celebraTINg exisTENce: Cavite

My Sky Ranch post was way back 2013 and it was in 2014 when I made the compilation of the must-visit places in Tagaytay. A lot of things have changed since then and the ridge is way more crowded now (January 2021, may COVID/ pandemic pa rin). I still went to Tagaytay in the past few years but I don't think I've blogged about my visits, ngayon lang ulit 'cause, you know, pandemic and na sabik gumala. HAHAHA!

I know that the ideal thing to do is to stay home but we felt that we really needed this getaway. We're home on most days naman at umiwas naman kami sa tao...

Ito ang Tagaytay ng iwas sa ibang tao, parang wala rin mapupuntahan. 😂

I heard some hotels require swab tests upon check in but I'm not sure what those hotels are and that it already gets congested there during weekends.

We stayed in an Airbnb room in a condominium near the Rotunda. We weren't asked to submit any health certificate or tests, just valid ID's. Didn't sightsee that much - sa Palace in the Sky lang and sa kalsada nag lakad lang nung medyo gabi na. Hangin ng Tagaytay lang sapat na, ganon. 😂 Ni-feel lang mostly ang breeze from the small veranda of our rented room.

Strawberry Taho outside the Palace in the Sky was a pleasant surprise. 😍

Grateful. ❤

Hindi pa normal at may pandemic pa, but still.

'Yung maaga pa pero halos sarado na lahat. Okay lang. Masaya naman maglakad habang umiinom ng hot chocolate galing sa McDonald's hanggang sa maalala niyong bawal nga pala 'yon dahil kailangan naka-facemask sa kalsada. Kk, wala naman ibang tao. Nakakamiss talaga ang hangin sa mga ganitong lugar. Malamig lamig na rin naman sa Quezon City pero iba pa rin eh.

Btw, there are currently a lot of condominiums that you can choose from but we opted for this one 'cause this is quite far from most tourist attractions but near restaurants, fast food chains, souvenir shops, free Taal overlook spot, and a mall. The room we rented came with a parking spot/slot but we just walked around the whole time aside from the Palace in the Sky which we visited before checking in.

Gusto ko lang kasi talaga maglakad at kumain ng Mcdo sa Tagaytay kasi mas masarap daw doon. That's it. HAHAHAHA. Char lang. Or not.

During the Geminids Meteor shower last December, I was asked if I wanted to stargaze here since out of town is a better place to watch it but I couldn't that time. Made sure that we still pushed through the plan 'cause ang mga magagandang balak ay tinutupad so here it is. Couldn't let go of the idea of Tagaytay after it was mentioned to me so better to be late than never. hahaha

Dyaan lang kami naglakad-lakad, sa tabi ng kalsada na sa bandang baba sa picture. I don't know kung anong pangalan ng hi-way pero 'yan 'yung diretso na dumadaan sa Palace in the Sky, Picnic Grove, etc.

This is enough for me, tbh.

I don't know if mas matanda na kasi (meaning wala ng energy masyado gumala... WEHHH) or 'cause I've been there for countless times that I don't mind if I don't enter the paid tourist attractions anymore. Sapat na 'yung good food, fun company, and cool Tagaytay breeze.

Basta for now, I'll choose a cold quiet morning with a hot green tea over anything else.

Seoul, South Korea: Kdrama Winter Night at Seonggwak Park and Seoul Fortress

Provinces are easing up on the travel restrictions and tourism activities/business are slowly opening again but we all know that COVID is still here so let's still be careful when going out. The reason why I feel torn whenever I post recent travels now is 'cause I don't know if it's proper to promote "going out" when the best way to stop the virus from spreading and the safest way to prevent yourself from acquiring the virus is to stay home. But then again, businesses relying in Tourism and Hospitality are one of the badly affected and "supporting" them is the only way to keep businesses afloat in this trying times.

Going out has its pros and cons. There are risks. I'm not saying that we should all go out now but I felt like I earned this after staying home for more than half a year. huhuhu. I still feel paranoid and nervous especially when there are a lot of people in sight but sometimes there are things we do that outweigh the risks.

