Valentines Dinner at Casa San Miguel

I’ve wanted to spend Valentines in Casa San Miguel Zambales and this was our year. It was a supposed full course candle lit dinner for 2 for only 1500 with the Virtuosi but for some circumstances it was cancelled. 

We were serenaded by kids instead and they were amazing, while having our dinner. We had pizza and pasta and the unlimited coffee. Dinner was nice and was actually relaxing. The classy and rustic vibe is still there and for me this is the perfect place to have dinner with a loved one. Everything is romantic.

My Valentines!

Royale Rumble Slim's Favorite

After dinner we were contemplating where to go. I originally planned on spending the evening at Casa’s room but we impulsively decided to drive to Baguio instead. We got a new travel buddy so time to test its capabilities.

We were napping on the road every chance we got and arrived at Baguio around 2am. We stayed at the transient place we stayed at last December. What did we do here?

Our home in Baguio

We went on a food trip and met Slim’s colleague who just got married. We also tried going to Bencab which was closed on Monday’s, Oh my Gulay which is also closed on Monday’s and Cafe in the Sky who are not allowed to operate by DENR. I spoke with the owner and cafe employee but we were still not allowed to go up. We just went to Cafe by the Ruins and enjoyed our lunch.

Hey 2016, What happened to blogging?

Tired.

I'm just tired.

Nowadays, I just want to curl up in bed and sleep. I even got tired of blogging. I haven't posted our V-day trip last Feb and the rest of our trips this year. (I drafted this last FEB)

Why did we start our trips anyway? Well I’ll tell soon but for now I’m going to write about 2016.

So first quarter of 2016 I was too lazy to do anything. We travel to relax, to unwind but it was becoming a chore for me than leisure. I didn’t want long trips. I didn’t want going to one place then another. I didn’t want to sleep late. I just want a rest. I think I had a travel overdose. It's not like what others do but my body took its toll.

But we still went on a trip. It was Valentines and Slim's birthday so why should I spoil it? We spent Valentines at Casa San Miguel then Slim’s birthday at Baguio. I'll just post a few pictures and I'll write about them soon.

CASA SAN MIGUEL FEB 2016

CASA SAN MIGUEL FEB 2016

BAGUIO FEB 2016

Maybe the trip is what I needed but as soon as I get home I feel like I’m going to get sick.

Second quarter of the year is busier and I'm becoming more exhausted. We actually went to places we have been to. I told myself that this year we should visit new places but because I'm acting a little strange and I don't want to make a research we went back to what feels like home for us.

PUNDAQUIT APRIL 2016 CANOE BEACH RESORT

PUNDAQUIT/ SIDE TRIP TO NAGSASA APRIL 2016

ON OUR WAY TO MAGALAWA MAY 2016 (This is new)

BAGO CITY NEGROS OCC. JUNE 2016

I love seeing sceneries other than what I’m used to seeing but all this trips is just making me darn tired. Should we really do work and leisure at the same time?

Third quarter is scary and surprising. Why scary? Well, to those who knows our history you'd understand but I'll write about it soon for now look at the pictures.

LEBERDIN MANOR PANSOL JULY 2016

LEBERDIN MANOR PANSOL JULY 2016

PUNTA BULATA NEGROS OCC. SEPT 2016

SEPT 2016 BAGO CITY

And so we are expecting a little tripper in May!!! Is my exhaustion causing the baby delay? Well, maybe but now we are just ecstatic and so happy. We promised to tone down our travels err.. Maybe not. 😊 

Fourth Quarter I'm a mess and my morning sickness is becoming an everyday sickness. I just stayed home for this baby. My routine was sleep, puke, try eating, sleep, Facebook. I was too lazy to write. I'm lazy to do anything. I just want my appetite back I lost 3 kilos in the span of 1 month. I'm writing just now because I’ll be going back to work soon. You know? Cramming? Deadlines? 

November I got a go signal from my OB to travel and had to take loads of medicine. I don't want to spend our Anniversary at home anyway. My hunger for travel is coming back. It's like a pregnancy craving. I think Lo is going to be an adventurer like his Dad.

