Soft Luxe Travels: Batangas

Soft Luxe Travels: Batangas - Journey to Taal

There’s something magical about mornings that begin with a journey. Last Saturday, we set off at 7:45 AM, leaving the bustle of the city behind and heading toward the serene embrace of Batangas. With every kilometer traveled, the landscape slowly shifted — highways giving way to rolling greens, quiet towns, and that familiar promise of fresh air and wide-open skies.

This wasn’t just another weekend escape. It was the start of a soft luxe adventure: simple comforts, intentional moments, and the quiet joy of discovering beauty along the way. Our destination? The timeless charm of Taal, where history, culture, and gentle elegance converge.

✨ Today’s Look Breakdown ✨

Lips: Laneige Lip Mask Cotton Candy, Minimalist Glossy Lipstick 08, BYS Hot Choc Anastasia Caramel

Cheeks: Minimalist Cream Blush 07

Eyes: BYS Pink Lemonade Palette - Tea Time, Meadow, Sheen, Angelic. MAC Pearl Twinks, White Frost. BYS Eyeliner

I was supposed to publish the review of the BYS Pink Lemonade Palette, but I had to write about our Batangas journey first while it's still fresh in my mind.

What's in my Hello Kitty Tote Bag

I brought my Hello Kitty tote bag because it's big and roomy, perfect for shopping.

Here's what's inside:

Choco-hazel croissants and crackers

My son and I only ate one piece of hotdog each as it was too early for us to eat a full meal. I brought the croissants for breakfast on the road, but I didn't have an appetite and ate some Haitai cheese crackers instead. My son mostly slept through the journey.

I also brought two jute bags and our cooler as my sister said we're going market shopping.

Snapshots from the Road

Mom said the mountains looked like they're snow-capped and took a few photos

There was some road construction going on

We saw this lot full of BYD cars and trucks. We were amazed at the number of parked cars!

Saw this Jollibee restaurant that blends modern and old Spanish architecture

Finally, we reached Taal. Like Vigan, Taal is also a heritage town. A lot of old Spanish architecture can be seen here. We arrived there before 11 am.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Palengke (market) shopping

Comments

Alone Time

My good friend Kitten and I were supposed to go out yesterday but she had some unexpected things come up. I needed to buy some stuff as I am packing for a trip and so I went alone. I actually enjoy going out alone as much as going out with girlfriends or MB. It gives me a chance to eat whatever I like to eat and explore new restos. It’s also nice to take my time when shopping. After paying my bills, I had a late lunch at Toast Box: I love Hainanese Chicken. I sometimes cook this dish but it’s too tedious so I settle for eating out. I’m so happy that there are now restaurants that serve proper Hainanese Chicken. Well, except that one above was sooooo bloody. It was swimming in blood when I pulled the meat apart so I had it changed. You know what Gordon Ramsay says, bloody chicken is poisonous. This is the second time I ate at Toast Box and in both times, the chicken was so bloody. After lunch, I started shopping. First stop was Beabi where I bought these: The Sakura thermos on...

Soft Luxe Travels: Day 1 - The Journey to Vigan Part 1

In this post, we will start our journey to Vigan! The Night Before After packing our things, I did a few things for myself to help me relax and decompress so that I can sleep. I'm a night owl and not used to waking up early nor sleeping early, so I have to be strategic. I painted my nails that night after all my chores, so that the nail polish wouldn't chip. However, I forgot that I needed to make pressed sandwiches for our breakfast the following day! Because really, what’s a road trip mom without freshly painted nails and a last-minute kitchen hustle? 😂 So, I had to do a lot of washing and hoped for the best that my nail polish will not chip! Luncheon meat, eggs, Kewpie Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds at 11 PM while trying not to chip your polish. That night, we also tried the Ube Halaya from Amira's. This was from our trip to Tagaytay . I'll try to make a review of this on my food blog . With everything prepped, I finally let myself drift off—half excit...

Holiday State of Mind

Sometimes, a quick escape is all it takes to reset the spirit. Tagaytay always gives me that holiday state of mind… Even a short drive can feel like a retreat when your heart is ready to embrace rest. My son successfully finished his recital last Sunday and as a reward, my sister treated us to Tagaytay yesterday. Getting Ready for the Trip I decided to use my BYS Golden Hour Palette for today's look. Makeup, for me, is part of the ritual—it sets the tone that today is special. Here are the swatches: From top to bottom: Polaroid, Candid, Aperture, In Focus, Portrait, Panoramic In Focus is slightly wet, like something between a liquid and cream eyeshadow. The color is gorgeous! I love Panoramic, too! Polaroid is a bit chalky and not as pigmented as the shadows in the Queen Bee Palette. Here are the face shades: Highlighter: Illumination Contour: Ambiance I haven't tried Illumination yet, only Ambiance. I used it on top of my BYS Bronzer. It's a buildable powder, a littl...

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