Last month, I decided to take a break to visit Boracay for three days, but for some reason I couldn't get the chance to visit there. I also made a plan last month to visit Tagaytay as plan B so I gather a lot of information about there as well, but again things were messed up. However, I finally can visit Tagaytay even on the one day trip with one of my colleague. I'll try to speak as specific as I can on this blog if you want any information about Tagaytay trip. I'll drop the tricycle owner number whom is the one can pick up you and bring you hanging around this area. Because we don't ever take a long bus trip before, we decided to ask from other Filipino colleagues where we can take a bus to there. Some of them just said I can take it from Baclaran. The information is right, but I read on the other budget trip website telling that is much better to take from Coastal Mall Station, so we went to the Station in the morning. It's really easy to take a bus to there, just asking them ''Is this the bus going to Tagaytay?'' and the bus fare is really cheap.
I contacted Kuya Francis before (The one who will pick us), he told us to stop in Olivarez area and avoiding to speak to anyone who wants to offer you a guide for the trip there. I don't know what's going on, but I've just been followed what he told me to. About two hours by bus. We finally reach Olivarez and while waiting him. we had some breakfast. He's a really nice person and friendly. He drove us directly to the bay/dock where we can rent a boat to take us to Taal Island. We walked to the registration area to register our name and where do we come from (I guess it's for the tourism record) and we paid for the whole fee there. Including horse fee, boat fee and entrance fee. The boat ride lasted around 20 minutes. Seriously, if want go to Taal Mountain I suggest that go with a bunch of group. Cause the boat fare basically cost P2,000 for 7 persons and for back and forth.
Reach the entrance of the mountain, we stop and take a pic by the photographer (it's quite pricey to costing P350 with 1 print photo with frame) and finally we are choosing the horse that will bring us to the Top of the mountain, cause it's really far and too hot if we are really hiking by our feet. Some tourists are really hiking to the mountain. Most of them are Caucasian and Korean I guess. Then the local people there will try to offer you water and face mask, since will be really hot on the way and full of dust. But yeah we are really prepare for it. We brought our own jacket (I even brought Raincoat 'cause my friend went there in the raining season, so just prepare for the worst).
For about 15 minutes I was riding at twelve years old horse, MALIYA's back. I really feel bad about the horse, like they are no choice to work in the tourist place and walking to the mountain back and forth for about more than 8 times a day. No choice. Their life. I felt bad as well with the horseman who walk with us to the mountain with this long length and hot weather. Luckily, up there people had sell waters or soft drinks that you can buy for your horseman. MOUNTAIN TOP! Finally reach the top of the mountain, it's tiring even you are riding a horse, so you could know that how tiring for the horseman. One more interesting thing that you could find in the middle on your way to the top of the mountain is you will find a lot of crosses with Jesus's story in Golgotha mountain. No surprise, this country is basically Catholic country which really religious to tell the history about Christ.
Life is a climb, but the view is great. Definitely paid off with the good view up there even we are quite tiring and the dust (I really don't like), but again. Everything paid off! The view is really breathtaking. We spent a lot of time here to take good pictures. Unfortunately, the weather is too hot for us to hike more of the Lava round which made me feel regret to following what the horseman said.
I can feel the nature well in this place, but I can't really have a good time to take look this breath taking scenery because of the hot weather and the horseman wanted to go up to the top as fast as he can. I didn't blame him, cause the weather really hot and I have a bad time riding horses even though this is the third time for me to ride horses. I feel bad to my ass! Like what I said about nature this place. This is surely a good eye sight thing like you can see a boiled soil which smokey ( I don't know how to explain this) and unfortunately, we didn't go to the lava round where I think will have more good things to see and experience. Back to the dock by the horse, the horseman will asking for the tips so it's better to prepare some bucks in you for it. Take the boat back to the Tagaytay bay, Kuya Francis was already waiting us. He suggested us to visit the highest peak of the Tagaytay called People Park. There you will see a lot of local people sell local snacks, but a lot of them selling 'Taho' which similar to our Indonesian Tauhue. but this one available with another flavor. You can take a pic with the reptile (Crocodile or something which I'm not really sure) and parrots there. You can also rent a binocular to have a good view from the peak of the Tagaytay.
I'm really having a good time in Tagaytay. Thanks to Kuya Francis's nice hospitality and care. He does. If you want to have a good trip like me in Tagaytay, here I drop his number so you can contact him directly. Francis +639201685434 Here I also listed down the cost. P80 - Grab fee from my place to Coastal Mall Station. P74 - Bus fare to Olivarez Tagaytay. P100 - Entrance fee to the Taal Island.
P2,000 - Boat fee, Good for 7 persons P500 - Horse fee (Additional, if you want to hiking to the top of the Taal) P50 - Mineral Water P50 - Two face masks P350 - Printed photo with frame by the photographer. P150 - Pinted photo by the photographer. P50 - Drink for the Horse man. P100 - Tips for the Horse man (Additional) P30 - Entrance fee at the People Park. P20 - Rent binocular for 10 minutes. P500 - For Kuya Francis (We give an extra tips because his service. Come on dude, he deserves it!) P77 - Bus fare to Coastal Mall Station.
I really have a good short trip! I have planning about another short tip for June. 'Cause I will not in the Philippines on May.Hopefully I will having more fun than this trip later! See ya!
