The original plan was to make a road trip to La Union, but due to typhoon Egay, our host told us to re-schedule our visit. With the typhoon remnants, it would not be the best time to go to La Union at that time.
We thought of another destination and normally what comes to our mind in for quick getaway is Subic Bay, in Zambales. Anyway, Subic Bay or simply Subic is one of our top weekend destinations. The good thing about this former US Military Base is you can do several activities with just 10-15 minutes from one activity to the other.
You can play golf, shop, dine, or swim. To the more adventurous, you can trek, scuba dive, or explore other outdoor activities.
On a normal road condition, travel time from Metro Manila to Subic Bay only takes 2-3 hours
But during our trip last August 4-5, travel to Subic was challenging. There was a flooded portion at NLEX , specifically at San Simon area; it took us 2-3 hours to pass that portion because only one lane was passable; and, only big vehicles, like SUVs, vans, buses, and trucks can cruise because the water was above knee or knee-deep.
We had a sigh of relief as we approached and navigated the flooded portion of NLEX knowing that we were driving a Toyota Fortuner LTD – high or tall enough to stand this kind of road condition.
So, we easily navigated the flooded portion with ease. That’s the good thing of driving an SUV, especially in August, a disaster-prone month.
After passing the flooded portion of NLEX and entered the SCTEX toll plaza, we were about to push deeper the gas pedal when we saw the rerouting sign board. SCTEX was not passable due to some road repairs in some portions of the hi-way.
We were advised by a traffic personnel in the area to take the road going to Angeles City and then to Porac, Pampanga. There, we re-set Waze and guided us to take the Bataan-Olongapo Road. We suddenly remembered the old days when SCTEX was not an option yet. It means, we have to endure the long, narrow, hilly, & zig-zag road to Subic Bay via Olongapo City.
Hilly road? No problem. Fortunately, Fortuner LTD is equipped with Hill-start Alert Control which enables the vehicle to safely advance with ease from full stop when you are going uphill. Also, thanks to its Sport drive mode that gives you extra push, specially in a road condition like this.
Sharp curbs? Again, no problem. Thanks to its Vehicle Stability Control feature which keeps its occupants safe by preventing side skids and assisting in stabilizing the car when abruptly turning on a tight curb.
Finally, we reached Olongapo City, after 6 hours, at around 12:30pm without stress but comfortably sitting on the cabin. Thanks to the leather seat cover which is designed for premium comfort no matter how long the travel is or what the environment condition is.
At Subic Bay
All our road inconveniences along the way vanished when we reached our first stop – the Subic Bay International Golf Club (SIGC). Our host was very accommodating and treated us to a sumptuous lunch. Our friends from SIGC toured us to the entire 18-golf course. We totally forgot our challenging experiences along the way, because what we are seeing now are green grass, trees and forest and these separate SIGC from other golf courses. On normal golf round, according to our host, it is not uncommon to see monkeys, roaming around the golf course or in the forested area.
View from inside the Fortuner as we navigate several flooded portions of Mc Arthur highway in Apalit, Pampanga.
Before checking in to our hotel, we dropped by first at several duty-free and outlet stores inside Subic Bay.
After a long day on the road, it was a great confort to think that you would be staying in a luxury accommodation at Segara Villas. With their accommodating staff plus a sumptuous foods, Segara Villas was the perfect place to spend the night.
Going Home
On the way back to Manila, our travel app companion guided us again to take the Bataan-Olongapo Road and then to Mc Arthur Highway, instead of the usual NLEX route to avoid the heavy traffic in San Simon area. But, still it took us around 5 hours to reach Quezon City. The alternative road was also traffic due to some flooded portions along the highway, specially in Apalit, Pampanga. Only trucks, SUV’s, and vans can traverse the flooded portions of the road.
It was our first time to travel to Subic that long; and, also our first time to drive in a flooded road condition. Fortunately, we were with Fortuner. The roads were indeed tough, hilly, zig-zag, and flooded, but Toyota Fortuner LTD enabled us to move with ease and comfort.
