Escaping The Metro To Gong Hang Spa Clark

May 2, 2023Asia, Destinations, Pampanga, Philippinesangeles, clark, jjimjilbang, korean spa, mabalacat, Pampangaian dela pena

I have been a fan of Jjimjilbang since I experienced one in South Korea a few years back. Since then, I have frequented Lasema in Makati being the closest that offers a true Korean experience. Thinking about breaking the monotony though, I thought of Escaping The Metro To Gong Hang Spa Clark.

Gong Hang Spa is located inside Clark Freeport Zone, about a little over 90 km away from Manila. It offers a Jjimjilbang where you can spend 12 hours rest, a wet area with a barbershop, a gym, a cafe, a food store, massage, and other spa services.

I drove about 40 minutes from San Fernando, Pampanga where I went to church that day. It was a Sunday so the roads were pretty much free from traffic, so I used the city roads instead of the expressways.

They have enough parking spaces around the building so you do not have to worry about where to park. Their reception is on the side and it was so easy to check in. Upon approaching their front desk, I was given a locker key and number. They asked me if I wanted some uniform, which I did and it was of no extra charge.

The male lockers and wet area were on the right side, but before you enter you will have to leave your shoes in their separate shoe lockers.

Entering their wet area, I undressed and went to clean myself first before soaking in their hot tubs. Yes, you will have to be in the nude to enjoy the wet area. If it is your first time, it may feel weird at first, but you’ll feel comfortable eventually.

They have two hot tubs, two cold tubs, a dry, and a wet sauna, and their shower area where you can thoroughly clean your selves. They also have beds where you can lie down and get a good body scrub.

I soaked in their hot tub for a while before going to the massage area. Their massage is also reasonably priced given that it is inside a spa.

The massage area is inside the lounge area. I approached the lady at the desk where it seemed like where they take orders for massages. She then led me to a room where I waited. I took off my shirt when the therapist arrived and then lay down. He prompted me to take off my shorts as well. But I had nothing under so I was in the nude again. I am not sure though if they normally ask everyone to undress or if it was just because I was their lone customer at that time in a two-person room.

The massage was great. I asked the therapist to give it his best because I like it hard. I find it relaxing to feel the relief after that painful massage session.

After my massage, I headed back to the lounge area. I was just lying on the floor mats. It is how I actually typically spend my time in a jjimjilbang. Just doing nothing, as Julia Roberts said, “Dulce Far Niente!” I think I slept for about an hour or two. I woke up feeling a bit hot. I found that none of the air conditioning units were on. I don’t know why though, I did not ask, or maybe there was one but it was not enough.

Feeling a bit hungry, I approached the cafe counter and noticed they have one kimbap ready. I asked for the kimbap and order a sikhye to pair it up with. I took my time enjoying the dish, it was savory and I really appreciate every bite of it.

The prices of their food and services are very affordable yet the service is really excellent. I might be just one not-so-demanding kid but for real, comparing my experience from Seoul and this place is very much close!

I hanged out a bit more in the lounge area for the next couple of hours. It was awesome to find that the wall sockets have USB ports where I could charge, so no need to bring your portable chargers.

I checked out at about 5:30 PM as I had dinner plans that day at Patches Thai Restaurant. Overall the experience at Gong Hang Spa Clark was okay. If you want to experience authenticity, like how Koreans would experience it on a usual day, and not the touristy luxury type, come here! The food is great, the staffs are wonderful and the service is great! I had no regrets spending my birthday here!

Gong Hang Sauna Clark (공항사우나 마사지)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gonghangsauna.clarkpampanga
Address: BLDG 7256, Claro M Recto Hwy, Clark Freeport, Zone, Pampanga
Phone: 09171457755
Modes of Payment: Gcash or Cash only.

Disclaimer: Reception and Collage photos are from Gong Hang Sauna’s Facebook page. Gong Hang building photo is from google maps.

48 Hours In Manila

August 8, 2018Destinations, Philippines48 hours in manila\, manila, what to do in manila for 48 hours, what to do in manila on a layoverian dela pena

Manila has the infamous reputation of just being a stop over. Foreign tourists who has no business in Manila opt to stay for a night to rest and fly out first thing the following day. Most traveler thinks that Manila is some sterile place where you got nothing to do, nothing to see and nothing to taste or experience. Continue reading →

Adventure: Tinipak River Trekking and Caving

June 27, 2018Destinations, Philippinesadventure, daratian, how to go to daraitan, philippines, tanay, tanay rizal, travel, travel guideian dela pena

It was suppose to be a day hike when two of my co-workers invited to go. But some set backs and an hour of waiting later begged us to down step our planned adventure for the day. We didn’t want to waste our day, I mean I’ve already waited for hours for one of them! Hahaha!

