travel guide Archives | Meghy Was Here

Balboa’s Adventure Park Travel Guide: Iloilo’s Newest Outdoor Playground

Meghy — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 03:21:26 +0000

Another outdoor park in the province of Iloilo started to make a craze online when it officially opened to the public early this year. Balboa’s Adventure Park is located in the town of Barotac Viejo that will definitely load you with different adventure activities once you visit. I honestly been to this place way before it was developed to the adventure park that it is today and I was amazed how this farm eventually turned into a park full of exciting activities. It serves as a camping ground too so one can savor and take pleasure in the tranquility of our nature.

How to get there?

Ride a Barotac Viejo bound bus from the Ceres Terminal located in Tagbak, Jaro, Iloilo. Fare will be 89 Php each and travel time may take about 1.5 hours. Drop off at Barotac Viejo Public Market and then ride a tricycle that will take you directly to Balboa’s Adventure Park (Fare is 50 Php each).

Activities to try:

Zipline (30 Php/ride) – a recreational activity with inclined cable armed with pulley. Wearing a harness is a must for safety measures.

Archery (50 Php/6 arrows) – bring out your Katniss Everdeen persona by trying this bow and arrows sport.

Airsoft (P50/magazine) – players will use airsoft guns and hit targets on their very own shooting range.

Monkey Bridge (Free) – an obstacle bridge made of rope.

Wall Bridge (Free) – a wall made of heavy ropes that one needs to cross to finish the obstacle.

Cliff Swing (Free) – two parallel swings that stands beside a small cliff.

Jungle Swing (Free) – one would hold on a single rope and have to swing going on the other side of the course.

Spider Net (Free) – a web-like structure made also of ropes.

The Tower (Free) – also called “Wifi Station” located at the top most area of the park where you can reward yourself with the beautiful overlooking view of mountains surrounding the park.

Stairway to Heaven (Free) – a staircase made out of bamboo perfect for your instagram photos with sky as your backdrop.

Other Amenities:

Obstacle course
Adult Seesaw
Bike Trail
Nature’s Trail
Dipping Pool

You can also do overnight camping by pitching a tent or rent one of their cottages with a dipping pool. For overnight camp and cottage rental, you can directly send inquiries on their official Facebook page here.

The park also serves meals and beverages perfect for your snacks and lunches after a tiring time of activities.

Other things to know before going:

Entrance fee is 30 Php each
The park is located in Vista Alegre, 5011 Barotac Viejo, Iloilo
Network signal is roughly not available on the park. You’ll be needing to trek up to the “Data Center shed” or to “The Tower” to get a good reception.
Park opens at 8:00 AM Monday to Sunday. For further details and inquiries, kindly message their Facebook page here.

The post Balboa’s Adventure Park Travel Guide: Iloilo’s Newest Outdoor Playground appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Travel Guide: Mt. Romelo + 4 Falls

Meghy — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 04:12:34 +0000

The province of Laguna still have a lot of unrefined beauty to offer to everyone who seeks adventure. One of its gems can be found on the town called “Siniloan”. The town of Siniloan, also tagged as “a waterfall sanctuary”, is situated between the plains of Sierra Madre and Laguna De Bay. Just 2-3 hours away from Manila, a weekend trip to this sanctuary is a perfect idea for a jampacked escapade one true adventurer could imagine.

Mt. Romelo and its falls:

Mt. Romelo is an ideal mountain for first- timers as the mountain only stands 240 MASL. One can reach the summit for about more than an hour or two but when you visit the during rainy season where trail becomes too muddy, the difficulty of the trail could climb up to another level. Aside from the mountain summit, Mt. Romelo is also an oasis of several waterfalls anyone would love to see. One could not see much on the summit but people look forward more on its hidden majestic waterfalls. Currently, they’re promoting seven of its waterfalls but as per our guide, there’s still more waterfalls on the mountain that only locals know.

How to go to Mt. Romelo?

Option 1:

Ride a bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna (Buendia or Cubao). Upon reaching Sta. Cruz, ride a jeepney bound to Siniloan (fare is P50). From Siniloan town proper, charter a tricycle going to Brgy. Macatad (fare is P30 each) just tell the driver to drop you off on the registration house to Buruwisan.

Option 2:

Ride a van from Starmall Shaw Blvd. bound to Tanay. From Tanay public terminal, ride a jeepney bound to Siniloan. From Siniloan town proper, charter a tricycle going to Brgy. Macatad just tell the driver to drop you off on the registration house to Buruwisan.

Start of trail:

For this trip, we decided to visit Mt. Romelo and four of its waterfalls in an overnight experience. Since we’ll be spending the night on its campsite, we opted to start the trek late. We reached the jump off on Brgy. Macatad at almost 10 AM, logged our names and paid for the registration fee of P50 each. We were welcomed by our tour guide, Arnold, who we already contacted beforehand. After registration, we walked for few hundred meters to the nearest food house to have tapsilog as our early lunch then we started our ascent at almost 11 AM. The first part of the trail is a mild slope uncovered by trees and the scorching heat of the sun made our initial trek way too tiring. It made us realize that it was a wrong decision to start in almost noon (lesson learned haha!) After meters of struggling, we reached the part of the trail where trees already cover the trail and the trek became more manageable. We were lucky too that the course was not that muddy.

After spending some time of rest on shades and huts on the area, we took our final ascent to the top. We reached the summit at around 12:30 PM and just took few photos for few minutes because it was too hot! There’s no trees or shades available on the summit and the burning heat made us decide to just continue walking down the trail. Few meters down the summit is a sari-sari store where you can buy some refreshments. Not far away is another picture taking area called “skyview”. You can enter skyview and the other heart/start backdrop and take photos for a fee that you have to pay on the caretaker.

