Archive for May, 2009
A Perfect Saturday
It was another unusual Saturday. I was with my beautiful wife the whole day and it was perfect. And besides, payday.
We actually have plans for the day and everything went very well.
Healing Water Spa in Cavite
I acquired my membership at Healing Water Spa last November worth Php 3000. We pretty much enjoyed our membership which includes a couple of whole body massages, foot spa, facial cleansing and massages, plus free unlimited use of sauna any day we want. We also had a complementary shabu-shabu dinner once.
My membership expires in June 2009, and we thought it was the most perfect day to use the remaining gift certificate we have. We both had a 30-minute facial relaxation from the very gentle hands of the therapists. After the session, I felt a minute younger but since time runs out faster, a few seconds and I felt older again. Kidding aside, I felt relaxed.
Of course I also had a little negative feedback on the place. They would charge extra 200 pesos if you want to use the couples room and I don’t understand. Also, since the spa is just along the Aguinaldo highway, you might hear some very loud horns from trucks and buses that pass by. Although, the soothing jazz and bossa music helps you forget the noise from the outside.
Heavy Traffic and How to pay your credit cards
Right after the 30-minute stop at the spa, we headed right away to the clinic to get our flu vaccines. We faced the long and heavy traffic of Aguinaldo Highway. It was raining pretty hard and the car stereo is broken. So my wife got her phone, played the instrumental version of ‘No One by Alicia Keys and Never Ever by All Saint”. We sang along with the music and when we got tired, we segued the scene to a discussion of our increasing credit card bills. We had a quite long conversation about it which turned out to different options. It’s either we pay all at once and take the risk of possibly using credit card again in future purchases, or pay in installment but take the fact that we have to pay monthly penalties.
Lunch at Market Market
After a 2-hour long trip from Imus Cavite, we missed lunch on the road. It was almost 3 PM so we stopped by Market Market. We ordered ‘Sinigang na hipon’ and Grilled Tuna Belly plus a can of Coke. After eating we played at the Coca Cola booth and won a plastic tumbler.
Flu Vaccine and OB consultation
After lunch, we headed our way to the clinic. We waited in line and after a while, it was our turn. The pediatrician called us in, yes she’s the pediatrician who takes care of our daughters.
It was my wife who gets the vaccine first, and as expected, we underwent some struggles before we finally convinced her that it won’t hurt a bit. So she finally gave in, the pediatrician gave the vaccine and then to me right after.
We then waited for the OB to come in and call my wife’s name. It was over 2 hours before she is called. Everything turned out pretty well and we headed out for dinner.
Window Shopping at Market Market
After almost 4 hours at the clinic, we went back to Market Market to lurk around and see if there’s something we can get for ourselves. Unfortunately, none. But I sense that it’s one of those time that convincing my wife is pretty easy. I told her that it’s a good idea to buy an Asus Eee PC 1000HE and she approved without further questions. She’s in the mood, wasn’t she? But I did not get the netbook, I think I’ll have to wait a couple of days and see any changes in pricing. But I will make sure that I get it before my wife turns back to her normal self. 
Dinner at Conti’s, Serendra, Cupcakes by Sonja
It was dark and raining pretty hard in Taguig. I didn’t bother what time it was, what we know was our stomachs are already asking for something. We crossed the street to Serendra and headed directly to Conti’s. We waited in line and got our seats in just a while. We ordered Batangas pork adobo, which I haven’t tasted before. I am a Batangueno but, really? I’m sure pork adobo I have tasted in Batangas is way better than Conti’s. We also ordered Garlic Sotanghon which I wished we have had ordered more. It was delicious and I liked it. Also on our table was a Halo-Halo special which my wife liked very much. It’s because of the Macapuno.
Right after we finished eating, we checked Cupcakes by Sonja on the other corner of Serendra and bought some cupcakes for our daughters. We even got a free cupcake courtesy of my wife’s freebie coupon from her Belle de Jour planner.
Then we headed home.
My Views of La Virginia Resort
So I was in La Virginia Resort in Batangas last weekend and I was very satisfied of the place, the experience, the fun and all. I highly recommend that place as an alternative to beach, yet somehow I’d think La Virginia Resort is way better than a beach. Maybe it’s just me because I used to live by the shore when I was a kid so I might not be as excited as you when it comes to beaches. But regardless of the taste of the water, the La Virginia is ‘A’ class and on top of the list I had thus far. Maybe I would rate a bit higher than Estancia Tagaytay, which is also a haven.
