I have been making it a tradition with my family to go out of town during the days between Christmas and New Year.
For this year, we went to Lotus Pod Bed and Breakfast in Laguna. They said this is owned by a well known news anchor. When I initially checked out the place via their website, I saw that it was formerly a farm therefore ang daming trees and plants. Sabi ko Alvin and Anika will like it there because it’s so relaxing.
True enough, super relaxing nga siya dun. The room was pretty. Wala siyang TV. Actually, wala ka masyadong magagawa there in that resort except to eat, rest, swim, relax, have a massage and be one with nature. The kids though can play in their tree house, trampoline, ride bikes and do the zipline. This place is perfect for couples who want to spend time together. Very conducive to lambingan amd romantic eklavers. Madaming sulok dun na pwede magcuddle cuddle together.
We arrived after lunch just in time for the 2pm check in. Malaki their parking space. We were ushered to their lobby which was very pretty. Dun pa lang, nakakarelax na.
Yung plants actually ang focal point ng photo kaya yan ang naka-focus. Background lang talaga kami kaya kami ang blurred. Lelz
We were given this cold lemonade-ginger drink and a cold towel.
We were brought to our Casita via a golf cart.
We got a Standard Casita. From their website:
The 25 – sqm room comes with a scenic view and features everything that you need for a quick getaway. Each casita has a private entrance with a pocket garden opposite a hot spring tub that connects to an ensuite bathroom. The bedroom opens up to a private terrace that invites you to laze around. Furnished with a king-size bed, this casita can accommodate a maximum of three adults (OR two adults and 2 small kids). An extra bed will be needed for more than 2 adults. Casita rate includes access to facilities like the pool complex, playground, treehouse, bikes and the zipline. The rate is also inclusive of light snacks, dinner and breakfast for two. Coffee and tea are available in the room.
The main door key lock is high tech. You will input the numeric password that they will give you upon check in. Happy ako because wala na kaming need na intindihin na keys everytime we go out.
This is what our Casita looks like inside. It has a toilet and bath and a veranda with the pool as the view.
The bed was so comfortable. Hindi namin maiwasan ni Alvin mag-nap as soon as we arrived.
The toilet and bath opens out to the hot tub outside.
Na-stress ako ng slight because akala ko there were no blinds sa shower area eh kitang kita ka sa labas pagmag-shoshower. Although okay lang naman because each Casita is enclosed with a high concrete fence and a solid gate, pero nakaka-conscious magtake a bath ng parang may pwede sumilip from the outside. Lelz.
This is the hot tub. This and a pocket garden will greet you once you enter your Casita gate. I think this hot tub was the most perfect thing in our Casita. It’s very private and I love the hot water. Dito kami nagbabad and spend time nina Alvin and Anika.
The merienda, dinner and breakfast is included in the room rate. The merienda for the day was turon and the lemon ginger juice.
We ate at the restaurant of Lotus Pond. It’s an open space na very presko.
After merienda we went around to discover the grounds. Madami talagang halaman.
This is their business center. It’s airconditioned and there’s a long table and chairs. May white board din so pwede dito yung meetings if may team building.
Si Alvin pangarap yan na mag-nap sa ilalim ng puno.
Malamang kaya Lotus Pond ang title ng resort is because of the big Lotus pond that is found in the middle of the property. It surrounds the Spa area.
This is where all the Casitas are clustered. They are located beside the pool.
This is the zipline. If you check in, you get to have free tries. After nun, may fee na siya.
They also have a “tree house” where the kids can play.
This is the pool area. It has a bar/restaurant so you can order food and eat by the pool.
Sayang because hindi mainit yung water. Akala ko since Laguna, hot spring water siya. It’s cold. Hindi ko keri magswim. They have a jaccuzzi and the water there is warmer. Dun na lang ako nagtry because Anika kept on bugging me to go swimming with her.
We went back to our Casita nung medyo lumalamig na later that afternoon. It was fun hanging out in our private hot tub. Dito mainit yung water. Perfect for me.
Like I said earlier, dinner is included in the package. This is what we ate. They also served cheesy macaroni for Anika with the fried chicken. For the adults they had Sinigang, grilled liemp, salted egg with tomatoes and rice. There was dessert. I just for got what it was. Parang buko pandan ata.
The next day, we woke up and walked around the property again. Ang ganda dun sa umaga. So peaceful and serene.
We checked out the spa area.
It was also there where I taught Anika how to play Sungka. I remember my lola (Wowa’s mom). We would play sungka the whole afternoon when we go visit her in the province. No matter what I do and no matter how I practice, never ko siya natalo. Sungka queen ata ang lola ko.
Over all it was a good experience. Wala lang kami masyado magawa in the property. We tried biking pero sandali lang. Si Anika swam and played in the trampoline. Malamig yung water for me so si Anika na lang talaga yung nagswimming. The food though is good. Sulit naman the price that we paid for.
Last weekend, we went to a beach in Matabungkay, Batangas. We looked for a beach na malayo sana para wala masyadong tao. We found The Pelican Resort in Lian, Batangas. They didn’t ask for any swab test before check in though we got medical certificates in case may checkpoint in Batangas.
