Coco Beach - Puerto Galera Batangas

Every year at my company, we are required to take a 7 working days off from work. We call it Mandatory Time Away (MTA). We can't enter office premises, cant log on to intranet, cant access shared drives and systems. We can access only our emails offsite which I didnt practice in my 3yrs at DKS.


Its always been a pressure for me every time I need to take my MTA coz its so hard to get a nice schedule. This year, I spent few days for some personal errands, hair cut, facial, dental and went to Coco Beach at Puerto Galera!

I was hesistant at first when I heard the name of the resort because my friend once told me that the beach wasn't good because it's rocky and full of corals. But we still booked for it. We chose to go there on our own since the service would require us to get up very early in the morning. And so we took a bus from LRT Buendia going to Batangas Pier and rode on a big motorboat going to Sabang. From Sabang we took a small motorboat to Coco Beach.

When we arrived, we were offered Buco juice in a coconut shell & a garland made of small seashells which I took home for my daughter. We originally booked for 3 days, but we cant get enough of the place, so we extended for another day.

The resort has 1 big pool with restaurant at the middle and the native cottages are all over the place. Each cottage has veranda where you can relax while enjoying the cool sea breeze and of course the view of the beach. I soo love the feeling. They also have a revolving restaurant though we were not able to try it coz we are always late for lunch or dinner. Lol!


The resort has activities everyday and you can book yourself for all of them if you want. You can even borrow DVD dics from the reception area or watch movie at their mini theatre every night. You can also go diving,snorkling, pool/beach swimming during the day,or play basketball, table tennis, badminton, billiards etc. And during dinner time, they will serenade you with music.


I so love the place that I still dont want to go home. It is soo quiet and relaxing. I spent every afternoon at the "duyan" in front of the beach doing nothing. It is also my first time to swim at an 8ft pool, huh! coz before I am soo afraid even only in a 5ft pool. Maybe because I feel safe with my companions who are good swimmers.

I remember the first time I am trying to jump into the pool. I was hesitating when a 10 yr old dutch boy pushed me to the pool! I didnt drown myself though I gulped some water. His name is Victor. We spent the whole afternoon playing/tricking with him. And it was alot of fun! Before we left the pool, Victor invited me to play billiards with him after dinner. He thought I am just a 15 yrd old girl haha... we were laughing so hard!

In our entire vacation, all we did was swim, eat, watch dvd, "duyan", drink, snorkle and eat some more. And so after that, I gained 8 pounds! grrr I already look fat on my swimsuit on the 3rd day! But overall, we were so happy, well rested and satisfied. For sure I'd want to go back to that resort. =)

Island Hopping in Zambales

The first time I saw the picture of my friend in Anawangin beach-Zambales a few years ago, I was mesmerized! The place was very serene and looks like a place in China/Japan that I've seen in some movies. At last I was able to experience it myself March this year.

We actually went to 3 different islands:

Capones - where we had trekking and reached the top of an old light house. The view was breath taking. But trekking was not really my thing. I had a heavy leg going back to the shore where we had our snacks.

Nagsasa - We stayed here overnight. If I was mesmirized with Anawangin, I fell inlove with Nagsasa that I want to go here whenever I want. Though going there wasn't easy. We traveled by land for at least 4hrs and an hour boat ride. The boat ride was a bit exciting for me though. The boat was small and would accommodate only 4 passengers including the boatman. The waves were so big! It feels like we are having some rides in an amusement park! But I feel safe with my life vest and I trust the boatman, unlike my cousin who is with me in the boat. She was so afraid and later on been silent while praying. Good thing though.=)

We had an overnight camping and tequila night at the shore under the moon while playing "who is guilty". I guess in the female group, I am the most guilty of all haha.. so I kinda get tipsy at the end of the game.
The following day, I was the last one to get up from the Tent. It was my first time to go camping, espcially by the beach. The experience was over nice! =) After breakfast, we went swimming ang took a lot of pictures. Then we headed to the next island.

Nagsasa was the best island of the three, by the way. It has pine trees grown in the sand and the place was so relaxing. The view was spectacular! I soooo love Nagsasa!!!


Anawangin - the place was below my expectations. It was jam packed by beach goers. But over all, the view was still nice. I love the lagoon though. There we had the conventional halo-halo. Then, we went home full of experiences and new friends.

