Luljetta’s Hanging Garden and Spa

Sunset view from the infinity pool

A change of scene is what we all need when we no longer feel like we can go about with our daily routines of work. It is with this idea in mind that I sought the comforts of travel posts on the Internet. On that weekday in November (2015), I was looking for beaches and resorts, just about anything with water to swim in and a room for an overnight stay. Looking for an adventure, I mostly evade going places that are too easily accessible. I first looked up Bataan then Baler. We fell in love with the idea of going to Baler, but Xian and I figured one weekend was not enough to enjoy its surprises. We reached out to the Rizal tour we’ve wanted to do for a while now, and the first one in our to-do list is to enjoy Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens. The name itself is already intriguing as it calls to mind the Hanging Gardens of Babylon from our history class.

True to this inspiring idea, we toured their website and got so hyped up to enjoy its relaxing views and amenities. Since I’m really into deals, I chanced upon one of their Overnight Getaway Package. This is a really good deal for two people if you want to enjoy not only the Hanging Gardens but also Loreland Farm and Resort.

Beginning with our commute there, it was pretty easy. From Manila, we got on to LRT 1, switched to LRT 2 at Doroteo Jose station. We rode until we reached Santolan. (Of course, you can take a different form of transportation to get there, but the convenience was what we were after at that time.) From there, we heard barkers (people calling for passengers) for rides to Antipolo. There were actually some private vehicles that carpool with others on the same way, but we opted to get on a jeep. The weather was fine and traffic wasn’t heavy, so we were at our destination, a few blocks away from Antipolo Church, in about 20-30 minutes. From there, we got a ride from a tricycle straight to the resort.

Going to our room

Room for two

We checked-in at the lobby and got our stubs for the room, breakfast, and gate; waterproof bands for entrance to Luljetta; and room keys in exchange for a deposit of P500. Since the rooms we got are available at Loreland, we stayed a few steps away from Luljetta, but it was still a good catch because the area we got was very spacious and serene.

My only comment about it was that I really disliked the bed and the blanket. The bed was too stiff for a comfortable night’s sleep while the blanket was too short for two people. I did note these on the feedback form they asked me to fill up, so let’s hope that they’ve given improving these some consideration.

You’ll know that you are entering Luljetta’s when you see this sign

View from the lobby

Suman and Iced Tea ❤

Being so excited for our Luljetta experience, we got to their lobby and checked in. We were given bands for entrance to Luljetta good for the entire day. Since the lobby is by the cafe, we requested that we were served with our free suman and iced tea. It took a while for us to be served because it seems that their cafe had just opened at that time, but not on time, we may add. Still, good food and good drink!

Next, at Luljetta’s, guests can go to the locker room and place their stuff in lockers. Here’s where they’ll also get a basket with towel and robe. We absolutely loved this idea! Its great for when we walk around the resort, going from one pool to another and not worrying about where to put our things or how unorganized they can be. This just goes to show how detailed they are about treating guests.

First turn

So, out of the locker room and in our colorful robes, we figured we’d start with the sauna and the Jacuzzi. Xian and I have never been into one, so we were excited, but that excitement immediately faded away as we didn’t know what we got ourselves into. Talk about steeeeaaaammm! What I couldn’t take was the way that the smell of the steam invaded my nose. Tian was braver as she tried to relax and sit on the bench, but I could not and just wanted to stay standing by the door. Then, we saw the stones and the cute scooper for the water. I turned to Tian and said, “Di ba ganito yung mga nasa pelikula at sa animé?” as I proceeded to pour around a quarter of a cup of water, giggling to the way it made a sizzling sound. Just then, I noticed how hotter the temperature got and realized just for what those stones were. How long did we stay there? I’d say not even a minute!

Let’s not forget the lemon water by every pool. We actually felt we’ve had enough lemon water for the day, but thanks for this as it’s helpful for guests who need a drink after a swim.

Now, as soon as we got out of the sauna, I wanted to jump into the jacuzzi right across it if it weren’t for some people who were comfortably staying there. We checked the closest pool and saw that no one else was in it. Apparently, this might be the hydro pool, but while there were big bubbles blowing in some corner, the water was pretty cold. We stayed there for a long while, feeling the water against our tired bodies. Every once in a while, we still would peak if the jacuzzi’s available because the whole atmosphere of hanging gardens does appear like everyone would want to have some private time in the pools. It honestly took hours before we could get our share of a stay in the jacuzzi, but we didn’t waste our time in waiting. We tried other pools. Still, before we discuss the other pools, we made our first stop at the restaurant where we would get our free lunch.

Motivational phrases everywhere

Be ready for lots of walking and climbing the stairs

The first thought that came to my head when I chose the package was that the healthy meal was perfect for a rejuvenating stay. When you find work toxic, being healthy in and out really should be in your top priorities. First up was soup. Honestly, the soup tasted great, best among the others served. Next was the salad and while I am a fan of salad, I’ve never encountered the dressing that they used on it, but Xian ate a lot more of it. (Ann’s bias: prefers salads with Caesar or Hundred/Thousand Island dressing; Xian’s bias: likes carrots)

Going to the Hanging Restaurant

Inside the Restaurant

The Salad

Pasta

Main course was the pasta, and it made me realize that I am not into olives as the dish was certainly loaded with black olives and maybe with olive oil. I was almost giving up, but the dessert, a smaller version of turon (banana wrapped in lumpia wrapper, coated with sugar, and fried) served with latik saved the day. All in all, the flavors of the menu had too much powerful flavors battling in my palate that I just could not savor them.

Hydro Massage Pool

Perfect for picture taking!

Back to the pool-searching we went. We honestly spent some time hanging out by the fish spa, but couldn’t get ourselves to dip our feet because they had pretty big fish. I kept thinking my big toe could fit in their mouths. We then relaxed laying down in the hydro massage pool. Plus, the hydro massage definitely gives that good touch for our backs, although the water was a little too cold. After some time, we actually took a nap at their meditation lounge, but if you want to meditate, here and the garden will give you the Zen vibes. We waited for the famed sunset by the infinity pool and we were there just in time. This is also their biggest pool in the Hanging Gardens, so it’s really where we stretched our bodies for a swim.

One of the lounges – the Zen lounge, where you can take a break from swimming  and even have a nap

Our day ended with dinner at their restaurant, and being a fan of sisig, theirs instantly became one of my favorites. The following day, we had our free breakfast at the restaurant which can either be Western or the classic Filipino (-silog). With still more time for a swim, we went to the pools of Loreland, but there were more people in those area, very different from the reserved feeling of Luljetta.

We went back to the city with revitalized energy from this weekend getaway. If you’ve dropped by this haven in Rizal, feel free to tell us about it!

Pictures by Xian / Words by Ann