VISIT THE HERITAGE TOWN OF VILLA ESCUDERO IN TIAONG, QUEZON

      Villa Escudero is the one place that makes me keep coming back despite having visited thrice.  The first time I visited this beautiful place was when I took my aunties from the states together with some Vietnamese relatives.  The place was a little bit new. There were no theater yet and no coffee shop by the river.  However, there was still poolside bar that were able to enjoy back then.  Today, the poolside bar is no longer there.

      Bamboo rafting in the river was fun because the place was not yet crowded with visitors back then and there were no life jackets that were issued to rafters.  Traversing the river was also done using bamboo poles instead of the present-day oars.  It was more fun to cruise the river when there is always an element of danger that abounds.  The picture I took here was from deck of the riverside cafe that is already here and they serve delicious hot or cold capuccino.

       The estate is not merely a plantation and riverside attraction but is also a museum of Philippine history.  It has a church that was transformed into a museum.  Unfortunately, I lost several photos of the inside of the museum church when I carelessly deleted the files when I was formatting my laptop.  

      Visiting Villa Escudero is worth the trip is one opted to stay overnight.  I recommend you take the overnight stay because of the many privileges that you get to enjoy instead of availing the daytime package.  First, you get the to stay in a cozy nipa cottage equipped with clean bathroom and hotel quality service.  You get to use the pool without the crowd in the evening and in the early morning before management opens the day tour at 8:00 am.  Food in both dinner and breakfast was splendid! They have a buffet table serving all the native cuisines which will make you quiver with delight and anticipation of what you will choose to satisfy your craving after an exciting stay at the falls and river cruise.  In the evening while relaxing in your own porch by your room digesting the evening's meal and enjoying the peaceful country air and lights, you will be entertained by roving serenaders that will let you enjoy listening to traditional Filipino folk songs and you can even have fun singing with them.

      The stay at the estate was a memorable one for me because I got to enjoy it in the company of my loved ones.  It's very seldom that one still gets to experience the countryside lifestyle and even though it might not be the authentic one,  the resort operators really know how to entertain its guests it giving them a traditional country vacation but one that is done in style and comfort.

      As soon as the day tour visitors began to slowly dwindle in numbers in the late afternoon, I took the time to shoot the hours away by capturing photos of beautiful flowers and scenery in the place.  These pictures have mesmerized even the frequent visitors.

This is one moment that day tour visitors will never get to enjoy.  A bamboo raft ride in the late afternoon where you get to enjoy the stillness of the water and see the reflection of the sky above.  This is capturing the expression of tranquility and serenity of the moment.  One fit for a calendar picture.

    Of course, the highlight of the visit to this plantation is the waterfalls.  It is actually an overflow dam constructed as a hydroelectric plant that enabled the resort to be self-sufficient on its power requirement.  The resort management decided to make it an attraction for tourists by making it the lunch venue where visitors get to enjoy lunch by the waterfalls and eating on tables erected on the river itself.  Therefore on get to eat lunch while having his foor soaked in water.  It was very refreshing and relaxing because it gave you an authentic feeling of eating in the outdoors.

Food was served on banana leaves on top of rattan plates.  Polished coconut shells were used as sauce pans and everything was all-Filipino.  With these kind of set-up, the place truly attracts a lot of foreigners to this lovely place.

I hoped you had enjoyed my story as much as I have enjoyed my visit to this memorable place.  Until next, this is DocFun together with my son Speed, join us in our other adventures in the Dr. of Fun and Adventure!