After a couple of trips to Tarlac and Pampanga in the past month, I wanted a change of route and decided to explore the provinces south of Metro Manila. I honed in on Laurel, Batangas, because there’s this new coffee shop I’ve been wanting to go to ever since it was featured in a lifestyle website and I read its glowing reviews in social media. So on a Maundy Thursday, the timing seems perfect for a day trip. With my parents and Ate Lita, we drive through SLEX and the winding roads of Tagaytay and Talisay to Laurel.

We first stop at the Calinisan Resort and Hotel on the western shores of Taal Lake. Nestled among the verdant hillsides, the resort has a perfect vantage point of the lake and the Taal Volcano, which is tantalizingly close across the shore. The place is busy with the holy week crowds, but the overall vibe is still relaxed. The azure hues of the sky and the lake, as well as the refreshing breeze that sweeps across the lake, make for a relaxing backdrop, a welcome respite from the pressures of the past weeks.

But having failed to pack a set of change of clothes, we don’t swim. Instead, we simply take pictures, enjoy the serenity, and go on our way an hour later to Nuakh Cliffhouse Café, the aforementioned coffeeshop.

The café is perched on the edge of a hill overlooking a breathtaking view of the vast expanse of Taal Lake, and it doubles as an AirBnB accommodation with an outdoor jacuzzi. The owner greets us as we enter and makes recommendations on our coffee orders, chatting with my parents about how he started this business with his wife. We enjoy the view as well as the coffee and nachos as we a pause from the constant rush of life to appreciate the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of life.

After our caffeine fix, we begin our drive home. I would’ve wanted to explore the area a bit more, but my parents have a commitment the following day. And the anticipation of heavy traffic in the main roads means we need to be heading back as early as possible. Nonetheless, as we navigate the highway back to Metro Manila, the itch to explore has been momentarily scratched.