Tagaytay's Beautiful Hidden Place - Bi Kyeong Hotel and Restaurant

BI KYEONG HOTEL AND RESTAURANT
“A Hidden Beautiful Place” in English

Bikini Tale #3

It was early January of 2018 when I started its first weekend with a summer vibe and exploration. So while I was on my way to Manila after my New Year’s eve celebration at my hometown in Ilocos Norte, I agreed on going for a staycation at Tagaytay. Very accessible and near to Manila, and it’s still January, the coldness is still there in the highlands! It was as well foggy when the night comes.

I booked the trip with booking.com using my credit card as a way to reserve the place. I didn’t pay anything yet because it was payment to be made at the property so I reserved a room for two with the Taal Lake view. This was a new property so I wanted to check on it. It was a Greek style inspired property owned by a Korean, the hotel splashed with the colors white and blue and the area was high you can see mountains, roads down, the slopes and the famous Taal Volcano.

HOW TO GET THERE BY PUBLIC TRANSPO?

We rode a Nasugbu Batangas bound DLTB Co. Bus found at LRT 1 Buendia, Pasay City. It was almost 2 hours of ride. Funny part is, since there's no stop over, I almost peed on my shorts, but thank God I was able to endure it, after holding tight to my hands.

We got off at the restaurant called Antonio's Breakfast near the hotel as the bus will pass by the place. Then we had to go down by stairs to their reception area and restaurant. We got the best room with the best view! It’s just that the room had no TV, where you really will need to connect and communicate with whoever you are with.

There was wifi, but wine was better. 

We grabbed our afternoon meal at the restaurant as promised to me by my old friend. Then grabbed some groceries at their town, where we bought meal in Ministop and bought some wine at SM Hypermarket. It was just a one jeepney ride going there at the town.

@nitsujig's shot and edit.

The place was not crowded. It was really new, the pool has not been finished yet, the workers still working on the landscape. But nevertheless, the place was serene and quiet. There's just few people checked in. Exactly what we were  looking for! So the night was perfect indeed with the cold breeze.

In the morning, I woke up early, because I love sunrise and the sun and the view outside, I slid out of bed, took photos and forgot to leave the card that generated the electricity inside our room. The reason why my friend woke up is because of the heat. LOL. So I just paid him with a sweet morning!

 We ate a good breakfast with Chris Lane’s song ‘For Her’ playing on the phone. You might want to listen to his songs guys, for your girls while eating. It’s sweet. Believe me. One tip down!

Or you may want to play her favorite song from her favorite artist.

And while enjoying the heat of the sun in a cold place, we were surprised when we were given a rice cake for their 100th day Anniversary! It was January 7. The rice cakes had a heart shape on it colored pink. Sweet!

By the way, the room was for Php3, 900.00 inclusive of breakfast. I realized we did not just pay for the hotel's service and room, but the view that comes with the place.

In the morning, I went to the rooftop to see a wider, bigger view of the Taal volcano and the mountains that surround Tagaytay after breakfast. Also, you can use their mini golf set inside the reception area. Very cute for couples!

This is a view from the rooftop.

For more photos, please check my Instagram @chasingmeagan for my red bikini tale.

In this place, we were only able to do pictorial wearing my red bra and denim shorts. I wasn’t able to swim unfortunately because they're still working on the pool.

I hope one day, when I go back, the pool is ready for party. I suggest they should have a pool party maybe every Friday-Sunday. Because the pool area is open and a good music around is best. It’s like playing as one of the Gatsby movie superstars!

Travel tips:

Well, upon going home, buses bound to Manila or Olivarez Terminal are passing by the highway just outside the hotel. So you don’t need to worry, Tagaytay is a very accessible place to those who are having limited time looking for a place that does not count time, but count moments.

‘Til next time!

Batangas Highlights - TALES OF THE RED BIKINI #2

Mabini Batangas and Masasa Beach with Sombrero Island

In Batangas, everything is accessible. From bus to jeepney to tricycle and ‘Batanguenos’ who are approachable enough to guide you which way to go. The first time I went here was when I celebrated my 21st birthday. The next was after 3 months wherein I was invited by a colleague to join him on a 6/10 trek adventure. And since I was vulnerable at that time, I went off to the cliffs and was able to sniff the smell of a legit ‘green’ environment and take a photograph of slopes again.

The last time I went trekking before this was in January 2017, and it was already December 2017 when I climbed again. But I can imagine how my endurance stayed strong. Maybe because I continued jogging.

Mabini, Batangas, PH on a stormy December

So here’s how my trip to Batangas went. I just agreed going there about 3 hours before my night shift ended. At 8:00am, we headed to the JAM Liner bus terminal at Buendia, Pasay. The fare was around Php100.00. and from Batangas grand terminal, we rode the Mabini Batangas bound jeep, the jeep terminal is adjacent to the bud terminal. There are even a lot of stores nearby where you can stop for a quick grocery or buy Batangas products. Wwell, for Batangas goods, it is advisable to buy them instead on your way home.

