Finding Peace and Beauty in Mount Isarog: The Stone House Garden Resort Day Out

Stone House Garden Resort*

*The author is in no way connected with the resort. Neither is this post a paid review or advertisement. This is simply about one weekday get-away she recently had with friends.

The Plan

My friend Liz texted that she'd be going home to Bicol for a three-day vacation with Kay, her college roommate in UPLB.  Kay came all the way from Bacolod and before proceeding to a Coron trip, decided to go to Bicol first. So it's important to give her a good time =) Liz asked for some suggestions and we brainstormed for fun destinations that will fit in their schedule.

Liz (right), her nephew Phillip, and Kay

Of course, on top of the list is Albay for a view of Mount Mayon, followed by Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CWC), being the nearest and most convenient. The traveling duo also decided to head to Donsol, Sorsogon for a Butanding-watching adventure. All these they intended to visit (and actually did) on the second and third days of their vacay. The location for the first day, however, was the question. We crossed out  Caramoan due to time constraint. Then, I suddenly remembered one place that caught my interest last year: the Stone House Garden Resort, located at Mount Isarog National Park. 

Its rain forest location is a charm--but it's the beautiful pictures of its garden, infinity pool and building/structure that got me. I suggested the place to Liz, who immediately said yes. Using my text brigade powers, I also had Von and Joann to come with us for a more fun trip =) 

The Trip

The Road Trip Tropa (with Von taking the pic)

Stone House Garden Resort is located several kilometers up Mount Isarog, the towering mountain with an elevation of ~2000 masl, which protrudes amidst the vast rice field plains of Camarines Sur. Mount Isarog serves as a watershed and biodiversity hot spot. But for adventurers and mountaineers, it is one hiking destination that must be conquered. We, however, opted to just enjoy the garden resort midway the mountain instead of heading all the way to the lush rain forest going to its peak--although this continues to be one idea that challenges me =).

Perched on Mount Isarog

Come the morning of Liz and Kay's arrival, we agreed to meet at a nearby mall at 10am. Despite having traveled from Manila--by bus, on a 10-hour night trip--Liz and Kay arrived early. Liz also brought along her 5-yr old nephew, Phillip, and managed to still look pretty whilst arriving on time. I was late; Jo was late; Von was even more late =) 

Ang mga lakwatseras--and two lakwatseros including the little boy =)

However, we know what it means to Liz to give Kay a decent Bicol trip so we have to pull our acts together haha. Fortunately, everything went OK. I cooked a pocho-pocho a.k.a minadaling pasta; Jo took care of the rice and ice, and Liz the drinks and roasted chicken. Talk about spontaneous but coordinated efforts! Von, on the other hand, was our official driver and baggage porter at the same time hehe. The last-minute preparations took around an hour so our official trip actually started past 11AM. Nevertheless, the drive which I estimated will take one hour lasted just 30 minutes, thanks to Von's speed racing  tendencies.

Yup, we were able to pull it off! 

For those who will be travelling via public utility vehicles: from Naga City old centro just ride a jeepney going to Panicuazon (actually, Panicuazon is still one of the barangays of Naga). The jeep terminal is near the Supermarket; tricycle drivers know this. Be prepared for a full-packed ride because drivers pick up passengers until every inch of space is filled up, including the topload. The road is smooth but slightly winding. Trip may last for one hour or more. I'm not sure how much the fare is, but could range from P20 to P30. Upon reaching the unloading point, just walk several meters (200m or more) toward the direction of the mountain until you reach the slightly masukal dirt path. You will notice that you are indeed heading toward a rain forest because of the trees and wild ferns beside the road. It will be better also to ask around for directions. In our case, we asked the children playing along the road and just gave them coins for reward.

Finally, A Relaxing Afternoon 

Secluded, peaceful and spacious--Stonehouse Garden Resort looks like a retreat house, only with more entertainment facilities in it. Good for us, there were no other visitors so we had the place to ourselves. Once you get there, just ring the bell (or rather, the hollow pipe) outside the big wooden gate and a caretaker will open the gate and entertain you. Entrance fee costs P500, which includes welcome drinks, use of swimming pool and videoke, and a "guided" stroll around the organic farm. The garden resort also offers overnight stays in their suite and backpacker's rooms.

The interiors of Stone House Garden

There's videoke, billiards table, comfy furniture...

One of the reasons why I suggested Stonehouse Garden is that its unique design might appeal to Liz, who is a building and interior design aficionado. A graduate of BS Forestry from UPLB, she is now finishing her second degree of BS Architecture in UP Diliman. 

White pillars, patches of nipa roof and lots of open space apparently mix well

In addition, Kay could rest there after having been through a one hectic race from La Carlotta  to Bacolod to Manila and finally, to Naga. True enough, Kay immediately found her perfect resting spot and snoozed for a while. After the power nap, this traveling dynamo was happy and game for the photo ops, farm tour and swimming =)

Power nap!!!

With Kay and Von

Another thing I love about Stonehouse Garden is the beautiful vista of downtown Camarines Sur on one side, and of Mount Isarog on the other. I was amazed by the sheer size and proximity of the mountain--after all, we are standing right on the mountain itself! The view of Camarines Sur all the way to San Miguel Bay is relaxing too. I don't know, but there is something about the sight of open spaces that I find so calming. It's like looking on eternity itself (huwat??)

