As I turned 46, we diverted the usual family beach getaway by being a kid again at Gingerbread House in Alfonso, Cavite. But my brother wanted to swim and so I recommended Masasa Beach in Tingloy Island, Batangas. Just last summer of this year, there has been much bustle about this beach and I was curious to find out for myself what this raving is all about.
the unique and beautiful Tawil Rock Formation as we passed by during our island hopping
The location of Gingerbread House in Alfonso, Cavite was conceptualized on the story of the siblings Hansel and Gretel who got lost in the woods and later discovered the large cottage made of gingerbread, cakes, and candy owned by a cannibalistic witch.
it was a huge, colorful and beautiful Gingerbread House
My hubby and I are regular Starbucks Coffee customers who would go there to while away time. Lately, we ventured out for something new. This time we tried the refreshing alternative to coffee which is the “milk teas”. After my follow-up check with my OB-Gyne, my hubby enjoined the whole family to taste the milk teas of Bon AppeTEA!
our choices of Milk Teas and Yakult Teas
This is my 6th visit to Baguio City. I was tasked by my brother-in-law who is now based in California for some important errand in his hometown. I was so excited for I will be trekking Mt. Ulap with Mang Daniel, my contact trail guide after this is done. Unfortunately, during the night of my trip, he informed me that Mt. Ulap is closed due to approaching typhoon. It was just fine because when I arrived at the bus terminal by 5:00 am, there was a downpour and it was so cold, not perfect for my first solo female hike.
Her name is Star, a gentle and tame St. Bernard dog
Our country, a fascinating archipelago endowed with 7,107 island wonders is truly blessed with the best-kept tourist attractions. Wherever you go, you will discover lots of places to explore that will surely captivate the wanderlust in you. For this summer, we are off on a two-day’s jaunt in Matnog in Sorsogon, to see its rare pinkish sand beaches, and get lost to another pristine paradise island!
Good morning beautiful Subic Beach!
Manacota Cave and Underground River is located in Barangay Marag in the town of Luna, another teaser for the real jewels of Apayao. This is the final leg and the third exciting activity in our Apayao road trip. We set all again towards another fun-filled adventure which will bring us to the river crossing, cave sight-seeing, and rewarding water fun to a clean and clear river.
the stunning opening of Manacota Cave where sunlight was streaming into the blue-green river
“During the crucial times in our lives, we are forced not to rely on others to overcome our struggles and fears. This is where we must seek the strength of our inner power. You just need to believe it.”
Our rock climbing in Dupag Rock Formation is one of the most exhilarating experiences I did as a casual trekker and a middle-aged mom. The challenges I did in Masungi Georeserve in Tanay and previous hikes lessened my fear of heights and eventually, I gained more strength and courage to do any kind of activities now. To which I owe it all to God.
the happy Mama upon reaching the pinnacle of our trek
It is summer, time to beat the summer heat! But instead of going to the beach, Lhen Pelenio, my favorite trek buddy, and yours truly are up for another exciting adventure. We will go spelunking in Lussok Cave, rock climbing in Dupag Rock Formation, and sightseeing in Manacota and Underground Cave. All this is through the organizer Mayee Cavas which Lhen found on Facebook. Again, we are joiners and we will be mingling with another set of friends.
Let’s start our Apayao adventure!
the enchanting entrance of Lussok Cave
Packed with exciting adventure and with a beautiful landscape teeming with life, Dingalan in the province of Aurora is an ideal spot for travelers and adventure buffs! So aside from the popular surfing spot in Baler, try considering Dingalan on your bucket list and immerse yourselves in its natural wonders from the rugged cliff, beach, waterfalls, rock formations, and caves.
the beautiful landscape of Mountain View
For this Lenten season, we skipped the out-of-town getaway for we opted to stay indoors. But we are a family who loves to swim, so we can’t stop ourselves from escaping the scorching heat of summer. We were given a complimentary ticket to the Water Park of Antel Grand Village Clubhouse by my brother who purchased property there. So on Black Saturday, we went there to enjoy a whole day water fun.
the Beach Pool has its island tropical feel