Campsite:

We continued the trek and after another hour we set foot on the camping site. The camping ground lies beside the Siniloan River just above the known Buruwisan Falls. There are “bahay kubo” that can fit around 5-6 people that can be rented for only P500 (overnight) or you can simply pitch your own tent. The camping area is completed with basic facilities such as public comfort room and “sari-sari” stores for your food needs. We just settled our things and started our journey down to Buruwisan Falls. The way down to the Buruwisan Falls is very steep that you really have to be careful because one misstep could make you stumble. Take note that the trail down to the falls is not as easy as the summit trail and could be another level as it will require series of climbing rocks and conquering abrupt tracks. After few minutes of striving effort will lead you to the majestic Buruwisan Falls. It is the most accessible falls and the most visited. Many consider this as the most stunning among all. It’s such a rewarding experience to finally bathe on its waters after a tiring day of trek and being under the sun. We stayed here for more than an hour just enjoying its cold waters and appreciating the grandeur of this 170 ft falls.

Few meters from Buruwisan, we reached our second waterfall named “Lanzones falls”. It’s smaller than Buruwisan, the area was a bit gloomy due to trees covering the area and it’s located on the other end of Buruwisan so both of its drifting water meets on the same river.

After enjoying two falls on our first day, we climbed back to the campsite to prepare for dinner. Good thing, there’s a store on the camping site that offers cooked rice. We spent around P60 for a half kilo rice. We relished dinner over rice and canned tuna meal and had a chitchat with the locals until we took a rest and had a good night sleep to prepare for another adventure by the next morning.

Second day:

We woke up at around 6 AM to have some breakfast before starting another long day. The stores on the site also offers cup noodles, pancit canton and hot coffee/chocolate so breakfast would not be a problem. We started our hike to the other two falls by 7:30 in the morning. First stop was the Sampaloc Falls located north of the campsite which took us around 45 minutes to one hour to reach. We did few river crossing and climbed rocky slopes. It was a continuous ascent-descent trail until we reached the 40 ft falls. I think this was the hardest to get so its charm is the most untainted.

Last stop is the Batya-Batya falls which means “basin”. It Is a two-level of cascading waterfall located downstream of Sampaloc Falls. It became my personal favorite as going towards batya-batya, you have to pass through a dreamy-like/enchanting river that lies between high rock formations. You even have to pass across a part of the river that’s more than 5 ft in height! One should be careful and guides usually ties rope for assistance.

We went back to the campsite, packed our things and started our trek back to the jump off. It was past 12 noon when we reached the tapsilogan to eat lunch and took a bath.

If you wish to visit Mt. Romelo and its waterfalls, you can contact our recommended tour guide, Arnold. He is a college student who works as a tour guide on the side to earn extra living. You can contact him on his phone number 09065049465 or on his official facebook page here.

Additional Information:

Siniloan tourism promotes seven waterfalls on Mt. Romelo namely: Sebakon Falls, Diwata Falls, Sampaloc Falls, Sapang Labo Falls, Batya- Batya Falls, Lanzones Falls and Buruwisan Falls.
Guide Fee depends on how many falls you want to visit. For our case, we paid P1500 for an overnight stay for summit and four falls.
Registration fee is P50.
Some stores on the campsite and along the trail might be close during weekdays.

The post Travel Guide: Mt. Romelo + 4 Falls appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy And Anilao Beach Travel Guide 2021

Meghy — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 08:03:14 +0000

Aside from being famous as a diving hotspot of the south and an oasis of rich marine life, Anilao in Batangas is also known to its climbing spot, Mt. Gulugod Baboy. Just 2-3 hours away from Manila, Anilao is a perfect place if you want to experience and see lushes of the mountain and at the same time see more of our prolific aquatic existence.

Knowing Gulugod Baboy:

Mt. Gulugod Baboy which means “Pig Spine” in English was named because its peak resembles of a pig spine. The mountain is also known to the locals as Mt. Pinagbanderahan. As per locals there was a Japanese aircraft that crashed on the mountain long back. The Japanese aircrews survived and raised a flag on the mountain that’s why it was called “Pinagbanderahan”. Standing 525 MASL with a 2/9 difficulty level, it is a famous hiking spot for beginners. The trek may take around 2-3 hours depending on your pace and you will be rewarded by a scenic lush rolling hills on the top with a 360-degree view of blue waters surrounding Mabini and nearby islands of Sombrero and Tingloy.

How to go to Mt. Gulugod Baboy:

From Manila

Ride a bus (Buendia or Cubao) bound to Batangas Grand Terminal. Upon arrival, look and ride a jeepney bound to Mabini (fare is 70 Pesos each). From Mabini ride a tricycle to Anilao, tell the driver to drop you off on the registration area located after the Philpan Diving Resort sign.

From Laguna

Make your way to Turbina Bus Terminal and wait for buses bound to Batangas Grand Terminal (fare will be 92 Pesos). Upon reaching Batangas Grand Terminal, ride a jeepney bound to Mabini then from Mabini proper ride a tricycle that will take you to Anilao.

Mishap before our trek:

We initially decided to stay overnight on one of the resorts in Anilao so that we could start our trek early in the morning and have a chance of watching sunrise upon reaching the peak. Since we still have work the same day, we waited for our shift to end and left around 3 PM hoping that we can still catch public transpos going to Anilao. We ride a bus from Turbina at around 4:30 PM but due to heavy traffic we reached Batangas City at 7 PM and were not able to catch the last trip to Mabini which is 6 PM (last trip is now earlier due to pandemic).

We’re actually unsure of what we’ll do by that night. We’re thinking of just staying overnight on the terminal and just ride the first trip to Mabini by 4 AM, look for a nearby transient houses or rent a vehicle that would take us to Anilao. All these options went all down to buying the famous Batangas Lomi on one of the remaining open food stall in the terminal. Who can’t resist this delicious food especially when your tummy says it’s hungry? While eating, drivers and dispatchers gathered around us negotiating to take us to Anilao for around 1500 to 1800 Pesos which is too much for us. Good thing our tour guide from Anilao, arranged a jeepney ride for us for only 800 Pesos. It’s a pretty good deal because we decided to just start our trek that night and just sleep on our tents halfway of the trail so there’s no need to pay for an overnight stay on a resort. We’re luck enough that our tour guide made sure that we’ll be able to reach Anilao safe that night.

