PHILIPPINE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL: Up, up, up n away in my Beautiful Balloon in Clarkfield Pampanga.

Exploring the provinces north of Manila was quite a logistical challenge for us because if you will start from Cavite, there’s no way you can reach the north without passing through the urban jungle traffic of MetroManila which can really stress you up.  We had to leave Cavite in the wee hours so that Manila will still be asleep when we pass by it.  

When Clarkfield Pampanga became the agenda of our next adventure, I'm already aware of the many places to visit in this former US military base that took the Filipino people the help of the underground movement to finally kick out our colonial occupant.  Anyway, that's another story for some other day.  To make our adventure here more interesting, we decided to coincide our visit with the hot air balloon festival.

Since the Hot Air Ballon Festival is a once-in-a-year event, we are expecting a multitude of people arriving in hordes from the neighboring provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan and Metro-Manila.  The carnival atmosphere of the event was enough to awaken your sleepy heads from the long trip from any point of origin far from Pampanga.

  We left Cavite for Pampanga in the wee hours of the morning to avoid traffic which we are anticipating in the venue.  We just traveled leisurely along the NLEX (North Luzon Expressway).  We arrived in Clarkfield at five oclock in the morning.  What met us at the venue is  a monstrous traffic jam which stretched from the entrance of Clarkfield as an endless cue of vehicles hoping to get close enough to the entrance of the venue and we have not the faintest idea where to park our car.  

Because of the traffic delay, we missed the opening launching of the giant balloons as we only witness their take-off from afar.  There were already many balloon that were airborne creating a colorful spectacle of floating giants of different forms and characters lifted with blazing thrusters that push the dirigibles higher up in the air    

Even though we were trapped in traffic, the mere sight of these colorful giant balloons is very entertaining and the thought that the simple laws of physics governing the direction of trapped hot air is enought to float them.  We had a grand time shooting away with our cameras while walking to the assembly site. Aside from the balloons, there are also paragliders and assorted planes and even jetplanes are up in the air demonstrating their skill in maneuvering their flying contraptions.

We were finally ushered by the traffic enforcers to a parking area about a kilometer from the site, so he had to walk from hereon.  Although the distance was a little far, the walk was really not difficult because of the cloudy atmosphere that day and the sight of many floating giants in the air preoccupied us with an entertaining show accompanied by a variety of airplanes that kept our eyes glued to the sky while walking.

Another attraction during the balloon festival are the daredevil flying of the famous Breitling Jet Team.  It's a squadron of F-5 fighter jets manned by extremely skillful pilots that can manuever close  formation without colliding with each other.  I vividly recall a similar team, the Blue Diamonds when I was still a kid and they were the popular jet exhibition team during that time.

Reaching the venue was an arduous task because of the congested crowd.  The entrance was choked because ushers have to check your ticket before allowing you to enter and you have to be very careful of your wallets and other personal belongings because the shoving of people is a good opportunity for pickpockets to steal from you. 

Upon reaching the venue, the place was already filled with people that apparently had camped out the night before to get a vantage view of the balloons.  There were tents all over the place and the venue became a very large picnic ground as well as a dumpsite with all the trash thrown around by irresponsible people.  

We were very disappointed by the way the organizers put up facilities all around the area.  There were lots of stores selling different kinds of foods and drinks but very few portable toilets or portalets to accommodate the  nature's call of the people.  

The way things are going on around here, you would really feel that the organizers just want to rake in as many money as they can with the least operating expenditure.  Being the privy type of people who prefer wide open peaceful and least populated places to spend the vacation , we were probably not used to being herded like cattle, so this is how I felt while writing this blog.  

Furthermore, we were expecting that we would have the chance to approach the balloons a little bit closer for better photo opportunity but they have put up picket fences to restrict the crowd from approaching the balloons and we have to settle by just looking at the floating giants from afar.  What a bummer!

Aside from the things that go airborne, there are also other attractions and display that the festival has to offer.  Racing cars like this always capture the attention of people who appreciate the need for speed. Like this mean machine right here.  It will always be a must toy for the big boys like me.

Despite all the inconveniences experienced during the festival, one should not allow a crappy situation ruin your day, because it is how you deal and adapt to ugly situations that defines your character.  There are actually many ways to amuse yourself during the festival.  One is to create 3D illusion shots like this that makes a photo scene interesting and funny.