When we arrived at the Mabini Batangas, there’s a booth to pay for environemntal fee, Php50.00 each. Then you can already clim up and get sore, be astounded with what Philippines has to offer!

Down below are islands, coconut trees, very primitive, very natural. The slopes, the ups and downs, the trees that stood there still through years are still there looking old and beautiful. The boats on travelling to the islands are very visible, the mark it creates from the machine that runs the boat (looking like the smoke a jet makes above the skies) is seen, and it’s on the opposite side from the skies.

Of course, photo opportunities are not skipped. Looking so well and wet. I wore a dry-fit shirt, a cap, leggings not to be burned by the sun too mush and a hiking bag!

So way up we go, until we reached the “Mt. Gulugod Baboy” painted in a plain wood and hanging in the tree. It was perfect for a night and a camp with new friends.

Bad part of the trek is that a storm came at night, it was so cold and it became foggy in the afternoon we had to wear double jackets. Our tents were moistened until it was wet and we slept with a flood inside our tent! It was my first time to go hiking overnight and wash up using only one liter of water, how is that? Because going down was treacherous so we didn’t bother getting another gallon of water. It was hassle, at the same time, fun and challenging. We slept in what feels like a mud.

When we ate for dinner, there was my favorite garlic longganisa, homemade and chopsuey with salted egg! So we still slept with a warm stomach in a cold breezy night, thanks to Emperador light. LOL.

Morning came... Foggy and cold.

And I still was greeted by a good morning by people around. By the beautiful creatures. By that violet jacket I wore. By the coffee made for me. And by a photograph and video of me taken by my old friend. (

When we went off the cliffs, at 9:00 or 10:00am, we hired a tricycle which cost us Php300.00 to go downtown. We ate our lunch by the shore of Mabini Batangas, this is very near to the Masasa Beach already, just ne ride of a boat, wherein you can even get a ride for five for 1500, so Php300.00 each! And going home, we just needed to ride a jeepney going to the Batangas Grand Terminal and ride a bus bound to Manila.

Masasa Beach with Sombrero Island on a very hot summer day of May

It’s my new friend, Monica’s 23rd birthday. We originally planned to go to La Union (the surfing capital of the North) yet it was a peak season and all rooms were already booked. So we went to the nearest area in Manila. Batangas, for a beach still since it was just a ride for 3 hours to reach the Masasa beach. It was in May 19, 2018. We were five in the group, but since I went to work on a night shift, on a Friday, I got out of the office at 6:00am (Saturday) and by 7:00am, the girls are already at the terminal where I was not able to catch their trip so I went to the Batangas Grand terminal alone. I saw them buying what we need at the jeepney terminal, good thing there are small stores there. So it was almost an hour of riding in the jeepney, the funny thing is, these girls with me are drunk from last night’s party to welcome Monica’s day. LOL.

When we finally arrived at Tingloy port, we asked where the boat is that’s routed to Masasa beach port, we had a ticket with a number on it, it was Php80.00 each. Upon arrival at the port, we rode a tricycle and told the driver to drop us at the house were we booked our overnight stay. I can’t remember the name of the owner though but one thing I’m sure of, it was near the barangay captain’s house. LOL. Moreover, the owner was the sibling of the captain. Yea, I remember those details!

Upon arriving at the house, we were already offered an island tour which we dd not plan as well but since it’ll just cost us Php300.00 eac for five islands, why not?

We headed off to the port at 2:30pm, finished by 5:30 pm, the owner’s son was our boatman. Everyone;s gotta love sailing in a regular ‘bangka’ (boat) because it’s a water version of a roller coaster ride. Sombrero Island was one of the highlights of the boat trip. One secret I’ll tell you, I had a period and since the myth of having it stopped by taking a dip in the water is real, I didn’t care about my menstruation and stroke a pose at the beach.

In the morning, after the karaoke and drinking session, we went off to the Masasa beach, this is the crowded place. Me and my dear friend Jieza waited for the others when they went to the cove near the beach. Not really near, because we were tired and did not want to get dark any further, we just talked about life instead. Of friends lost, frinds gaoned, pieces of advice to each other and what we think our life will be.

The advantage of being with “just girls” in a trip is that you learn to be by yourself and be surrounded with, not oonly people of the same gender as yours but people with he same humor, wgiving you best support, and who think merely the same and insane!

I love these girls and the moment we were done with our trip, i posted “love these girls” captioned phto on my instagram @chasingmeagan.

Travel thoughts?

Everyone should realize their real life goals. You want to put up a business and learn something new to build business from it, like cooking or learning new language? Then go with it! Just know that there are people, who are always willing to support you, your family, friends, yourself most importantly, support yourself girl. You gotta be independent and self-contented making you more confident and firm with every decision you make, because the weakness that everybody has, is making a big decision.

It’s not going to be easy, your dream? No. But it’ll be worth it if you work on it.

Just. Be. The. Artist. Of. Your. Own. Life.