REVIEW | Hardin sa Tabing-Ilog Adventure Camp

It's been a long-time tradition for our church to spend the Holy Week together in an annual church camp. I've been to different campsites, some with better facilities, but I personally like this place. You can say it has a lot of potential, and a lot of charm!

Let me enumerate the reasons why I like this place and what other ways they can improve to better accommodate people in the future.

Hardin sa Tabing Ilog Adventure Camp is exactly what it says it is - a roughly landscaped camp facility beside the river.

Things I like about Hardin sa Tabing Ilog:

Nature! Natural forms of land and water are uncommon in the city nowadays. Kapag nakakita ka ng mapunong lugar sa siyudad, ang sinasabi natin, "parang probinsiya." (When we see trees in a city neighborhood, we say "it reminds me of the province.") It's sad but children's idea of rivers today are the heavily polluted ones in the city. It's refreshing to be this close to nature to see how trees and rivers are supposed to look like.

Bahay kubo. Cottages are scattered all throughout the property. Presko sa araw at malamig sa gabi. (It's pleasant in the morning and cold at night.) I think cottages better fit the setting and ambiance of the area.

Tents. No adventure is complete without the experience of sleeping in a tent! It's not totally uncomfortable though. The tent floor is lined with thin foam mattresses and pillows are provided.

Fun Outdoor Activities. As you can see, it's free to dip, swim or play games in the river. In this photo, the campers are getting ready for a "team-building" activity facilitated by the staff of Hardin sa Tabing Ilog.

Pets are allowed! I'm not really sure if this is a rule or an exception, but we're really thankful for it. We brought our dog, Xena kasi wala kaming mapag-iwanan. (There's no one else to look after her.) 

Very generous serving of food. The food is okay. It's a buffet. You can come back for seconds if you want to as long as supplies last. Sakto lang yung dami ng ulam pero yung kanin unli. (Unlimited rice!) I'm so full, I never even think of having merienda.

Hurray for electric fans! There's two electric fans in our room alone. In other campsites, some of the campers need to bring their own, but there's more than enough here.

The staff here are courteous, honest and very accommodating. We can leave gadgets anywhere in the campsite and expect them to stay where we left them.

Did you know that it's an events venue? They can make arrangements for weddings, birthdays, and other occasions. 

What Hardin sa Tabing Ilog can improve:

I didn't go to camp expecting the convenience of home. I like this place the way it is now and I've learned to adapt to it during our 3-day stay. Here are some of the things other campers may have difficulty or issue of that I think the campsite management should consider.

Safety. The property is on a downward slope approaching the riverbank. The lack of handrails and barriers is a main concern especially to the elderly and children. Hopefully more railings will be built in the future. If you're planning to bring kids, make sure you watch them at all times.

Small sleeping area. We're cramped mainly because we have exceeded the campsite's limit. There's more than 200 of us and the facilities can only accommodate around 150. But the room I stayed in was really small (not the one in the photo). The depth of the room is just a little longer than the length of the bunk bed and the width is 3.5 meters more or less. There's an extra mattress provided for extra campers. I don't mind sleeping on the floor but I think this would be an issue for some people.

Water interruption. Like I said, our group have exceeded the limit of the number of guests the campsite can accommodate. There were times we had to use the restrooms farther from our room because the one closest to us doesn't have water. I think the camp management should consider having a larger capacity of water storage to address this problem. For a quick solution, they can provide water drums in toilets and shower rooms just to make sure there's an emergency supply.

Network service: little to none. I don't see this as a problem because I purposely left work at home. I understand there are campers who still need to keep track of work and business matters while in the camp.

Tip: There's still decent network reception in some parts of the dining area and some areas that are close to the road. I hope this helps.

How campers can better adapt at Hardin sa Tabing Ilog Campsite:

Have the right attitude. You are out of your comfort zone. Instead of nitpicking, be appreciative of the nature that is around you! Be positive!

Bring bug spray or lotion. When you're immersed in nature, you can't avoid encounters with insects and creepy crawlies so bring an insect repellent with you.

Flashlight. The pathways are lighted at night but you can never be too careful walking on a sloping property.

Blanket. In rural settings weather can be a bit unpredictable. It can be hot in the afternoon and super cold at night so bring a blanket with you.

Easy-drying towel and clothes - for a more carefree swimming experience in the river.

Be respectful. The river is not exclusive to campers. It's for public use. It's best to stick to the part of the river that's in front of the campsite property and respect other people's space. The barangay is also implementing a 10:00 PM curfew. Try your best to stay indoors and avoid making loud noises by that time.

My rating

★★★★☆

As you can tell, I'm totally charmed.

More info about this campsite:

facebook.com/HardinAdventureCamp
website: http://hardincampsitenasugbu.com/

Contact Details:

0927-970-6104 (Globe)
0917-546-7185 (Globe)
0928-728-6482 (Smart)
0925-741-1711 (Sun)

Email: hardincampsitenasugbu@yahoo.com


Images with watermark are mine.
Images without watermark are taken from the Hardin sa Tabing Ilog website.
This post is NOT SPONSORED.