What do I bring whenever I go out these days?

My pandemic travel essentials: oil blotting paper, facial tissue, disposeable facemask, face shield, alcohol spray bottle, hand cream, lip balm, and hand wash.

For longer "travel": drinking water and wet wipes.

Let's all practice proper hygiene and follow the health safety protocols.

Please be safe.

Everything, in time. 💖

Personal Instagram | Travelling Through Food | Denden's Baking Room

0 Comments

"SAAN MAY MALAPIT AT MAGANDANG BEACH?" ALAM NA. Consider this place if you're planning to go on a quick getaway near Manila. Summer never ends ang gawin niyong motto. hehe.

This is the first time that I've gone to beach in Cavite area but I kid you not, this is one of the most beautiful beaches that I've been to. The water may not be as blue and the sand may not be as white as Ilocos' Blue Lagoon beach link: here and not as quiet as Batangas' Tali Beach link: here. Katungkulan Beach has its own allure that you'll love it just the way it is. All your perfect imperfections ganyan.

Most people call it Boracay de Cavite. I call it Angas Beach de Cavite.

WHY? Read on.

I haven't been to Boracay but even if I have no memories from that place, I've seen enough pictures for me to get surprised that this cove in Ternate is also known as Boracay de Cavite. I found that out when it was one of the location name suggestions when I geotagged my Instagram post.

I guess they chose to call it that way so its name will catch the attention of those who are unfamiliar or for others to immediately picture the place somehow but hey, I think it will be more catchy, if not scary, to call the place "Maangas Beach". Alam mo naman, ganitong klaseng ideas lang talaga maaasahan mong galing sa akin. hahahahaha. I think that they should market the place as a beach inside Gregorio Lim Marine Base and not just a cove that is a “copycat” of the famous Boracay Island. Aside from the implication that it is relatively safer inside (kaw ba naman nasa loob ng kampo!), it’s interesting to know that there's a possibilty of being able to watch the marines while undergoing training. "It's better to sweat in training than bleed in war!" I don’t know about you but more than the beach, what made me more excited is knowing that the place is inside the base camp. Really.

"Boracay de Cavite? Ahhh baka maganda. Boracay eh..."

"Huh? May beach sa loob ng kampo ng Marines? Ayos ah. Pwede ba pumasok civilians doon?..."

Diba, mas nakaka-curious kase! Lahat ng beach may dagat at buhangin pero hindi lahat may men in uniform na nagt-trainin. :))))))) Toinks. Hahahahaha.

Since this one's a cove too, the landscape is much like Anawangin Cove in Zambales link: here.

AFFORDABLE BEACH UP NORTH: BGY. PUNDAQUIT SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES LINK: HERE.

First afternoon's weather was gloomy but this is my ideal swimming weather because my skin's already too dark to swim under the intense heat of the sun again.

Ang emoterang palaka.. :))

'Yung cottage dun sa bandang dulo, di ko alam kung for rent 'yon sa mga civilians o ano pero may mga tao rin na dun naka-stay.

The best part of that trip was the night swimming. There are little to no number of fishes near the shore, no marine plants/seaweeds and no big rocks also so even if it was not that lighted during the night, it still felt safe to swim.

The waves were high though not high and strong enough to drown you. Manong Controller, from Corregidor Island across the cove, always listened as to how "challenging" we wanted the waves to be. When you get there and you're not liking the waves just shout. Ex.: "Hanggang dyan na lang ba 'yan, Manong? Wala na bang ilalakas 'yan?" Tas magugulat ka na lang na biglang lalakas 'yung waves, wag masyado at baka makainom ka ng 1 litrong tubig sa 1 hampas lang ng alon. (Mga ka-weirduhan e, noh? Pero try mo! Nakikinig talaga 'yung dagat. Hahahaha)

The sand, also, was the best body scrubber that I woke up with super clean toenails and super soft skin.

Spent the night in a tent. #thethingswedo #camping #glampinreally. #pulagtraining 🗻 Hahaha ⛺ 🌊 #perstime

A photo posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on Jun 14, 2014 at 4:24pm PDT

Medyo glamping.

