The Family Halloween Adventures

Every once in a while, no matter what or who you are, every one of us needs to relax and chill with family. Most people that I've talked to have told me that they would enjoy beach outings and out of town roadtrips if they would be accompanied by friends. But not me. I do enjoy it with friends and colleagues but I would enjoy it more with my family. 

So Halloween is the time of year where every year I would go to the province, light a candle or two to my departed ones and stay at home and rest. But not this time. My cousin abroad had e-mailed me that she and her son will celebrate Halloween in the Philippines and that she wanted to have it like a three days two nights on a beach. The plan was Boracay but since it's a week before Halloween, the plan did not push through due to airfare prices and accommodation issues. It's a 4-day Halloween weekend so people tend to flock to places like Boracay.

It is a very last minute preparation so I suggested Puerto Galera instead. We're from Batangas so location-wise, it is the best option. Laiya, San Juan and Nasugbu are out of the question. As my cousins put it, "Nakakasawa na, lagi na lang dun."

November 3 was the targeted date and it's November 1. I busied myself contacting the hostels and transient houses that even while commuting, I'm on the phone. Lucky for me, Binay's Guest House is available and we agreed right there and then about the accommodation. It's a cheap package for a two-day-one-night stay for 20 people: 4 rooms with kitchen and unlimited free use of videoke for only P5000. It's a five-minute walk to the beach but it's okay. So problem number one was solved.

Binay's Guest House

Next on my list was the boat ride. I anticipated the flocks of people going to Galera. Luckily, Mrs. Binay, the guest house's owner, told me that they will schedule us for the boat ride so I gave her my details. Wow, it's like we're checking in at a five-star hotel with the hospitality and service that I've gotten so far. So far, so good. Problem number two, solved.

The boat ride from Batangas Pier to White Beach, Puerto Galera

Shopping for food and snacks and everything in between. Start the car and 30 minutes or so, we're at the SM Supermarket for some grocery shopping. It's 6 pm and everyone is excited for the early morning travel to the beach the next day.

Food and snacks

At 6 am, November 3, we arrived at the pier for the boat ride. At the gates, there's a boat employee waiting for us for easier transactions on boat fares and taxes and everything there is to be paid for. 

The ride was smooth. Thank God it is a very sunny day. After we've checked the rooms assigned to each of us, the elders took care of food for lunch while the youngsters checked out the videoke in the living room. The children played a while in their rooms and some did planking.

Planking

Checking out the videoke

Sumptuous lunch before checking out the beach

The beach... I hope the pictures will do justice on how the beach looked that day. Serene and unbelievably calm on a weekend. And we enjoyed the rest of the day at the beach.

It's after one in the afternoon and normally, it's nap time but for the youngsters, they have decided scuba diving instead. Exciting for the first-timers!

First time for scuba diving at Guli Diving with Gus, the instructor.

Diving course, the dos and don'ts

Boat ride to the dive site

Dyesebel is that you?

Dive, dive, dive!

The boondocks of Puerto Galera

The day may be coming to an end but the night is just starting. After the scuba dive, we took some rest for the night at the beach. After dinner, then we're on the go again. The night is still young but we managed to take a dip into the water for some night swimming, and dang, it's so cold! The younger ones managed the cold but the oldies took a pass at it. 

Setting ourselves up at the beach with a blanket, we sat down and waited for the fire dance to start.

Swimming in the cold grrrrrr!

Fire dance

The next morning, we've gone early to the beach for it is our last day in Puerto Galera. We've gone for swimming and pasalubong shopping because our boat ride is scheduled at 1 pm. We also took our time to check out the isolated part of the beach where we've done some rock diving.

Some rock diving freestyle

Cute Angel Anne

The epic jump shot. They never cease to amaze me.

Time to pack up things and leave the beach paradise. But even these times that we're waiting for the boat, we still find things to do at a very limited time, it amazes me.

Marco Polo yacht

The boys managed to get henna tattoos!

What an amazing weekend! We had a blast for the two days of just swimming, eating, enjoying ourselves, not thinking about work and studies. It's one for the books and we're looking forward to more family get-together like this.

Binay's Guest House
Globe #09173359059

Guli Diving
Globe #09175766682

Enchanted at Universal Studios

Visiting Singapore is not complete if not for checking out the Universal Studios. I feel like a child again as I enjoyed the rides of Battlestar Galactica, Jurassic Park and Shrek, watched 4D at the Far Away Land and went beyond the scariest and darkest alleys of Madagascar and The Mummy.

the famous Universal globe

Far Away Land

The adrenaline rushing as I ride the roller coasters of Human and Cylons.

At the Waterworld, action-packed!

Madagascar is not complete without the penguins.

Welcome to Egypt... where the mummy lives.

The guard statues.

Dinosaurs, anyone?

After an exhausting day...

The light and water show, amazing!

Goofing around with my niece and nephew with the Mad Hatter's hat

With the big servings of soda to quench the thirst.

What a way to end a magical night!

A Greatly Deserved Royal Weekend

A perfectly planned weekend trip on a not-so-distant haven of relaxation is one thing that came as a surprise for me. Every time I make plans, it's either a more-than-four-hour trip by bus or an hour or so by plane. This time, I made sure that we save time, money, and the distance, not so far. 

Traveling south from Manila is not so bad if your destination is Batangas or Laguna. To the north, Bulacan is just a bus ride away. But if you move further south, say, Mindoro, just take a two-hour boat ride. Where in Mindoro, Puerto Galera.

Traveling inland by bus for two hours and another two hours on boat is an adventure. The best part: the Castle.

the hallway from the lobby to the elevator

the terrace on the way to our en suite room

the maze-like stairs

We arrived at the hotel around 2 p.m. After checking in, we rested for a while and we checked some parts of the castle. Well, we don't have access to all parts but hence, we enjoyed it. At 4 p.m., we were relaxed and well-rested so we took a ride to the White Beach. It took us almost an hour to reach and it's two rides. We really enjoyed the beach even for a very short time.

the unspoilt part of Puerto Galera

 

From White Beach, we took an hour trike ride to our hotel. It was a not-so-great ride because no lampposts on the road and some parts of it's not concreted. Before we checked in again at the hotel, we opted for a dinner at the nearby grill/diner for some sizzling plates and mango crepes for dessert.

mango crepes

After dinner, we opted again for a swim but this time at the hotel pool. We've had a very good time that night, plus, we've used their wi-fi at the pool.

At around an hour before midnight, we've readied ourselves for a very comfortable sleep at the suite. I can't wait to sleep in my bed!

the en suite bedroom

 Waking up refreshed from the other day's activities was a great feeling. We prepared ourselves for a sumptuous breakfast at the castle's restaurant. The breakfast was included on our 2 days 1 night accommodation.

American and Continental breakfast at the Castle

  
An hour after the heavy breakfast, we strolled around the castle. Behind it, a small church or a chapel was under renovation. Still, with it being under construction the facade is still beautiful.

We've already forgotten where we were if not for the jeepney!

The facade from the other side.

What a great two days at the castle! Next time, I'll be back and I'll be getting the dome suite or the presidential suite, as they say. See you again, Tropicana Castle. I'll be keeping my fairy tale in my locked box for the meantime. Time to face reality!