Tuesday, August 19, 2014

3B REST HOUSES (ANTIPOLO CITY)

The 6-feet deep swimming pool


3B Rest Houses which is located in Baltao Subdivision in Antipolo City has six units for rental and each unit has its own swimming pool. Since it is outside the city proper, guests are assured that the place is peaceful and there is privacy since each unit can be affordably exclusively rented just for one group.

Overlooking the pool from the third level


Each unit is spacious equipped with bedrooms/restrooms, kitchen with cooking facilities, comfort and shower rooms. It has a freezer where guests can store their food while they are spending time in the resort. Definitely, guests can cook because of the provision of kitchen facilities including grilling and roasting. The dining/multi-purpose hall can accommodate as many as 100 persons.

The kitchen and its facilities


Our group for instance has occupied a unit where it was equipped with three bedrooms where we rested after an exhausting swim. Others opted to stay in the dining and function hall for the videoki which is also provided. Fortunately, a part of the pool was covered with a shade and so even if it was already almost high noon, some of us still stayed in the pool for a relaxing swim.

Bedrooms with a capacity of four twin-beds


Indeed, the place is highly recommended for company outings, family outings, birthdays, weddings, and or any other special occasions. This place can be enjoyed all year round including summer where everybody wants to escape the hot temperature in the metropolis. This is the best option to go considering its proximity from Manila.

Preparing for a refreshing swim


Our group who stayed here for one day from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. enjoyed our time as we cooked our food, alternated to have the videoki not to mention the on and off swim in the pool. We grilled fresh bangus and tilapia as well as the juicy pork and chicken barbecue. Food then was overflowing with drinks from juice, soft to hard liquors.

The dining and function hall


The dining and multi-purpose hall can be used for corporate meetings, team-building activities, conferences and events like wedding and baptismal receptions. Our group used this part of the resort not only to dine but to have our videoki and a send-off party activity.

Part of the Metro Manila cityscape can be picturesquely captured from the resthouse


Standing from any part of Antipolo City with an elevation of 156 meters or 512 feet above sea level gives one a breathtaking and rewarding sight of Metropolitan Manila which is mostly consist of low lying areas. The city lights or the amazing nightscape of the metro can be best viewed from the resort with much splendor.

The spacious balconies and view decks


Aside from the spacious multi-purpose hall, bedrooms, receiving hall and swimming pool resting podiums, two spacious balconies are also available on both sides of the rest house located at the second level. This can also serve as view decks or watch bays if parents would like to monitor how their kids are doing while at their playful swim.

The car park area


Each of the six units of the rest houses is equipped with spaces for parking since most of the guests have their own cars and vehicles with 24-hour security services so that the parked cars and vehicles will be safe.

The two identical rest house units divided by a high concrete wall


Please note that only one unit of the six rest houses for rent is featured here. Each unit may vary as to its size, facilities and even the size of the pool. The third level of all units are accessible to the parking area since the upper part is within the road level.

A proof that each room has four twin-size beds


The following are their rental rates:

3B 1-4 : Php6,000 for 11 hours
3B 5: Php7,000 for 11 hours
3B 6: Php10,000 for 11 hours (with Aircon & good for 20-30 pax)

Guests can call for reservations. Reservations are not accepted in their Facebook page.

For more details, use the following contact details:

Landline: +632.697.2793
Mobile, SMART: 0918.5011.152
Mobile, GLOBE: 0917.2570.081
Phone: 20 69727930 / 9172570081 / 09185011152

HOW TO GET THERE

Click this link for your guide.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

MOUNT PALAY-PALAY CLIMB (PICO DE LORO)

Location: Ternate, Cavite
Jump-off point: Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite
Coordinates: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E
Elevation : 664 MASL (2,178.48 feet)
Days required/Hours to summit: 1 - 2 days / 4-5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3

Descriptive Summary: Pico de Loro is known for its two peaks. The first peak can be climbed with loose soil and rocks at 45 degrees inclination while the other one is a massive monolith which not all can climb except for the brave souls. It is safer to climb this peak by using a harness. It has two known jump-off points such as this Ternate side and the Nasugbu side though some would prefer to use more difficult traverse trails. I had scaled this mountain for six times already and this very recent is dated August 9, 2014 on a day-climb. Its name was derived from the beak of a parrot since the shape of its summit resembles to it. For beginners, this mountain is better climbed overnight.