We left the house ng Friday night around 6pm. Akalain niyong umulan. I’m used to it by now but it never ceases to amaze me that it rains every time we have a trip. We slept at our family friend’s house in Lipa that night. My friend, Len, and I woke up early the next day (mga 5am levels) to go to the Lipa Wet Market to buy seafoods and fruits. Akalain niyo umulan ulit. The parking was far from the market kaya mukha kaming basang sisiw ni Len. I have to say though na I think mahal ko na ang Lipa wet market. Grabe ang daming seafood and sobra silang lahat fresh! I wanted to stay longer and buy seafood for the house kaso lang wala akong dalang lalagyan. Masisira. There were so many dried goods also and fruits. The nanay in me was in heaven.
Anyway, we ended up buying 2 kilos of Tilapia, 3 kilos of shrimps, 2 kilos of mussels, salted eggs, 3 kilos of mangoes and a giant watermelon. Ako ang may dala ng fruits. Akala ko kakalas yung right arm ko after carrying them from the market to the pick up truck. Ang bigat nung pakwan! Basa din kami when we finished kasi nga it was raining. Lagot kako. Kailangan kong lumaklak ng vitamin C para hindi magkasakit. I took a bath agad when we got home. Pero men, until now, my right shoulder and arm hurt. Lecheng pakwan yan.
We were supposed to leave Lipa for Lian at 6am. We ended up leaving at 8am. Ang dami kasi naming dalang food and utensils so it packing and loading to the cars took longer, hehe.
We arrived at the resort at around 11am.
Okay before you book the resort, I need to manage your expectations.
First, luma na ang resort. Luma pero may rustic feel. For me, feel na feel ko na nasa probinsya talaga ako. Madaming puno and malinis naman yung surroundings and rooms. Their lot area is 1 hectare daw. The rooms that we chose were at the beach front. That is also where the common dining area and kitchen are located. They have more rooms farther from the beach. When we arrived, we learned there was another group who booked the resort too. 25 pax sila. Nastress ako ng slight. We asked them about their protocols. Since OC kami ng mga mommies na kasama ko, we suggested na lang din safety protocols that the two groups will follow.
First, hinati namin yung common dining. Malaki naman the area so we put all our coolers in between the two spaces so that malinaw kung saan lang sila and kung saan lang kami. Our side has a separate exit to the beach (I will show you later) which is okay kasi dun na lang kami lagi dumadaan.
Second, we agreed that the two groups should not cook at the same time. Take turns. Good thing also that the momshies that I was with brought portable electric stoves and the ones with butane. We didn’t need to cook in the kitchen anymore. Dun na lang kami nag-ihaw and nagluto sa side namin sa dining area. If we cooked at the kitchen, mga after 20 years pa kami makakakain. There was a sink also at the grounds at the side where the other group was staying so dun na sila naghuhugas. Kami dun sa kitchen pagwalang tao. Everybody was nice naman and they understood the need for social distancing. The resort set up a dining area at the lawn for the other members of the other group kaya nakahiwalay din talaga sila.
Third, we didn’t let the kids swim in the pool. Ayaw namin. So the pool was used by the other group.
Fourth, when we arrived, I wiped Lysol in all the tables and chairs that we used. Len also sprayed all the rooms with Lysol before we checked in the room.
This is how the resort looks like. That’s the path from our side of the dining hall.
The structure at the upper left portion of the photo above is where our rooms were located
If you turn around, this is how the path looks like going to the beach
This is how the room that I rented looks like. This is the biggest room in the resort and it’s Php 8,000 per night. I chose this para yung mga bata magsama sama sa isang room. The other families rented out smaller rooms.
There were 3 double beds and 1 single bed. The aircon was cold and there was a ceiling fan also. The lamps nga lang are not working.
May fake fireplace which made the room look cozy and there’s a nude painting of a woman on the wall. IKR.
The bathroom was huge! Pang mayaman ang peg.
However, there wasn’t any hot water and the fixtures need to be repaired.
Over-all, pwede na if you are not choosy sa rooms. Malinis naman and that’s what’s important for me. Oh, the pillows are nice. Hindi siya lumpy, in fairness. Malinis din ang bed sheets and blankets.
These are Anika’s friends. Alvin and I got close na to their parents. Ang sasaya nilang kasama plus the fact that Gnet (one of the mommies) can cook really well! Ang sarap ng food namin grabe!
The resort also has this parang walkway by the beach where you can have coffee while looking out to the sea.
Top: KOKOANDVAN; Shorts: SM SURPLUS; Sandals: BIRKENSTOCK
Even before we arrived at the resort, the parents agreed that we will rent a balsa para sure na malayo kami sa mga tao. We were able to rent one at Php 2,000 or Php 3,000 ata yun for the whole day na. The kids kept jumping from the balsa to the sea while the parents made chika. Ang dami din naming food na dala. Nagihaw din kami ng barbecue and Tilapia. The Tilapia was so fresh talaga. Gnet cooked Nilagang Tahong and grabe, ang sarap talaga! Everything is mas masarap yata if cooked and eaten at the beach. Don’t you agree?
