Category: Travel

So You Want to Climb Mt. Ulap? Go for it!

Rhiza4 Comments

[Edit, July 2024]: Hello, I changed the title from “Don’t do it!” to “Go for it!”  I’m happy to see that people are finding this post when researching about climbing Mt. Ulap! One of the comments below raised that this post seems to discourage people from doing it, which is not my intention. Quite the opposite! I say, you’d want to climb this mountain at least once in your life. ;) 

Initial thoughts on choosing the Mt. Ulap Eco-trail as our first legit mountain climbing experience: what in the world were we thinking?!

Take this from someone who couldn’t even consider herself a “beginner” mountain climber. I was basically clueless, save for having read some blogs prior to the climb which, by the way, all raved about how awesome it is to climb this mountain.

For your 411, just because my domain name says “chasing dreams” doesn’t mean I’m your regular adventure-chasing type of blogger. :) Although I generally love to travel, I’m a city girl and a homebody through and through. My idea of “adventure” is exploring the world through the pages of a book, preferably tucked in the warmth of my blanket, with a cup of caffeinated drink within reach.

Climbing any mountain is way beyond my comfort zone, never really making it to my bucket list at any given point in my life.

But I climbed Mt. Ulap, anyway.

(Because I’d go anywhere with this guy.)

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Mt. Ulap beginner tip #1

Keep adventurous people in your inner circles. (Or marry one.)

This guy’s the only reason why I considered climbing this mountain. Had he not persisted in convincing me to do the Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail, I wouldn’t have known what I was missing. Kinda like his role in my life, really—constantly challenging me and stretching my capacity to believe, to “just go for it”, to climb higher, to dream bigger.

And that is what this Ulap experience was about for me: a romantic comedy, basically. ;)

Reluctant as I was, we came out on the other side alive, tired and breathless, sore muscles everywhere, nevertheless without regrets.

And now that that has been said, here’s my humble collection of photos, notes, and thoughts—and a fair share of warnings—from our Mount Ulap Eco-Trail experience.

There are many people climbing this mountain solo or with a group who ultimately have a meaningful and unforgettable experience. But in my case, I wouldn’t (and generally couldn’t) climb this mountain without David.

Whatever your circumstances and motivations are for wanting to climb this mountain, I hope you pick up a thing or two from this post.

Mt. Ulap beginner tip #2

If you’re a first-timer (meaning you’ve no experience climbing any mountain in the past), think twice about going for this mountain right off the gate. This guide specifically answers whether or not Mt. Ulap is for you. The gist is, it’s most ideal if you practice climbing easier mountains first.

Quick facts from PinoyMountaineer.com

Mount Ulap, Itogon, Benguet

  • Entry point: Brgy. Ampucao, Itogon
  • Exit point: Brgy. Sta. Fe, Itogon
  • LLA: 16.2904 N, 120.6312 E, 1846 MASL
  • Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3 hours ~ehem?
  • Difficulty: 3/9 ~uh, no.
  • Features: Grassland and pine ridges, scenic views of the Cordilleras, burial caves
Quick notes from ME, haha
Hours to summit

It’s no secret that the Pinoy mountaineers who made it to the Ulap summit in record 2-3 hours are people who’ve been climbing mountains forever.

As for us, a mixed group of beginner, intermediate, and experienced climbers (all of us, Ulap first-timers), it took us 10-11 hours from jump-off point to finish line. Take note that we rested for about an hour in one of the summits and slowed down a notch during descent because we were all tired.

Level of difficulty

Not gonna lie. Having read from blogs that the level of difficulty was only 3/9 gave me the impression that it was easy. This kind of underestimation is dangerous, so don’t be like me who read a few blog reviews and immediately assumed that Mt. Ulap was an easy mountain.

Even some of the more experienced climbers in our group thoughtfully assessed that Mt. Ulap seems more difficult than its equally famous Cordillera mountain sibling, Mt. Pulag, because even though Pulag is higher and requires longer walks, the inclines there are not steep and a lot more gradual than in Mt. Ulap.

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Mt. Ulap Beginner Tip #3

Don’t take the preparations lightly. Have some solid cardio workout and leg strengthening exercises weeks or months before the climb.

