Holy Mass at St. Anthony's church (Padova, ITALY)

Every year here in Padova,we celebrate the St. Anthony's Day, which is every 13th of June. Today, June 6 we attended the Holy Mass for all the foreigners here. There are Africans, Romanians, Bulgarians, Chinese, Sri Lankans, of course Filipinoes, South Americans, and more.

As I belong to the "choir" who sang the communion song... I had the privilege to sit near the Holy Altar. That's why I want to share to you some pictures I've taken this morning. Enjoy.

Nurture Spa - Tagaytay

As I mentioned in my last blog - Tawilis of Tagaytay - one of my choices of the hotel was Nurture Spa. And when I went back home last April-May 2010, I had the chance to stay at this paradise of hotel. I just want to share to you some pictures of this "Eden". Me and my friends enjoyed their Ulayaw package: overnight accomodation in an authentic Ifugao hut (22 hours), with set breakfast and one set meal lunch and dinner, plus two spa treatment (full body massage and dilag facial or foot massage). All good for two persons and at the price of 8.000 pesos.

This is the reception of the hotel, where you are welcomed by a nice receptionist and a coll bellboy. While we were checking in, we were served by a cup of hot green tea, suit for the rainy afternoon.

Near the reception desk, there is this souvenir corner, where you can find Nurture Spa products.

Along the aisle going to the Ifugao Huts there is this fountain, an accent for the relaxing ambience.

The pool is available day and night...

Huts where people have their massage sessions or just simply relax...

...the garden...

... the restaurant...

And last but not the least, the Ifugao hut.

Entering the gate, we can see a hammock under the pavement of the ifugao hut and a table massage where massage sessions are made. The stairs lead to the ifugao hut.

Inside the ifugao hut, we can see a double size bed surrounded by a curtain. This makes the ambience more warm and romantic. On the bed, there's a couple of towels with shampoo, liquid soap and body lotion ( products of Amuin Wellness).

The place was awesome and the price was good for the service they offer. In this Spa-Hotel you can relax and enjoy the nature, far from the caotic cities like Manila.

Tawilis of Tagaytay

Last August 2009 I went to Tagaytay for my yearly vacation with a very special person of mine. We chose Tagaytay because it's near from Manila (it takes only 2 hrs by bus) and it is easily accessible by the public transportation. There are buses from MRT Taft Avenue Station like BLTB or you can ride a van from Starmall - Crossing (corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard) going to Nasugbu, Batangas. Tagaytay is good for everyone: for a couple who wants to relax and enjoy each other, for a family with kids, for a group of friends. Tagaytay offers lots of facilities and activities suit for all ages.

Our choice about the hotel we were going to stay was not easy. Tagaytay offers valuable hotels. The choices were between Taal Vista Hotel, Nurture Spa, Andanita Taj Hotel, The Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Sonya's Garden. We have chosen Taal Vista Hotel because first, the website is well done and usefull and I've read positive comments about it in some blogs and websites;

second, it is along the highway (we asked the driver of the van to drop us in front of the hotel);

third, there was a special price for those who were staying for 2 consecutive nights; fourth, the facilities that the hotel can offer: spa, gym, garden, pool and of course a breathtaking view of the Taal volcano and lake.

Anyway, we arrived at the hotel in the afternoon and a smiley receptionist welcomed us. It was so nice to be welcomed by a crew like them, and while waiting to be checked in we were served a cold mango juice...sarap!!! The room was clean and comfortable. The king size bed with pillows and the bathroom was nice. There was also a bathub to enjoy a relaxing hot bath and we did it!

About the dinner, we have planned to go to Antonio's or Leslie's, but we were to lazy to go out from the hotel. We got dinner in the restaurant of the hotel: they offer a great variety of dishes and the quiet and warm ambience makes the dinner more intimate and romantic with the view of lights around the lake through wide and tall windows.

We ordered, as appetizer, the very famous Tawilis: it's a freshwater sardine exclusively found in Taal Lake. The fish served was fried with atchara (pickled papaya) as side dish.

The main course we ordered was rice with grilled chicken and sizzling bangus (milk fish).

After dinner we went to the garden for a walk and a great talk. The view was awesome: lots of lights from the houses around Taal lake.

The day after we went to Picnic Grove by jeepney (we asked the receptionist how to commute to that tourist spot). There we rode the Tagaytay Ridge Zipline and the cable car. It was fun. After few hours in Picnic Grove we hired a tricycle and we went to the Good Sheperd Convent to buy their specialties like ubejam, bukopie and pilinuts. With the same tricycle we went back to the hotel and along the way back I bought also some bananas and other fruits to bring home as pasalubong to my lovely lola.