Photo Op: The Pacific Cebu Resort

Located in the island of Mactan, the Pacific Cebu Resort is a decent alternative to high-end and pricey resorts such as the Shangrila, Crimson and Plantation Bay. Offering basic accommodations and amenities, its simple and rustic features appeal to a different kind of crowd. It is marketed primarily in Japan as a dive resort since Mactan Island offers a rich variety of marine life and dive spots, fast becoming a favorite among diving afficionados.

During my quick visit last week, I walked around and took some shots which I would like to share with you.

The restaurant, as viewed from the beach.

Villa rooms.

Standard rooms.

The pool.

Very fine, but not so white sand.

Currently, they have special rates for local tourists. Check out their affordable rates, ideal for budget-conscious travelers.

For more information, visit their website by clicking here.

Hot Air Balloons Plus More

Dubbed as "a weekend of everything that flies," the 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was indeed more than just hot air balloons.

There were kites in all shapes and sizes ...

... a propeller plane doing air stunts ...

... a number of paramotors, which wowed the crowd with their colorful canopies ...

... and jet planes which dazzled the crowd with their air maneuvers.

Still, the soaring hot air balloons were the most anticipated.

The activities lasted until evening with the "night glow" as the highlight, with the balloons glowing against the darkness.

 

Personally though, this sight on the ground - of my girls bonding with their cousins and an uncle - is the most beholden one of all.

 

Posted with Blogsy

The Other Side of Boracay

I had mixed feelings when I read recently that Boracay was named as the top beach destination by the Travel + Leisure Magazine. Having just visited the island a couple of weeks ago for a 3-day business trip, I was actually disappointed when I saw the stretch of Stations 1 to 3 now fully dotted with commercial establishments and teeming with quite a number of tourists on what is supposedly an off-peak season. While this is a boon for our travel industry and local business owners, it dampened my soul a bit as I looked forward to a less crowded island in July.

Luckily, we were billeted at the Sol Marina Boracay Resort located in Baling-hai Beach in the northwestern portion of the island. This was the former Club Panoly Resort and the property is now owned and managed by the same company which owns Zest Air. Already, plans are underway to build a 500-room structure to maximize the vast property.

With the elite and classy Shangrila Resort as its neighbor, the resort's beach cove remains pristine and exclusive. And this for me is what Boracay is all about. 

I felt like I was transported to paradise when I saw the wide expanse of sand still unencumbered with commercial developments. I hope that this remains as it is for travelers like me who enjoy nature's undisturbed glory. There were moments when I had this whole unspoiled beach all to myself and those were pure bliss.

Cagbalete Island Camping

Ever since I watched an episode about camping on Oprah about a couple of months ago, I "obsessed" about taking our family on a camping trip. Since then, I searched the internet for nearby camping sites. I considered Anawangin in Zambales but got too scared when I read about horrifying boat mishaps on the rough sea to get to the island. An office colleague then suggested Cagbalete Island, off Mauban in Quezon province and when I saw the reviews and the availability of resorts on the island, preparations for our "roughing it up" experience was underway.

We reserved a hut at Villa Cleofas Resort in case the girls won't sleep in the tents. And also to make sure that we would have a proper bathroom. (Let me get ahead of myself by saying that the hut didn't have its own bathroom and we had to use the common restrooms and shower stalls.) I bought tents, an additional sleeping bag and a rechargeable light with fan. I also packed our cooler and portable stove.

The "obsession" became a reality last April 28.

The drive from Manila to Mauban took about 4 hours. We passed by the towns of San Pablo, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya and Tayabas before finally reaching Mauban. We easily reached the port with plenty of time ahead of the 10am boat departure.

Suffice it to say the the port administrators need more organizational skills. On top of the boat fare, an "environmental fee" was also charged per passenger. At around 9:50 am, a local lady presented an alternate option to hire a private boat. It seemed that there were more passengers that could no longer be accommodated on the regular passenger boat. I immediately spoke to the other passengers who were to stay at Villa Cleofas Resort. In the end, we split the P 2,500 one-way fare with two other groups. (This option saved us from a 1.5 kilometer trek from Sabang Port to the resort which I read in other blogs.)

This was the banca which took us to Cagbalete Island. I almost backed out when I saw that there weren't even decent seats available. But I just took a deep breath and told myself that this was exactly what I signed up for. All 20 passengers Indian-sat on the deck, carefully distributing our weight to keep the boat balanced.

After 30 minutes on the boat, we saw a first glimpse of Cagbalete Island. Even from afar, the sand glimmered under the bright blue sky. 

Getting off the boat was another adventure in itself. As the tide was low, the boat could not reach the shore to unload us. We all got down on thigh-deep water, lugged our belongings, supplies and rations and walked about 750 meters to reach the shore. Under the scorching heat of the sun, I must add. But then again, I shut my mouth and did not dare complain. I just took it all in and summed it all up as part of the "roughing it up" experience.

