Smart Backpacker: February 2013

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Relax in Nurture Spa, Tagaytay City

Last February, I went to Nurture Spa, Tagaytay City with my special someone.

Going to Tagaytay City, we took a ride at Park 'N Ride in Lawton Bus Terminal near Manila City Hall. We boarded a bus en route to Nasugbu, Batangas (Another bus station is in Pasay City using the Starex Bus near the MRT EDSA Station). I paid only P190.00 for 2 pax for a 2-hour ride to Tagaytay City.

We alighted at Magallanes Square Complex, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City (located 1.8 kilometers from the rotonda) and from that point took a tricyle ride to Nurture Spa (3 kilometers from that point). I paid P55.00 for the ride.

The tricycle ride was good for 5-8 minutes only.

Tip - Better make an early booking! Tel. (046) 483-0804/05 / 0917-687-8873 / 0920-950-5724

Embrace wellness..

Celebrate love..

Nourish your soul..

This is Nurture Spa in Tagaytay City!

CNN awarded it as the 28th most relaxing spa in Asia and it garnered Asia Spa's Top 7 spas of the Philippines.

A cozy place to RELAX!

The place offers relaxing massages using top quality aromatherapy oils and the soothing natural facials.

One of the best places for romantic couples for their garden weddings, engagement dinners, wedding proposals, birthday and anniversary celebration. They even offer personalized "harana" (serenade).

From 2 pm until 4 pm, we took a photoshoot of the place. In fact, it is one of the best places in the Philippines for a romantic photoshoot!

Then, we took our late luscious and mouthwatering lunch..

I personally enjoyed the fresh vegetable salad.

Then, rested for a few minutes in our heritage hut and after a few minutes took the nourishing and soothing natural facial offered by the SPA.

After the facial, a one and a half hour Swedish massage followed.

Then dinner time was the best part of the day...

All these for just P7,500.00!

There are various packages offered by the SPA, namely: the Ulayaw Package, Romantiko Package, and the Magkasintahan Package.

Choose from the a variety of rooms such as the Heritage Hut, Garden View Room and the Forest View Room. Our personal choice - the Heritage Hut! =)

Nurture Spa Village. A place where you can reconnect with nature, with those you LOVE and with yourself...

Related Article -
Ten Most Romantic Places in the Philippines -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/02/ten-most-romantic-places-in-philippines.html

Saturday, February 16, 2013

The Ruins (Negros Occidental)

It was summer 2012. I was traveling and exploring Negros. Just finished exploring Negros Oriental, specifically, Mabinay, Calbiga, Dumaguete, Zamboanguita and Canlaon.

I made my stop in Bacolod from Canlaon.

I went to the Cathedral of Bacolod (San Sebastian Church) as part of my routine to stop and visit a church and pray for my health and safety while I travel.

I was planning to go to the famous Heritage Houses of Silay City. Unexpectedly, a friend of mine told me to go to "The Ruins" in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

From Bacolod City, I boarded a jeepney ride to Talisay City and alighted at the jeepney terminal in Talisay City.

From the terminal, I hired a tricycle and paid P200 for my ride to the site of the The Ruins. We passed by a subdivision before we reached the site. The ride from the terminal was 15 minutes.

The Ruins is said to be one of the 12 most fascinating ruins in the world and one of the best landmarks in the Philippines.

It is also called the Taj Mahal of Negros.

I paid P60.00 for the entrance fee and started shooting my camera. It was a magnificent view!

A sight to behold!!

I wanted to stay until sunset and capture the sunset with the Ruins at the backdrop. But I was so tired and it was cloudy that day, and so I decided to go to Silay City. From Talisay City, it took me only less than thirty minutes to reach Silay City.

I enjoyed Negros! =)

Adventure

Trekking - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-neophyte-trekker.html

Spelunking - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/caves-in-philippines-spelunkers-dream.html

Skywalk/Edge Coaster - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/adventures-in-cebu-city.html

Trekking - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/two-mountains-in-one-day-mt-maculot-and.html

Mt. Pinatubo - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mt-pinatubo-trek-capas-tarlac-trail.html

Top Ten adventures - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/12-of-my-best-adventures-in-philippines.html

River Rafting - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/white-river-rafting-in-davao.html

Sagada - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-adventures-in-sagada-plus-itinerary.html

Mt. Makiling - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mt-makiling-trek-and-itinerary.html

Pagsanjan - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-thrill-of-rapids-in-pagsanjan-and.html

Beach

Boracay - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/boracay.html

Coron - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/enchanting-coron.html

El Nido - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/el-nido-adventure-of-lifetime.html

Others –

Batanes - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-captivating-and-stunning-beauty-of.html

Bukidnon - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/exploring-bukidnon-twice.html

Bohol - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/experience-bohol.html

Top Ten Places - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-ten-places-in-philippines-i-visited.html

32 Ecotourism spots - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/32-ecotourism-spots-in-philippines.html

Top 10 summer pics 2011 - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-10-of-my-pictures-for-summer-2011.html

Island Hopping at Hundred Islands..