The first phase of the Mt. Ulap trail is characterized by steep ascents that had my lungs and legs shookt. 15 mins in and I already wanted to quit, if I’m being honest. :) As a disclaimer, I do live a pretty sedentary chill lifestyle, not having to leave the house to get to work, sitting in front of my home office day in and out, with my only workouts being afternoon walks to a nearby milk tea shop. I obviously downplayed preparing for this excursion.

Just the same, the idea that I’m climbing my first mountain ever, not to mention the unique beauty of the Cordilleras kept me going.

Between steep ascents and narrow trails we stopped to catch our breaths, basking in the beauty of the Cordilleras, and breathing in the smell of pine trees and cool breeze.

Pinoy Mountaineer described it best: “The majestic mountains of the Philippines lie on its largest mountain range, the Cordilleras in Northern Luzon. It is home to highland peoples who have developed a fascinating mountain culture which is manifest in the world-famous Rice Terraces. Tourists are enchanted with the semi-temperate climate of the region, which is a refreshing change from the tropical lowlands. Pine trees, rolling slopes, and vegetable farms characterize much of the region’s landscapes.” 

There’s much to see everywhere you look! And the semi-temperate climate is a bonus, for sure.

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3 kilometers in, we reached the first summit called Ambanaw Paoay.

Ambanao Paoay may be my favorite summit of the 3 summits in Mt. Ulap. Partly because our energy levels were still high at this point in the journey, mostly because this was where it all began—the vast rolling hills and grasslands and blue skies. All the things that made me glad we pushed through and showed up.

Literally all the photographs you take at this point are keepers, and you know that this is exactly what you came here for.

There’s the blend of grasslands and forest trees and fluffy clouds set on clear blue skies. There were mountain dogs and grazing cows here and there; and although there seemed to be no sightings of them, the sound of chirping birds and crickets accompanied us as we went.

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A quick shoutout to my brother, who was also on the trek with us. He’s done a few mountains before (including Mt. Pulag) so there’s that extra comfort in knowing that we have another set of hands to guide us.. and take our photos! It goes without saying that a lot of these photos were grabbed from his SD Card. Haha. Thanks, Kuya Nate!

Shout out to SBCC people on this journey with us: Kim, Jude, Bea, Mark, Jessa, Kokoy, Hazel, you guys! Where to next? :)

My husband and I were self-proclaimed sweepers, naturally. In this group, we’re on the higher end of the spectrum, age-wise, but we’re basically babies, mountain climbing experience-wise. ;) Let’s just say we let the younger people take the lead on this one.

There were parts in the trail that I just wanted to get over with, and there were parts that I wish lasted a little bit longer. Moments I wanted to just lie down on the grass and watch the clouds move. Moments I felt like bursting into a song (if you’re thinking “the hills are alive with the sound of music”, you bet!).

And moments when David and I trailed behind, the sound of nature surrounding us and, for one fleeting second, Mt. Ulap was all ours. 

I understand now why those who’ve experienced climbing mountains only want to climb more. The experience is almost.. cathartic. There’s pain and pleasure to it, from start to finish, both at the same time, and I understand now why people are hooked.

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Mt. Ulap Beginner Tip #4

Skipping the token photo at Gungal Rock does not make your Mt. Ulap experience incomplete.

The second summit is all about the famous Gungal Rock. (Google it!) This, they say, is the ultimate Mt. Ulap photo op you have to do “for the ‘gram.”

Unfortunately, there were so many tourists at the time, all willing to line up to have their photos taken on the rock. Our group decided to skip it, move on, and we didn’t feel like we missed anything at all.

The rest of the second summit was a blur.

One foot after the other, we quietly followed the trail and looked up every few seconds or so to marvel at the beauty going on around us.

In between those moments of beauty were also quick moments of doubt. Will we make it unscathed? What are we doing here again? What is David thinking? (Lol.) Is this really worth it? I knew the answers to these questions but I asked them in my head anyway.

At 6km mark, we were told that the much-anticipated Mt. Ulap summit was just around the corner. One more stretch, one more 5-minute break, one more push, one more deep breath. Finally, at 1:15 PM, we made it to the top of the clouds.

