Lake Sebu 1990s

By
Here are the first set of pictures taken way back early 1990s. The site then (which is now named Balben Family Cove) is very much bare! No huts, no warm water, no concrete roads and no electricity.The place is so peaceful.








2 YEARS AND 3 NIPA HUTS LATER...
The following pics were taken during our first Grand Reunion in 1996. The family's site is located at the very end of the highway, hidden among the greens...
Before we could reach the site, we were separated into two groups...one took the bumpy road trail while others like us from Manila took a wonderful boat ride.

At home at last! Our first visit at the would be Balben Family Cove



Check this out to see how Balben Family Cove looks like today?

the Ultimate Lake Experience


At 12 years old that year was my very first "bumpy" banca ride experience. I must admit, I was freaking scared back then. While look at my cutie sister Hannah, enjoying the grass and the view...and of course the whole clan's attention. She's now 15!


years ahead...early 2000







Today, the site is known as the "Balben Family Cove". It can now accomodate up to 60 guests. For those who wish to stay at our humble "home away from home" feel free to contact my dearest aunt Ms. Marilyn Suedad at +639165126256.

click here to see more of our hidden garden.

Popular posts from this blog

Baguio: 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary

By
Here's a sample itinerary of what we did. We actually stayed there for 3 days but I'll just share the places we've seen on the first 2 days since the 3rd day was spent watching the Panagbenga Float Parade. Prior to the trip, I made some internet research before deciding on what places to go to. Feel free to follow our itinerary on your next Baguio trip. The first day was spent touring my friend the basic tourist spots of Baguio. Places me and my cousin has actually visited a number of times except for the Good Taste Restaurant. Day 1 07:00 am:      Check-in into your hotel/lodging house (we went to Benguet State University to follow up on the status of our reservation. BSU is located near Strawberry Farm, a 30 minute and P77 taxi drive from Victory Bus Liner Baguio Terminal) 08:00 am:      Breakfast at McDonald's beside BSU 09:00 am:       Burnham Park | Session Road | Baguio Cathedral          ...
Click here to continue reading

Pagsanjan Falls: The Php150 Challenge

By
Image
I have lived in Laguna for 19 years but it was only this June 2012 was I able to visit the famous Laguna tourist spot, the Pagsanjan Falls. As much as I enjoyed seeing the falls, the journey, however, was much more memorable than the actual falls itself as we had to endure a 45 minute trek, rappel on a 90 degrees enclosed vertical metal ladder and walk past steep staircases - yeah, this is what you get when availing the cheapest Pagsanjan package . The group was extremely excited when I told them that I included Pagsanjan Falls in the itinerary - a plan that I was forced had to put together within 2 hours. From Villa Sylvia Resort , we hopped from one jeep to another until we reached Pagsanjan Aresi Complex. Asking for directions initially from the locals was a breeze but finding our way to Pueblo El Salvador (the jump off point) proved to be a challenge since all the locals we asked knew only of the usual Php1,250 route, doesn't know where Pueblo El Salvador is or what it...
Click here to continue reading

Laguna: 2 Days Itinerary and Budget Expenses

By
Image
Our weekend was full of unforgettable first time experiences. What's great about this trip was that we were able to do many things in just 2 days and swim in different bodies of water - falls, batis  and lake. See, Laguna is more than just hot springs, slides and theme parks. what our Php2000 budget allowed us to do ^_^ Laguna Weekend Series: Travel Video: Laguna Weekend Getaway Laguna: The 2-Hour Plan Challenge Pagsanjan Falls: The Php150 Challenge Villa Sylvia Resort, Nagcarlan Lake Pandin: Not Your Ordinary Outdoor Pool Places we visited: Pagsanjan Falls (via Cavinti Trek), Villa Sylvia Resort in Nagcarlan and Lake Pandin of San Pablo. Here's a rough draft of our itinerary:
Click here to continue reading

2Go: The New Way to Travel to Boracay

By
Image
Last year should have been my first Boracay trip and my first ever Visayas destination. But then it coincided with the  Malaysia trip so I had no choice but to cancel Boracay. We all know that flying from Manila to Caticlan has proven to be quite expensive and Piso Fare promos can be daunting to book especially if we are a big family plus the scheduling date is also tricky. But when I learned about 2Go (yes, the famous courier service) sailing from Batangas to Caticlan at a very affordable price, I pitched the idea to my parents.  2Go Ship docked at Caticlan Port It took quite some convincing before they finally said yes to the idea that we travel by sea to reach Boracay. They probably pictured a crazy, crowded and noisy pier scenario. Well, I can't blame them since those were also my first ship experiences when I traveled from Manila to General Santos many years back. Most importantly, we'll also be traveling with my sister with special needs and her comfort shou...
Click here to continue reading

Boracay: Itinerary, Expenses and Tips

By
Image
Boracay may seem to be an expensive destination. But here's one thing I realized, like many of Philippines finest tourist spots, it can be done on a budget, especially if all you want is to simply enjoy the waters. Afterall, Boracay is really about the powdery sand and the crystal clear waters. 5 members of the family was able to enjoy Boracay in less than Php30,000 (all in!) Feel free to copy our itinerary ^_^
Click here to continue reading