I was simply chatting with my friend over coffee on a Friday night. After every sip of her drink, she would elatedly recount her most recent out-of-town trip. The photos in her camera captured my whim, so I did listen attentively. 

The Farm at San Benito in Lipa City, Batangas is a place meant for relaxation, meditation, and healthy living! It’s just a two and a half-hour drive from Metro Manila, not bad if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and enjoy being in touch with nature at your own pace.

Its accommodation facilities are not common with what we can get from the conurbation. They are designed like our very own homes, making them a home away from home – modest and comfy.

”It also has a vegetarian restaurant (and none other - sorry meat lovers!) called the Vegan. I know most of you would now probably see this place as a no-no, but honestly, the Vegan serves really good vegetarian meals. I personally loved the Corn Cheese Stuffed Shitake Mushrooms with Wilted Spinach. In fact I had three servings of it! The pools are excellent! There are three different swimming pools, one of which is a heated pool. Two of the pools are overlooking the mountains and trees. Pool amenities are comparable to those of first class hotels. So, go on and imagine…”

In addition, it has a daily scheduled farm tours, and yoga and Pilates classes. It also features a meditation area, gym, library, amphitheater, spa area, lagoon, vegetable garden, and a trail for walking and jogging.

”There are more to these but the rest definitely comes with experience”, my friend uttered with eagerness.

The Farm used to be just a must-visit in Pam’s travel list, and it's not a surprise that it still remains the same. Hopefully when she returns, I can be a part of her getaway plan. It’s one excellent spot to unwind and get mesmerized before whining about the scorching heat of summer.