Labor Day Weekend at Hamilo Coast in Pico de Loro

Living in a tropical country means there is no escaping the heat at summer time. The upside is summer means time to hit the beach. And that's what we did over the long weekend. So apt as coincidentally we went on a labor day weekend. Cheers to the working class!

Our destination is Hamilo Coast in Pico de Loro. It's a membership resort. But you have many options to stay there even if you're not a member -- one, book at the Hamilo Sands Hotel, two, rent a friend's condo unit for the duration of your stay, and three, stay in one of the condos through the property management office. 

Photo Credit: Hamilo Coast website

Traveling these days for me is no longer just thinking about my wardrobe and packing for one. Being a mother now means packing stuff for the baby. The upside? The absolute joy you feel when your planning for your baby's outfits, shoot pegs and yeah, not forgetting her milk bottles, milk and diapers. And sleepwear. 

After the overpacking, we managed to leave the house by 8 o'clock in the morning. We took the CAVITEX road going there. I must say the scenic road going to Nasugbu where Hamilo Coast is located, is already a treat in itself. I didn't know such a picturesque place existed. It reminded me of the rock formations and seemingly enchanted highways of Samar. I was in awe and in total disbelief that such a place is just a few hours away from Manila. 

The coastal view of the coves is unparalleled. Breathtaking even. And the Kaybiang Tunnel seemed like a picture carved out from those in foreign countries -- it's modern and awesome. 

Getting There

Getting to Pico de Loro is very straightforward. By car, you drive to Nasugbu via Cavitex. You get there in two hours or less depending on traffic in Ternate, Cavite. 

At the gate of Hamilo Coast, you will be asked for your documents. If hotel guest, your confirmed reservation. If guest of a member, your authorization letter. Note, print the two forms that will be given to you as it will be asked also at the condominium reception desk. After you are registered, the staff will give you a paper bracelet which you need to wear all throughout your stay in the resort to gain access to the facilities. Otherwise, you will be refused entry.

Cost 

You have to pay PHP 1,450 per guest entrance fee plus P1000 Hamilo Coast Guest Card worth P1000, it's consumable and reloadable. You need it because cash is not accepted inside the resort. 

Included in the guest fee is unlimited access to its electric jeep which will take you to any and all of the amenities of the resort. 

Rent on a one-bedroom unit starts from PHP6000 upwards per night during the peak season. The hotel rate can be as high as PHP9000 a night. 

Photo Credit: Hamilo Coast website

Photo Credit: Hamilo Coast website

Net net, it would be more practical to book in a hotel if there's just two adults in your group as the entrance fee is waived. The condo route is the best accommodation option if there are at least 6 in your party to maximize its cost.

Resort Amenities

There are several activities to enjoy -- kayaking, cove hopping, tennis, bowling and other indoor sports, biking, running and of course, swimming. There are restaurants and bars, too when you're famished. 

Pico de Loro beach is just okay. The water is not at par with the ones in Palawan. It's not aquamarine but it's clean. The sand along the beach front is not powdery white but it's clean. The beach front is short but it's not dotted with shops and stalls. 

What it lacks in feature, it makes up for exclusivity. 

We arrived on a labor day weekend and two weddings. Naturally, the place was crowded. And I was disheartened. I was so looking forward to peace and quiet. And having my baby enjoy the sand. But by the second and last day of our stay, the beach is almost deserted. We had it to ourselves for long stretches of time before a family or group of friends will settle in one of the beach lounges. 

Experience

The three days we spent there gave us a glimpse of what truly resort-living means. We were so impressed that we went crazy for a while inquiring about membership, buying a unit and all that. It fizzles once you realize the impracticality of it unless you have a whole lot of disposable cash. 

So we did what we could. We enjoyed the place. We savored the time that we were able to get away from the city and have a pleasant time with family. I'm particularly thankful that Tyrone and I were able to bring my mom, my aunt and my daughter there to have a shared experience, to bond, to create a beautiful memory as a family. 

Would I go back? Yes, in a heartbeat. It's the next best thing to escape the crowd that does not require air travel or very long drive. Although, I know that there are still other places worth exploring in the Nasugbu-Calatagan-Anilao areas. 

So, go ahead book your next weekend getaway in Pico de Loro. 

The intention is to lounge, read a good book and doze off. 

Here's the reality: watching over the sleepy babe. Or, 

Feeding this always hungry baby.

And playing our SuperKate game. 

Generally, I dipped in the water for a few minutes. And gawked at our little miss, most of the time. 

When you're at Pico de Loro, do not forget to drop by the convenience store. It sells the tastiest pan de sal I've ever tasted. And we heard the banana loaf is a good one, too. It sells like hot cake. 

Xx

Sheng

Little tricks to beat the summer heat

Summer used to be fun. As a kid, it meant vacation to my grandfather's farm. It also meant long hours of play, reading and just anything under the sun. We can stay up late too. 

But with climate change, the heat has become excruciating. Dangerous even. It is even more challenging if you're living in urban Manila. For one, there are no shades. No trees to provide cool air, enough oxygen. Everywhere, it's a concrete jungle. 