Start of journey to Mt. Gulugod Baboy:

We reached Anilao at almost 9 PM and were welcomed by our guide on the registration area. We paid 50 Pesos as registration and started our trek right away. First part of the trail is a very steep cemented road. Though the road is cemented and kinda easy to walk on your first few steps, it gets too exhausting because of the continuous ascend of the road.

After the cemented road, we set foot on the unpaved or dirt trail where our exhaustion slightly toned down. The trail was dark but thanks to our phone’s flashlights and few light posts along the way. You’ll also see few houses on the course. We finally reached our guide’s house at around 10:30 PM where we’ll be spending the night. We setup our tents inside their compound, freshen up and took a sleep so we could be ready for the next half of our trek by the next morning.

Journey by the next day:

We woke up at around 5 AM by the next day, geared up and ate some biscuits to have some energy before we start our ascent. The trail of Gulugod Baboy is pretty direct and uncomplicated. We saw few more settlers along the path and as per our guide, those settlers are also their relatives who are native of the place. Around 6 AM we didn’t witness any sunrise due to the rainy and cloudy weather the other night. The place was so gloomy, no clearing and what we can only see are mountain fogs all over the place. We decided to stay on a sari-sari store first to eat some decent breakfast before our final ascent on the top.

1.5 hours had passed, there’s still no signs of clearing and I was already losing hope. We decided to take on the last pace of the trek to the peak. Upon reaching the top, we can’t appreciate fully its beauty yet since no view can still be seen. We decided to take some photos first while hoping and praying for a clearing.

We waited for about an hour before our prayers were finally answered! The sun shines so bright, mountain fogs were washed away and we were greeted by a beauty no one can’t deny. We’re stepping on a green rolling hills similar to Batanes and we’re surrounded by blue waters of Batangas Bay. Such a beauty we can’t resist and I thank God for letting us see the scenery He created.

Descent and visiting Anilao Beach:

Seeing the blue sea from the peak will make you want to splash on its waters upon descent. So, we decided to go down as fast as we can so we’ll have more time to swim our hearts on the beach. We haven’t been to the beach for a long time due to lockdowns so we were really excited. Our guide introduced us to a local resort. The resort doesn’t have any name but it’s definitely cheaper compare to other known resorts on the area. We bought foods to cook and let one of their local cook it for us for a very affordable price. She even let us borrow eating utensils since we really don’t have any at all. The place is an old resort but we really enjoyed it since we’re the only guests, no crowd and the beach water is as clear as like on the other expensive resorts. If you wish to go here, you can simply ask our guide Ate Rose Ann.

Recommended tour guide: Ate Rose Ann/Kuya Jaymar Ilao (you can contact them through their facebook page here)

Other things to know before going:

Tour guide fee is 500 Pesos for dayhike and 800 Pesos for overnight hike.
If you are not into hiking, there’s a road on the other side of the mountain where you can ride a vehicle. The road leads to the parking lot of the main campsite.
If you wish to stay overnight on the main campsite, please coordinate with the people from the registration first or with your tour guide.

The post Mt. Gulugod Baboy And Anilao Beach Travel Guide 2021 appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Torres Farm and Resort: Getting Around the World in Naic, Cavite

Meghy — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 18:41:10 +0000

If travelling the world is one of your wildest dream but money and time won’t allow you for now, visiting Torres Farm and Resort would pretty much give you “the same” excitement as they showcase replicas of the world’s famous landmarks. Torres Farm and Resort is a private resort in Brgy. Sabang in the town of Naic, Cavite and it’s just an hour or two away from Manila!

How to Go to Torres Farm and Resort:

From Manila

Ride a bus bound to Naic, Ternate or Maragondon (Cavite) and tell the driver to drop you off on Mcdo Naic. These bus terminals bound to Cavite are on Coastal Mall in Parañaque and in Pasay. Upon reaching Naic, look for a tricycle that will take you directly in the resort. Fare will be P30 each.

From Dasmariñas

From Pala-Pala, ride a jeepney bound to Tejero. Jeepney terminal is beside 7-Eleven Pala-Pala and fare is P32 each. Upon reaching Tejero, ride a bus or mini-bus bound to Naic. Fare will be P25 each. Drop off on Mcdo Naic and charter a tricycle going to the resort.

Getting Around the Resort:

Upon reaching Torres Farm and Resort, you have to pay a P180 entrance fee (picture taking only) and a bracelet will be provided as a ticket. From there, you can start your little journey around the globe.

Windmill of Amsterdam

Windmills are icons of the landscapes of Amsterdam.

Eiffel Tower of Paris, France

One of the world’s most famous structure in the most romantic city, Paris.

Moai Structures of Easter Island, Chile

Moai are human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island between 1250-1500.

Stonehenge of England

Prehistoric monument found in Wiltshire, England.

Arab Pool

One of my favorite spot on the resort. Who would not love to swim with an Arab Palace as the background?

Statue of Liberty of New York

Iconic structure in New York Harbor which is a figure of Roman liberty goddess.

Pyramid of Egypt

Egypt is known for their pyramids that were built as tombs for their ancient pharaohs.

Santorini, Greece

The building is inspired by Santorini’s Cycladic architecture. Known for their white-painted walls and blue dome.

Garden of Morning Calm of South Korea

A botanical garden located in the East of Seoul.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

A freestanding bell tower known for its nearly four-degree lean.

Merlion of Singapore

A symbol of Singapore with a body of a fish and a lion’s head.

