November 29, 2021
Aqua Planet Philippines Water Slides and Attractionsby Erica Poyauan / February 7, 2019
To the uninitiated, mansions are just things of grandeur and luxury that are nice to see but hold no real purpose. This may be true for most mansions to today, but to a seasoned tourist, there are several such structures that are as good as history books. You can visit them, tour them, and as you do you see less of the shiny stuff and more of the past that has been embedded in its walls and halls!
One of these mansions is the Pamintuan Mansion of Angeles City. If you’re thinking that this is just another museum, these points would convince you otherwise…
Why should you visit Pamintuan?
1. It is a beauty
Highly visible because of its unusual (at least in this place) Muslim-inspired architecture, the mansion has etched its place in the country’s history. The architecture itself was a thing of note, with the bold details of the arches and the wispy pillars (as opposed to the big ones that were prevalent at this time) attracting our eyes in all directions.
2. It is the site of a momentous celebration
It is the site of the first-anniversary celebration of Philippine independence. Remember that scene where Aguinaldo stood on a balcony, waving the Philippine flag? That did not happen in Cavite, during the declaration — it happened right here, a year after!
3. It has fine exhibitions
Of course, due to this, the mansion has been turned into a museum as well. Inside, we can see the fine china and the glass chandeliers, even the playthings that once belonged to the young inhabitants of the mansion.
4. It is an all-new take
What we see now are fruits of the efforts to convert the Pamintuan mansion into the very first museum dedicated to the country’s social history. It has been a beautiful transformation! The mansion-cum-museum wouldn’t be the first to transform around this neighbourhood, though.
Angeles Reborn
Angeles itself has seen its fair share of changes throughout the years. In fact, for some time the Pamintuan Mansion became the only reliable sight that you are in this part of Angeles! Indeed, we were told during our heritage tour that Angeles was once called Barrio Culiat, named after the vines that grew abundantly in the city. This unkempt nature continued on for some time, and there were even stories that journalists cautioned the public never to go to Angeles. This stirred the minds of the settlers here, and galvanized them to action in improving the city.
One good example of the transformation is the fact that there used to be wires everywhere. Now, there aren’t any! Either the electric wires are now running along the walls, or are completely underground. The marketplace, which used to be… well, like the traditional Filipino description of a marketplace, has been scrubbed clean.
Even age-old structures like the local church had to be improved. The walls of the church were once pink, sticking out like a sore thumb from the locale (besides, the somber structure didn’t match the gaudy color). Now, it’s done in gray and cleaned up really well.
Parting Words
Museums are being renovated left and right, with the Pamintuan Mansion not being left behind. Now that it’s open, everyone can see its splendor again. It’s just sad that it’s the only one that I managed to see during the limited time I was here, but I hope I can go back and see more of what the city has to offer. Maybe then even the Pamintuan Mansion has moved forward in time, to show us more of the past!
[message]- Author Bio
- Karla Ramos is a former preschool teacher turned travel blogger/ travel consultant and social media manager. She writes at Karla Around the World and Hungry Travel Duo. People call her an energizer bunny, a never-ending source of energy and laughter, who is a lover of adventure. She was bitten by the travel bug early on and enjoys talking about my action packed and adrenaline filled experience. While traveling, Karla loves to experience local culture, trying out local cuisine, meeting new people, most of all adventure. Follow her Instagram karlaroundtheworld and facebook karlaroundtheworld.
What do you think of this article? Do you like visiting mansions or historical houses? Let me know your thoughts in the comments sections below!
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How to Stay Healthy and Fit While Travelling
Are you in good physical shape and want to make sure that you don’t let it slide when you set off on your travels to exotic destinations? This is a regular conundrum that you wouldn’t be alone in trying to figure out how to overcome.
The good news is that there are certainly a handful of tips and tricks that you can use to your advantage to make staying fit and healthy a possibility during your time away, and it’s worth mentioning that you should be commended on wanting to achieve this, so give yourselves a pat on the back for the positive outlook you’re maintaining!
Okay, so the first thing to bear in mind is that the habitual diet and workout routine you have in place at home might not be a realistic option while you’re away. This isn’t to say that it’ll be a million miles from it though. Often, it’s simply a case of allowing yourself the thought process of being okay with enjoying time away from your stringent routine.
What we’re saying is that it is actually very, very easy to stay on the healthy diet train as well as remaining physically active regardless of where you are in the world, which will come as a welcome bonus!
Take a look over these tips and see what you can use while you’re on your trip.
