Sonya's Garden Bed and Breakfast
Why Sonya's Garden Bed and Breakfast is my favorite vacation place
Sonya's Garden Bed and Breakfast is not only my favorite ultimate place to relax, but it is also a world away across the Pacific. This destination defines "getting away from it all."
Tucked away close to the rolling hills of Tagaytay, Philippines, Sonya's Garden B&B is paradise found. Owned by Sonya Garcia, this country estate and garden was Sonya's personal sanctuary and haven until friends and visitors convinced her to open it to the public. The high altitude and cool climate of Tagaytay has made it a popular getaway from the noise, hustle and bustle of city life. Yet Sonya's Garden B&B stands out amongst the rest, a place so tranquil, beautiful, unique and uncrowded, where one begins to appreciate once again the simple joys in life. It is way more than a Bed and Breakfast place. It is an experience. We left the place feeling rejuvenated, healthier, fully rested with the promise to come back again someday.
All photos were taken by Bakerwoman (that's me). All rights reserved.
Half the fun was getting there.
We rented a van and a chaffeur for the seven of us (mother, siblings and brother-in-law) and made the two-hour ride from Manila to Sonya's Garden. The Bed and Breakfast is not accessible by public transportation. We traveled over bumpy roads off the beaten path, stopped to imbibe in young coconut juice along the way, enjoyed the views of the famed Taal Volcano until we came upon our sanctuary for the weekend.
Welcome to our 'Lavender' Country Cottage - all 14 cottages were named after herbs - Every nook and cranny was well-appointed
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeTagaytay City is where the famed Taal volcano lives - Still an active volcano visited by thousands every year
Beautiful but dangerous, Taal volcano still rumbles and is an active volcano. The volcano sits in the lake of another crater (Crater Lake) which makes Taal very unique.
Experience you will not forget
- Taal Volcano Trekking Tour
Experience breathtaking views of craters and lakes on a tour with guided horseback riding - Taal Volcano & Lake - Manila, Philippines - Yahoo! Travel
Taal Volcano & Lake, Manila, Philippines - find photos, descriptions, maps, reviews, and expert advice on Yahoo! Travel.
Attention to details makes all the difference
Decorator touches were obvious at every turn. Each item had its place and personality.
Hand beaded throw pillow
Fragrant bowls of floating petals are freshened up everyday
Create your own elegant garden oasis with a copper bowl and brass bells - Listen to the music of the tinkling bells and murmur of the water
Imagine two floating bells randomly bumping into stationary bells and playing music all day long in a copper bowl.
Now that you have seen the living areas
Check out our charming and spacious bedrooms. Three large bedrooms with 2 queen-sized beds each easily accommodated everyone.
Our charming accommodations - Unforgettable restful night sleep for the weekend
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeSheer curtains were weighed down by dangling handmade beads
So what was different about Sonya's B&B?
We had the whole house to ourselves and all our meals were prepared for us. It was our home away from home.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served in the pavilion - a sit-down affair - Just a stone's throw from our cottage
All our meals were included in the cottage rental for the weekend and cooked in the kitchen behind the pavilion. Included in our weekend special was a cooking demonstration on how to make an easy vegetarian pasta dish with herbs from the greenhouse. This was then served to everyone of my family who still had room to spare for this healthy and aromatic pasta dish.
We could feel the tropical breeze wafting through the open walls and hear the crickets and frogs singing in unison. There was no doubt that we were going to be spoiled and pampered that weekend, being waited on hand and foot, and enjoying the "art of doing nothing", a philosophy coined by Sonya herself.
Sonya's greenhouse - Fresh, aromatic, healthy and organic
Aromaric herbs, organic vegetables and fruits are grown in the greenhouse and served to guests. The chandelier that hangs in Sonya's greenhouse is functional and decorative. It is a conversation piece and seemed out-of-place in a greenhouse. It certainly makes a statement.
My sister and I were invited into the greenhouse by Sonya and after I tasted the leaf of stevia, which is a sugar substitute, we hastily left the premises after being bit by ants.
Our breakfast fare - Elegance of English high tea and more
Hand-embroidered linen, vintage bone china, silverware, homegrown greens and fruits were some of things that set aside Sonya's Garden B&B from other places. Servers waited on us hand and foot which was a welcome change for these tired and weary visitors.
We feasted on fried local fish, fresh mangoes, pineapple and herb salad, fried rice, coffee, tea and bottomless dalandan juice for breakfast. Philippine mangoes are the best in the world, in my opinion, smooth like the texture of cling peaches, non-fibrous, juicy and sweet. All the salad greens and herbs were grown in Sonya's greenhouse.
Let's take a tour of Sonya's fabled garden
It is time to breathe in the fresh air, admire and commune with nature, and work off the calories.
Sonya's English garden - A secret sanctuary
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeNature's graceful arches bowed and welcomed us - An inspiration to all gardeners
A leisurely stroll along the curvy red brick road delighted us with the the aromatic scents of flowers, the trills of songbirds, bubbling fountains, and the tranquility of a new-found paradise.