Philippine Villa and Pool

Castle of Disneyland Hong Kong

Aya Sophia Temple of Istanbul, Turkey

This resort is perfect for family outings and barkada trips. Choose from their series of themed-pools and enjoy a dip on it. Check-ins, check-outs, and other hotel queries can be done on their tourism office which they set as an airport. It really looks like a boarding area on an airport with screens that flashes boarding gates!

The resort has their own food hub called “Garden Cafe” so food would not be a problem. It’s such a good place to eat as you can have a fresh air, a relaxing garden ambiance while eating a sumptuous meal.

Here are the current rates of the resort:

The resort is open from 8am-11pm everyday but make sure to check their page because there might be announcements regarding resort’s availability. For inquiries and reservations, you can directly message them as well on their Facebook Page. Here’s the link.

The post Torres Farm and Resort: Getting Around the World in Naic, Cavite appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Ilocos Norte Travel Guide: Places to Visit in Ilocos Norte

Meghy — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:08:10 +0000

I personally suggest that one Filipino should at least experience an Ilocos Norte tour at least once in their lifetime. Imagining one province giving you so must to see and experience within a day. From old heritage churches to white beaches to windmills up to a coastal desert, there are so many things to do here making one day jam-packed.

Ilocos Norte is a special place for me as this was the first place I traveled miles away from home out of my hard-earned money. I remembered myself packing stuffs for our Ilocos tour years back, I was too excited that I even bought a new backpack just for this trip. The 11 hour travel didn’t bother nor scared me but it made me too excited that I can finally start my journey of seeing the beauty of my country. So for now, I listed some of the most visited tourist spots of Ilocos Norte. I am planning to write a more detailed blog about other less known spots of the province once I get back.

Knowing Ilocos Norte:

Ilocos Norte is a Region I (Ilocos Region) province located on the northwest corner of Luzon Island. It has Laoag City as its capital city. Ilocos Norte became known as the hometown of the former president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, who used to be the longest serving president of the country that lasted 20 years.

Places to visit in Ilocos Norte:

La Paz Sand Dunes

This is one of my personal favorite in Ilocos Norte. It was actually my first time seeing a desert-like area that actually lies beside a sea! Lapaz Sand dunes, probably the most visited place on the province, is an 85-square km protected sand coastal desert and beach. It’s a desert-like landscape is such a scene that it became popular to be a shooting location for movies and TV shows locally and internationally. Fill your adventurer heart with a thrill of experiencing the landscapes by having a rollercoaster ride on their 4×4 vehicle or by trying the sandboarding.

Paoay Church

Paoay Church, completed in 1710, was declared as a collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993. This Baroque architecture has walls made of coral stones and bricks that said to be Javanese in architectural styles. A three-storey coral bell tower stands separately at some distance from the church that served as observational post for the Filipino revolutionaries against the Spaniards in 1898 and Filipino guerillas against Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Malacañang of the North

Malacañang of the North served as an official residence of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and family in Ilocos Norte. This two-storey mansion was opened to the public last 2011 as a museum. It resembles a 19th century bahay na bato with an overlooking view of the alluring Paoay Lake.

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

It is a museum in Batac, Ilocos Norte exclusively devoted to our former President Marcos. The museum, that used to be the ancestral home of the Marcoses, showcases large cluster of collectibles of the late president all throughout his years up to his presidency. It used to house as well the preserved body of Ferdinand Marcos encased on a glass coffin until he was transferred at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” last 2016. Today, they still display a wax replica of Marcos body inside the glass coffin.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

An intricate natural art that was formed thousands of years by the natural forces and phenomena. It is a breathtaking sculpture by the shore with creamy white limestone formations. It came from the word “puraw” which means “white” as its color suggests. The place is windy and a little walking is needed to reach the formation.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

This lighthouse was structured by the Spanish government as part of their plan of lighting up the Philippine archipelago during their colonial period. Also known as Burgos lighthouse, it stands 65 feet tall and was first lit up on March 30, 1892 and still functions up until today.

Bangui Windmills

Your Ilocos Norte tour wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t visit the iconic Bangui Windmills. This will usually come into our minds every time we heard of Ilocos Norte to the point that the province became synonymous with windmills. This famous spot highlights a series of windmills standing in a row on the shoreline of Bangui Bay.

Patapat Bridge and Viaduct

Patapat Viaduct is a coastal bridge that connects Maharlika Highway in Laoag to the Cagayan Valley. It is more than just a typical bridge, it wreathes around the mountainside while having a beautiful view of the Luzon coastline on the other side. Tourists and tour coordinators will usually park their cars on the side of the road to take photos along the scenic bridge for few minutes.

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is one of the beautiful beaches found North of Luzon. It’s a stretch of shoreline with white to off-white sand and azure waters. So if you’re thinking of spending time to relax under the sun and swim your heart out of the waters, this is the spot for you!

The post Ilocos Norte Travel Guide: Places to Visit in Ilocos Norte appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Minalungao National Park: Travel Guide 2020

Meghy — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 08:07:15 +0000

Every time we heard about Nueva Ecija, I am sure that boundless rice fields will first pop out of our minds. Being dubbed as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”, it is the number one producer of rice yield in our country. But this silent province of Nueva Ecija is more than just their rice fields. It has one of our country’s best-kept secrets. Located on one of its towns, General Tinio, is the Minalungao National Park which is being promoted by our government as an ecotourism destination.

Knowing Minalungao National Park:

Minalungao National Park is located in General Tinio (formerly known as Papaya), Nueva Ecija. The park covers an area of more than 2,000 hectares along the scenic Peñaranda river and high limestones skirted on both sides. It is just around 4 hour ride north of Manila and it is said that during summer is the best time to visit the park to see the emerald-green river at its best. But regardless of the day or season, you can’t deny the beauty of the place has to offer.