The original plan was to make a road trip to La Union, but due to typhoon Egay, our host told us to re-schedule our visit. With the typhoon remnants, it would not be the best time to go to La Union at that time.
We thought of another destination and normally what comes to our mind in for quick getaway is Subic Bay, in Zambales. Anyway, Subic Bay or simply Subic is one of our top weekend destinations. The good thing about this former US Military Base is you can do several activities with just 10-15 minutes from one activity to the other.
You can play golf, shop, dine, or swim. To the more adventurous, you can trek, scuba dive, or explore other outdoor activities.
On a normal road condition, travel time from Metro Manila to Subic Bay only takes 2-3 hours
But during our trip last August 4-5, travel to Subic was challenging. There was a flooded portion at NLEX , specifically at San Simon area; it took us 2-3 hours to pass that portion because only one lane was passable; and, only big vehicles, like SUVs, vans, buses, and trucks can cruise because the water was above knee or knee-deep.
We had a sigh of relief as we approached and navigated the flooded portion of NLEX knowing that we were driving a Toyota Fortuner LTD – high or tall enough to stand this kind of road condition.
So, we easily navigated the flooded portion with ease. That’s the good thing of driving an SUV, especially in August, a disaster-prone month.
After passing the flooded portion of NLEX and entered the SCTEX toll plaza, we were about to push deeper the gas pedal when we saw the rerouting sign board. SCTEX was not passable due to some road repairs in some portions of the hi-way.
We were advised by a traffic personnel in the area to take the road going to Angeles City and then to Porac, Pampanga. There, we re-set Waze and guided us to take the Bataan-Olongapo Road. We suddenly remembered the old days when SCTEX was not an option yet. It means, we have to endure the long, narrow, hilly, & zig-zag road to Subic Bay via Olongapo City.
Hilly road? No problem. Fortunately, Fortuner LTD is equipped with Hill-start Alert Control which enables the vehicle to safely advance with ease from full stop when you are going uphill. Also, thanks to its Sport drive mode that gives you extra push, specially in a road condition like this.
Sharp curbs? Again, no problem. Thanks to its Vehicle Stability Control feature which keeps its occupants safe by preventing side skids and assisting in stabilizing the car when abruptly turning on a tight curb.
Finally, we reached Olongapo City, after 6 hours, at around 12:30pm without stress but comfortably sitting on the cabin. Thanks to the leather seat cover which is designed for premium comfort no matter how long the travel is or what the environment condition is.
At Subic Bay
All our road inconveniences along the way vanished when we reached our first stop – the Subic Bay International Golf Club (SIGC). Our host was very accommodating and treated us to a sumptuous lunch. Our friends from SIGC toured us to the entire 18-golf course. We totally forgot our challenging experiences along the way, because what we are seeing now are green grass, trees and forest and these separate SIGC from other golf courses. On normal golf round, according to our host, it is not uncommon to see monkeys, roaming around the golf course or in the forested area.
Before checking in to our hotel, we dropped by first at several duty-free and outlet stores inside Subic Bay.
After a long day on the road, it was a great confort to think that you would be staying in a luxury accommodation at Segara Villas. With their accommodating staff plus a sumptuous foods, Segara Villas was the perfect place to spend the night.
Going Home
On the way back to Manila, our travel app companion guided us again to take the Bataan-Olongapo Road and then to Mc Arthur Highway, instead of the usual NLEX route to avoid the heavy traffic in San Simon area. But, still it took us around 5 hours to reach Quezon City. The alternative road was also traffic due to some flooded portions along the highway, specially in Apalit, Pampanga. Only trucks, SUV’s, and vans can traverse the flooded portions of the road.
It was our first time to travel to Subic that long; and, also our first time to drive in a flooded road condition. Fortunately, we were with Fortuner. The roads were indeed tough, hilly, zig-zag, and flooded, but Toyota Fortuner LTD enabled us to move with ease and comfort.
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