#ThrowbackThursday: Beach!

My kids love the beach. But we haven't been back this year. Last year, we went to far-off Lobo, Batangas for our company outing, but the beach there is rocky. A enjoyed though, because Lobo's shore is littered with hermit crab and shells. We don't take 'em home. She just loves them!

We were supposed to go to Boracay with my siblings for Labor Day, but couldn't get any more flights (as it was a last-minute decision). Oh well, maybe we could do Subic or Anvaya before school starts. Or yes, Mia, Matabungkay! 

Here are some beach photos of the kids taken three years ago.

This was at Adventure Beach, owned and operated by Camayan Beach Resort.

A spends most of the time searching for shells and hermit crab.

It is so hot right now in Manila. Makes me want to take that drive to the beach. Why aren't there clean and decent beaches nearby? So sad.

Which beach do you usually frequent?

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!