Michi Photostory: Laguna

Showing posts with label Laguna. Show all posts

April 19, 2024

Day Trip at Villa Esmane Private Resort in Laguna

I know we are experiencing extreme heat all over the country so parang walang naman naghahanap ng hot spring but I would like to share our Day Trip at Villa Esmane Private Resort last March. It was supposed to be a Baguio trip but long travel is not possible so I suggested to my husband, maghot spring na lang kaya. “In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with” so kahit saan ang importante, may family outing pa rin and matuloy na.

Laguna is known for hot spring resorts so there are so many resorts out there but there are two things we need to consider like time and budget. We were having difficulty finding an affordable private resort in Laguna. We don’t need a big resort naman since 14 pax lang naman kami. Also, paHoly Week na rin kasi so some resorts were already booked and some resorts naman don’t accept day trips, gusto nila 22 hours.

Anyway, thanks sa pagpupuyat ng asawa ko, nakahanap din siya ng pasok sa budget namin. It just so happened na may 12AM meeting siya (following USA time kasi) so hindi siya pwede matulog kaya nagsearch na lang siya ng resort habang naghihintay ng telecon. Hehehe!

Villa Esmane Private Resort was not our first choice pero fully booked na kasi yung first choice namin so ito yung sinuggest ng owner. Also we changed travel date na rin kasi wala talaga pag-asa sa Holy Week.

What I like about this resort is, they have different rates, depending on the number of people. Here are the rates at the time of booking.

Rates for 15 to 20 Persons

Weekends/Holiday: (Friday to Sunday)

• Daytime P 7,000.00 (9am to 5pm)

• Overnight P 9,000.00 (7pm to 6am)

• 1-Day P 14,000.00 (9am to 6am or 8pm to 5pm)

Weekdays (Monday to Thursday)

• Daytime P 6,000.00 (9am to 5pm)

• Overnight P 8,000.00 (Open time, 11 hours)

• 1-Day P 10,000.00 (Open time, 21 hours)

My husband called to inquire pero sa Viber app na lahat ng communication. To confirm the reservation, he paid a 50% downpayment and within the day, he received a confirmation email. The remaining balance is upon arrival at the resort.

What are the amenities?

Adult swimming pool (natural hot spring water) 4 ft to 5 1/2 ft

Kiddie pool “ 3 ft

1-bed room, capacity of 2 to 3 pax

4 Bedrooms with full air conditioning.

Kitchen - Refrigerator + Cooking Utensils

Complete Set of Bedding

4 Comfort Rooms

Barbeque grill

Unlimited Videoke

Tables and Chairs

Pavilion Wifi

If you plan to cook, there is an additional PHP500 for a gas stove but we did not avail this because we brought cooked food na and yung ibang ulam namin is grilled food like BBQ, hotdog, liempo, talong, bangus, tilapia and yung isang fish na parang lapu-lapu (hindi ko alam name, hehehe).

* Do not forget to bring your own dishwashing stuff, toiletries, and towels.

Sharing some pictures, Nagtake lang ako ng pictures ng rooms but my family did not stay here, so I cannot comment kung okay ba yung bed and yung aircon.

Since it was day trip naman, nasa pavillion lang talaga kami, busy sa paggrill and pagswim. Yung swimming pool temperature, hindi siya mainit like yung sa 88 Resort Spa, pero may parang falls so yun ang mainit.

My only concern is the bathroom, need ng konting maintenance especially sa door knobs and doors. But overall, we had a good time here.

It was my Father-in-law's birthday celebration so I also made this cake topper. This design is available on Cricut Design Space.

Villa Esmane Private Resort

Lake Wood Subd, Lalakay

Los Baňos Laguna

March 12, 2024

Lunch at Modern Shang

I was so busy last week because I was doing some errands and returned to the hospital for my routine laboratory test and check-up. After my check-up, my husband and I went to Modern Shang for our late lunch; we rarely go to Chinese Restaurants because I am not fond of Chinese cuisine, but people change so para maiba naman ang aking kinakain.

Modern Shang is formerly known as Modern Shanghai. I have no idea kung gaano na katagal yung restaurant sa Pilipinas pero bago-bago pa yung branch nila sa SM Sta Rosa. It just opened last July 2023 but I only saw this restaurant when we ate at Texas Roadhouse.

