Tagaytay Revisited

If you are looking for a mild cold weather on a hot weekend, I will recommend you to revisit the famous relaxation and vacation place in Cavite – Tagaytay. I called this a “revisit” because I know most of us have already been to this famous destination of Cavite province. I myself have been in Tagaytay for a countless times but I still find it worth to have a revisit to this place. Definitely because of the mild cold weather but with some new sights, good old cuisine to taste and the ever-charming overlooking scenery of Taal Lake and volcano, Tagaytay will always be worth for a revisit.

In Panorama: The famed postcard photo of Taal lake and volcano overlooking view from Tagaytay.

The proximity of Tagaytay from the metro makes it an ideal quick escape for those like me who are looking for a short vacation. So after my work shift together with my workmates, we hop on the earliest bus ride to Tagaytay, Cavite. Travel time is just one and a half hour coming from Pasay area and at the early hours of the morning. We arrived early in the morning and to enjoy the most our quick visit; we planned to do what Tagaytay visitors normally do like food trip and sightseeing.

Since we arrived in the morning, we sample first the famous Bulalo (Beef Shank Soup) to refresh our senses at Green Ats Bulalohan and Restaurant which is open for 24 hours. Bulalo is made of a hot stew from beef shank with beef meat, corn cob and vegetables like cabbage and potatoes. Just the aroma of Bulalo is perfect enough for withstanding the cold weather of Tagaytay so what more in indulging its hot stew. It was perfect for the cold weather of the place!
 

Tagaytay's famous Bulalo!

The sun starts to shine...

Cavite sunrise...

Green Ats has a perfect terrace view deck of Taal Lake and volcano so we waited until sunrise to enjoy the popular view of Tagaytay. After enjoying our Bulalo meal and dawn has passed, the sun started to rise. It slowly lighted the beautiful view of Taal Lake with Taal Volcano, known as the world’s smallest volcano in the center of it. I know this view has always been popular in postcards and travel magazines already but this view of Tagaytay is it timeless charm. And though, Taal lake and volcano geographically belongs to Batangas province, you will never get tired of this beautiful view from the ridge of Tagaytay. For me, this view of Tagaytay is a view that every visitor will never forget.

It's more fun in Cavite!

Overlooking view of Green Ats Bulalohan and Restaurant.

Each one of us dreams to fly.

We were still full from Bulalo, yet we continue our food trip at Mushroom Burger. It is 10 minutes away from Green Ats Bulalohan and Restaurant and along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. Mushroom Burger is famous for its burger made of organic mushroom! For me, it was a perfect breakfast treat in combination with hot coffee. The burger patty seems to be like an ordinary meat patty burger but very mushroom in taste! And I find it healthy too! Since it is made of mushroom and organic vegetables, it promotes good digestion. After finishing our “heavy” breakfast and a few chats, I usher my travel mates to proceed to our next destination in Tagaytay.

Perfect combination for breakfast - Mushroom burger and coffee.

Pine trees around Tagaytay City.

Located in Barangay Asisan is Puzzle Mansion. The mansion is a museum that boasts a Guinness Book of Records for the most number of collection puzzles on display. The museum has two floors of halls of collected puzzles of different pictures that will fancy, entertain and amaze the visitors.  Some of the most attractive puzzles found inside Puzzle Mansion are portrait of famous Philippine politicians like President Aquino, famous paintings like Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and world famous landmarks like Taj Mahal of India and Red Square of Russia. The museum facilities also boast hotel accommodation for its visitors, a wishing well and souvenir shop full of puzzles, of course. Most of the activity that you can do in Puzzle Mansion is to have souvenir photos with the numerous puzzles of all sizes but aside from it, there is nothing to do in the museum.

How many puzzles can you count at Puzzle Mansion?

Record holder.

Van Gogh's Starry Night in puzzle version.

Souvenir shop of Puzzle Mansion.

More puzzles, more fun!

Our last destination is another famous place in Tagaytay, the Tagaytay Picnic Groove. The park has great recalls of my childhood memories for it has been a popular place for our family trips and outing. The park also has a perfect view of Taal Lake and volcano too, where visitors can do picnic in the huts located in a slope facing the view. The park also has cable car ride and zipline for an exciting activity. And for the adventurous, it has an eco-trail where explorers can do canopy walk and concrete platform walk as an optional activity. But the famous activity in Tagaytay Picnic Groove is horseback riding activity that I’m sure most of us have a fond childhood memories of. Souvenirs shops are all abound around the park. Some parts of the park were poorly maintained that I hope its management will do action soon since the picnic groove is still a popular place in Tagaytay. The picnic groove until now still appeals to a lot to Tagaytay visitors so hopefully its improvement will happen soon.

