6.07.2012

Sonya's Garden

Not so many months ago, my family and I visited a place that was overwhelmingly enchanting, peaceful and relaxing. The vacation was a breather from the metro's hustle and bustle situated not so far from where all sources of pollution originated. It was our temporary bliss. We stayed over night in the rented Lavender Cottage as well as enjoyed the healthy buffet dinner and breakfast served while the diners were serenaded by an elderly man with kundiman.




As you step towards the Bed and Breakfast zone of Sonya's Garden, a huge "Quiet Zone" signage welcomed the eager occupants while our luggage were carried by women donned with black aprons directing us inside the secret garden no more.




A huge gate made of wood with some metal trimmings separated our temporary sanctuary from the public dining area where one can enjoy the buffet lunch or dinner they offered daily. They also have a covered, grand place for any occasion you wish to celebrate joyously closer to nature... and we striked a pose for remembrance.




I sighed as I paused in amazement while absorbing what my eyes could capture - varied blooms, different bushes, numerous trees and more greens. It was analogous to a picturesque spot like in a quaint painting. And this was only the beginning of an adventure towards discovering more pleasant surprises!




The photo above is the facade of the Lavender Cottage we occupied. It consisted of four spacious bedrooms; one on the ground floor where I stayed (it was wheelchair friendly) and three more bedrooms on the second floor. There was also a living room, a dining room and a kitchen but no television nor radio. The place encourages it's occupants to reconnect and communicate. We spoke nothing else but it's beauty and grandeur the whole time... we were captivated by its charm!




A closer shot of the Cottage's entrance with blooms and benches with a stained glass door.




Beside the house was a tranquil patio where one can spend time by reading a good book while enjoying the fresh breeze.




The interior was Asian inspired...




... the bedroom with dainty bed sheet and a very relaxing ambience luring one to take a rest or a quick nap,




... and shells hanging in the bathroom that gave a soothing sound when the wind blew.




There were many more places that surprisingly caught our attention like this covered herb garden...




... a fountain that seemed to be the prettiest I've seen around,




... the Country Store where one can purchase gift items and




... the exterior of the cottage across from ours that had a totally different character but equally gorgeous!




Towards dusk, lighted bulbs were seen amidst the flowers abloom and the whole site turned into a magical land even when the moon is high, especially appreciated by the romantic like you and me!

Though the stay was a brief over night, we tremendously enjoyed this atypical experience away from the swift-paced lifestyle in the urban jungle. Celebrating life in this haven was a dream come true... oh Sonya, thank you for your Garden!


Sonya's Garden
Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite Philippines
(near the vicinity of Tagaytay City)
+63-9175329097 or +63-9175335140 
Sonya's Garden FB Page 
Website: http://www.sonyasgarden.com/

125 comments :

  1. Absolutely beautiful! I can imagine it would be serene and ever so quiet there enjoying all the beauty of God's creation!

    betty

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  2. What a terrific post!!! I would love to have stayed there myself....I bet the time you spent there felt like a piece of heaven on earth!!!

    ON THE WINGS OF A DOVE

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    1. You are absolutely correct... the place was very gorgeous!

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  3. What a peaceful place to to spend time enjoying nature with family.
    cheers

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous--and the cottage looks so peaceful!

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  5. Hi Farida (I call you Sunflower), What a fabulous little trip for you --and the family... Gorgeous place!!!! Even staying there one night would be awesome... Love that 2nd picture of you and the family... So Special!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Ms Betsy :)

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  6. I would love visiting a quiet zone and this beautiful cottage. I can just hear the soothing sound of the shells and feel the gentle breeze that must have drifted through the windows into the serene room of white. I would have a very hard time leaving. :)

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    1. Your last sentence made me grin... the very same feeling I had when we were going home :)

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  7. Oh, Farida. This place looks like a little slice of heaven! What a wonderful place to relax and recharge. Thank you for sharing such beauty. blessings ~ tanna

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  8. I have been reading a lot of good reviews about Sonya's Garden! Would love to visit it too someday...

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  9. Even the name is perfect - Lavender Cottage. Just lovely - I'm glad you got to the do that. And your family sparkles. You all are lovely, too.

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  10. What a nice place to relax and contemplate. That's my dream place - I want my house surrounded with different plants, well landscaped and a very simple yet relaxing house to live.

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    1. I also like your idea... my dream escape :)

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  11. Such a nice and relaxing place. The photos are really beautiful and makes me wanna go there now. It's sure a relaxing trip for the whole family.

    Mommy Maye (http://momayes.blogspot.com/)

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    1. It was a very memorable experience. Thank you!

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  12. the place reminds me of my old grandmother's ancestral house and the fountain reminds me of intramuros. i wish i could turn back time. :) I enjoyed reading your blog post. Have a great week ahead!