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Brought this UP Maroon letterman jacket so I could properly and proudly caption this photo “Nowhere to go but UP!”, just a little nod to my dear alma mater because I’m so extra like that sometimes. >.<

Mt. Ulap Beginner Tip #5

To say that Ulap is tough for first-timers is an understatement, but don’t let blogs (like this one) discourage you from going anyway. With the right support group, the proper guidance, and a positive attitude (and preferably a lot of cardio and leg exercises pre-climb), it’s not impossible for beginners like us to conquer this mountain.

Take it from me, the least likely person in the world to make it to Mt. Ulap but made it anyway.

To be able to say “we’re on top of the clouds” and mean it literally and figuratively? Surreal.

There was zero visibility at one point while we were at the summit, which means we were right inside a huge ball of clouds. Ulap, in Tagalog, is “cloud“, and you bet this mountain lives up to its name.

Any feeling of exhaustion was gone during that one defining moment at the top of Mt. Ulap, 1,846 meters above sea level.

No photo can justify it, not even words. It’s like a secret that only Mt. Ulap survivors know, a shared experience that is singularly and forever ours.

I lifted a quiet praise to God, smiling at the thought that this is literally the closest I’ve come to the heavens, by foot! And to know that the Creator of this mountain, the God of the universe, our Reason for being—God in His majesty and massive glory—was with us and around us every step of the way? What a gift!

A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121: 1-2

Everything was glorious until the final descent began.

With whatever’s left of our energy, we descended through a rocky, relentless, 80-degree cliff trail—the price we had to pay for this mountaintop experience. I thought we had it tough during ascent but the descent was even more intense. Energy levels were low, the adrenalin was quickly running out, and all the muscles (and bones!) were sore.

I focused on my feet and followed the trail, motivating myself with thoughts of Dawn and Rain waiting for us at home. Every once in a while, David would squeeze my hand as if to remind me, we got this.

9 kilometers later, we made it to finish line, washed up, got food, and basically slept through the entire trip from Baguio back to Manila.

Today, a few months later, I write this post and remember our Mt. Ulap experience with a tiny bit of pride (filed under “Stories to Tell The Grand Children” for sure) and a great amount of humility at the same time. Even now, looking at these photographs, I still can’t believe I made it in-and-out of that huge mountain without fainting or being brought home in a wheelchair or something haha.

Will we do the Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail again? Maybe not. (We’d love to try a different mountain next time!)

Do we regret climbing Mt. Ulap? Most definitely NOT. 

Mt. Ulap “beginner tips” aside, there’s much to be learned about climbing mountains.

It’s impossible to climb a mountain (and to write about the experience) without processing everything in metaphors, really. On faith, love, marriage, success, creativity, pursuits, trials, heartbreaks, life, God.

The mountaintop experience is exhilarating, but it is in the upward and downward slopes that God shows us what He’s truly able to accomplish in us, and in the valleys that we actually grow.

It was a much-needed challenge both for myself as a person, and for me and David as a couple. It brought us to a higher level of trust for each other and reliance in God, a literal mountaintop experience (with all the uphill, downhill, and valley moments it came with), and a tangible illustration of all the mountains we climbed and have to climb in this life.

The trick, I learned, is to keep going, no matter how fast or how slow you go. Whether you’re pushing through an upward slope that seems to not end, or trekking through rough terrains, or walking with zero visibility and you can’t see what’s ahead—just keep going!

Take deep breaths, stop and rest when needed, pull yourself up and do it all over again. One step at a time, one hill, one camp, one summit.

There will be hesitations, there will be doubts. There will be parts where you feel like giving up and moments when you want to drop everything and quit. Keep climbing anyway.

You’ll reach the peak soon, but while you’re in the valley, look up, enjoy the view, worship, live.

And no, you don’t have to do it alone. ;)

This Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail experience was made possible through the Ohana Trekkers Group. Thanks, guys.

Club Balai Isabel Weekend with the Whole Family

RhizaLeave a comment

This Club Balai Isabel review is based on our experience in April 2019. 

It was a last minute trip, just like Baguio. Two days before Holy Week, we still didn’t have anything planned. In retrospect, we didn’t really mind just being within Metro Manila because have you experienced Manila traffic during Holy Week?? (It’s nonexistent.) Sometimes you’d really rather stay within the city when everyone else is out there!

