Fun Day at Borzner's

     Actually this is our third destination after Minalungao Adventure. A whole day in a pool with friends!

    I like most here is that there are four (4) pools to choose from. And the day that we have selected to visit is not family day, so only few visitors were there. Since this is a public pool and very cheap, we expected many people to be with us. Thanks God there are only about 5 - 7 group who visited that day.

    Borzner's Events Place and Resort is located at Sta. Ines, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. Only about 10 minutes away from home. They have four pools as mentioned above. One olympic size pool which we have enjoyed. It ranges from 3 to 6 feet high. 1 pool for kids, ages 1-5 just beside the olympic size. Another two on the higher part of the area. They are both small pool, just like a family pools. Height maybe 3-4 feet only. Those two small pools I really enjoyed because I can not swim to a deeper water, lol eh?!?

    Another thing that I love about the area is their "kubo" cottages. I love them. And those were just exactly what I am wanting as my house. They have large cottages for corporate or company outings too.

    Cheapest cottage that they have only worth P300.00 best fit for barkada outings, just like us. They already have tables and chairs and they have what we call "banggera" to put our food and other "baon" so the table can be saved for eating purposes only.

    Borzner's also offer free use of grills for ihaw-ihaw (roasting) which was always part of a swimming party for most Filipinos.

   As much as I have loved the place, there is one thing that I noticed and that I didn't like. The receptionist, the girl to whom we pay our entrance fee didn't even put a smile (even a fake one) on her face. She didn't know how to welcome a guest. Shouldn't she be friendly and approachable?

    Huh, good thing we are not in the bad mood that day, we didn't pay any attention to her. We just enjoyed the bonding moment with my husband and my friends.

    I will surely come back.

***HAPPY SUMMER*** 

***HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!***

An Incomplete Adventure to Minalungao National Park

    Sun brightly shining! Reggae music in the air! Humid temperature! Big, Big sombreros! Swim suits, two piece, and floral shorts!! 

    They all spell S-U-M-M-E-R!
 It is always an exciting season. Nobody dislikes summer except for its very hot climate. But of course we love what summer brings especially halo-halo and beaches!

Family outing, company Rest and recreations, and Barkada getaways always happens during summer. This summer of 2013 is very special, I already have one adventure a summer trip with my barkada to Minalungao National Park, a few days left for R&R with my co-teachers at Baler Aurora and still planning for an island hopping in Bacacay, Albay. I am sure this is going to be a fun and memorable summer ever!!!

Summer Breeze! It makes me feel fine...

And it thus...

Anyways let me share with your our adventure to Minalungao National Park...

About Minalungao National Park

     Minalungao National Park is one of Novo Ecijanos pride! Located at General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, this park is one of the very few remaining natural environment here in Northern part of Manila. It is develop and still developing to attract more tourists coming from not only Central Luzon but from different parts of the Country. It also aims to attract tourists from other countries as well, which in my personal experience with the park, this aim is never impossible. 

Travel to the Park
     Nueva Ecija is just a few hours from Manila. Coming from Caloocan City, (Monumento) General Tinio could be not more than five(5) hours travel by public utility vehicle, much faster if you have your own car. From Monumento you drive through North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and exit on San Simon, Pampanga. Take Gapan-Olongapo road for faster route until you reach Gapan. Once you reach Gapan you will never get lost. Everybody knows the route to Minalungao or General Tinio (just make sure you ask the elderly, they know best than the younger ones :]) 
     The route from Gapan is very smooth until you surpass General Tinio proper (market). The adventure of Minalungao Park starts from the travel to the park itself.. The roads are under constructions, some are cemented but most parts are rough. Most of it is foothills so it never get straight, there were times that the roads go so steep either up or down. But the adventure begins there..

What was there in Minalungao?
   You might think, "what's so special about Minalungao except for the cave?" Well, just as mentioned above, the adventure in Minalungao starts from travel until you reach the cave. Once you arrived to Minalungao Park, a very simple mark of the park (first photo) will welcome you. A narrow yet very steep road will bring you down to the coolest and very inviting stream. The stream itself will surely catch your full attention! Once we catch the sight of the stream the only words that we utter were "Ohhh, why we did not bring change clothes?!?". Wow! We did not expect the beauty of the water, we just wish we brought with us some clothes to change on so that we could dive and play on the water.

We are looking down on the stream as we took this photo.

         Anyways, of course this is not a day to spoil. Although we have no clothes to change on, we could not resist the invitation of the water. In the end, after the trekking, we still went into the water and let ourselves be wet! Who cares if we are wet? We are on our way home anyways.

The stream's view from the photo above.