Modern Shang’s mission is to provide quality and innovative cuisine in Beijing, Sichuan, and Shanghai. I have never been to China so I can’t compare but after eating at Modern Shang, I finally appreciate Chinese cuisine so feeling ko hindi lang masasarap yung nakainan ko dati. Hehehe!

Prior to our visit, I checked Modern Shang’s menu online so I already had an idea of what to order. We ordered some of their best-sellers like Deep-Fried Squid with Spicy Salt and Pepper PHP418, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP228 (per cup) and Signature Xiao Long Bao PHP198 (4 pcs). My husband also added Steamed Tofu in Shallot Oil PHP248.

After ordering our meal, they immediately served water, hot tea, and crackers and they even refilled the tea and crackers nung nakita nila na naubos agad namin, hehehe! Gutom na talaga kasi kami. After 15 minutes, they already served our food.

We were so happy with our order so I knew that we would go back again, siguro sa next check-up ko ulit.

Update: October 2024

I seldom go out of the house but when I do, ginagawa ko na yung dapat gawin para isang pagod na lang. Hehehe! First, I had breakfast with my friends at Ambos Panederia + Cocina, and then we went to Pag-ibig office because we planned to continue our contribution as voluntary members. Next, we went to SM Sta Rosa because my friend needed to buy something and we had a late lunch at Modern Shang.

This has been my go to restaurant na kapag napapadpad sa SM Sta Rosa. My friend ordered from Shanghai Wok Bowls, Orange Chicken Bowl, but she could not finish this dish because it was too spicy for her. My son ordered this before during our last visit but did not mention that it was spicy or maybe because he loves spicy food.

I ordered Porkchop Egg Fried Rice PHP498. It looks like a small meal pero nahirapan na ako ubusin ito. And because of that, take out ko na lang yung supposed to be dessert namin na Deep-Fried Glutinous Dumplings. PHP208.

Update: January 2025

I went to the hospital for my routine check-up but the staff informed me na 1PM pa daw darating yung doctor so I was contemplating kung uuwi pa ba ko or maghihintay na lang. My husband and I decided na maghintay na lang so we went to SM Sta Rosa to kill time.

I went to SM Customer Service to claim our PSA Birth Certificates, I was crossing my fingers na hindi sayang yung pinila ko. Naexperience ko na kasi yung hindi pa available yung order ko. Fortunately, naclaim ko lahat.

Then we went to Modern Shang to eat our lunch, we wanted to avail of the 50% off promo sana but unfortunately, hindi pala every day available. Toink. So ito lang naorder namin, Shrimp with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste PHP528, Steamed Tofu in Shallot Oil 248, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP498, and Deep-fried Glutinous Dumplings PHP208.

June 06, 2023

Lunch at Banapple

A week had passed of no blog post because I got preoccupied with my husband’s birthday celebration, akala mo naman bongga. Hehehe! I just made birthday cards, an explosion box, and a cake topper. I will share that in my next post.

Anyhow, last week we went to the hospital for my blood test and after that, we went to SM Sta Rosa to buy some stuff for our Staycation at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. After finishing our errands we had early lunch at Banapple.

Banapple is one of our go-to restaurants whenever we are in Alabang Town Center so I am glad that they already have a branch in SM Sta Rosa because we rarely visit ATC. At least dito sa Sta Rosa, pwede kami magdrop by after my check-up or procedure.

During our first visit, we bought Supercaramel Fudge Cake and Pesto Bread only so last week was our first time to eat at the restaurant. We were the first diners. We are creatures of habit so most of the time we order the same meal; we ordered Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs PHP539, Lasagna Roll-ups PHP469, Banoffee Pie PHP215, Pesto Bread PHP135, and Soda in Can PHP80.

I only ordered dessert because, at that time, I am not hungry yet. Banapple has big serving so nakitikim na lang ko sa Lasagna Roll-Ups ni hubby. In addition, I learned that “Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie”- David Mamet. Baka mawala stress ko sa Banoffee pie. :)

Read: Lunch at Banapple Alabang Town Center

Merienda at Banapple

November 08, 2022

Day Trip at 88 Spa Resort

If you are a long-time reader of my blog, you knew that my late grandmother used to live in Laguna so we used to visit her every month. On our way to her house, we always passed 88 Spa Resort so when we are planning for a family outing, I suggested this resort because my husband already visited this resort with his colleagues and according to him, the place is good.