Just the same, in between Viber messages with my brother, I aimlessly browsed my Agoda and AirBnb apps to see if there’s anything worth snagging without really expecting anything. Everywhere else was booked, naturally, so what were the chances that I’d find a room big enough for a family of 10, in a place such as Club Balai Isabel, at a discount, during the busiest time of the summer? Slim!

To think Balai Isabel is booked out months ahead, let’s just call this impromptu trip meant to be. 

Let’s call it #familytravelhacks too. Because I was definitely surprised to know that there are Club Balai Isabel loft rooms at AirBnb. And now you know it too. You’re welcome. ;)

Anyway, photos!

Lunch & coffee stopover

I don’t know about you but this family enjoys the road trip (and the stopovers) as much as the destination.

Disclosure: This post may have affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Stopping for a quick lunch at an SLEX stopover and some coffee to go, we made it to Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas in less than 2 hours. No traffic, hooray for us!

Usually, when you’ve booked through Airbnb, you have to deal with meeting up with your host to get the room keys and to check in. Seems not the case at Balai Isabel. I only had to show up at the lobby with my ID and was checked in quite easily.

Exploring the place

The entire club was booked out but thankfully, our loft was located in the less crowded and the farthest area of the club, with a nice view of the Taal Lake and the Aqua Park.

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Events Place

Our loft had a really nice view of this new event place they’re opening soon. It’s sooo pretty and overlooking the Taal lake, we just had to take a lot of photos in front of it. I’d get married here again in a heartbeat!

Aqua Park

We were also very close to the Aqua Park and although it looks very tempting, I don’t think the facility is very inviting to younger kids. The kids were more than happy to just lounge in the pool.

Swimming Pools

There are 3 swimming pools at Balai Isabel. We were able to use two of them. Although we enjoyed the big pool, it was also very crowded at the time. We mostly stayed in the smaller pool, the one that’s a bit hidden behind the trees (cozy!!), which we pretty much had to ourselves.

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The highlight of the trip, according to the kids

They can literally swim all day.

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How do kids grow so fast again?

Crew

6 adults, 3 kids, all comfy in this loft type room, thanks to our kind AirBnb host.

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Club Balai Isabel Review

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I can’t believe we almost spent the entire Holy Week at home flicking through Netflix. What a better way to spend a holiday for sure. This one’s for the books!

Club Balai Isabel, Talisay Batangas

For years, Tagaytay has been made famous by its view of Taal Lake and its volcano. However, the lakeside towns never became tourist destinations due to the lack of resort facilities, until Club Balai Isabel was developed. Today Balai Isabel’s amenities and facilities make it an excellent choice for holidays, corporate events, and special occasions. With lots of water activities such as kayaking, sailing, banana boat ride, and a tour to get a closer look at Taal Volcano’s crater on horseback or on foot.

Website: www.balaiisabel.com

Get P2,200 off your first AirBnb

This is the exact room we stayed in. If you enjoyed this post and you haven’t tried Airbnb yet, you might want to use this link to get 2,200 Php discount on your first Airbnb booking. :)

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When in Baguio with Kids for 36 Hours

RhizaLeave a comment


Sometimes, you just have to go for it. Even when the idea crossed your mind just 24 hours ago and you didn’t have a clear plan or Baguio itinerary.

In fact (as we all have proven time and time again), the trips that usually push through are the ones we didn’t overthink.

This was the story of our quick Baguio trip and our loosely planned itinerary.

My brother, who was celebrating his birthday (coincidentally a day before his wife’s birthday), blurted out while we were chatting about something totally unrelated, “we want sana to celebrate our birthdays in Baguio.” Without much thinking, I replied, “So why not? Sama kame! Let’s go!”

The next 24 hours looked like this: An excited approval from my husband. Hitting my Agoda and Airbnb apps to find and book accommodation. Quick trip to the nearby supermarket to buy some snacks and toiletries. Rummaging our closets for long-sleeved shirts, scarves, and knits. Getting the girls all hyped up for the trip, and then forcing them to sleep early. Packing up clothes for 4 people. Alarm clock at 3am. Up and running just before sunrise.

