Road Trip to Far, Far Away!

Many years ago, R decided we should join his childhood friends on a trip out of town. It was at a friend's beach resort in far, far Lobo, Batangas. Smack in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, we thought we were lost (the roads weren't paved - think moon craters) and R wanted to make a U-turn and head home. But we didn't, and made it to the resort safe and sound. It turned out to be a great weekend, but we swore we wouldn't go back as the trip was long, tiring and... uh... bumpy.

A month ago, when the office folks planned our summer outing, our Sales and Marketing Director, TP, suggested his late brother-in-law's diving resort. Where else? But in Lobo, Batangas. I was first to object, remembering that trip many years back (the U-turn story still the subject of jokes and laughs). But TP was able to convince everyone else. I do remember R's childhood friends telling me how the roads have been paved recently and that the once 4-5 hour trip now takes about 3 hours max.

Yesterday, right before we left Manila, I was half-praying (ok, maybe really praying they'd cancel because of the weather), but Sir TP was set on going! Everyone was excited, and I didn't want another episode of the last Christmas Party (long story) so I got it together and left for Lobo with the kids.

Star Tollway, on the way to Batangas City...

Kids were excited to go see the beach. 

T'was a pretty uneventful ride. We got to the end of the Star Tollway at a little past 4. If the roads were indeed paved, I'd say we'd get there in an hour or so. But when we got to Malabrigo, the barangay with all the seaside resorts, Sir TP didn't stop! We left paved roads and continued straight where the road was a single vehicle's width. Daylight left, and we were still driving along a rocky path with no streetlights. I was tempted to do an R and suggested we make a U-turn. Sir TP must not know what it means to convoy. We could no longer see his vehicle lights. But we continued on and reached a beach-side property at the end of what seemed like the edge of Batangas.

The beaches of Batangas are mostly rocky but perfect for scuba diving!

Turned out to be a great weekend. So I'm glad we took the trip, albeit long, tiring and still bumpy.

Hope you're having a great weekend!