Never stray away from starting the day with a healthy breakfast
An essential aspect of getting the body working properly each day is having a good breakfast. You wouldn’t expect a car to perform on no fuel, so you shouldn’t think your brain and body can either.
What you eat at the start of the day will be what fuels your energy for the rest of the day and also kickstarts your metabolism.
Aiming to eat fresh fruit, wholegrain foods such as bran flakes and granola, for example, will help you get off to the right start. Add to this some green tea and or some hot water and lemon to maintain your body’s pH levels that have depleted during the night and you’ll be off to a solid start.
Get good sleep
Sleeping well will literally be one of the best things you can have in your life when you are on your travels. Ideally, you want to be getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night, as recommended by sleep experts.
Sleep is well-documented to be the time when you rest and rejuvenate, so if you don’t get adequate amounts then you’re going to lose out in terms of memory loss, concentration, poor immunity, weight gain, balance issues, mood swings, and high blood pressure!
Obviously, you don’t want any of these ailments, especially when you’re meant to be away having the time of your life! You can find out more on how to get good sleep by visiting https://www.sleepAdvisor.org/ for great tips and info.
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| Not forgetting my water even while observing Mr. crocodile here! |
Stay hydrated with plentiful amounts of water while you’re travelling
You’re more than likely to be well aware of the positive and vital benefits that surround staying hydrated, but this will be even more of a focal point when you are travelling as you’ll be in different climates and also probably not exercising quite as much.
Drinking plenty of water will ensure you stay full, hydrated, and away from reaching for unhealthy drinks and also snacks that are bad for you too. In fact, water can be really useful for weight loss; it’s 100% calorie-free, assists in burning more calories and helps digestion when you eat.
Skip the elevators
Choosing to take the stairs is the better choice; everyone knows that. It serves as a perfect little workout to get the glutes working and the blood pumping. You could get the elevator, but where’s the fun in that? You can race the people you’re with, or just cruise up the steps; either way will get you a Nano-workout, and as a famous supermarket says “every little helps”!
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| Just finished my TWG green tea! |
Turn to green tea
Green tea holds many positive benefits that you can utilise while you’re on your trip away. The good thing is that you can access it all over the world and it’s not a costly drink to buy.
It’ll provide you with a boost of natural energy, a host of antioxidants that will protect against damage from pollution, and the nights out partying too. What’s more, green tea helps with digestion, while the caffeine found in it can help to speed up your metabolism. All of those things equate to ways that tea aid in keeping you fit while travelling.
Stay informed on the things you are eating
One way to ensure you are maintaining that healthy lifestyle; looking and feeling good in the process, is to remain clued up on your diet while you’re away.
That’s not to say that you can’t have something you want to eat that might not be overly healthy, but just don’t constantly overindulge or you’ll pay the price. Don’t beat yourself up if you eat and drink what you want, but just make sure you keep a check on how much you consume.
If you’re not sure of what is in some dishes, be sure to ask first. You can also get an idea of the healthy foods you can tuck into by doing a little bit of research online before heading off to your travel destinations too.
What do you think of this article? How do you stay healthy when you travel? Let me know what you think in the comment section below!
9 Photos that reveal the hidden charm of Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort
I used to cringe when I see posts headlining “Instagrammable sites” as if blogs only encourage people to visit places for the ‘gram… Then I realize, I myself, take lots of pictures when I travel, in fact, in this recent trip to Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort Batangas, I took 4 gigabytes of photos and videos, BUT that didn’t sully the fun in my experience nevertheless!
I am sure a lot of people value quality time more than a few seconds of “photo opps”. But for some, these two are not separate entities like my family who’s made it a tradition to take pictures every time there is a gathering even before there were smartphones and mirrorless cameras – yes, we had the film cameras and we printed lots of photographs and framed them or stored in photo albums… I’m glad we took photos, especially from our childhood because no matter how vivid the moment seemed at that time, my childhood recollections fade… somehow if I look at our photo albums, memories come back!
Nowadays, we just share the photos or videos on social media platforms (or in my case here on my blog). So, if you’re keen to see what the property has to offer, below are snaps from Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort.
Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort is essentially a blessing to the residents of Batangas City and the Batangeńos in general. This 2-hectare lush recreational venue provides the opportunity for families and communities to grow closer together through its facilities, food, and healing environment. [Read Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort Getaway Guide]
People from the neighbouring provinces are graced by its existence too. It is cheap and very accessible. Even people like us from Manila didn’t have difficulty reaching the place considering we left Alabang at past 9 in the morning. We arrived before 11AM. In my province, we have mountain resorts but quite a travel to get to. So I am really happy when I arrived at Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort, the first thing I did after checking in was to enjoy at the trampoline in front of our Casita:
After trampolining, I went around the area and found that Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort is fun-filled and a pretty photogenic resort for people who love nature.
