Sierra Madre Resort, A Resort with a Scenic View

Dreaming of a quiet bonding moment with someone or probably a place to spend with friends? Sierra Madre Resort is a good option. Located at the top of the mountains of Tanay Rizal, it exudes a very intimate atmosphere. This is the place where the only noise you will hear is the howling of the wind. It is too serene that time seems to stop and everything becomes perfect.

When we arrived, we quickly started exploring the area. We walked along a pathway that offers a scenic view of the surrounding mountains. Well, the truth is almost all areas in the resort is scenic. We walked down the slopes until we reach the Spring valley, a part of the resort located far from the main building. It has a more private pool, one is color blue, the other is green with its water coming directly from the mountain. The pool is surrounded by a garden of manicured lawn and pine like trees. Again, needless to say, it has a picturesque view of the mountain ranges.

From the pool area is a pathway to the plight of stairs leading to  the Sto. Nino Falls. It is a waterfalls about 20 feet, spewing an ice-cold and clear water and is surrounded by moss adorned boulders. It doesn't have a pool where the water drops yet for some reason, I found myself enjoying standing under the cascade with the water pouring in me. :D The air is cooler in that part f the resort, with the thick foliage and trees trapping most of the sun's rays out and prevents it from warming the area.

We retraced our steps to get back near the spring valley pool and saw another branch of pathway leading to the prayer mountain. It is a series of stations of the cross and once we reached the top most part of it, we realized we're in another mountain. Cool! And the wind is cool too, cool enough that we didn't realize we're already being burned by the sun.

Few hours of exploring and we then decided to climb back to the main area, where the cluster of rooms and main pool area is located. It is gorgeous there. There is a platform built adjacent to the pool where tables and chairs were set up, it is overlooking the mountains and the wind is freely caressing my hair. That's where I found utmost relaxation. Nikko and I just sat there, ate pizza and chilled over Eraserheads' songs. I wanted to swim in the pool after the meal, I ain't  a good swimmer and wanted to practice more. The pool looks so inviting, however when I checked it out dirt was already noticeable on the floor of the pool and there was a frog floating in the main pool. Although Nikko removed it, I wouldn't ever swim in a pool enjoyed by a frog, not in the next million years, haha!

I checked out the shower area near the main pool and was a bit disappointed that almost no water is dripping from the faucet. I just wanted to wash my face to freshen up a bit but it was near to impossible. I'm not sure if this is how it always is, I'm thinking that maybe because it was a Wednesday and no other guests are in there but somehow, I still feel we should have been able to use those basic amenities. Sierra Madre is a very nice place, location wise and if only the main pool looked clean and there's water in the shower room, then it might have been superb.

The resort offers rooms/suites that can accommodate maximun of 12 people. They also have rooms for 2 people. The rooms I believe is devoid of television since it's the resorts aim to have their guests do nothing but to commune with nature and feel the tranquility of the place. Being a nature lover, I would agree with that except when it's night time and there's nothing else to do really. They have zip lines by the way.They also have a restaurant but was not able to try it since we brought our own food.

The resort has a Greek themed garden, highlighted by a Gazebo and Greek statues. It made sense, as the resort is in a high area, perfect with cool climate and a stunning view, no wonder it makes one feel that it is the home of the gods. There are flowery vines that made the place even lovelier and a hanging bridge  tucked near the pine trees.

Overall, I enjoyed exploring the vastness of Sierra Madre Resort. It is a refreshing treat to my senses, location wise. It is a serene place perfect for total relaxation and I would reiterate, should I have been able to use the main pool and there's water in the shower room, I'd say this place is perfect.

How to go to Sierra Madre Resort from Manila Via Commute

I found out two ways commuting there, first is the more scenic route which will involve more zigzag roads and mountain views.

Ride a jeep or FX from Cubao to Cogeo. FX fare as of this writing is Php35. From Cogeo (already a part of Antipolo), ride a jeep going to Sampaloc (a barangay of Tanay). Fare is Php52 to the resort. Sierra Madre will be on your left. Last trip of jeeps passing by the resort from  Sampaloc to Cogeo is 6 PM but depending on the volume of passengers and the weather, it is always safer to leave earlier, about 5 PM. That's according to the jeepney drivers I asked in Sampaloc.

