Bali In The Philippines

CINTAI CORITO'S GARDEN, is the Bali within reach here in the Philippines. It is situated in Balete Road, Leviste Highway, Lipa, Batangas and just 2-3 hours away from Metro Manila. I've learned about this from a friend and decided to come and visit for total relaxation.

Previously it was pivately owned but the owner decided to open it to the public and eventually partnered with Microtels.

How to book a reservation?

Visit their official website: http://coritosgarden.com/accommodations/

They require 10% down payment and the remaining balance will be paid upon check-in. If you decided to cancel, at least inform them 7 days before or else you'll be charged with the remaining amount for no show.

How to get to Cintai Corito's Garden?

Commute:

LRT Gil Puyat Station > Bus going to SM Lipa > Drop off at Levy Town  (Landmark: Caltex) > Ride a jeep to Malabanan then tell the driver to drop you off at Cintai Corito Garden.

Private car: 

From Manila, take SLEX all the way to Startoll Express Exit at Malvar (2nd Exit) and turn left. Go straight until National Highway then turn right. About 10kms, you'll see Caltex gasoline and Jollibee. And 3kms straight you'll reach the Balete Arch and about 100m from that point is Cintai Corito's Garden on the left side of the road.

You can always use Waze App.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with "lemon grass" drink. It tasted really sweet with the aromatic scent of lemon and with what seemed like jasmine. All the staff were very accommodating and patient to answer a few of our questions about the place.

Terrace Villa 

Cost: Php. 5,999 per night with complimentary breakfast

Max. of 2 adults. Extra person charge in the room is Php. 1,650 per person. 

Here's what the outside of our villa looked like,

Fully airconditioned room with thick curtains

2 beds with Indonesian inspired interiors

It has a refrigerator too with complimentary water bottles but no Wifi internet connection and TV set. We were told that it was intended that way for a complete package of relaxation that is away from the busy city life.

Bali-inspired cabinets and  paintings

As I enter their bathroom, I was amazed by how spacious, well-maintained and clean they were.

Facilities and Amenities

Balinese or rather the Javanese architecture is one of the most popular Asian tropical architectural styles with their very unique flair for being in harmony with nature. Wood carvings of Hindu gods, rocks or stones, triangular and edgy roofs with lush greens are the most common elements of Balinese style and it brings relaxed and tropical atmosphere.

Koi Pond

Gazeebo with garden. Perfect for reading books while enjoying the nature.

 Peacock cage. Yes, there were lots of animals roaming around.

The pathways have small stairs and you should really be careful. I'm guessing it was also intended for the animals roaming around just like the chickens and ducks.

Peacock function hall

 Elephant portal

Play ground

Pavillions

Volleyball court

Swimming Pools

There were a total of 4 swimming pools. 2 kiddie pools and 2 adult pools (5ft - 6ft)

Dinning Hall- "Abadi Resto"

Open for dinner: 6pm-8pm. 

Cut-off time for orders is 7pm. They close really early so better be mindful of the time.

For an average budget of Php. 1,000 you can have a scrumptious dinner meal. So here's the list of foods that we ordered that might help you decide the next time you visit here.

 For starters, we had Calamari's Fritos- Php. 330

 Penne with Tomatoes Chorizo and Cream- Php. 395

 Shake Shack Burger- Php. 395

MUST TRY!!! Creme Caramel- Php. 105

Velvety custard of eggs, heavy cream and a touch of coconut milk. Tapped with caramel syrup.

Movie Room

If you really can't survive without television, you may schedule a time slot for viewing at the reception area. This is part of what you paid for so you better avail it. 

Comfy leather seats, 54-inch TV and fully air-conditioned. 

Complimentary breakfast

Serving Time: 7am-9am

 Chicken Macaroni Soup

Scrambled Egg, Fried Rice with Bistek Tagalog

PROS

People nowadays live in a very hectic lifestyle and sometimes don't have the time for themselves. Visiting this place is also the time to leave all the paper work and other work matters behind.

• The place is tranquil with natural and man-made landscapes. Perfect for relaxation.
• Budget friendly
• Well-kept. Not only it looks good in pictures but is also a lot nicer in person. I never heard of a similar place. Should there be soon, Cintai Corito's Garden sure has set the bar high to reckon.

CONS

• The meals are not value for money.