The Hot Air Balloon Festival remains to be an annual event that is always anticipated and participated by a lot of people.  It continues to attract people of all ages despite the humid atmosphere, ill-equipped facilities because it promote bonding of family members where they can go on a picnic while watching giant balloons and airplanes being exhibited by skillful fliers to their hearts delight.  Clarkfield Pampanga will continue to host this event indefinitely in the future.  For us, the experience in seeing this magnificent dirigibles in the air was worth the trip and worth sharing the story with the world.  

SILANGANG NAYON, Pagbilao: Feasting in a Seaborne Restaurant on Stilts in Quezon Province

Barrio Bantique, Pagbilao is not your usual destination for a vacation nor a dinner date with someone special because first of all it's far off the main highway and second it would be impractical to come out here just to dine after traveling so far only to travel the same long distant route back after eating.    

The discovery of this seaborne restaurant on stilts is the product of an arduous search for a beach outing for our officemates back in Cavite.  We were traveling along the Quezon-Bicol highway and I was trying to drive as close to the shoreline as possible keeping the sea visible in sight.  So whenever the sea cannot be seen from the highway, then there must a a chunk of land or peninsula jutting out of the sea that obscures the beach from the highway.  This prompted me to make a sudden turn in unknown territory.  The rest is now history.

Reaching the place was an 8-kilometer drive inland with lots of uncertainties in mind.  I was worried about the waste in gasoline should the unplanned turn yields nothing at the end of the road or the possibility of the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere with no street lights at night and all ricefields from left to right really made me wary of the situation.  Fortunately, after what seems to be an eternity, we were finally greeted by a big sign that says "Silangang Nayon".  There was no hesitation between me and Malen.  We immediately stepped out of the car to check the place out.

When we asked the guard at the entrance what Silangang Nayon is, he replied by saying it's a floating restaurant in the sea.  When we entered the compound, the first thing that caught our attention was the mini-zoo with ostriches and other animals in enclosed corals.

We were not able to roam around the zoo because we were more excited to see the floating restaurant which is not visible from the entrance. When we were led to the reception area, the ambiance was very comfortably furnished with large wooden muebles with colorful orchids hanging in trellises around the outdoor receiving area and different kinds of chicken roaming around the gardens.  Malen was awed by the beautiful orchids and posed for a posterity shot beside one, gleaming with delight. 

The entire restaurant complex is actually divided in 2 areas.  The main attraction is the floating restaurants and the second are the cottages situated in the mainland.  Customers can choose to dine in any of these 2 places.  While some customers prefer the safety of dining in the mainland cottages, the primary dining area is apparently the floating restaurants but can only accommodate a certain number of guests. When the carrying capacity is already reached, excess guests can only opt to dine in the mainland cottages or wait for their turn to dine the floating pavilions.

Obviously, the main attraction of the place is the floating restaurant itself.  The restaurant on stilts is situated about 100 meters from the shoreline and is connected by the single bridge on the one side and  3 pavilions on the other side.  

The main pavilion is the largest among the three complete with a kitchen, sink and toilet, while the other smaller pavilions are just dining areas. The main pavilion can actually accommodate a large gathering while the rest can just accommodate a limited number of customers.  

Overall, the dining experience in the floating restaurants offers a unique treat to its customers because you get to dine in the open sea with the cool breeze of the fresh countryside air blends with the trade winds of the sea complemented with a panoramic seaview and gentle low curvature of hills on the islands across the Pagbilao Bay.  

But the centerpiece attraction of the entire Silangang Nayon is the dumb waiter zipline.  A dumb waiter is a term that describes a system of transporting food and utensils from the kitchen to the dining area without manually carrying the tray that’s full of food and other stuffs.  This is like a downsized elevators small for an adult person but big enough to carry food and utensils.  So instead of having the kitchen out at sea where it discharges its wastes without undergoing any treatment, the food is still prepared in the mainland where the kitchen is set up and is delivered to its customeres via a zipline. Truly a unique sight only seen in Silangang Nayon.

All these attractions add up to the interesting ambiance of Silangang Nayon.  You get to enjoy fresh countryside air and the sea breeze gliding across gentle rolling waves and a panoramic sea and landscape view of the beautiful Pagbilao islands.  The floating complex really awaken our spirits despite the long drive that we took all the time to take pictures in every nook and cranny of the floating restaurant.

But don’t be mistaken by the empty tables and chairs and assume that Silangang Nayon has no customers.  On the contrary, the place has a list of reservations in line for the entire week and we just happened to arrive after lunch where everyone has eaten already.  The food is superbly delicious as well and very reasonable especially if you avail their package deals.  Furthermore, it would really eliminate inconveniences on your part if you reserve prior to your visit to make sure that the management made all the necessary preparations and be ready to serve the moment you arrive.