Rosegold Beach Resort

Every year in NYK, we always have a company outing. In my 4yrs stay in that company, it was my first time to go with them at Rosegold beach resort, Calatagan Batangas last summer 2007.
The resort is just a 4 hours drive from manila using a private car. Its not advisable to go there when you plan to commute since the resort is located in a secluded place. But the long trip is really worthwhile when you see those floating cottages in the resort. It is really a romantic gate-away for couples who want to spend a relaxing weekend together after a busy week at the city. We even saw couples having a tan in the beach side.
It has a slightly white sand and a really nice shoreline to play some sports. There we had badminton, tag of war and obstacle course with my officemates. But of course you play some other sports/games you can think of like beach volleyball, patintero, flying saucer, etc.

Sad to say, the water in the beach is low even for sereval meters away. We just merge into the water and took pictures of ourselves. And to complete our swimming, we enjoyed the pool near the restaurant area together with the kids. The resort has 2 pools, one for adults and one for the kids just parallel to each other. So the adults can just look after their kids from their pool. But they are strict as to swim-wear, so you have to bring your favorite 2pc or trunks! But if you are a little shy, you can top it with a plain white t-shirt and shorts with garter, etc (as long as there's no button).

After a tiring day, we had our candlelit dinner in front of the beach.. It must be so romantic for couples! =) We indulged ourselves to a variety of food from grilled fish, meat and seafoods, and vegetables to a sumptouos desserts.
After that, the boys had their bonding while drinking red wine, while the girls just had their "pulutan" at the veranda of the cottages. Some of us went to the restaurant which is open for 24hrs for videoke.
The nice experience I had with NYK is that in every occasion or outing, you can always tag along your love ones like wife/husband, kids, boyfriend/girlfriend, siblings, parents and even your drivers and yaya's hehe.. but of course you have to pay for their share. The company only pays for the employee. Unluckily, that year I dont have a boyfriend! (even til now =) ). While all most of them have their special someone,huh!

What I like most with Rosegold beach resort are their cottages in floating drama, plus the view from the veranda of a really nice and serene, calm beach.

8 Waves Waterfun!

The resort is just an hour drive from Manila using private car. Its located at San Rafael Bulacan. I've been here twice coz the first time we went here we had limited time. So far, this resort has the most number of pools of all the resorts I've been to. This is most popular for their pool with eight artifical waves, probably were they got its name. They have 3 kiddie pools, a lap pool, 8waves pool and 3 more.
We stayed overnight at the hotel until the following morning,the first time we went here. But you cant also have night swimming and just stay at the cottages near the pools and drink and party all night. The rate is lower for night swimming compared to day time.

Boracay!!!

Who says going to Boracay is too expensive? Nowadays, its no longer true. There are already cheap travel packages available. You just have to wait for Cebu Pacific promo where you can avail of its roundtrip ticket for around P2500-P3000. Then stay in a simple hotel room which starts at P800 per room per night.

When we went there last summer, we stayed at La Carmela de Boracay and the rate is about P4200 per day I think, including breakfast. Its a beachfront hotel with a pool.
Unluckily, when we got there, a typhoon came and disturbed the really great water and sand of Boracay. I brought several pairs of swimwears. I was so excited to wear them but I only used 3 sets of them because we can't go out due to the typhoon. We stayed at the hotel most of the time.
But on our last day, we were able to go around the place and took pictures.
We hope to come back here next time and we hope that everything would be just a perfect vacation!
By the way, if you want to buy this bottle with Boracay, it costs at about P1200.
And their simple paintings range from 350- 2500 depending upon the size.

Grande Island at Subic

Of all the resorts I've been to, its Grande Island that I liked best. Because of their hotel rooms in front of the beach,its just like my dream home come true. Each morning we wake up, we could easily see the view of the beach right from our bed visible through the glass wall. Wow!! The view is sooo relaxing. The place is so serene. I really love it! The sand is just ok,not too white and not too brown. Of course nothing compares to boracay yet.


At night there is a live band playing where you can go party with your friends or family. You can even sing along with them. The resto is just in front of the pool.
One morning we had trekking... we go around the island for less than an our with a tour guide and we've seen some old canyons during the world war II.
After going here, I recommended the place to my NYK pals and they had thier company outing here last summer 2008.