Len bought 3 kinds of Tanduay cocktails at 3L each. Each box has it’s own faucet. It was my first time to see this and na-shookt ako. Hahahahaha! Lasingan pala ito!
The flavors that they had was Strawberry Daiquiri, Margarita and Pina Colada. I like the strawberry and Margarita flavors. The Pina Colada, not so much. We were laughing so hard at Gnet because when she tasted it she said, “Lasang gata!”. Tita na tita emergerd. Lol! Len said she bought this in Shopee daw. I checked and it’s Php 370 each. As expected, us Titas only tested each. Hindi naman namin talaga nainom ng bongga because after dinner (which is dapat drinking session na) we were all so tired already hahaha!
This is the barbecue that Len’s brother marinated. It was soooo good. Rice ang minerienda ng ibang kids and parents.
I have to tell you about this too. Batangas puto is looooove! Ang sarap! Len bought this at the Lipa Wet Market. Ang sarap. Bakit ngayon ko lang ito nadiscover?! They have cheese and ube flavors.
The photo below is the Nilagang Tahong that Gnet cooked. Sarap men. After cooking the barbecue and Tilapia, Alvin put the kawali on top of the coals. Ang sarap humigop ng mainit na sabaw while nasa balsa while the sun sets.
By the way, we bought all the cooking and eating utensils. Dala ni Gnet and Len yung buong bahay nila. Grabe these two mommies, bilib na bilib ako. Super ready sila! If you need anything, they have it. And the food that we have, akala mo 1 week kami dun sa resort. I guess that’s how mommies are ano? Takot na takot maubusan ng pagkain.
The kids and some of the daddies did banana boat nung hapon. It’s Php 200 per head for 15 minutes.
If you are like me who needs to go to the toilet to pee every now and then, there are paddle boats around that can take you back to the shore. Aabutan mo na lang.
It was almost dark na when we went back to shore. We prepared for a late dinner. Gnet cooked Butter Garlic Shrimps and Adobo. There was also Sinaing na Tulingan and ripe mangoes. Nilantakan ko yung hipon. Minsan lang naman.
The next day, Alvin woke up at 330am. Ang aga, I know. He slept early din kasi the night before. Super pagod daw siya. When I woke up at 6am, Alvin was done cooking the luncheon meat and eggs. Ako na nagluto ng Tuyo. Gnet cooked the corned beef and fried rice. Ang maganda sa pwesto namin and because we brought our own portable stoves, we were able to make chika together around the dining area while cooking.
After breakfast, we rented 2 paddle boats to take us snorkeling. Of course we didn’t rent snorkels. May mga dalang goggles ang mga bata.
This is how the beach looks like in the morning.
After snorkeling, we prepared na going home. We just reheated all the ulam the night before and we all ate our full. Partida, hindi na namin nabuksan yung pakwan. Hahaha!
Over all, to be honest, I cannot say na narelax ako in this trip. Naka-alert mode ako all the time. I was making sure walang malapit na ibang tao sa amin especially sa kids. Naka-look out always. Pero we really had a great time. Ang babait and ang dadaldal ng families na kasama namin and super saya talaga.
Top: SHEIN; Shorts: FOREVER 21
So there. Next time siguro dun naman kami somewhere na may full board meals para full relaxation ang peg. Partida, this is coming for the mom na may pinaka-konting contribution sa cooking. Ako si Ms. Ligpit na lang to compensate sa pagka-walang kwenta ko sa kusina. Mas recommendable talaga yung wala ka nang iintindihin sa food. Agree? =)
Osha, if you have ideas of “safe” resorts, please let me know, ayt?
This is my first time in Lobo, Batangas so I was super excited.
Before I tell you about the trip, lemme tell you the requirements that you need to get before you can pass through the Lobo checkpoint.
Booking confirmation from Registered Accommodation establishments.
Medical clearance or RT PCR Result or Anti-gen/Rapid test result issued within 3 days prior to booking date.
Valid ID for each guests.
Referral slip for the online registration – the resort will give you this. You should register 48 hours before your booking date. When you register, you will submit online all med certs/tests, IDs and booking confirmation. Otherwise, like us, you can submit these at the checkpoint (Tourist Assistance desk located at Barangay Malapad na Parang) and then pay na the 20pesos tourism fee.
Before you continue reading, hindi ko na kayo papaasahin ng bongga. Last June 30, the resort posted this in their Facebook Page.
As of July 1, 2021, in compliance to the new guideline of the National Government, the Punta Malabrigo Resort will no longer be accepting guests 14 years old and below and 66 years old and above.
They accommodated us lang because we booked before they posted the announcement last June 30, 2021.
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For future reference na muna itong beach trip kwento ko so here goes.
We left the house at 730am. We ordered breakfast at one of the McDonald’s restaurants along SLEX. As expected, umuulan. Yung balat ko kasi. Anyway, the drive to Lobo is around 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Manila.
We passed by scenic spots.
