CASE #06 | Holy Week at Tagaytay Part 2

We got off at Olivares Terminal at around 9:30am. We rode a jeep going to Picnic Grove. I know, we where supposed to eat at Mahogany Market first pero dahil magkabilang dulo ang Mahogany Market at Picnic Grove, I realized na sa Picnic Grove na lang dumiretso. May makakainan din naman siguro kami roon and at the same time we will save travel time. Pwede ring unli-tambay dun since ilang oras pa naman bago ang check in time namin.


1st Stop: Picnic Grove


Hindi ko matandaan kung magkano pamasahe sa jeep from Olivares Terminal to Picnic Grove kasi buo ang binayad ni hubby at ang tagal kami suklian ni Manong Driver. Nung nasa harap na mismo kami ng Picnic Grove saka lang niya ibinigay ang sukli.

We paid the entrance fee of Php50.00 per head. Ang batang 6 years old ang below, I think libre ata. Either that or yung 4 ft. pababa. Medyo hindi ko na rin maalala. Basta apat lang sa amin ang may bayad dahil libre yung isa kong pamangkin.

I have been to Picnic Grove a couple of times already starting way back high school kaya naman I have literally seen how the place evolved. Mula sa pagluma nung mga maliliit na picnic huts hanggang sa pagdagdag nila nung EcoTrail, hanggang sa ngayon na may mga ziplines na rin. Dalawa na nga ang ziplines nila. Isa pagpasok mo sa entrance at isa dun sa Eco Trail mismo.

The first thing that greeted us upon entry was the giant Ferris Wheel. May signage ito na NOW OPEN so I'm guessing this is the latest attraction that the park has to offer.

Siyempre nagkagulo ang mga kasama naming bagets pagkakita ng Ferris Wheel. Gusto agad sumakay. Buti na lang at nanaig ang tawag ng kalikasan kaya nakumbinsing magbanyo muna at kumain bago sumakay dun.

Matapos makapag-CR sa bonggang paid CR na aircon ang waiting area, malinis, may tubig, may hand soap, at pa-tissue pero may bayad na Php20.00. Naghanap kami ng makakainan. Bukas na karamihan ng mga stalls doon. Sunud-sunod ang tindahan ng souvenirs, at mga laruan. Nagkalat ang nagtitinda ng lobo, taho, ice cream, sumbrero, at pastillas. May mga food stalls din that offer siomai, burgers, shakes, hotdogs, kwek-kwek, fries, and fish balls.

Kaso iba ang level ng gutom namin so we opted to try Alamat Restaurant which is located right in the midst of all the stalls. Medyo makulit ang mga waiters nila na nagtatawag ng customers sa daanan ng tao. Iyong bigla ka na lang aabutan ng menu tapos sasabihing i-try daw ang mga bestsellers nila.

Nagtanong ako kung may breakfast meal sila pero sabi wala raw. So we ordered the good old bulalo. Kahit pa ayaw ko pa sana mag-bulalo dahil gusto ko ipa-experience sa sis-in-law ko ang bulalo sa Mahogany Market. The restaurant has a native ambience brought about by the wooden tables and chairs at ang mga pakawayan sa dingding. Hindi pa masyadong malamig that time so we asked the staff to open the electric fan standing at the corner near our table. Unfortunately, sira ang electric fan so they just took the other fan from the other table.




We ordered bulalo and sisig. We wanted to have tawilis sana pero it was not available daw so we just settled for those two. Masarap naman ang bulalo, iyon nga lang it was not as hot at we expected. Hindi nakakapaso kapag hinigop ang sabaw. Pero hindi naman nagsesebo. The sisig was good and crunchy maliban lang sa hindi ma-separate ang sili dahil mukhang niluto na yung sisig saka finreeze para iinitin na lang.


The kids wanted leche flan pero hindi rin daw available. Iyon ang medyo disappointing kasi maraming food sa menu nila na nung ino-order namin ay hindi raw available. Medyo matagal din ang service kasi iyong kabilang table namin nauna sila pero ang tagal pa rin bago na-serve iyong bulalo nila. And so were our orders.


After eating, naglakad-lakad sa Picnic Grove saka nagpa-picture. Medyo nawala na sa isip ng mga bagets ang Ferris Wheel dahil nakita nila ang mga inflatable playpen. Walang choice ang mga certified tito at tita kundi ang pagbigyan ang mga bagets. Nasa Php 150 for 45 minutes raw ang bayad per kid. My sis-in-law went down the hilly path going to the playpen to watch the kids play on three different types of inflatable pen. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang mga bagets.


Habang busy ang mga magnananay sa paglalaro, hubby and I rented a mat for Php 100.00. Inilatag namin sa ilalim ng puno and sat there. Maganda ang view at malamig ang hangin. We were seated right infront of the zipline so we were able to watch people zipping from one diretion and back. Medyo foggy pero we can still see Taal Volcano in the back drop. Marami ring mga kabataan ang nagse-selfie at groufie. Iba-ibang pausong pose. Di nagtagal, napahiga na rin kami ang took a nap for a few minutes.

