Tagaytay

On Saturday the family took us to visit Tagaytay Highlands. From the Taygaytay Ridge, you can see the Taal Volcano, which is a volcano within a lake within a volcano. Pretty darn crazy! 

We drove up the ridge, and boy was that a ride! The streets going up are a lot narrower and on the weekends there is so much traffic (from tourists like us, haha!) 

One thing we're starting to get accustomed to is the driving standards in the Philippines. They are crazy compared to North Americans because it seems that lanes and right of way are just suggestions, but since everyone drives that way things still move pretty smoothly and there doesn't seem to be any road rage, haha. 

There is A LOT of honking, but it's mostly to say "Hey! Watch out!" instead of "%$*()#@@!!!!!!"

The view from the Tagaytay highlands is amazing. Lush green trees (palm trees!!!!) and lots of pineapple fields. (side note: the two of us learned that day that pineapples grow in the ground... not on trees... WHAT! lol) Gorgeous view of the Taal lake against the blue sky and green rolling hills... just breathtaking!

We drove up and checked out one of the restaurants along the ridge. The steakhouse is a log cabin built out of Canadian cedar. The smell of the cedar and the delicious steaks grilling was just amazing. By the back of the log cabin (or rather, log-mansion) there is fantastic view of the Taal lake and volcano. You could also see the beautiful golf course that winds up and down the ridge.

We then drove to one of the country clubs and along the way my Tito pointed out various condos and hotels that were built along the ridge. There is one hotel where the elevator does not go up and down but SIDEWAYS because the hotel is built on the slope! Crazy!

We got more fantastic photos (upload soon!) of the scenery. It was incredibly windy and a chilly 25 degrees (hahaha) but the sun was shining and our surroundings just kept us in awe.

We finally drove up to our destination: lunch at another club! More amazing food while being entertained by kiddos Rocco and Santi. What a pair! Tito says Rocco is Santi's guinea pig: he lets Rocco try things first to see how they go.

While Chris and I lounged in the pool, the kids visited the animal farm. Rocco was thrilled to ride a horse while Santi said it was stinky....

"What's stinky? The horse?" they asked.
"No! The guy is stinky!!" Santi answered.

Hilarious!! love those kids!!! :)

That night we were pretty pooped from the jetlag and all the fresh air and "swimming". My cousin ordered Yellow Cab pizza which was a whole new pizza eating experience for me, haha. They have this "Dear Darla" pizza, which is a thin crust pizza cut into rectangles. You take a rectangle, put arugula and alfalfa sprouts and chili on it, then roll up the rectangle and enjoy! I am so making this at home.

Anyway, I gotta go.... the maid just called us down for breakfast and we can hear her stirring up our favourite: freshly squeezed calamansi juice. OMG, guys.... I think we're in heaven....