Travel Bugs: October 2011

I really love being a Southern girl and I love-love living in Laguna, 'cause hell-O I was born and raised here. And now, I even work here! My love for Laguna also comes with my love for nature. I'm not a beach bum person kasi. If you'd make me choose between Boracay and Ilocos, I'd choose Ilocos. I get bored with beach 'cause I feel like, okay we'll go to the beach, sit on the shore, oh tapos? Unlike when you go nature tripping, there's just so many good things to look at, discover, and try. And no, this has nothing to do with the fact that I cannot swim-- Ha! So anyway, since ALL of my friends from high-school and college prefers beach over climbing/nature thing, I sometimes feel frustrated especially when I really, really wanna go to some forest and camp out but none of my girlies could accompany me, so just imagine how giddy I am to be with co-teachers/friends that are equally in love with nature!

And finally, after months of planning and waiting, our road trip finally took place last weekend--Hooray! The whole thing was out of our dearest teacher Mags's idea last July as we were looking at the list of holidays for the rest of the year and soon after she mentioned the idea of discovering Laguna, wala ng usapan pa, go na agad! :D

NOTE: Brace yourself for a series of OBLIGATORY jump shots! :P

Our first stop: Calamba Laguna because believe it or not, I haven't been to our Nat'l Joe's abode in Calamba.

Then we headed to Pila, Laguna

Where we crashed a wedding haha!

and where we found this place

That serves this very yummy Pancit Ulam

And took unlimited photos. Pila, reminded me so much of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. <3

From Pila, we went to Sta. Cruz then to Liliw! SHOE SHOPPING! I bought 4 pairs: 2 for me, 1 for mama, and 1 for my sister. It's my Christmas gift for them. I know they don't read my blogs so it's safe to mention it here *winkwink*

And thank goodness we found this coffee haven! It's a Mary Grace Cafe look alike inside!

After shopping, we headed to Nagcarlan, and true to being backpackers we just chanced upon a great place to swim and retire for the day at Villa Grogoria. The room is very nice, clean, and just enough to fit in 5 pretty ladies. The entire place is actually good. They have many pools, as in more than 5 pools, one of which is an Olympic size, some are kiddie pools w/ slides. Your group's privacy is also guaranteed because like I said, they have many pools for you to choose from so the guests will not pretty much just swim on one specific pool. :) And because I loved the place a lot, I'm thinking of bringing my folks there for their wedding anniversary this March. That is, of course, upon my Great Financer's approval: God. :)

Then we headed for the underground cemetery:

Then we headed for Bunga falls

Then, we headed to Pagsanjan!

Then we headed for Cavinti, Japanese Garden. The place was a disappointment because it was not maintained. The Bonsai plants are gone. Dried leaves all over the place. Sayang, I hope they could revive the place because it's quite wide... but with a 10-Peso entrance fee, what would we expect nga naman. Nevertheless, we still had fun. :-)

Then we headed back to Los Baños for UP-LB Grove to buy UP shirts, visit their famous thrift shop, Papu's siomai, and Mer-Nel's chocolate cake. :-)

That road trip was full of favors and surprises from God, so I wanna glorify God for being with us through out the entire road trip. And to our dearest teacher Maggie for being our superwoman driver! Galing sobra lalo na on the zig-zag part of the road. I wish I could drive like her someday.