This is another first time for me and another definitely not the last ... may Mt. Pulag pa.

There's that very desirable feeling of calmness and relaxation when you get to sleep in a tent while listening to the sound of the waves. Iba talaga pag nature na ang taga-kanta ng lullaby mo. Joke. Nahirapan akong matulog pero nung nakatulog na ko, nahirapan na ko gumising. Hahahahaha!

Good morning, Katungkulan Beach!

Parang beach ng Dagupan sa Lingayen Golf link: here. Walang pahinga sa paghampas ang alon ditez. Pero mas malinis naman 'to compared dun at mas maputi naman ng konti 'yung sand.

Photo ops chuchu
Second day was hot so we opted not to swim anymore.

I heard this place gets packed on holy weeks. Glad that there were only few people who were there with us.

Panoramic picture of Boracay de Cavite.
You can see Corregidor Island and Mt. Mariveles across.

When we were on the plane back to Manila, I saw that Corregidor island really looks like a sperm cell. I learned that when I went there several years ago but I only proved that it's legit this year.

And if you were wondering how the huts look like, tadaah. :))

Since this beach is inside a marine base camp, you're only allowed to take pictures at designated areas. There are also not a lot of facilities, only a volleyball net, grills and two stores. I think this place is the place to be when you're on a tight budget. Wala kasing temptations na bumili ng kung ano ano o mag-water activities kaya siguradong di ka mapapagastos ng malaki.

But who needs other things to do when you can spend your entire day swimming?

P.S. Even if I said at the beginning of this post that this should be called Maangas Beach, there wasn't the slightest feel of "kaangasan" from the military/soldiers in area.

Since we passed by Pico de Loro's jump off point, I scanned through our climb pictures because I wanted to confirm if this beach is one of the many coves that is seen from Mt. Palay-Palay's summit and it is. Had I recognized Corregidor Island immediately before, I would have looked at this view in a different way. I would have appreciated this from the summit more. Nakatingin lang kasi ako nun mostly sa monolith ehh kaya nakatalikod ako dito. :))

If you believe that you're adventurous and healthy enough, you can climb Pico de Loro in the morning and head to beach in the afternoon. Oh Ternate, you give me nothing but good memories. Pico de Loro Climb blogpost link: here.

You don't need connections from the Philippine Marines to enter. There's a checkpoint when you pass through the main gate but this beach is open to public.

DAY - P 100.00/person
OVERNIGHT - P 200.00/person

BEACHFRONT COTTAGE ('yung may magandang babae na nakaupo sa mesa sa taas) - P 350.00
OVERNIGHT COTTAGE - P 700.00

CONTACT NUMBERS: 0916-7336307/ 0905-4613766

NO PUBLIC VEHICLES IN THE AREA

2-3 HOURS TRAVEL TIME FROM MANILA

10 Comments

Pico de Loro / Mt. Palay-Palay climb kahit na wa poise is love. :))

Is Pico de Loro a mountain for first timers? Suuuuure. Why not! :)

Last April when I posted my Anawangin Cove and Capones Island blog entry link: here. I wrote there that I also want to try mountain climbing. Fast forward to April 24, I saw a sponsored facebook post of Arcobaleno Trailout Tours which said that they have a scheduled climb on May 1, 2014 (Labor Day).

Thursday: Saw the advertisement on Facebook
Saturday: Paid the fee at BDO (P 1,380/person all-in)
Thursday: Climbed Mt. Palay-Palay

That's how impulsive we can get.

Thank you, Louise for going with me at hindi na talaga ko uulit na ayain ka sa mga ganitong bagay if ever. Magswimming na lang. Ooops, unless ma-tripan mong mamundok ulit. :)))

My first summit!

Same trail but definitely different personal experiences and hardships.
'Yung nasa likod ko ay ang summit ng Mt. Palay-Palay.

Here's my side of the story:

Since this, once again, is a group tour. I don't know the prices of the fees nor where should you pay them.