The stunning view at Tagaytay Picnic Groove.

We could still visit People’s Park Palace in the Sky which is another must-see attraction in Tagaytay too but our time is limited. I hope there will be changes already to this mountain peak park because the last time I went there it was badly neglected and in need of maintenance. Or visit the famed gardens of Sonya’s Garden and taste their organic treats in Alfonso, also near Tagaytay. But I definitely enjoyed my revisit to Tagaytay! I get to explore it enough to satisfy my senses. And it still has a lot of fond memories of my childhood trip memories. It was worthy to revisit Tagaytay again. Its charm goes beyond the scenic view of Taal lake and volcano but soars to great travel memories now and then. Tagaytay is a great place to revisit again and again in my home province of Cavite.

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Tagaytay Revisited is the narration of my first trip of the year that happened last February 3, 2014 with my workmates. It happened just out of thinking where to go a quick escape from the city which happens Tagaytay as the nearest place to go. It was a wonderful revisit to the old time popular destination in my home province for all this time it still has a charming way to call you for a visit. After all, it's more fun in Cavite! 

Going Green: Ecotourism, the new trend in travel!

A new and popular trend in travel is making waves and I believe most of us heard a lot about it. Ecotourism is trending now in travel! Especially in our country whose provinces highly depending on it nowadays. Ecotourism is one of the key components of Green Travel. It a new kind of tourism that encourages green travel but at the same time encourages and promotes community's active participation, development and economic growth in the area where ecotourism site is.

Hundred Islands National Park, an ecotourism site in Pangasinan.

In the country, especially in the tourist provinces, ecotourism is highly practice like in Palawan and Bohol. The government done several acts and laws and to strengthen and support ecotourism in our country. It also at the same time help the surge of tourists in the ecotourism sites of the province. The result is many people in the community places depend on it like their everyday livelihood, income and development aside from the promotion of the province as a destination of choice. More and more people are visiting the ecotourism sites and more provinces are developing their ecotourism potential to invite visitors and gearing up for this kind of travel as a result as well. It also enables the provinces to gear up for this kind of travel because of its positive and beneficial effects to the province and community. The good concept of ecotourism is that not only the place or tourism site is promoted but also encourages a sustainable tourism by giving enviromental awareness, taking care and preserving the place and at the same time help the people around it in their livelihood and income through participation and education about it. Ecotourism promoted both community growth, provincial tourism and green travel!

Here's a concrete definition and principle of Ecotourism: Ecotourism  is a form of sustainable tourism within a natural and cultural heritage area where community participation, protection and management of natural resources, cultural and indigenous knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics as well as economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the enrichment of host communities and satisfaction of visitors. Ecotourism helps in sustaining the development of the country as it aims to protect our natural resources, on which the ecotourism industry depends. 

Loboc River in Bohol - one of the ecotourism sites in the Philippines.

Principles of Ecotourism:

Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:

* Minimize impact.

* Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.

* Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.

* Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.

* Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.

* Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

Ecotourism in the Philippines

The Philippine Department of Tourism's hat has been thrown into ecotourism game for awhile now. They've made it part of their plan for economic development. The country's ecotourism program strives to install processes and procedures that are economically beneficial, socially responsible, ecologically sustainable and advantageous to the local communities by creating jobs and improving living conditions overall. Palawan is the second biggest province in the country in terms of land area and has been recommended by the tourism department as the top eco-destination in the country.

Ecotourism Activities

There are a variety of eco-friendly activities available for the ecotourist to enjoy: Swimming with whale sharks in the their natural environment or getting out the binoculars and watching for the rare Philippine Eagle or 600 other varieties of birds. A traveler can also go to a jungle environment survival training camp where he or she can be taught to drink from a water vine, cook in a bamboo steamer and dine off a bamboo plate. Other activities include Trekking/Mountaineering, Wildlife Watching, Scuba Diving/Snorkling, Caving, Kayaking/Rafting and Surfing.

Eco-friendly Resorts

The Department of Tourism recommends The El Nido, Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts, Club Noah Isabelle and the Bohol Bee Farm. These hotels all carry out environmentally friendly practices: Coastal clean ups, prohibiting the gathering of shells and coral, eco-safe cleanser and many others.

Taal Volcano from Tagaytay City - an ecotoursim site.

