It's More Fun in the Philippines: Batanes

I am feeling a bit nostalgic today because tomorrow is the first day of classes in UP and I am left without any classes to study in advance for nor friends and field trips to look forward to. Thus, I opened my laptop and browsed through some photos. Now, I'd like to share with you one of the best field trips I've had in college. I went on a filed trip to Batanes last March 2011 with my classmates from the UP Asian Institute of Tourism. Batanes, the northernmost province in the Philippines, is what they call heaven on Earth with its lush landscapes and unspoiled environment. Our trip there made me realize how heavily endowed the Philippines is of natural beauty. The breathtaking scenery, the kind people (Batanes is practically crime-free!), and the good food, all make up for a fun and relaxing getaway. I'll let the photos do most of the talking from here. 

Fields in Basco makes one want to belt out The Sound of Music tunes!

Valugan Beach

Lying on grass: one of life's simple pleasures

Marlboro Country

One cannot help but snap photos of every astonishing sight

Fundacion Pacita sits on a hill in Basco

Fundaction Pacita was once the studio of artist, Pacita Abad. It was rebuilt into a lodge, with each room resembling a gallery. It is now the premier accommodation establishment in Batanes, with exclusivity and comfort unparalleled by other inns and lodges there.

Staiway leading to a better view of the ocean

I love this photo of my friends

The wind is strong and cold, but you can ditch your thick jackets for an experience you won't get in the city!

Visit the famous lighthouse in Basco and go for a stroll on the beach (Sorry, I forgot what the name of this beach is).

The typical food choices in Batanes include fish, carabao meat, yellow rice, seaweed soup, and of course,  veggies! 

This is how you get around the mountains. It's more fun on the top load! 

We also visited the famous honesty coffee shop. It was not manned by anyone, there are just rules on the walls and a price list on the table.

Would you dare to steal with this plastered in front of you?

The children of the villagers are timid and polite.

A tourist-y shot before leaving the traditional stone houses

I wish I could go back there with my family. Have you visited Batanes or any similar place, too? Share your travel experiences or leave a link to your blog! :)

Le Monet Hotel at Camp John Hay, Baguio

My family wanted to go on a vacation somewhere peaceful and refreshing, so we decided to visit Baguio again after 3 years. We saw an ad about a newly-opened hotel in Baguio, the Le Monet Hotel at Camp John Hay, another property from the World Hotels group. The hotel was named after famous French impressionist painter, Claude Monet, and has a luxurious modern European theme. Here are some photos of the lobby:

gorgeous chandelier, eh?

The crystals drape romantically above the Dinelli dining area

Art is everywhere! :)

 THE ROOMS

We were able to try two types of rooms during our stay - the Deluxe Room and Junior Suite. The suites were all booked on our first day, so we agreed to book the Deluxe first and then just transfer to the suite on the next day. 

Deluxe Room

The view outside

Junior Suite

The hotel employees are all courteous and attentive. They were a bit of delays with special requests, but overall, they try their best to give efficient service with a smile! The rooms are chic and very comfortable, with simple touches of luxury. I love the spacious verandas where a family can actually hang out, instead of being useful only for drying out clothes. Haha! The view is a sight one can marvel at for hours.

THE FOOD

My favorite part about every vacation is the excuse to pig out and try everything! Guests receive complimentary buffet breakfast coupons, and I was of course ecstatic because breakfast is my favorite meal of the day! Here are some photos of the breakfast selections throughout our stay:

delectable Eggs Benedict <3

Lunch is usually spent outside of the hotel, so I'm skipping that and going straight to some dinner choices you might want to try there, too.

Bistek Tagalog

Filipino Salad that comes with the Bistek Tagalog

Salad with walnuts (I forgot what it's called exactly, but it's so good!)

BeefTenderloin

Gambas

OTHER FACILITIES

The gym equipment are quite cramped, but serves the purpose :)

The spa. I got a Backcial massage, and it was so good! Theywere kind enough to extend operating hours for us :))

This is a silhouette of a stranger I was able to capture in their Malt Room (function room/ bar)

Quaint garden outside! :)

Overall, we were very satisfied with our stay. The place really gives you excellent value for your money. The rooms are great, food is delicious, and people are polite, attentive, and courteous. I'd love to go back for another relaxing weekend up North!

Check out their website for more information.

I'm going to make a separate blog post about the other things we did while in Baguio. This is more of a hotel review.