Pong Travels: Mt. Talamitam and Dudong Cove

Hello! Bundok hits muna tayo after magpalamig sa Estados Unidos. Mt. Talamitam! 🐢

[March 31-April 1, 2018]

It was my first summit of 2018! I've been to Mt. Talamitam roughly 10 years ago and the beauty of the mountain still has not changed. This is considered a minor climb and recommended for beginners, too. Difficulty Level: 3/9.☺

PissDrunx, Mt. Talamitam Summit

First climb after my US stint and I tell you, it was really tough. Haha. When I climbed this mountain 10 years ago, I have my bag with me 'til we reached the summit. And now, I didn't have anything w me - just myself, yet twas a struggle. Lack of exercise and lots of fats - yeah. Thankfully, I have very supportive friends who kept pushing me - almost literally, too. Haha. 

Mt. Talamitam - 10 years later with Yo, we didn't have a copy of the photo 10 years back - sayang!

The climb was also a celebration of Ornap's birthday. He works overseas, so it was a bit of a reunion of our barkada which we call PissDrunx. As always, it was fun, chill and w tears, too? (Bakit tayo may tears, Jong? Hehe. Ton kasi e. ♥) After the climb, we headed to the beach (it didn't have a name, so we just called it the Dudong Cove). Originally, we plan to settle at the Papaya Cove but it was so crowded. It was my first time to get drunk after so many years. But I guess it's fine as am with the right set of people. It was my first time to ride a boat as in a little boat under just the moonlight with no life vest! Crazy. Lots of things happened that weekend. Haha. Lasheng e. And am literally smiling while am typing. The kwentuhan leveled up a bit - maybe because now we're older. Oh well. Fun times. Lasheng times. PD times.

happy lunch photo

Good times - well, not so. (Sorry, Dude! Di ko kayang galit ka saken, confirmed.)

Mt. Talamitam - Topher, me and the Dude I was referring to

Some snaps below. Full album (pics + videos) here. 

Mt. Talamitam - mga pogi sila - yo, jorge, topher and birthday boy, ornap

Mt. Talamitam GP edit - Topher

Mt. Talamitam GP edit - Pong

Mt. Talamitam GP edit - Jorge

Tagaytay Brekky

Mt. Talamitam pababa na Saudi Pose

Mt. Talamitam - the "baby, are you okay?" pose - haha

picture muna before leaving Dasma

Super touched with this keychain! Thanks, Dude! #simplethings #bigjoys

How to go to Mt. Talamitam:

Public Transpo: Ride a bus bound to Nasugbu. Drop off point should be Sitio Bayabasan. Fare is about PHP120.


Nasugbu Bus Terminals:

1. DLTB Bus Terminal in Buendia
2.  San Agustin Bus Terminal in Pasay

Private Transpo: Take the South Super Highway then exit to Sta. Rosa then go straight to Tagaytay. Do a right turn and go straight until you reach the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. Go straight until you reacj Km 83, Sitio Bayabasan which is Mt. Talamitam's jump-off. 

• Is a guide required? - They are requiring it now, but we managed not to. We were there March 31 for a dayhike. Minimum is PHP300-PHP500, it depends.
• How much is the registration fee? PHP40 
• Shower Fee: PHP20 

Remember: Talamitam is an open mountain so it can be very hot during summer. Make sure you have everything you need to protect yourself from the sun. It'll be worth it. 

 
"Leave nothing but foot prints,take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time." Enjoy! ☺


speak from the heart, 
pong 🐢💙

Pong Features: Deng and Faye's Bernabeach Getaway 🌊

Hello! 😎


You know you have the right set of friends when they ask you where to go, they believe you, they go to that place and they let you publish they experience on your site. Nice, yeah? 😎

So, let's start. Bernabeach Resort is located in Nasugbu, Batangas. It's actually one of the resorts that was on my list when I went to Nasugbu last December. I landed to the adjacent resort though. 

Bernabeach offers an amazing Infinity Pool. The beach - "sapat lang" (just fair) was how I described it to my PD brother Odeng when he asked me. Haha. So, I have decided to just have minor modifications on his kwento (story) about their experience. I mean I felt how happy he was with the outcome, but I guess it really depends on how you'll take it e. Happiness is a choice, right? With good company pa, so winner. 

This is the first picture Deng sent me before the whole sharing of story happened. 

Odeng: 👨
"Haha. Di ko alam paano uumpisahan ang kwento. Pero masaya ang experience kung ano ung pagkakadescribe mo ganun ang napicture ko sa isip ko. Ito yung lakad na biglaan as in umiinom kami ng Sunday, ang usapan namen drive lang sa may Kaybiang Tunnel 'tas uwi na. Sabi ko sayang naman ang lakad, bakit hindi tayo mag-swimming tutal nasa Nasugbu na din tayo. Pag dating ng Monday, ito na, akala ko usapang laseng lang. Dumating yung pinsan ko na pabalik ng UAE sa Wednesday, July 12. Uminom ulit kami as usual. Yun yung time na nagtanong ako sayo saan malapit at di naman ako napahiya, hehe.

Dumating kami ng July 11 sa Bernabeach before lunch time. Mga 10:30AM nakapagcheck-in na kami since di naman daw peak season, pwede na kami sa room, then check-out time is 12NN, the next day. Yung POOL agad ang nakita namen. WOW! Lalo ung sa kabila ung infinity.