Then at around 12:00, we decided to leave. Marami nang tao sa Picnic Grove at traffic na rin paglabas namin. We were supposed to take a jeep back to Olivares Plaza pero puno lahat ng dumadaan na jeep. We were able to negotiate with a tricycle driver who charged us Php100.00 from Picnic Grove to Olivares Plaza. Medyo malayo rin naman kasi iyong distance at matrapik din. Plus, lima rin kaming sakay so parang good deal na rin.



Checking In at Wind Residences



Parang almost 45 minutes din inabot ng biyahe dahil slow to non-moving ang traffic going to Olivarez Plaza. From Olivares Plaza, we took a jeep going to Wind Residences (fare is Php 8.00 each). Apparently, we got off at Tower 3 and our booked unit was at Tower 1. I called the caretaker, Ate Rona, to notify our arrival. She directed us to walk towards Tower 1.

When we entered the lobby of Tower 1, ang daming tao sa lobby. Lahat nag-aantay na makapagcheck-in. Since it was my first time to try AirBnb, medyo hindi ako familiar sa mechanics. I called the caretaker once again. She told me to wait for a few more minutes as she was still checking in guests in Tower 3. Mabuti na lang at may nabakanteng couch. Nakaupo kami while waiting.

After 30 minutes, the throng of people finally faded away and we were the only ones left in the lobby. It was also past 2:00 pm. It took 15 more minutes for the caretaker to finally arrived at the lobby. I was asked to log in the receptionist's logsheet and surrender a valid ID. The receptionist gave me a card number that would enable me to claim my ID upon check out.


As the caretaker handed me the key for the unit, I immediately asked how to avail of the pool services. Kasi walang tigil ang mga bata sa pagtatanong kung kailan daw sila magsu-swimming. The kids were really anticipating that part of our itinerary. Unfortunately, the owner of the unit failed to notify us that a voucher would be needed to use the swimming pool. Ang sabi lang kasi niya sa akin is pumunta sa club house ng condo at doon na magbayad.


As per Ate Rona, voucher daw iyong binibili na Php150.00 each pero dahil holiday ay nagiging Php300.00 each. Per head, isang voucher. At dahil daw Holy Week, walang tao sa admin kaya walang mabibilhan ng voucher sa clubhouse. Sana raw sinabi ko in advance para nakabili siya on our behalf at babayaran na lang namin upon check in. So in short, hindi pwedeng mag-swimming ang mga bagets.


I tried na makiusap na baka may mahanap siyang available vouchers sa ibang caretaker. Pero wala rin siyang nahanap. Sinabihan din niya ako na mag-try na magtanong sa clubhouse baka meron ding hinabilinan na magbenta ng voucher. Pero hindi na muna namin iyon nagawa kasi medyo malayo ang clubhouse at gusto ko na munang makapagpahinga.


Lesson Learned: Make sure to know how to avail of the building's amenities before check-in.



Our Home For Two Days



Our unit was on the 9th floor. Pinakita naman sa amin ng caretaker ang buong unit. It was very simple. It did not have those intricate interior design that you could see in AirBnb. Iyong sinasabi nilang instagrammable design. Simple and functional lang talaga siya. Maaliwalas, malinis and very spacious.


Pagpasok you have the bathroom at the right na may hot and cold shower at bidet. Walang toiletries at towel pero hindi ko naman ini-expect iyon since hindi naman ito hotel. Pero there are bath mats available to ensure the floor is kept dry. May tissue paper rin.


Sa left side is the kitchen counter. May gas stove, rice cooker, microwave oven, at electric kettle to cover all your cooking needs. Basta wag lang daw yung maamoy na foods like tuyo. May kitchen utensils, plates, glasses, mugs, cups, spoons, forks, cutlery set, rags, and pans. She also turned on the refrigerator for us to use.


There is a dining table good for four pax at the right side of the living room. Sa living room naman ay may sofa na may pull out bed sa ilalim. Pwede ring mahiga sa mismong sofa. There was an LED TV equipped with cable. Katabi nun ang wi-fi which have good and stable connection. May landline phone rin for local calls. Katabi nun ang list of cable channels, list of important phone numbers, and the wifi password.

A makeshift divider separated the bedroom from the rest of the house. Sliding door so space saver ito. There is a wardrobe cabinet inside the bedroom. Nakalock nga lang iyong upper part na I think doon nakatago ang mga extra blankets. Kasi when I asked for one, doon kinuha ni Ate Rona iyong blanket. By the way, dalawang blanket lang ang readily available. Additional blankets are charged Php50.00 each.


Double-bed ang size nung kama with five pillows. Ni-request ko naman iyon sa owner (Ms. Julie) since lima kaming matutulog doon. May extra roll out mat din na twin size so kasya ang dalawang payat na tao. Split-type ang airconditioning unit and since hindi naman abot sa ceiling ang makeshift divider, aabot hanggang living room ang lamig.