        Boy, boy, boy... that's not yet the end of our trail,.... Let me tell you about our trekking...
        I have one tip for you if want to go to Minalungao Park. Once you arrived and get down your cars, a lot of kids will come and offer their services to you as your guide, there's no problem with that, but ask them to bring you first to the grotto (a small sanctuary of Mother Mary) and not the cave. We were tricked by the kid when we visit the place, we wanted to visit the grotto first, but since no one else among us ever visited from the place, we just follow the kid when he said we will visit the cave first then the grotto next. Trust me, it is still best you come to grotto first before going to cave, especially if you are Catholic or religious person.
     While we are on our way up trailing the way to the popular Minalungao Cave, our guide, Christopher, about 8-10 years old boy, said that the steps to the cave is about hundred. So we ask how long the steps to the grotto is, he said it's about thousand. Whoooh, that was looooonnnngg.. and I'm sure it is. 
LET'S GO STEP BY STEP
1. Let us trail the 100 steps up and down cemented and steep stairs.

 

2. Trekking on the rocks!

3. Enjoy the view of the river and the rock formations..

4. Visit and enjoy the sparkling stones inside the Minalungao Cave.

5. Before you go home, don't forget to spoil yourself to a little swim on the fresh and cold stream water.

 

 
    I hope you enjoy yourself once you visit. And I promise to go back and complete the adventure by visiting the grotto next time.

fiRst 'rEal' sUmMer GeTaWay

It's been awhile since my last entry. Now it is a post dated event.

I had my first summer getaway early this year even before it's summer. Now I call this entry first 'real' summer getaway because it's now summer!!!

Yes, the temperature is soo hot, the sun is blazing, the heatis irritating.!!Yes, it's summer!! What's good in summer?? well, Beaches!! swimming!! and cool places!!

March 20, me and few of my officemates agree to have a swimming in tagaytay..the little baguio of cavite..
since I have work from 2pm until 10pm, my first shift friends went first then me and three others followed through.

It was fun, we arrived at around 12:30 m.n of the 21st. They are already wet from the pool and drunk.
And guess what..it's chillin' cold my dears..!! I'm practically shivering and the water felt like melted ice.!!!!

love this chairs

But I love it!..I enjoyed every minute of it...We stayed in the pool for hours and hours until early morning of the 21st.

March 21, sunday morning..I woke up first..having an hour of sleep, I am alive and shivering and chillin'..I started sightseeing the place..It was a nice, cool little place..they have sports area..basketball and billiards and darts..and FRUITS!!! hah! if it's my place I'll go up those trees and pick each ripe fruit..(nakakahiya lng umakyat d amin eh..hehehe) the place is owned by my friends' relatives..

After the refreshing swim, we went to picnic grove and walk the eco-trail..though chilly i still sweat when we reached the finished..

I enjoyed the getaway..but  have measles and fever the next day when I arrived home. I am fine now..and no more rashes..ready for another summer getAway..heehehe *_*

eArly sUmMer gEtaWay

     When was the last time have you seen the rainbow? I couldn’t remember when except just this morning. It always amazes me seeing GOD’s creation, GOD’s promise of hope. Hope that everything after bad things—after storm—things will gonna be alright.

     I am coughing terribly for a few days, since last Wednesday I think. So when my cousin asked me to join her family to go to the sea I said yes immediately. Although the weather is not good for swimming, I never hesitate to agree. I’d like to smell some fresh sea air. And exercise my lungs and my breathing.
 So after my shift at work (which is 6:00 a.m.), without sleep we go to Cavite to enjoy the sun, the cold weather and the sea water.*_*

     On Saturday I was so busy preparing food and I slept the afternoon so I missed the cold water. By early morning of the Sunday, I rise early, walked on the shore and breath cold air. It is so refreshing and the water so calm. The sun is yet so shy to shine. It was a little damp. Few raindrops fell. But by 9:00 the weather is good to take a swim. But I didn’t grab the opportunity. I was sooo amazed by what appeared in front of me..A FULL COLORFUL RAINBOW!! WITH BOTH ENDS IN THE SEA... It was so bright you can never miss it!

     It just too bad I can’t get a picture of the full rainbow, I was too near to it and I can’t find a good position a little further.

     It was so amazing that I was mesmerized. It stayed atleast for about five minutes and by the time it disappeared, It was time to go to market, so we take the boat and we go to the place called “julugan” where the fishes fresh from fishermen where deposited for market.

    Hold on, hold on...don’t go looking out for me..I’m holding the camera..LOLz….

So there we go..

     After lunch was heaven...with full tummy, we enjoyed the sea..the sun is so proud but it cannot control the sea..the water is freezing cold..but it was worth it. While enjoying the water, some birds want to share the carefree time we had. They were still looking for lunch so we let them.. While at rest for a few moments, the birds take that time to go hunting..

     I’m not a professional so please forgive my photography… :)

But if you can see those two little birds, you are lucky to share this enchanted moment I’m experiencing.. :D

     The rainbow, the kingfisher, and the moment I had was enough to enjoy the weekend (even without voice). Now I’m back to the city and I’m speaking in a whisper or suffer my gruff voice. My throat is aching but my eyes and my heart rejoiced.