Heaven In the Border | Borderside Mountain Resort

December 13, 2018May 9, 2019 Ace&Demi2 Comments

Head to the border but do not cross the line.

For office people like us who spend the whole week in the city, beating deadlines and dealing with the daily traffic jams, nothing is more comforting than spending a weekend in a place that guarantees relaxation and peace. Most of us seek refuge in the refreshing feel of the mountain, while others prefer the calmness of the sea.

Beaches are the common go-to place to unwind and chill because they are readily accessible. However, beach resorts tend to be crowded and busy on weekends. This gives way to the rise of mountain resorts.

So, we were very hyped up when we learned about Borderside Mountain Resort in Compostela, just five minutes away from our house. Tucked near the border of Compostela and Danao, this resort lies peacefully in Bugho, Bagalnga, a far-flung barangay of the former.

It isn’t as accessible as Gatubod Spring Resort in Basak, so only a few people know about this place. We never got the chance to visit it, not until last weekend. Ace and I went on a road trip with Elliot, and we decided to check it out. (Ways on how to get there is written below.)

As soon as we got off from the motorcycle, I instantly fell in love with the place. It was quiet, laid-back and refreshing. I like how it doesn’t feel like a commercial resort but a rest house. The entrance of the resort is canopied by the lush foliage of the bamboo and mango trees. Upon entering the premises, you have to climb the staircase going to the swimming pool. The pool is 4-6 feet deep. On its right side is the house which you can rent for Php2000/night, and on its left is their mini-forest.

Aside from the serenity of the place, one thing that stands out the most is the cleanliness of the resort. I wonder how I couldn’t see a single falling leaf even when the whole place is surrounded by plants and trees. I think the caretakers are very meticulous in cleaning and sweeping them. I also want to mention how friendly and accommodating they were.

RATES and OTHER INFORMATION:

HOW TO GET THERE:

From Compostela, Borderside Mountain Resort can be accessed through Canamucan and/or Buluang road. If you opt for Canamucan road, it is the corner going to Virginia and Gatubod Spring Resort. The road is established, but prepare for an uphill drive when you start to enter the corner street going to Barangay Bagalnga proper. If you choose Buluang road, it is the corner going to Q-Park and Paradise Hills Mountain Resort. Some parts of the street are a bit rough after you pass by Paradise Hills.

You can ride a motorcycle or habal-habal from Compostela Public Market to the resort. The fare is Php40-50 per person. Tell the driver that you are going to Borderside Mountain Resort in Bugho, Bagalnga.

Recommended driver: Alfie — 09108490689

Entrance Fees:

Php100/head — Adult
Php50/head – kids

Cottages: Php250

Tables: Php200

For overnight stay: (They have rooms under construction.)

House: Php2000
Own Tent: Php200
Resort tent: Php500

For more information, you may contact these numbers:

564-2161
423-4947
09088631029
09420915982

It’s a garden…it’s a farm… it’s a mountain resort.

~Borderside Mountain Resort

’til next refreshing guide, everyone!

Keep safe!

Love, Ace and Demi

Garden by The Lake | TIEZA Botanical Garden

March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 Ace&Demi7 Comments

20170324_163609_20170324164000053 — TIEZA Botanical Garden

Bloom where you are planted! ~ Anonymous

It has been a while since the infamous Sirao Flower Farm made a fuss all over the web. Curious visitors flocked the place but sadly, due to some people’s negligence, the farm suffered an unfortunate fate. Some were lucky to have witnessed the beauty of the place yet, I wasn’t one of them. When I visited Sirao Flower Farm last January, I did not see any of those that I saw in the internet. All I found were newly sprouting plants finger-span length. The local farmers were trying so hard, pouring their sweats to cultivate those plants, I just hope people know that and we should be responsible enough to take care of the vegetations, too. Let us not be selfish and say “I paid for this. I paid an entrance fee.” Paying the entrance fee does not give us the right to step and kill those flowers. Our money can’t afford the hardwork of the farmers who are working so hard to give us this wonderful view.

(I’m not here to scold or act like ‘I-know-everything-right’. I’m just saying. LET US DO OUR PART!!!)

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Anyway, here’s another fruit of our local farmers’ labor. The former Philippine Tourism Authority which is now called TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) is developing the formerly Kan-Irag golf-course located in Barangay Malubog, Busay into a botanical garden by the lake.

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According to the farmers whom we talked to, this lake was once a small hollow filled with rainwater then it resembled a lake. There were wild floras growing around the area and it showed a great potential to become a scenic garden by the lake, hence this project.

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Despite not being able to see the wonderful beauty of Sirao Flower Farm, I am beyond lucky to have seen this enticing beauty of this new attraction. My hopes for this place not to experience downfall because of people’s lack of discipline. Let’s give others the chance to see this beauty.

Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time.

20170324_160616 — Demi in Kan-irag Golf Course.

You might want to visit the place. You can contact our kind driver to take you there just in case you are commuting. Here’s Kuya Roel’s number: 0919-954-4254. If you have your private transport, the place can be accessed through the transcentral highway via JY Lahug and take turn towards the corner of Busay Holiday Pool. You can also ask the locals for directions.

The flower doesn’t dream of the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes. ~ Mark Nepo

‘Til our next adventure!

Keep safe!

Love, Ace and Demi

Terrazas De Flores Botanical Garden | A Sweet Escape

February 3, 2017 Ace&Demi17 Comments

Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes. ~ Clare Ansberry

While the Chinese and Korean communities were celebrating the Lunar New Year, we found ourselves jaunting the highlands of Cebu City to escape the bustle in the metropolis and get ourselves an ounce of repose.

Together with some wonderful friends, we visited Terrazas de Flores – Cebu’s first ever botanical garden in terraces. Located in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City (900 meters from La Tegola, Busay), just across Malubog Integrated School.

This botanical garden started operating last October 1, 2016. Since then, it continuously draws the attention of many people from all walks of life.

With over 120 species of local flora that are arranged on a mountain slope to form a flower terraces, it’s impossible to leave the place without getting the dose of relaxation we needed.

In collaboration with the Department of Biology from University of San Carlos, the species and names of these local flowers were being identified, as well as its horticulture.

What’s more amazing is that these flowers are very common and are often ignored. We have seen most of them in the streets, in the wild, in our grandparent’s houses…but we did not really notice their beauty.

Could it be because they are meticulously arranged here? Or, it could be because they are well taken cared of by the local farmers whom the owner hired to tend the place.

Aside from the garden, the place also has a cafe where visitors can have a sip of their preferred beverages while enjoying the scenic surrounding.

From the cafe, one can see the view of the neighboring hills which are breathtaking.

You can also choose to stay in their beautiful cabanas while you enjoy watching the butterflies land from one flower to another.

Or, while you read your favorite book. 🙂

Or, just chitchat whith your friends. 🙂

Or, you can bring out your inner emo!?

Or, perform Yoga?! Why not, the place is quite and peaceful, not to mention the smell of the nature.

Everywhere here is so wonderful. You can’t help smiling and falling in love with it. Every corner is also picture perfect. You’ll love how the colors of the nature compliment each other.