We're still figuring out a good day trip from Manila. Wm and Patch love the ocean. You'd think living in a nation of 7,000 islands, it would be easy for us to find a good day - or even one night - trip to the beach. But, sadly, anywhere too near Manila is just too polluted to take the kiddos swimming. Even the last trip or two to Anilao was disappointing for the amount of trash floating in the water.
We tried yesterday to go to Subic for the day - at a 3 hour drive, though, it was just a bit too far. Not to mention on the way back we hit miserable traffic extending the trip to 4.5 hours! While the beach we hit (Camayan Beach Resort) was pleasant enough for the day, we just didn't get the sense that it would be worth it to stay the night. Most hotels here seem overpriced to us, on the value to money scale. So, a day trip it was.
We did have fun while there - after all, how can you not with unlimited sand to dig in and ocean to float in? We even took Bagwelle who, it turns out, loves to just sit right at the edge of the ocean so the gentle waves wash up on her belly to cool her down. And, I think I've now learned a few things critical for a fun day at the beach here, assuming we can find a place within a manageable driving distance!
1. Just pack your own towels, even if the place has an entrance fee and is labeled a resort. Pack extra for the post-swim shower, too.
2. Pack your own lunch. Again, even if a place has a restaurant, the service and food might not be that great, so better to just make the effort the night before to bring your own. Most places have a "grill area," so cookout is usually feasible. Most places also allow you to bring your own water, juice, and milk - oh, and soda and beer, too.
3. Bring your dog - she'll have fun :)
4. Better to go with a big group, so that way someone can stay in/near the cabana at all times. Not really safe to lock things up in the car or just leave them tucked in other bags.
5. Don't forget the dump truck, bug barn, and fishing net (even if just for pretend fishing) - in addition to the digging tools. Lamby and Doggie are also critical for the zonk out on the ride home, with Blue Blanket and Lightening McQueen quilt being added bonuses.
One funny story: Wm asked me to get him chicken and pork adobo for lunch. I ordered, along with a clubhouse sandwich (hold the mayo) for Greg, sauce-less chicken kabobs for Nancy, a tomato/cheese salad for sharing, and extra french fries (who doesn't like french fries after two hours of swimming?). Everything came, but the adobo. Thankfully, we were able to fix that before a total meltdown. When the guy delivered the adobo to our cabana, Wm said: "Why did you forget to bring my adobo? I was very hungry!" The waiter, surprised to see a little white kid so excited about adobo said, "Oh, do you like adobo?" To which Wm replied: "I've been in Manila a long time now. Adobo is my favorite!"
There you have it. Idlis have been replaced.
We tried yesterday to go to Subic for the day - at a 3 hour drive, though, it was just a bit too far. Not to mention on the way back we hit miserable traffic extending the trip to 4.5 hours! While the beach we hit (Camayan Beach Resort) was pleasant enough for the day, we just didn't get the sense that it would be worth it to stay the night. Most hotels here seem overpriced to us, on the value to money scale. So, a day trip it was.
We did have fun while there - after all, how can you not with unlimited sand to dig in and ocean to float in? We even took Bagwelle who, it turns out, loves to just sit right at the edge of the ocean so the gentle waves wash up on her belly to cool her down. And, I think I've now learned a few things critical for a fun day at the beach here, assuming we can find a place within a manageable driving distance!
1. Just pack your own towels, even if the place has an entrance fee and is labeled a resort. Pack extra for the post-swim shower, too.
2. Pack your own lunch. Again, even if a place has a restaurant, the service and food might not be that great, so better to just make the effort the night before to bring your own. Most places have a "grill area," so cookout is usually feasible. Most places also allow you to bring your own water, juice, and milk - oh, and soda and beer, too.
3. Bring your dog - she'll have fun :)
4. Better to go with a big group, so that way someone can stay in/near the cabana at all times. Not really safe to lock things up in the car or just leave them tucked in other bags.
5. Don't forget the dump truck, bug barn, and fishing net (even if just for pretend fishing) - in addition to the digging tools. Lamby and Doggie are also critical for the zonk out on the ride home, with Blue Blanket and Lightening McQueen quilt being added bonuses.
One funny story: Wm asked me to get him chicken and pork adobo for lunch. I ordered, along with a clubhouse sandwich (hold the mayo) for Greg, sauce-less chicken kabobs for Nancy, a tomato/cheese salad for sharing, and extra french fries (who doesn't like french fries after two hours of swimming?). Everything came, but the adobo. Thankfully, we were able to fix that before a total meltdown. When the guy delivered the adobo to our cabana, Wm said: "Why did you forget to bring my adobo? I was very hungry!" The waiter, surprised to see a little white kid so excited about adobo said, "Oh, do you like adobo?" To which Wm replied: "I've been in Manila a long time now. Adobo is my favorite!"
There you have it. Idlis have been replaced.
1 comment:
I thought William would always be Indian! Can't believe the idlis aren't the favorite snack anymore ;)
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