Summer Bonding at Camp Laiya

We finally had our very first family camping. Joan and I had our share of camp outs before we got married but it took us two kids and 6 years to pitch our tents again. No backpacks this time but instead we had coolers, milk bottles, and tons of chips. I always knew that the four of us would spend countless nights gazing at the stars in our sleeping bags, I am just glad we were able to do it sooner. My baby Audrey is about to enter grade school. Six summers just went by so fast that I wonder if we were able to provide her all the fun she deserves. She may be spending less time with us this coming school year, but this summer is definitely all ours. Shaun is two, rarely complains and eats absolutely anything... so primed for camping.

Preparations for our first camping started a month ago. I surveyed potential camp sites while Joan took the task of checking the gears we need. Climbing is definitely out. We are no longer built to carry backpacks while we agree that Shaun is still too baby to rough it out. The most viable choice is to go camp at resorts. With kids in tow, we do not compromise comfort and safety. But

beyond that, we were determined to push this to edge. The challenge was to find a camp site that is secured, has clean toilets, electricity and potable water but preferably devoid of restaurants, air-con rooms, and manicured lawns. Laiya was not our first choice. We checked out a couple of resorts in Talisay and Caliraya, but somehow we were not impressed. We have gone to La Luz last year but find the place too pricey for a lousy beach. What caught our attention was the tree houses in Laiya Coco Grove. While we found encouraging reviews of their camp sites, we still have our apprehensions on clean toilets and security. We just thought that if camping fails, renting a tree house along the beach may satisfy our nature-tripping zeal for the moment. As for our camping equipments, Joan realized that our old Wenzel will not fit all four of us. So we bought a Bugaboo set that comes with two sleeping bags and two folding chairs. The new tent was big enough for 6! After we sprayed the the fly with Kiwi Camp Dry, we were ready to roll.

We set out on a Friday so traffic was a breeze. It took us less than 4 hours to reach Laiya after making a slight detour to SM Lipa for some last minute shopping and a quick lunch. We registered at the Coco Grove Main Pavilion where the air-con villas and tree houses are located. The resort pavilion boasts of a nice pool that is exclusively available for full-paying guests, that is, off-limits to 'lowly' campers. I was quite certain that the kids would ditch our camping plans as soon as they saw the pool so I was so relieved to learn that the campsite is a good ten minute drive from the main resort.

The campsite was a pleasant surprise. The vicinity is huge with generous stretch of beach front, fine sand (unlike pebbles, sharp corals in La Luz), and relatively clear water. The best part of the resort is the mangrove right behind the camping grounds. I have my share of nature tripping around the country and this mangrove may well be one of the best I've seen. The mangrove is vibrant with birds and vegetations. Imagine immersing yourself in a forest sanctuary a few steps away from white sand beach... Divine. The resort owners have made great lengths in making the mangrove a vital part of the camping experience by constructing hanging and see-saw bridges as well as zip lines. Audrey almost instantly went bird-watching with her binoculars. Some 'rare' birds were seen perching close to our tents. You can also find a nice lagoon just a stone-throw away from camp. Remind me to bring a fishing rod on our next visit.

Amenities were adequate. Each tent is assigned a nipa cottage that has large tables and seat eight campers. The nipas have extended roofs that provide tents with sufficient cover from the sun and rain. I counted seven nipa huts at Camp Laiya. We were the only camper on that beautiful Friday so we had the entire resort to ourselves. We pitched our tent under a tree, directly fronting the beach. Right behind us is the mangrove. It was the perfect camp site! The shower rooms and toilets were not first class but clean, and yes, the toilet flush were all working. The most pleasant feature of the resort is the abundant supply of fresh water. The water was not hard or salty at all unlike most beach resorts. There was available power supply for lights, rice cookers and electric fans. We didn't bother to bring our laps and Nintendos. This trip will be one for the kids, nature and adventure.


