Experience Los Baños for P500

You know James Betia? He's a travel blogger who has been backpacking the Philippines the cheapest way possible. His usual budget is P500 per destination which already includes his food, fare and accommodation. I know what you're thinking now, it sounds impossible, but hey, he's been doing this for months already. In fact, he's planning to backpack Mindanao for P400/day.

I am still a student, so traveling on cheap budget is my thing too.

Last May 8, sir James invited us to try his P500 budget day tour at Los Baños, Laguna. I've been into LB a lot of times (back in grade school field trips) but I still know very little about this town, just the UP campus and IRRI. His day tour includes a Laguna Lake boat tour, Paciano Rizal's house, Agua Santa Spanish bath ruins, UPLB campus, and Mt. Makiling Flat rocks.



Getting There

James told us that the P500 Elbi day tour challenge will start at the moment we stepped inside the bus. As early as 4:30 am, I met up with Chinchan at Buendia Bus terminal. We took the Greenstar Bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna (P99.00 until Jollibee Los Baños).

We reached Jollibee LB at around 6:45 am where James, Brenna and Eileen were already waiting for us. Lloyd came soon after we arrived, completing the six Pinoy Travel Bloggers who will test James' P500 Elbi day tour challenge. Before we leave, I ordered first a breakfast meal (P85.00).

Laguna Lake Boat Tour

From Jollibee LB, we rode a trike to a fishing village near the lake for (P10.00). A boat was already waiting for us when we reached the shore.

everyone on the way to the boat

even the dog wants to join James

this is James Betia

the kids by the shore

The six of us hurriedly jumped int the boat despite the thick dark clouds forming above us. The weather wasn't really good that time, the majestic Mt. Makiling was hiding behind the thick clouds. The boatman then pointed where the towns' (Calamba, Bay, mountains of Rizal, Talim Island) location.

our boat

our boatman

 Before we head back to the shore, we first docked in a mini peninsula where a hidden hot spring, Malacoco Hotspring, is located. Young boys were there bathing and relaxing.

the Malacoco mini-Peninsula

the shore

bloggers unboarding

our boat

the Malacoco Hotspring

the locals relaxing at the spring

After the boat tour, we paid the boatman P50.00 each.

Paciano Rizal's House

We again rode a tricycle (P9.00) to Paciano's house. General Paciano Rizal is the older brother of our national hero. For some, he's "the hero of our national hero". His house #149 is near near the old Municipal building. Rizal-Lopez memorabilia, antiques, personal belongings and even his death bed are on display. The entrance is free, but donation of any amount is welcome.

James on the trike

the old Municipal Building

#149, the Paciano Rizal House

James doing the talk

Gen. Paciano was re-interred here in front of the house from the Manila North Cemetery

the house of Gen. Paciano

his personal belongings

his bust

The rain started to pour before we left the old house. Not good for our Mt. Makiling trip.

Agua Santa Spanish Bath Ruin

Our next stop was this old Spanish bath now in ruins. Not too far from the Paciano Rizal House, you can actually walk your way to it, but since it was raining we opted to take a ride. By tricycle (P8.00), we reached the ruins at around 9:00 am.

a tub excavated from the ruins

 

Only a portion of the original structure is still standing. Aside from the old municipal building, this structure is the oldest in Los Baños. Some say that this was not just a simple bath house of natural spring but also a Franciscan infirmary.

the ruins of the old Spanish bath

The history 101 from Mr. Fernando Catalan, the care taker of the place, was very informative. 

Mr. Fernando's history 101

Mt. Makiling Flat Rocks

This was supposedly the next in our itinerary, but venturing this place while there's a storm signal #1 all over Laguna was never our option. So we removed this from our list.

IRRI and UPLB 

We first had an ice cream bonding in an ice cream house. For P20.00, I enjoyed the coconut milk ice cream. It was already 11:30 am, and we're quite hungry already. So we headed next to International Rice Research Intitute (IRRI) canteen.

Coconut ice cream made from coconut milk

the International Rice Research Institute

the koi pond in front of the canteen

We had a UPLB talk at the canteen while eating. Both from UPLB, Eileen, an alumni and Lloyd, still a student, they shared a lot of stories, urban legends, traditions, gossip and everything you want to know about UPLB.

meal for P55

experimental rice field

Outside, the rain was still pouring. We waited for I think 30 minutes before we finally went to Philippine Carabao Center. We tried their yummy Milk-o-Jel (P15.00).

rainy UPLB

their dairy products

Milk-o-jel for P15

We passed by the Baker Hall, the fertility tree, and Dao (a heritage tree in UPLB).

the fertility tree, they say that as the leaves touches the ground, couples may do their thing behind the leafy branches

the Baker Hall was once used as a prison by the Japanese during the WW2

the Dao tree that inspired Leandro Locsin.

Buko Pie

Laguna, "the land of Buko Pie". Before the Elbi day tour ends, we bought a box of Lety's Buko Pie, the best buko pie according to the locals. That's P150.00 per box.

By 3:00 PM, Chinchan, Brenna and I were on our way back to Manila.

______________________________________________________________

 Bus to LB                      99.00                    
 Jollibee Meal                 85.00 (optional)
 Tricycle to Lake             10.00
 Boat fee                          50.00
 Trike to Paciano house    9.00
 Donation for the house  20.00
 Tricycle to Agua               8.00 (optional)
 Jeep to UPLB                   8.00
 Ice cream                        20.00 (optional)
 Jeep to IRRI                    8.00
 Lunch                              55.00
 Jeep to Carabao Milk      8.00
 Mill-o-Jel                        15.00
 Lety's Buko Pie            150.00 (optional)
 Bus to Manila                 89.50                   

          Total Cost =  P634.50 

                             =  P371.50 (optional expenses not included)



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