Anvaya Cove Beach & Nature Club

Can't resist the invitation of friends to go to this place. I have already booked a ticket going back to Cebu but since I can't use it I need to purchase a new one rather than rebook the old ticket. So much for being a "laagan".


Our destination? Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club in Morong, Bataan. Bataan is always associated with the Death March many years ago but this trip enable us to rediscover a perfect place to unwind and relax.

 “Anvaya” means “family” in the ancient Sanskrit language, a return to meaningful family traditions is at the core of everything at the Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club.

We were lucky not much people were around during our visit. Enjoyed the place tremendously.

The pools of Anvaya are irresistible so sad I didn't bring suitable swimming clothes.  Lucky for  my companions they have a photographer.

 

 The place is exclusive only for members thanks to Claudette for inviting us.

There is also a look out tower  that gives you the view of the whole area. Definitely a good location to capture Anvays's view down.

Be a food connoisseur and enjoy the sumptuous buffet spread at the Bamboo Café, capped by a drink at the Tower Bar.  A group from a local Magazine arrived for their monthly issue. Our entertainer while eating...

 Again, many thanks to Claudette for  inviting us to this place that only members and their friends can enjoy.

Camp Benjamin Kick-off

It's company's activity every January to gather all staff to Manila for Kick-off this time in Camp Benjamin, Cavite. Excited for the place but not to what will take days before that (',').

Travel was a lot of fun though we were like sardines in our vehicle. Glad we were with Mindanao staff and not someone from Manila hahaha. At least we can express ourselves freely.

As part of the activities, we were asked to do our own tent for we are not sleeping in a nice hotel room instead in the tent we've made.

Busy doing their tents

all tents are ready

my team mates were busy inside our tent

 Lunch time was one of the best part of this whole activity. We were served with  bihon, grilled pork & chicken if my memory serves me right in a long table for a what they call " budol lunch".
 

start the of the fight

not that hungry huh?

Evening activities were quite interesting. As part of the company's mission for the year 2012, each team was given an air balloon where we will write our desires for this year and let it lift in the air with a candle on it.

this what what team work means

hurry up now before others will

up... up... up...

Another activity was "living out loud' were you have to portray someone may it be someone from cartoons or television series or movies. 

 

Roy as kilua & Regie as Amaya

Activity for the next day was river trekking so if you want this kind activity prepare yourself then. It will take more than an hour to complete level one.

Of course this kick-off would not be complete without picture taking.

Visayas team

PAS team

GBC

picture courtesy of Jerry

Siquijor, The Mystic Island

Another long weekend and  "Team Laagan"  is again packing things for another trip. Thanks to Jerry, a friend who invited us to join him in his adventure. I've been traveling around Visayas for nearly 4 years now because of work but never in those years been in Siquijor. Now yahooo excited for this...

We took the early trip to Liloan, Santander from Cebu South Bus Terminal. Travel is around 3 hours and will costs you Php 169. From Liloan, you'll have to take a fast craft  for Php 62 that will bring you to Sibulan travel is approx. 25 mins. From there you can either take a PUJ or a tricycle going to Dumaguete proper. PUJ will just drop you off to the terminal near Dumaguete Market so you have to take  tricycle going to Dumaguete port.

Couples Matthew & Regie were wide awake during the travel to Liloan, Cebu. They were able to capture the sun rise with their 10 year old camera (',').

Travel from Dumaguete to Siquijor is about an hour for Php 120. Glad we already booked our reservation from a newly opened guest house owned by Filipino-French couple.  Approaching  Siquijor island, you'll have a spectacular view of the white sandy beach.

with white sand beach background

 We headed to our accommodation  U Story Guest House to drop our stuffs and start our island exploration. Approaching the location where we will stay we thought we booked a wrong place judging from its entrance.I guess the  saying  that says  " Don't judged the book by its cover"  is true after all.  It's a place where YOU define your story and YOUR day. You can do snorkeling, swimming or just simply rest in some hammocks or cozy lounges around the area. Definitely, this place is perfect to those who want to have a quite and peaceful relaxation.

entrance of our bungalow accomodation

Excited to get to bed Reg ?

if you're not that tired Matthew after the activities the whole afternoon (',')

wish to have one in our home
 

The resto bar

 OUR DESTINATIONS:

1. Old Enchanted Balete Tree:  A centruy old  Balete tree is one of the stops for Siquijor destination. A laundry area for some locals too (',').

2. St Isidore de Labrador church: reputed to be one of the biggest and one of the oldest convents in the Philippines.

3. Cambugahay Falls: I think Matthew is the one who really enjoyed this place. Why not? he's been jumping several times. Guess he misses cliff diving back in America.

Doing the Tarzan stunts Matthew?

for the nth time

hmmmnn...who will hit the water first?

one of Jerry's pics with his high powered camera

wish my cam can take a pic like this

4. Salagdoong Forest; A nice place  for  a pre-wedding pictorial.

Regie's straight jump

5. Salagdoong beach

6. Capilay Spring; A swimming pool was developed out of natural springs flowing from under a wall of rocky limestone cliff. A pool where you can swim for free with the fishes of feed them.

couple's resting with their feet soaked in the water

At night Siquijor is one of the best place for star gazing. Jerry's fondness for photography captured this awesome view above.

millions of stars

Off course the adventure wouldn't be fun without food. U Story Guest House offers mouth watering dishes you surely can't resist. According to our source, their cooks were trained for a month by a french chef. Sosyal right?(',')

collage courtesy of Jerry's iphone

So much for the magic potions, shamans, sorcerers and witches our Siquijor trip was indeed a memorable escapade especially that we almost ran out of money unfortunately.

Remember going to an island like this bring extra cash and don't rely on the banks. Only two commercial banks are there in Siquijor and you'll definitely worry once you run out of cash.