The Philippine Outdoors

Direction/Map Going to Triple-G Beach Resort, Laiya

iano16 — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 13:12:57 +0000

This is a gps map going to Triple-G Beach Resort at Laiya, San Juan, Batangas coming from Daang-hari, Bacoor, Cavite via South Luzon Expressway and STAR tollway.

Total Trip Distance: 131.24 kms.
To download the gps track: right click this (kml/gpx) and save.

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Laiya Beach with the Family

iano16 — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:02:22 +0000

My wife and I discussed about going to the beach this summer with the kids as it is the best time to go. Thus, we planned going early in the first week of April on weekday to avoid so much crowd and we research on several beaches within Luzon. The criterions are:
1. A white sand beach
2. The resort should have a pool so that our kids will enjoy if in case the beach wasn’t their liking.
3. Clean, but affordable.
4. We can cook and bring our own food.

With these four criterions in mind, I focus my search on Pagupud @ Ilocos, Zambales, and Batangas provinces. Since Pagudpud is too far from Cavite where we lived, and Pagudpud expenses will surely be higher compared to if we go to either Batangas or Zambales, we decided to scratch it off from our favored destinations.
After thorough research, comparing the rates of various resorts, and people’s review. We decided to go to Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. First, we tried to book for one night at Kabayan Beach resort since it passes all our criterions (as stated above). However, they are quite strict with their check-in/check-out time, though, we planned to check-in on weekday(Wednesday). They won’t allow us to check-in early in the morning and they advise us to rent a cottage first, then check-in in the afternoon, later. Whatta heck?!! Thus, we decided to book at Triple-G Beach Resort, Kabayan resort’s neighbor.
At Triple-G Beach Resort, though, they don’t have a pool, they allow us to check-in early at 9:00AM, for the reason that they are not fully booked on weekdays. When we arrived there, I saw Kabayan’s resort rooms not fully occupied as well. Now, I’m too happy knowing it because Kabayan resort lost a small profit from me (hehehe…) because of not allowing us to check-in early, though, they have a lot of vacant rooms… . Beside, they are just neighbors, and beach quality is just the same.

Some Pictures Within Triple-G Beach Resort

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Strawberry Farm at La Trinidad, Benguet MAP/GPS track

iano16 — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:19:43 +0000

This is a GPS track from Strawberry Farm at La Trinidad, Benguet going back to Baguio City(Bloomfield hotel).

Trip Distance: 9.6 kilometers
To download the gps track: right click this (kml/gpx) and save.

The Strawberry Farm at La Trinidad, Benguet

strawberry-picking with the family.

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Anticipating and Celebrating New Year in Baguio City

iano16 — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 06:00:25 +0000

Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines is our family’s choice to spend our new year. Why Baguio? Because weather is cooler than the usual Philippine climate. And since it’s a mountain city with an average elevation of 1400m ASL, temperature ranges from 14degC ~ 23degC during the month of December and it is projected to hit 9degC in February to March as per PAGASA(Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services).
We traveled 290kms from home(Bacoor, Cavite) for approximately 6.5 hours, including some stopover and traffic via NLEX, SCTEX and Kennon road.
I’m quite happy and satisfied that the kids enjoyed so much from the activities and places we visit.

The Lion’s head along Kennon Road

Our Accommodation:
For our accommodation, we checked-in at Bloomfield hotel along Leonard Wood road. A stone throw away from SM City-Baguio and the busy street of Session road. If you’re on a budget but wants the comfort and coziness of a hotel, I highly recommend this hotel. It will cost you a mere Php2200.00/night during holiday season and Php1980.00/night during ordinary days for their standard room. They have wi-fi and secured parking area too. Beside, this place is very near SM city, session road and Burnham park.

The Bloomfield hotel superior deluxe room

Food Choices:
For foods, you have so much choices, but I will only mention here the restaurant that we’ve been to and i won’t mention any Jollibee or chowking as it is too common, though, we ate there too…
Cafe by the Ruins. If you want a restaurant with a little bit of historical touch, you may try this resto. It’s basically a WW2 ruins converted into a restaurant. The problem is, if it is a holiday season, the queue is too long. We waited for more than an hour before we were able to sit down and order our lunch. For the food taste, I forgot what I ordered but I’m not too impressed. I would rather choose Mario’s over this. Sorry….

Marios. Excellent fine dining and cheaper than Manila’s high-end resto. This is where we spend our New year dinner.