Meet-up was in McDonald's at Aseana City in Pasay.
I was asleep the whole travel from Pasay to Cavite (Uhm, may bago ba dyan? Lagi naman ako tulog sa byahe. hahaha)

DENR
We prepared for the climb, did some briefing and stretching here.

Even if I googled some blogs regarding their Pico de Loro experiences and I also asked someone regarding his, I still didn't know what to expect for mine. Kahit pareho naman kasi ng trail, magkakaiba kami ng kakayanan umakyat.

We started trekking at around 7 AM.

Good morning, sunshine!

Arrived at the base camp.
I wasn't that haggard and dirty looking yet.

Listened to another mountain climbing orientation.
That guy explained the do's and the don'ts of mountaineering.

TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES. LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS.

I enjoyed every step, every view, every breath. Yezz, may ganyang drama. Hahaha.

I can do this over and over again. I found another thing worth all the body pain I felt the next day.

This is just a glimpse of the trail.
The whole thing is for you to find out.

And then we reached the camp again.

We ate our lunch, took pictures and rested for a while before ascending Mt. Palay-Palay's Summit.

Picture pa!

Still oblivious of the challenge she is yet to face.

In the summit, you'll see the different coves of Batangas.
Ang ganda ganda ganda pls.

Those persons are forming their line waiting for their turn to climb the monolith that is named Pico de Loro or Parrot's beak.

The Parrot beak's at my back.
At this point, only my hands and my shoes were covered in dirt.

One of the many coves you'll see in the summit of My. Palay-Palay.

I only reached the summit. I forwent ascending the Parrot's beak simply because I had no confidence in my upper body strength.

Some people say that the Pico de Loro hike isn't complete without going to the Parrot's beak, ah okay sila na lang. Lelz, I consider going/climbing this summit an accomplishment itself. But since this is my mother mountain, I might come back someday and by then climb the monolith.

Sige, i-feel mo na ang kalinisan. :))

And this is how you descend the summit. It is so steep.

I thought I was doing fine and I'll be able to go through everything without any complains and shouts until I had to descend.

Grabe, takot na takot akong bumaba dahil baka pag nagkamali ako ng tapak e gumulong na lang ako bigla.

I won't be able to go down there on my own. As in, baka mag-overnight at tumanda na lang ako sa summit kung hindi ako kukunin ng chopper. hahahaha. But I was able to face my fears with the help of our guide (Thanks, Dan!) and another guide (whose name IDK). They taught me where to step and what to do and thankfully, I was able to go down alive.

This was obviously the hardest part for me. Your experience would definitely be different though. Maybe you'd find the ascend more difficult or you'll find both easy as pie.

Wow, ang long-legged naman ng babaeng 'yan.

Halfway the descend, I thought that I can't make it down alive should I continue descending the "normal" way kaya ayan, umupo na lang habang bumababa. Yes, poise? Iniwan mo ko nung nag bundok ako!!!

Friends, in the battle of your poise and survival, the latter always wins.

I held onto stones, bamboos, to whatever is there just to be able to climb and go down safely.

'Yung lupa ng summit, naging putik na sa katawan ko dahil nahalo na sa pawis. Imagine?! Hindi naman ako maarteng tao pero hindi ko pa talaga na-experience 'yan kahit kailan.

This is the dirtiest state I have ever been in my whole life and I didn't even have enough water to wash my arms well! Hahahahahaha. Maybe it's true that mountain changes you (rhyming pa 'yan). Nawala 'yung arte kasi mas gusto mo pang mabuhay or in preparation to my tree planting wish ko 'to?

And the documentation ended when we reached the base camp again.

The last 30 minutes - 1 hour trek after passing this kubo/store was the toughest part of the trail naman for me kahit nadaanan naman na 'yun nung umaga nang walang problema. Andun 'yung anticipation na "WALA PA BA TAYO SA HIGHWAY?" at nandun na 'yung pagod at 'yung kagustuhang makainom ng tubig. Nga pala, dito sa Manila ay ayoko nakakarinig ng tricycle na maingay pero dun, music to the ears ang bawat ingay ng tricycle na narinig ko dahil ibig sabihin nun ay malapit na kami makabalik sa DENR. :))

At, dun ko lang din na-experience 'yung sa bawat dikit ng sapatos ko sa lupa ay may kasabay pawis na bumabagsak. Kinulang nga 3 panyo ko eh. Grabe, ang saya lang.

