Tagaytay Road Trip

View of Taal

It was just an ordinary Saturday when we drove to Tagaytay. It has long been planned but Voltaire, being a new driver did not have the guts back then. So, this is a significant achievement for him as he drove to Tagaytay.

Our original itinerary was just Bag of Beans and Taal Vista. So, we took off around 9am and headed on to our first destination to grab our early lunch at Bag of Beans. There were a lot of tourists by that time which was a blessing in disguise as we have to maintain the moderate speed.

It was generally a smooth sailing drive to Bag of Beans. At first, we felt like we were lost but thanks to google that we found it a few meters away from the busy commercial area. Parking to Bag of Beans was quite tricky though because we had to drive down and we thought of the problematic way up considering Voltaire's driving skills.

So, we parked the car and went inside the restaurant. It has changed a lot since the last time I visited the place. They had a buffet area already and a separate area for those ordering ala carte meals. It was cozier because the wooden furniture gave a homey ambiance. We ordered pasta meals and iced tea which were very filling. We also bought some goodies from the bakery. Vo got some raisin bread, and I bought a pack of Robusta ground coffee.

Front door of Bag of Beans

pasta meal from Bag of Beans

After the satisfying meal, we headed off to Taal Vista. It was indeed one of the prime hotels in the area. I couldn't say much about the place except that everything was EXCELLENT. The staff were really warm and accommodating. It has the perfect spot for viewing the beautiful Taal Volcano. The hotel itself was imposing modern and vintage elements altogether. The buffet meal was superb, but we also ordered snacks from TWG restaurant. It was a lovely experience to set foot at Taal Vista. We even spotted an ongoing wedding photoshoot. In the evening, they have an outdoor movie which I highly recommend to families. 

Taal Vista Hotel

clubhouse sandwich from TWG

TWG menu

wedding photoshoot at Taal Vista

View of Skyranch from Taal Vista

Skyranch was just a few meters away from Taal Vista, so we took a short walk to check out the amusement park. I would say there isn't so much. But the huge ferris wheel would definitely give you a good view of Taal.  It was really a place where kids and kid-At-heart would enjoy.

huge ferris wheel at Skyranch

Tomas the Train at Skyranch

horseback riding at Skyranch

If you need a breath of fresh air, Tagaytay is one of the most relaxing places. There are many restaurants and coffee shops that you can hang out either with your friends or families. I am genuinely grateful that we were able to drive back and forth safe and sound...'til our next adventure! 😄

R & R at Basseri de Lipa

I was fortunate enough to join a workshop slash short weekend getaway last March 29-30 (Saturday to Sunday). It was at Baserri de Lipa in Batangas. Baserri is actually a Spanish word "cesario vasco" or a kind of stone-built housebarn farmhouse. No wonder the place was called Baserri de Lipa because it was indeed like a farmhouse or vacation house. The location was surrounded by coconut trees and mountain view. There were swimming pools, a chapel, and a restaurant. It can be an excellent place for holding celebrations such as a wedding, birthday party, family reunion, or just a weekend getaway.

For our group, we were around 20 persons and accommodated in one big house with a private pool. The house had a charming ambiance designed with wooden and native furniture. The two-story house we stayed in had three rooms. One room on the ground floor and two rooms on the second floor. I was assigned to the master's bedroom which can fit like 10 to 15 persons with one big bathroom and a veranda.

Meanwhile, the restaurant was generally clean and orderly. It's actually ideal if you want to hold an indoor party for a small group. The other part of the restaurant had a sort of gazebo or open space for larger groups.  Food serving was per plate enough for one person with a small appetite; and overall quality would be a little over the average. Good thing there was water dispenser although you can order sodas in can separately. There were variants of ice cream too. But, expect to pay a little over the regular prize. A drink would cost 50pesos (double the usual price) probably to compensate for the cost of transporting goods since the place is very private and a bit far from the city proper.

My overall rating of the place would be 3.5 out of 5. I recommend this for family and friends who would like to spend some quiet retreat. But, I hope they add more amenities or sports area and probably some more cabanas to hang out aside from the house itself. Price is quite competitive, check out their published rates. Baserri de Lipa is a good alternative if you want to spend some quality time and if you don't feel like hitting the beach.

Review of Online Purchase at lazada.com.ph

I had tried purchasing several products online back when there was a social media site Multiply. Last Thursday, just out of curiosity, I ordered a Cherry Mobile 7-inch tablet from Lazada.com.ph. This is in replacement for an old android tablet that my mom broke a few months back. She's more familiar with using the tablet rather than the computer as it was her source of entertainment (being a retiree and stay at home).

What I liked most about Lazada.com.ph: 

1. Prices were fair enough to say that items were discounted.

2. Lazada has many payment options.

3. Hassle-free transaction

4. Free delivery charge for items Php 1000 and above.

I chose to pay via Cash-on-Delivery because I got rid of my credit card already and I did not have time to do bank deposit transaction. So, I filled-up the information at Lazada website, and it was as easy as counting 1-2-3.

The following day, Friday around 10am I received an SMS from the courier verifying my address. I was amazed that it took less than 24 hours for my order to be processed and delivered right at my doorstep. Since it was my mom who received my package, I had to leave an authorization letter, valid ID and the confirmation email sent by Lazada. 

When I came home Friday afternoon, the package was sealed in a bubble wrap via 2go courier. The item was safely secured, and it's working correctly. It was really a hassle-free transaction.

Kudos to Lazada.com.ph! Hoping to find more great items from your online shop. 

Photo Credit