Travel
Canyon Cove Hotel and Spa, Nasugbu Batangas
Canyon Cove was our summer destination for three (3) consecutive years now. My first visit here was during a summer company outing. And it was on summer 2012 that we booked on this resort through Metrodeal at around 2,500.00 with free breakfast and free use of kayak. Last summer 2013, we again went here with the whole family this time. I booked through Living Social at 2999.00 for a superior room per night that with free use of kayak for 1 hour.
For this year, 2014, it was our company’s summer outing. My officemates thought of staying there for an overnight. Since it’s only few weeks away from the date of the event, there were only few rooms left with the lowest rate. That’s why; I booked through Agoda. Booking with Agoda is very hassle free, you will get your confirmation after you have saved your booking. Unlike with other agents, that they still need to verify the availability, there is no guarantee that you will get a confirmed booking. However, no payments are required until booking is confirmed.
We arrived at the resort at around 9:00am and registered at the front desk as soon as we arrived. We are hoping that we can check –in early as soon as there will be an available room. I requested for a room on the north wing, (this building has new rooms). The new procedure that the resort implements is that upon registration, you will be given a number and a vibrating device (i don’t know what is it called) for queue,
this device will vibrate once there is an available room for you and that is the time your key card will be given to you. This is better because you do not need to keep on checking with the front desk if there is any available room. While waiting for the available room, you can already use their facilities.
The resort has a pristine beach with not so fine white sand, but it is okay though.
The resort has 3 big swimming pools. 2 kiddie pools and 1 for adult. Their pool is big enough that can accomodate many guests. The pool is also well-maintained, they clean it every morning.
Aside from the swimming pools, the resort has play grounds, where the kids and the kids at heart can play when they do not want to go swimming.
Canyon Cove Hotel and Spa has different room types.
We booked for a Superior room, only 2 adults and 2 kids are allowed per resort’s policy. Extra person will be charged accordingly. But the room is big enough that it can actually accommodate up to 6 persons.
It has a king sized bed and a double sized bay bed.
The room has a balcony and is equipped with large flat screen tv, mini bar with a complimentary water and coffee for 2 persons, and cabinets with vault for your clothes and other valuables. The room is clean as well as the bed linens.
The Sperior room has a clean toilet/bathroom. It has a enough space for the shower area as well as the lavatory.
The only downside is that there is no bidet beside the toilet bowl.
All rooms have an ocean view.
Max’s restaurant is the concessionaire of Canyon Cove. They also have the grilling station by the beach, wherein you can order set meals, however the price of the food is expensive. That’s why we opt to eat at the fast food chains near the resort. You can choose from Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Sutikel (similar to Binalot), Andok’s. There are also few convenient stores like 7-11, Mercury drug store and other mini groceries wherein you can buy your drinks, merienda, and toiletries (if you forgot to bring one). Going to these fast food chains will take 10-15 minutes drive. If you do not have your own vehicle, there are tricycles that can ride.
Bringing of foods inside the resort is prohibited; however, we managed to bring foods inside the resort, Of course we bring it discretely.
I find Canyon Cove a relaxing place, a perfect weekend get-away for friends and families. It is very near Metro Manila, travel time is roughly 2-3 hours via tagaytay or 1.5 – 2 hours via Cavitex/NAIC.
So let us all watch out for the next summer deals and book for Canyon Cove.
For more information and for your bookings you may contact:
CANYON COVE HOTEL AND SPA
Far East Road, Piloto Wawa Nasugbu, Batangas Philippines Phone Number +632.908.1111 Makati Central Reservations Office 840 2290 | 840 2327 | 840 2204 | 840 2365
Bataan Technology Park (BTPI)
BATAAN TECHNOLOGY PARK INC.
The Bataan Technology Park is also situated at Morong, Bataan where the former United Nations Philippine Refugee Processing Center is situated.
The Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC) was established and funded by the United Nations as home to many refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and ethnic minorities (Chinese). The PRPC is like a small city, complete with hospital, school, restaurant, place of worship, and market. Its main purpose is to hold the refugees, teach them English language until such time that they are ready and accepted for resettlement in countries such as Canada, Norway, United States of America and France.
Now, the former PRPC has turned to an eco park, the Bataan Technology Park, Inc or the home of Atmanda Eco park. The BTPI museum, library and archive can be found inside the eco park that features the PRPC.
Here, you can see the original boat that was used by the Refugees who came here in the Philippines. Approximately 60 persons were aboard on the said boat.
