Where to go this Summer??

Bakit nga ba inaabangan ang Summer dito sa Pilipinas? Isa eto sa most anticipated time of the year. Kasi naman sa sobrang init dito sa Pinas, masarap talagang magbabad sa mga pool at beaches. Magpahangin sa mga probinsya at gumala sa mga lugar na di pa natin nararating.

Mahalaga din ang summer para sa mga estudyante kasi dito tinataon ang sembreak at pagtatapos ng klase para sa elementarya at high school. Perfect time nga naman eto para magpahinga sa klase. San kaya ang punta ng mga estudyante pag summer?

Para naman sa mga nagtatrabaho, inaabangan nila ang summer outing ng magkaka officemates. Kung hindi man sagot ng kumpanya eh sila sila mismo ang nag paplano kung saan magbakasyon ngayong summer. Ano ano nga ba ang pwedeng pagka abalahan ngayong summer? San pwede pumunta at ano pwede gawin?

Sa baba ang aking mga personal na listahan para sa malalapit lang ng Metro Manila.

Near Manila:
resorts/recreational parks

Splash Island- biggest water park in the Phils.- Biñan Laguna
Enchanted Kingdom- Sta. Rosa Laguna
Island Cove- resort and wildlife park- Cavite
Tagaytay Ridge Zipline and Cable Car- Tagaytay
Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort- San Pablo Laguna
Private pools in Calamba Laguna- good for overnight
Private pools in Antipolo- good for overnight
Loreland Farm Resort- Antipolo Rizal
8 Waves Resort- San Rafael Bulacan

Manila Area:

Manila Ocean Park- Manila
Rizal Park- Manila
Manila Zoo- Manila
Avilon Zoo- Ortigas
La Mesa Ecopark- Quezon City

Laser Tag:
LazerXtreme- Market Market/ Alabang

Airsoft:
Ho Chi Minh Trail - South Express Parañaque
CXG- Kamuning QC
Sitting Ducks- Eastwood Libis

Bowling:
Paeng's Bowling Center- Eastwood Libis
Puyat Sport's Bowling Center- Starmall

Zipline:
MOA
Zoom Tree Top Adventure- Circulo Verde Bagumbayan QC
La Mesa Ecopark- QC

Syempre di mawawala ang mga sikat na summer places dito sa Pilipinas tulad ng Coron, Puerto Princesa, Puerto Galera, Zambales, Bohol, Boracay, Baguio, Davao, CDO, Cebu, Pangasinan, Ilocos, sa Bicol meron na din, ang Misibis Bay Resort sa Cagraray Bacacay, Albay at Caramoan sa Camarines Sur. Sa mga lugar na to maeenjoy ang dagat at ang ibat ibang bagay na pwede gawin tulad ng diving, snorkeling, sailing, surfing, skimboarding, isama nyo na din ang fishing.

Sa dami ng mapupuntahan dito sa Pilipinas, di ko alam kung bakit naghahanap pa tayo sa ibang bansa ng mapupuntahan. Kung malalaman lang natin ang ganda ng Pilipinas at kung alam lang natin kung paano ito alagaan, di tayo mahihirapan ipagmalaki ang mga eto sa kung kanino man. Marami pang lugar ang di pa natin napupuntahan dito sa ating bayan. Subukan natin tuklasin at pahalagahan ang sariling atin.

Ngayong summer, san man tayo pumunta, wag kalimutan ang sunblock!

Mt. Daguldol Batangas

Hiking, camping is always been my interest. It's just schedule of climb sometimes does not agree to my availability. I had fun the first time I climb a mountain. It was in Mayon when I had my first. It's a wonderful experience. Far from what we have in scouting during my elementary and high school year. Very unfortunate coz we do not have some pictures during those time. So if ever there will be a chance to hike Mount Mayon again, I will not forget to take some pictures.

When I was in my former company, I used to join some friends to climb Mt. Daguldol. It is located in Batangas. We hired jeepney from Manila to Batangas. I dont know much about this place but I recall we registered first before we start the climb. If I am not mistaken, it was in Barrio Hugom we stopped and register and paid P30/head and we need to hire a guide seems to be an SOP if you want to climb Daguldol. I think it is also a source of income for the local residence. They said the trek is just an easy trek or a level one, but for me it is quite difficult. I find hard climbing the rocky part of the trek and the heat of the sun makes me sweat and warm all over my body. As we go along with our journey, I think we had a few rest in some of the bahay kubos and they are selling halo-halo and buko yumyum. A true quenching drink. It took us 4 hours to reach the peak of the mountain or the campsite. When I see the place, I feel relax, serene and peace. The first campsite was a true beauty in terms of its scene. But since there are already some hikers camping on the site, we decided to go to the next campsite just a few walk from the first. It was already dark when we build our tent. The water source was dry so we ask our guide to fetch us water. The water we had is just enough for drinking so we need some more for our cooking. After we had our dinner, the drinking session is next. We had some fun, we brought our own ipod for music and the cool breeze added to the ambiance. It's a great experience.

Nagsasa Cove

We went to this paradise 3 yrs ago. Although we have a not so good experience during our journey because of the bad weather, I really wanted to go back on this place. Nagsasa is a 45min to an hour boat ride from the fishing village of Pundaquit San Antonio Zambales. The place is good for camping and nature tripping. But dont expect mobile signal, sari-sari store of electricity on this place because this is really isolated.

If you plan to go to Nagsasa, make sure you have enough food and water for consumptions. Make sure you prepare all the things you need when you go camping from tent to lights or fire, clothes to cooking tools etc. The campsite of Nagsasa is not as big as the nearby Anawangin Cove but more peaceful because it's not crowded. I notice they have only one water source nearby deepwell but not sure if there are more.

The beauty of Nagsasa is not just the green mountains of the cove or the white sand of the shore but there is a nearby stream that you can visit. Since the stream came from the mountain, there are parts that look like a mini waterfalls. It is so fresh and so cold and you can swim on it's bank. See the picture below.

I am looking forward of visiting this place again. I've heard that there was a wildfire happened last March 27. I hope people will not exploit this wonderful creation. I appreciate the backpackers, campers and local residence of this place who knows how to take care and show their adherence to our nature.