Daraitan, more over, the province of Rizal is famous for its mountainous topography. This part of Luzon is often visited by adventurous mountaineers who seeks the challenges of scaling a mountain over the weekend. Its proximity to the metro is its main draw for nature lovers.

How To Get to Daraitan

Commuting to Daraitan is relatively easy. First off, you have to get your self to Tanay, Rizal. There are a couple of ways to get there. Most popular option is by taking a jeep or a van from Cubao. The other option is by taking the same mode of transportation this time from Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong city. From those places, both transport options will take you to the Tanay Public Market.

This is the tricky part and where having friends with you be best. From the public market you will need to take a jeep that will drop you off at Sampaloc where you will need to take a tricycle all the way to Daraitan. However, it could be a better and more convenient option to just hire a tricycle from the public market to Daraitan.

Hiring a tricycle costs 400 pesos one way. We haggled a bit with the driver and got to lower it down to 300 pesos. But once we arrived at the registration area, we actually paid him 100 pesos more on top of the original 400 pesos he was originally asking for. Nope he didn’t scam us at all. It was from our own conscience. The road leading to Daraitan is horrendous! We felt that we are short changing the driver given the incredibly bad situation of the road that his tricycle endured if we pay him just 400 pesos.

The River Experience

Arriving late in the morning and knowing that we need to leave early in the afternoon, we decided to bail out of trekking up Mt. Daraitan. But we did not go home disappointed what happened next was one of the most memorable things I’ve done with nature.

We got a proper guide (which is a requirement) to take us around for a river trekking adventure. The guide gave us a few minutes of orientation about the river and the natural park before heading out. He also gave us some equipment that we will later be using in our adventure.

Our trek started along the pebble road beside a rocky river. The boulders were incredibly big and white and the farther we walk along the trail the bigger they get. The river though was almost dry until we reach to a point where the rocks seem to merge together and become the river bed it self. Crevices allow the water to flow smoothly creating this soothing sound.

After about 30 minutes we arrived at our first stop, the Tinipak cave. Honestly I would skip this one. I didn’t like the atmospher inside as the air was a bit too heavy to breath. We also felt some entities watching us so we were very cautious. I don’t know if all of us were just naturally sensitive to those or maybe they just liked us.

Inside the cave is a pool of cool water, but since we were not feeling comfortable that time we opted to just wade on the side of the pool.

We told our guide about what we felt inside the cave and he denied it, of course he would. But when we bumped into another guide, we think he told him about the incident, only in codes.

The best part still of this adventure is tracing the river. We were taken to magical landscapes that I never though existed. It was like the set of a Okay ka Fairy ko (a local tv show) and that Ina Magenta would come out of nowhere.

We spent a couple of hours just swimming and looking at the landscape. It was very hard to move on from one spot to another as our guide suggested because we wanted to stay more. But each and every stop was just as beautiful as the last one, we didn’t want it to end.

Our quick adventure in Daraitan turned from a fail to a huge surprise. Nature really has its own ways of showing you how beautiful God’s creation is. I highly suggest you bring friends with you to split the cost of transportation. They also have camping ground perfect for over night activities. I’m sure mornings by the river will be amazing!

If you have any question or suggestion about this post, you can leave on the comment section below!

Oras Falls Tabaco City’s Hidden Gem

August 3, 2017Albay, Destinations, Philippinesalbay, bicol, nature, oras falls, tabaco cityian dela pena

One of the things that I love about Tabaco City is how close the nature it is. Just several minutes away from the down town one can find himself surrounded by nature at the heart of an abundant forest. There’s no need to hike so much though to find Tabaco City’s hidden gem because just a few minutes of walking from the jump off point you will find the Oras Falls.

Unlike the better known Vera falls, Oras Falls enjoys a bit more relaxed environment as it doesn’t get flooded much with tourists. I also love in particular the multi level small cascades at the food of the falls where the water runs downhill. You can just sit on one of the boulders and feel the water rushing through your body giving you some kind of whole body massage effect.

I really enjoyed my time spent in Oras Falls. It’s a great thing to find places like this that doesn’t take much effort to see natures beauty. Not that I don’t like hiking, but sometimes if you just want to escape the toxicity of your city life it helps going to places like these where you can commune with nature at whim.

How To Get To Oras Falls

The easiest and most convenient way to get to the falls’ jump-off point is to rent a tricycle from the city proper. Alternatively one may take a jeepney from the city and get off at Brgy. Oras and then take a tricycle to the jump-off point. From there it only takes about 10 minutes or less on foot (depending on your hiking skills) to get to the falls.