How to get to Minalungao National Park:

From Manila, ride a bus going to Cabanatuan/Gapan. On our case, we took a Five Star bus route directly to Gapan. Fare is P163 and travel time may take around 2-3 hours depends on the flow of traffic.
Upon reaching Gapan, charter a tricycle that will take you directly to Minalungao. (We read about jeepneys from Gapan to Gen. Tinio but upon reaching Gapan, we were told by the locals that there are jeepneys and bus that heads to Gen. Tinio but there’s no specified time of departure and most of the time it only departs later in the evening). We hire a tricycle to Minalungao for P800 (two way). There is no standard fare as of this moment but it may cost you around P500-P800 (two way) and travel time may took around 1-1.5 hours (per way).

What to do in Minalungao?

Upon reaching the park, you need to pay the standard entrance fee of P100/person. Once settled, you are now free to do activities you wish to try. Due to the rain that occurs the day before we visited Minalungao, we didn’t witness the river on its full grandeur. Regardless of the color of its waters, it is still a beauty that needs to be seen and adored.

One of the best way to see the beauty of the river is to ride a bamboo raft. The raft will tour you around the river and will take you to its swimming areas. The bamboo rafts also have a built-in cottage perfect for your picnics and lunch.

If you won’t be taking any bamboo rafts, you can trek a bit on the sides of the river to reach some of its cliff diving spots and viewpoints. With this, you can have a chance to walk through its scenic rock formations and have a hands-on experience with its 16m high limestone walls. Just be careful walking as some of the spots are slippery. Please take note that if you wish to swim, a life vest is required that you can rent for P20 each within the area.

There is also a hanging bridge that you can cross for free. Standing in the middle of the bridge can give you the best spot to take a high angle photo of the river.

Upon crossing the hanging bridge, you can start your trek going to the other must-see spot of the park, the grotto with a glass cross. You have to take a 1000-step journey to reach the top. This activity can be tiring but you will be rewarded with a panoramic view and you can enjoy the solemnity of the place from above.

Another activity you can try is riding a zipline (P100) and buy souvenirs in various stores in the park. These souvenir stores sell T-shirts, ref magnets, keychains and many more.

After all the tiring activities that you can try in the park, it is best to reward yourself with a sumptuous meal to end the day right. Families and “barkadas” usually rent a cottage and bring their own foods to eat but if you don’t have and food with you, you don’t have to worry as the place has food stalls that offer foods in affordable prices. We had our lunch at Minalungao Cafe and Restaurant with an overlooking view of the river.

More photos:

Other things to know:

Minalungao can be crowded especially during weekends so if you will be given a chance, it is better to visit during weekdays to have a better experience in the park.
Don’t expect an emerald-green or clear water during the rainy season. It is said that summer is the best time to visit the park.
Comfort rooms take additional charges.
There are no phone signals within the park’s vicinity.

The post Minalungao National Park: Travel Guide 2020 appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Campuestohan Highland Resort: Travel Guide 2019

Meghy — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 18:58:21 +0000

Campuestohan Highland Resort is probably one of the famous, newest and radiant attractions when visiting Bacolod or the Island of Negros. This is a vast resort with a picturesque view that is perfect for kids and family outings. This resort is situated on the highlands and boundaries of Bacolod City and Talisay City, stationed 800-meters above sea level is your next venue for your family and barkada trip!

Knowing Campuestohan

Campuestohan Highland Resort is a 5-hectare property that offers various attractions and facilities anyone would love. Since the resort is located about 800-meters above sea level, the climate here is cool all year that you can even get a chance to see a fog surrounding the place. The cold breeze can be compared to Tagaytay plus the resort has Mt. Makawili standing beautifully as the resort’s backdrop. What a beautiful view! The entrance fee would be P200 each while children below 2 years old are exempted in paying the entrance fee.

How to get to Campuestohan?

Option 1

From Bacolod City, you can ride the resort’s shuttle (a 30-seater Sarao Jeep) located in Imart-Caltex gasoline station right across Lopues East. Fare would be P70 each.

Here’s the schedule of resort’s shuttle:

Bacolod to Campuestohan 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM

Campuestohan to Bacolod 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Option 2

From Bacolod City, you can ride a taxi or tricycle that will take you directly to Campuestohan but this opt might be costly.

Getting Around Campuestohan

The resort is too vast that is full of attractions and activities that will fill your heart’s content. Upon entering the place you’ll be amazed by many things going on that will make you hard to decide which activity or facility you should be visiting first. On the entrance, you will be greeted by the life-size forms of dinosaurs and a mammoth (Mammoth is actually a room!). One of its original structure is its log cabin that resembles the cabins from the mountains abroad.

Due to the progress that the resort went through, Campuestohan continues to expand and adds attractions. The place now showcases Bonita Huts that bears a resemblance of houses in Hobbits of the Kingdoms of Middle Earth. Another one of its kind lodging found here are the teepee huts located in their Indian Village. The huts are like huge triangular tents with so many appealing colors.

Aside from the swimming pools and wave pool that the resort have, anyone can enjoy their extreme activities such as the 340-meter zipline (P200/person), Rope course (P200/person), Horseback riding (P100/15 minutes), Sky bicycle (P100/person), Hamster Wheel (P100/person) or walking on their Hanging Bridge (free) that offers a commanding view of Bacolod and Talisay City.

The resort features as well the giant gorilla, King Kong, that has a sound system that produces a growling sound like on its movie. Another picturesque feature is the Raphaella Mill which is a large windmill structure with various accommodation types.

Once you get tired of all the activities that you have to try, you can make your tummy full with a sumptuous meal on their resort pavilion that serves as their restaurant. Eating in this facility is much like staying in a traditional cabin. We didn’t really expect this, but their foods are delicious and very affordable for their serving.