(Disclaimer: Prices are subject to change from time to time)

We also had a choice of having the food served a la carte or served on a buffet table.  We opted for the buffet table so the people will have a free hand in choosing the type of food and the amount that they want.

As soon as the our group arrived at lunch, everyone was very impressed with the elaborate preparation and the extravagant amount of food despite a limited budget.  We were very pleased with the food prepared by Silangang Nayon because not only was it delicious ti the taste but everyone had more than their usuak fill. In fact, some were even able to bring home extra food to go.

When everyone had finished eating and some are already beginning to roam around, we discovered that the main pavilion is actually designed to resemble a ship because of a bow constructed on the side facing the sea.  The main pavilion must be amusing to look at when view from out at sea.

Silangang Nayon also offers boat trips to the nearby islands around Pagbilao particularly the popular island of "Borawan".  Locals called the island as such because it boasts of rock formations similar to the limestone cliffs of Palawan and complemented with white sands like Boracay.  However, it doesn't have a long coastline like Boracay.  

Another interesting place to visit is Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas.  We actually had the opportunity to visit the place via the land route that's kind of risky because of the uneasy feeling we get from strangers.  The place is more commonly approached via boat by tourists.  During our visit to this beautifu place, misfortune had the better of us because my camera that was supposed to be waterproofed conked out on me when we started taking pictures there.  Perhaps I will be writing a more interesting blog about the place when I visit it again in the near future.

Silangang Nayon is not simply a restaurant but it also offers room and lodging accommodations for a limited number of guests.  It has 2 air-conditioned apartments but I did noticed a low patronage of the place because it doesn't have a swimming pool.  

Many travelers and tourists prefer a pool to go along with the accommodation where they dip in it after a tiring day's tour and a long drive from the city.

Finally, it was time to bid Silangang Nayon goodbye. Before we departed, the management gave out souvenirs as a remembrance.  The visit to this out-of-the-way place for our department outing is one for the books that is worth remembering.  Malen and I never regretted discovering this place one bit and our colleagues enjoyed dining in this interesting place out in the Quezon countryside as well. Much of our photos in the visit to this beautiful place has hugged facebook for quite some time.  

PUEBLO POR LA PLAYA, Pagbilao: Stylish Living in a Mexican-Inspired Beach Resort

Spending your vacation in an exclusive membership resort where you are not a member can be difficult to pull off unless you know the right buttons to push and strings to pull.  Pagbilao, Quezon may not be known for a beautiful sunset unlike Manila, with its world class sunset by the bay,  but in Pueblo por la Playa, waking up to be greeted by a sunrise radiating a kaleidoscope of colors is a spectacle you will truly cherish.

  

It all started when I was looking for a place to spend our office outing that I thought of Pagbilao, Quezon.  The first time I was in Pagbilao was on a private island owned by the real estate magnate, the Hon. Benito Soliven who incidentally is the developer of the subdivision where I grew up. I had just recently graduated from college and luckily found myself in the company of my neighbors who were close to the Solivens.  So I thought, why not Pagbilao? The sea was very clean then, so I think this place is worth visiting again, but this time in an exclusive beach resort called "Pueblo por la Playa".

  

Every time I search for a place, I always start by hovering over potential places in Google Earth.  If a place is already tagged in Google Earth, there will definitely be more data and pictures once you do further research.  Initially, a satellite view of the place can give you an idea if the beach has a white sand coastline, how long  the coast is, if it is secluded or near communities and accessible by roads. All of these criteria were met by the Pueblo except for one thing:the place is exclusive for members only! And the bummer part is: None of us are members!

Not easily willing to give up, I scheduled an ocular visit together with Malen and check the place out with of course the hope that the management would be willing to forego the membership and allow us to spend an overnight stay in the resort. When we arrived at the place, we were already impressed with the facilities and the surrounding environment.  Just the same as what we've seen in the internet, the place is Mexican-inspired with abodes bearing the typical Mexican architecture complemented with an array of bright colors.  The swimming pool is awesome and so cool to stare at that it creates an inviting feeling to really motivate us to push for this place.  

This is the main clubhouse and reception area.  We were cordially greeted by the resort manager who was very friendly and accommodating. After a pleasant exchange of introduction, we explained our purpose of the visit and expressed our intention to spend a vacation in the resort. We also honestly admitted that we don't have a membership but we do work for a prestigious university. After a brief moment, the hotel manager advised us that it is still possible to stay overnight and enjoy the resort upon applying and asking permission from the board of directors.  We readily agreed and submitted our written intention.  After a day or two, our request was granted by the board and we were on our way to an awesome vacation in Pueblo por la Playa.