For more information please contact the Tabaco City Tourism Office you can also check out Celineism’s detailed post about this destination

Tabaco is a fourth class city in the province of Albay. The best way to reach the city is by taking a 60 minute plane ride to Legazpi City Airport, its nearest airport then a bus to the city’s downtown. You can also take a 12 hour bus from Manila that takes you directly to the city.

The Baguio List: What To See In Baguio

June 22, 2017Benguet, Destinations, Philippinesbackpacking, baguio, benguet, cordillera, tourist attractions in baguio, what to seeian dela pena

The summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio is easily one of the top destinations in the Philippines. Just a bus ride away from Manila, the capital city, Baguio transports you a world away from the chaotic atmosphere of Manila. To maximize your enjoyment in the city of pines, I’ve come up with a list of everything you need to know on what to see in Baguio City.

Burnham Park

Named after the architect of the City of Baguio, Daniel Burnham, Burnham park sits at the center of the city making it a great place for the community to come together. The park features several gardens and a lagoon where one can paddle a boat on high altitude. Biking also is popular on this park. Having sloped roadways this piece of flat land in the city sure is the best spot to learn biking.

Photo by Res Pe (used under CC License)

Session Road

Mines View Park

Probably the second most popular spot in Baguio is this small promontory called Mine’s View Park. Located at the northern end of the city, the park offers a view of the nearby mountains and valley bordering other municipalities surrounding Baguio.

Photo by ginomempin (used under CC License)

Wright Park

If you are up for some adventure, try out horseback riding at wright park. As soon as you arrive at the park you will be welcomed by lanes of ponies and horses along with the distinct smell of horse poo. LOL. It’s worth trying though specially if you haven’t ridden a horse yet. You can also visit St. Joseph Parish Church where a famous celebrity couple got married. Guess who! Write your answer in the comment section!

Photo by Constantine Agustin (Used under CC License)

Lourdes Grotto

Walk 252 steps up the stairs going to the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Located at the western side of Baguio city in Mirador Hills one can say their prayers as they arrive at the top. Some do this as penance and as a sacrifice for a wish made.

Photo by LeylanR (Used under CC License)

Baguio Cathedral

Built during the American occupation with a Neo-Gothic architecture the Baguio Cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese of Benguet.

Strawberry Farm

Fancy picking strawberries straight from the farm to your basket. Strawberry picking has been a tourist attraction specially for those who like their berries ultra fresh. It is also a fun activity that the family can enjoy together. Strawberry farms are found in La Trinidad, Benguet a several minutes outside of Baguio.

Photo by mykel7873 (Used under CC License)

Ben Cab Museum

Home of the world renowned visual artist Benedicto Cabrera’s art works is found in Tuba, Benguet. The BenCab museum offers a visual feast for your creative minds.

Photo by penmanila (Used under CC License)

Tam Awan Village

Created as an artist’s haven the Tam Awan village can be found within the outskirts of Baguio City. One can enjoy watching cultural shows and shop for handicrafts created by Benguet’s artisans.

Photo by girlpixieshoot (Used under CC License)

Mount Costa

One of the newest attractions that you can add on your what to see in Baguio list, though outside of the city, Mount Costa is just several minutes drive from Baguio. This attraction has a hand full of full size and pocket gardens that you can just let your self get lost and marvel at the beauty of nature.

The Mansion

Officially called as The Mansion House, This white washed stone house becomes the official summer residence of the president of The Republic of the Philippines during the hot months. The structure was built by the Americans in 1908 as the summer house of US Governor Generals

Baguio Botanical Gardens

Editors Note: This article will be updated each time we find something worth visiting. Please like our FB Page and Instagram for more updates.

Liwliwa: Lubong-Nanguloan Falls

March 4, 2017Destinations, Philippines, Zambaleshike, liwliwa, summer, waterfalls, zambalesian dela pena

Apart from the beautiful waves, another attraction in Liwliwa is the Lubong-Nanguloan falls. A lot of articles online refer to it as Anghalo Falls so I was quite confused when I saw the sign saying Lubong-Nanguloan Falls.

The falls is actually a three tier fall. Unfortunately since the dry season has started already, two of the falls doesn’t have water gushing down. Surprisingly it is the middle tier that has water falling! The water was a bit greenish because of some algae starting to form due to the hot weather. It was a refreshing dip nonetheless.

It was also quite an adventure trekking up the rocks going to the third tier. If you are up to jumping cliffs this falls is a great one to jump off. Our guide was telling us how foreigners that are sooo tall try to reach for the bottom of the fall’s lake but couldn’t!

How to go to the Anghalo Falls (Lubong-Nanguloan Falls)

Upon arriving in Liwliwa, you can rent a tricycle for about Php500 ($10) but you I read somewhere that you can haggle down to Php 400 ($8) good for two people. The tricycle will take you up to the jump off point from where you’ll have to hike for about 10-15 minutes across a river (it was dry when we came). Entrance fee is about Php 50 ($1).