If you can't survive without internet, this place is definitely not for you. You can still access the internet but you have to go to the reception area for the wifi connection. Using your cellular data will not be much of help because it's lagging too.

TIP: Make sure to bring books, board games and chips to kill the time.

EPILOGUE

To David, 

Happy Post-Anniversary! This trip was amazing and thank you for making it perfect! I wouldn't have want to spent it with anyone else. Cheers to more wonderful memories that lies ahead of us. 

I love us

Quarter of a Century

Turning a quarter of a century old isn't scary as it seems at all. When you reached this age, some people may begin to think about achievements, goals, and failures, which can make twenty five more daunting. But for me, I consider it as a gift to re-evaluate myself, my goals and what I want my future self be like (at least 5 years from now). 

So I just want to share with you some of my realizations now that I turned 25.

1. I'm no longer at the early twenties bracket but now at the "mid-twenties."

2. I've learned to let go of unrealistic expectations. 

3. Accept that nothing is perfect. Letting go of any expectations of perfection will help us focus on the positive changes in our lives.

4. I'm more sure of what I want this time. 

5. I've learned not to apologize especially if I know that I'm clearly not in the wrong. But in some cases, we should learn to put our pride away. It's not a sign of weakness but of "maturity."

6. Not compare myself with others. Every person is different and comparing ourselves to other people can minimize our self-confidence. So just hang in there, we'll all have our own breakthroughs.

7. Set goals for every aspect of my life: personal, financial and professional. Give myself short and long term goals to achieve and reassess them every year.

8. Get the most out of life as I can through travel, education, or even just investing time with my loved ones. I know that this will help me realize that by the time I turn thirty, I will feel more fulfilled and contented.

9. "Don't chase, get chosen."

10. Love and trust yourself. Be with the people who make you feel good about yourself.

Don't let the societal conception about "getting old" discourage you. Relax, it's just a number. Yes, you are about to turn 25 (or may have already) but seriously, being 25 isn't so bad. You've already built the base, now build the walls of your life, decorate it just the way you wanted and paint it with your favorite colors. Just savor the moment and live a worry-free life. 

Last Hurrah in Real, Quezon Province

Is there a more joyous moment than hitting the beach you're sure will set the tail end of summer really exciting? It's painful to accept this, but the summer months are coming to an end. Good thing I was able to make the most out of what's left by going to Real, Quezon with my officemates. The place is just 3-4 hours drive from Manila.

For our first stop, we went to one of the go-to places in Real, Quezon- Real Surf. Are you a Globe subscriber? Can't you survive without internet? If both answers are "YES," I won't recommend this place for you. 

Entrance fee: Php 300/pax

Surfing here costs Php 500 per hour and the waves aren't that high enough. In Baler and La Union, they only charge Php 350.

The place is very hip! There are hammocks, colorful bean bags and the decors are aaahhhh-mazing! The wall murals are injecting summer energy to the cozy environment.

Here are their rates:

I tried their "English Breakfast" which for me wasn't really an English breakfast. It's bacon, eggs, sausage, fried potatoes and toasted bread. I'd call it "American breakfast" rather than English breakfast because the latter is usually served with tea, scones, bagel, beans and sausage. The foods are also overpriced; ranging from Php. 200-300 per meal.

We stayed at Club Manila East Pacific after Real Surf. The room costs Php 4,000 per night with 8 beds, 2 bathrooms and is also fully airconditioned. 

Another place worth visiting in Quezon Province is the Bagumbong Falls in Tanauan. Before you reach the falls, you have to ride a rubber raft which makes the journey more exciting.

Safety helmets and lifejackets were provided. 

Water tubing + environmental fee: Php 320

For a fitting end to the water tubing experience, was another sport of cliff jumping. Feeling nervous, I climbed the cliff and looked down at the flowing river with kuya saying "Bumwelo ka bago ka tumalon, Ma'am. Baka tumama ka sa bato." And in one swift act of bravado, I took a free fall from the cliff without any support and plunged through the cold river water, feeling so accomplished. 

I'd be lying if I said our time here was deep or meaningful- it was nothing but eye candy. The roads on the way are yet to be finished so it's quite rough and bumpy. 

But if your goal is to isolate yourself from the demands of life, this place is definitely for you. No signal. No internet. And most importantly, no distraction. Only the relaxing nature and yourself.