The Resort
La Virginia Resort is a 6-hectare resort located on a hilltop in Mataas na Kahoy, Lipa Batangas. The place is overlooking the Taal Lake, which is also one of the things you will enjoy there. But of course you’d probably want to experience being at the Taal Lake itself than just looking over it. Upon entering the resort, you’ll definitely see a ‘welcome arc’, but you might also never mind the arc because there’s a really big concrete image of a vulture attacking a crocodile just by the entrance as well. There are also a lot of other concrete animals all over the place including a giant lizard called dinosaur. Maybe it would be much better if the animals are alive, but the good thing is that they won’t have to feed them everyday and will just keep them painted to keep their beauty. The only animals I saw in the resort which are alive are the caged monkeys and a pug and of course some birds.
Apart from fauna, there is also flora. Plants and trees surround the place, making the place more relaxing and however it repels a bit of the suns heat. Paint all the things any color you want but green will naturally equal it.
Accommodation
When it comes to rooms, there are a lot of options you can choose from. They have the 4-storey Pagoda which gives you exclusive access to a private pool, billiards, darts and other facilities. They also have a vast number of Ifugao Huts, Nipa Huts and some other type of houses. I swear, the houses are mansions. Haven’t got a chance to peek inside the houses but I can judge it from the outside. There are also hotel rooms that are fully furnished so you don’t have to bring your own TV sets and refrigerators. Room prices range from Php 1,500 to Php 15,000. But if you don’t want to spend for the rooms, maybe you can have a nap at the chapel but you won’t do that, would you?
The Tree House
One of the place in La Virginia Resort that I like the most is the Tree House, though I wasn’t able to fully enjoyed it. I’d like to take very nice pictures from the treetop but since my SLR camera isn’t good enough, it bored me down the tree house and instead took pictures it could take. By the way, SLR means super-low-res. The tree house has 3 stories, concrete animals, and real fruits. From the top, you will have a better view of the surroundings and probably be able to spot the differences among the rooftops below. You will also have a nicer view of the Taal Lake, but don’t just jump from the tree top because if you think you’ll land at the lake, you’re wrong.
The Swimming Pools
There are four swimming pools in the resort as my counting ability suggests. The one with two slides, the one with two playing dolphins, the kiddie pool which was being renovated, and the Pagoda private pool. Not sure if I missed anything here but I will assure you, I enjoyed just the Pagoda private pool. But of course I would have tried the other pools so I can say I enjoyed everything, right?
How to go to La Virginia Resort
I will try my best to illustrate the map you have to take going to the resort using just words so please try to understand.
Based from experience, we started from Manila, took the South Luzon Expressway and took the Batangas exit in Calamba. We drove through Sto. Tomas, Batangas and took the STAR Tollway. About 20 minutes later, I fell asleep and before I knew it, we were at the Lipa National Road. We took that road and turned right just after the Fernando Airbase. A couple more left and right turns and we were at the resort.
If my instructions confused you, you may also take note of the address below and ask someone else how to get there.
Barangay Manggahan
Mataas na Kahoy
Batangas
Philippines
(043) 703-2145 (Voice)
(043) 312-4323 (Fax)
info@lavirginiaresort.com
lavirginiaresort@yahoo.com
http://www.lavirginiaresort.com
The La Virginia Resort WYSIWYG
I didn’t have a perfect time for the full review yesterday and I thought I can publish a simple galley for the meantime. The pictures are not the best quality but pretty much tell the whole story, and probably convince you have your time to visit the La Virginia Resort.
( photos)
1 January 1970
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Note: To see the pictures in the original Picasa album, click here
La Virginia Resort, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas
View of La Virginia Resort, Mataas na Kahoy, Lipa Batangas
It’s sure going to be another not-so-ordinary summer experience this weekend for me, as I will spend another moment in an unusual place for a resort. Or at least to me it is. It’s gonna be my first time to the place and I don’t know much about it but I assume the place is at the mountain or hill top. Not sure about it but the picture likely says so. So my job this weekend is to know more about La Virginia Resort and share my experience to my lovely readers. All I know for now is that it’s one of the many resorts in Batangas.
And I also think something that could make it even ‘not-so-ordinary-summer’. I think it’s gonna rain on weekend but I hope I could still enjoy it. Unless there’s a storm, I will be there for sure.
In the meantime, you may read my reviews of the resorts I recently visited.