Laiya, Batangas

The Best Laid Plans...

It started with a disappointment. We had planned a trip to Hidden Valley in Alaminos, Laguna. But the place is no longer the quiet sanctuary of years ago. It has become a picnic ground for busloads of Korean tourists. We left in a huff.

We did manage to stop and take a snapshot of this church.



Using directions from friends, we made our way into San Juan, Batangas, and into the beaches of Laiya. It's quite easy to get to, once you know how.

What greeted us was a pleasant surprise. A white beach, perhaps the sand not as fine as Boracay's, but we didn't need to take a plane to get here. I guess because it is off-season, the resorts were not crowded, and you could find your own space.


The snorkeling is quite good, not the same as El Nido, but you get different sealife -- I saw an eel and what looked like a puffer fish.

Laiya saved our weekend.