Independence Day Adventure!

Yesterday, Tita Helen and I pushed through with our last-minute summer activity. We wanted to wrap up our summer with a short adventure outside the busy metropolis. The trip had long been in our schedule. We just thought of having it during Independence Day since it’s the only holiday in early June, plus I wanted Tita Helen to have a long birthday celebration hahaha.

So off we went to Villa Escudero, a historic coconut plantation in Tiaong, Quezon, reminiscent of the rural life of the 1800s. We have chosen it because it is just a two-hour drive from Manila. It was my third visit. It was Tita Helen’s first. We were excited to reach the place so we can do the different fun-filled activities and we also wanted to test my new Sony cyber-shot W30.

Here are the highlights of our day tour:

1. We visited the family museum which houses archaelogical artifacts and relics. Most of the items are religious statues. The museum looks like a church (or was it formerly a church?)
 

2. We rode the cart drawn by a carabao (water buffalo) named Madonna. A guitarist and a singer serenaded us on board the cart which took us to the Coconut Pavillion where a cultural show is held on weekends and holidays at 2 p.m.

3. We had lunch in the waterfall resturant where lunch was served on tables set over a flowing stream. If you are wearing shoes, you have to remove it for obvious reason, unless you’re willing to get them wet. We enjoyed the cool water of the stream running on our bare feet.

4. We went rafting at Lake Labasin. This is my favorite activity in Villa Escudero. I enjoyed paddling but Tita Helen was complaining hahaha. There were lots of white clouds so Mount Banahaw and Cristobal were not that visible from the lake. It could have been nice to have taken pictures of them.

5. We watched the cultural show. The dancers were great. They were choreographed by no less than National Artist Ramon Obusan. Interestingly, the dancers are also Villa Escudero’s crew! Some of them work in the maintenance department and front desk. Some of them are drivers, cooks and farmers.

There is also a game room in Villa Escudero but we didn’t check it out because we had so little time. During my previous visit, I was able to play table tennis and darts. Villa Escudero also has tennis, baketball and volleyball courts for sports enthusiasts. You can also rent a bike and go around the plantation.

It was truly a great experience. I had lots of fun! I hope you can visit also Villa Escudero.