Nikko Bali Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

In my previous blog post, I told you my side of the story of how and why I was able to join PAL's Manila to Bali inaugural flight. 

Ocean 101 - Siargao Cheap Accommodation

Hello from Siargao! I am currently checked in at Ocean 101 and so far I am loving my stay here that I wish I had booked at least a month's stay like I did in Boracay last year, rather than just 2 weeks. How I also wish my husband is with me. Oh well. Might as well make the most of this trip.

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SIARGAO CHEAP ACCOMMODATION – OCEAN 101 CLOUD 9 BEACH RESORT

Lake Caliraya Surf Kamp, Japanese Garden and Lagos del Sol

The following is a post I drafted while we were staying in Casa San Pablo last Feb. 14, 2010. Can I just say that so far, this has been the best Valentine weekend celebration of my entire life?! ^_^

For those who want to read this Valentine travelogue from the beginning, please clickthe link below:

Valentine 2010

~~~oOo~~~

It's amazing how when you've done something you never really thought you could do, you open yourself up to more creative ventures you never even bothered to think about before. This phenomenon may have something to do with being able to accept yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, and acknowledging the fact that you can be limitless, albeit imperfect, if you really want to be.

Take for instance what happened to me this Valentine weekend. I did plan to take up windsurfing lessons. I first fell in love with this water sport, no matter how superficial it was at first, when I marshalled the Neil Pryde Fun Board Cup in Boracay last January of 2008. Being a marshall at that time, for one whole week, I witnessed a lot of action in the windsurfing and kite boarding divisions. They all looked fun and I thought if these people can do it, maybe I could too! But weeks turned to months, and months turned to two years, and still, I didn't have the courage nor the time to go windsurfing. Then finally, on our Valentine weekend this year, I thought it's about time that I give it a try.

Caliraya Surf Kamp

Entrance is Php75 for day trippers and Php150 each for overnight campers. You can rent a tent for about Php300 or bring your own.

We went to Caliraya Lake in Laguna in the early morning of Feb. 13, 2010. It was freaking cold... I wasn't wearing any bra (like I usually do) and so my nips were really crying for attention. It was even colder than that time when we went to Baguio for my birthday 3 years ago, and with the wind blowing so strong plus the occasional drizzle, I started getting anxious. Could I really do this? Am I really up for it? Do I really, really want this? And so like my doubting psyche would sometimes do to me, I started noticing the other unpleasant things about this whole trip. The venue was at Caliraya Surf Kamp where the famous lake is located. It was pure nature. There were no cottages, no proper toilets and bathrooms, the soil was made of silt, full of moss and other seemingly yucky and slippery substances. It would surely be uncomfortable and I didn't have to undergo this kind of hassle.

Laiya Batangas - Les Caraibes Resort

Peter spent his birthday weekend by the beach of Les Caraibes Resort

It's been a long, stressful & tiring week and I'm so glad it's almost over. For those of you who are yearning for a beach trip anytime soon, (I know I am) may I recommend this quiet, peaceful, serene and beautiful piece of paradise located in Laiya, Batangas --- LES CARAIBES BEACH RESORT.

Les Caraibes Beach Resort is managed by Ms. Len Congco Haddadin and Ms. Corrie Pumarada Menez. Resort operations began on January 2008 as they pursue their dream of offering Filipinos and Tourists a place with an atmosphere much different from the atmosphere of everyday life. A place where one would sit back and let nature take its course making you feel as if you were never apart from it. Here in Les Caraibes Beach Resort, we believe that each and everyone of us deserves to have a good time...but only our guests deserve the best. Our resort offers Carribean-inspired cottages and rooms, a restaurant with a wide variety of intercontinental cuisine by Mr. Philippe-our French Chef, a bar lounge, water activites such as boating, fishing and kayaking, day-trip picnic tables, tent areas, and other facilites. Come visit us and you'll soon realize that nature is your real home." ----- LES CARAIBES

We were supposed to kayak (only Php200/hr) but I fell asleep!

Wakeboarding at Lago de Oro and Tagaytay Side Trip

We had plans of spending the long weekend that passed (Feb. 23-25) in Siquijor or somewhere we've never been to. However, being new parents to Sam, we couldn't just up and leave anytime we want especially when she has a date with her Vet on the same weekend (Feb 24). So the next best thing to do was to make the most out of the situation. Peter wanted to try wake boarding again, I wanted to just relax with our friend Ella, chill and be away from the computer for a while. So we opted to visit Lago de Oro again then headed to Tagaytay for dinner.

There's the wake boarding complex behind us, powered by cable wire system...

Getting our day trip tickets...

Punta Fuego in Nasugbu - MDP Day 2

We had our MDP (Management Development program) graduation day last October 11, 2007  and I don't even have a picture to show for it. For one, I didn't think that Peter would be able to make it as my guest and I felt so sad that I didn't bring my Olympus digicam only to realize afterwards that he did come and was able to watch the whole ceremony! And most importantly, I guess, even if I finished Top 9 in class (I graduated with distinction), it's really not a big deal to me  then...until I got to experience its ramifications afterwards...(like having no life at all the moment we got back to our respective work assignments three weeks ago!) Even now that I am writing this, I am doing so with a mind and body sooo tired and drained from all the "exploitation" being done to us...but that's another blog post I guess. For now, let me continue my journal during the happiest days I had with MDP...

