Thursday, December 04, 2008 To the highlands By Jinggoy I. Salvador
WHEN the mercury level rises to unbelievable heights in that good ol' temperature measuring scale, you know you have to check that "alternative cooling measures" list of yours.
Your entries might have levels very much like the burn scale of first to the third degree and depending on how scorched you feel, you choose and take your personal life-saving measures.
Turn on the air-conditioning or head to the mall and get that for free, devour halu-halo or a gallon of ice cream, or perhaps a glass or two of fresh cucumber juice or even stay in the tub for hours. These are just some of the remedies.
No, this is not a summer story.
On a tormenting hot day in the urban jungle of Manila, an escape to the higher ground was what came to mind where it is cooler by a couple of degrees. Try the country's second summer capital because of its crisp and cool climate all year round, Tagaytay.
This was the most convenient choice, travel time (an hour), accessibility (55 km with a fast route via Aguinaldo highway), and temperature considered. And so we did, cousins and their kids of Eveready bunny charged types.
There may be several places to stay in but friends come to mind and so the choice was clear, stay at the Taal Vista Hotel managed by Fuego Hotels & Properties. You can relish the serenity and the privacy as well as the only-in-Tagaytay picturesque sight of the enchanting Taal Lake and the volcano, and the clean and cool mountain air.
A quick call to Zeny Alcantara, the hotel's executive assistant manager, to squeeze us into a couple of rooms in their usual fully-booked weekend slots made the cooling escape much easier for us.
I always like their rooms that exude a very warm and homey feel. It is always a constant battle between staying in and snuggling in bed or enjoying the cool, refreshing air and basking in Tagaytay's scenery.
The see the green from your hotel window may be enough but touching it is a totally different experience.
The Ylang-ylang Spa is my second best place to escape to when in this hotel. This is Nirvana at the 2,100 feet above sea level. Charlie Sutter is so wise to have warm Dabawenyas make up the team to run this joint. Made it appear that I am not so far from home.
After treatment, you are fully recharged to take on whatever comes your way.
In my case, I work out an appetite after my time in the spa. But I still want to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the experience. The hotel's al-fresco dining is the ideal spot. You get the best of everything--great food selection, fresh air, and a fantastic panoramic view of Tagaytay's most-photographed backdrop (I have several shots from this vantage point. Hey, I'm a tourist!)
Although the hotel is well appointed to spoil everyone's fancy, it is Taal Vista's ideal location that earns it its plus points. Next door is the horseback riding area, the most popular restos are a stone's throw away, and for the "card readers", their "house of cards" is right across the street.
Taal Vista's distinctive look is the famous Tudor House, a renovated structure built in 1937. Soon, another wing with the same architectural influence will be opened with more rooms to be added to their now 128 guestrooms. That's something to look forward to indeed.
On scorching days or you just want to escape to a cool getaway, Tagaytay is always a great choice. And when you do make it there, stay here in Taal Vista and elevate your comfort to more than what your escape has already afforded you.
(Taal Vista Hotel is on Km. 60 along Aguinaldo Highway in Tagaytay City. For reservations, call (632) 886-4325, (6346) 413-1000 or Manila office at (632) 751-3088/89, 751-8419.)