View Pico De Loro Trail in a larger map


Pico de Loro Water Falls


My stressful work schedule has barred me from having travels. But since August 8, 2014 is my birthday and it was Friday, I opted to climb alone in Pico de Loro the following day, August 9, 2014.

Breathing fresh air along Magnetic Road


August 9, 2014 was such a perfect weather as started my day boarding a city airconditioned bus transport from Starmall Edsa-Shaw to Coastal Mall Central Terminal for 45 minutes (5:30 to 6:15 A.M.) at P27. At exactly 6:32 A.M., I boarded a bus from the said terminal heading for Ternate town reaching there at 7:42 A.M. for P81 or a travel duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Resting after a leisurely jog along Magnetic Road


From Ternate town, I rented a tricycle going to the DENR Registration site which was from 7:40 to 8:10 A.M. or 30 minutes including pictorials along Magnetic Road and the entry point to Puerto Azul costing P40 per head.

None of the Climbers were known to me


Since it was just a day climb, I did not bother to invite for somebody to have my buddy. After all, I can trek fast I am alone and I seldom take a rest. Though, along the trail, climbers are so cordial to greet each other. I did not stay long in the water falls and I did not take a fresh bath there. It was cold then.

The 360 degrees scenery from the Shoulder


I paid for the registration of P25 per head and started trekking from the jump-off point at 8:30 A.M. and I was at the water falls at 10:10 A.M. or 1 hour and 40 minutes trekking. Normally, this water falls becomes dry during summer.

The scenery overlooking the rugged coastline of Batangas from the summit


I left the water falls at 10:25 A.M. and arrived at the shoulder of the mountain at 11:35 A.M accounting for 1 hour and 10 minutes trekking. I stayed longer there for our lunch.

The monolith peak as viewed from the other peak


I left the shoulder at 12:35 Noon and was at the summit at 1:10 P.M. It was cold at the summit that I decided not to stay long till I started to descend at 1:35 P.M. and was at the shoulder at 2:10 P.M. The trail going down is slippery and loose clay is difficult to lock-in your foot in any given point.

The vast expanse of the Batangas side as viewed from the other peak


The jubilant climbers on the death-defying monolith




A few groups dared to scale the monolith. The foot of the monolith was crowded with climbers who wanted to scale it. Each group wanted to have a group picture with the photographer on the other peak. Being alone, I contented just savoring the cool air at the summit.

The eager climbers waiting for their turn to scale the monolith


Scaling the monolith is quite challenging and requires to have a fearless spirit but once you conquered it, that would be a personal record of achievement. I still remember the first time I scaled it in 1998, in our Millennium Climb which marked the 100 years independence day of the Philippines. It was quite memorable and my first time to climb Pico de Loro.

Descending the summit in loose dry clay and small rocks


After descending the stiff and loose rocks of from the summit, I rested at the shoulder till 2:25 P.M. and resumed the trek reaching Camp 1 at exactly 3:25 P.M. There was a 5-minute rest and resumed the trek arriving at the DENR Registration site at 4:15 P.M. Clean-up followed in the existing shower facility and left at exactly 5:00 P.M. boarding a tricycle with the same fare rate at P40 and arrived at the Ternate bus terminal at 5:35 P.M.

I caught the bus which left at 6:00 P.M. at the Coastal Mall bus terminal at 7:10 P.M. I was home in my Mandaluyong residence at 9:40 P.M.

My expenses for this climb is summarized as follows:

SN Particulars Amount
1. Round Trip bus fare within Metro Manila
54
2. Round Trip bus fare from Coastal Mall to Ternate town and vice versa
162
3. Round Trip Tricyle fare from Ternate town to DENR Registration Site and vice versa
80
4. Registration Fee - DENR
25
5. Registration Fee at Camp 1
20
6. Dinner at the DENR Registration Site with Halo-halo
75
7. Food provision including trail food, breakfast, pack lunch and mineral water
186
TOTAL
602