We spend the rest of the day exploring the mangrove, building sand castles, and bird watching. For merienda, we have ihaw na saba coated with margarine and sugar. We hit the beach at around 5 but did not stay long because of mild currents. It was supposed to be grilled liempo for dinner if only we remembered to bring the ulam that Joan marinated the prior night. Good thing we brought with us the most dependable camping food -adobo with brown eggs. Our first dinner may not be as elaborate because of the missing liempo, but wifey was able to whip out her macaroni salad and some fresh fruits to go along with the yummy adobo.

Despite the long travel and the fun we had under the sun, it was quite arduous tucking the kids to bed. Shaun can't seem to have enough of sand castles while Audrey was making mental notes on what to do the next day. I guess Joan had her usual concerns on safety (and maybe mu-mu) because we were all alone in the sparsely lit resort.

We were awaken at three by a loud 'tu-ku' outside our tent. As Joan, Audrey and I stepped out to empty our bladder, we found ourselves basking under a clear night sky. I bet Audrey has never seen so much stars. It was incidentally the final night of Lyrids meteor shower. Although we did not stay up long enough to catch some shooting stars, it was so delightful to see the glow in Audrey's eyes as they wander at the vastness of the universe.

We were deliberately slacking on our second day. After having eggs and hotdogs for breakfast, Joan and I took a short stroll along the beach to Baranggay Balakbakan. The barangay is host to a number of public resorts. You can also find local 7-elevens, karaoke bars, carinderias, and a talipapa with fisherfolks plying their freshest catch of the day. We bought two large squids for 100 bucks, some chicken and vegetables for tinola, pork chops and a bag of cube ice.

The sea was perfect for early morning swim. The water was calm and clear. Audrey and Shaun went straight to the beach as soon as they stepped out from the tent. We managed to stay in the water longer by negotiating the shades from the parked bancas along the beach. The water was teeming with fish. Joan even saw lapu-lapu and sea horse while snorkeling along the shore. Lunch was a feast. The grilled squid and chops went well with talong salad. The kids could not get enough of the ihaw na saba, so we have the same for merienda.

After countless attempts to fly kites in Manila, we finally put one in the air in Laiya. We were scampering around the beach trying to catch a nice lift, laughing our hearts out because of the silly spectacle. We had so much fun. I hope Audrey and Shaun will remember this with fondness when they grow up. We also bought a nice hammock from a passing vendor. Rocking yourself along with the gentle breeze of the sea is pure bliss.

It was chicken barbeque for dinner, Audrey's favorite. We then took a night stroll along the beach picking shells and catching crabs. It was a lot cooler than the night before. However, the resort gets a little crowded on weekends. We were joined by a couple of campers and got to share the essential amenities with them. I was quite upset with the crowd. After enjoying the bliss and quiet from the previous night, we can now hear faint music and chatters instead of tu-kos and crickets. Good thing the tents were well spaced that you can still maintain privacy despite the crowd. The kids were less restless and we managed to hit the sack earlier.

I was up before daybreak to find local kids already playing by the beach. Laiya at early dawn is a magnificent sight. For urban dwellers fed up with the pollution and frantic pace of Manila... this is Nirvana.

Leaving was difficult. Packing was marred with 'last na' activities... "last na sa hanging and see-saw bridge, last na swim, last na sand castle, last na kite flying"... that we wonder maybe we were not ready to leave just yet. Another night? However Audrey was also getting anxious leaving tweety and birdy (her lovebirds) and Percy, her pet turtle, at home too long. Tsk, we should have brought them along. We managed to hit the road before noon and reach Manila in 3 hrs.

Camping with the kids is a bonding experience that families should try to do at least once. Joan and I have committed to bring our kids camping at least once a year. Besides Camp Laiya, we will be trying out other family oriented camp sites and will be posting our experience in this blog. We also welcome people to share their experiences and suggest ways to make family camping a more meaningful and pleasurable adventure.