The only place in Manila that has some greens in it are the exclusive villages with their streets planted with majestic trees and the homes have trees surrounding them. The Bonifacio Global City shows some promise but the trees are still too small, too young to provide the much needed relief from the sun's intense heat.  

According to the weather bureau, the heat will intensify this month. So am bracing myself. My mantra is if I got through the first two months (March & April) there's no way I'll be beat with just one more month of heat and humidity. 

With the kind of heat we're experiencing, you would have thought that my air conditioner is turned on 24/7. Nope. The long and short of it is that I have no aircon at home. The studio we're leasing didn't come equip with an aircon slot. We didn't want to go through the hassle of drilling a hole and the complicated maneuvering we have to make it considering that the most part of our wall is also a firewall. 

Good thing we have a tiny balcony. It allows for a bit of ventilation. But just a bit. How then did we survive and are surviving the summer heat? 

Here are some little tricks we've devised to put us out of misery. 

1. Our balcony's sliding door is open 24/7. This way the hot air isn't confined inside the unit. You invite IN the breeze.

2.  We bought and placed indoor plants in the balcony and inside the bathroom. I'd like to believe that the plants absorb most of the heat. I still plan to add two more pots inside the house. And one on my night table to take advantage of their natural cooling effect.

Don't you just love the etagere?

3. Let the industrial fan work. On nights where it's just unbearably hot, our fan is set to its max speed limit. 

4. Chilled bottled water. Nothing beats thirst than iced-cold water. For easy access, store them in refillable/re-usable bottled water.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

5. Fan, the hand-held kind. Remember those native woven kind? Those are powerful in drawing in air. 

6. Eat halo-halo. As Anthony Bourdain said, "it doesn't make sense but it's good." The ice in it provide temporary relief though all those sweet ingredients make you want to gulp more water. Yet, it's such a joy to enjoy this Filipino delicacy in spite of the heat. After all, it's meant to be eaten in summer time. 

7. Take several showers a day. Yes, the water can get lukewarm but at least we temper our body heat each time we take a bath. Body odour is put at bay, too. If your bathroom feels like it has a built-in sauna like mine, shower quickly.

8. Tie your hair into a bun and wear a headband. It's what I do even if I my hair just recently got straightened and cut. 

9. When everything else fail, sleep on the floor. The tiles are cool to the skin :-) And pray that it will come to pass.

XX

Sheng

p.s. thank you Pinterest for the beautiful photos.

Boracay Escape

Carpe diem! On rare occasions that an opportunity presents itself on a silver platter, one must really just seize the day. We had the privilege of setting our weary feet in the powdery sands of Boracay under the February sun, a few days ago. It was very brief but it painted a lasting impression in my mind. 

We traversed the island on board Boracay Regency's speed boat.

The trip was for a business conference. And I knew from experience that it's hard to mix business with pleasure. So, I only packed my business casual clothes except for two kaftan items that were to be worn during the luau themed fellowship night. And a piece of bathing suit, just in case.

Oftentimes, when you set out with no expectations you get pleasantly surprised with what awaits you. This is how my summer in Boracay (included in Lonely Planet's 10 beach destinations) began. 

We were housed at the nicely furnished Boracay Regency Hotel with a nice view of the beach.

Our hotel. Amusing that a lot of people have used this space as a backdrop for their pictures.

Yes, we were the humble occupants of the Royal Suite.

The suite's lounge area.

View from our balcony.

Boy, the day that we arrived we still had a few hours of daylight to dip our toes in the tempting waters of Boracay.  And get a glimpse of its beautiful sunset. 

Romantic Boracay sunset.

Really, this picture did not do justice to the awesome scene before me. I couldn't ask for more.

Dinner at Aria.

Eggplant Parmigiana (P400+).

Tuna in Pesto Sauce (P500+).

Night life in Boracay is bustling. There are so many choices; the only real kicker is the kind of music you want to listen to. Everyone else has a distinct beach front ambience. The breeze is balmy at night. But who cares when one is supposed to wear as minimal pieces of clothing, as possible. It's a feast for the senses.

We even had a nice little night cap by the beach. We shared a long talk over a cuppa.

Ed sharing his secret for an unbeatable Temple Run score :-)

As luck would have it, we had one whole day in between the conference that was just truly ours! Ha, I didn't know. But who's complaining? So, we set out our itinerary for the day: frolic in the sun, sand and sea of Boracay.

Boracay Island, Philippines.

Look closely. The sand is powdery white!

 And I made a point of making my friends wear their heart on their sleeves, by writing their names on the sand. 

We're always on the lookout for the next best summer beach destination. Naturally, I miss them.

And wished he were there. Cheesy, I know! Lol.

A scenery is made more beautiful with gorgeous friends on the foreground. Erika.

Make sure that you take home with you a nice souvenir.

Have your shirts hand-painted by cool artists in Boracay. Watch while they paint. Awesome.

 So, what are your summer plans? Tell me about it. Better yet, spend your beach getaway in Boracay because it's more fun in the Philippines.