Grotto Vista Resort at San Jose Del Monte Bulacan

For my birthday this year, I decided to go swimming with my family. My nieces and my daughter all love this activity and have been bugging me to take them swimming since the start of the year. Besides, since summer season and the holy week is fast approaching, it will serve as an early outing for us. I think it is a good decision because I don’t want to join the huge crowds in pool and beach resorts during the peak season.

So I scouted for a good resort near the area of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan via net because my brother and my nieces live there and I found Grotto Vista Resort. Their official website is very informative and they show great pictures.

The actual place is not disappointing either. I found the whole resort clean and the staff friendly. Not sure if the cleanliness and orderliness is just because there are very few customers when we were there.

The entrance for adults is Php150 and Php100 for children. Their cottages are also affordable and they also offer private pools and rooms. Bringing in grillers and alcoholic drinks are prohibited but they are not so strict in rummaging the things that the customers bring inside.

They have a huge pool area for adults and an area for kiddie pools. You can also see the private pools which are of course locked. It is also nice that when you have children with you, they would recommend a cottage near the kiddie pool area.

I just don’t like the restroom and the shower rooms because it is not well-maintained. The water in the pool is also very cold that it made me wish for a hot spring resort.

But overall, we (especially the children) all had fun. It was a great bonding activity for the whole family and made my birthday more meaningful.

Tweet

Books and Movies Update

If I would based it on the books I have read and movies I have seen, I can say that Year 2013 started great. On the first month of 2013, I was able to finish reading two books – Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho and Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. That is a lot as compared to last year when I barely had time to pick up a book to read. I enjoyed reading these great books. Both open up new ways of looking at things such as life, death, sex, faith, etc. I am currently trying to read, “Beautiful Creatures” and “Cloud Atlas.” I said “trying” because I am not sure if I will finish reading these two books.

“Beautiful Creatures” is set to be a movie soon and it is too long- another trilogy that is part mystery and more of a love story. Though it seems to be better, it reminds me so much of Twilight. I haven’t finished Chapter one of “Cloud Atlas” and just like the movie (which I am yet to finish watching too), it is also very confusing. I am thinking of reading interesting autobiographies soon. Anyway for the movies, I was able to see last January:

Les Miserable 

I have always been a fan of Victor Hugo and I always considered Les Miserable as one of my favorite books so I am excited to see this movie. I haven’t seen any play of course to compare but I find the movie worth watching. I am amazed with Hugh Jackman’s acting and singing skills.


Silver Linings Playbook  
I love Jennifer Lawrence ever since her X-Men First class days and I admired her more in the Hunger Games. Now in Silver Linings, I think I have become a certified fan. This movie is funny and light and shows Jennifer’s superb acting. I also like Bradley Cooper’s performance.
 

Tweet

2013 is the Year of the Water Snake

A few days from now and it will be Chinese New Year. I am not Chinese and my family don’t really celebrate this day but I am just curious about it because I am set to give birth this May and my daughter (yes we are having another girlJ) will have the sign of the water snake according to the Chinese zodiac.

The Chinese New Year for 2013 will happen this February 10, a day after my birthday so we are in a way celebrating this day too. My family plan to head to a nearby pool resort for a quick swimming party.

Anyway, let me share some facts about the year of the water snake that I gathered on the net:

The Snake

Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means your family will not starve. This could be taken metaphorically to mean that a Snake could never have a problem with his family starving because he is such a great mediator, making him good at business. Or it could mean that a Snake would be willing to sacrifice his possessions, something the Snake has a lot of, in order to pay for his family’s food. Any way it is interpreted is representative of the Snake’s character and is a measure of the value he puts on his material wealth. The Snake is keen and cunning, quite intelligent and wise.

THE SIGN OF THE SNAKE

The Snake is the intuitive, introspective, refined and collected of the Animal Signs. They are attractive people who take cries with ease and do not become flustered easily. They are graceful people, exciting and dark at the same time.

Contemplative and private, the Snake is not outwardly emotional. He can appear cunning and reticent and works very modestly in the business environment. The Snake will plot and scheme to make certain things turn out exactly as they want them to. They are not great communicators and can become quite possessive when they set their minds on achieving the interest of a partner.

SNAKE FACTS:

People born in the Year of the Snake share certain characteristics. The Snake Sign is an abbreviated way of characterizing that individual’s personality. Following are features associated with the Sign of the Snake.

CHARACTERISTICS

Acute, Aware, Cunning, Proud, Vain, Vicious

From: http://www.usbridalguide.com/special/chinesehoroscopes/Snake.htm

Tweet