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  13. What a beautiful place! I love the name of it as well. Nice pictures of you and your family!

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  14. This is a beautiful place in picture form. I am so glad you shared this and that you were able to experience it!

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  15. thanks for those beautiful pictures. these make me really feel the warmth environment and calm nature.

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  16. Oh wow, that looks like such a beautiful place to stay.

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  17. the place looks gorgeous! i think i should include this to my places to visit the next time i go home.

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  18. Nice place to relax isn't it. You can also try Balay Indang on your next not so grand vacation breather.

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    1. Thank you for the suggestion. Will consider that :)

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  19. i had the opportunity to visit and savor the food at the same place a few years back. nice place, nice food, nice people and most of all nice ambience.

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    1. Glad you had a pleasant experience too and I'm sure everyone will have the same feeling :)

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  20. wow! this is a very serene place... i want to visit here!

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  21. this is like paradise. planning to go there if the budget permits. :)

    ~corbylove

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  22. wow, this place is glorious .. love the walkway.. it's like a way to heaven :)

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  23. thank you thank you for taking me on this lovely tour of a magical place. You've done an excellent job of sharing its beauty and serenity with us. I especially like the hanging shells, and can almost hear their song. I really like the fountain too. The floor of the interior is interesting, it looks as though it was painted white stripe over the wood? I like it very much. The place has a warmth to it that is comforting.
    thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hello, I truly appreciate that. I hope you have a wonderful week Farida. I've enjoyed meeting you!

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    1. You are very kind Ms Betty. Thank you for liking the post. The floor was not painted but a combination of two-toned wood.

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  24. i've been meaning to visit this place but the food really discourages me, i'm not into veggies kasi. =) lovely photos.

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    1. Yeah the food is something else but they have a menu you can order from or better yet make arrangements when you're there.

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  25. Feels so great to be away from the city and go to place so close to the wonders of nature. We all need a place to relax and be quiet and listen to God's voice. Thanks for the tour!

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  26. I've heard so much about Sonya's garden but have never been there. We passed by it once and stopped but it was closed. What a great place to relax and shut out the chaos of the city.

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    1. Very true! The world just stops when you're in Sonya's :D

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  27. Where is this place? Nice location and landscaping. I want to go there on our next honeymoon. hehehe

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    1. It's still in Cavite very close to Tagaytay. The address and website is on the last part of this entry for your reference :D

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  28. this is great place to relax and you are right its so enchanting it looks as if you are walking on your beautiful dreams

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  29. Gosh, I miss Sonya's Garden! My ol' refuge. Haven't experienced staying for the night though, and would love to someday.

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    1. Hope you experience staying there on your next visit!

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  30. This place is actually on my list, but I forgot about it when we had a vacation to the Philippines last month. I'll try to remember this next time. Thanks for this post! Great photographs, btw!

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  31. This is a great blog entry..I love Sonya's Garden too everyone is very friendly and provide excellent service. A meal there is more about the ambiance and overall dining experience than just the food.There's something quite charming and comforting about eating in a garden setting and knowing that the food you got served was picked from the backyard.

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    1. I can't agree with you more. Thank you Leira :D

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  32. I've been to Tagaytay countless of times, but I'm yet to visit this place. With your very nice photos, I should definitely go there with my family! Thanks for sharing, Farida!

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  33. Oh my gosh...It's so beautiful! I've been telling my mother about this place for the longest time even if I haven't seen it myself...and it's just beautiful! I'll show this to her now! Thank you!

    --http://maesup.blogspot.com

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    1. You're welcome! Hope you find time to visit with your Mother :D

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  34. what a beauty! i haven't heard of this...next time my family takes out of town i will recommend this to my mom and dad
    bookmarked this page

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  35. The pictures described that the place offers serenity. A best place “I think” for family bonding.

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    1. It is indeed conducive for family bonding :D

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  36. Goodness me! That covered, herb garden is amazing. I dream to have something like that one day.

    You surely enjoyed every bit of it.

    I wonder if perhaps you tried some herbal tea and what kind were growing in the garden.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes I tried some tea they offered but I was not particular with the name. Sorry :P

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  37. I went here once with my college friends. The view and food is magnificent. Can't wait to come back with my hubby and children. Thanks for sharing.

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  38. I've already heard good reviews about Sonya's Garden! I hope to visit and experience this place soon!

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    1. I hope my review compelled you to visit Sonya's sooner :p

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  39. WOW!!!! I want to go there. Bookmarking this for future travel. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  40. Love Sonya's Garden! They have the best buffet spread ever! Plus I love their breads too. Very tasty. =)

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    1. I got to taste only their Spanish bread. My mom bought several packs and gave it to relatives. It was quite pricey but very good :D

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  41. Their room decor reminds me of the province. I miss the province! I grew up in one. Hoping I can go here too someday. :)

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    1. Take photos of the cottage you will rent if your family decides to do it over night. I would like to see the interiors of the others as well :)

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  42. A friend of mine got married there, though I was not invited, I saw that they all enjoyed the the romantic event and it was the best wedding our church had. I still dream of coming and experiencing what you had!

