Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay

So here's what happened ... we checked out of Punta Fuego around 11:30 am or so and were on our way to Tagaytay. One portion of the road out of the exclusive resort was being paved so you cannot overtake since it was only two lanes. As it happens, we got stuck behind a slow moving pedicab (a bicycle with a side car) which was carrying  piles of wood. It was a good 10 minutes ergo our almost 20 year old sedan car could not handle the slow climb up as we had heavy load of luggage in our trunk so the engine started overheating!

As soon as we reached the portion where it was possible to overtake the pedicab, we pulled over and had to open the hood to let the car cool down. We were in the middle of nowhere in some rustic provincial road and even though there were other cars passing by, I got paranoid. I believe it took about 30 to 40 minutes before it totally cooled down. By then, the afternoon sun was on full blast but we could not switch on the aircon, so beads of sweat were pouring down my back and my forehead. Not pleasant at all. But it was what it was and it happened so it is an incident I will always connect with our road trip.

By the time we reached Tagaytay (incident free thankfully) it was already past lunch time, so we ate at Leslie's Restaurant at their outdoors area so we could see Taal Volcano from our seats.

Lunch at Leslie's - Bulalo Special, Crispy Tawilis,
Pancit Canton, Crispy Kangkong leaves and Buko Juice

Our accommodation in Tagaytay was the posh Taal Vista Hotel which in the 1980s was known as Taal Vista Lodge but taipan Henry Sy (owner of SM) refurbished it and is now a 5 star hotel.

Frankly it is way above my budget but the girls were kind enough to secure a room for us so we obliged and I am thankful for the opportunity to stay at this lovely hotel which has a spectacular view of Taal Volcano. We were booked for 2 nights and truly enjoyed it ... especially the grand spread of its buffet breakfast.

I loved the cool November climate in Tagaytay!

Hello there ... Taal Volcano! :D

Punta Fuego, Nasugbu Batangas

The latter part of last year, D's nieces (the two daughters of his older sister) were in town to attend the wedding of their friend. 8 hectic days as every day there were planned activities. The first few days we took them around Manila to visit their former haunts like the elementary school S attended as well as their former residence (a few blocks away from our present one), met up with some of their friends and as well as a couple of malls to shop for pasalubongs.

You see S (the older one) calls D 'daddy' as he was the one who took care of her since his elder sister went to the US and it took several years before she could petition her daughter. A, the younger one was born in California so this was her first time to visit the homeland.  Thankfully, they both can speak Tagalog albeit with an American accent and I am glad and proud to say they are well bred, polite, respectful and for lack of a better word, nice grown ups. So it was no trouble taking care of them and it was fun to have them here even if it was just a short visit.

The wedding was in Tagaytay on a weekend but first they wanted to go to the beach. So they booked us a suite to stay overnight at a beach resort in Nasugbu, Batangas which is the town adjacent to Tagaytay in Cavite. Now frankly, I am not a beach person as I rather stay indoors away from the sun, sea and sand. But hey they included us in the booking so might as well tag along since after all we were their assigned "drivers" cum chaperone.

The exclusive Punta Fuego resort in Nasugbu, Batangas can be reached from Tagaytay through a long, winding zigzagged road which seemed to go on endlessly. It has a golf course, casitas which you can book for your stay, an infinity pool, a club house where you avail all your meals at their restaurant, a chapel and a cove/beach which faces the Nasugbu bay. Affluent families have their beach front houses located within the heavily guarded and secured premises.

I was a bit worried as it seemed like we would never reach this remotely located place. But once we entered the exclusive enclave and saw the gorgeous view as well as the 5 star accommodation, all my anxiety and fear vanished and I was able to relax, rest and enjoy myself.  There were very few guests so it felt like we had the whole resort to ourselves. 

Holy Week 2016

For me, Holy Week won't be complete without the Visita Iglesia. Ever since we were young, our Maundy Thursday ritual is to hear mass (the washing of the feet) then visit 7 churches to pray at the Adoration Chapels where the Blessed Eucharist lies in state. As well as pray at the Stations of the Cross.  All churches are open for the vigil from 6 P.M to midnight.  

Nowadays, I notice that people visit the churches in the morning on Maundy Thursday and not follow this Visita Iglesia ritual I have grown accustomed to all these years. I guess to each his own!

This year it was just me and D as my parents were still tired from our month long vacation in HK.  We heard the 5 P.M mass at our parish church, the San Nicholas de Tolentino in Quezon City. So this would count as our first church.

Main Altar of San Nicholas de Tolentino Church

Adoration Chapel

The 11th Station of the Cross

2nd Church: Santo Domingo Church

Facade of Sto. Domingo Church

3rd Church: Santissimo Rosario Parish (UST)

After several decades I was able to return to my alma mater
The University of Santo Tomas

4th Church: St. John the Baptist Church

St. John the Baptist Church aka Pinaglabanan Church in San Juan

5th Church: Sanctuario del Santo Cristo in San Juan

6th Church: Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (UP Diliman Chapel)

 

UP Diliman Chapel

7th Church: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in QC

Naturally, Easter follows and it is time to rejoice as Christ has risen from the dead for our salvation. The best way to celebrate Pasko ng Pagkabuhay is to hear Mass and then have lunch together with the family.

Bonding over Korean food at Seoul Garden Seafood Hotpot

Back to wifey mode

Yes so the warm heat welcomed us back home as soon as we stepped out of the airport terminal. I probably sweated my equivalent in weight the minute I exited the air conditioned airport so although I don't relish the discomfort, I use reverse psychology and believe that sweating without exercising is a good way to expel the excess kilos I gained during our month long stay in HK. Heh!

So as mentioned by my two most loyal readers in their comments in my previous post, yes I am blessed that my elderly parents can still find the energy to travel let alone do all that walking, commuting on very efficient public transport and regale us with their happy, cheerful presence. Although it is heartbreaking for me to see them frail and needing some assistance, it is still comforting that during their twilight years, they get to enjoy naman themselves with good food, nice climate and a change in scenery. In fact, they never cease to amaze me with their energetic stride and still persevere even though they are physically tired.

Our stay was not all sight seeing, dining out because our primary concern was the well being of my sister. So we helped her tidy up her apartment, carried her groceries and her laundry and even changed her high ceilinged bulbs. In short, manual labor but we did it out of love for her as she has been through a lot, health and otherwise.

I'm back now at my apartment in the loving company of the hubby whom I hate to admit I've neglected since December 9 when I moved back to the condo to take care of my sister. I am truly blessed too as I have a partner who understands wholeheartedly that my priorities shift as circumstances pop up. I feel guilty sometimes but it is lessened when he is the one who reassures me he is fine with the situation. Actually, he doesn't really have a choice, no? Bless him!

So three months is a long time to be away from routines and I can see there are a ton of chores which need my feminine touch. Positive attitude must reign as beads of sweat pour down my forehead and my back. 

Will continue my HK series as soon as time permits ... for now it is time to reflect as Holy Week is upon us. Have a meaningful Semana Santa, everyone!