Spur-of-the moment escapades
are sometimes more lasting.
These create defining experiences, leading to a deeper connection with the people involved especially if they are your loved ones.
I came to this conclusion because of our June 13 destination which was decided on last minute. Thanks to our ever dependable niece Johanna, she succeeded in finding a place where we could bond and temporarily consign to oblivion the recent events which had taken place in our family. Unanimously we agreed that a hot spring bath might help us ease off whatever we adults were feeling.
Right after fetching Cristy and me from Balai Tinay and having our heavy meal at Breakfast Republik, we began our trip to Irosin, Sorsogon. My younger niece, Jai, took charge of the wheel early part of the trip to train for a long drive. I enjoyed my passenger role for more than an hour before switching with her.
On our way we had three stopovers: the wet market in Sorsogon City for my puto lanson (rice cake) craving; Save More for other essentials; and Bucalbucalan, Sorsogon for additional dishes. The last travel break provided a window for these precious captures.
Continuing our trip, I finally experienced driving longer on the smooth and well-paved roads in Sorsogon City which I first reached last year. Compared with the route from Legazpi City to Naga City, this course was less stressful to traverse due to minimal roadworks unlike when we passed through Camalig, Guinobatan and Ligao, Albay. Multiple repairs in these municipalities would defy your sanity! *rolls eyes*
Frankly, these highways in Sorsogon City could be an effective come-on to tourists. Travelers would absolutely find long trips relaxing and enjoyable here. Why not if one of the best treats is the sight of Mount Bulusan's peak even from afar! Personally it perked me up more while nearing the end of our journey. Capturing this active volcano could have been postcard perfect if we were not in motion.
Eventually we reached our day’s terminal, Nature Hot Spring Resort. We were early for the 5:00pm check-in, but we’re already allowed to enter so we could unload our stuff and eat our linner.
Entering this simple-looking gate brought us to this extensive space. Its creative landscapes were enticing!
Then, we were ushered to this waiting lounge where we would eat.
We had ukoy baluko (pen shell fritters), relyenong alimango (stuffed crabs) and adobong scallop (pen shell scallop adobo). Olen brought ginataang laing, and Johanna ordered pork sinigang and rice from the resort’s restaurant. No documentation of our menu, eh? Blame it on my hunger. My tummy's state was more important than taking pictures for this article. Ha-ha!
Within an hour, inclusive of our eating time, we were told that our room was ready. To our surprise, we walked further and found our animated strides on this more vast area.
All our smiles broadened especially when we got inside our room.
Settled, we simply loafed while enjoying the surroundings. In the meantime JD, our granddaughter, already took a plunge in the bigger pool which we passed by.
My eldest sister Olen was the first to take a dip in the private pool. Thus, she was the one who confirmed that it's a natural hot spring because of the sulfur smell.
Later I joined her. Having forgotten the normal temperature of a hot spring, I repelled from the contact. Whoa, hoooooot! It's higher than the degree of hotness which my body could endure! At the outset I thought that I wouldn't adjust to it, but I did.
After a few minutes of soaking, I went near the lake. Reading the post that the water bikes were for rent, I invited Cristy and my two nieces to try them.
At first glance, you'd think that it would be an easy task to bike on the water, but in reality it's not. Our first attempt to do synchronized biking brought us to the side of the lake and got stuck. So I told Cristy to leave the footwork to me. In addition I saw that she was already gasping for air during fast pedaling. With the right maneuvering of the handle, I picked up and began enjoying it.
On the other hand the sisters, Johanna and Jai, appeared to be not struggling even at the start. Oh well! Johanna, being a PNP personnel, is also exposed to physical exertion and Jai is still young. Tee-hee!
JD saw us on the lake and eagerly waited to substitute her mother, my niece Johanna.
Two hundred fifty pesos for a 30-minute water biking? It sure was a little pricey but F.U.N! Besides, my being an endurance runner was tested too. Bwahahahaha.
Feeding the colorful coy fish was another source of enjoyment. I didn’t miss expressing my compliment about the presence of this honesty store.
Done and quite weary from water biking, we eventually decided to bathe in the hot spring. Of course, I anticipated the therapeutic effect of this on me.
For our night activity, my two nieces and I were the only ones who became "busy." It was an evening of comprehensive discussion on some parental W's (worries and woes) while a live entertainment was ongoing. Before midnight struck, we retired to bed and had a sound sleep.
Having zero sore muscles, we were all greeted by a fair weather in the morning. It made Nature Hot Spring Resort more arresting which stimulated our appetites for breakfast.
When we walked in, the restaurant had almost been filled with guests. Lucky us that we spotted a table for six at once.
With our orders, we again looked forward to the fourth leg of our food crawl.
All satisfied bellies! Filipino cuisine is still the best!
Back in the veranda, we had fresh mangoes for our dessert.
At around 10:45am we checked out which was almost four hours earlier. Cristy had to meet a high school batchmate/friend to get her order of pasalubong and we had another important afternoon stop-off.
Given a chance to return, I wouldn't hesitate to be in Nature Hot Spring Resort if only for their mouthwatering halo-halo which could give Bebang and DJC a run for their money.
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