~~~oOo~~~

  

 

The following day, I woke up early and did a little jogging with Ireen. The weather was still cold but at least it was not raining anymore. This exercise activity also helped us explore a bit of Punta Fuego. The Casitas were nicely built near the cliff, thus the sea view outside our room and on the way down to the infinity pool. It was simply breathtaking! Even if it was cloudy and the sea lacked its azure hue, the landscape on this part of the resort was still beautiful. I could stay here forever, mind you, if only they had more white sandy beach to offer.

After half an hour, we headed to the well-lit and decorated dining hall for breakfast. Many of my classmates and supervisors were already there enjoying the variety of meals being served. I stayed with the boys and listened to their banter. They were quite entertaining. Hehehe.

 

I tried a bit of every food they got before I headed back to the room to change into my swimming attire so I could also enjoy the infinity pool myself, which some of my classmates already did earlier that morning.  Aaaaahhhh... c'est la vie!

The rest of the afternoon was spent touring the houses built by Punta Fuego members. And my god they were huge! They're the type of abodes that would really make you feel so poor. I mean, when I first saw them, I thought, who knew that there are lots of rich people in our country?! Imagine huge mansions, lined up in different colors and architectural styles (Spanish, Italian, European, Victorian, etc.) , one block after another?! And these are just merely vacation houses of these rich folks which they seldom visit!!!! How lucky for their maids! ***Inday must be happily living in one of these splendid structures!***

 

Punta Fuego in Nasugbu - MDP Day 1

To cap off the grueling management training we had for 6 months, all 39 of us were treated to a 3days/2nights stay at Club Punta Fuego with a side trip at Terrazas Punta Fuego. Our journey started two Saturdays ago, Sept. 22, 2007. Our class gathered in the office as early as 6:30 am. And in an hour, the gang was already on its way to Nasugbu, Batangas. Everyone was excited as we anticipated what was in store for us. We heard that this trip had a P400k ++ budget and of course, we couldn't be any happier. Since many of us just finished submitting our business cases the day before, the long drive down south was a perfect escape from all the sleepless nights we've had during the last few days of the training program. 

 

 "Sakay na!"

In two hours or so, we thought we've already arrived at our destination when we were awaken by the stopping of the bus. Lo and behold, we stopped over at Taal Vista, which is also an affiliate of Punta Fuego. I've been there before but thiswas the first time I saw this place covered with fog. It was soooo cold! You'd think we were in Baguio! Of course, we all went down to take a look around and enjoy the place in the company of newfound friends. 

 

  

       

Just before lunch, we arrived at the function hall of Club Punta Fuego where we took our lunch. The view of the rocky shore down below and the outline of mountains from afar were breathtaking! Although it wasn't quite the picture I had in mind,  it was spectacular nonetheless.

 

 

  

 

We then had our bags taken by the concierge to our respective rooms (which we didn't see until later that evening, after dinner) and then lunch was served...

 

Dishes were standard hotel food. They're not that spectacular... just the usual salad, soup, fish, pork, rice and dessert.  But since we were all hungry, pwede ne rin. Teehee.

   

The rest of the afternoon was spent in this one unique activity where we all had to pretend that a dinosaur was after us (for motivation purposes) and the only way for each of us to escape death was to cross this hole without touching its edges, one by one, lest we become fried dinner for the huge reptile due to electrocution. It seemed quite impossible at first, but with Dojie's leadership, Jason's assistance, Reji's, Cecil's, Lai's and Alma's flexibility,  the brilliant minds of Belen, Maricel & Ireen and the strength of Chubby, Michelle, Lloyd, Cas, Jason, Edwin, Dexter, Gene, Deity and the rest of the boys, and without the cooperation of everyone, we wouldn't have passed this complicated physical and mental test (after 4 hours or so). Whew!!! So imagine how ecstatic we were when the last person got in the hole successfully! To think that we could've stayed there forever until we figure out the whole thing. 

Finally, we can eat! Hehehe.  It was just after dinner when we went and saw our respective rooms for the first time. It was not just an ordinary hotel room. It was a Casita. There were two beds (one of which was shared by my roommates Maricel and Val while I had the other one all to myself and my stuff, hehehe), a glass door with a view of the cliffs and ocean, a big bathroom with an outdoor zen garden (creepy), a TV with Dream Cable, mini bar and ref. It was perfect!
 

 

  

 

I freshened up a bit and joined some of the gang for a night cap of brandy and beer, dancing and some personal bonding... It was one of the happiest moments of my MDP life. Thanks guys! *sniff!*

 

 To be continued...

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