Our Amansinaya Mountain Resort Daytour Experience

by lakwatserong tatay

It's been quite a while since my last post was published and it was also a backlog trip of mine...^_^....whew... up until now, i have so many travel backlog posts. I just wish i could still do it to update this blogsite....^_^. So, last night, i was able to go to a internet shop and managed to still few hours of mine to check my fb fanpage, fb account, emails and of course this blogsite of mine. So i will start with this trip early this year, where one of my cotrippers manage to get a promo voucher for Amansinaya Mountain Resort Daytour plus Trek to Ambon-Ambon Waterfalls. However, we decided to cut our stay & activities with Amansinaya and add to our day activity with a quickie dayhike to Mt. Batulao (v.v. new trail). So let me start with my story now.....^_^

now entering Amansinaya

Good thing with my co-xplorers, there's always available transportation for our group. Thanks to Coy...so we meet early in the morning in MRT Ayala station going to Laurel, Batangas, where Amansinaya Mountain Resort is situated. The plan for the day is 1st to trek to Ambon-Ambon Waterfalls, then do the activities in Pugadlawin Adventure Camp (Mudslide, Rappelling and Zipline) and of course try their infinity pool in Patio Filipino and after lunch, we will do a dayhike trek to Mt. Batulao..

Entrance to Patio Filipino

We arrive quite early at the resort, and because of that we wait for the employee in charge with promo deals arrangement. So what did i do....of course....photo opps mode...^_^

Souvenir shop @ the Lobby

Patio Filipino is not quite big space for the diners of the resort, however upon seeing the infinity pool, makes us all excited to go for a morning dip...but we choose to do that on the later part of our stay. After engaging with the different activities on our daytour stay. Below are the views around Amansinaya Mountain Resorts's infinity pool, open nipa hut and the lush greenery surrounding and Ambon-ambon Waterfalls.

The Infinity Pool with backdrop of Lush Green Mountain

Lush Greenery Scenery within the Pool

There's the Ambon-ambon falls, our 1st activity for the day.....^_^

one of the open nipa huts...thanks to our sponsors...^_^

Fast forward, when we get back coming from our trek to Ambon-ambon falls (i'll be doing a separate post for Ambon-Ambon falls), we proceed to their Pugadlawin Adventure Camp, where Rappeling, Mudslide and Zipline activity is available, thanks for the great deal we have...we got this all for free and repeat it all you can...^_^..

1st stop Rappeling...

1st stop was rappelling, only 4 of us tried this tiring activity, melvin, johari and caloy and me, in fact yours truly wasn't able to reach the top...due to a muscle cramps...(palusot lang daw sabi ng mga loko) ^_^

getting our gears ready...^_^

carlo & me...^_^

johari & melvin...

2nd stop....ziplining...all of us tried this, not just once, twice, but actually couple of times....^_^

it's me while ziplining...

And last, but not definitely the last activity on Amansinaya....the mudslide....at first where thinking where is the mud...we realize it after getting the other end of this slide.....^_^

the mudslide...^_^

As far as i remember we stayed for this activity for more than 30 minutes, we really enjoyed it..and tried it for couple of times. Even though it was quite tiring going up and going down the slides takes just few minutes. This activity was worth a try....^_^

yahoooooo......

And before we end our stay with Amansinaya Mountain Resort, of course we will not missed to take a dip with their infinity pool....photo opps all the way......go...go....xploreboyz......

jumpshot mode....

chillax mode....^_^

tv hosts mode....^_^

next stop is Ambon-ambon Waterfalls and Dayhike to Mt. Batulao (v.v. New Trail)

lakwatserong tatay @ Amansinaya

How to get to Amansinaya Mountain Resort:

via Private Transportation: we choose to take the Tagaytay and Ligaya Road route and take the Talisay-Laurel road and after seeing the Laurel Municipal Hall, just ask few of locals how to get to Amansinaya Mountain Resort.

via Commuting: Take a Batangas (Lipa-Tanauan route), take off to Tanauan bus stop and ride a tricycle going to Laurel Jeepney Terminal which is near the Public Market and McDonalds. Inform the driver to drop you off to Laurel Municipal Halls and from there take a tricycle going inside the resort.

For more information:

Amansinaya Mountain Resort
Brgy. San Gabriel, Laurel, Batangas
website: http://www.amansinayaresorts.com.ph/update/
email: info@amansinayaresorts.com.ph

Calauan: Rappeling at Balumbong River (PNR Bridge)

by Lakwatsero

June 5-6, 2010

Calauan, Laguna

It was the 1st weekend of June(06/05-06/06, 2010), It is the 3rd time by Yabag to organize an Adventure to Balumbong River (PNR Bridge) Rappelling, Camping and River Exploration. Of course, yours truly was part of this activity together with my trekking body, Jobari....

The sun is already up when we arrived at (Jollibee) San Pablo, Laguna, where the chartered jeepney is waiting for us. To take us to the jumpoff start (Calauan, Laguna area) for the trekking to reach the Balumbong PNR Railway Bridge.

photo opps @ Jollibee San Pablo (together with new buddy Mazzy)

My breakfast & also my pack lunch....