The place is green all over. There are towering trees, well manicured lawn, beautiful landscape, and a vegetable farm. The air is cool. And luckily, the weather cooperated even if the perpetually grayish clouds constantly threatened us with a downpour. 

Luntiang Paraiso

Surrounded by greenery

Uh-oh! Dark clouds...Good thing it didn't rain. 

What vacation would be complete without dozens and dozens of pictures? Being the camerawhores that we are, we took photos of the view and of ourselves with the view in every imaginable view there is =) Thanks to Joann's insight to bring her camera. I, on the other hand, was sooo absent-minded with all the kitchen busy-ness and kulit-texting our driver Von, that I forgot to bring a camera, grrr! 

Picture picture!

After eating our packed lunch of roasted chicken, pinangat (a Bicol specialty which we required Kay to eat hehe), rice, spaghetti and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, we decided to take a brief stroll around the garden's vicinity. I was happy to see a lot of growing veggies and fruits at the organic farm. Stone House sells these veggies and fruits, but we chose to just pose with them for the pics hehe. 

At the organic vegetable farm

Phillip had an uber time chasing dragonflies. The mag-tita spent some quality time playing and posing for the pictures. Later in the afternoon, tita Liz also became a swimming pool  nanny hehe...So now about swimming, we decided to sample the infinity pool at around 3PM just when the sun is no longer scorching. We also took turns looking after and playing with Phillip, who had so much fun in the water!

Liz and Phillip

The Little Boy and His Aunt

The author, Kay, tita Liz and Phillip--having fun at the pool

The Hydrophilic Author

It has been my dream to swim in an infinity pool. I get to finally fulfill one of my bucket list must-do's. Yey! The water's cool and shallow (4.5ft) and there is this sort-of viewing deck at one end of the pool made of fiber glass. Cool. Maybe it was really designed for underwater picture-taking, so Kay and I had our own photo shoot ala Top Model (Philippines) ;)

Yey! Fulfilling my dream of swimming in an infinity pool. What simple fun.

Top Model pictorial ang peg! ;)

Jo and Von played billiards, which costs P100 per hour. I don't know if the loser of the game had to pay the tab, but as far as I know one person lost big time to our billiard hustler friend hehe. I wanted to sing (videoke) but it was brownout the whole afternoon, so I didn't get to exercise my vocal prowess.

  

Anyways, after the swim, it's time to go home. Liz and Kay still have a long trip ahead of them the following day, as they will be going to Donsol for butanding-watching and then, Legazpi City. Plus, the little boy Phillip--not to mention, his tita Liz--appeared tired already. So we ate snacks, packed up, rode the car and drove back to lowlands. Whew, what a hectic day. Just like all my other posts, I would end this one with the statement that hopefully there will be a repeat of this kind of trip with the same people someday, somewhere ;) 

TRIP RECAP AND OTHER TIPS:

1. Getting to Stonehouse is relatively easy. For commuters, just ride a jeepney going to Panicuazon from Naga old centro near the supermarket. Fare could range from P20 to P30; trip may last more for than an hour. 

For those with vehicles, just follow the road from centro to San Felipe and Pacol, via Francia Ave., then all the way to Mount Isarog. The markers to watch-out for are the San Francisco Chruch and, at the end of Francia Ave., the Penafrancia Church just after the Francia-Magsaysay junction. After the barangays of Pacol and Carolina is Panicuazon.

2. The garden resort is just several meters away from the unloading point in Panicuzaon. There are a number of sari-sari stores there, so you may ask around for directions. If I remember correctly, you will have to walk in an L-shape direction (straight ahead then turn left), though the dirt road will actually lead you to the resort. By the way, for those with smaller cars, be careful because you might get stranded/trapped in the muddy tracks especially if it recently rained. Once you see the large wooden gate, you'd know that you reached the place.

3. Entrance fee is P500/person, no discounts for kids :( There is no need for reservation, but it will be safer to confirm the date of your visit lest you arrive at a time when the place is fully packed or rented out for a prenuptial photoshoot or wedding reception.

4. Activities include swimming, billiards, videoke, and strolling around the organic farm and garden. Or you may do nothing; just enjoy the view =)

5. Service is just OK. The owners do not really go out of their way to entertain the guests. Usually it's the hired helps the brief the guests about the amenities, etc., but it doesn't mean that you can't approach the owners for your inquiries.

6. Bring your own foods and snacks, unless you are willing to pay some hundreds of pesos more on top of the P500 entrance fee.

7. Bring your own drinks too...along with other essentials such as shampoo and soap if you will be swimming, sun block, towels etc. And don't forget, insect repellent lotion to ward away pesky mosquitoes!

8. Better to arrive there early (resort opens at 10AM) and go home before nightfall. If you are commuting, it is important to go home early afternoon, as you might get left behind by the jeep's last trip. If you're driving, the road is pitch black at night so it is safer to drive if there is still some daylight. 

9. Also, I don't remember seeing gasoline stations on the way to Panicuazon, so better refill your tanks while still in Naga centro (the nearest is a Shell gasoline station along Magsaysay Ave., in front of Avenue Square).

10. Budget could be below P1000 for a whole day trip. This includes fare from Naga centro, entrance fee, use of billiards table, videoke, and shopping for food baons, etc.

11. Most importantly, just relax and enjoy. The view is amazing, promise! So don't be like me; be like Joann. In other words, bring your camera =)

FIN.