From garden pools with a breathtaking backdrop of the mountains to picture-perfect hanging bridges, here are 9 photos that showcase the beauty of Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort:
1. HIGHEST POINT
With a stunning and invigorating view of the mountains, it’s always recommended to keep your eyes on the skies when getting around Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort – but nowhere is this more relevant than the highest point, I think it is also called the Griffin point where the cabanas and the gazebo are located. Hidden away on top of the resort’s highest peak, we took 98 steps to get here. The perfect shot is at early morning or near sunset. When you’ve got this shot, you can swim or drink by the pool with a loved one – the pool and the garden is aptly is romantic.
2. BOODLE FIGHT
You can’t come to Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort and not try a Boodle Fight – it’s practically the law! LOL Silliness aside, this meal prepared for at least 10 people has gotta be one of the best big servings to try a selection of baby back ribs, fried milkfish, clams, and shrimp. I can’t help but salivate thinking about the time we were devouring those juicy meat. I liked the bihon too and the sides of corn, carrot, cucumber, and tomatoes. I really recommend you try this with your family or a group of friends. Or if you are a foreigner in Batangas, head to this resort for lunch and try this very filipino way of eating. You can dip into the springs pool afterwards. You can try local drinks too – you’ll easily find people who’ll cheers to you!
3. CAMPING AREA
As well as your food, your senses will be pleased too by the lush environment surrounding you at this mountain resort. I think the name already gives that away. But yeah, this is the place for that much-needed breathing away from the pollution or the noises of the city. You can camp here or spend quiet time with nature or dance around like me. I recommend dancing barefoot though.
4. CLOSE-TO-POOL CABANA
Looking like a place straight out of a Balinese resort makes this the most snapped spot by our group. Located at the highest point of the resort, this is where the cabanas are nestled where couples or honeymooners can enjoy a romantic moment. It took us 98 steps to get here, fed some koi fish, checked the rooms—decently spaced with airconditioning, queen-sized bed, private shower, and wood double door you can open for a breathtaking view of the mountains—took photos and swam in the garden pool. The view from here as you can see is invigorating, best for an early morning swim or a romantic sunset date by the pool.
5. STAND OF TREES
If you fancy catching some fresh air and admiring a stand of trees, then take a few-minute walk to the camping area or to the resort park and photograph stands of mahogany or bamboo trees. You can’t miss this as the stand of trees are almost everywhere. Pro-tip: wear something that would stand out.
6. ROCKTOBEERF3ST
Have you ever been to Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort’s Rock to beer fest? If you haven’t, you should go next year. That will be the fourth year and you bet it would be even more fun! As well as this famous event in the area which gets all locals all excited are the bands who participate – all are incredibly talented and entertaining. I really recommend you see it for yourself: the contestants this year, and the winners: The Blanc from Lipa Batangas, Manok ni San Pedro, and Maria. It’s the first music fest I’ve been to for a long long time and it reminded me so much of the good times when I was still playing with a band. If you like music, if you like having a great time with a beer or other alcoholic beverage, then, this event is for you! Oh, and keep an eye out for all the food too!
7. TEAM BUILDING
Head to Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort to make your Corporate Outing a Team Building to Remember. That’s right – Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort is famous for their awesome activities as well as own professional team building facilitators that will really build stronger bonds together with your team. [Read Bloggers Team Building Experience at Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort]
8. CASITAS
Big fan of camping? Then you’re gonna want to check out these Casitas and see an interesting space with a decent toilet and bathroom that’s just steps away from nature. It’s a lovely accommodation that is private, clean and super cheap too! When you stay here, you can spend more of your money on food and pasalubong!
9. HANGING BRIDGES
There are two hanging bridges in Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort. The first one is the featured photo of this blog post and is called the monkey bridge. This is the second one which we took to get to the camping site. It is covered with very tall trees you might not notice what’s below. But if you care to look closely, you’ll see a lovely spring (frightening to some due to the height). But worry not, this bridge is very safe and sturdy that you can run and do jump shots! This charming bridge and the other monkey bridge have become an icon for this resort.
Parting Words
There you have it! Hope from these pictures you’ve got an idea of what Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort has to offer. But I am telling you, there’s more! If you’re planning your trip to Sorosoro Springs Mountain Resort soon, then be sure to check out this travel guide.