That or the second way is when you're visiting Daranak Falls in Tanay first.

From StarMall in crossing, ride a van going to Tanay Rizal, fare is Php70. From Daranak Falls, it is always wiser to go back to the terminal in Plaza Aldea to have a guaranteed seat. From the terminal, ride a jeep going to Sampaloc. Travel time is about 30 minutes. Fare is Php26. From Sampaloc, ride a jeep to Cogeo. Fare is Php10. Sierra Madre is on your right. Last trip of vans from Tanay to Crossing is 8 PM.

The Blogger Would Like to Share: Tips on Creating Your Do-It-Yourself Travel

Accommodation and Dining in Sitio Sabang, Puerto Pricesa Palawan

Sitio Sabang is known to be the gateway to Puerto Princesa Subteranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage. Tourists usually flock the area  from mid-morning to early afternoons and leave the place almost deserted after those busy hours. I'd say that's the perfect time to truly appreciate how beautiful Sabang is. It boasts of a long stretch of beach with clear and warm water and powdery sand. That would be a good reason to consider staying even  for just a night in this lovely and pretty beach.

There are a lot of beach front accommodation options in Sabang. I had the opportunity of checking out some of these places when I commuted to  Sabang to witness the beauty of the Underground River. The weather didn't cooperate and  the area was currently affected by a typhoon that time. Imagine my disappointment when after an almost three hour of butt numbing bus ride, the tourism office in Sabang informed us they cancelled all tours for the day. Trekking the monkey trail was also strictly prohibited for safety reasons and that's what I'm mostly excited about! I understood but honestly, my heart sunk for a moment. Knowing my flight back home is the following day, there'd be no chance of seeing this natural wonder. My companions and I decided to stay for a night though, Sabang beach is hard to resist.

-Penao Beach Cottages and Canteen-
(currently ramaging my things to find their receipt with their phone number)

It was raining and equipped with just one umbrella for the three of us, we settled for the nearest accommodation we can find from the bus/van terminal. That would be Penao Beach Cottages found immediately when you turn right from the terminal (facing the beach). The cottages are decent enough and is a good value for money. We paid Php700 for the three of us. Their three cottages are constructed with native materials. Inside are 2 beds, with a cute round mosquito net hanging overhead the beds. Windows have screens to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside the cottage. The bathroom is quite spacious for a budget accommodation. There's a stand fan and a light bulb that we were only able to use from 6PM to 10PM, the time when resort's turn their generators on for electricity. Sabang doesn't have electricity yet so unless you stay in the upscale resorts in the area that have 24 hour generator available, you'll have electricity just as late as up to 11PM.

Walking towards the end at the right side of the beach, we passed by other accommodation options. Most also have their own restaurants. One interesting fact, all these resorts have at least one dog in their properties. These pets act as the guards of the resorts.

-Robert's Resort-
Contact #: 0927.312.3621

-Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa-
http://www.sheridanbeachresort.com/

-Taraw Beach Cottages-
Contact #: 63.927.450.2984

-Green Verdi Resort Inn and Restaurant-
Contact #: 63.927.350.0289

-Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort-
http://daluyonresort.com/

-Mary's Cottages-
Contact #: 63.919.757.7582

-Tribal Beach Resort and Restaurant-

We had dinner in Tribal Beach Resort's Restaurant. I read several positive reviews about them so I encouraged my sister and boyfriend to try it out. The owner who also runs the place and cooks the meals was ready to please us. Tribal has 2 adorable dogs, one is a puppy who stays beside our table while we're eating. He must be asking for food. We didn't mind her though. She's just too adorable and even knows some tricks like her mom.

We ordered what seems to be unusually served in other restaurants except for the famous calamares and a platter of rice. We paid Php530 for everything.

Tribal has 4 cottages built in their fenced property. It is located at almost far end of the beach (on the right), just before Mary's and is near the starting point for the Monkey trail going to the Underground River.

