Laguna

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Viaje del Sol

December 15, 2009 in Laguna, Philippines, Trips, featured by admin | No comments

You need not travel far to escape from the heat and noise of the city…. And you don’t need to spend so much money to enjoy this trip in San Pablo, Laguna.

Via del Sol (Way to the Sun) has been getting a lot of attention lately. Travelers rave about the unique experience combination – of being close to nature, good food, relaxation, the slow pace, and homey ambience. We didn’t actually complete all the attractions in the map – because we only have a day and a half, and we wanted a more relaxed pace for this vacation. Action-less nevertheless, we had a great time.

Easy Transpo:
Even if you don’t have a car, San Pablo is still very accessible. JAC Liner in Kamuning along EDSA has buses going to Lucena every hour. Just inform the driver to drop you off at San Pablo Medical Hospital. It’s hard to miss because it is beside a big Chowking fastfood restaurant. You may want to sit in the right side of the bus to easily spot the landmark. In front of the hospital are tricycles that can take you to the resort.

Sulit Stay:
There are a few resorts and hotels in San Pablo, but Casa San Pablo, for me, stands out because of its affordability but quality service, friendly staff, and unique rooms. We availed of the overnight stay with two meals for only Php 1,750 per head.

You may read about my Casa San Pablo review here.

Fun Food Tripping:
For both our Lake Pandin and Casa San Pablo experience, we were served home-style traditional Laguna cooking. You may also try Kusina Salud (owned by Patis Tesoro), or Kinabuhayan Café for a more vegetarian alternative.

Tours and Treats:
The Viaje del Sol map suggests several possible tourist destinations. Due to time constraints, we tried the local cruise at Lake Pandin and spent the rest of our time inside the Casa San Pablo compound.

Click here for my Lake Pandin story

Our budget? only Php 3,000 per person!

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Activities in the Casa

December 15, 2009 in Laguna, Philippines, Trips by admin | 1 comment

Now that you’ve already seen the Casa San Pablo compound, had a peek in our room, and savored the food, let me give you some ideas now on how to maximize your stay here. Let me remind you again though that Casa San Pablo is all about relaxing and cuddling, and bonding. So if you’re looking for a getaway that offers adventure or other active activities, this might not be the place for you. It gets very quiet here, especially at night, and it’s a good chance to catch up over coffee chitchating with your companions and loved ones.

Activity # 1 – Swim, Swim, Swim!

The hike and the tour left us feeling tired and dirty, so a dip in the pool was perfect to keep us recharged. There weren’t many guests at that time – which is good because we have the pool all for ourselves. The downside is, it looks like the water wasn’t cleaned/filtered of dirt and fallen leaves that day. I just hoped water was clean. Nevertheless, we still had fun in the pool.

Activity # 2 – Have some quiet time in the hammock

The vast garden has about six hammocks where guests can lie down, relax, and perhaps read a good book or sleep. We love it! We were there for hours while waiting for our dinner. We talked, took photos of the pine trees and the clouds, and watched how the sky magically changed its color from blue to orange to black.

Activity # 3 – Indulge in a competitive board game

Several board games are available for guests to borrow for free. We had a fun game of scrabble while waiting for dinner. Guess who won?

Activity # 4 – Stargazing

Lie down in one of the “banigs” in the garden for a doze of stargazing and some quiet time. At night, the whole place lights up, thanks to the candles scattered all over the place.

I heard they also have massage services here. But we didn’t get to try it already because of the very limited time that we have. Overall though, I think the trick is to be with someone who you really enjoy spending time with. And I’m just happy I AM with that person. :-)