The Philippines has got it all. My friend Alma said it best, "Why are so many people going to Singapore for Gardens By The Bay when we have this right here." And its true. We leave and travel to see fascinating places but do we appreciate what we have right here? Metro Manila really is a cool place.

We snacked on our animal husbandry mango and strawberry yogurt to wait out the rain. Also, if you go on this day trip make sure you go with a friend who can party hard, we spent almost 8 hours this day exploring. 

I wish I knew the slightest about landscape photography to show just how majestic this place was. It was unreal. It felt as though we had enter an untouched secret world and had it all to ourselves. There was a number of trails and even a natural pool. We will surely be back to go swimming and hiking. The kids purifying their lungs with the clean air. Recently, a friend told me there are numerous Filipine indigenous trees here. I would love a guide map of some sort to educate myself.

After you visit Riceworld Museum you will drive through UP Los Baños, make sure you stop at the Animal Husbandry and get fresh milk and cheese. Promise me you will! Then take your yogurt or chocolate milk and enjoy as a pre-hike snack.

Another stop you can squeeze into your agenda is the Natural History Museum just across the street from the botanical gardens. I didn't love it but my children sure did. It isn't the most impressive museum, especially after having just left Riceworld but again the kids really enjoyed it and that's what is important.

Things To Know:

• Start you day early by visiting Riceworld Museum, have lunch at the cafateria, get a pre-hike snack from the Animal Husbandry, visit the Natural History Museum and then hike, snack, swim, photograph your way through Makiling Botanical Gardens.

• The Botanical Gardens close around 4 so be back early from hikes. Please pack out your own trash!

• Our drive to IRRI was only one hour twenty minutes and coming home was similar time. This was Pasig to Los Banos.