Batangas Escapade ( Matabungkay Beach)

View from our BALSA(floating raft)

Batangas is one of the tourist spot near Metro Manila and no worries about transportation because anytime you can ride bus to your desired destination.
If you plan to go at the beach you can see the Taal Lake/ Volcano on the way to Batangas beaches.
One of the crowded places during weekend was Nasugbo Batangas which has so many beaches and in the other way before Nasugbo was LIAN,Batangas they called it "MATABUNGKAY Beach"
I already tried swimming at Matabungkay beach in Lian,Batangas two times in year 2015 December.
It was popular in Batangas because of their floating bamboo raft or BALSA in tagalog.
You can stay as long as you want or even overnight. The bamboo raft have small room/cabin so you can change your clothes or take a rest as well.Price ranging Php 600-Php 1,500 it depends on the person you encounter or on how you bargain the price.Usually weekend or holiday was more higher price than week days.
1st time we try Matabungkay beach, we pay Php 600 for the floating raft plus Php 200 for the service tip for the person who assist us (he is the one who cooked our chosen fish and seafood)
You can do cooking by yourself if you prepared something especially if you bring your own car for this adventure.

After 4 years and 4 months i try to swim again. I feel so excited when I saw Matabungkay Beach because it 80% look same as our barangay.
This photo happened last December 4, 2015. You know it better to go somewhere without any plan for a long time.
Early in the morning we just check the weather if it is good and prepare and go.

TIME:Approximately 2-3  hours from Manila via Eton City for Private Car, 3 and 1/2 hour by BUS via Dasmarinas City/Aguinaldo highway and 1 hour & 10 minutes from Tagaytay City.

HOW TO GET THERE:
*Private Car-----> From Eton City Exit or Sta Rosa Exit just go along Tagaytay-Nasugbo highway and you can see the signage of matabungkay beach beside the road. You can see the Arch of Nasugbo, just go along that way, turn right after you see the Golf Curse. Upon reaching the crossing,you can see the Shell Gasoline station just turn left to enter LIAN-Calatagan Batangas  and follow the signage to reach Matabungkay Beach or better yet ask somebody to get the right direction to the beach.

Along Calatagan road turn right or follow the road sign to the beach.

*Public Transport----> First go to the nearest bus station on your place and check if they going to Nasugbo via Lian Batangas. Usually terminal fro EDSA-Taft or Buendia,Pasay City.Just ask the driver that you will go Lian,Batangas ( Matabungkay Beach)
There are many buses  going to NASUGBO,Batangas or Lian Batangas. They will drop you off to BAYAN. Just go to their public market (PALENGKE) and take jeepney to the beach.

Fare: 
Manila to Lian Batangas ---->
Jeepney from public market->

NOTE: Always ask first how much the cost to make sure your budget is enough for traveling.

Entering Matabungkay Beach was free, all you need is to talk the floating raft owner or the person in charge. They will tell you its  Php 1500 for whole day but if you ask discount they will give you the right price as you desire.
Best time to visit the beach on weekdays because not so crowded and more cheaper than weekends and holidays.
Including on your raft payment are the person who will assist you and they had attach grill area on your floating raft so, no worries on how to cook and beside the free parking area was the store where you can buy fresh fish,sea foods and shells.

Our food during 1st try in Matabungkay beach  *This worth Php 800 pesos.

There's a lot of activities in Matabungkay beach which is:

*Jet Ski                       -- Php 1,500 ( 30 Minutes)
*Bicycle boat            --Php 300 (1 hour) including 1 driver,life jacket and can load 6 persons
*BANGKA(Bigboat)--Php 1,500 (1 hr) for diving, fish feeding,island hopping or snorkeling and can load 15 persons ( including life jacket)
* Banana boat
* SALBABIDA / life jacket rental for kids ranging Php 50 -100 pesos. 

After swimming you can take a shower for only Php 15 at the Nipa Hut Style Lodge,just ask the Bangka Boy who assist you. They had 3 shower room and 1 toilet room.

If you want to stay there until morning you can book a hotel which is air condition near the beach or even in Nipa house style logde.

Hotels fee per day:
Ranging Php 2,500-Php 4,500 for 1 room/2 persons.

But if you have private car you can go back home by afternoon.
You can stay also at the bamboo floating raft as long as you want. Just make sure when you make deal to the owner of bamboo raft the price are including if you decided to use it overnight.