Another sliding door opens to a balcony facing the Taal Lake. Ito ang pinakagusto ko sa unit kasi you have front row seats to this magnificent view. May foldable table and chairs good for two rin sa balcony so pwede talagang tumambay at magmuni-muni. Watch out nga lang sa mga bagets kasi kahit na mataas ang grills, still nakakatakot pa rin for them. So don't let them out on the balcony without adult supervision.

Grocery Time


Nagpahinga lang kami saglit at nag-ayos ng gamit. Pagkatapos nun, we headed out to buy some groceries. Well, supposedly hindi dapat kasama ang mga bagets dahil dapat ay nagsu-swimming sila. Pero to put their mind off to it, sinama na rin namin sila.


There are many options for grocery. Merong Metro Supermarket sa may Ayala Serin, Puregold sa may Olivarez Plaza, and Robinsons Supermarket at Robinsons Summit Ridge. We opted for Robinsons Supermarket since walking distance lang iyon from Wind Residences Tower 1. Though, may 7-Eleven sa baba ng Tower 1, mas kumpleto naman kasi sa supermarket.


There are several establishments at the ground floor of Wind Residences. Sa Tower 1, there's that nail salon (I can't remember the name), 7-Eleven, and Ersao. Sa Tower 2, there's BDO, and a Chinese restaurant (Can't remember again). Sa Tower 3, there's Pizza Hut and Ace Hardware ata. There are two more towers that aren't fully finished and baka dun sa mga iyon ilagay ang supermarket. Para kasing ang hirap isipin na SMDC ang developer pero walang sariling supermarket sa isa man lang sa buildings nila.


Anyways, I took out the grocery list I made before the trip and asked my hubby and sis-in-law to check if I have covered everything. Based on my estimate, we would need food for breakfast, and dinner (just in case we were too tired to go out).


My grocery list includes: rice, eggs, salt, hotdogs, bacon, instant noodles, instant pancit canton, 3-in-1 Coffee, powdered milk (for the kids), dishwashing liquid, sponge, paper towel, garbage bag, tube ice, powdered juice, Chuckie, Yakult, some chips, ice cream, loaf bread, cheese spread, ketchup, and two 6-liter containers of distilled drinking water (good for 2 days).


Marami-rami rin ang napamili namin. Kaya may kabigatan din ang pagbibitbit pabalik sa condo. Ang saklap pa nito inabutan kami ng ulan. So kinailangan pa namin magpatila. Wala ring available na tricycle sa area. Well, that's the downside of not having your own ride.

Nang makabalik sa unit, we unpacked the groceries. Umulan ulit so nagpahinga muna kami. We had coffee and bread then went out at the balcony to watch the downpour and the gray clouds enveloping Taal. Ang sarap ng hangin. Ang lamig. Parang aircon kahit nasa labas ka naman.


Nang kumagat ang dilim, we decided to freshen up. I realized I wasn't able to bring my facial soap with me so I went down 7-Eleven to buy. I also bought three bottles of apple flavored beer so we can chill out. Hindi naman bawal sa unit ang alcohol. Well, at least according sa rules na nakapost sa unit. Basta in moderation at bawal lang ang magbabasag. One round lang naman so I guess okay lang naman.



Hearty Dinner



Since our building is right infront of Gerry's Grill, doon na kami nag-dinner. Medyo maambon pa rin at sobrang ginaw. Good thing I brought my shawl to cover me up. We had sinigang na bangus, crispy pata, and grilled chicken for dinner.


The sinigang na bangus was perfect to warm us up. Not a fan of white fish flesh though, but the bangus was gigantic and its belly was awesome. Hubby is really delighted. I think they used a different element to sour things up because the soup did not smell like guava. That is another thing I hate in sinigang na bangus, the scent of boiled guava that smells like armpit.


The crispy pata was really awesome dipped into the sauce. I think that was made up of soy sauce, vinegar, with a little sugar, pepper and topped with chopped onions, garlic, and green pepper. Sabi ni Kuya Waiter, it serves 2-3 pax daw. Pero it took as two days to actually finish it.


The winner of the night is the grilled chicken. Tender, juicy, well-marinated chicken dipped into their own concoction of sauce. It sure does look like it has soy sauce but its a little bit thicker. It was a mouthful.


Hindi pa namin ubos lahat ng inorder pero medyo agitated na ang mga bata kasi gusto na mag-ice cream kaya tinake out na lang namin ang natira pang sinigang na bangus at crispy pata.


At kahit napakalamig, we had ice cream at the balcony overlooking the twinkling lights of Taal. Ayaw paawat ang mga bata. After ice cream, we nag-horror marathon naman ang kambal. The kids, including me, were all scared to our bones. I decided to stay in the balcony and watch Hannah Montana the movie on Netflix. Aba, maya-maya, lahat sila nakikisiksik na rin sa akin para makinood sa maliit ng screen ng phone ko. Tapos na pala ang horror movie marathon.


Pero dahil pagoda sa pagtayo sa bus at pagpila, halfway through the movie, inantok na rin ang mga bagets. Unti-unting na knock out. Then we all decided to call it a night.



to be continued...