LA UNION/COCONUT GROVE NOV 2016

PUNDAQUIT NOV 2016

BOLINAO DEC 2016

I enjoyed the trip. I miss spending time alone with Slim. 

Although most of our trips this year are places we've been to it's the familiarity that makes it memorable. Maybe that is what I've been missing. I was so keen on seeing unfamiliar places that I've been missing the feeling of being at home.

Next year will be great along with our little one. Should we change this to cruising ph with a baby? Baby stories coming soon. 😘 

Our home in Baguio last December

After our Christmas Break in Bolinao it's just a relaxing trip to Baguio. It was really spontaneous so we have no reservations. Thankful that we have relatives in Baguio so they referred us to a really awesome place in Trancoville.

The fireplace won!

It was a 3-storey house and we were staying at the 3^rd floor. The 2^nd floor has guests but it was fine since there were 2 restrooms at the 3^rd floor. 1st floor is where the living room is with a fireplace, dining room, kitchen and another restroom.

Room A
2 Queen Size beds, Cabinet, Dresser and a Restroom

 This is where my Mom & Dad, and us stayed. I don’t want us to spend alone in a room.  Baguio urban legends (haha) is a sucker but our stay was fine.

Room B
2 Double Size beds, Cabinet and a Dresser

Our teens stayed here

Room C
1 Double Deck, 2 Double beds and a Cabinet
This room was not occupied

Room D

Room D
1 Double deck, 1 Quuen Size bed and Cabinets
My brother and the kids stayed here

3^rd floor can accommodate 12 plus persons.

3rd floor lobby

2nd floor lobby plus veranda

The kitchen

chef MJ

Chilly Baguio

We were supposed to check La Presa but we found out it was closed so we headed home.

**You may send me a message if you are interested in staying in this house**

ROOM	350xhead = 2800
Food	Bfast = 700 Lunch = 800 Total  = 1500
TOLL	TPLEX = 216 SCTEX = 272 NLEX = 218 706
GAS	1100
TOTAL	6106 Slim and I spent = 2035 If you are a group of 6= 1018 Baguio + Bolinao = 2035 + 3137.50 = 5172.50 for 2 persons

ROOM

350xhead = 2800

Food

Bfast = 700

Lunch = 800

Total  = 1500

TOLL

TPLEX = 216

SCTEX = 272

NLEX = 218

706

GAS

1100

TOTAL

6106

Slim and I spent = 2035

If you are a group of 6= 1018

Baguio + Bolinao = 2035 + 3137.50 = 5172.50 for 2 persons

Tambobong Beach Dasol Pangasinan Rough road to paradise

During my getaway searches I stumbled upon this amazing place. We were not able to go last summer with our family because of work. A weekend getaway would be nice I thought so before I go back to work after my healing period Slim decided its Dasol’s time to shine.

No edit needed

We were supposed to leave at 2 a.m. but left by 4 a.m. insomnia has been visiting me the past days so I woke up late. By 8 a.m. we are in Iba, Zambales we took the NLEX – Subic SCTEX Route instead of going to TPLEX.

Spot Ligaya
Breakfast at IBA

I think TPLEX would be shorter but we’ll try that soon. By 10 a.m. we are in the Municipality of Dasol and entered Burgos which will bring us to Tambobong Beach. We were dismayed that the better route is closed so we were left with rough roads. The unpaved road is 80% rough, we have our travel buddy Ligaya and Slim is getting agitated with every bump she took.  

Road to Paradise

After 2 hours of our bumpy ride we were welcomed by a concrete road and a sight of the beach. Yehey!! Ligaya survived!!! We asked around and we finally got to our home for the night R Paradise Beach Resort.

I was nervous about the place they have bad reviews in Trip Advisor but good blog reviews, my family stayed in Abella’s last time and they loved their stay. But there is something about R Paradise that made up my mind…the bathroom perhaps?

