BATANGAS

Batangas—the weekend paradise. Every weekend, lots of travellers ultimately spend their time looking for the next hotspot. Whether it’s for relaxation, adventure, or even just somewhere to fill you taste buds, this is your happy place. It is just a few hours from the city, and in my case, only a one hour drive away. Almost finishing the third month of my summer vacation and I’ve been dreading to get out the house for weeks. The urge is there, but the motivation cannot be found. Originally we were set to leave the house at 7 AM, but due to late nights and sleeplessness, we woke up at almost noon time. No hurry though, Batangas is literally Cavite’s [my hometown] friendly adventurous neighbour. The drive was a breeze, there was barely any traffic going up the province. When you’ve been living near the vicinity for a long time, you notice the rush hours; meaning the hours NOT to travel because of the endless traffic bound to happen. From 3 PM onwards until 6-7 PM, vacationers leave their hotels and head straight home to the city, creating an enormous traffic jam; thus, the rush hour. You need to avoid this at all costs, especially if you’re the designated driver. Luckily for us, we were able to avoid the treacherous reality of weekend trips, leaving us with nothing but a wide open road.

Our first stop for the afternoon was the ‘Caleruega Catholic Church’. This is no ordinary church; it’s facilities are complete for retreat goers and visitors. Upon the entrance, you need to pay Php 30 for the fee; you get a map complete with guidelines and the attractions you won’t be able to miss. If you are a fan of long walks and cold breeze, then this place is your sanctuary. Even though we had the map, we still got lost though. A lot of families were taking pictures by the time we got into the transfiguration chapel; it kind of ruined the intimacy of the place. But the upside of it is that, the place is well-maintained and cleaned. Prenuptial wedding photo shoots were taking place when we were exploring.

One thing that took our breaths away besides the long upstairs walk was the view. I mean it was amazing, I wish I could’ve taken the thing and brought it back home. Green fields, hills with no end, complete with foggy clouds surrounded the grounds. It was peaceful and mesmerizing at the same time. Another spot I though was memorable was the hanging bridge by the Koi fish ponds. A lot of kids were roaming since it was one of the most exciting attractions of Caleruega; as we got off the bridge undeniably I got dizzy and it was as if the ground was shaking below me. We drank some Buko juice and ate some snacks to relieve our exhaustion and thirst. We had to leave because closing time was like thirty minutes away, and we still had a long walk back to the entrance gate.

Our second stop took us to the hidden pride of Nasugbu—‘Kainan sa Dalampasigan’. It was an events place; extravagant enough to be an everyday restaurant. There were plants decorated all over the place. It was like a secret garden complete with delicious meals that satisfied every guests’ appetites. The instrumental music was the cherry on top of an intimate family-friendly ambiance. The waitresses were friendly too, you could tell that they really loved their job. We ordered this ‘Bilao’ special complete with every seafood I love, I’m not kidding it’s all there—Shrimp, tahong, and bangus.

As the night settles in, we made a last minute decision to stop by ‘Sonya’s Garden’. Another restaurant, much like the previous one, although this one sets itself apart by selling therapeutic candles and other organic fragrances. Unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived at the place. Bummed us out a little bit but the day still isn’t over, it was time to turn the trip around and head straight to Dreamland Café. This place has been in my bucket list for months now due to its authentic hipster design and customer friendly nature. It wasn’t that big but it was perfect for a late night weekend chill. It was still cold out so having a nice cup of hot drink inside Dreamland would definitely end the trip on a high note.

My point is, no matter what kind of adventure you’re looking for, Batangas could give it to you. Beaches, hiking trails, malls, bed and breakfasts, name it and it would not disappoint. Residents in Manila drive all the way here just for the perfect weekend getaway. It’s affordable, the people are friendly, and the tourist attractions are endless—the weekend paradise at your service.

#travel #local