Showing posts with label taal volcano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taal volcano. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Healthy Hotel

By MA. GLAIZA LEE
November 24, 2010, 11:55am
Lake Hotel offers wellness and relaxation with every visit. (Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)
Lake Hotel offers wellness and relaxation with every visit. (Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)
MANILA, Philippines — While Taal Volcano is actually situated in Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas, it is Tagaytay City that greatly benefits from its majestic view as evidenced by the mushrooming business areas and industrial growth along the ridge.
Considered as the second summer capital of the Philippines, its cool and crisp climate makes it a perfect picnic spot. Spend an afternoon at the Picnic Grove while enjoying a sumptuous picnic lunch and the natural splendor of the majestic Taal Volcano that quietly sits on tranquil Taal Lake.
The view at night is even more dazzling. The lake sparkles from the lights of the fishing boats with the view of the Manila skyline - the tall sky-crappers glistening with lights adding to the allure.
Its proximity to Manila, which is about 58 kilometer south, makes Tagaytay the ultimate weekend respite from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.
Many establishments and businesses have capitalized on its absolute charm that draws many local and foreign tourists. In fact, the city is a cornucopia of hotels, inns, apartelles, bed and breakfast rooms, and retreat houses which provide tourists the perfect place for R and R.
One of these is the Lake Hotel. As guests walk down the wide granite stairs with cascading waterfalls on both sides at the entrance of the hotel, they can already feel the calming and welcoming ambience of the place.
Further down is the Antonio Yupitun Executive Lounge which provides a 180-degree view of the lake and volcano, bounded by lush greeneries. The lounge is an ideal venue for meetings and socializing with acquaintances. It also houses the Sukhabati Meditation Place, which is actually an open-air area where people can commune with nature.
One of the hotel’s unique features is its gift to absorb nature’s blissful heartiness even for a fraction of a silent moment in its soothing garden and communing areas. Take for instance the lush Shambala Garden. Its well-manicured lawn imparts a serene and tranquil moment.
At night, the garden is transformed into an entertainment and cultural area where the Bughaw Folkloric Dance Group performs classic and traditional Filipino dances from the different regions of the country such as the tinikling and Muslim Suites every Saturday.
The hotel has five functions rooms: the Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 200 guests, the Function Hall which can be divided into two separate function rooms, the Himalayan View Deck that can accommodate 600 guests, and the Shambala Garden which can be a good wedding venue.
Perfectly situated at the slope of Tagaytay Ridge, the three-storey Mediterranean-inspired hotel provides an exceptionally picturesque view from each of its rooms. In fact, its 60 elegantly designed rooms, including six suites, have different panoramic angles of the Taal Volcano.
Lake Hotel Tagaytay is committed to promoting total well-being and provide their guests with a hale and hearty escapade while delighting their senses. The hotel offers complete health and wellness facilities and amenities, perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Aside from its gym that has dynamic fitness equipment and massage service, the hotel rooms (the Deluxe rooms in particular) are equipped with TheraBed, the magnetic mattress that produces less than two gauss geomagnetic energy, with a high penetration of 60 cm, for that five-star quality sleep.
The Great 103 High-Tech Invention mattress promotes over-all body restoration by applying magnet therapy, a non-invasive method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It works the same way that the Earth’s magnetic energy does.
Geomagnetic power is an environment element that people cannot live without. All living cells are electromagnetic by nature. The earth provides a supportive and steady magnetic field which the body draws on to enhance its molecular reactions. The human brains and the Earth are working together to accomplish magnetic resonance, which dramatically enhances the chemical reactions of the body.
Also, the magnetic mattress is especially designed to make shoulders and buttocks sink properly and get corresponding elastic support giving the vertebra a relaxing and natural pose.
Another health feature of the hotel is the TheraQi Far-infrared Ray (FIR) Enhancer which uses far-infrared electromagnetic energy. Using the natural thermal properties of sunlight, the 14-wavelength enhancer helps improve the systemic blood circulation, regulate balance of the nervous system, and strengthen the immune system. It promotes regeneration and fast healing as well as repair of tissue and cells.
On the night table in every room are various health notices which talk about the benefit of drinking eight glasses of water and the time-table of the body. Guests can read them for health tips and additional knowledge.
Nestled near the food strip of the city, the hotel has the Avengoza Fusion Restaurant to entice the palate. Its dynamic culinary team combines their epicurean taste for impeccable flavors in both local and international cuisines.
A short walk away to the south of the hotel are the various shopping and entertainment hubs where guests can indulge in a shopping spree and pasalubong buying or opt to have fun at the Casino Filipino Tagaytay. Within its ambit are prime tourist spots such as the Picnic Grove, People’s Park, Caleruega Church, and Ilog ni Maria Bee Farm, as well as the many convents situated in the city.
The Lake Hotel is located at Km.58, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East, Tagaytay City. For inquiries, call (+632) 7257080-81 or (+6346) 4134680-81, or email sales@thelakehoteltagaytay.com.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Traveling A-Z: Batangas

By VINCE G. LOPEZ
November 3, 2010, 11:35am
Batangas’ proximity to the metro endears the destination to the weekend warriors looking for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Within two hours of land travel, tourists are already presented with a number of adventure options as well as sightseeing opportunities in the province.
Numerous resorts abound in the province as long stretches of fine sands offer a relaxing alternative to the fast-paced city life. Another enchanting site in the province is the magnificent Taal Volcano which continues to entice both local and foreign tourists.
Indeed, the province’s array of natural wonders is unlimited as Batangas‘Verde Island is considered to be the center of marine biodiversity in the world. Such a unique feature of the province makes it one of the most sought after dive sites in the country. Scuba divers here and abroad are fascinated with the colorful wonders underneath the pristine waters of Batangas.
The province also boasts of its historical and cultural sites. Tourists are invited to take a tour back in time with various towns offering different memorabilia and bits from the past.
A tour of the province’s natural wonders and heritage sites can be best enjoyed while sipping Batangas’ very own Kapeng Barako or chilling in the province’s fine sands with a shot of the spiked local cocktail known as Lambanog. From food, scenic beaches, and cultural wonders, Batangas is one destination in the Philippines that has managed to sustain the tourist’s interest in the province.
Fast facts:
Language: Tagalog
Festival:
Lechon Festival / Parada ng Lechon – the famous feast is held every 24th of June in the town of Balayan
What to See:
Laiya-Aplaya and Hugom Beaches – A stretch of white sand that is best known for its unique accommodations and affordable huts for beach lovers.
Taal Lake and Volcano – South Luzon’s centerpiece attraction for tourists, the magnificent view is also one of the country’s most unique trails for adventurous trekkers.
Verde Island Passage – known as an underwater wonderland with its spectacular reef formations and 300 coral species. Its underwater rock canyons host nearly 60 percent of the world’s shore fish species.
Taal Heritage Vista – As one of the most architecturally preserved provinces during the Spanish era, the village contains picturesque antique ancestral houses as well as majestic old churches.
Our Lady of Caysasay Church and Shrine – One of the architectural wonders in the province, which contains a 27-cm image of the Virgin of Caysasay, found in the waters of Batangas in 1603.
Basilica of San Martin de Tours – reputedly patterned after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and was constructed in 1856.
How to get there:
Going to Batangas is easy as there are buses that leave every hour from major bus terminals in the metropolis. Depending on the route, provincial buses pass through practically all the major cities in the province. Batangas Pier is one of the busiest and progressive piers in the country, which also serves as an entry point to the province from other destinations.