So the plan was pushed through but we did not join the family outing because the scheduled trip was just a few days before my son’s graduation, so ayaw ko naman may sunburn ako sa graduation. My family enjoyed the 88 Spa Resort so much that since then, they always go back to this resort, so mga nakailang balik na sila dito, both day trip and overnight but it was only last month, that my son and I were able to visit the resort.

My mom like this place so we had a Day Trip at 88 Spa Resort last month; my sister-in-law called the resort to reserve but was advised that there is no need for a reservation kung day tour lang.

Day Tour is 8AM to 10PM

PHP1500 - Adult

PHP1,150 - (3-12 yrs old)

PHP1,071.43 - Senior and PWD

Inclusions:

Access to all swimming pools

Consumable for food (lunch or dinner)

- Worth PHP450 - per adult

- Worth PHP350 Pesos - per child

Open cottages

Lockers and shower rooms

Note: Foods are allowed to bring inside the resort.

FREE OF CHARGE: Bread, water, and fruits.

CORKAGE: PHP100 per head: Cooked food, chips, sodas, and juices.

We arrived at the resort before 8AM and after payment, they gave us the keys for lockers and vouchers for food. There is a separate locker for men and women but we did not use the locker so I have no idea how big it is.

The 88 Spa Resort is huge, the lot area is more than 7 hectares at the base of Mount Makiling. It has 10 outdoor pools surrounded by palm and coconut trees. We did not bother to check the whole resort, we just stayed in one place and tried the nearest swimming pool. During our trip, there are also pools that are not working, ito yung nasa taas ng stairs. It is better to get the flyer to serve as your guide.

The resort has Octagon Pool, this pool has 8 mini pools with different water temperature ranges from 37 to 43 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to dip in the pool for 5 to 10 minutes to improve blood circulation and metabolism. If you want to relax your muscles and release physical tension, you can sit on Taeguk Pool. There are also pools with slides located in different areas. Aside from that, you can also take advantage of their healing packages, massage services, and food trip.

When you enter the resort, feeling mo nasa South Korea ka kasi may Korean vibes, as far as I know, Korean ang owner nito. So even sa restaurant, offers both Filipino and Korean dishes. I thought the PHP450 consumable per head is enough for our lunch but I was wrong, ang mahal pala ng food, drinks, and even the ice cream.

I was craving Korean BBQ pero hindi ko maenjoy kasi hindi pala unlimited ang Korean BBQ dito and may minimum order pa. So for our table, we ordered Pork Belly PHP900 (ilang piraso lang), Bulalo PHP700, Rice PHP60 per cup, Softdrink PHP90 and Ice Cream PHP120 + 12% VAT. They also have a set menu good for 4 persons ranging from PHP1900- PHP2000.

Even though the day tour is up to 10PM, we left past 3PM since dumadami na rin ang guests. Overall, we enjoyed our experience here and the only thing that I don’t like is their shower room, it really needs renovation. I did not take photo of it kasi madilim din naman.

Watch the video here.

Read: City of Springs

Update: March 2023

After our visit to 88 Spa Resort, we knew that we are going back because my husband wanted to bring his parents here so before November 2022 ends we went back. This was my husband’s treat for my Mother-in-law’s birthday. Hot spring is good for senior citizens so my in-laws enjoyed their visit to 88 Spa Resort even just for a few hours.

We left the house past 6AM and fetch my in-laws in Laguna. We arrived at the resort at half past seven. The rate is still the same and they allowed us to enter even though it is not yet 8AM.

Our consumable voucher is PHP2,250 so for lunch, we decided to order from the Set Menu, we chose Pinoy for PHP2000, which includes special bulalo, boneless bangus, chopsuey and garlic rice. They also serve side dishes. This menu is good for 4 persons pero nagkasya naman for 5 persons. We added rice and sodas and paid the balance after check-out.

After lunch, we did not go back sa main pool, doon na lang kami sa pool na malapit sa restaurant. We bravely tried the 41C degrees pool. After trying that pool even for several minutes, parang ang lamig na noong ibang pool tuloy. Hehehe!

Before we left, we explored the other parts na hindi ko napuntahan during our last trip. By the way, mas maayos yung comfort room na malapit sa restaurant kaso daanan ng tao.