Saturday, April 16, 2016

Hidden Valley Springs Resort- Expensive Nature Tripping

After more than 2 decades of hearing about Hidden Valley Springs Resort, I finally decided to go on a day tour on Black Saturday and I brought my mother with me.

It was less than two hour drive from Paranaque. The location of the resort can be daunting without a GPS navigator. It was located in the middle of a forest like area and was far from the main road. The good thing was the roads were all paved making driving smooth. Only in the last stretch  that it got rough and partially cemented. We entered the gated resort and paid at the guard. Our change and receipt were to be given at the reception area. At Php2200 per head, this was an expensive day tour.

 
Though the staff at the reception area were nice, none of them briefed us on the facilities, house rules and other small welcoming chat. A few steps from the reception, there was a kiosk where a staff is giving out free gulaman. Coconut trees abound and surely they can offer fresh buko juice which is more refreshing than sugar laced gulaman.

 Though you are only allowed to bring in water, they dont search your bag and the brave one can sneak in chips and some energy bars just be responsible to dispose wrappers properly.  It was a long walk from the reception to the dining area to the locker room.

When you reach the locker room, you can opt to rent a locker for P500 which is fully refundable (just dont lose the key and damage the locker). (There are gazebos, tables and chairs which you can use but if nobody will look out for your things, better to get a locker)  The shower and locker room is clean and quite spacious. The locker can accommodate 2 medium sports bags.

The main warm pool can be reached by series of stairs downward. This main pool consists of 3 basins. Water temperature in all 3 basins are just right, not too cold and not too warm. The depth in the middle pool is about 5 to 6 feet while 3-4 feet in the lowest pool. Water is naturally flowing and is clear. There is no smell of chlorine which is good.

main warm pool

Away from the main pool is the Soda pool which is surrounded by tall trees. Water is warm but quite deep. About 20 meters away is the Lover's pool. The path to this pool is also cemented but downward. This is much secluded for those who want to be away from the crowd.
Soda pool

About 20 minute walk through the forest and bamboo pathway is a hidden waterfalls.




The falls is gorgeous and basin is shallow. Unlike other waterfalls we have been to which have cold waters, water here is warm. You can walk barefooted and feel the sand at your feet.


 There are boulders and lush vegetation in the area.


There is also a male staff  stationed at the waterfalls to oversee the guests.


Pros
-close to nature, quiet , very relaxing, well maintained resort
-pools have clean surroundings, warm water , depth is appropriate
-ample parking area
-senior citizen card is accepted
-polite staff 
-shower area is clean and air conditioned
-dining area is spacious and airy; dinner wares and tablecloth are clean
-male staff overseeing each pool area and at the waterfalls
-trek to the falls and the waterfalls itself is gorgeous

Cons
-Resort fee is expensive

-There is no added value at the reception area except staff giving your change and receipt.
-No map of the resort or map in the resort. Management could either give out flyer or install maps in strategic  areas to let guests know they are
-Long queue at the buffet table. This resort has been in the business for so long and yet management & staff dont see the predicament of the guests during lunch time. They could have made two lines at both sides of the buffet table to shorten the waiting time.
-Food is bland and nothing special. Dishes are ordinary. Management should try to taste the food they serve
-There was no improvement in the dishes as we overheard from a second timer.
-Tissue rolls at the toilet are not replenished on time
-Staff manning the pools are quite stiff; they could be a little "warmer" when talking to guests or when giving directions

Generally, for nature lovers , the cons can be overlooked and just enjoy the natural beauty of the place. Experiencing the waterfalls is unforgettable.




Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Din Tai Fung

I have first encountered Din Tai Fung when I was in Singapore back in 2011. This restaurant is a one Michelin Star awardee in Hong Kong. To be awarded a Michelin Star, a restaurant must be very good in its category. DTF is well known for its xiao long bao, a kind of bun or dumpling with soup inside.

I fell in love with xiao long bao and I have wished ever since for the restaurant to come to Manila. After 4 years of waiting, it finally opened its first branch in Manila at SM Megamall. It was an instant hit when it opened. There were long queues and people were really interested on how this steamed bun really taste.

I waited for 3 months before I finally get to experience this restaurant.Still there was long queue. Although we arrived at the area 30 minutes before its opening, we were number 20. While waiting for our number to be called, we already checked the order list on the food we like to eat.

We enjoyed watching people watching how the dumpling are made. There's a glass panel and step ladder for children to view the cooks.




As soon as our number was called, we handed out our order list and in 15 minutes our orders were being served.

Xiao long bao was first to arrive. We ordered the 5 pc instead of the 10 pc so we could try other dimsum.


 The soup inside XLB was so tasty. The dimsum is best eaten hot with vinegar and shredded ginger.

Chocolate Lava XLB
Shrimp dumpling

We also ordered shrimp dumpling, pork rice topping, shredded jellyfish, fried squid, and chocolate lava xiao long bao for dessert.
pork rice topping

shredded jellyfish

fried squid
Overall, we had a very nice dining experience. We will surely go back for more XLB!

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Strawberry Farm Experience

Located less than 10kms away from Baguio City in the district of La Trinidad, the Benguet State University Strawberry farm has become a major tourist attraction. Picking strawberry is indeed a fun and memorable activity. The picking season is from November to May. Though the farm has other produce, strawberry is the main attraction.









There is a spacious parking space and there are several stalls selling fresh produce, bottled vinegar and the typical souvenir items of Baguio.

Strawberries are delicate and must be carefully picked and the experience of picking them by yourselves would be memorable.That's why they cost double when picked.

One can opt to pick strawberries with the help of a guide or not to pick and  just go inside the farm and marvel at the plantation and take photos. You can buy strawberries later which are freshly picked at the stalls near the main entrance to the farm.

Inside the farm , you can also see vegetables - broccoli, romaine lettuce, chayote, cherry tomatoes, baguio beans- in their growing stage. The field is sub divided into different farm owners and ownership is marked and separated by bamboos and chicken wires.

You can allot 1 hour or less for this visit. Visit early in the morning to avoid the crowd. Try the strawberry vinegar for a change.