We would figure out where to go and what to do when we get there, but I’d really like to accomplish a few simple things:

  1. Eat strawberry taho
  2. Have some strawberry cake at Vizco’s
  3. Maybe get some strawberry ice cream too, if there’s time
  4. Take home some fresh strawberries

Spoiler alert: I got everything in my simple strawberry bucket list checked!

Here’s our loosely planned, anything-goes Baguio itinerary

DAY ONE

  • 4:30 AM – Start trip from Manila. We drove a private vehicle so we had the luxury of time, leisurely taking pit stops whenever we need.
  • 10:00 AM – Arrive at Baguio. First stop, Camp John Hay.
  • 10:30 AM – Brunch at Pizza Volante at Techno Hub.
  • 11:00 AM – Drive around Camp John Hay, get coffee.
  • 12:00 PM – Check-in at Azalea Residences, drop off bags.
  • 2:00 PM – Botanical Garden, find strawberry taho and take photos (annnnd we stop taking photos at this point).
  • 3:30 PM – Off to SM Baguio for snacks, and the first round of pasalubong shopping. (We lost so much time waiting for parking space, tsssk!)
  • 5:00 PM – Early dinner.
  • 6:00 PM – Coffee and dessert at Pamana.
  • 7:00 PM – Back at Azalea to rest for a bit.
  • 8:30 PM – Leave the kids at the hotel with their Lola so that the adults *ehem* can double-date. Off to Session Road to buy some drinks and take home some strawberry cake from Vizco’s.
  • 10:00 PM – Take out some Korean beef and noodles from Samgyeoppocha for midnight snack.
  • 11:00 PM – Back at Azalea in time for birthday eve celebration.
  • 12:30 AM – Lights Off.

DAY TWO

  • 9:30 AM – Late breakfast buffet.
  • 11:00 AM – Pack-up and early checkout.
  • 12:00 NN – Bike at Burnham Park and pasalubong shopping at the Baguio City Market.
  • 1:30 PM – Late lunch at SM Baguio.
  • 2:30 PM – Back at Camp John Hay for one last round of photo sessions, plus a visit to the old picturesque Starbucks.
  • 4:30 PM – One last drive around Baguio to hunt for strawberry taho, and strawberry ice cream.
  • 6:00 PM – Drive back to Manila, stopover at NLEX for dinner.

It’s been more than a decade since the last time I’ve been to Baguio but, other than the massive existence of SM City on top of Session Road, Baguio doesn’t really feel different all that much.

When we were kids, our parents took us to Baguio frequently. To them, Baguio trips were part of church ministry; to us siblings, those were some of our most treasured childhood memories. So it made me happy to have Dawn and Rain experience some of the things we loved about Baguio growing up.

First stop, Camp John Hay (of course)

Our first stop was Camp John Hay Techno Hub, had brunch at Pizza Volante, dropped by Vizco’s for some pastries-to-go, and then some coffee-to-go from Starbucks. We also stopped by the butterfly sanctuary for the kids. Needless to say, we drove around Camp John Hay with our windows down so we could feel the cool Baguio breeze.

We know there are a lot of things to do in Baguio but we kept it chill and familiar for this trip. :)

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Off to find those stawberries.

Found strawberry taho at Botanical Garden.

There are a lot of taho vendors on the streets of Baguio, but that’s the challenge right there—they’re on the streets, roaming around. We didn’t know specific spots. They say there’s a hub of taho vendors near the strawberry farm in La Trinidad so we had that in our list. But as we drove past Botanical Garden (which wasn’t really part of our itinerary), we spotted a taho vendor by its entrance. Score! We didn’t need to go to La Trinidad after all.

Happy camper. ;)  Strawberry taho, check!

And since we were already at the Botanical Garden, might as well take photos. Of course.

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We thought of going to Ben Cab Museum to get a bit of Baguio art and culture. But obviously the strawberry taho could not wait, hence the Botanical Garden became the closest thing we got to some Baguio history. It was also very close to Azalea Residences—our homebase for the duration of our stay.

