The Island Explorer

As I grow old, I have been looking for experiences that match my lifestyle. And since I consider myself to be a busy and multitasking entrepreneur, stress is no stranger to me. It fact, I have managed to absorb stress and release it in such as way that I do not have those panic attacks. In cases that I cannot handle all the stress, I head to a spa for some much needed relaxation and release. And when I have the time, I try to make my way to a spa destination out of town, just to make the experience more worthy of my time. My go-to destination has always been Tagaytay, particularly Nurture Spa Village. However, I have been intrigued by this exclusive spa nestled at the center of Tagaytay. Friends, let us embark on a journey to wellness at the QiWellness Living Spa. Just the same was cool enough to make me enter its imposing dark wood door.

I remember my first time in Nurture way back 3 years ago. Or even more. I usually just go here to get a massage as it is known for that. Well, recently, I made my way back to the spa and discovered a whole lot more.

It was a lazy Saturday morning when I dared my friends to be spontaneous and escape for the weekend. Without any plans, we found ourselves driving South, stopping at BF Homes first for lunch and coffee. I had a place in mind, but I wasn't sure of its quality, since, from its pictures, it looked run down. I was glad I still took the risk, since it has become one of my favorite escapes from Manila.

When someone mentions about Pico De Loro, I can't help but think SM. I know it seems very racist, but I couldn't help downgrade my expectations of a place when it has the brand SM to it. And I am ashamed, since I just can't give them the benefit of the doubt. So when we arrived at Pico Sands, the only hotel in Pico de Loro, a seaside development by SM, I naturally gave a half smile.

Anilao continues to amaze me with its charming resorts and beautiful sunsets. I couldn't get enough of it, so I make it a point to drive 2 hours to spend a night or two to escape the city. I never knew this dive destination would be my perfect hideaway. This time, I hied off to a new resort, escaped for a night of some peace and quiet. Friends, one of my new favorites, Aiyanar.  

I was all over Anilao last year. I fell in love with the place, that I even wanted to build a resort there. I was actually inspired by the many small resorts or houses for rent in the area. One of those inspiring family run resorts was Vista Aplaya. 

It was a bright and breezy morning as the sun rose from behind the house, revealing the beauty of the sea and the surrounding islands. I got so excited, so I planned our short island exploring trip. We hired the boat that was parked beside the house for P2,500. The rate was quite steep, considering we only used the boat for 3 hours. 

For the Halloween long weekend, we decided to go to a beach town that I haven't visited in years, probably because I'm not a diver. Our trip to Anilao was one of the long drives that put a smile on my face. From Alabang, it only took us a total of 1.5 hours, all because of the Sto. Tomas expressway being connected to the Star Tollway. The next thing you'll know, you're in Batangas City, and just 30 minutes away from Mabini, where Anilao is.

I was already satisfied with my Kawayan Cove rental. But that got me going. I wanted to find more vacation houses for rent in Batangas. I also wanted to share the experience with my close friends, so I decided to take them to a new house that I spotted online. It was named Villa Angelina.

I woke up one Saturday morning without anything to do, so the most logical move was to head out of town for a beach. I was kind of getting bored with the North already, so I decided to explore more of the South. I really didn't want to go to Nasugbu, so I thought of heading to San Juan. This is how I ended up in Palm Beach Resort (La Frondosa) in Brgy. Hugom, in San Juan, Batangas.

UPDATE: This beach house is no longer for rent. Vacation rentals is a relatively new term in the tourism industry. It is a growing worldwide trend and Asia is leading in this new type of accommodation. Given the number of villas for rent in Bali, Phuket and other popular island destinations in Asia, I don't see why our country hasn't exploited this trend. In the Philippines, vacation rentals come in the form of beach houses, or seaside mansions even. Recently, I have been searching for the best beach house for rent in the country. Of course, I started where there is a number of these accommodations: Batangas.

Punta Fuego is perhaps one of the most popular exclusive resorts in Batangas. Nestled on a peninsula in the Nasugbu coastline, Club Punta Fuego has been the weekend destination of several Manilenos for several years. Terrazas de Punta Fuego is a residential community that comes before the Peninsula de Punta Fuego, the main and original private resort. You need someone to endorse you to enter the premises if you are to visit. The Clubhouse at Terrazas is where guests can lounge by a huge pool that is surrounded by a dozens of inviting open air cabanas. The cabanas also line the beach front, making it a perfect place to read a book, have a drink, or to have a nap in. It is a great spot to watch an amazing sunset. The beach here is pretty ok for Batangas standards, but the area of Laiya has better quality. Even neighboring Canyon Cove for me has a better beach. But the beach here is clean and the water clear. Munting Buhangin is beside Terrazas, and the beach is shared by that resort. The...

I don't write about places I don't like, but I just had to do this out of frustration and disappointment. I recently went to Lago De Oro in Calatagan in Batangas. I wanted to pursue my wakeboarding dreams and practice more to be able to stand up on a board. The last time I tried wakeboarding was in Cam Sur, and I lacked so much time in trying to stand up. So when JP and Liza invited me to go to Lago de Oro, I immediately said yes. Lago de Oro offered us a full board overnight package that included a whole day's use of wakeboarding facilities for P1900 per person for a minimum of 4 people. I thought it was expensive for an overnight stay. I checked their room rates, and the lowest rate was at P4,400. The accommodations in Lago de Oro are not five star as they claim. Though they were bigger, the cabanas and trailers of Cam Sur had more character and charm. The rooms of Lago de Oro looked like Matabungkay's - old and worn. The resort was old and not much renovation has bee...