Lush foliage and flowers seemed to grow with wild abandon - Yet all the plants were masterfully designed in the landscape artwork
The entire garden is hand-watered with garden hoses. There are no timed sprinkler system. Sonya told me that she employs the villagers to come and tend her garden everyday. It is no wonder there is nary a weed in sight. You can see one of the workers in a yellow shirt (far right) working on the landscaping.
Quaint rest kiosk along the garden walk - A favorite getaway for newlyweds
Window panes and sliding doors are lined with capiz seashells, a traditional style used in cottages and provincial homes in the Philippines. Capiz is often referred to as windowpane oyster because these are used as an alternative to glass being translucent and abundant, not to mention cheaper. There is a wooden lounge inside for an afternoon siesta or just for meditating and taking in the lush greenery around. It almost could pass for a garden tea house.
I really like this charming hideaway in the garden.
Perfect blending of tropical trees and plants
A coconut tree laden with young green fruits stand tall in the backdrop next to a tamarind tree. Bougainvillea and other tropical plants seem so perfect next to each other.
Too tempting and inviting not to sit down - One of my favorite stopovers in the garden
This charming and elegant garden lounge is like no other I have ever seen or sat on. The coverlet is hand-crochetted with embroidered pillows to prop up and soothe tired muscles. A sheer mosquito netting canopy hangs over the lounge for protection and privacy. There is no doubt that everyone who chanced upon this seating area actually had to stop, sit and had a picture taken. We did.
Mosquito netting canopy for protection and privacy - Functional, romantic, elegant - transform your patio, camp site or bedroom
Suspend this elegant mosquito netting canopy over a setee, patio bench or hammock and protect yourself from flying bugs and create a sense of privacy. The fine polyester mesh will even keep the smallest bugs out.
The soothing sounds of water were everywhere - Simple joys are very comforting
Aquatic plants like water lilies and papyrus sedge surrounding the gurgling fountain brought on visual and mental relaxation. The simple pleasure of listening and watching water flow soothed and calmed our nerves.
Every corner along the garden pathways had the sweet sound of running water - Creates the Zen-like tranquility
This bubbling fountain is just outside our cottage on the way to the restaurant pavilion. The dining table and chairs can be seen peeking out of the lush ferns.
Soothe your nerves with the sound of calming water - Attract birds to come play in the moving water.
There is always a place to sit and chat in the garden - and revive the art of conversation
One does not have to walk too far to come across an inviting bench or a place to sit. The low-impact exercise of a leisurely walk in the garden and occasional stopping to smell the flowers sometimes requires a minute or two of rest. This was true for my 85-year-old mother who walked many steps behind us and could not keep up her pace. The walk around the garden was a way to whet our appetite for the next delicious meal.
English garden bench - A place to read a favorite book, chat with a friend, drink your favorite tea
The fresh smell of baked good summoned us to the Panaderia - It is the Filipino bakery with homemade breads
Who does not like freshly baked goodies from Sonya's panaderia (Spanish for bakery). We packed a few bags of cookies and buttery Spanish rolls and Chinese hopia (pastries with sweet mungbean paste) to take back to our cottage for our afternoon tea.
All-purpose natural woven baskets - Nothing can compare with what nature has provided us
Sonya's Country Store - adjacent to the panaderia
Native handicrafts, embroidered linens, beads, jewelries from local communities, treasures Sonya have collected in her travels can be found in The Country Store. Lavender soaps, essential oils and lotions were also available as souvenirs.
Our visit to the Spa
A vacation is incomplete without ironing out all the kinks in our bodies with a massage.
This was difficult to pass up
A bit of pampering won't hurt anyone - Massage away aches and pains and worries
We indulged ourselves with 90 minutes of Swedish massage, Japanese Shiatsu finger-pressure massage, Thai massage, foot reflexology, facial and foot scrubs. It was a perfect fusion of European and Asian massage techniques with the use of essential oils. After a steam bath and hot shower with homemade herbal soaps, we all felt refreshed and rejuvenated. It feels so good to be pampered.
We were now famished and ready for dinner at the pavilion.
When the sun set, the garden pathways lit up - Chirping of crickets was music to our ears
The evenings were cool and breezy but there was no need to wear any jackets. Stained-glass garden lanterns light up the winding garden paths. Trees are festooned with miniature lights. It almost seemed like the holidays were upon us in September.
This huge beetle greeted us under the moonlight
Thank this quick poll
Have you ever stayed in a Bed and Breakfast Inn?
Interesting links about Sonya's Garden B&B
- Sonya's Garden - a secret garden revealed
Time was when rumors of a secret garden tucked in the gentle rolling hills of Tagaytay... - Life After Breakfast
Nice blog with lots of pictures and descriptions of Sonya's estate. - Sonya's Garden B&B (Tagaytay, Philippines) - B&B Reviews - TripAdvisor
Sonya's Garden B&B, Tagaytay: See 64 traveler reviews, 76 candid photos, and great deals for Sonya's Garden B&B, ranked #2 of 67 B&Bs / inns in Tagaytay and rated 4.5 of 5 at TripAdvisor. - Let's Talk , Let's Eat , Let's Wander : The Art of Doing Nothing @ Sonya's Garden
Great review of Sonya's Garden with amazing photos.