Stayed at Azalea Residences, Baguio

It wasn’t the most affordable choice you’ll find in Agoda, but we didn’t want to risk on budget accommodations in such short notice. You do get what you pay for with this one. We were very happy with our 2-bedroom unit at the Azalea Residences! :)

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Plus points for having a 24-hour Korean restaurant just outside the Azalea compound! We went to get some takeout Samgyeopsal and Ramen for midnight birthday salubong snacks—just what the birthday celebrants ordered. ;)

Earlier we also got some strawberry cake from Vizco’s because that’s just what you do if you’re celebrating your birthday in Baguio. (Strawberry shortcake, check!)

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Happy birthday Kuya Nikos and Ate Kaye!

We loved waking up to pine trees and mountains by our window, and the natural Baguio cold inside our aircon-less room. Also, a big breakfast!

Thank you, Azalea Residences for that memorable stay!

Loved this quaint Starbucks at Camp John Hay

Ahh, one of the cutest Starbucks I’ve seen! I love how Starbucks—with its hundreds of branches around the world—preserves a city’s unique culture and tradition through the architectural and interior design of select shops (like this one in Kyoto).

I mean, even the electrical wires are very telling of its location! (Only in the Pilipins haha.)

Kidding (and electrical wires) aside, this Starbucks branch maybe a little worn out around the edges but still very charming and picturesque. If you’re in Baguio for the quiet, or you’re in a reflective mood, the old Starbucks at Camp John Hay is worth the trip!

For the family album

Lastly, a quick photo session by the pine trees. These are the photos that will make it to the family photo album, for sure. ;)

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Photographs by the pine trees, check.

On our final stretch, we went for a quick bike ride at Burnham Park (because, as my brother says, every child needs to experience biking at Burnham Park), dropped by the public playground, and did pasalubong shopping at the Baguio market. This is also the part where we stopped taking photos, haha.

On the way home, we kept our eyes open for strawberry ice cream vendors. It was already getting dark and the chances were very slim but just before we made it to Kennon Road, we got the final item on our list checked!

One for the road! Strawberry ice cream, check.

I’m fully aware that my Baguio bucket list mostly involved strawberries, but where else can you find an abundance of strawberries in this country??!

The Quest for Strawberries

Just to review my strawberry bucket list (because there isn’t enough info about strawberries on travel blogs):

  • Strawberry taho. There is a stall in SM City Baguio that sells all sorts of taho, and we tried that too. HOWEVER, there’s nothing compared to the ones being sold in the streets. We found a taho vendor at the entrance of Botanical Garden. We hear there are some taho vendors also in Ben Cab Museum. Of course, if you don’t mind making the trip to La Trinidad, the strawberry farm is a sure hub for all things strawberry, so I’m certain there are taho vendors there also.
  • Strawberry shortcake. Vizco’s Restaurant and Cake Shop is the only place in Baguio I would buy Strawberry Shortcake from. They have a branch at Ayala TechnoHub, Camp John Hay. We got ours from their branch along Session Road.
  • Strawberry ice cream. Sorry I couldn’t say an exact spot for this one. Keep your eyes open for manong sorbetero!
  • Fresh strawberries. Again, if you don’t mind going to La Trinidad, that’s the place to be for all your strawberry needs. :) But the Baguio Public Market is also complete with every pasalubong you can think of, including fresh strawberries. That’s where we got our stash.

Hope this helps!

Today as I was looking at these photos, I couldn’t be more grateful for strawberries, family, and childhood memories we can share with our kids. Til now, Dawn and Rain still thank Jesus for taking them “to the mountains” in their bedtime prayers and tell us “we should go back to the mountains!” every now and then. We really should. :)

Baguio 2018, in the books!

Our First Airbnb Tagaytay Experience

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I’m a late bloomer when it comes to AirBnb. It was 2016 when I downloaded the app out of curiousity, but it wasn’t until 2017 when I started actually using it.

I’ve read articles about how using AirBnb isn’t fun anymore, and how the whole concept of apartment-sharing has lost its appeal. I wouldn’t really know the difference to be honest. As someone who’s only started using AirBnb recently, I’m happy with all of our AirBnb experiences so far and will keep on using it for sure!

We recently stayed at this AirBnb Tagaytay 3BR Penthouse Suite with a nice view of the Taal Lake, which would have been so nice if we were able to take photos of the view. Lol. Saving the photo sessions for last, we couldn’t have predicted how much fog there would be in the morning of our last day!