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    1. I"m sure you'll be able to experience this too :D

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  43. I've heard of that place many times but haven't had the chance to visit it...looking at it was very romantic and very relaxing...hope to visit it soon :-)

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    1. Go visit Sonya :) the best time is to go there during the ber months when the air is cool!

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  44. the place looks so cozy! will show this to hubby! :D

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  45. Oh Farida, what a wonderful place in which to relax and soak up your surroundings. You can return there in thought many times over with both your memories and beautiful photographs.
    I especially love the look of that patio - so inviting! :D)

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    1. It is indeed a wonderful place and I would love to visit again soon :D

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  46. Farida

    Thanks for dropping by my blog.

    From the photos, this is certainly a cool place to be. So calm. Even from the photos I feel more relaxed.

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  47. That vacation place is lovely, enchanting and I can see how it would be relaxing. Thanks for sharing that, the picture variety showed a wonderful place.

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  48. I wanna go to this part of Tagaytay, too, kaso steep daw masyado ang slope dito ah. Your photos are heartwarming. :)

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    1. I don't know about the steep slope but the place is on a flat land and it's a huge farm turned into a garden!

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  49. This place is truly awesome. How I wish I could take a vacation in a place like that. Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos.

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  50. It has been my wish to go to Sonya's Garden. I've heard so much about it. Thanks for the photos. At least I've seen its interiors ans it's already as if I've been there.

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    1. The interiors I think differ from cottage to cottage. Nonetheless, the "feel" might be the same. You're welcome :)

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  51. What a lovely place! I've been wanting to visit Sonya's Garden a long time ago, but I never really found time to. :( This blog makes that want even more stronger. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You're welcome. Go visit Sonya the soonest :D

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  52. I recorded the "kundiman" the last time we went there. It never fails to make my husband smile whenever I play it.:-)

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    1. I heard that Sonya hires all the people living within their area to give them some source of livelihood like the old man who plays kundiman in his guitar :D

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  53. I think I will be planning a trip there with my family.. I love the place as i really love nature so much! Will definitely enjoy to see the place in real. Thanks for sharing Sis! :)

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    1. You're welcome and I"m sure you'll enjoy the place with your family!

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  54. First time to hear about Sonya's Garden, hope our family will have a chance to visit, looks pleasant eh!

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    1. It is very pleasant and hope your family will have the chance to visit it too :D

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  55. What a beautiful views this is :-) beautiful pictures too :-) it is hard to pick which one is my fave :-) I am glad that you spend fun time with the family :-)

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    1. I'm glad too that you found the place beautiful!

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  56. lovely place, love the last pic ;)

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  57. this is really such a beautiful place to visit! i have read a lot about this little piece of paradise outside the city + i cannot wait to visit this place one day!

    thanks for sharing this :)

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    1. You're welcome and hope you find time to visit this paradise :)

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  58. Sonya's Garden look so tranquil! I'll be visiting this place hopefully, next week. I actually got more excited upon reading your blog post! :D

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    1. It is indeed tranquil there. Hope you find the visit enjoyable like I did!

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  59. I have so many beautiful memories in Sonya's! We had our wedding there, it's beautiful! :D

    Tin of http://ohhthat.blogspot.com

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    1. Wow, a wedding at Sonya's! Please show us some photos :D

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  60. We passed by this place one summer time supposedly to have lunch. However, my companions weren't interested on what's on their menu so we just bought some baked goodies pasalubongs on their store and then strolled around. The place is indeed peaceful and relaxing!

    Nice photo op you had with your family! All lovely!

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    1. Their baked breads are quite salable and very delicious too. Sonya's cater only to those who prefer mostly vegetables and fish dishes.

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  61. I've been reading and hearing about this place and by the looks of it, basing on your photos, it's worth a visit in the near future ;)

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    1. It is :D Hope you find time to visit this beautiful place!

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  62. beautiful photos, beautiful family:)

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  63. the place is so beautiful! I'm sure you and your family enjoyed your stay there.

    **visiting from BC bloggers**

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    1. Yes we tremendously enjoyed the brief stay at Sonya's :D

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  64. i miss Sonya's.... :-) im trying to do my own Tarragon tea which i picked up from their tea during the buffet... :D

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    1. I miss the place too and wish to be there again soon :D

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  65. Farida dear,

    this garden looks marvelous,sure the owner has green thumb ;).
    you always look great,I admire you!

    take a good care
    love from Rome

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  66. Waahh ang hirap humanap ng post na wala pa akong comment hihihi...

    This place is one of the many places I'm dreaming to visit...

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