A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Corregidor is one of the most important historic and tourist sites in the Philippines. This island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces during World War II. Because of its historic value and close proximity to Metro Manila, visiting Corregidor is a good option for foreign or local tourists who want to go on a day trip or stay overnight.
Nuvali is a residential / commercial complex and eco-destination in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. About an hour’s drive or so from the metro (depending on the traffic), Nuvali is a huge playground for various outdoor activities, including running, biking and wakeboarding. It’s also a family-friendly destination with restaurants, retail outlet stores and parks spread around the complex. While visitors can go around during day trips, Nuvali has become a popular destination for weekend staycations. If you’re participating in sports event in the area or want to maximize your weekend, it may be better to stay overnight in the area. One option for a relaxing hotel stay nearby is Microtel by Wyndham South Forbes, which is just minutes away from Nuvali.
Last weekend, I found myself trapped in a casket trying to decipher clues to escape from a locked room. The same afternoon, I literally stepped inside paintings and navigated around the biggest interactive art museum in Asia. Nope, I wasn’t traveling to some exotic location abroad. I was right in Quezon City, where I’ve lived for years!
Microtel UP Technohub is Microtel by Wyndham’s 13th and latest hotel property in the Philippines located in the IT and commercial development of UP-Ayala Land Technohub in Quezon City.
Amélie Hotel Manila is a charming new boutique hotel that captures the bohemian spirit of the old-world neighborhood of Manila in a contemporary setting. Everything about the place — from the graphic art deco details of iconic landmarks to the warm and sincere service — makes the hotel stand out from the typical business hotels in the area. The hotel was formally launched amid Chinese New Year festivities last February 19, 2015 to signal the start of a prosperous life in the heart of the city.
Last weekend, Outside Slacker and I had a fun time at the Batangas Earth and Water Festival 2015. He got to ride his bike and run around scenic towns in Mataasnakahoy and Balete during the duathlon, while I got to row a kayak at the picturesque Taal Lake. The sporting events were organized by First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) and Lima Park Hotel, a luxury hotel in Batangas which hosted our weekend stay. With the 4 to 5 am call times for the duathlon and fun run the next day, it was definitely a treat to go back to the hotel and chill out instead of having to drive back to Manila at once. If you’re looking for a comfortable hotel with world-class facilities in the Batangas area, Lima Park Hotel is a great option.
Over the years, my family and I have driven back and forth from Manila to my hometown Naga City numerous times. Our route, which traverses through the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (with a possible detour at Camarines Norte) before reaching Camarines Sur can last 8-12 hours depending on the traffic. However, this means starting the drive really early in the morning and having limited time to enjoy good meals and sights along the way.
A more enjoyable option is to break the road trip in half by stopping over somewhere for the night. In the past, our pit stops were usually random guesthouse or inns in towns of Lucena or Gumaca. These places aren’t really that notable, but they offered the basics like beds and running water (sometimes). Continue reading “Graceland Estates & Country Club in Tayabas, Quezon”
Whizzing down from the 4x track on a mountain bike felt like riding a roller coaster. On the first try, I gingerly held my brakes while going down, afraid I’d topple before I reached the bottom. After a couple more rounds, it was more exhilarating to just let go of the brakes and try to keep my balance.
Sunlight streams through the shady trees, casting a hazy glow on the garden. Amidst the refreshing greenery and peaceful surroundings, one is drawn to the distinct art pieces scattered about the grounds. A bizarre statue arches its back to stare at the sky, while lanterns resembling cat’s heads stick out from the branches of a large tree.
The intense thunderstorm last October 1 seemed to come from nowhere. I had just come from a media trip in Malacanang where the weather had been very hot and sunny. As we were heading to our drop-off point, sheets of rain came pouring down from the sky. When I finally hailed a cab, radio broadcasters were announcing that many Northbound roads were not passable, with some areas in EDSA already waist-deep. Tired commuters were interviewed on air, recounting how they had to wade through floods because vehicles were at a standstill.
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