Still, the feeling of being on top of the clouds (no visibility whatsoever) was an otherworldly experience we will never forget too. All is well. 😉

We sure love the hotel-like amenities of our AirBnb—the crisp sheets, the coffee (French press and freshly ground coffee ftw!), the board games. The space was big enough to accommodate all of us, 7 adults and 3 kids. Three bedrooms, 2 baths, and a kitchen with basic utensils and equipment.

Don, our host, responds pretty quickly and knows well how to take care of his guests. (Thanks, Don!) 

Although Don’s place is located within the vicinity of everything Tagaytay has to offer—the tourist spots, restaurants, nightlife, etc—you wouldn’t really mind staying in on this one if staycationing is your thing.

A quick guide at booking an AirBnb

  1. Photos matter! When choosing an AirBnb, I like choosing interiors that fit my aesthetics. Just keeping it real guys. I’m most definitely going to take photos after all. If I don’t like how the place looks like in photos, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like it all that much in person.
  2. Take time to read the fine print. Because of AirBnb’s apartment-sharing nature, every host has his own house rules that you’d want to be aware of beforehand. Be responsible enough to read through everything before booking.
  3. Past customer reviews are there for a reason. Let actual customer reviews be the judge!

Get up to 2,200 PHP discount on your first AirBnb stay using this link! 🙂

And now, some photographs with my favorite people!

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Bag of Beans, Tagaytay.

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Disclosure: This post might include affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

One for the road! Stop over at Bag of Beans to take out some barako and raisin bread because that’s just what you do #whenintagaytay

It sure was a lovely weekend spent with my favorite people.. which reminds me. I could use some staycation just about now!

Get P2,200 off your first AirBnb Tagaytay stay

This is the exact room we stayed in.

If you haven’t tried AirBnb yet, sign up using this link to get 2,200 Php discount on your first trip! 🙂

Save $40 on your first AirBnb Stay

Boracay with Kids

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2017 started for us in kind of a big way, albeit unintentionally.

We haven’t really been to a lot of trips since the twins were born, which only goes to show just how afraid (or just really stingy?) we’ve been to get out of our comfort zone these past 4 years. Needless to say, booking the first flight out on the first day of the year is very uncharacteristic of us. But when we found out that David’s cousin was getting married in Boracay, we were happy to have a valid excuse.

The last time we were at Boracay, it was just David and me. We’re excited to bring the girls, but as any parent would know, the whole thing—from planning to packing to flying to settling down to packing again to flying back—it was quite the major production ha!

Booking plane tickets was actually the easiest part. Finding hotel accommodations on a budget during peak season, and thinking of activities to do with 4 year olds were the real challenge. And don’t even let me begin on the amount of toys and stuff we had to carry around. In the words of millenials, I kenat!

On the first morning of the new year, we dragged our luggages to a 5am Caticlan-bound flight, caught the first sunset of the year on top of the clouds (not bad at all!), sleepless from New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Still, we knew everything was worth it at the sight of this:

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Boracay, Boracay, I keep coming back to Boracay.

There’s a thousand and one things to do in Boracay but we decided to keep it close to the White Beach. The girls were super excited to have some time on the beach, and we made sure they get enough dose of vitamin sea to last them the whole year, LOL.

We stayed at Station 2. I would have preferred the more quieter Station 1 or Station 3 to be honest, but some relatives were staying at Station 2 so we narrowed down our choices to the center. (But really, anywhere close to the beach front will do.)

We found Indila Boracay* as we were scouring the pages of Agoda* for affordable Boracay hotels.

By the way, how awesome is Agoda? The app has improved so much through the years and I love how easy it is to find accommondations anywhere in the world you wish to go. Not only does Agoda offer the best prices, the app also helps in the decision-making process with its price comparison features and customer reviews. 

*Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links, which means,  at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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Although getting to Indila Boracay was quite a challenge at the time (some construction was going on in the area), we’re happy to find out that all the rooms were brand new, the beds were huge and ahhhh, divine!!, and the owner and staff were all very kind and generous.

Thank you Indila! We’ll forever treasure the photos we took in your very Instagram-worthy rooms. 