Jack’s Restaurant. Taste good and budget friendly. We paid a minimal Php240.00 for our food which is good for 3 persons. This restaurant is located at La Trinidad, Benguet on the way to strawberry farm. But, they have also a branch in Baguio called Jack’s kitchenette.

Places to Visit/What to Do:
Boating at Burnham Park. For a couple’s romantic moment or a family bonding, you may try boating at Burnham park for only Php60.00 for 30~45 minutes. But, on a holiday, it will peak to Php100.00.

Strawberry-Picking at La Trinidad, Benguet. Fun, and you can choose which strawberries to pick. It will cost you Php100.00 per half kilo for strawberry-picking. My kids enjoyed so much that they are all smiles after filling-up their basket.

Lourdes Grotto. If you would like the religious and physical challenge of climbing up the stairs leading to Lourdes Grotto, you may try to visit this place. I haven’t count the number of steps but it’s quite high, probably around 300 steps.

Camp John Hay. Great place. You can do trail walking, go inside butterfly sanctuary, try their own version of zip line, picnic, shopping and dining. It’s an all-in-one place.

Other places that may interest you are the Mines View park, The mansion, Botanical Garden, and wright park. These are all tourist spot.

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Makiling Mudspring GPS Track

iano16 — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:35:39 +0000

Hey! It’s been a while that I haven’t updated my blog and I’m sorry for that. Got too busy at work and always traveling in and out of the country since August for a very important project with the company I’m working with.
Though, with those frequent travel, I was able to squeeze some time for some mountainbiking activities, but, I haven’t put it here… Not much free time for my blogging, though.
Anyway, I tried getting a GPS track using my cellphone, a Blackberry Storm2, on my last Mt. Makiling ride last November 7th.
I uploaded it here if in case you need a gps track or direction to go there.

To download the gps track: right click this (in kml format) and save.
To view the google map in a new window with geotagged photos: click here

Some pictures to Ponder:

A the start of the trail

A view from the station 5

At the bukohan. It’s the cheapest buko you can buy for only Php10.00

The sulfuric mudspring

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My Old and Trusted Steed (’97 Mazda 323 Sedan)

iano16 — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:19:31 +0000

Here’s my old, trusted and reliable 1997 Mazda 323 Sedan where it brought me to so many places already since 2004 where I first acquired it. Yes, this old stallion is my lonely workhorse going to afar cities and places such as Baguio City, Subic, and Uminggan town of Pangasinan.
Since I am a mountainbiker, I used it going to unfamiliar terrain and passing through some dirt/off roads such as the Pestano farm of Antipolo, Rizal; Sitio Alabastro of Barangay Ayusan 2, Tiaong, Quezon; and barangay Tungtungin at UP-Los Banos where an SUV or a 4×4 is a good choice of transportation. Since it is a sedan, you can’t avoid getting its under-chassis scraped passing through this dirt roads. I pity my sedan. haha! But at least a little bit proud because it was able to go and pass some roads where other cars can’t.
This 1997 Mazda 323 is based on Mazda B platform shared similarly by the Ford Escort. And since it is already more than a decade old, I already replaced a lot of its parts/components such as the timing belt and water pump. It’s a real headache maintaining an old car, but what can you do if it is the only car you have?

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3rd Ross Downhill Race Pictures

iano16 — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:31:06 +0000

18 July 2010
Barangay Patiis, San Mateo, Rizal

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Steel MX Goggles

iano16 — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 06:24:57 +0000

July 02, 2010. I received a notice from our post office informing me that I got a priority mail package at post office and needs to pick it up personally. First came to my mind, that it maybe the MX/DH goggles that I ordered (as a sponsored athlete) from Steel MX. With excitement, of course, I dressed up casually and rushed going to the post office since it is just about 4 kilometers from home.
After paying the post office Php35.00, for whatever fees it maybe, the package is now in my hands. And yes! it came from Steel MX.

18 days shipping from the USA. Well,that’s a little bit fast as per my expectation. Philippine postal office has a history of inefficiency and lost mail/packages when I was a kid. That’s why I’m a bit worried sending the package via USPS. Perhaps our Philippine post office did changed for good. Well, hopefully…
At home, I opened up the package and it contained the dolomite and corrosive goggles.

Checking the goggles gives me the impression that it is really good, especially the corrosive. Though, I still have to try it in real application, and that is downhill mountainbiking…
Thank you Steel MX!

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The Redemption – 3rd Ross Downhill Challenge

iano16 — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:23:28 +0000

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Camsur Downhill Bike Competition

iano16 — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:57:48 +0000

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