Malinis ung lugar at maayos ang service. Siguro nga kasi Monday sha kaya walang gaanong tao, meron man, pero di aabot ng 10 yung nakita ko. Ang masasabi ko ay everything went well or great rather. Kahit walang planong maayos masasabi kong nag-enjoy mga kasama ko lalo na ung aalis ng bansa.


Si Faye?? Nako di ko alam kung nagka-asawa ako ng sirena. Tuwang-tuwa sha sa dagat pero inunahan ko sha sabi ko ung dagat wag ka mag-eexpect na maputi ang buhangin or ung nakikita mo sa FB or TV na magaganda. Nasugbu ay either brown or black sand. Nung andun na kami, sabi nya basta buhangin at dagat hindi mabato, gusto ko.

Yung room namen is for 2,500/night,deluxe ata yun. Ang masasabi ko, makukuha mo ung value ng binayaran mo since maaga kami naka check-in at malinis sha malamig ang AC malinis ang CR at gumagana ung warm/cold water. Maluwag din sila kasi nakapagpasok kami ng food at alak.

The next day, ito na balik dagat kami sa umaga. Tulad ng nakasanayan ko pag pumupunta ako sa ibang lugar na may dagat inaabangan ko ung mga nanghuhuli ng isda. Kasi pwede ka makahingi or makabili sa murang halaga. Hindi ko na lang matandaan kung anong tawag nila or pangalan ng isda na yan. More than 3 Kilos sha. Ang sabi nung mga taga dun is PHP300/Kilo nakuha namen for PHP700.

We were on the infinity pool while watching the majestic setting sun.

Shempre di mawawala ang babe time. Dahil sirena ata ang asawa ko, let me share some of our pics.

The next day, wala na kaming mashadong naging activity. Naligo na lang ulit sa dagat may less than an hour, alam mo na di papayag ang sirena na uuwi ng di ulit nababasa ng tubig alat. Plus kelangan na din umuwi kasi may pasok ako ng 1PM at yung pabalik ng UAE, may kailangan puntahan my 12NN.

So, buong experience was great! Siguro kelangan ng appreciation sa bawat bagay na makikita at mapupuntahan mo..hindi naman pwedeng lahat sila pare-pareho, may kanya-kanyang ganda ang bawat lugar. "For them not to say and for you to find out".




PS. Salamat Jo may sagot ka ata sa lahat ng itinatanong ko haha!"

- end-

Thank you, Deng for sharing your story and writing on my behalf. Haha. No, seriously though, I appreciate it. For your information guys, Odeng is one of my PD (pissdrunx) brothers whom I met through common friends and the mountains. I never thought he will be one of the folks worth keeping - tae! 💩 Sarap kausap neto! From okrayan, gaguhan to seryosohan to okrayan-gaguhan ulit. Haha!

RESORT DETAILS:

Location: Bernabeach Resort, Brgy. Bucana, Apacible Blvd., Nasubgu, Batangas Contact #s: +63-43-416-0442 | +63-927-418-7209 | +63-999-717-5044 | +63-923-442-6802 | +63-932-242-5550
Email: bernabeachresort@gmail.com
Website: http://www.bernabeachresort.com.ph/

HOW TO GET THERE:

Ride a DLTB/BSC/San Agustin Bus in Pasay Terminal with Nasugbu signage (Fare: PHP155)
Drop off to Nasugbu Proper
Ride a Tricycle and tell the driver Bernabeach (PHP10/head)


I guess, I should try Bernabeach myself too! Soon enough! 🌊


speak from the heart,
pong 💙🐢

Pong Runs: Beat the Heat Summer Run 🏃🎽

Hello! 😅

Yesterday, May 7, marked a lot of firsts for me:

1st Fun Run in Cavite (The District Mall) 
1st 3K Run (Clocked in around 30 minutes or a few minutes more than that)
1st Run in 6 years
1st Catching-up Activity w a not so long lost friend, Jong 😜


I've been trying to be active for the past couple of months - jogging to help my legs keep up with mountain climbing and fun runs (it really helped! 😊), Saturday badminton sessions and some diet on the side to lose weight, to be healthier and to be fit. Hopefully, I will not lose my determination and focus to achieve my goals. 

Earlier today, I checked my fun run certificates and my last 10K run was done around 1:40:00. Not bad, my first was 2:06:00. I should try 10K again, yes? Haha! We'll see. It feels good to have an amazing and supportive (when I say supportive, I really mean it) running buddy. So thanks Jong for being one. I couldn't ask for a better buddy. Happy to have done these firsts with you, Master Runner! This should not be the last, okay? Let's add swimming and hiking next time! 

To my fellow Caviteños, fun runs already invaded our province - yay! And yes, I joined the fad late. But better late than never! 😃 I'll post some snaps of our run. 🏃🎽

And also, there are two upcoming running events in Cavite, details and snaps below. Should I join the 24th? 5K? 10K? Hmmm. 😎 


Always remember to speak from the 💙 and finish the run strong. 🏃
- pong 🐢


Follow me:

Instagram: joanepong
Twitter: joanepangilinan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanepangilinanblog/

post run - taken by me, jong's phone

post run - credits to jong

post run - credits to jong

edited. 1st one had too much filter - not so us. lol

May 21st

June 24th