I'm glad that more and more province in our country are gearing up towards ecotourism. Its the new trend in travel that a lot of travelers are attracted to. And hotels and resorts are leaning to Green Hotels concepts. It only shows that ecotourism and going green is not just profitable but very helpful in the livelihood of people involve because of its positive benefits. Its has a beneficial idea and principle behind it. A sustainable tourism is a good way to practice and promote green travel. I'm glad to experience and visited some ecotourism site in our country like Bohol, Hundred Islands National Park, Taal Volcano and Tagaytay City. I hopefully to see other ecoutourism sights and places in the country like Palawan (the ecotourism capital of the Philippines), Camiguin, Mayon Volcano and Vigan. And there's a lot more ecotourism places in the country! And more potential places to develop too! May more travelers and visitors promote ecotourism in the Philippines. The beauty of nature is hard to resist and marvel. Ecotourism preserves it while sharing that beauty.  

Special thanks to these sources:The International Ecotourism Society, WikiPilipinas, and Josh Peterson.

Summer's sunniest

Summer is the time when days are hotter than the ordinary days. This is the perfect time that we engaged in physical activities like playing new sports or trying new hobbies that will let our time pass by. But undoubtedly, summer is the perfect time to travel.  A good time to see or  discover new places that will enrich our experience and let us have a stress-free environment  that all we can do is relax, relax and relax. Look for that ideal summer destination that awaits you this summer. It could be just the simple province of your relatives or a beautiful beach that you often see in the magazines. Have yourself enjoy those places this summer... After a tiring trip in Tagaytay for a first taste of Summer 2010, we made a stop to rest for a while in a mall. And while waiting for our travel companions, I captured this noticeable bright sunlight of summer sun gleaming from a mango tree that reminds me that its high time for summer!

The charm of Tagaytay

It is definitely the Taal Volcano and its lake is the real charm of Tagaytay. The majestic view shared by both province of Cavite and Batangas is spell-binding to attention once viewed in the overlooking ridges. It can be explore through volcano trekking and peeking into its crater lake - the reason why it is dubbed "a lake within a lake." This charming view of Taal Lake was taken at the viewing cliff of RSM Restaurant which was a perfect backdrop as we enjoy our lunch during a recent visit to Tagaytay.

Sundown

While visiting a resort in Postema, Naic, Cavite last 2008, I found these beach huts with tables made of bamboo facing the beach as a good place to relax. Together with my family, cousins and relatives, we settled in these beach huts for a get-together family summer outing. As the the sun goes down for sunset, I notice this unique seaview with the sun and found it a perfect summer photo to remember...

Summer 2010 starts at Tagaytay

February is the usual start of summer for me. The heat is on, days are warm and the sun is scorching hot! Its a perfect signal to travel again. It is usually taking a dip on a beach or go someplace farther to feel the air of summer. But this time I had a different trip. First, it was short, then it is not the usual dipping on a beach and lastly it is just within my province - Cavite. My Summer 2010 started last week on a quick hop to the highlands of Tagaytay. It was whole day trip that coincide with my lola's 87th birthday. And with us to celebrate this occasion are my cousins, relatives and my brother.

We travel in the morning to enjoy a morning of view of Tagaytay along with its famous and its highly-prided scenery of Taal Lake and Volcano at Taal Vista Lodge viewdeck. We had a lunch at RSM Restaurant where we were serenaded by the staff plus it has a perfectly placed terrace deck to view Taal Lake.

Taal Vista Lodge.

The charm of Tagaytay.

Tagaytay is a premier tourist destianation in our province of Cavite. It boast numerous hotels and tourist amenities like restaurants, parks, cafes, scenic views and sports activities like zipline. Robinson Malls has just been recently built and SM Mall is soon on the rise. Tagaytay is a popular summer destination because it has mild and cool climate due to its high altitute. Its proximity to Manila makes it a easily acessible for a quick vacation from the metropolis. But the vantage point of Tagaytay is the pictureque view of Taal Lake and Volcano. The small volcano is located within the lake and sometimes its wide crater is filled with water that's why it is dubbed "a lake within a lake"

Family bonding time at RSM Restaurant.

What I like in Tagaytay is that many of its restaurants and cafes like Leslie's, Josephine, Startbucks and Yellow Cab had a spectacular cliff view where you can see the charming Taal lake and volcano. It lined like a strip of mushrooms on the side of cliff ridge where you will really had a beautiful view of Taal. The places espacially the restaurants are perfect for family bonding, sharing stories with friends and for a romantic date. Aside from overlooking view of Taal Volcano and lake, you can also do side trips to Palace in the Sky, Hiking to the volcano's crater or visit Tagaytay Zip Line and cable car for a whole new experience.

Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.

Summer's sunniest!

This is not my first time to visit Tagaytay but what makes me return to this place is definitely the charm of nature of Taal Lake view accompanied by its cool weather. My summer has just started. The days are warm and nights are cool. And Tagaytay is a good place to start. The air of summer evokes a relaxing mood. The heat is calling you to go to someplace away from the life you usually live everyday. I can't wait for the places I will be roaming to for the rest of this summer.