@ The Palms

Who says summer is over in June? or July?. . or December? Here in my little universe called Ascertain Bliss, there's only one season_ s-u-mm-e-r!!!. .all year round.



So,  to continue my summer in the middle of stormy June, off to the Palms Country Club in Alabang, which is tucked  just minutes away from where I live.




I dragged along a girlfriend who is mother of five children and badly needed a break from a frenzy home and whose birthday fell on the same week. Happy birthday Neth!




. . and  my daughter who was off from school that day and looked like already she had spent cramming the whole first sem when it just had started. tsk.tsk., this super hardworking student needed to unwind too just like the rest of us.




Excited for a yoga class, I quickly changed into my favorite stretch outfit, only to find out that the class was
not available at that hour.

Instead we spent the early hours of the day food tripping at Cafe Asiana_ see here and here.




If it's not you're first time in this blog, you must know by now, my  unending love about summer, particularly being under the sun. It balances the long hours of the day I spend daily inside the roof of my home attending to the needs of my family. The sun energizes me and ofcourse the whole world.

The sun must have been aware of my endearment towards him and made me felt the feeling was mutual. Cos on this particular rainy, almost stormy day, he let me enjoy hours in the pool with him peeking lightly from the cloudy sky.

The Palms has 3 pools sitting side by side. A lap pool, above photo is the adult pool and at the back of it is the kiddie pool.




Naturally we stayed in the kiddie pool which is dangerously at 3 feet,hahaha!!!

See,  swimming pictorial is much better in a shallow kiddie pool, hahaha!

Until the sun could no longer hold himself up, he had to hide already, and the rains poured heavy. But by then we had enough fun at the pool and proceeded to relax at the club's jacuzzi, see here.




It was a perfect summer day in June at the Palms. :)

Jacuzzi

In the midst of last week's rains and typhoon, I had managed to insert a relaxing day with a daughter and a friend in a nearby exclusive country club. All indoor activities - buffet trip, gym, spa, sauna, jacuzzi. . .

and speaking of jacuzzi _ here I connived with daughter to snap a photo of me and my friend while relaxing at this private spot, ssshhh. .




It was a bit disturbing. .I mean the way the jacuzzi was positioned at the center of the room. The pool is like a center stage whereas facing at it are lounging chairs (with women opted to lay on them) , sit in a balcony-like stairs of a movie theater, only they are few and the stairs are just 3 to 4 steps. Still when you are in the jacuzzi, you feel like being watch by an audience. The pool is even lighted brighter than the lounge area which is dim. Good thing, you have an option to wear bikinis instead of going naked which is an s.o.p. to most jacuzzi in the city.

Familiar spot to you? Yes it's where you think it is.

Isdaan

Buddha_ Thailand?



more statues_ Cambodia?

monkeys_ zoo?

No.no.no._  It's in Isdaan, Tarlac.

During one of our road trips to the North, we dropped by to have lunch at this Filipino seafood restaurant. I was surprise to see how huge the place was. We've been passing by this establishment countless times on our way to Baguio and it was only this time that we thought of dining here.

The waters under the bamboo bridges were full of fishes. .no,  not the edible unsalted water fishes like bangus and tilapia. Lots of  koi fishes.



Younger daughter enjoyed feeding the kois while waiting for our food. Feeds were provided by the resto.

Aside from the Tacsiyapu wall ( visit here ), another attraction is the Sankilo Bridge. Guests are encourage to cross this narrow bridge to get a free kilo of fish. Not that easy thu'. It's like doing an obstacle course. Those statues at the sides are meant to distract you by spitting volume of water. Aiming to get you and the bridge wet so it would be slippery to walk on.



There were so much more to see, but we were there for a short stop-over only but nevertheless got our tummies satisfied. Foods see at my food blog.

Rainy Days

When it rains. .  .




I slide. .

Try F-U-N. .
It will be over soon. .

You'll see. .

Tacsiyapo!!!

We went to Isdaan, Tarlac to eat and I was really surprise to find Tacsiyapo inside.I had no idea that the wall could be found here. I had seen a t.v. show ( years ago) featured this Tacsiyapo Wall where people tried to release their anger by smashing things against the wall.

I knew then that I would be doing some smashing to that wall  myself at the right time. The right time would be ofcourse  when anger is eating me and must be thrown out.




But I found the wall in a totally wrong time. During one of my happiest days. It was Mother's Day 2011. haha, totally I was in a perfect mood and felt nothing but love to everyone, even to those who hate me.

So there's no way that I would be using this anger management wall at that time. So I just used the chance to watch people doing the tacsiyapo.

First, one has to buy tools to smash. .




Each corresponds to a prize. Like a television costs P2000 and a mug sells for P15. Well, it's up to you now, actually it depends on how much is your anger and ofcourse on your budget,haha.

Now aim!. . on the wall are  random names of people and things that possibly you are angry with. It is a must that you shout. .what? . . Tacsiyapo!!!!!

"thy sea is so great and my boat is so small"

For me, a day in the beach is incomplete without a little boat ride.

Look how tiny our boat was. The size of the boat was relative to our small budget, haha. We didn't bother to avail more decent boat cos this one was enough for us. We were only three passengers and it was already nearing to sunset which meant we could only stay in the sea not beyond 2 hours . Also, it meant a nearby destinations only.

We were by the way at Nasugbu, Batangas. I didn't have much expectations on the sea sights., but a boat ride is a past time I always enjoy and didn't mind the absence of sceneries in this side of Luzon.




I guess it is that I was in when one lowers his expectations, that's when he sees great in small things attitude that made me actually enjoyed this little boat ride.

I thought this trivial rock formation, was nice and well, added texture to the plain Nasugbu shores.

Remember that we only floated around near and didn't have time to go farther which I supposed got more scenic islands.

Already it was surprising that nonetheless we were able to score some interesting photos of random structures by the sea.

We made a short stop-over in a shore with better beach and water.




Swam a little. .

. . did some fruit snacking. .




. .and off to the sea again.




private resort

. . another private resort. This one is Canyon Cove.

and a beautiful photo taken by older daughter who stayed mostly behind the lens during this trip.
Not bad at all.