El Nido, Palawan

The first time I experienced island hopping was in El Nido, Palawan way back 2009.

A series of island hoppings followed in the later years in Siargao, Coron, Marinduque, Camiguin, Biliran, and Boracay.

One of the island hoppings I made was in Hundred Islands, Pangasinan.

Hundred Islands (Photo of Mr. George Tapan)

The Hundred Islands National Park is in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines. It is located at Alaminos, Pangasinan. The islands are scattered in the Lingayen Gulf and cover an area of 18.44 square kilometers. (Wikipedia)

It was October 29, 2011. Just came from my second trip in Vigan and I'm on my tenth day of my tour in Luzon. Since I was a child, I have always been wondering of the famous Hundred Islands.

From Vigan, I boarded a bus en route to Urdandeta, Pangasinan. Then, arriving at Urdaneta I boarded another bus to Bolinao, Pangasinan. It was already morning when I arrived at Brgy Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

From the bus stop at Alaminos City, I boarded a tricycle and went to Ted's By The Sea.

I talked to the owner, Mang Ted, who was former "Kagawad" in the barangay and I bargained for the price of the island hopping for the amount of P1,700 only.

Here I am in Alaminos, Pangasinan 6 am in the morning and
going for island hopping.

I was a bit excited then since that was my first time
in Hundred Islands.

I waited for thirty minutes and the sun was just
rising...

Great day for island hopping!

Only three of the Hundred Islands have been developed for tourists: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island.

First stop for the day, the Governor's Island.

Then, the Quezon, Marcos and Children's Island.

In just 2 hours, we were able to finish island hopping in four major islands in Hundred Islands.

That morning, after my island hopping. I went back to Manila and then to my home province, Batangas. I enjoyed my 10-day tour in the Philippines.

Adventure

Trekking - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-neophyte-trekker.html

Spelunking - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/caves-in-philippines-spelunkers-dream.html

Skywalk/Edge Coaster - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/adventures-in-cebu-city.html

Trekking - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/two-mountains-in-one-day-mt-maculot-and.html

Mt. Pinatubo - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mt-pinatubo-trek-capas-tarlac-trail.html

Top Ten adventures - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/12-of-my-best-adventures-in-philippines.html

River Rafting - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/white-river-rafting-in-davao.html

Sagada - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-adventures-in-sagada-plus-itinerary.html

Mt. Makiling - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mt-makiling-trek-and-itinerary.html

Pagsanjan - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-thrill-of-rapids-in-pagsanjan-and.html

Beach

Boracay - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/boracay.html

Coron - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/enchanting-coron.html

El Nido - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/el-nido-adventure-of-lifetime.html

Others –

Batanes - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-captivating-and-stunning-beauty-of.html

Bukidnon - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/exploring-bukidnon-twice.html

Bohol - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/experience-bohol.html

Top Ten Places - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-ten-places-in-philippines-i-visited.html

32 Ecotourism spots - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/32-ecotourism-spots-in-philippines.html

Top 10 summer pics 2011 - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-10-of-my-pictures-for-summer-2011.html

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Callao Caves

Cagayan Valley is composed of five provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. And I have toured all the said provinces. Batanes is number one spot in the region.

Most of the region lies in a large valley in northeastern Luzon, between the Cordilleras and the Sierra mountain ranges.

from www.myspace.com

Cagayan Valley is the second largest region of the Philippines in terms of land area.

Among the numerous tourist spots in Cagayan, there are three spots that I like most.

First is the Cagayan river which is the longest river in the Philippines.

From cagayanvalley

Second, is the Palaui Island in the northwestern part in the municipality of Santa Ana, Cagayan province.

And the third, is the Callao Caves..

from www.flickerriver.com

December 22, 2011

Christmas was fast approaching and I am off to Cagayan to see the famous Callao Caves.

From the plane, I was able to see the aerial view of the longest river in the Philippines, Rio De Grande Cagayan.

It was an early flight and it was cloudy that day.

Past an hour, the Cebu Pacific flight landed in Tuguegarao.

I hurriedly went to the city and went to the public market of Tuguegarao and I was able to hire a tricycle ride to Penablanca, Cagayan. I opted using the tricycle because there was no available jeepney ride that day.

Penablanca, Cagayan is the cave capital of the Philippines. In Peñablanca alone, there are 300 caves, most of them unexplored.

I cannot recall exactly how much I paid the tricycle that day but I am certain that it did not exceed P500.00. It was also my ride back to the city.

Travel time to the jump-off point is almost an hour.

The connecting bridge was destroyed by the last typhoon and the tricycle itself had to board a barge in order to reach the other side. A river runs through the locality.