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December 30, 2015 our 2nd time to Matabungkay Beach, family bonding so close to holidays. Price of floating raft is Php. 1,000. We talk to different person and including boy to assist us and they will grill/cooked our chosen food.

Fish,squid and shrimp for Php 750.00 

Boodle Fight 

We ask the boy to get banana leaf and it's free. Boodle fight is usually happen for group tour and since it's on the beach you will feel more hungry upon seeing this  kind of set up especially after a few minutes of swimming.

It's or little brother first time to swim. He is afraid yet excited to swim,and as you can see he is enjoying making sand castle with father.

We tried to rent boat bicycle only to see the view far from the seashore. You will feel more relax when you started to see the view while riding on a bike boat. You can do fish feeding while riding on a bike boat but it's little bit far from your floating raft ans maybe you will be adding more money for renting bike boat because Php 300 is only good for 1 hour.

View from our bike boat

BATANGAS DIARY

BATANGAS

            Also one of the Tourist Spot in the Philippines, near Cavite and at least 2- 3 hours if  no traffic and via South Luzon Expressway from Manila.

               There are so many hotels and beach resort at Batangas so, no worries & just relax and enjoy.

             Taal Batangas is where Taal Volcano/ Lake located but many people tell it is in Tagaytay because from tagaytay we can see the Taal Lake/ Volcano also.

                 It is located at the South Western part of Luzon in CALABARZON region.

           Talisay Batangas is the nearest way to Taal Volcano where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Taal Volcano via boat riding and also you can try  Horse back riding after you arrive at the small Island of Taal.

            I asked some tricycle drivers if how much is the rent going to Taal Volcano.

       From Olivarez Plaza in Brgy. San Jose, Rotunda Tagaytay City, Cavite (at the Terminal)Van/Bus Stop Station is P300.00/ trip.

      Boat Riding : P  1500/trip  (price is according to the Ordinance)  Horse Back Riding is in separate price.

 Photo Taken at one of the Condo/Residential Amenities.
   
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I took this picture at viewing deck of Condotel/Residential projects.

Location is in Laurel Batangas

Mt. Batulao

           Is one of the most popular hiking spot in Batangas, aside from the beautiful view of the mountain, weather also is very cool.

          There are so many Hikers go and back to experience hiking at Mt. Batulao especially weekends from Local and Foreigner hikers.

             In able to be safe for the adventure they also  have  Tour Guides waits the mountaineers near some houses & car parking.

LOCATION: Nasugbo Batangas

HOW TO GET THERE:
        By BUS:   
     From Coastal Mall you can ride Bus to Batangas, tell the conductor/driver to drop you off at Evercrest Hotel/Golf Course and just one ride of tricycle from Evercrest Golf Curse. Many Kids or sometimes Tour Guides are also waiting so that they can guide the first timers mountaineers.

         By CAR:
       It is so easy if going there by car. From Manila just take South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to Eton or Sta Rosa Exit, you will pass through Tagaytay City and make a right turn upon reaching Tagaytay Rotonda and go beyond until you reach the Public Market. Just go straight where you can see the entrance welcoming you to Nasugbo Batangas and just few minutes you will reach the Evercrest Golf Course.

      Feel free to asks some persons or at the store near the Golf Course which way to Mt. Batulao in order to make sure.

     From Evercrest go straight and left turn and park near some houses, they ate offering the space from outside their house to make Car parking just pay P 50.00 per day.

 TOUR GUIDE FEE:  P 300 or 400 per day from New Trail to Old Trail or Reverse. 

Additional Info:

      Hiking to Mt. Batulao is composed of twelve (12) peak. and while hiking you can buy Buko Juices on the way to the peak 1. There are so many Houses/ Store selling foods to the mountaineers.
Time: 2-4 hours
2 hours to new trail to go up
2 hours to old trail to go back

Using CR/ Toilet has payment : P 5.00 :)

Enjoy to your Mountain Adventure
   @travelerqueen23


                            Fantasy World

Front View

This look like a DisneyLand located at Diokno, Highway Lemery Batangas, Philippines.

An amusement park but not yet operate. The guard on duty says that still renovation is on going that's not yet started to operate.

I think already abandon but still look beautiful and you can imagine that you're a princess/ prince when you got there.


Entrance Fee:
P 1,000.00 per car & maximum of 10 persons. 
Just Took picture outside or near the place because not available to enter inside the amusement park.
But if you don't want to pay P 1000.00 just go up to the view deck and you can took picture for free.

Back Side View of Fantasy World

On the way back from Batangas I took this eye catching Architecture. This is the outside view  the new develop residential houses project.

