Talk about cabin fever, my daughter and I had just about had it being cooped up at home.
When the opportunity for a quick escape came up via the shift from ECQ to GCQ here in the metro, we immediately scoured the nearest available beach resort, and it was this place called Lago De Oro Resort and Wake Park.
We gathered documents needed to make the trip, made reservations for a May 21 Friday to May 24, 2021 Monday stay, packed, and off we went.
DAY 1
FRIDAY
MAY 21, 2021
It was smooth ride to the South (amazing roads, really!) and we got to test AutoSweep and it worked like a charm. We were a bit worried about checkpoints but we never gave it much thought, anyway. We stopped over a quaint place with a library / hidden resto feel to it called Bag of Beans in Tagaytay for breakfast, and it was great, both the ambience of the place and the food!
Their breakfast food portions were enormous!!!
When you drop by this place, you have to try their Shepherd Pie, it is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.!!!
So off we went to Calatagan with a very full stomach.
We encountered a checkpoint in the entrance to Nasugbu but we had proper documents with us so there really was no problem. At the entrance to the numerous resorts in Calatagan, there’s another checkpoint where Tourism personnel check for confirmed bookings, and we encountered no problems there, too.
We finally made it to our destination, and it was literally a breath of fresh air (and a sight for sore eyes)!!!
We spent about 2hours 54 minutes actual travel time, about 130klms., and counting the 1 1/2 hours stay at Bag of Beans Tagaytay, we were a bit tired.
Before checking into our room, we had lunch at the resort’s restaurant consisting of their version of Buffalo Wings, and Pansit Canton, and no complaints because we were famished!
We went to our room and surprise! it was nice and cool with a view.
After resting for about 2 hours, it was chill time by the beach.
The view was simply beautiful, just because we missed the beach and the sea so much !!!
Get a load of this view
Still full from the heavy breakfast @Bag of Beans, and lunch at the resort’s resto, we decided just to have their Nachos, San Miguel Lite Beer (only for me), and just watch as the sun went down beneath overcast skies.
No sunset show today.
Perfect drink for the beachside bum, though.
DAY 2
SATURDAY
MAY 22, 2021
There’s something about staying at a beach front place.
I tend to gravitate towards the waters very early in the morning, wade in, and feel the cool sea beneath my feet, and just take in what the sea and the shore can offer.
When you’re all alone, you hear the stillness of the wind, see reflections in the water clearly, feel the warmth of the sunlight during mornings, gaze at the clouds above, obvious of the footprints you leave behind.
It all is simply magical.
Al-fresco breakfast consisted of coffee, sliced fruits, your choice of fruit shakes. We had tocilog and corned beef.
It was superb.
Great food, drinks with little umbrellas, sand, beach, waves, swimming pool, peace and quiet…what’s not to like and smile about?
After breakfast, I tried my luck with wake boarding.
Suffice to say, I need to work on my balance on the board hahahaha.
After about 4 rounds, my body was sore hahahaha
My daughter, though, was better at wake boarding than me.
Lunch for our second day was a simple sinigang na baboy with patis, sili, calamansi.
The sun finally gave a show today. What a sunset!
We decided on a light dinner, and pepperoni pizza it is hahahaha and retired for the night.
DAY 3
SUNDAY
MAY 23, 2021
Damn, that wakeboarding session sure hurt my body all over, so much so that I didn’t wanna get up…
After a quick bath, I made my way to the beach to catch some morning light and still life photos
Per usual, breakfast was ordered and served, beef steak and bacon and eggs.
Slept all the way through lunchtime. Woke up to take more still life photos under the afternoon sun
For the 2nd day in a row, we were treated to a spectacular sunset show
For dinner, we feasted on sizzling sisig w/ egg, pansit canton, rice, fruit shakes, and called it a night.
DAY4
MONDAY
MAY 24, 2021
It’s our last day here in Calatagan, and we woke up early to swim in the beach for an hour, and another hour at the resort’s pool. No breakfast or lunch as we were still full, and we planned on having lunch in Tagaytay. Just took in some more sights and sounds of the sea.
We packed up our stuff, paid our accomodations, and set out for home, stopping by for lunch at Leslie’s Bulalo in Tagaytay, and it is worth the trip. The beef was succulent and soft, through and through. To top it off, we ate lunch in a restaurant with a spectacular view of Taal volcano!
The Calatagan trip was worth it even if it was just for a couple of days.
This pandemic thing really put a damper on travel plans.
I guess we just have to be thankful for what we have, and that we’re still here.
For the DIYers, here’s a list of expenses for two (2) persons for the 4day 3nights stay at Lago De Oro Resort and Wake Park in Calatagan, Batangas:
| MAY 21, 2021 FRIDAY (DAY 1) | COST |
| Prepare for trip | |
| Sasha / Spike/ house cleaning staff | 500.00 |
| Gasoline: Fulltank | 1,455.00 |
| Breakfast @Bag of Beans, Tagaytay | 1,028.00 |
| LUNCH @Lago de Oro Restaurant | 1,018.00 |
| Check-in @Lago De Oro 4d3n | 10,000.00 |
| DINNER | 826.00 |
| MAY 22, 2021 SATURDAY (DAY 2) | |
| Wake-up call | |
| Breakfast | 827.90 |
| Wake Boarding | 300.00 |
| Lunch | 1,095.00 |
| Misc expenses | 220.00 |
| Dinner | 1,018.00 |
| MAY 23, 2021 SUNDAY (DAY 3) | |
| Breakfast | 827.00 |
| LUNCH | 1,026.50 |
| DINNER | 985.00 |
| Misc expenses | 220.00 |
| MAY 24, 2021 MONDAY (DAY 4) | |
| Wake up call | |
| Swim @beach and pool of resort | |
| Depart for Manila | |
| Misc expenses | 220.00 |
| LUNCH @Leslie’s Bulalo | 1,120.00 |
| TOTAL: | 22,686.40 |
Here are some more sunset pics for your viewing pleasure
Be good to yourself and to others.
Dondz's Corner 