From the Central Illinois redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
A Visit to the Trappist Monastery. The Rooster Crows at 4am! Philippines volcano eruption likely soon! The Rooster Crows at 4am!
The Rooster Crows at 4am! Valle Verde Mountain Spring Resort in Guimaras!
The Rooster Crows at 4am! Valle Verde Mountain Spring Resort in Guimaras. Left off yesterday with The Sainted Patient Wife and my twin nieces visiting the Trappist Monastery, and SPW informing me one of her Father’s relatives owns this beautiful resort about 25 minutes from our home. When we arrived, my wife’s relative, Luisa, was in Iloilo so we did not have the opportunity to talk with her.
We were greeted at the entrance by the manager whose name is Jennifer according to SPW , but she is not sure, apologies to her if I do not have the right name. Jennifer was very helpful, and gave us a lot of information about the resort.
They recently had visitors the night before from San Diego, California, and had some guests from Chicago, Illinois, not too long ago, Illinois being the former home of The Sainted One and The Bonehead. They have a lot of European backpackers that visit, and they like to lodge in the Tree House facilities.
The main tourist season is from August through January for foreigners, but the facility is used year round by Korean students who attend one of the universities in Iloilo City, Filipinos from big city Manila wanting to escape the noise and congestion, and other visitors throughout the Philippines. The resort is extremely impressive, and carved right out of the heart of the jungle, and was quite a surprise to see it here.
Valle Verde is listed on a website http://stayinphilippines.com/ If you go to the Guimaras section you can check out their rates and what services they offer. They have a beautiful sunset photo which looks like it was taken from the same spot as the picture on the top that I took yesterday. That is a cove you can see in my picture which leads out to the sea. To the right is the jungle area that The Sainted One grew up in and dodged pythons hanging from the trees. Her school is also in the general area to the right. There is a nominal ten peso (20 cents) entrance fee for each visitor.
On the next photo is The Sainted Patient Wife and my twin nieces Michelle and April posing by the huge pool. The pool has a terrific view as it is framed by the lush jungle vegetation. If you are a visitor the fee for swimming is about one dollar each. We had not planned to stop here, so we did not have any swimwear, but plan to visit again in the near future so SPW and the family can swim. The Bonehead will watch, as I cannot even float let alone swim.
We walk past the pool on a path which leads to a gate. The gate is the entrance to a walkway which leads to the mountain spring at the bottom. An employee lets us though the locked gate which has a fee of 20 pesos (about 40 cents to enter, but the helpful lady that greeted us, Jennifer, did not charge us.) It is a 500 meter walk down to the spring. We are walking right through the jungle, and SPW says maybe we will get to see some snakes. Well, no snakes, but some tremendous views.
We carefully walked down the steep stairs and held on tightly to the bamboo railing. After reaching the stream, it was another photo op, so I took this picture of SPW, who had perched herself on a big boulder alongside the twins. The Bonehead’s photo is also requested, and as I try to sit on the big rock, I slip, and Michelle grabs my arm and prevents me from plunging into the spring below. My wife can’t stop laughing! I come back with a classic retort: “I’m glad you thought it was funny!”
After my humiliation and narrow escape from another bath for the day, our climb UP the trail begins. Several stops later (for both my better half and I), we finally make the climb back to the resort area. The twins are 16 and did not require any stops. My legs still hurt today, but it was good exercise.
Making our way back to the main entrance, our group encounters a couple of workers constructing a new hut that visitors use to sit and relaxing. Of course the guys are relatives of my wife, and as I have said before, she is related to half the people in Guimaras.
Every time I turn around we are running into some one who is a relative. SPW stopped and chatted for a while, and then we went back to the entrance and spoke to Jennifer some more, and to Cristy, who was also employed at the resort. We then go back to our waiting tricycle driver, and head back home, but decide to check out a pizza restaurant at the Old Site near “The Crossing” just about a 10 minute walk from “The Compound.” Tomorrow, I will show you what a local gas station in the Philippines looks like, and take you with us to the pizza joint called “The Pit Stop.” Hope to see you back tomorrow for “The Rooster Crows at 4am!”
It's good to get your old ass out for a walk. Thank God you have a smert and pretty wife that makes you do things, or you would be a giant commercial for hemorrhoids and San Miguel beer.
Actually I think SPW might need glasses, or why else would she marry you? Or maybe this is her penance to get into heaven?
At least this is what my wife keeps telling me. Although she does need glasses also
Hi ManOverBoard, Yes, Glenn, I am fortunate to have such a beautiful and patient wife. She puts up with a lot from me.
Glenn, most Filipinas think all Americans are handsome even if they have a face like a dog's butt. Or maybe your wife and mine ARE in the same boat, and they ARE doing penance for marrying a couple of Boneheads.
Thanks for stopping by again, Glenn.
Always enjoy reading your daily adventures. Dont alway get time to respond but still reading.
David ( Rochester, Illinois
Hi David, I appreciate your support, thanks. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Hi David,
Looks like a convenient place for you to cool off once the hot summer weather arrives. And just think of the great shape you will be in if you hike those stairs everyday. Maybe you can get a frequent climber discount on the entrance fee, ha ha.
Lance
Hi Lance, I sure would be in great shape if I hiked those steps everyday, no doubt about that. No problem going down, but going up was tough. I'll have to check on that discount, though.
Thanks for the comment, Lance the Canadian.
Great pictures of Melinda and your nieces. Next time have someone take a picture of you and SPW.
Hi Grace, one of my nieces did take a picture of SPW and me and each twin, but forgot to get a picture of just the two of us. Will do that next time, thanks again for your comment.