Philippines Expat and Travel Blog February Archive

Discovering Tagaytay

By ProTraveler at 02/26/08 21:35

Again. let's talk about one of the Philippines most beautiful and visited place, Tagaytay.

As I've said countless times, this is where I grew up. It's one of the coldest place in the country, so you can wake up every morning feeling the cold dew and cold breeze. At the veranda of our house, in most hotels, or some apartments, you can have a wide view of Taal Volcano, the smallest active volcano in the world. The panoramic view of Taal Volcano from the valleys of Tagaytay is simply breath taking. The city of Tagaytay is located on the souternmost part of Cavite province, bordering the nearby province of Batangas and Laguna.

Tagaytay for the past few years, also became a haven for expats and tourist. Some even decided to live and make a living here, and some even built foreign communities. There are Japanese, Chinese, Americans, Europeans but most of them are Koreans. Maybe it is because of the climate here which is very different form the rest of the country that made them decide to stay here rather than anywhere else.

Tagaytay is also heavily equipped with all amenities that you need. Shopping malls, food plazas, relaxation spot, sigh seeing, adventure rides, horse back riding, casinos, bars and pubs, hot and cold springs and a lot more.

The countries prestigious parks and landmarks are also here. The ever famous People's Park in the Sky is a park located atop the highest point in Tagaytay, enabling you to see the wholeness of Tagaygay and neighboring towns like Dasmarinas, Trece Martirez, Silang - and even neighboring provinces like Laguna and Batangas - and giving you a spectacular full view of the Taal Volcano.

Then there's also the equally famous Picnic Grove, Tagaytay Zoo, Tagaytay Highlands, La Verna, Pink Sisters convent, Calaruega Church and more.

Memories of Orchids

I was walking along a patio in my school this morning when I happen to pass by a bunch of lovely orchids. They are in all colors. Red, yellow, white, purple, and some even look blue and green.

I then remembered my days when I was still living in Tagaytay. Its been four months since I last took a glance of my mothers garden. With her lovely plants, flowers, and most specially, her orchids. She's willing to give you a World War III if you plan to steal or destroy it. That's how she love her 'babies', as what she named her plants.

Tagaytay is known for its wild flowers growing all year round. Wild sunflowers are seen every December to mid-February in any part of the city. Its yellow color lined up uniformly like hasty soldiers being ask to salute King Sun. Purple bells are very prominent in the city greens during May to August. The smell of the city is almost flower-like.

But none of those flowers, at least for me, will get over the beauty of orchids. Josh Of Dalton Orchidarium is one of the most famous places in Tagaytay. Almost all kind of orchids are being sold here. Some are local growth while some are imported from other countries. It is open for the whole week but is in its most busiest time every Sunday wherein new flowers arrived from their plantations in Visayas and Mindanao and also from their bases in other countries.

I promise I will be back to Tagaytay one of these days, and I will share with you my going-back-to-hometown adventures.