Balai means "home" in Illongo. And Balai Taal is what someone-I-know call her "home away from home" in Tagaytay, overlooking the majestic Taal volcano.
Built on this exclusive property are four 3-storey villas designed by reknowned Filipino architect Bobby Manosa. The villas are works-of-art, using lots of wood, native trim, and walls of glass, purposely designed to maximize the expansive view of the lake and volcano below.
Somewhere on the property we found a cozy natural forest. It appears to be a real forest with all the original trees & wild plants intact. Some undergrowth were cleared & landscaped to provide an easy walking trail, sitting and meditation areas, and a full 14-stations of the cross.
The trail got us up-close to flowering trees, indigenous tropical vines, colorful wild blooms, several huge stands of towering bamboo, and the usual soothing chirping sounds you'd expect to hear deep within wooded areas. The trail ended near a deep ravine that opens out to a picturesque view of the lake. Breath-taking.