There's not much to do in Sabang specially at night but I found our stay there worthwhile. The beach is so beautiful and I stayed in the water all afternoon despite the deteriorating weather. The night was so serene, it felt like for hours, I experienced how it was to live in an old civilization. :)

Mellow Apartelle and Tourist Inn - An Affordable Lovely Accommodation in Tagbilaran City

I've never had any budget accommodation experiences as pleasant as my stay in Mellow Apartelle. It's a given, I'm easy to please and I don't expect much specially if I'm not paying much. However, Mellow Apartelle far exceeded my expectations that I'm writing this for them.

Prior to my family's trip in Bohol, I know we'd need to stay for a night in Tagbilaran City to make it faster catching up with the ferry's earliest trip going to Cebu City the following day. I did research on the accommodations in the city that can accommodate the five of us comfortably without having to pay much. I kept Mellow in mind but didn't make the reservation yet. I haven't found a single traveler's review about their place and I'm a bit hesitant about their location. It is within the city proper but is not right in the heart of the city.

On our third day in Whites and Greens Resort in Panglao, I called Mellow. A young woman named Rose, with a sweet voice answered right after two rings. I told her I needed a room that afternoon and our conversation didn't take long before we settled everything. We arrived in the apartelle with my reservation reflected  in the front desk's record. As we're settling for the payment, I noticed they have computers with cabled internet access available for rent. I think I also saw a printer and a scanner, perfect for travelers with business needs. We were then provided the room's key right after I request a van transfer to the sea port
early the following morning.

Upon opening the door of the superior room is an ample space of what looked like a unit in a medium-priced condo. There's a living area with a cabled television, two air conditioned rooms, a kitchenette, bathroom with hot and cold shower and terrace with a view of the surrounding residential area. Each room has a double bed  with comfortable mattress and duvet. It doesn't look like a double bed in my photo but it is. One of the rooms have a single pull out bed.  There are closets and dressers as well. I couldn't believe we only paid
Php1,400 for a night.

Night time came and we decided to have dinner at their restaurant than going somewhere else. We were exhausted from the tours the past days and we just wanted to lounge at their place. They have Filipino and Chinese food in their menu but several viands were not available. I noticed that other than our room, they only have very few rooms occupied with guest when we stayed there. And we're the only group in the restaurant.I then realized they probably don't often have regular guests that they don't stock a lot of food ingredients. It's a bit sad if I consider their accommodation rate and what they offer as well.

We ordered what's available and to my surprise, my family like everything. I've mentioned earlier that I'm easy to please but when it comes to food, I'm a little bit picky. Who doesn't love good food? I specially like their spicy beef. It's fiery and has a perfect blend of sweetness. I can't help but laugh though remembering that the chicken-asparagus soup we ordered didn't have any hint of asparagus in it. It tasted like chicken vegetable soup. So far, for me, that's the only thing they can improve on. Prices are reasonable for their servings. At the end of the dinner, I requested for saucers and knife for the cake Nikko and I bought for my sister in Island City Mall earlier that afternoon. They are very prompt with our request as well as the other requests I've made through our one night stay.

After dinner, I can't resist their swimming pool. I remember reading in their website that there's a separate fee for that but when I asked, they said it is for free. I immediately changed into my swimming wear. When the lady at the restaurant saw me descended the stairs going to the pool, she hurriedly lit the spotlights on the pool, even the christmas lights hanging the walls of the restaurant and in the plants surrounding the pool. It was lovely!...and I felt so valued as their guest. Nobody else would swim except me and Nikko. I didn't feel the need for them to do that, the lights coming from the restaurant is enough to illuminate the pool area. I appreciate their kindness with all my requests but that's another gesture that made me truly at home with Mellow. That night is really beautiful. The stars are twinkling on a clear night sky. My family is relaxing on the chairs beside the pool and I'm swimming and wading in a clean pool with warm water. Everything seemed perfect.

We all had a refreshing sleep that night and woke up early to catch a ferry trip to Cebu. As early as six in the morning, we were riding the van of Mellow apartelle to transport us to the sea port. Yes, that early and the driver is still very courteous and all smile. He was very helpful assisting us in carrying our baggage. This is another freebie from Mellow. We weren't charged for the sea port transfer. I know our tip is nothing compared to the service extended to us by everybody from the inn. Writing about them is my way of  appreciation for their unmatched customer service.

