Our Pico de Loro trip was initially sched Ocotober 2012. However, due to our busy scheds, it did not pushed through. Then, during one of our unplanned dinner, we decided to push it on December after Christmas.
And to cut the story short, natuloy kami last Dec. 29 - 30, 2012. It was was our post-Christmas and pre-New Year celebration. :)
We left Steven's house at around 9am and started our ride going to Batangas.
Meet our ever trusted, bait and sipag (puro bola!) na driver, Steven
On our way to Batangas
It was a 3-hour plus drive. Buti na lang I'm with my High School barkada kaya hindi namin namalayan ang oras. You'll never get lost once you go there because street signage were very visible. Just follow it and you won't have a problem. Ang layo lang talaga niya. Parang nasa dulo na siya ng Nasugbu.
We passed by Canyon Cove, Tali Beach and Punta Fuego pero mas malayo pa yung Pico de Loro. The road was ok. Expect a lot of zigzag and steep roads thus, it's better to travel on a daytime specially for first timers. Very light naman yung traffic kaya nothing to worry. :)
Entrace to Pico de Loro
When we saw the entrance to the place, I really go excited only to find out na medyo malayo pa yung drive to reach the Condo.
By the way, Pico de Loro is an exclusive resort. Only members and their guests can enjoy its amenities. They really check sa entrance pa lang if you were endorsed by the member it you're travelling without them. For non-members, I think they have a hotel (Pico Sands) but limited lang yata yung access with other amenities.
Where we stayed
First thing we did: Higa and FB/Tweet
Microwave and rice cooker are the only available appliances that we can use to cook our foods kaya we brought several cup noodles, canned goods and other ready-to-eat foods. For our lunch, buti na lang pinadalhan kami ng mom ni Steven ng Mechado and Fried Rice kaya we didn't bother to prepare our food.
Galit-galit muna...
After eating, pahinga muna saglit and we headed to the beach. :)
Shuttle service is always available to bring us to anywhere we wanted within the resort. Magsabi lang kami kay kuya guard so that the shuttle could pick us up.
Shuttle service ride
First glimpse of the beach
Sulit ang byahe..
The water was serene. The place was not crowded. It was definitely a great place to relax and bond with family and friends.
Chill Mode: ON
Under my umbrella...
After spending some time at the beach, we decided to check out the country club. The aesthetics were really nice and cozy. We love the ambiance and the design of the pool. At syempre, we enjoyed the food. Sa sobrang enjoy namin sa food, parang hinangin lang siya. Hehe! :))
Isn't it lovely?
When the sun was about to set, we decided to go back to the beach area to catch a glimpse of it.
Yehey! Nahabol pa namin yung sunset. :)
Pool Area
Sunset at Hamilo Coast
We headed back to the condo to eat our dinner. After dinner, some of us decided to eat Puto Bumbong which was being sold sa may park area. Unfortunately, the store was close na pala that time kaya and ending namin was to stroll around the beach na lang and see the it's night life.
A live band and dance group performed by the beach
Full Moon covered by the clouds. :)
Pool area at night
After strolling and enjoying the cold breeze, we went back sa condo to start the most awaited part of the night, the booze session. :))
Vodka for life!
1-2-3 Pass!
The next day, we woke up early to enjoy the cool morning breeze of the beach. For a change, we did not call for a shuttle service but instead, we walked our way going to the beach. Mas naapreciate lalo naman yung ganda ng lugar.
Santa's gone to the beach. :)
Early morning at Hamilo Coast
Low Tide...
The other parts of Pico de Loro
A great way to start the day is to enjoy this view...
After our having our breakfast, it's time to make the most of what we have since we will be back home in the afternoon. We headed again to the beach to swim and to do our favorite hobby, take tons of photos. :)
The view from our spot...
Sariling sikap.. :) Thanks sa timer ng camera.
The ladies... :)
After sa beach, balik ulit kami sa country club to enjoy naman the pool. Sulitin ang oras! :)
Ang saya lang ni Steven. :))
The inevitable came and we had to leave the place. It was bitin for us but I'm sure we can go back naman basta maayos lang ang sched. I suggest to stay there for atleast 3 days para mas ma-enjoy yung lugar since there are lots of things to do. You can do snorkeling, scuba diving, trekkings, horseback riding or just relax all day.
We said that we would leave at 3pm para hindi kami gabihin pero hindi din nasunod. We left at around 5pm kaya naabutan na naman namin ang sunset along the way.
Sunset along the road
On our way back to Manila, we got lost. Instead of turning right to an intersection, dumirecho kami kaya nakarating kami sa Calatagan, Batangas. Ang naalala kasi namin puro direcho lang yung dinaanan namin. We just found out when we came to a point na we need to go either left or right at nagtanong na kami sa mga locals. They told us na we have to go back dahil sobrang layo na daw namin sa tamang daan.
Sobrang na-depress at nagtakutan kami on our way back dahil madilim na talaga sa mga dinadaanan namin and to think na ang layo daw ng nilagpas namin. Thank God one of my friends had an IPad at nag-gps nalang kami to know kung saan kami pupunta.
After 30minutes of travel, we saw the right road na dapat nilikuan namin. That was 1 hour wasted sa gas yet, 1 hour added kulitan, takutan, kwentuhan and bonding.
Tip, be alert and remember some important landmarks dahil wala nang signage that will guide you in going back to Manila.
It was 9pm when we arrived sa Tagaytay. Traffic was moderate to heavy due to bakasyunistas who were buying fruits since the day after is Media Noche na.
At dahil sa gutom namin, we ate at Hawaiaan Bbq at Tagaytay and tried their ribs and bulalo. Too bad I wasn't able to take photos dahil gutom na talaga ako. It's a must try and very reasonable ang price. We'll go back there soon.
After our Tagaytay stop over na sobrang lamig (I was wearing tube top and shorts that time. Buti may dala akong sweater), we headed back home. At 12midnight, I finally arrived home.
It was super nakakapagod na byahe pero sobrang sayang trip.
It was definitely a great way to end the year! :)
Thanks to my ever dearest High School friends: Lei, Madel, Michelle, Denise and Steven! :)
Some photos courtesy of Lei and Madel. :)