I texted Ms. V the night before and she was very accommodating, she made sure we are assisted properly and to text her if we need something, she even called me when we got there when I asked her about the road going home. This place is really recommended.

When we got to R Paradise I felt home because of the people behind the resort. They were very accommodating, very polite and are making sure that we are taken care of, Filipino hospitality at its best. I actually love our room, it’s simple and rustic. The bed is made of local materials, the wall is cemented covered with mats (BANIG), we have cabinets, the room we took has a fridge, it’s clean and the bathroom is gorgeous. The bathroom is made of rocks from the sea and it’s huge with shelf made of wood. It does not have hooks for your things but they have enough shelves for your clothes, soap and stuff. The shower is great, not only do you feel one with nature but it doesn't get flooded and the toilet is clean.

It may look raw but there's A/C and it's functioning well.

Loving the pebbles

A seat in the shower

We had lunch when we got there, they have our lunch prepared and it was good. After lunch we packed our beers and a few things and off to Culibra Island.

While going to our boat I noticed that the beach is actually nice, staying in Tambobong would be enough, there are a lot of fishing boats docked and the water is clear.

The beach front

The boat ride is okay but a little bumpy, it’s not like the other boat rides we’ve tried before but we survived.

Smiling even if the waves are crashing

A boat just left Culibra Island so we are the only tourists left. The sand is clear and finer than the sands in Bolinao. There are 3 coconut trees left with no leaves so it was so hot in this island. No shades left but the water is amazing. We stayed maybe for 45 minutes and off to the rocky Crocodile Island. I recommend going here early so that you can bear the heat of the sun. Our bankeros told us that there used to be Sea Snakes in this island but they left,must have been scared of tourists.

Bye guys!

Culibra Island

Perfect

Hot in Culibra, off to Crocodile Island

The tide is low when we got to Crocodile Island and was told that the boat can’t be docked so we had to walk to the camp site. It is a rocky place. Thank you for our Aqua Shoes it was manageable, I felt like we hiked mountains going through rock formations and hiking a little. It was a good 10 minute walk to the cave where we stayed.

Again it’s just us enjoying the moment. We stayed here for 4 hours, swimming, eating, drinking, acting like kids and savoring the moment. What I like about Tambobong is its clean, maybe a few empty plastic bottles but it’s nothing compared to the other places we’ve been to. It’s really a paradise.

I was too scared to go inside

This place has a lot of potential, I know that secluded places like this would be a waste if tourist will flock the area but if we promote responsible tourism we can enjoy places like this and still make the place better.

Anatomy of FUN

Fisherman boat going to Scarborough Shoal

For dinner we had grilled fish and decided to eat by the beach, what’s funny is I can hear a Gecko (TUKO) somewhere our kubo and dogs were waiting for a treat. I really felt remote here but enjoyed it, a nice break from the city life.

Dinner

Since we enjoyed our dinner we asked if we can also have Grilled fish for breakfast. Wish granted!!! We left at around 10 a.m. and felt like we are leaving our relatives behind. It's like saying goodbye to our Aunts and Uncles and in our hearts we told ourselves we will go back.

Brekky

We planned to eat lunch at San Marcelino Rosa Farms but when we got there the Café Is closed. The café is open during the summer.

Bummer, cafe is open only on summer

Is Tambobong Doable by car, despite the rough road? YES!!

Will I go back? YES!!!

Our Total Expense is between 5500 – 6000 the cheapest vacation we had and what I realized is it’s the same amount if you commute via bus. 3k per head is not bad right?

Estimated Expense
Gas	1200 Full Tank	GAS RATE is 33.85/liter
Food	1100 (R Paradise Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast PLUS Beer)
	300 Breakfast at IBA
Toll	45 MIN 173 NLEX 168 Subic SCTEX 22 TIPO 22 TIPO 168 SCTEX 218 NLEX
ROOM	1200	Depends on the number of heads and the room you take
BOAT	900 (PLUS LIFE JACKET)
TOTAL	5516

Ligaya's pampering after