Coffee had been part of every Filipino dining ever since the Spanish times. We can always see people drink coffee on almost every part of the day: morning, afternoon, or even at nighttime. Somewhat, this Filipino dining tradition that had been part of our everyday lives had sparked an emergence to the existence of coffee shops here in Philippines like Starbucks, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Cafe de Lipa. But in my travelling history, trying such things on a certain area like food is a must for a traveler and in my trip to Tagaytay this past weekend (July 20) I found a coffee shop where their hot beverages, could even compete in the coffee served in Starbucks, named Bag of Beans.

Bag of Beans is already well known in Tagaytay City since 2001 for their fine brewing of "Kapeng Barako" and "Kapeng Alamid" for local and foreign tourists alike. Since then, this coffee shop had been well known by those people who usually went to Tagaytay City for many times already, and these are the reason why this coffee shop could even match the "big name" coffee shops like we usually know:

The Bag of Beans interior is inspired by a semi-garden like setting. Guests who go to this coffee shop, aside from the coffee and the food, also like to feel the essence and ambiance of the coffee shop which shows a good environment setting. There are also gazebos where guests can enjoy their coffee and dining in a more comfortable and pleasing way. The setting of their coffee shop is worth paying together with the coffee and food if you're a tourist in Tagaytay. And another thing, their coffee is a less expensive than Starbucks, but with the same taste. Bag of Beans' coffee is a lot more tastier for me though.

Aside from the coffee and other hot beverages, Bag of Beans also serve breakfast, merienda, lunch, dinner, and buffet on their menu. Guests, most of them as said by the crew of Bag of Beans, loved the coffee shops' strawberry & blueberry cheesecakes which are scrumptious. Bag of Beans do also sell souvenir items for their guests in form of mugs engraved with their name. These mugs come from small up to large sizes and also, an up-for-grabs for tourists.

So if you're up for a coffee break or merienda in Tagaytay or you just want to taste something new regarding coffee, I suggest you try going here and I assure you, you'll love their hot beverages and the food. You can find their coffee shop along Aguinaldo Highway in Mendez Crossing West area.

For more information about Bag of Beans, you can check out their website: https://www.bagofbeans.com.ph/

If you ask some local tourists in our country where they can find the best mountain resort in our country. We will always come up with the same answer, and its on the mountainous swimming resorts on Mount Makiling in Laguna. People have already tried it many times because of its easy accesibility in Manila but we found out this infamous mountain resort in the Visayan region in Negros Occidental. With its location on Mount Kanlaon, this resort named Mambukal Mountain Resort is one of the must-go locations when you're in Bacolod City or even in the Negros island.

The entrance at Mambukal Resort

The resort is located 1,200ft above sea level in the foot of Mount Kanlaon and serves as a gateway of the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park. The resort was originally built as a small bathhouse and garden by a Japanese named Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927. It is accessible to Bacolod City by a 35-minute drive passing through the small town of Murcia before going up to the resort in the mountain.  The resort is known to its cold weather (due to the fact that it's on the mountainsides), hot springs, sulfur formations, and its cut through by a mountain stream coming from the seven waterfalls in Mount Kanlaon that leads to the lagoon in the center of the resort where visitors can go boating.

Mambukal also has its swimming pools dedicated for kids and adults alike. Included in their pool line up is their dipping pool where people can take a bath on the hot water spring of Mount Kanlaon. Aside from the swimming pools, there are also different activities in the resort like wall climbing, slide for life, and a visit to the orchid gardens of the resort (Known by locals as the Butterfly Garden). The final activity that can be done in the resort is the trek to the seven falls. Visitors can hire local guides which will guide them to a trek going upwards to pass the seven falls of the Mount Kanlaon. This trek is quite dangerous and tough especially in rainy days. There are previous records of deaths in this trek when the resort is still not yet fully developed at the past so visitors are strictly enforced to follow the guide's instructions and the signs on the mountain trail. Despite of the reputation of the trek to the seven falls, its a must try for first timer visitors of Mambukal.

If you're in Bacolod City and you're looking out for a good hangout time, I suggest you try going to Mambukal. For more information about the rates, feel free to check out their official website http://mambukal.negros-occ.gov.ph/ 

Many vacationers and some local based tourist may find Tagaytay City an alternative summer getaway place in place of Baguio City because of its cold-temperature that some weathermen say, almost as cold as Baguio City. Aside from many places to check out in Tagaytay City like Peoples Park in the Sky, and the Picnic Grove, you might as well want to check out this one of a kind amusement park in the city, called the Skyranch.

Skyranch is a well-sized leisure park in the heart of Tagaytay City owned and developed by SM with amusement rides and some fun and activities for kids and kids at heart. It is located at Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway beside the Taal Vista Hotel and overlooks the foggy view of Taal Volcano.

Travelers who wish to visit Skyranch might need be required to be ready for some large amounts of money before entering because the entrance fee in the park is priced at P100. That's the price for the entrance only, and the fees for the rides (including a mini roller coaster, a Viking ship, and a ferris wheel called the SkyEye) and activities (zipline and horseback riding) on the park is still not included on that entrance fee. Don't even forget that there is also a parking fee for visitors with private vehicles.

The park has a few rides to provide the visitors but the main attraction of the park is their super big ferris wheel called the Sky Eye. It is the biggest and tallest ferris wheel in the Philippines because of the location where it stands, on the edge of the cliff looking the Taal Volcano. You may never find your Skyranch experience complete without riding the ferris wheel because it will give the visitors a better view of the Taal Lake, the overlooking provinces of Laguna and Batangas, as well as the far view of Laguna De Bay and Manila Bay (Provided that the city is not foggy).  Be advised that riding the SkyEye, as well as the other rides and activities has its respective ticket fees as seen in the picture. The price for horseback ride (not shown in the photo provided) is priced at P250/30 minutes and the zipline at P250.

The only comment I can say to the administration of Skyranch is the individual fee of the entrance to the park. I (or also, other people who went to Skyranch already) can say that it is more convenient that it will be better that the entrance to the park will also cover the rides and the activities inside. With that suggested way of ticketing, it will be more convenient for visitors alike to visit the Skyranch more. Still, I say that this place in Tagaytay City is a must visit and pretty sure, will make anyone's Tagaytay experience complete.