It was almost 8 am when we arrived at the start of the trek. We have to wait for the 2nd batch to arrive, because we've been divided into 2 batch because (hindi na kasya sa Jeep...andami namin in short!!!!!)..Of course what to do if you will just wait for others....syempre, photo opps time....

upon arriving .....

the 1st batch to arrive....

of course....nde mawawala ang JUMPSHOT!!!!!!!!

First, we had to trek to reach the Balumbong PNR Railway Bridge. That bridge was chosen to be the spot of our rappelling jump. It took us almost an hour to reach this bridge, at first most of us were still brave, doing some jokes, and of course, photo opps will not be miss along the trek. But in an hour, most of us had the same feeling....This is it!!!!!! Here are some of the photos while where on our trek going to Balumbong PNR Railway Bridge.

where just starting!!!!!

a very rocky trek...hehehe

Actually, Im familiar with this kind of trollies, because my places is really near in a PNR station in Sta. Mesa. But this trolly is different from the trollies of Metro Manila, it looks like a acute triagle shape, that can be take two to three passengers (depende sa laki...hehehehe), actually i really want to try that, that day but im afraid because of its shape, (mukhang hindi ako kaya!!!).

some of local riders on this place...

we have to go side ways..baka sagasaan kami!!!!

a very very very long railway.....

At last, we finally arrive to the site. Of course, pahinga galore ang marami, kasi mas crowded kame ng girls, kesa boys. The bridge was about 50 meters (160 feet) high, and most of the girls was scared to see that!!! The bridge was made up of old sturdy woods and rusty railways. The i think one of the biggest problem is crossing it because some of the wood braces are already can used as "uling"...as shown below...hehehehe...and the gaps were too wide!!! So Migs, has to put a support rope along this way for guide and safety. But in fairness sa view.....Astig....

mawawala ba naman ito!!!! pero ako wala nga...huhuhuhu!!!!

the rusty old PNR railway bridge

the views are really breathtaking!!!!!

Like what i have said earlier, do want to have an Uling...hehehehe...most of us including was a bit afraid upon seeng this wood, maybe because.....what do you think?....

uling for sale?

a very long way down...

Upon arriving to the bridge, our jumpman (aka Derek Ramsay), and Migs, are getting ready to setup the gears, ropes, harness, and etc for safety.

"derek ramsey" & Migs

thank you for the patience....

It took us "the xplorerboys" more than hour for our turn to actually rappel down..actually i think it was almost lunch time. Of course hindi mawawala nag mga photo opps....

hi, it's me brian aka "lakwatserong tatay"

hi, im jobari, one of the x-plorerboyz....

Here are some of the pictures while we were waiting for our turns....

it was really hot that day...

One of the locals has this bird, Jobari took this photo..We really don't know where will be the local bring this crow, sayang baka binibenta nya...hehehehe....

hello there....birdie!!!!!

At last, it was my turn, thanks also mr. derek ramsey, for securing the ropes, my harness, before letting me to jump.....thanks to johari my co-xplorer.....for the fantastic shots......yahooo.....

pilit na ngiti....hehehehe!!!!

this is it.....wala na atrasan....hehehehe!!!! e2 obvious pilit na ngiti!!!!

Here are some of my shots while im doing my rappeling down to this bridge.....Hope you will like it.

Hay!!!!.....At last......This is my 2nd rappelling activity together with trekking buddy jobari.......
Rappelling from the Balumbong PNR Railway Bridge was already done and part of my accomplish rappeling checklist....

go for the next entry....and time to head to camp...where Balumbong Minifalls is waiting...

Here is the propose itinerary by Yabag:

DAY 1: JUNE 5

04:00am - Assembly (to be announce on pre climb)
04:30am - ETD Alabang to San pablo city
06:30am – ETA San Pablo, Trike or hire jeep to Jump off
07:00am – Jump off have courtesy call to brgy captain start trek to Balumbong bridge,river
07:45am – ETA Bridge, pack breakfast
08:00am – Rappeling, swim
12:00pm – Lunch
15:00pm – Descent to River, swim, Socials, set camp, enjoy
17:00pm - Dinner, socials

DAY 2: JUNE 6

07:00am - Wake up call(prepare Breakfast)Have Break fast
09:00pm - Break camp(explore area, river, falls, swim)
12:00pm - Lunch at Balumbong falls(swim, socials)
15:00pm - Tidy up

16:00pm - Start trek to jump off or exit at calauan.
16:30pm - Jump off or Calauan

17:00pm - ETD to Manila
19:00pm - ETA MANILA

What to Bring, What to Expect/Explore:

• Flashlight, preferably headlamp

• Change clothes

• FOODS:Packed lunch, Dinner, day 2 breakfast, Day 2 Lunch

• Trail water/water container

• Pair of Gloves for rappeling

• Clothes for swimming

• Snacks

• Camping gears(stove, cookset, lantern, Tent for those who want to stay overnight

• High Angle Rappeling

• Swimming

• Mini falls

• River Exploration

• Camping experience

For contact informations:

Miguel Mapalad

aka "Migs" (09052688275)

Email: miguel.mapalad@yabag.org