Depressed with work and other pressures, this Wednesday found me on a last-minute sojourn to San Pablo City.All I needed was a hop on the bus to get me out of the city and into the long stretch of a highway lined with quaint shops, fruit stalls and coconut trees.On bright sunny days like this, the majestic view of the Philippine countryside as seen from my bus window is all I need to get out of the hustle and bustle that staying too long in the city brings.
As far as I can remember, it is my first time to visit San Pablo and my resolve to go here is brought about by its growing reputation as an alternative vacation destination. Of late, its landscape is being dotted with restaurants and resorts that are out-of-the-ordinary and is being recommended for everyone to discover. En route to my accommodation, my aimless wandering brought me that afternoon to Sampaloc Lake which looked so serene amid a backdrop of the San Cristobal Mountain, fish pens and fishermen hunched on their boats. Sampaloc is the largest of the city’s seven crater lakes and is presently undergoing rehabilitation. It is surrounded by a tree-lined boulevard which is all of 2.5 kilometers and is perfect for doing such activities as jogging, biking, fishing or just plain lazing around and enjoying the view.
Little did I know that my appreciation of Sampaloc Lake is just the beginning of my great San Pablo experience….
I love those pictures. I’ve never heard of San Pablo or that it’s a tourist destination. Is that in Laguna or Quezon or Batangas? Good idea too to get out of town after Holy Week… no traffic! 🙂
Hi Toe. I think it’s only lately that San Pablo has emerged as a tourist destination. It’s in Laguna province. You guessed it right, I make it a point to avoid the throng during the holy week:smile: