Mahogany Market - Tagaytay

There are many places you can go to when you're in Tagaytay . Along the ridge are rows of restaurant, boutique hotels, fruit stands and viewing areas to see Taal lake and volcano. There is one  place where people stop by to get local produce, fruits, plants, homegrown beef and to eat famous bulalo or beef bone marrow soup.

Mahogany market has two sections . One section has stalls selling wide variety of fruits and vegetables. There are also herbs in pots and flowering plants. Fruits in season abound and reasonably priced. Go around the stalls and ask for prices to get an idea which stall offers the best price.  Haggle nicely and you can get some discount. { Fruit prices indicated herein are during the peak season.}

dragon fruit @Php100 per kg

Avocado @Php60 per kg

Mangosteen @ Php90/kg

The other section or building has the meat stalls and the restaurants. Meat from home grown cows abound and one can choose any beef cuts. Price per kilogram varies depending on the meat part.

Located on the second floor of the meat section are food outlets offering local dishes including the famous Bulalo.  Beef bone marrows &, ligaments are boiled until tender to get a clear yummy soup. The bone and marrow are also being served with the soup. Tell the food attendant that you want bulalo with meat. Otherwise, they will serve you portion with little meat.

One can also order variety of dishes like fried tawilis, adobo, menudo, daing na bangus. The place can get crowded and hot especially during weekend. Note that bulalo is cholesterol laden dish and one has to take it easy when eating bulalo. It can raise your cholesterol level.

Fried Tawilis

Beef Bulalo @Php300 per bowl

There are also several stalls nearby selling dried fish, squid, smoked fish, peanuts. Grab some smoked fish which can be cooked and served at breakfast.

Parking may become a problem near lunch time so better come early. Also, wear light clothes as it tends to get hot in the market.

How to get there:
By private car
From Tagaytay Rotonda, drive straight to the road going to Batangas. Upon reaching a Y road with Petron Gas station, turn right and drive about 4km. You can see directional sign and Mahogany market is on the right.

Fortune Island -Nasugbu, Batangas

Located about 14 km from the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas, Fortune Island was once a luxurious resort but due some circumstances , it was abandoned and no more developments were made on the island. However,  the pillar inspired by the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, has lured many tourists, locals and foreigners alike, to this island.

One way of getting  into the island is by arranged day tour but with meeting time of 230am leaving Manila at 3am. The travel time is about 2 hours. You want to arrive in Nasugbu as early as 6am to catch the sunrise and the first boat. The boat ride to the island is about 1hour. Better visit this island on a good weather as the waters can be treacherous on a rainy day.  For a day tour, it is ideal to leave the island before 3pm to avoid the rough waves.

Upon reaching the island, you will immediately be drawn to the greek inspired columns as they stand at the edge of the cliff, tragic but beautiful remnants. 

 

It is sad to see the dilapidated cabanas and main building.

Trash like empty water bottles and alcohol litter the place.
 

However, the turquoise colored waters , the semi fine white sand and the beach will compensate for these ruins. 

Please take note:

• There’s no potable water in the island ; you need to bring bottled water ( included in the day tour package is 5 gallons of water)
• Bring your own food both for day and overnight trip; please bring trash bag and take with you your trash when you leave the island
• No bathroom  - (you can take a shower back at the jump off point resort)
• No working toilets for visitors - though the caretaker has his own little toilet but there is no flash ; he can offer it to those with emergencies only but you need to fetch water from the sea
• The heat becomes so intense around 10am onwards so bring extra protection (umbrella, lotion, sunscreen, shades, wear rashguard.)
• Do not be deceived by nice photos of the island; there are also not so nice part like the garbage scattered around the island and at the beach left by irresponsible visitors
• After 4-5 hours at the island, nothing much can be done and the stay may become boring. 

Things to do in the Island

• Swimming, snorkeling, cliff diving, photo shoot, hiking

Going back to Manila, you can opt to take the route  via Ternate, Naic and other municipalities of Cavite all the way to the newly opened Cavite Expressway (Cavitex). You will see  green rice fields, sea view and pass through Kaybiang tunnel where you can stop and take souvenir photos. 

There are food stalls near the tunnel and you can try siomai, banana cue and arroz caldo.
 

Travel time to Manila via Cavitex is around 3.5 hours because of the heavy traffic both in Cavite and in Macapagal Boulevard.

Expenses:
Tour  Php1,800 inclusive of van, breakfast, landing permit, boat rental
packed lunch at Jollibee Php 100
bottle water 1 liter Php 25.00
miscellaneous/pocket money Php 300 

Inquire from tour operator at 09156238961 or visit FB page Yob Red