Upon arriving at Malapad na Parang, there was a checkpoint. We submitted the requirements and filled out the forms. Mabilis lang kasi konti lang ang tao. I cannot imagine if madaming tourists to Lobo. Pila siguro ito kaya best to do the online registration para derederecho na. Bayad na lang nung tourism fee.
After the check point, super zigzag yung way. Talo pa yung papuntang Baguio. Yung turns dito ay parang lagi kang nag-U-U-turn! It was kinda scary ng slight but the scenery is super pretty so medyo malilibang ka naman.
We arrived at the resort around 11am. We registered at the entrance and we were shown our rooms. I saw that there were sari-sari stores that were walking distance from the resort. That was where we ordered our lunch for take away. Masarap yung lomi nila and tocilog. Don’t order the bangsilong. Hindi siya totally boneless. The lunches were packed in plastic containers that we washed and were able to take home afterwards.
We booked the rooms by the beach.
The room was Php 7,000 per night and was good for 7pax. Pwede na.
The beds were comfortable. The sheets were soft. Nagulat ako because usually sa hindi naman high end na resorts, parang papel na or magaspang yung tela ng beddings. Here at Punta Malabrigo Resorts, masarap sa balat yung fabric of the bedsheets, blankets and pillows.
Of course when we arrived, we sprayed Lysol muna in the rooms to santize them.
The bathroom was pretty.
Maselan ako sa mga banyo. Hindi naman Chuvaness levelz pero I don’t like staying in resorts where the bathrooms are not nice. At the Punta Malabrigo resort, I approve of the room and the bathroom.
The room that we got was airconditioned with a huge ceiling fan. It also has a TV. No hot water pero keri naman. There were a lot of rugs which I really appreciated para hindi basa sa loob ng room and sa banyo. Towels and toiletries are not included so you have to bring your own.
The beach is pebbled. Mabato in Tagalog.
You have to bring thick slippers. Careful also in walking kasi prone sa tapilok. I swam the next day with my Islander slippers. Hindi ko kaya tumapak sa bato bato. Nasasaktan ako.
The water was crystal clear.
I don’t really like swimming in beaches because I can’t see what’s in the water pero dito, I swam. You can see the bottom. The water was super clean too! Walang basura unlike in Matabungkay, grabe the last resort that we went to. I hope the can maintain the cleanliness of this beach.
Wala masyadong tao. Social distancing was practiced in the beach.
We had to bring our own food because you can’t buy any at the resort. We bought a lot of food for ihaw. Simple lang ang meals bilang wala sa amin ang marunong magluto (except Lyn) hehe. We brought coolers with plenty of ice and drinks.
For dinner, we barbecued liempo, squid and barbecue. There was salted egg with onions and tomatoes. There was also ensaladang talong and green mangoes.
For breakfast, we cooked hotdogs, eggs, Hungarian sausages, Danggit, salted egg and fried rice.
It was a little difficult cooking and setting up the next day because it was raining hard! Nakakaloka.
When I woke up, I walked to the sari-sari store which was 5-10 minutes away to buy paper cups. Paggising kasi ni Alvin, automatic magkakape yun. Ubos na yung paper cups namin so I bought. Umaambon pa lang when I left the resort. Good thing I brought an umbrella with me. Hinabol ako ng ulan mga 200 meters away na ako from the resort. It was raining really hard when I got to the sari sari store. Masarap pala maglakad under the rain with an umbrella. Matagal tagal ko na din hindi nagagawa yun.
Here are the other cottages in the resort. Hiwa-hiwalay naman sila.
In front of the cottages are tables and chairs with tents. These are properly distanced from one another kaya hindi kayo magkakasama sama with the other guests.
Before going home, we passed by the Malabrigo Lighthouse which was around 10 minutes away by car from Punta Malabrigo Resort.
From my IG account:
Designed by Spanish engineer Guillermo Brockman in 1891 and built by a Chinese contractor Jose Garcia in 1896, the Faro de Punta de Malabrigo (aka Malabrigo Point Lighthouse) was declared a National Historical Landmark in November 2006.
It is one of the oldest working and best preserved lighthouses in our country
Di ba it was super sunny in the photo? That was taken when we arrived. We weren’t able to explore the lighthouse because it suddenly rained! Jusmiyo talaga! Good thing we were able to snap the one and only family photo of the trip.
That’s it guys. Over-all, okay naman dun sa Lobo magbeach if you want to try the pebbled beach. Just wear thick slippers para hindi masakit pero for sure, hindi na makakagawa ng sandcastles. Mga rock formation churva na lang yung malalaro ng mga kids. Bring also food that you can cook and all the utensils that you need. The beds are comfy. The room and bathroom are clean. The staff is nice and accommodating. Best of all, hindi siya crowded =)
Before I start with my USA trip 2022 series, lemme tell you about the lugaw at the Business Class lounge in NAIA Terminal 2.
Even though Papa and Anika got downgraded to economy class going to San Francisco because full ang Business Class, we were still allowed to go and hang out at the Business Class lounge before boarding.
I’ve always been curious of their lugaw because halos lahat ng tao na kilala ko says masarap daw ang lugaw dun.
I don’t eat lugaw if I’m not sick. Ask anybody I know. I made an exception here kasi nga nakaka-intriga. So even though we only had 10 minutes to spare before boarding, sinandya namin ang lounge na ito.
Mga bakla, totoo nga ang chismax. Ang sarap, sarap ng lugaw sa PAL Business Class Lounge! It’s very malasa and you will want to get seconds. It’s so good! Parang worth it ang Business Class tickets para sa lugaw na ito. Charot. Lol.
Anyway, from Manila, we landed in San Francisco. It was our first time there. I’ve never been to San Francisco. We stayed at our family friends’ house in Salinas, CA which was an hour and a half drive away from the SFO airport.
After resting for a day, they took us to Monterey also in California.
OLD FISHERMAN’S WHARF, MONTEREY
It was nice here. There were different kinds of restaurants and I was told na super sarap ng clam chowder and seafood dun.
I have to tell you that when we arrived in SFO, I had the biggest canker sore (singaw) at the left side of my tongue which was brushing along my tooth when my tongue moves. Ang sakit, lekat na yan. So I couldn’t talk well. Worst of all, I couldn’t eat anything because pagnalalagyan siya ng food, it hurts so much more. It gotten so big to a point that I couldn’t eat anything solid. As in.
And did I tell you super sarap ng food sa Old Fisherman’s Wharf?! Here are some of the dishes they ordered:
Artichoke
Oysters!! They looked so plump and fresh!
Clam chowder. This was really good. I can still remember how rich it was. Hindi din tinipid sa sahog. But that time ang nakakain ko lang was the soup itself. Hindi kaya nung tongue ko yung bits of clam, bacon and kung ano ano pang masarap na stuff there.
Fried calamari. Natatakam ako now by just looking at it.
After lunch, we went to this candy store na talaga naman per tonelada ang bentahan ng candies. Joke.
Anika went cray cray over all the candies there! Jusko po, mga bakla. When I converted how much Anika bought, gusto ko ipasoli sa kanya yung iba. Hahahaha! However, hinayaan ko na muna. Mukhang tuwang tuwa naman yung bagets.
We also went to the Pebble Beach Resorts. It’s actually a residential community located between Monterey and Carmel in California. Pebble Beach has seven 18 hole golf course and one 9 hole course. It’s a mix of private and public golf courses. The Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most popular golf courses in America. This is where they hold the US Open and dito daw naglalaro ng golf si Tiger Woods!
It is also in Pebble Beach where you can find the Scenic 17-Mile Drive. You would just have to pay a certain fee per car to enter Pebble Beach. The Scenic 17-Mile Drive is composed of 17 different places you can go to and sight see. We didn’t go to each stop anymore. Dun na lang kami sa best of the best.
RESTLESS SEA
As the name implies, this is one of the most turbulent section of coastlines of Pebble Beach.
It was super cold here too!
When I was googling the weather in San Francisco and California, nakita ko mga 15 to 20 degrees Centigrade. I thought warm. I forgot. Pagbumaba na pala ng 17 degrees Centigrade, lamig na lamig na ako. Wa-epek yung mga pacute na jackets that I bought. Nanunuot yung lamig sa buto!
Meanwhile ang Tatay kong Dutch, naka light polo lang compared to me who was wearing 2 jackets already!
LONE CYPRESS
For more than 250 years, mag-isa lang si Cypress tree there on top of the cliff hence, the name The Lone Cypress.
There were a lot of visitors at the Lone Cypress. I hope hindi na siya lonely. Charot.
BIRD ROCK
Bakit? Kasi madaming birds hahahaha! Well not only birds but there are a lot of sea lions na nakatambay there.
PEBBLE BEACH VISITOR CENTER
The Pebble Beach Visitor Center is like a small museum where the visitors can learn the history of how Pebble Beach came to be. There was a souvenir shop also and Anika bought her Tatay a Pebble Beach cap na ginamit niya din all throughout our trip in the US.
PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS AND THE 18TH HOLE
This is the most famous spot there — the 18th hole. Wala naman ako naiintindihan about golf but since they said na parang famous ito because this is the last stop of the golfers for their game of the day, picture naman kami ni Anika. Before going here, we passed by an area where the golfers practice. Ang cute nila tingnan.
That ended our tour of the Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Pebble Beach
Before I end this post, mabibigay pugay lang ako sa Lobster roll that I ordered na super sarap pero hindi ko masyado nakain dahil sa lecheng singaw ko.
I will be back and I will eat you again. Itaga mo yan sa bato.
Hahahaha!
Stay tuned for the continuation of our USA 2022 trip!
It was my first time in San Francisco. I have been to the US a couple of times but I’ve always stayed in LA (and sometimes visited my uncle and aunt in Montana).
Our host in Salinas where we stayed for a couple of days is my dad’s (get ready for it) grade school, high school, college classmate and work colleague. Yeah. Kinda clingy sila sa isa’t isa. My tito is Toots’ baptism godfather too. It’s so cool.
They booked us to stay for 3 nights in Monterey and somewhere near the downtown of San Francisco so that we can go around SFO easier. My tito’s kids who are Toots’ kinakapatid are two very nice and pretty power women who definitely know how to have fun. Favorite sila ni Anika. Like Anika wants to hang out with them all the time. Feeling niya tropa sila. Hehe. I love them.
Anyway, on our first weekend there, they took us around downtown San Francisco.
UNION SQUARE
From the hotel, we drove and parked at Union Square. Best to start your day super early if you only have one day to explore downtown San Francisco.
Union Square is a public plaza where you can do a lot of shopping, find nice hotels and theaters. If I were to go back, I would eat at the Cheesecake Factory at the top floor of Macy’s. Dun ako magmamasid ng Union Square.
SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR
We walked for a bit to the first station of the San Francisco Cable Car.
I was so excited to ride it! Sa movies ko lang ito nakikita, guys! Remember Princess Diaries? Diba they had a scene there where they got hit by a cable car because hindi umaandar yung car nina Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway? Ito yun!
If you were watching my IG stories then, you would have seen how they “turn the cable car around” so it can go to the other way. They do it manually, mind you. Anyway, there was a line because parang it was the first stop of the cable car. We took the Powell/Hyde line that took us up and over Nob Hill with a final stop in Fisherman’s Wharf.
When it was finally our turn to ride, we ran to the side where mas maganda ang view. You can choose to sit or to make sabit. Yeah. You know, sabit like how they do it in jeepneys. Hahaha. Ang arte ko amp!
You can only choose one though all throughout the trip. You can’t sabit then sit later on because people will be coming and riding in every stop. They will get your seat so sabit ka na forever (or until they go down their stop). On our way to the Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, we sat na lang muna. After a few stops, hindi makatiis ang Anika, she stood up and sumabit. Kahit na I was nervous, I let her. It was an experience. It’s not everyday you get to hang on a running SFO cable car!
With our lovely hostess – Tin and Camille
FISHERMAN’S WHARF AND PIER 39
At the end of our stop was Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39.
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most popular tourist area here. From Google:
Fisherman’s Wharf, on the northern waterfront, is one of the city’s busiest tourist areas. Souvenir shops and stalls selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls appear at every turn, as do postcard views of the bay, Golden Gate and Alcatraz. There’s also a colony of sea lions to see and historic ships to tour. At Ghirardelli Square, boutiques and eateries reside in the famed former chocolate factory.
Fisherman’s Wharf is one the most visited attraction in San Francisco. Pier 39 is one of the attractions in Fisherman’s Wharf. There. Nalito kasi ako ng slight when I was researching where to go before we left for the US.
The weather was beautiful. It was sunny but cool. But when you’re near the water na, lumalamig na ng bahagya. Anika has a high tolerance sa cold weather. So if you see her in photos na naka-jacket, that means super lamig na talaga for normal lamigin people like me. Lol.
While walking to Pier 39 which was at the edge of Fisherman’s Wharf, I stopped by a drug store to get ointment for my singaw. Mahal. Mga more than Php 1,000 yung small tube of Abreeva. But it was effective. While we were in Pier 39, Tin bought Anika the Dragonfruit drink in Starbucks.
I actually do not have any idea why Anika has always wanted to try the Dragon fruit drink of Starbucks. Mga 2 years na niya ako kinukulit if may Dragon fruit drink sa SB dito sa Pinas. Wala naman. Feeling ko sa Tiktok or Youtube niya yun nakita. Finally after 2 years of waiting, ayan, she was able to try na that drink. She loved it! I tasted it and in fairness, it was so refreshing. Lasang ummm, dragon fruit. Hahaha! Masarap na matamis na medyo sour pero overall, it’s a drink that you would want to order on a hot day.
Pier 39 was a super cute place. Para siyang Sta. Monica Pier pero mas siksik with restaurants, shops, food stalls and kung ano ano pang kids’ activities.
Anika bought this make your own bear from Build-A-Bear. When Anika told me that she wanted one, I checked the price. Nanlaki mata ko. Anklaseng bear ito?! Hindi naman nagsasalita. Hindi naman nagluluto or naglilinis ng bahay. Bakit ganun yung price?! Anyway, osha. May dalang sariling pocket money ang bagets kaya game. Kaya naman pala mahal kasi may ceremony pa when you make your own bear.
You pick the skin of the bear and get a heart token. The lady by the stuffing machine made Anika make a wish with the heart token tightly inside her hand and on her heart and then put the heart token inside the bear and stuffed it. Ang cute ng routine. And then Anika bought Harry Potter clothes for the bear. Akala ko tapos na. Hindi pa pala. We had to apply for a birth certificate of the bear. Buti pa yung bear may birth certificate. Hahaha! Anika named her bear and then we paid for it na.
Minsan nalilito ako kung dalaga na ba anak ko or baby pa eh. Ang galing magmake up sa sarili. On point ang mascara sa eyelashes niya everytime we go out pero may dala dalang bear that she slept with all throughout our trip in the US. Di bale, at whatever age, she will always be a baby to me.
Most of the restaurants there are seafood restaurants. Masarap daw their clam chowder. Don’t worry, yun lang ang kinain ko dahil ang sakit nga ng singaw ko.
