Tagaytay City - Captivating Place

Tagaytay, one of the most popular tourist spots in the Philippines and also known as the summer capital of the country, is famous year round for its gorgeous spots, delicious cuisine and plethora of fun activities.

 Located in the province of Cavite, Tagaytay is just a two-hour ride from Metro Manila and offers the luxury of a cool breezy climate to its visitors. With a spectacular view of Lake Taal and Taal Volcano Island, Tagaytay will definitely top your list of the must-see places to visit in the Philippines… read on to find out all you need to know to help you plan a memorable trip.

 The city also harbours plenty of local transportation such as fully air-conditioned buses and vans, the latter being slightly more expensive (approximately Php 180) but with a shorter travel time of just 2 hours. Buses are also a fun and budget-friendly option with a travel time of 3 hours and estimated fares of Php 80. Now that you’ve reached Tagaytay, where on Earth shall you stay? Well, the city offers luxurious hotels and residents for tourists to spend their holiday. From quiet getaways to a house full of puzzles – Tagaytay has something for everyone.
PLACE TO STAY:
 Elevate your trip by planning a stay at the enchanting Moon Garden Palace. Made up of darkly lit wooden pathways, an overgrown garden, and countless zigzagging archways, the resort provides a mysterious atmosphere, devoid of the usual clamour of tourists. The Moon Garden is perfect for those seeking a break from the busy city life and is looking to get in touch with Mother Nature. Another way is to make a budget meal hotel that will only cost 500 and below for a night.
SITES TO VISITS:
• People’s Park in the Sky
Located in Mount Sungay, the Palace in the Sky is an incomplete presidential mansion and a famous historical site. When the mansion’s construction was abandoned the site became neglected and was later converted into a park for tourists. Surrounded by clouds on all sides the mansion gives a magical view to the visitors and even more so on sunny days when the entire city of Tagaytay is visible.
• Taal Volcano Island

Undoubtedly the major tourist attraction of Tagaytay, the volcano sits in the middle of Lake Taal which in turn rests on an island. The volcano itself is easily accessible via a boat ride from the beautiful town of Talisay which is just 15 minutes away from Tagaytay. Guided tour boats are frequently arranged for visits to the Volcano.
DINING IN TAGAYTAY:
 Philippines’’ summer capital is dotted with local farms and gardens offering fresh, organic bounty to their visitors. Restaurants in Tagaytay are also renowned for serving delicious local cuisine and a plethora of seasonal dishes. Below are some of the places which you can visit to savour the taste of Tagaytay’s cuisine:

Bag of Beans: A bustling bed and breakfast that serves anything from pizza to fresh fish and pasta, the Bag of Beans is a favourite of both locals and tourists alike. People especially praise their 24-hour breakfast service – perfect for a late brunch!
The newest trend of place to hang out is the Food Park owned by Derrick Ramsay, the venue is located just across the sky ranch, cozy and more relaxing to dine as you have a wide variety of food to choose from, the place is also had a band to enlighten your evening.
• The Farm Organics: Open every day from 10 am, the restaurant prides itself in serving completely organic dishes to its customers. It’s located in the Twin Lakes area and offers good food at a reasonable price, exactly what the tourist visitor needs.

You can also try the famous Bulalo which are located in the heart of Tagaytay City - Mahogany street. you can take the jeep from Olivares to Mendes and ask the driver to drop you off to the nearby Hall of Justice, the street is proximity there.
Tagaytay City and its surrounding towns offer a lot of fun activities and places to visit for the weekend tourists. There are picnic grounds, tree-covered parks, hidden gardens, biking, horse-riding grounds and a host of other activities fit for both the young and the old.

The Big Apple - New York

NYC, a city forever in flux, is impossible to “see” in one visit. You just have to resign yourself to that fact, unless you move here (and maybe not even then), you’ll only barely scratch the surface! However, there are ways to make the most of the limited time we have. So, as I get ready to leave NYC after living here for 3.5 years, I want to give you my suggested four-day itinerary for your next visit here:

Day 1

Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
 Though the line for the ferry from Battery Park is long, if you get there early, you can avoid most of it. (Come late and you’ll have to wait a few hours.) The Statue of Liberty is spectacular to see up close (she’s as big as you imagine), but the real highlight of this combo is Ellis Island, where you can learn about the immigrant experience and get a sense of the people who helped build NYC (you’ll even find my family’s name inscribed on the wall!). There’s such a great sense of history there that you can’t help but to be impressed.
Tip: If the line’s too long and you don’t want to wait, take the free Staten Island ferry for photos of the statue and harbor.

