Take Me Away! A Nature Trip at Mendez, Cavite.

Cavite is one of the best places to go to when you want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Not only is it near and affordable, there are plenty of places to visit. On this particular trip, my friends and I went to Mendez, Cavite. There are buses that go directly to Mendez at the Lawton Terminal. The bus ride is about 2-3 hours and the fare costs about P80 for students.

Our first stop was a place called Sintang Lupa. Sintang Lupa is a property owned by a German environmentalist named Kristoff and his wife. They have a beautiful house, a peaceful surrounding and a breath-taking yard.

But the main attraction is actually the roof of the house. Instead of a regular roof, they have a garden on top of the house filled with different kinds of plants. It helps clean the air and keeps the house cool. The house had actually been featured before in Mel & Joey’s Hanep Bahay.

Luckily, we were permitted to climb to the roof. The view alone would make you never want to leave but add to that the wonder of standing on a garden on top of a house. It’s absolutely remarkable.

Our next stop was Ulo Spring in Panungyan, Mendez. Part of the fun was getting to the spring. It took about 15-25 minutes of walking. It was not a walk in the park because the terrain changed a lot but it’s actually exciting and you’ll feel like a real nature trekker.

We gathered from our guide that Ulo Spring was in fact developed by the local government before but the efforts were destroyed by a storm. But still, the place was nice and very peaceful. The spring still flows to a small part where you can still enjoy the crystal clear and cold water. If you look around, nature is all you’ll see.

If you decide to go to Cavite or any other places, make sure to cooperate with the local government unit. They are very helpful and will point you to the right direction. They might even provide you with a guide. This also works if you’re on a tight budget, and can’t afford to go to places where you have to pay an entrance fee or if you’re tired of the usual tourist spots. Ask the locals for the best or most beautiful places in their town. Some of them are happy to show new people around the town to the places they take pride in.