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Published: April 6th 2007
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Got to travel to some great areas in Batangas province. As usual, I was not really a tourist but more of a tourism researcher. So here goes...
We were promised a great colony of giant fruit bats in the municipality of San Juan. First, the drive towards the jump-off point was almost new to me. I actually had the same experience of going through a dry river bed, but this one was quite unerving. We could actually get stranded when it starts to rain. We drove for what seemed like 30 minutes. I kept asking my companions how the locals in the area cope with their situation. Its very simple, they said. The locals just bulk up on everything before the rains come and they have nowhere else to go but stay in their remote dwellings.
Fortunately, it did not rain even a bit, but we had to leave the vehicle in the river and walk for about an hour to reach the bat roosting area. The walk was fine, we straddled through shallow rivers and rivulets and occassionaly encountering horse poo (actually, lots of them) along the way. Then we reached what seemed like a sixty degree
incline of powdered earth. The last time I took this kind of trail was many years ago and I really produced three liters of sweat going through the steep trail.
Then, there we were! But not a bat in sight. We waited.... and waited.... and watched some birds... but not a bat in sight. And the guy who brought us there must have felt really baddd...
On way back, we found out that there were hunters in the area before we arrived and they must have scared the hell out of batman's minions.
Then we saw an entire family on their way back to their home. First I saw an old man riding a horse, then a woman riding another horse, then a child that must have been five years old on top of another horse. My, it was really a sight! All the horses were packed with things that must hold for three months for the entire family.
Then on we went the next day to the town of Lobo where went around the Malabrigo lighthouse. We actually caught a pair of lovers who thought they would be alone in this piece of land! ha
The scene along the trail
One reason why you should avoid grilled food. Charcoal making contribute greatly to forest denudation. Yup, that's true. Arrgh, grilled food is really great! ha! Climbed up to the top of the lighthouse and imagined that it should be a good vantage point to spot some dolphins. The day was hot as we visited various resorts.
The next day was a long travel to the town of Calatagan where I was very impressed by the dedication of some locals to protect tthe coral reefs in their area. One private guy already spend about 15 million pesos (aboutUS$300k) while some local government folks would eat death threats for breakfast in doing their job protecting the seas.
We were then brought to a huge mangrove area that was being destroyed and converted into a fishpond. The locals say that they cannot do anything as the "connection" of the owner goes way up beyond their reach and that he was a former judge. I was about to type, "that's just the way it is", but I believe that karma works its way towards everybody.
Visited another lighthouse frequently used for location shootings. The place is really nice but it needs good maintenance. Cows use the area for feeding and pooping. But I would like to make a point that a visit to the lighthouse
is a worthy experience.
Then on to the town of Nasugbu where I met the very pretty and kind person named Maan who is also the tourism officer of the municipality. Somebody said in the group that we will be having dinner in the restaurant of Maan that is about one hectare in size. I just gave that person an unbelieving smile and she in turn gave me a "you'll see" smirk.
Then dinner time came and off we entered a huge gate that leads to Kusina sa Dalampasigan Restaurant. My God! It was really huge! Well, actually, the restaurant is big, but not one hectare in size, it was actually a compound where you can have a pure dining experience amidst a colorful garden and great nature interior. What a great meal we had!
The following day was another time to discover what the area offers. We went to the coves that are slowly turning into exclusive and high-end resort areas. One property owned by the shopping mall kingpin actually has a total area of...hold your breath.....8,000 hectares!. You just wait till 2010 when they start opening their property. I mean, you just wait.
But
before heading for the beaches and coves, we had another great lunch in another restaurant called Cafe de Nasugbu owned by a Filipina with a Greek husband. They have another restaurant in Greece (I think..) and they're putting their cooking passion in this local restaurant with great lawn and landscape.
It was really an eye-opener for me. It has been many years since I last visited these sites and new things have really given me nice surprises.
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