Room Rates: (Rates are inclusive of an entrance fee and breakfast)

Overnight lodging

Raphaella Mill Presidential Suite- P15,000/night (4 persons)
Raphaella Mill Junior Suite- P12,000/night (4 persons)
Raphaella Mill Regular Room- P8,500/night (6 persons)
Raphaella Mill Barkadahan Room- P500/head (no breakfast)
Mammoth Room- P9,500/night (10 persons)
Dino Park Rooms- P4,000/night (4 persons) P6,000/night (6 persons) P9,000/night (10 persons)
Indian Village

Teepee Huts Family Room- P5,000/night (6 persons)

Teepee Huts Suite Room- P6,000/night (6 persons)

King Kong Room- P6,000/night (6 persons)
Log Cabin- P3,000/night (3 persons) P4,000/night (4 persons) P5,000/night (5 persons)

Daytime Accommodation

Big Cottage- P1,200 (20 persons)
Small Cottage- P700 (15 persons)
Wave Pool Cottage- (15 persons)
Umbrella Hut- P500 (10 persons)

Room rates are subject to change without prior notice.

For more details about their accommodation and attractions, you can go to their official website. Here’s the link.

The post Campuestohan Highland Resort: Travel Guide 2019 appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Visiting The Ruins: The Taj Mahal of Negros

Meghy — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:19:15 +0000

Visiting Bacolod or Negros Occidental wouldn’t be complete without visiting the iconic structure called “The Ruins”. Being dubbed as the “Taj Mahal” of Negros, this beautiful structure is a result of the undying love of a rich sugar baron for his wife who died before giving birth to their 11th child. The Ruins is located in Talisay City just few minutes away from Bacolod City and unquestionably one of the must-see place when visiting the province.

Taj Mahal of Negros

Don Mariano Lacson was a sugar baron who came from a rich and known family in Negros. On one of his travels abroad he met this Portuguese lady named Maria Braga who eventually became his wife. They were given ten children and before giving birth to their 11th child, Maria had an accident that caused her death. Out of his lasting love and longing for his wife, Don Mariano decided to build a mansion located on his 440-hectare plantation. The mansion was built in 1920 and was considered as the “Taj Mahal” of the province of Negros.

Knowing The Ruins

It was 1920 when the mansion was built for Don Mariano and his children to live in. It’s made of cement and egg white as finishing. The walls and pillars are articulately designed making it undeniably a sight to see. The fully built mansion was burned in 1945 by the Filipino guerillas as they disagree to make the mansion as a military headquarters of the Japanese soldiers. They burned the grand abode for 3 days but due to the high-quality materials used for the structure it was not totally burned and its framework is still intact and still standing beautifully up until today.

The Ruins is now being managed by Don Mariano’s great grandson, Mr. Raymund Javellana. It is now open to the public since 2008.

Getting Around The Ruins

The ruins is open every day from 8am-8pm with an entrance fee of P100 for adults, P70 for PWD or senior citizens and P60 for students with valid IDs. Upon paying the entrance fee you have to walk a few meters to reach the hidden mansion and I can say that every corner of the ruins reminds you of its colorful and endearing past. The concrete framework stands gorgeously on a garden and blue skies as its background. I must say that it is best to visit it during the late afternoon so you can wait until it lights up through the dark night.

Playing around on its every corner and pillars will give you various photo ideas. Walking inside, though empty, will still make you feel walking in the past. There are also available local guides on the vicinity that will tell stories about the mansion’s interesting history. Their guides are naturally funny and can crack jokes anytime making your visit worthwhile.

Your visit wouldn’t be complete without taking a photo outside the ruins, standing on the garden and having the grand concrete framework as your background. Just be patient having a good picture as there might be a lot of extra people on your background.

The Ruins lodges as well a restaurant which is for me the highlight of our stay on the place. After a tiring hour of taking pictures, we decided to eat on their restaurant to kill time while waiting for the sun to set. While enjoying a meal, there is this local singer that sings live on your scene and his voice is one of the most romantic voices I’ve ever heard. Hearing a piece of sweet live music on an open air while staring at the lit up ruins is one of the most romantic and most chill nights you could ever spend.

More photos we took during our stay:

How to go to The Ruins?

From Bacolod City (Along Lacson St.), ride a Bata-Libertad signed jeepney. Fare will be P9.00 each. Asked the driver to drop you off on the tricycle terminal near Pepsi Cola plant. Upon reaching the terminal, charter a tricycle that will take you directly to The Ruins. Fare will be P50.00 per person.

The post Visiting The Ruins: The Taj Mahal of Negros appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Baguio City Travel Guide: 14 Places to Visit in Baguio City

Meghy — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:29:50 +0000

Baguio City has always been part of my childhood dream. I often heard about its cold climate and cool breeze on televisions and book articles that added fuel on my desire of visiting it someday. It was 2016 (I was 21 years old then) when I first stepped my foot on the grounds of Baguio City and the city didn’t failed to capture my heart.

Knowing Baguio City:

Baguio City is often tagged as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” or “City of Pines” and continuous to encourage tourists to visit it and experience the cold breeze of its air. Situated about 1500 meters above sea level, its cool temperature made it a suitable place for growing flowers and vegetables. The city is known as well for its Panagbenga Festival which means “Flower Festival”, cheaper fresh vegetables and of course, strawberries!

How to Get to Baguio City?

Getting to Baguio City from Manila is quite easy since it is just one bus ride from few bus terminals around the Metro. Here are some of the list of bus companies that offer Manila-Baguio trip:

Victory Liner- Pasay, Cubao, Caloocan
Genesis Transport- Cubao
Joy Bus- Pasay, Cubao
Dagupan Bus- Cubao

I’ve been to Baguio twice and we always choose Victory Liner as our bus line. There’s no particular reason but probably it’s the bus line that stucked on my mind when I watched the movie “That Thing Called Tadhana”.

Regular aircon bus to Baguio would cost you around P485 and travel time would take 6-7 hours with two stop overs. Victory Liner and Joy Bus offers first class and premier bus service that would cost you around P750-P800. It is a non-stop ride with own CR, lazy boy chairs with wider leg room, free snacks and provided blankets for you to use. Trip would take around 4-5 hours.

For full bus schedule of Victory Liner, here’s the link.