First Mountain Climbing Experience?

Check na check!!

At dahil na-inlove ako, NAMAN!!! Marami pang beses 'yan sigurado. Samahan mo akez pls! :))

REMINDERS:

1. Pack light! Leave all your unnecessary things. Ours started at 7 AM and ended at 7PM. Baka gustuhin mo nalang itapon 'yung mga gamit na hindi mo naman gagamitin pero kailangan mong bitbitin.

2. There's a store in the mountain but make sure to bring enough water to keep you hydrated and trail food (ours was provided by arco) to keep you energized. I brought 2,500ml of water but it was still not enough. If possible, freeze your water before leaving home so that you'd have cold water to enjoy.

3. Greet other mountaineers. This felt awkward for me at first. Sinabi kasi 'to nung guide sa DENR na bumati ng good morning, good afternoon ganyan. But when it's the "normal" thing to do when you're there, okay lang pala. Ikaw pa ang maa-out-of-place kapag hindi ka namansin. Nakibati rin ako ng, "Good morning. Good afternoon. Ingat po." Kaso hindi ako nauna kahit kailan, sumasagot lang ako pag binabati ako. hahahaha. Hindi naman sa isnabera, hindi lang ako sanay na bigla na lang mamansin.

- Pagbaba ko galing summit, meron akong nakasulubong na dalawang lalake.

Parang sila, "Good afternoon, Ms.!"
Ako, *tingin lang. May ngiting hinaluan ng ngiwi. Dahil sa pagod at dahil sa linis ko siguro.*
Sabi nung isa, "Uyy, pagod na pagod si Ate. Hindi na makasalita."
Ako, *ngiti ulit* Nga eh... Sige po.

Kung nababasa niyo po 'to, Hello!!! Sorry.

P.S. 'Yung ngiti ko, hindi ko rin alam kung nakangiti ako sa paningin nila o mukha lang akong mamamatay-tao. :))

4. Although it is supposed to make you feel fresher than other colors, refrain from wearing white colored shirt. Halatang halata 'yung dumi eh. Pero alam mo 'yun, ako lang 'to. Baka hindi naman kayo maging ganyan kadumi pagbaba.

5. I won't say that the hike was easy nor would I say it was hard. Thing here is, no matter what happens to you or no matter what you feel the moment you're there, continue. Even if you're the last person to reach the summit, it won't matter- it does not matter. :)

Doing this tour yourself could be cheaper than joining a group tour. You also won't get lost since there are guides in DENR (yata) and the trail is easy to follow but we preferred the convenience of being in a group and paying a fixed price for everything. First, dalawa lang kami. Second, hindi namin alam kung paano pumunta dun at kung anong gagawin dun. Third, mas convenient at mas sure na makakarating.

Tinanong ako ng Nanay ko bago ko uamlis ng bahay,
"Nagbayad ka para pahirapan ang sarili mo at delikado pa yan, ah?"

I guess, it's something that not all people will understand. As for me, the moment I started trekking and especially that moment when I set foot on the summit of Mt. Palay-Palay, I knew that it won't be my first and last. Hindi ko naman inaambisyon umakyat ng Mt. Everest pero para sa mga mas madadaling mountains na meron dito sa 'Pinas, gusto ko rin maakyat 'yung iba na meron tayo. Iba lang kasi 'yung feeling ng nakaabot ka dun sa taas pagkatapos ng hirap.

Thank you, Arco for making my first climb possible! See you next time, other mountains!

Check out Arcobaleno Trailoutours Schedules link: here. Tara, Mt. Manalmon saka Mt. Pulag tayo! :))

1 Comments

0 Comments

Translate

Search This Blog

Featured Post

All The Places I've Visited in Japan (three trips so far)

Popular Posts This Week

Blog Archive

Labels

Follow Us

Report Abuse

instagram