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Enjoy your Adventure :)

             

Things to Do in Tagaytay?

 Well, so many things that  you can do at Tagaytay City, Cavite Philippines.

1. Go to Sky Ranch 

            ------ is Amusement Park/ Entertainment venue where you can see the Biggest Fun Wheel in the Philippines and can see the beauty of Taal Lake/ Volcano ( Full View)

            ------near Robinson Supermarket & Meralco Tagaytay and Beside Taal Vista Hotel.

            ------main gate opens at 8 AM (Monday-Sunday) other gate opens at 10 AM

Address: Sky Ranch Tagaytay- Nasugbu via Tuy Road, Brgy. Kaybagal South, 4120 Tagaytay City, Philippines

Entrance Fee :  P 50.00 / Car (Car parking)

                           P 80.00 per person (kids below their standard height limit is free but not free on rides)

We tried the so called Sky Eye (2nd to the biggest Fun Wheel in our country) which is 63 meters or 207 feet tall.
It can accommodate at least 4 persons in each Sky Eye Car.

Ticket fee: P 150 / person (same payment for kid)

View: Breath Taking view from the Top of Sky Eye, you can see the Taal Volcano, Taal Lake and the whole view of Sky Ranch Amusement Park. 

Morning View "SKY EYE"

Evening Shot "SKY EYE"

  Carousel ticket fee: P 50/ person

   Many Rides inside Sky Ranch we're you & you're Family can enjoy.

   Can also Horse Back Riding and if you get tired and hungry they also have Fast Food Chain inside the venue.

                                                                                                                    2.  Picnic Grove 

     ----it is a very wide Public Park for sight seeing especially Taal Lake/ Volcano, Have Mini Zoo, Cable Car and can do Picnic with Family (have small picnic house for rent )

    Entrance Fee : P 35. 00 Car parking
                              P 50.00   per person

From Olivarez Plaza you can ride jeepney or tricycle to Picnic Grove it is about P 60.00 per trip

3. People's Park in the Sky

      From Olivarez Plaza Van/Bus Station there are so many tricycle waiting for passenger there.

Payment to People's Park in the Sky P 120.00 per trip.

You can see the full view of Taal Lake/ Volcano here.

Entrance Fee: 30 / person
Parking Fee : 20 / car

    From the Entrance you need to ride to their authorized Jeepney to go up at the People's Park in the Sky or can walk at least 5 - 10 minutes.

Jeepney payment: P 10 / person

Address: Brgy. Dapdap East



                                                        4. Restaurants

You can enjoy the best Bulalo ( Beef Soup) in many restaurant of Tagaytay with Taal Lake/ Volcano view.



Have a Nice Day :)

@travelerqueen23

Tagaytay Adventure

TAGAYTAY CITY

had a very nice weather, fresh air and even if you can saw the sunshine still feel cold.

it is also called Mini-Baguio because of cold weather.

Weather --- 23°C feels like 15°C

Humidity---70% 

& sometimes very foggy especialy if raining.

      ✴Taal Lake/Volcano

Is actually located at Batangas but we can saw the view of a beautiful Lake and Volcano at Tagaytay City,Cavite in different angle  that's why there are so many people telling that Taal Lake/Volcano is in Tagaytay City.

     ✴How to get there from 🚗Manila?

Via Car   ----- 1 & half hour from manila via South Luzon Expressway

There are to ways entering tagaytay:

1. Eton City &

2. Santarosa,Laguna

Toll fee: 87 pesos in Eton City

🚌via bus ----- 4-5 hours from Baclaran,Pasay City not in expressway that's why it  takes long because of picking up passenger in every places like dasmarinas,imus,bacoor cavite.

Passenger fee: 85 pesos per head

Via Van

From: Alabang Festival Mall

They operate from 7:00am to 9pm but better

7:00 am,no need to wait for how many hour

Also at

Back side of Festival Mall Alabang

7:00am first trip

Via Van-------- 1hour or 1 and half because sometimes heavy traffic

Fee: 70per head

Going Back to Manila

No worries,

there are so many buses going back to manila at Olivarez Plaza Rotunda Tagaytay beside 7 11 and Dunkin Donut and near the buses station is Van terminal in front of touch point massage

Bus

Any time

Van

Starting 5:15am until 9:00 pm Monday to Sunday & even Holiday 

Have a safe trip...😊


Next blog: Please Read :)

www.travelerqueen23exploringtheworld.blogspot.com