Casa Ibiza

This was a day last week of an infinite queue. Early part  towards late part of the day was consumed with a friend  doing manic S&R shopping. If you're a S&R member shopper, you know what I mean! S&R annual sale?_ spells crazy here in the metro! The loooong-est queue of people entering, pursuing pushcarts, grabbing cheapest salable items, buying, paying _ madmad crazy!!! Shame-on- me was there cos I too is crazy about scoring 50% off (even more) items. haha. It's funny but I'm telling you it was hard w-o-r-k !!!
As if the almost whole day S&R mad queue wasn't enough, I proceeded to the neighbor establishment, to the DFA for my passport renewal appointment. What now?? Whatelse but more hours in long queue of passport applicants. Omg! The day really tested my patience. But I gotta do what I gotta do!
The sun set on me standing in the boulevard and was picked up by my family. I almost forgot. I made an overnight reservation in Casa Ibiza. It's supposed to be just a tad more than an hour drive having its location in the nearby Antipolo, Rizal, but because of the rush hour traffic condition, it took us like nearing four hours to reach the place. Woaahhh!!! Really a whole day full of patience exams.
Thus, explained my not so nice impression of the place when we arrived , coming from those mad queues, You've got to understand me.
But anyway. .  .




. . my first impression of the place was vividly colored open air cabanas and jubilant colored villas. Followed by a lame reception or was it the absence of it.
We were placed in a tiny two storey villa with three small bedrooms, two baths, a tv room and a kitchen.

Children went straight to watch their favorite t.v. show while snacking. We had dinner on the road. While husband and I felt a need for a fresh air. Went out to have a night glimpse of the place.




We found a garden with white pagoda which I suppose where wedding banquet is being held. Within is a matching white open reception hall.

We wanted to have a drink or two, but the bar was empty_ of staff and everything.

When we came back to the villa, the girls had already chosen each room. I hadn't seen it and had to check.

Older daughter got the smallest room among the three rooms. It got nothing but a super slim single bed and an aircon.




Younger daughter got the medium room with again a bed and an aircon.

Husband and I, ofcourse got the I supposed the master bedroom cos it's the biggest one. It has its own bathroom and a closet and an aircon. In fairness, all rooms, thu' all pretty small against my expectation, were clean and span.








All rooms were on the upper level of the villa. The first floor has the sala and kitchen. Don't be deceived by photos above. The place is even smaller in actual size.

The villa is claustrophobic and quite similar to the low-cost, cluster housing in the suburbs. You wouldn't want to spend time in it and would push you out to catch a fresh air.

The facade of each villa is painted with individual loud color. Which personally, I don't think is enough to capture a Mexican villa. If you're up to experience a Mexican inspired accommodation here in our country, I would recommend the villas of  Pueblo por la Playa in Pagbilao, Quezon.




However, the lack of air inside the tiny villa was compensated by the airy garden of Casa Ibiza.

With the splash of colors all over the Casa Ibiza, it's undeniably one  photogenic resort.

It has a pool. .




.. and another one  wading pool. We made a pass on swimming. The pool failed to entice us and were actually more enticing in photos.








If you're seeking for energy and adventure, this is not the weekend place for you. Ambiance here is reflective  and really restful.




Husband had to have his breakfast ahead of us cos he still had his work that day and had to report to his office.













Left us to commute back to the city upon check-out.. We took a tricycle infront of the resort which sent us to the fx station in the town. The fx took us to Megamall which is the drop off point. I found the commuting faster cos it wasn't rush hour then.

In a Different Hue

Some places are better seen in photos.True story
Is this place familiar to you?
Hmm. .
Just been there. .
and I'm thinking. .
since as of this moment I couldn't find any kind word about this jubilant colored garden resort. .
for now, I'd rather keep my mouth shut
and well. .
i'll try tomorrow. .
i might be in a better hue..
:
:
fair enough?
:
see ya. tomorrow:D

Berjaya.2

Last week a short note was left on my email by a girlfriend (based overseas), saying she was in the country for  a short visit and would I please call her in the hotel. Which hotel?, she missed to specify. Four months ago, she was also here for a short visit. I called-up Berjaya Hotel where she stayed last time and bingo she was there!

Needless to say_ she had a satisfying stay the last time that she didn't think twice to book here again for another 5 day stay. In fairness, this Berjaya in Makati Ave. might come so quirky (cos of it's ridiculously slim structure) from the outside, but inside_ the rooms are actually a lot better than some old 5 star hotels'  rooms in the metro. In size and  in neatness.

I just thought the room was actually in many ways useless to my friend. Except for me_ chilling there, the room had only been used as 3 hours sleep bed per day and for freshening-up.




If not out for shopping and dining, my girlfriend was busy in the internet. The complimentary LAN connection inside the room was unused cos she forgot her laptop and iPad at home. Neither she missed to mention to me to bring along a laptop for her when I came out of my suburban cave to accompany her stay.




This business nook in the lobby of the hotel became her temp. office. haha.




For a price ofcourse.




When the weekend came, the lobby was always full of luggage with a lot of guests checking-in. Couldn't believe how popular this hotel to the whites.

My Heaven in Hell

i  am so sad and so hurting today. .
:
:
i just have to look at their faces. .
to remind me. .
life goes on. .
and worth living. .
:
:
:
inclusive of pain
exclusive of joy
:
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i find my little heaven in my daughters' smiles.


:( regular travel post_be back as soon as i can.