Although this place isn't very near the city center, it is just a short tricycle ride away to the Island City Mall, which is the bigger of the two malls in the city. It is just approximately 10-15 minutes from the heart of Tagbilaran. But even if it is farther than that, I'd still go back and stay in this place again. I only have lovely experiences to remember with my stay here. I recommend Mellow specially to my fellow backpackers. With
Mellow, my family got a bang for the buck and I do love how the staff are all accommodating and hospitable.  They are  proof that Tagbilaran City is right to be called the city of friendship.

If you need a place to stay in Tagbilaran City, you may check out their site:
http://mellowapartelle.com/

My other blogs about Bohol
Hiring Car for Bohol Tours
Island Hopping in Balicasag and Virgin Island
Panglao Island Accommodation
Mag-aso Falls
Old Churches in Bohol
Bilar Man-made Forest
Tarsier
Chcolate Hills
Loboc River Cuise
Hinagdanan Cave
Bohol Bee Farm
Dauis Church

Whites and Greens Resort, an Accommodation Option in Panglao Island

If it is just me traveling, price comes first on my decision whether to book a room or not.  Needless to say, I'll choose the cheapest accommodation available. :D Our Bohol trip is quite different since I'm traveling with my family. My primary priority is to find an accommodation where everybody, specially my folks, will be real comfortable. A place conducive to relaxation and somewhere safe where they can feel at ease. I am really glad to have booked in this resort for a 2 night accommodation, the resort not only met my expectations, we experienced everything for a reasonable amount - well, that's comparing to the market price in the area.

Whites and Greens is a resort located in Brgy. Libaong, Panglao in Panglao Island, Bohol. It is a beachfront resort and shares the same stretch of beach with the upscale resorts like Bohol Beach Club and Dumaluan Beach Resort as well as the other budget resort, Bagobo Beach Resort.

We stayed at one of their native family cottages that can accommodate maximum of eight guests. It is real spacious with a veranda, living room area and dining area. It kind of looked bare though and the wood floor shakes a bit when somebody is walking. That's probably one thing that they may need to improve on.There are two separate bedrooms, each with AC and with two single beds and a mattress for the fifth person. We were charged  Php3500 per night including the Php300 additional for the fifth person. Considering the big space of the cottage and the comfort it brings, even I who is a frugal traveler consider the price a very reasonable amount, adding that also included free breakfast for all five of us, not to mention unlimited free drinking water and coffee. My parents are kind of coffee addicts.

For smaller groups, they have bungalows with either a double bed or 2 single beds for two but can accommodate maximum of 4 guests. There is an additional Php300 each for additional guests, inclusive of breakfast.

The resort has a restaurant located in the middle of the surrounding cottages. Don't expect too much, what they serve are just simple meals, like what is usually prepared in Filipino homes but it is delicious. We had one of our lunch, one dinner and two complimentary breakfast in their restaurant and I guess,we can always tell if the ingredients used are fresh. All the seafood we ordered have a distinct sweetness. What I like best is the ensaladang talong (Eggplant Salad). I'm wondering what their secret ingredient is, I'm craving for it now that I thought of it.  They serve breakfast in time, exactly the time that you tell them the night before. I think the staff are really attentive.

The beach in front of the resort is nice although it just seems impossible to swim during low tide. You'd walk for about half a kilometer and that's when you can dip in still shallow waters. In that area, the sand turns as fine as powder comparable to that of Boracay's. In the mornings, a lot of sea grasses are scattered in the shore but the resort's crew patiently cleans it up. On high tide, you can bask into the water which is just about 3 meters away from the resort's lawn. I didn't have much time to swim in this beach since we had island hopping and country tours where we spent more of our time. What I enjoyed the most in Whites and Greens is lying in their hammock tied in the growing coconut trees, feeling the cold night air brushing my skin under the bright full moon.

For two or three night stay in the resort, I feel that it will be a perfect place for me. For extended stay however, I might get a little bored and detached from civilization since there are no televisions even in the restaurant. If they add that then I'll surely choose this resort even for a week-long stay next time. For now, they have free Wi-fi access even in the rooms and they also have a collection of different books in the restaurant that guests can borrow.