Getting Around Baguio City:

Getting around Baguio and visit its attractions is fairly stress-free since public jeepneys are highly available. If riding public transpos with various signage confuse you, taking taxis can be your alternate option. Taxis would not cost you that much since taxi fares in Baguio is relatively cheaper than Manila.

Most jeepney terminals are located beside Baguio Public Market and Burnham Park so if you are a budget traveler, I suggest that you book a stay near Burnham Park so jeepney terminals and other tourist attractions are just a stone throw away.

Places to Visit Around Baguio City:

Burnham Park

Burnham Park is one of the most famous and most visited park in Baguio City. It is a huge park where a lot of leisure activities can be done. You can rent a boat and paddle around its lake, rent a bike and ride around the park, visit its orchidarium and attend various Zumba sessions every morning. It is a leisure park perfect for families and friends.

Mines View Park

Another most visited park in Baguio is Mines View Park. It offers an overlooking view of Cordillera’s copper and gold mine and it is said to be a good venue for sunrise watching. The park’s current attractions/activities are its Cordilleran native outfit rentals and its souvenir shops that sells various Cordillera delicacies.

Don’t forget to drop by at Good Shepherd which is just few meters away from the park to buy pasalubong and its famous ube jam!

How to get there? Ride a jeepney with Mines View sign located at Lower Mabini Street.

Wright Park

Wright Park is famous for its horseback riding activities with plenty of horses (pink pony) to choose from. You can pay for a picture taking only or ride the horses itself. You don’t have to worry if you are a beginner since you will be accompanied by the “Pony Boys” who is an experienced trainer or owner of the horses.

How to get there? Ride the same jeepney bound to Mines View Park and asked the driver to drop you off in Wright Park.

The Mansion

The Mansion is just located right cross the Wright Park and used to serve as an official residence of the US Governor-General in our country. Today, it is the official summer palace of the President of the Philippines.

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden is located in between Teacher’s Camp and Wright Park. The place is quite wide and full of various flowers and of course, pine trees. Huge statues of Cordillera folks can also be seen on the park and you can be welcomed by some native Igorots who can happily pose a photo with you in exchange of a small token.

BenCab Museum

BenCab Museum is one of the most scenic museum I’ve ever seen and it is being owned by our very own National Artist for Visual Arts, Benedicto Cabrera. The museum showcases the colorful and rich art of the Cordillera Region.

Though the museum is located in Tuba, Benguet it is just 15-20-minute ride from Baguio City. I wrote a more detailed blog about BenCab Museum. Here’s the link if you wish to read.

How to get there? Ride a jeepney bound to Asin Road. Jeepney terminal is located in Kayang Road. Fare will be P11 each.

Camp John Hay

It is one of Baguio’s known attraction. It served as a recreation facility of the U.S Armed Forces and now known for its lined-up pine trees on its roads and beautiful backdrops. Some of the activities and attractions you can try doing here is to try extreme activities in Treetop Adventure, visit Bellhouse, do food trip to full your tummy on its iconic restaurants or simply do a photo walk around its picturesque pine trees.

La Trinidad Strawberry Farm

Baguio City is known for its strawberries but the most visited and most known strawberry farms are located in La Trinidad, Benguet which is around 20-30 minutes away from Baguio City. Strawberry picking is available from November to May which would cost you around P400 (twice of its market price). Outside the farm there are a lot of souvenir shops and vendors that sells strawberry dirty ice cream and strawberry taho.

How to get there? Ride a jeepney bound to La Trinidad. Jeepney terminal is on front of Baguio City Hall and fare will be P12.

Valley of Colors (Colors of Stobosa)

Stobosa is a word formed from the names of three sitios that made up Valley of Colors namely: Stonehill, Botiwtiw and Sadjap. It is a hillside communal where houses are painted in various colors by the artists of Tam-awan Village. It’s such a vast artwork that will never failed to amaze you.

How to get there? Ride the same La Trinidad jeepney bound to the strawberry farm just asked the driver to drop you off in Stobosa. Fare will be P9.

Bell Church

Bell Church is a Chinese temple that was founded on 1960 located between Baguio City and La Trinidad. The street that leads you to the temple is just beside La Trinidad welcome arc. It is open from 7am-5pm for both worshippers and non-worshippers. Bell Church is just few walks away from the Valley of Colors so you can ride the same La Trinidad bound jeepney to reach it.

Mt. Kalugong Cultural Village and Café

One of my favorite spot in Benguet! Mt. Kalugong is located in Brgy. Tawang, La Trinidad and famous for its rock formations with an overlooking view of strawberry farms and local houses of La Trinidad. They also have a beautiful café on the top that serves in-house coffee and cakes. Trekking is required in visiting this spot.

I wrote a more detailed blog about Mt. Kalugong. Here’s the link if you wish to read it.

Lourdes Grotto

It is a shrine and a place of prayer located in Mirador Hill in western part of Baguio City. You have to take the 252 step stairs to reach the top and be stunned by the excellent view of Baguio City. Inside the grotto is a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Igorot Stone Kingdom

Igorot Stone Kingdom officially opened to the public last June 2021 and became one of the popular destination when you visit Baguio City since then. It is an Igorot theme park based on the legend of Sab-angan, an Igorot Kingdom that once existed but lost a thousand years ago.

How to get there? Ride a jeepney bound for Tacay-Longlong in Otek St., Baguio City or Tam-awan bound jeepneys in Kayang Street, Baguio City.

I wrote a more detailed blog about Igorot Stone Kingdom. You can read it here.

Mirador Heritage and Eco Park

The park houses the famous torii gate and bamboo forest that you probably seen online. If you want to experience Japan without flying, this is the right place to be. It is just located in Mirador Hill just near the famous Lourdes Grotto.

How to get there? From Kayang Street in Baguio proper, ride a jeepney bound to Mirador.

I wrote a more detailed blog about Mirador Heritage and Eco Park. You can read it here.

When was the last time you’ve been to Baguio? Share your thoughts below!