Walang kwenta yang jacket ko na yan sa lamig. Pang japorms lang talaga. Cannot be for temperature below 16 degrees Celsius.
If you have more time, there are more attractions there to see. Some of the main attractions are Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Musée Mécanique, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not!. You can also check out the restored 19th- and 20th-century ships line the waterfront at the Hyde Street Pier, which is now the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.
We walked further near the water. Palamig ng palamig.
ALCATRAZ
You can see Alcatraz behind us.
If we had more time, I would have insisted to go to an Alcatraz tour. Also kasi, medyo kinuripot ako sa $104 price per ticket for the Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour. They have cheaper ones like the day or night tour at around $50-$60 a ticket pero kung pupunta ako, dun na ako sa all out tour.
By the way, from the official website of Alcatraz:
Alcatraz Island is a 25-acre island located 1 ¼ mile from San Francisco. The Island was designated in1933 by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be a maximum security prison, called Alcatraz. Alcatraz was an infamous prison that housed notorious and dangerous criminals such as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Franklin Stroud, better know as the “Birdman of Alcatraz.
Interesting, right? Imagine a penitentiary located on an island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. It operated for almost 30 years and has become one of America’s infamous prisons. Next time talaga, papasukin ko na ito.
GHIRARDELLI SQUARE
After a delicious lunch (according to them because clam chowder is life nga lang ako that time), we walked towards the Ghirardelli Square, also located in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.
From Google:
The stately brick buildings in San Francisco’s impressive 1895 Ghirardelli Square, the original site of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory (previously a woolen mill), are now the home of a stylish collection of shops and restaurants, plus the luxe Fairmont Heritage Place hotel. One of the most pleasant places to stroll and shop in the city, it also has the distinction of being the first successful adaptive reuse project of its kind in the country.
It was a beautiful old structure. Anika said (because they went upstairs to us the rest rooms) that there were a lot of shops and restaurants inside the building.
We went straight to the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop.
I ordered the simple ice cream and some chocolates while my friend Tin ordered one of their best selling sundaes.
Masarap, men. Tiniis ko yung lamig para lang sa ice cream na ito. Their World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae costs $13.95. Yan yung nasa taas na photo. 900 calories daw yan. That’s the thing with restaurants in the US. Lagi may nakaindicate na corresponding calories kaya mapapa-second thoughts ka din to order. But this one’s worth the calories, I tell you. Alam niyo yung matamis pero hindi makati sa throat? Ito yun. I’m craving tuloy!
Next time I go here, I will explore the whole building complex. I will check out the stores and eat at the restaurants there.
On our way back to Union Square, we rode again the Cable Car. Ako naman ang sumabit for the experience.
PAINTED LADIES
After going back to Union Square to get our car, we drove to see the Painted Ladies.
Seeing the Painted Ladies has been in my travel wish list for the longest time. Siguro it’s the engineer in me. I like looking at nice houses. It finally came true and I was with Anika which makes it more special!
From Wikipedia:
Painted ladies are Victorian and Edwardian houses and buildings repainted, starting in the 1960s, in three or more colors that embellish or enhance their architectural details. One of the best-known groups of “Painted Ladies” is the row of Victorian houses at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square park, in San Francisco. It is sometimes known as “Postcard Row”; they are also known as the Seven Sisters. The houses were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door in the 1892 mansion at 722 Steiner Street.
There was a grass hill in front of this row of Painted Ladies. I saw a lot of people hanging out there because shaded yung area overlooking the houses. Ganda. Sarap tumambay. Ninamnam ko ng mga 2 minutes. And then I walked along in front of the houses. People actually live there. Ang weird lang siguro when you’re living there. Literally, no privacy. I saw that the curtains and blinds were drawn down in these houses. Hindi mo makita yung loob.
But still these houses were really beautiful. I had a nice time just looking at them and imagining how they were built and finished. Ang daming curves and details!
Next time I go there, we’ll go on a picnic on that grass hill and stay longer. Kwentuhan. Relax relax. And then I would walk around the block to see more of these Victorian houses.
PALACE OF FINE ARTS
After that, we went to the Palace of Fine Arts. Isa pa ito. I keep on seeing this in photos and sa movies.
From Wikipedia:
The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure located in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, originally constructed for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition to exhibit works of art. Completely rebuilt from 1964 to 1974, it is the only structure from the exposition that survives on site.
The most prominent building of the complex, a 162-foot-high (49-meter) open rotunda, is enclosed by a lagoon on one side and adjoins a large, curved exhibition center on the other side, separated from the lagoon by colonnades. As of 2019, the exhibition center (one of San Francisco’s largest single-story buildings) is used as a venue for events such as weddings or trade fairs.
We walked inside. There were so many graduating students and beautiful teenagers going to the prom who were having their pictorial at the Palace of the Fine Arts. Ganda naman kasi guys ito as backdrop. It was so cold there though kaya bilib ako dun sa mga nandun na nakastrapless gowns and short spaghetti strapped dresses. As in konting konti lang talaga ang suot nila and sobrang daming skin ang exposed. I was amazed how they were able to handle the coldness. Keber sila sa lamig. The structure at the middle (rotunda) was beautiful. Grabe ang echo and super lamig. Nagfufunnel yung wind sa loob.
