We Snuck Away For The Weekend
The weeks have been piling up and it seems like even Saturdays can be hit and run from the moment you wake up. This particular weekend we hit the pause button and snuck away to The Lotuspod and it was so so good.
When I reminisce about these photos I keep reflecting on the time we had to slow down and connect with one another. We weren’t in a hurry, we were just there to be in nature and be with one another.
UNWIND
Often our trips are controlled by a scarcity mentality, not this weekend. This was our time to let the clock magically unwind how it pleased. This was our time to sink into the experience. (Let’s be real for a minute, I did have to take my 100 photos for the blog in the first few hours so I could be at ease to soak in the weekend how I pleased, not letting the camera or writing have the advantage.)
My boys.
A HAPPY PLACE.
WINSOME DETAILS
Our stay at the Lotuspod felt as if someone opened their weekend province home to our family. A home has details that add life and wonder, Lotuspod was filled to the brim with details. Allow me to indulge as I overshare a plethora of photos to give you a taste of the winsome details.
The hanging baskets of the outdoor kitchen had me swooning. Every detail was impeccable.
A mixture of texture.
A warm welcome.
The quaint store at Lotus Pod.
LET'S PLAY
Instagram can be quite the magician and turn even the most simple of experiences into a magical event on screen with the touch of a filter. Don’t believe Instagram, believe me when I tell you that pictures do not do Lotuspod justice. I was reserving my expectations for reality, but what do you do when reality is better than expectations? You live it up and enjoy being in the moment. We rode bikes, zip lined, slack lined, jumped, swam, swung, rock climbed. It was a dreamy family weekend.
a lotus pod in all its glory
The whole farmscape is walkable within a matter of minutes. The casitas, outdoor restaurant, pool and pond are all within view and a matter of steps. Despite the closeness, we never felt crowded. Granted, we were there on a weekend with only two other occupants which was perfect.
A happy place.
A NATURAL SPRING POOL.
KAIN
Did I mention we ate? Oh my gulai, we ate and we ate good. You have to order your food before you head down for your stay. For some, this takes care of the food planning ahead of time; for me, it gave me anxiety! I wanted to order on the spot and have choices - cue scarcity mentality. However, it all worked out deliciously. Merienda was out of this world and was my favorite ‘meal’ of the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all on par with the high quality experience at Lotuspod. The only dish we didn’t love was the pasta since we don’t love sweet Spaghetti, we aren’t Pinoy enough (yet!).
fresh tarragon tea
mango sago
turon
banana cue
That thing called merienda.
FRESH FRUIT AT BREAKFAST.
longganisa
chicken adobo
tocino
outdoor kitchen.
outdoor dining.
CASITAS
As mentioned earlier, the casitas felt more like a friend's province home than a hotel stay. Our family of five isn’t used to sleeping all together in one room but we did it for two nights and it went surprisingly well. The highlight of the casitas for the kids was definitely the foot bath at the entrance of the house. They used it as a wading pool for hours! The highlight for me were the dreamy details.
the wading foot bath
back porch
inside casita
rain or shine
Our plans were originally for one night but we enjoyed ourselves so much we stayed another night. The morning of our departing day was a bit stormy but beautiful nonetheless. It added an element of serenity that hadn’t been there before. The greens more brilliant, the ripples on the lotus pond more visible.
us
We snuck away for the weekend and our family was better for it. We connected, we explored and we loved hard. I can’t think of a better place to do that than the Lotuspod. Until next time.
Our family with our new friend RJ who is the resident kaibigan.
press play
things to know:
The Lotuspod is located in Puyouy, Laguna just two and half hours south of Manila.
lotuspodbnb@gmail.com
The total cost of our weekend getaway was that of a budget hotel but the experience was far beyond a “budget hotel” experience.