Rainy-day getaway
MANILA, Philippines - There is something quite energizing about waking up to the drumming of raindrops on the rooftops. While some will frown and groan at the sound, burrow deeper under blankets and wish the rain away, the idea of being outdoors on a wet day is an exciting prospect for more adventurous folk. Everything looks fresh, different and new as nature takes a long, deep and thirsty drink. And not surprisingly, rain lovers eagerly don bright raincoats, pull on their trusty galoshes and happily saunter outdoors.
However, it is always a good idea to plan your outdoor adventure on a rainy day. Certainly, a leisurely walk on a busy road with murky puddles and stray bits of disgusting garbage will not do. Choose a park or garden, as chances are this will be all your own. On a wet day, it is a good place to watch the flowers nodding in approval at the generous gift of a watering; where one may find wriggling earthworms, washed clean and pink as they are flooded out of the flowerbeds. There may be an occasional frog, jumping and ecstatic that his damp domain has been widened, or a green lawn made extra springy by moisture. One can follow miniature rivulets as they the twist and curve and flow, or simply sit still on a park
Hearty breakfast of ham, eggs and potatoes bench, face upwards to let the cool, pelting raindrops massage your skin. And definitely there is no sense in allowing rain to ruin your weekend fun.
One good thing about this season is that that rainy-day deals are hard to beat. At the Summit Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City, the “Comfort Escapade Promo” should be a welcome weekend treat. For P6,550, guests can enjoy overnight accommodation, a breakfast buffet for two at the hotel’s food outlet Annie’s, a special dinner at C2 and an intimate cocktail party at the Sky Lounge. With cocktails, appetizers, canapés and cool jazz music, it is a great way to spend a lazy evening. The bonus is that the Sky Lounge has a commanding view of the countryside. On stormy evenings, one can watch the surrounding lights as they are blurred, turned hazy and muted by raindrops. It is like watching an Impressionist painting that is constantly changing.
Have you tried riding horseback on a rainy day? It is a completely different experience. One advantage of Tagaytay over certain parts of the big city is that there are no flashfloods of oily, murky filthy sewer overflow. Bundle up your young children in rainproof gear and embark on a different sort of family adventure. If your children have never tried this before, they will surely remember the fun in the rain for a very long time.
One need not spend a fortune or travel far to seek adventure. Imagination is all it takes.
Back at Summit Ridge Hotel, you can head to Annie’s and share hearty, steaming bowls of lao’ya, tender beef
The rain contributes to making the salad greens extra fresh. shank soup thickened and sweetened by ripe bananas and sweet potatoes. Alternatively there is albondigas that has fried meatballs simmered in hot broth thickened with misua noodles and topped with leafy vegetables. You may be pleasantly surprised that even the pickiest eater among your brood has built up a big appetite.
Remember the old nursery rhyme that says that rain has to go away so that one can play? Don’t you believe it. This is probably is one of those beliefs propagated by spoilsports who fear mountains of additional laundry; those curmudgeons who fuss about having to clean up after you track in the damp outdoors.
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Summit Ridge Tagaytay is located at Km 58 Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City. For inquiries, reservations and to learn more about their ongoing promotions call 240-6888 or 0922-8526800. Or visit summitridgehotel.com for updates on promotions and special offers.