The view of the beach from the pool area is very enticing to the eyes that we didn't waste time to check it out.  Up close the white sand really did enhanced the place but I kinda doubt if the sand is authentically natural there or was just artificially introduced to create a white sand beach.  However, I was a little bit disappointed with the water because it was a little brackish and my expectation of a crystal clear water was doused off because the water was never inviting at all.  But posing for pictures with a white sand beach background was fun because it gave a beautiful summer effect captured on photo.

When we were ushered to our room, I went out to the balcony to see the view from upstairs and this is what greeted me! A scenic poolside view with a greenery and beach background that will really unleash the stress from a long drive and make you while the time away in blissful solace!

What would really complemented with the seaview and the giant infinity pool is the bedroom!  The moment we saw the bed, our jaw dropped in excitement!  This was not the usual bed you will encounter in any ordinary beach resort! This is living in ultimate opulence!  Malen was so excited that she immediately threw herself on the bed and struck a pose for all eternity to remember!  That was an awesome moment indeed!  And we were not even sleeping in it yet!

Well, we wouldn't want to spend all the time in the room so we decided to have a stroll around the resort and check their other amenities that we can avail.  In the reception area, they have a bulletin board where pictures of previous guests were posted and we found out that the popular weekly sitcom in GMA-7 "Bubble Gang" made an episode right here in the Pueblo.  Seeing the pictures of celebrities enjoying the place made us feel that this resort is really for the privileged ones and we were very happy to have the privilege to stay here as well.  It is not everyday that a giant network will choose a place like this, but here we are, in the very same place Ogie, Michael and the other casts of Bubble Gang spent a wonderful and happy moment.

There are also other activities aside from swimming, such as these mountain bikes right here, where you can go pedaling around the resort and see all the different kinds of Mexican abodes and other attractions around the resort.

They also have fishing rods for fishing enthusiasts who are always on the go just to catch fish.  However, you have to pay for whatever you catch and for an additional fee, you can have your catch cooked any way you prefer it.

In all of the attractions of the Pueblo, the infinity swimming pool is still the centerpiece attraction with its crystal clear water reflecting the blue tiles of the bottom and the surprisingly warm water heated by the summer sun.  Later in the afternoon, when it will be a little cooler to come out in the open, we will be taking a dip in the pool until the evening before dinner.  Swimming in the pool is probably the highlight of our vacation in this dream resort.

The beach is still great despite the brackish water.  It can cater a large party with its wide stretch of white sand dotted by coconuts by the side.  One can really enjoy the ambiance of a seaside event and can even be a very romantic and memorable experience in your life.

When evening fell in the peaceful Pueblo, we went to the main dining hall to have a dinner which was smorgasbord style and definitely had more than our usual fill.  After dinner we washed down the food with a very refreshing cool glass of pineapple juice.  The next day will be another day of fun activities for us.

We woke up early in the morning to catch the stillness of the water and what greeted us was a spectacular daybreak as it reflects its kaleidoscope of colors in the blue waters of the pool.  I didn't miss this opportunity to capture my signature pose with my favorite guitar to embed it in the annals of my autobography.

We then proceeded to the beach where I took the chance to practice my golf swing.  It's been a while since I last played golf and I hope that in the coming vacation I will be able to trade swings with my Dad on the actual fairway.

After eating breakfast the first thing we did was try our dinghy at sea.  No one was swimming at the beach so I had the water all for myself and just paddled to my heart's delight.  Paddling an inflatable raft like this actually easy and fun.  I am planning if I can used this raft when we go on whitewater rafting in the Magdalena river in the future.

The swimming pool was not spared from my childish desires of paddling an inflatable raft in the pool.  I didn't only have one raft to enjoy my time in the water but two to make it really fun!  It's a good way of beating the heat!

The vacation at the Pueblo por la Playa was really worth the long trip to Pagbilao, Quezon.  Having the opportunity to stay in an exclusive resort makes you enjoy a carefree, no-crowded resort that everyone really desires. Open public resorts are cheap indeed but they will not assure its guests that the place won't be crowded.  You just have to live with the crowd and the noise of many unruly and rowdy, drunk guests shouting the night away while singing the videoke until the wee hours of the morning.

We may never had the chance to return to this wonderful place because of its exclusivity so we really maximized our stay here.  Maybe in the near future when things get better financially for us, we will come back to this place and have the grandest time of our lives!