With all that being said, I know one thing for certain. Whites and Greens is a beautiful and unpretentious resort where you can appreciate and experience the beauty of nature. The resort is fitting to be called its name because it is fronting the beach with a fine white sand and the surroundings is dotted with lush greens.

Tamaraw Beach Resort, accommodation in Puerto Galera

The moment I settled with the fact that I'm spending my anniversary weekend with Nikko not in Calaguas but in Puerto Galera, accommodation is the first thing I researched. Other than budget as a consideration, (specially I'm not the one paying, hehe.. ) I really like the place to be beautiful, safe and far from the maddening noise of a crowd. Coming across some write ups about Tamaraw Beach Resort located in Aninuan Beach, I thought maybe it was the place I'm looking for. I didn't reserve a room right away but I was hoping there will be one left for us. I wanted to have a freedom of looking for other options in case I didn't like the feel of the place.

Riding the ferry and reaching White Beach, almost everybody alighted the boat except for another couple.  When our ferry docked in front of Sunset in Aninuan Resort, we walked a few steps on our left towards Tamaraw and was asked by a gentleman wearing a Tamaraw Resort shirt if he can help us with something. I told him we wanted to check their rates. He guided us to the reception area where we booked the cheapest room available.

Our room was located in what I called the 3 1/2 floor because it is on the middle of the third and fourth floor, halfway the stairs to reach the higher floor of the concrete building.  It was painted purple that illuminates a pink tone when sunlight enters from the window where the mountains are visible. It has a double bed, a fan and a neat little bathroom.

Our two night stay in the resort had been truly comfortable and enjoyable. People in the front desk area may have not been trained to smile to guests and are not overly cordial but they answer questions and fulfill requests right away. One thing I liked about Tamaraw is the honestly of their staff. If it's free, they really tell guests it's free, like when we're asking if they are selling hot water or when we're asking how much do locals pay the tricycle when they go to the town from the resort. We were informed that they provide free transportation service to staying guests (like when we needed a ride to town going to Tamaraw Falls and Tukuran Hidden Paradise) through a van if there are several guests and in our case, since there's just two of us, a tricycle. :) We just paid Php800 a night yet we felt like we're a million dollar richer, we felt important.

The resort have different accommodation options. Some prefer the cottages lined near the shore and are surrounded by flourishing plants. I prefer to stay in the building because of the great sea view that greets me whenever I step to the corridors. One can see the rest of the resort from the fourth floor.

We visited nearby attractions during daytime and by the time we were back at the resort, we kind of felt a little spent already. It was soothing to lie down on the beach chairs under the shade of umbrella trees, then listen to the gentle waves caressing the shore. At nights, we had our midnight snack in these same chairs, eating pizza and sipping  softdrinks in a quiet windy night, exchanging intimate conversation over  soft music playing from my phone.

When Sunday afternoon came, we practically have the resort to ourselves except for friendly foreign tourists (mostly are French) who were also staying in the resort.  Most of them smile at us then we're engaged to short conversations. With our last two days of stay in the resort, we're the only Filipinos left but it didn't really matter.

I really had a good time staying in Tamaraw Beach Resort. It's on a good location, they have good service and they provide good value for what guests are spending. They have a restaurant and that maybe is the only downside when you're staying in the resort. There's not a lot of  food options and  prices are higher than my standard so we didn't really eat here (most are food we bought from other restaurants) except for the second night when after we had dinner, I craved for dessert. I had mango chocolate crepe and melon shake and paid a little more that Php200. I just couldn't believe I had my dinner for only Php70 then spent that amount for dessert, lol! But it was delicious so I guess, I could forget about the price. :)

So when you're a person who can pass up on night life, or maybe going on a romantic trip, this resort might be a good choice for you the next time you go back to Puerto Galera. I"ll surely stay with them again on my next visits.

Places I've Been in Puerto Galera
Tukuran Hidden Paradise
Tukuran Hanging Bridge
Tamaraw Falls
Aninuan Beach
Reminiscing My Extra Ordinary Romantic Getaways