TWIN PEAKS
Next we went to Twin Peaks. It had the nicest view of downtown San Francisco. Dala ka lang ng effective na jacket, pwede ka magmuni-muni dun.
From this website:
The Twin Peaks are the only hills in San Francisco not to have been built over and remain in their original state. The Spaniards called them “Los pechos de la Chola” or the Breasts of the Indian Maiden. Even on warm days, strong, cool breezes blow in from the Pacific, especially in the late afternoon.
I am not sure if I just imagined it ha pero parang madami ako nakita na magbabarkada na may dalang mga beer and they have their cars parked. Magandang tambayan nga ito.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Our next stop was the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
The Golden Gate bridge was finished in May 1937 and it took them to 4 years to finish the construction. At its time of completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world spanning a little more than 3 kilometers. It’s an iconic structure of SFO. The bridge is color orange. Maganda ang contrast niya with the blue waters and when the late afternoon sun hits it, you will be at awe sa ganda.
You can drive through the bridge coming from San Francisco all the way to Sausalito. You can also walk or bike on the East and West sidewalk.
These two photos were taken in a place near the Palace of Fine Arts. We were waiting for Lolo Papa and our other uncles and aunts because they came from a lunch with their longtime friends.
LOMBARD STREET
Our last stop was Lombard street.
From Wikipedia:
Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco, California that is famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpn turns. Stretching from The Presdio east to The Embarcadero (with a gap on Telegraph Hill), most of the street’s western segment is a major thoroughfare designated as part of U.S. Route 101. The famous one-block section, claimed to be “the crookedest street in the world”, is located along the eastern segment in the Russian Hill neighborhood. It is a major tourist attraction, receiving around two million visitors per year and up to 17,000 per day on busy summer weekends, as of 2015.
This was one of the places I really wanted to see in SFO. Curious na curious ako. Nung dumaan kami here, it was a really crooked street. Parang yung bituka ng manok na road going to Bicol when you drive down south. Ang difference lang is prettier itong Lombard Street haha. Ganda ng plants around it eh.
That’s how our one day tour of downtown San Francisco went.
For you guys, I suggest you allot 2 days for all these places. Hatiin niyo sa dalawang araw. This will give you more time to explore each place for longer period of time. Yung namnam talaga, di ba? Leisure walking, labas pasok sa stores, try all the food na madaan niyo and have time to rest.
You can also look for that specific place na maganda na backdrop mo yung Golden Gate Bridge. Hahanapin ko yun next time. I know how it looks like pero I don’t know where it is. Kamote hahaha! I wanna go to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area too. Also, I want to take Anika to the Exploratorium. Para siyang Mind Museum natin dito sa BGC pero mas high tech and mas malaki.
Next time, there will always be a next time San Francisco <3
There are so many hotels in Tagaytay now. Just recently, I was looking for a place to stay and I was surprised how expensive they were especially the hotels overlooking the Taal Lake.
This afternoon, I was browsing through my drafts folder here in the blog and found this blog entry that I started writing 2 years ago. When one of my childhood friends, Marianne, came home from San Francisco back then, Pam and I took her to Tagaytay with our daughters. Pam is good at looking for affordable but really nice accomodations. I really liked the hotel she chose because it was clean, nice and not expensive.
There are a lot of parking spaces on the hotel grounds.
We stayed for one night. We got 2 Deluxe Twin Rooms. One for the adults, para makapagchikahan galore and one for the kids.
Teka outfit of the day muna.
Coordinates from Tayo Clothing in Shopee, sandals from Renegade Folk
Moving on, I remember that the room costs around Php 2k plus per night. That was 2 years ago. I checked the rates online just now and the Deluxe Twin Room costs around Php 3,300 per night. It’s still not bad because the rooms are really nice. Here, I’ll show you.
The rooms were new and freshly painted when we were there.
We had 2 twin beds, a writing desk, chair, balcony and television with cable. The airconditioning was good, can be adjusted to the temperature that you like. The sheets and pillows were hotel grade. Maselan ako sa sheets and pillows so I know you believe me when I say nice sila.
I like the bathroom. I’m very particular with bathrooms, right? This one was clean and it had all the essentials
There was also a coffee nook.
Quest Hotel Tagaytay also has a pool and a cafe.
I highly recommend Quest Hotel Tagaytay. The staff were nice and friendly. The place was clean. There’s wifi. The rates were affordable. They also have a one bedroom suite. I saw online that an overnight stay costs around Php 4,800. Pwede na din because the room is big. Wala nga lang breakfast but there are a lot of restaurants near the hotel.
We enjoyed our stay and we’ll book again for sure =)
Quest Hotel Tagaytay Fora Rotunda Tagaytay, Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite Email: tagaytay.reservations@questhotelsandresorts.com Mobile No.: 0908 863 9466 (Mondays – Saturdays); 0918 979 9863 (Sundays)