There are cottages that you can rent near the falls and I really like how they set up those cottages away from the falls. If you are not keen on renting one you can just set up some sort of picnic area near the falls and just chill out. If you don’t swim or swim, I think it would be cool if you can bring some floaters and you can just lounge around the fall’s pond.

Note: Exchange rate used is $1 = Php 50

Baguio: Mount Costa Living Gardens

February 8, 2017Benguet, Destinations, Philippinesbaguio city, benguet, gardens, park, travelian dela pena

Just off of the city of Baguio, a new attraction just opened up in La Trinidad Benguet. Yeah it’s technically not in Baguio but it still is just a few minutes travel from the city. This is Mount Costa.

According to its website www.mountcosta.com, Mount Costa is a garden of gardens filled with beautiful scenery where you can stroll and just relax. If you are from Manila, think of it like the Picnic Grove in Tagaytay only a lot better!

From Baguio City to Mount Costa via Jeep:

Go to Shagem St. (across Rose Garden, Burnham Park) and ride a ‘Long trip’ jeep that will take you all the way to Lamtang. Get off at Lamtang Irisan Cockpit.
Ride a jeep with a sign ‘Puguis Junction’ then get off at Mount Costa.

(Directions as per Mount Costa website)

Please go to their website for more information.

You can find more rooms in Baguio here

Bambanti Festival: The North’s Grandest Festival

February 5, 2017Destinations, Isabela, PhilippinesBambanti, festival, fiesta, isabelaian dela pena

It is said that in the Philippines have at least one festival or fiesta somewhere in the country every single day. With over 7 thousand islands there sure is one waiting for you! The most famous ones namely Sinulog, Dinagyang and Panagbenga are all great but sometimes it gets too crowded and you just can’t enjoy the parade.

The Bambanti Festival celebrates Isabela’s agricultural heritage hence the Bambanti which is the Ilocano word for Scarecrows. The week long festival starts with its agricultural shows, competition and exhibits. This showcases the province’s advancements when it comes to agriculture and how it enables them to raise the bar of food security for the country. It is ideal to see this part of the festival as it will let you discover the business potential that there is for you in Isabela.

Aside from these exhibition, the best part of the festival comes on its last two days. The street dancing competition and the dance show down occurs a day before the closing ceremonies which is also something to watch for. Almost each of the 15 municipalities and cities of the province sends their delegation to compete, while repressenting their individual festivals in their own towns. It is almost like a competition of what the best festival is in the province! You can actually have a glimpse of what each town offers when it comes to feasts!

Agricultural Exhibition

See what Isabela has to offer in terms of advances to agricultural opportunities. Visit the Bambanti Village composed of booths made up of Isabela’s agricultural produce. It actually reminded me of the Pasadena Rose Parade and the Panagbenga where floats are made up of flowers and seeds, this however is far more extravagant including vegetables and crops as materials in constructing their booths.

Street Dance

Teams are challenge to dance to a single song playing while showing their creativity and uniqueness. I just love their costumes specially the Cauayan City delagation all dressed up as scarecrows!

B-Boy Competition

On a more modern note, contestants showed their acrobatic skills as they try to snag the coveted title of being the best dance crew in the province.

Dance Show Down

Probably my favorite part of the festival is the dance show down among the municpalities of Isabela. Each contingent showcased stories from their towns with colorful costumes and energetic dance routines.

Festival Kings and Queens

The festival also picked their Festival king and queen. Each delegate’s festival costume will just make you admire their creativity and taste.

But it doesn’t stop there, to be the festival royalty for the year you don’t just have to look good; you also need to be talented!

Festival Concert

Of course what everybody was waiting for is the festival’s culmination concert. It was a star studded night! Present that night to entertain are PBB’s Myrtle Sarrosa, Kristof Garcia and the Pinoy Boyband Superstar winners. The highlight of the concert night though was the four exquisite divas of the Sunday show ASAP – KZ Tandingan, Kyla, Angeline Quinto and Yeng Constantino.

No wonder people refer to it as the grandest festival of northern luzon, The Bambanti festival does deliver to this title. It has won 2 Aliw awards for the best festival performance consecutively for the past two years and it really shows. I honestly was overwhelmed with how much effort has been put to this festival. The program was so tight that there are no dull moments. It was a world class production indeed, resonating their theme for this year as Isabela for the World. Forgive me for rambling so much about this but, I just cant help to express how surprisingly awesome the show was and not a lot of people know about this!

Fittingly the festivities was closed with a bang by a fabulous fireworks display that lit up the night sky of Isabela!