Cintai Coritos Garden: A Balinese inspired resort in Batangas

Who would have thought Manilenos can now have a piece of Indonesia in more or less than two-hour drive?

Cintai Corito's Garden is a Bali inspired private property turned into resort located in the province of Balete, Batangas. The resort is made out of love as it was built by the owner's affection for his wife and family. I would say that this is the perfect place for those you wanted to have a quick escape from the bustling city and just unplug.

A City Tour: Tourist Spots in Iloilo City

As a highly urbanized city in the Philippines, the City of Iloilo has became a tourist hub that is blessed with enchanting landscapes, majestic heritage sites and appetizing cuisines. And being a prime province during Spanish Colonial Era, Iloilo is known to hold some of the most stunning historic architectures of the country. Local and foreign tourists will surely love and enjoy a tour to this city.

How did we got there? 
Our group composed of 9 heads rented out a van for 2,500. We met the van owner at the airport of Iloilo. Price may vary depending on how good you are on haggling and to your itinerary. Our group decided to just rented out a van instead of getting tours from agencies because of two reasons: 1) We don't have to follow any time table. 2) We're the one to decide where we want to go. We just give a list of places we want to visit to the van owner and we let him decide the sequence.

Camiña Balay Nga Bato: An Ancestral House of Iloilo City

Aside from seeing beaches, view from mountain decks and tasty delicacies... visiting ancestral houses is one of the many things I look forward when traveling. Simply because I got to see even a bit of what it's like to live in the past and also to hear stories and learned new things from those old houses.

So during my visit in Iloilo City, I have been blessed and was able to see an 1860-ish house which is now called Camiña Balay Nga Bato. Balay Nga Bato is a two-storey house that showcases an antique/souvenir shop (ground floor) and living area (top floor).  A tour to this aged-house would costs you 150 PhP which includes an experience to taste their signature Tsokolate.

Our Weekend Family Getaway via HomeAway

Tagaytay is a known place for Manilenos who are seeking for a quick escape from the busy city. Aside from the cool breeze and family-oriented spots you'll experience there, Tagaytay has become a food haven over the past years. Having said that, it's no wonder why the town has a lot of hotels and condos standing and being constructed around it due to its popularity to locals and foreign tourists.

I wanted to treat my family with an out of town trip and Tagaytay would be the best option for a weekend getaway. Now, the next thing would be, where will be staying? A five-star hotel would costs me a lot and merely out of my league. I simply don't want to put all my cash on accommodation for our trip. However, I maybe on a tight budget but I would still like my family to experience a fancy abode. It's really hard to find a place that is affordable and packed with amenities... luckily, I discovered HomeAway which has given me a discount with our booking.

Miagao Church of Iloilo: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Popularly known as the Miagao Church, Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church is a world heritage site found in the province of Miagao, Iloilo. This Roman Catholic Parish Church is part of the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites along side with San Agustin Church of Manila; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church of Ilocos Sur; and San Agustin Church of Ilocos Norte.

How did I got there?
Well, it is part of our Ilo Ilo city tour. Our group composed of 9 heads rented out a van for 2,500 and a visit to Miagao Church is part of that itinerary. We met the van owner at the airport of Iloilo. Price may vary depending on how good you are on haggling and to your itinerary. Our group decided to just rented out a van instead of getting tours from agencies because of two reasons: 1) We don't have to follow any time table. 2) We're the one to decide where we want to go. We just give a list of places we want to visit to the van owner and just let him decide the sequence.