5th Wedding Anniversary at Garden Cottages

To celebrate our 5^th Wedding Anniversary, my husband and I decided to spend a night in a tent in our property in Garden Cottages in Tanay, Rizal – since we don’t have a house there yet.  Actually, I’ve been wanting to sell the property for many years, but my husband fell in love with the place and kept on telling me not to…and I truly understand why.  So let me show you a glimpse of the subdivision.

This is the top view of the subdivision.  There’s a view deck on the side of the main road so tourists and travelers could get a birds eyeview of the subdivision.  

The view deck is right beside where I’m standing, but it was closed for some reasons not indicated.

The subdivision has two gates.  This is where we usually enter (Gate 1) and exit on Gate 2.  This entrance leads you to the zigzag road…

I would always feel like I’m on my way to Bicol via “bituka ng manok” everytime we thread this road only shorter.

At the end of this zigzag road, you will see a sign that shows three destinations: the nature pools, rock garden & clubhouse.

If I’m not imagining things (probably not), their clubhouse is as big as the DepED Compound in Ultra, Pasig. This is just, I think, ¼ of the entire “clubhouse compound.” I call it so because they have, I think, four clubhouses in this area. Let me show you some pictures of the location…

The structure which is partly covered by the trees is actually one of the clubhouses there.

 Oh, here’s a bigger picture of the clubhouse. (Uhmm..my husband is not the clubhouse...it's the structure behind him. He3x!)

Here’s another one.  I think there are two or three more but I didn’t get a picture of it.

From below, overlooking Masungi Rock. (Masungi Rock is actually one of the tourist spots in Rizal and part of Masungi is property of Garden Cottages)

So, after our trek to our lot, we were finally able to put up our tent.

Yep, that’s where we stayed overnight. Believe it or not, I wasn’t able to sleep well.  I would constantly hear footsteps and wake my husband up to take a look. Somehow I thought that what we decided wasn’t such a good idea. But it was fun.  Oh, about the footsteps, my husband said that they were Owls and Bats.  If you think that convinced me, well, it didn’t until the engineer managing the place told us that what I heard was probably Owls or Bats.

In the morning, the first thing we did after breakfast was take a picture with the very old and very big Balete Tree standing in the middle of the park just right beside our lot.  Oh yes, I want my property beside a park where I could see kids playing, just like our house in East Gate Village… If some people doesn’t like the noise – I do.

Our plan was to trek Masungi Rock then take a dip and have lunch at the Village’s Waterfall – Nature Pools. Yes – inside the Village is a waterfall – clean and unspoiled.

So, on our way there, we were actually surprised to see some developments inside the village, like, Phase 2 has already been developed and opened for sale – Php6,000++ per/sqm for a minimum of 500sqm…that’s what they told us.  Here are some of they model units they were constructing at that time:

I like Phase 2 a lot better than Phase I, but it’s also a lot more expensive.  I bought my lot for (more or less) Php2,700/sqm in 2002 or 2004 – haha! Memory Gap.  

After a short chika-chika with the developer, we set off for Masungi Rock.  One of the many features in the subdivision that truly fattened my heart is the Mahogany Stand which is actually a few hectares of mahogany plantation.  That fattened my heart already? Yup, it did.

The road that leads to Masungi is like the roads in Baguio, steep and scary. I thought we would not make it there…actually, I thought our car (Matchbox) would give up on us before we reach the spot.  Luckily, it didn’t.

Ahh…Masungi Rock.  Looks “masungit” from where we parked.  It also looks deadly, dangerous and hazardous…but we were surprised when we got to the main entrance …Yes! There is a main entrance to the mountain. Har3x! They actually charge entrance fees for a trek at Masungi! How funny is that! But of course, home/lot owners are free of any charges.

See, I told you there is an entrance…Cars not allowed from here.(that's our matchbox =p)

Below are some pictures we took while trekking Masungi Rock.  If you would be so kind to ignore our not so beautiful looks that ruins the stunning scenery at masungi rock, then continue browsing. He3x!

Yup…Yup. Yes… Yes.  Well-Paved Road…which made trekking a lot-lot-lot easier and more-more-more convenient.

From where we’re standing is the first step to the 500 steps that lead somewhere on top of the mountain.  How far we got? Haha! Only a hundred…It’s not that we didn't want to, we were instructed not to without a guide.  Yup, not guides on Sundays.

The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a mark that you reached the 100^th step.

That thin (almost skeleton like) tree in between me and my husband is actually the tallest tree we’ve ever seen. True.

Since there were no human being on site, (actually, we have not seen one since we left phase 2) we decided to take some photos of us - naked. Harharhar! Well, I don’t want to elaborate on this one nor show you a picture as I might cause you to vomit.  Lol!! My point is, this is a very secluded area.  So, if you want to relax, be away from the stress people bring and be one with nature less too much hassle, then this is the best place to be.

Anyway, after the trek at Masungi Rock we went straight to the waterfall but to our dismay, the developments there were almost washed away by storm Ondoy.

The road that leads to the parking area was blocked. We had to walk to our destination.

I didn’t mind the heat! Grrr!!!

Where on earth is the waterfall?  It used to be here, now it’s covered with rocks.

Would you believe when I say that there used to be a swimming pool here that collects water from the falls?  Well, there used to be one, but now it’s gone.  Hardly any trace of it.

But that didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves…

Not so many pictures in this part of the subdivision. Medyo tag-tuyo ang waterfalls e. He3x!.

After our refreshing dip in the almost dry yet "extremely" cold waterfall a.k.a. creek (he3x!), we set for home.  We exited the village through Gate 2.  Earlier, I promised to show you some pictures of gate 2…which has no impressive views yet provides an easier access out especially for those with old model cars/vehicles….kasi hindi matarik.

I think it was already 4pm when we left the subdivision.  

Now that makes me think...I can't remember where we had our dinner. Har3x! I think I’m getting old and my son’s not even a year old yet.  Ciao!!