roads will have become. Since we have no idea on what specific resort we should be, we opted to look from resort to resort and shore to shore. This took us more than an hour looking for a good place to stay overnight.

Interestingly, no entrance fee is needed to enter the resort of our choice but of course, we need to have our cottage settled. We rented an overnight stay with videoke and an in-house restroom.

We got there so late so we aren't able to view the sunset. We were kinda disappointed at first since it's already evening and we still can see piles of trash all over the beach. Fortunately, those dumps are afar from the shore.

In the shore line where the water is about 1ft - 3ft,, are floating cottages. It is cheaper but since it's located in the middle of the shore, you have to use public restroom and bathrooms if you want to take a dump or pee. You shouldn't do it the ocean!

Floating Cottages; upon Sunrise

There are so many things to do in this place. People will eventually ask you to take a tour of the beach, engage in some extreme sports if you have some cash, go banana boating with friends, go kayaking with them, use/rent a boat to get to the midst of the ocean and experience swimming in the middle of it, go Scuba Diving if you really want and many others more. 

Since we're just into swimming, we opted not to buy some package except to this very cheap boat float with pedal for an hour. 

Here are some photos to look forward to. Remember, these are all captured on the year 2012. 

Sunrise; the sun is being blocked by the mountain.

Clear Water in the midst of the ocean.

Coral weeds from beneath. 

Ocean floor. As blue as the sky, as clear as a crystal.

All in all, it was a very good experience for all of us. This will be stored in our memory banks for all our lives and friendship won't ever end. Exploring together creates bonds no one knows what the limits will be.

The beauty of the nature is really far from what our own eyes can see. It's more of a deep thought and must be experienced by everyone. Live life to love, live life to travel, as long as you're young, live it at it's fullest. 

Me at Matabungkay Beach Resort, 2012.