The post Baguio City Travel Guide: 14 Places to Visit in Baguio City appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

Cambodia Travel Guide: Temples To Visit In Siem Reap

Meghy — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 05:29:43 +0000

Visiting Kingdom of Cambodia wouldn’t be complete without visiting its iconic temples. It is a home of hundreds of century-old architectures made by strong spiritual devotions and great Khmer empire culture. Angkor Archeological Park, a complex located in Siem Reap, is where most of its beautiful temples are located and it attracts millions of visitors each year!

So if you wish to visit this country and do temple hopping, I listed some of the temples you shouldn’t missed seeing.

Angkor Wat

No question, Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s most iconic and most visited temple. It was built during 12^th century to worship God Vishnu and said to be one of the largest religious site in the world. Be overwhelmed stepping on its massive ruins as Angkor Wat was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is 1992. The temple structure is even included on Cambodia’s national flag so you shouldn’t miss seeing this pride.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is a complex in Angkor Archeological Park and the last capital city of the Khmer empire. The complex has five 20-meter high gates with four faces and two rows of seven-headed Naga carrying figures.

Bayon Temple

Bayon Temple is located at the heart of Angkor Thom complex and known for its four-smiling faces stone towers. It was built late 12^th century as official temple of King Jayavarman VII. The faces carved on the towers are said to be the face of King Jayavarman VII.

Ta Keo

Ta Keo is a temple-mountain in Angkor or should I say a “pyramid-like” temple. It has five towers on the uppermost part of steep pyramid. The stairs going up is so steep that I was too afraid to go on the uppermost level.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is one of the popular temples in Siem Reap since it was featured in the movie and game Tomb Raider. One distinct feature of this temple are the huge trees that grows and shrouded the century-old ruins. Due to its jungle-like structure and atmosphere, it became popular to tourists.

Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei means “Citadel of Chambers” and believed to be the smaller version of Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. The temple said to be occupied by monks over the centuries until 1960s.

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei which means “Citadel of Beauty” is located about 30 km away from Siem Reap center. Be amazed of its meticulously carved structures made by pink sandstones making it worth your visit. You will appreciate its beauty especially in the early morning where the color of its ruins tend to be somewhat orange, golden brown or pinkish which is far different from those found in Angkor complex.

Preah Khan

Preah Khan is actually one of my personal favorites. It is built in 12^th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. Like Ta Prohm, it has huge trees that grows out on the ruins but with lesser tourists and has walls carved with Garudas. Big part of the temple is still destroyed and left unrestored but for me that what makes it more special, seeing the beauty of the untouched past.

Neak Pean

Neak Pean is an island temple on the middle of a man-made lake. You can reach it by passing through a wooden bridge. It was originally designed to be “hospital” since ancients believed that going to those pools will cure diseases.

East Mebon

East Mebon is a 10^th century temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva that stand on an artificial island at the mid of now dry reservoir.

Pre Rup

The temple’s name means “turn the body” which Cambodians believed that this temple has been used for funeral ceremonies. Pre Rup is much like a smaller version of East Mebon. We passed through this temple early in the morning and it is a must-view to see!

Phnom Krom

It is a temple at the top of hill located about 10 km southwest of Siem Reap dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The temple has three towers built during the 9^th century. It is one of the best spot to watch sunset with the view of Tonle Sap Lake during wet season or fields during dry season.

The post Cambodia Travel Guide: Temples To Visit In Siem Reap appeared first on Meghy Was Here.

travel guide Archives | Meghy Was Here

Balboa’s Adventure Park Travel Guide: Iloilo’s Newest Outdoor Playground

How to get there?

Activities to try:

Other Amenities:

Other things to know before going:

Travel Guide: Mt. Romelo + 4 Falls

Mt. Romelo and its falls:

How to go to Mt. Romelo?

Start of trail:

Campsite:

Second day:

Additional Information:

Mt. Gulugod Baboy And Anilao Beach Travel Guide 2021

Knowing Gulugod Baboy:

How to go to Mt. Gulugod Baboy:

Mishap before our trek:

Start of journey to Mt. Gulugod Baboy:

Journey by the next day:

Descent and visiting Anilao Beach:

Other things to know before going:

Torres Farm and Resort: Getting Around the World in Naic, Cavite

How to Go to Torres Farm and Resort:

Getting Around the Resort:

Ilocos Norte Travel Guide: Places to Visit in Ilocos Norte

Knowing Ilocos Norte:

Places to visit in Ilocos Norte:

La Paz Sand Dunes

Paoay Church

Malacañang of the North

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Bangui Windmills

Patapat Bridge and Viaduct

Blue Lagoon

Minalungao National Park: Travel Guide 2020

Knowing Minalungao National Park:

How to get to Minalungao National Park:

What to do in Minalungao?

Other things to know:

Campuestohan Highland Resort: Travel Guide 2019

Knowing Campuestohan

How to get to Campuestohan?

Getting Around Campuestohan

Room Rates: (Rates are inclusive of an entrance fee and breakfast)

Visiting The Ruins: The Taj Mahal of Negros

Taj Mahal of Negros

Knowing The Ruins

Getting Around The Ruins

How to go to The Ruins?

Baguio City Travel Guide: 14 Places to Visit in Baguio City

Knowing Baguio City:

How to Get to Baguio City?

Getting Around Baguio City:

Places to Visit Around Baguio City:

Burnham Park

Mines View Park

Wright Park

The Mansion

Botanical Garden

BenCab Museum

Camp John Hay

La Trinidad Strawberry Farm

Valley of Colors (Colors of Stobosa)

Bell Church

Mt. Kalugong Cultural Village and Café

Lourdes Grotto

Igorot Stone Kingdom

Mirador Heritage and Eco Park

Cambodia Travel Guide: Temples To Visit In Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

Ta Keo

Ta Prohm

Banteay Kdei

Banteay Srei

Preah Khan

Neak Pean