The Backpack Adventures

Located in Tagaytay City in the province of Cavite, Tagaytay Picnic Grove is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. Tagaytay Picnic Grove Tagaytay Picnic Grove Details Tagaytay Picnic Grove  is known for its numerous picnic huts and tables. It is also one of the places in Tagaytay City where you could try horseback riding, zipline, and cable car rides. An eco-trail is also located in Tagaytay Picnic Grove . What makes this place a favorite destination for many is its prime location. It is one of the best places in the city to view Taal Lake and Taal Volcano . Aside from that, the cold weather also draws tourists who want to escape the heat and pollution of Manila. Tagaytay Picnic Grove - Tagaytay City , Cavite Taal Volcano as seen from the Picnic Grove Great place to go on a picnic If you're looking for souvenirs, there are plenty of stores in Tagaytay Picnic Grove that sells Tagaytay City merchandise like shirts, keychains, ref magnets, and many m

Our adventure today takes us to one of Manila's historical districts where one can see remnants of the Spanish colonial era Philippines. Join me as we go around   Intramuros  to check out what it has to offer. Intramuros History The name Intramuros came from the Latin prefix intra meaning inside and the Spanish word muros with means walls. Hence its other name Walled City .  It is found at the mouth of the Pasig River and has very strategic importance for trade and defense. The land where Intramuros is now was once part of the tribal kingdom ruled by rajahs (native chieftains).  Intramuros - The Walled City It was sometime in 1570 when Spanish conquistadors arrived in what is now Manila after hearing that the area is rich in resources. Having superior weaponry and military tactics, the Spaniards then defeated and drove the natives out of their land. The leader of the Spaniards, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, then declared the area as the capital of the Spanish colony on June 24, 1

After 7 long years, my wife and I finally got a chance to revisit Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte last December 2017. What makes this trip special for me is that for this road trip, we already have a daughter along with us. Aside from that, this road trip is also my first with my wife's family. It was safe to say that it was a special year-ender trip for me. Ilocos Sur - Ilocos Norte Road Trip 2017 Here's how our Ilocos Sur-Ilocos Norte Road Trip 2017 turned out: December 25 (Day 1) Our adventure started in my brother-in-law's house in Cavite. Our two-car convoy left at around 7AM. The trip was quite fast thanks to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX. By 12NN we were already having lunch at Casantaan Bulaluhan at Kambingan Eatery in the town of Sto. Tomas in La Union. Lunch at Casantaan Bulaluhan at Kambingan Eatery Yummy bulalo After lunch, we drove straight to Ilocos Sur and reached the Ilocos Sur Arch a few hours later. As expected, we had our