 Wall Street

 Take a photo with the famous bull and then walk to Wall Street and see where all those bankers destroyed the economy. There’s heavy security in the area, but you can sit and watch people whiz in and out of buildings on their way to cause some other financial disaster.

 Trinity Church
 Trinity Church is one of the oldest churches in America. The original building burned down in 1776, but the current church is still beautiful, with an ornate gothic style structure. The church is most famous for its colonial graveyard, where you’ll find many famous Americans, including Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers.
  

World Trade Center & 9/11 Memorial and Museum
 The recently opened “Freedom Tower” gives you a panoramic view of the city, and there is also a lot of information about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On the elevator up, you can also see images of the historical development of NYC. At the bottom of the tower is a park commemorating the victims of the attacks along with an extensive museum. The museum houses moving exhibits about the significance of 9/11. For an additional fee (on top of the entrance fee), there are guided tours.
  
Brooklyn Bridge
 Right near City Hall (see the next entry), the Brooklyn Bridge offers an easy 25-minute walk into Brooklyn and the waterfront park on the other side. Stopping to take photos and meandering along the way will make the walk about 40 minutes. You get a lot of wonderful views of downtown as you make your way across (and especially from the park). I enjoy doing this walk at night, when downtown Manhattan is all lit up.

 Empire State Building
 After you finish up with lower Manhattan, jet up to this historic landmark in New York City. The 1930s art deco interior is beautiful, and the view from the top is breathtaking. You can get a real feel for how densely populated New York is as you stare out at the city. Get here early or during lunchtime to avoid the lines and tour groups.

 Grand Central Terminal
 Grand Central Terminal is the city’s historic train station. It was going to be torn down in 1975 but was saved by Jacqueline Kennedy, who raised money for its preservation. There are free historical tours on Wednesdays. I love coming to the main concourse and looking up at the “stars” in the ceiling and people-watching as everyone races to and fro. All those people — where do they go? What do they do? Also, there’s an amazing eatery in the basement called the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant. And for fancy (and expensive) cocktails, visit the Campbell Apartments and step back into the 1920s (dress code enforced). The space was once the office of John W. Campbell, a member of the New York Central Railroad’s board of directors and finance tycoon from the 1920s.

 Rockefeller Center

 This area is always filled with hustle and bustle. Wander around Rockefeller Center to see where they film The Today Show, shop, snack, and take the elevator to the “Top of the Rock” for another bird’s-eye view of the city (which I personally think it better than the Empire State Building, since from the top of here you can get that building in your picture too!).

 Times Square
 No matter when you go to Times Square, it will be packed with people (usually other tourists). There are pedestrian areas where you can sit and hang out. If you aren’t shopping or eating or seeing a show, there isn’t much to do in the area (and no New Yorker hangs out there), but it’s still a fabulous place to people-watch for a few minutes from the top of the red steps of the TKTS kiosk.

 Central Park
 The perfect way to relax in the city and leave the crowds behind is to spend the day in Central Park. It’s free, there are lots of paths to walk (or run), bike lanes, lakes to row in, and a zoo. Since the park covers over 150 square blocks, it’s easy to spend hours wandering around. During the summer months, there are often free concerts and theater productions (line up early for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park). From the late spring to the early fall, there are free guided walks run by the parks service on Saturdays at 11am. I’m a big fan of laying out in Sheep’s Meadow on a hot, sunny day with a book, some food, and a bottle of wine.

A different kind of Valentine

There is nothing worse than being single in February. The buildup to Valentine’s Day can be absolutely excruciating. Flowers start popping up in windows, isles of chocolate appear in convenience stores, not to mention the red and pinks hearts plastered everywhere. It can feel as though the entire world is mocking you, shining a spotlight on your marital status. These things can get especially frustrating when you’re not just single, you’re a Christian single.

 Valentine’s Day can be hard on singles. There’s the anxiety of being alone, the jealousy of watching couples celebrate, and the fear that God is leading you toward a future without marriage. In all the commotion though, never forget that Jesus loves you. He loved you enough to die for you (John 3:16), and he wants nothing more than the best for you. Whatever form that may take, never forget that you are loved this Valentine’s Day.