So, it was supposed to be a BBF trip to La Union since Jona will be coming home for the holidays. Change of plans and all that was left was me and Jap who's still up for a roadtrip and to see the beach. So off we go, well, with last minute plans to Anilao, with his friend Ken.
It was an easy drive from Cavite, where we met Ken, until we got to Bauan, Batangas which was in one hell of a traffic jam mess. Thanks to Ken and her sort of GPS app, we never got lost! Good thing as well that Jap and Ken both have very good playlists in their ipods so we have rocking sounds plus wifi in the car! Haha! And finally after hours of traveling we arrive to this...
This was so worth the trip. Casita Ysabel is a Balinese type haven which is perfect for a very relaxing weekend for those who just wants to chill and also for those who wants to snorkel. You can just swim a few meters and you can see spectacular corals and really a wide variety of fish, plus the water is crystal clear so you'll definitely be seduced to take a dip and explore the underwater. Too bad I don't have an underwater camera, so no pictures underwater here.
The place is so tranquil. With the sea breeze constantly blowing, it makes you just want to lie down on one of their outdoor casitas or their lounge beds with so many fluffy pillows and doze off. But, we didn't. When we have already settled in our room, we changed into our swim clothes and brought out the snorkeling gears and off we went snorkeling. I was in awe, with the rich marine life that Anilao has to offer. This is my second time in Anilao, but the first time I was in this place, we didn't snorkel, so this was a surprise for me. So that is why this is a very good diving spot. Really, God has blessed this side of Batangas with a rich marine life that hopefully we maintain and take care so we can still enjoy it in the future.
When we got tired from snorkeling and when my knee got injured in one of the rocks and won't stop bleeding, we headed back to the resort. Ken and I each brought a bottle of wine and Jap also brought the leftover cans of beer and chips. Popped a bottle of wine, my Cabernet Sauvignon and sliced some cheese and enjoyed pansit as merienda provided by the resort, while enjoying the cool sea breeze and watching the sunset on the veranda of our room. Dinner was a surprise, as the resort doesn't have a menu for you to choose from. So whatever the chef plans to cook for every meal of the day, that's going to be your meal. Even the staff has no idea of what they will serve. During this time,we're already on our second bottle of wine, sliced more cheese and ate dessert. After we've all freshened up, we moved to the lounge area near the sea, fluffed up pillows and the lounge beds, set a table, brought the booze and food down and continued with the bonding session. The experience is so chill, literally. You get to lounge on big pillows, while you hear the water lapping underneath you and the breeze blowing your hair gently while you sip wine and eat cheese, share stories and a lot of laughs.
Casita Ysabel has very good taste in their amenities. A bit on the pricey side, but totally worth it because you will enjoy personalized service. If you are really looking for a resort that is hard core in diving, this is not the place for you, since the vibe and what they can offer is really more on the relaxed side. They have snorkeling gears and a kayak that you can rent for a fee. They have a very good site for snorkeling. Testament is that Jap and Ken literally spent an hour or so exploring all possible sites near the resort, this morning while I bask under the sun, reading my current book hoping to have a tan. :) But overall, we loved the place. You sleep comfortably, the food is great and its a surprise every meal, and who doesn't want a very personalized service. The staff is very accomodating. You can check out their website for more info - Casita Ysabel
The photo below is what my knee looks after snorkeling. Ouch!!!
After Batangas, it's off to Tagaytay! Bag of Beans!! Its a Sunday, and as usual, traffic in Tagaytay can be a pain in the butt. We got there around 4pm, so we were starving!
Here we are sipping out milkshakes while waiting for the food we ordered. Cool smart phone of Ken! "Nauutusan!" Hahahaha! Then of course, bought pasalubong from Rowena's. Tarts galore!
I've enjoyed the last weekend of 2012. It seemed that almost everybody spent it with out of town, in a road trip with friends or family or in a party somewhere. Wherever and whoever you decided to spend the last weekend of the year with, I hope that it was a blast, an experience that is one for the books. Thanks Jap and Ken for the company! Here's to more beach trips! Cheers and don't forget to "Shine bright like a diamond!" Hahahaha!
No comments:
Post a Comment