In this museum, you can also see some of the refugees’ different paraphernalia that they already left.
You can also see here the replica of their bunk house where they usually live. It can accommodate 5-6 persons.
A replica of the prisoner’s jail is also presented here. They called it monkey house.
In the museum, you can also find the photos that show how the Vietnamese boat was rescued from the Bataan shores.
Inside the premise of the BTPI, you can also find the refugee’s place of worship, their Buddhist Temple. It has a nice view, overlooking the mountains. This is the place where the refugees meditate.
Also, inside the BTPI, is the shrine commemorating Blessed Pope John Paul II, who came at the PRPC and celebrated mass. The “Lolek Garden”, which named after Pope John Paul II, (nickname of Pope John Paul).
![IMG_3190[1]](https://yesiken.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/img_31901.jpg)
Our visit to this place gave us information on the time that Vietnamese refugees went here in the Philippines by accident. The Filipinos (maybe most were from Bataan), have become way for them to learn English language and prepare them to what country of destination that they will go to. But now, Vietnam is getting ahead of our country, Philippines. Isn’t ironic? =)
For more information you may visit http://www.bcda.gov.ph/freeport_and_ecozones/show/13
Pawikan Conservation Center
PAWIKAN CONSERVATION CENTER
Nagbalayong Morong. Bataan
The Pawikan Conservation Center was organized to protect and conserve the pawikans (marine turtle)which are now considered as endangered species. The shores at Nagbalayong, Morong in Bataan became the nesting ground of the pawikans in our country. Nesting usually happens on the months of November to December, wherein numerous pawikans swam onto the shore to lay their eggs.
The people at the center do their rounds at night time to check on the eggs and bring it at the Hatching section of the center. The eggs were buried into the sand for incubation. It will take 2 months until such time that the baby pawikans will dig up through the sand and reach the ground. The next day, the baby pawikans are released onto the shore, at least 5 meters away from the water. This is for the baby pawikans to remember where they came from. There is only 1% of those that were released will survive. It will take another 25 to 30 years for the female pawikans to lay their eggs, and it is amazing that they will go back to the place where they were hatch to lay their eggs.
When we visited the place, it is off season, there are only 2 hatching nest.
The Pawikan Conservation Center do not preserve pawikans, they only conserve it. It is still preferred to let the pawikans live on their natural habitat for them to be able to learn to survive. There is 1 big red pawikan, 1 medium sized pawikan and the smallest pawikan, The red pawikan was surrendered to them by a concerned citizen, it was spotted that it was being sold to anyone.
The Pawikan Conservation Center also offers room accommodations for those who like to witness the pawikans swam onto the ocean at night and come along with the patrol group to get the eggs or witness the releasing of baby pawikans and experience it for themselves. The center has a nice beach area with properly maintained shoreline. An entrance fee of 20.00 is charged for adults, kids are free of charge.
Though we did not see many pawikans as we imagined, we enjoyed our short visit. The caretaker that we have spoke to, unselfishly shared informative details about the pawikans. I hope that we can go back and be a part of the releasing of baby pawikans and see them crawl from the shore and swim into the ocean. 🙂
Loleng’s Hutieu-an – the famous Vietnamese Carinderia in Morong Bataan
After the exhausting and tiring sightseeing, we dined at Loleng’s Hutieu-an (Vietnames Foods), the famous Vietnamese carinderia in Morong, Bataan.
I learned this famous Vietnamese Carinderia from one of the local tv shows. The owner used to work at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC); from where the owner learned how to cook the Vietnamese noodle soup, which up to now, Loleng’s Hutieu-an carinderia is continuously satisfying its customers with Vietnamese noodles and banhmi.
Banhmi is a Vietnamese sandwich with ham, a little of tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber which costs 25.00 The banhmi tastes good and we liked it which ended up on ordering again.
Hutieu, is a Vietnamese savory noodle soup with rice noodles which costs 50.00 for the small size. It is like a chicken mami noodle soup.
We also ordered Bun-cha-gio, it is a spring roll with noodles paired with vinegar which also costs 50.00.
We also ordered their palabok which also costs P50.00, sorry wasn’t able to take a photo of it.
Going to the place is quiet difficult, especially us who are first timers but thanks to waze that we found the place. But Loneg’s carinderia is popular in the place, you can ask the locals and ride a tricycle and you will be brought there.
yesiken 