We spent the first half of our week mostly just chillin and being lazy in the beach front between Stations 1 and 2. We did consider island hopping but nahhh, we’re a lazy bunch y’all. Besides, all the girls ever needed were some space to run, salt water, and sand. :D

We used our room mostly to take baths, sleep, and change. And then the second half of the week was spent with family (who were also in Boracay for the wedding).

And this is the part where I dump photos, because you can never have enough photos taken at Boracay.

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Looking at these captures, I can’t help but think is this it? Probably the last time we’ll ever be in Boracay with young Dawn & Rain?

They’re growing way too fast, and they’re probably never going to enjoy Boracay the way they did at this age. Maybe we’ll come back when they’re a bit older, maybe when they’re teens, maybe we’ll go to a different beach.. but for sure the experience will be totally different.

I’ve been having a lot of these moments lately, watching the girls thinking we will never experience the same things the way we’re experiencing them now. They’ve been outgrowing toys and cartoons like warp speed, I could hardly catch up!

Which reminds me to capture as many photographs as I can, whenever I can! I feel like they will only remember Boracay based from these photos, and I want them to always remember how much fun we all had. 🙂

Visiting Boracay with young kids on a budget?

I say, book a hotel along the beach front! You can easily get around Boracay by feet (walking is the Boracay way of life!), but young kids may not be as patient. So if you don’t want em cranky, keep the walking to a minimum. 😉

If you have more budget to spare, Station 1 has a number of luxury hotels and resorts that have exclusive beach fronts, swimming pools, and play areas for kids. Also, Jonah’s fruit shake. Nuf said.

Station 2 is the busiest section but has a lot of fast foods that are familiar to kids. (Ehem, thank you Starbucks, McDonalds, and D-Mall.)

Station 3, although quiet, is the least expensive and has the most amount of greenery, but may not be best for kids because the beach drops steeper and therefore become deeper easily on that side. I personally wouldn’t take the risk.

Agoda* has huge listings that you can sort based on preference, budget, location, activities. Ehem, not really an expert at Boracay, but these are just some of the things I thoroughly researched while planning our own trip. Hope these help!

New York, oh New York

Rhiza2 Comments

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I heaved a sign of relief when our plane landed at JFK after 23 looong hours of travel from Manila to New York. Finally! It’s our first time back in NYC in 5 years, first time to go there as a family, first long flight with the twins.

As we unbuckled the girls off their seats and prepared to step out of the plane, one of the girls, Rain, happily exclaimed, “We’re home Mommy, let’s go!”

The truth is, if you told me 5 years ago that I would be calling New York “home” in this lifetime, I would have laughed in your face and dismissed the idea outright. To me, New York has always been a mysterious city, and sure, one of my favorite cities in the world. It held some of my greatest memories, marked important milestones of my life and our story, and hey, I sure would love to keep coming back! But to call it “home” was, at one point, the farthest thing from my mind.

Nope, not New York City.

But something shifted somewhere, and New York has, somehow, become the very thing in my life I never thought it would or could be: home.

Maybe because I found love in this strange city and we all know how love can make anyone feel grounded. Or maybe because I have learned to see “home” in a whole new light.

Maybe the fact that I didn’t really want this to begin with, that makes being in New York feel.. right. After all, I have known God to work exactly this way. He has a knack for changing hearts and orchestrating circumstances that take us right where He wants and needs us to be, even if it means parting oceans with a rod and defeating giants with a sling.

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It’s been over a month since we landed in New York City and now we’re back in Manila. While the twins weren’t exactly as enthusiastic last week when our plane landed at NAIA Terminal 1 as when we landed at JFK (can’t blame them, it was a long trip and the humid Manila weather wasn’t all that welcoming either), we were just happy to have successfully endured another long flight, to have gained new memories, milestones and answers, and to have spent good quality time with our friends and family.

But most of all I’m grateful that home is not confined to a place, that we can bloom where we’re planted, and the grass is greener where the Lord places us.

He never makes mistakes, nope. And when we trust in that truth, we experience not only the realization of our (personal) dreams but also the blessings of being right in the center of His great, massive, Kingdom-building plan.

I’m still trying to process everything, sifting through photographs, unpacking suitcases, catching up on work and blog posts, making mental notes of everything God has taught us in the past two months. In my mind I’ve already written a book, really!

Hmm. It’s good to be back.

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New York 2015, it’s a wrap