Up close, the sand wasn't really pristine white and powdery. But the blue sea and sky were more than enough. We were finally on the island and away from the city jungle.

We set up our camp after we ate our prepacked lunch. The littlest one was our "tent master." Daddy just assisted her in setting up the tents.

 Once settled, these two wasted no time and scoured the beach for shells ...

 ... and delighted at the abundance of hermit crabs. Again, the littlest one bravely picked up the crabs while the ates freaked out.

After a quick nap, we all trekked to Bonsai Island. It was just a few meters off the shore of the resort. Though the tide was very low, the corals made the walk very uncomfortable. Halfway there, the husband and I almost gave up and wanted to turn back. The littlest one exclaimed: "We're Sulits! We never give up!" And so we trod on.

A number of photo shots later, we headed back to camp.

Dinner was grilled pork and fresh squid. We let the girls roast hotdogs. Too bad though that we didn't get to light a bonfire because the wind was very strong. Entertainment was provided by the littlest one (yet again) as she sang and danced. As I laid inside the tent that night, I heard my girls exchanging stories with each other. That put a contented smile on my face.

 The morning greeted us with a glorious sun rise. Waking up to this was pure bliss.

This was our humble camp. I have no qualms in doing this again. And I vow to buy portable chairs and a table for our next camping trip. Perhaps another of that sun dome tent because it had more ventilation.

I don't care much about my disheveled hair. I more than survived our adventure. Fact is, I actually enjoyed it. That smile on my face is enough proof that I live for bonding moments like this with my family.

Photo Op: Puerto del Sol (2008)

With my recent stay at Puerto del Sol, I felt a bit nostalgic and searched my files for the pictures I took in November 2008 when I first stayed in the resort. Even back then, I found the resort to be classy and chic. 

The pool looked so inviting and seemed to beckon us into hurrying with our official duties. 

If only I wasn't here on a business trip, I would have wasted no time and lounged on these by the poolside.

Late that afternoon, we had time to stroll down the coast. The tide had not come in and the water was just ankle deep. The breakwater was a few hundred meters off the shore but the roar of the waves could be heard even with the distance.

A few minutes passed and the horizon was ablaze with the sunset. Nature's way of ending the full day was simply awesome.

It took me three years and three months to go back to this serene place. Click here to read about my latest visit to Puerto del Sol. I vow to myself that the next time I set foot here would be on a leisurely break with my family.

Photo Op: Puerto del Sol Beach Resort

Nestled in the coastal town of Bolinao in Pangasinan, Puerto del Sol is a chic but homey resort/hotel boasting of AA Classification from the Department of Tourism. The resort offers an elegant ambiance as well as friendly and efficient service.

Last week, I was on my first business trip for 2012 and this resort was our first destination. The road trip took about five hours via STEX and the national highways of Tarlac and Pangasinan. We traversed the towns of Camiling, Mangatarem, Bugallon, Alaminos and Bani before finally getting to Bolinao. 

Upon our registration at the front desk, we were welcomed with a  necklace of tiny shells and given a glass of buko juice for refreshment. After almost half the day on the road, the drink was quite a welcome treat. We were then ushered to our room, passing through a walk covered with bougainvilleas in full bloom.

a canopy of bougainvilleas leading to the rooms

the Mansion Villas

lower level Mansion Villas

The rooms were simply furnished with the basic amenities covered. There were two double-sized beds, a mini-bar, provisions for instant coffee and/or tea, hot and cold shower, and WiFi internet inside the room.

our room

I didn't stay long inside the room though and chose to stroll on the grounds and observed a few fine additions to the resort compared to my first visit back in 2008. I noticed a game room, a dining set up by the pool area and some few cabanas were added. The souvenir shop found at the entrance of the restaurant had more stuff to offer.

trinkets, native crafts, home decor, shirts and dresses available

I parked myself at the La Playa, the resort's dining area by the beach, another new addition. After a few minutes, I was rewarded with a glorious view of the sunset.

With the fresh sea breeze blown in my face, all the stress associated with the city life melted away. Indeed, communing with nature soothes the tired and weary soul. 

Refreshed from a full 7-hour sleep, I woke up early the next day and savored the tranquil atmosphere. The resort staff were inconspicuous as they cleaned the pool and prepared the resort for another bright and sunny day.

the pool

I ventured out to the beach for a stroll along the coast...

beach entrance

...to enjoy the breathtaking skyline.

view to the left ;)

view to the right ;)

During breakfast, I noticed these guests who were onto a great photo opportunity for their Facebook album perhaps ;)

kayaking in barely knee-deep waters

... make for a great picture nonetheless

Seeing that made me wish I was with my family vacationing here instead. Pretty soon, we will. 

For more information about the resort amenities, rates and other offerings, view Puerto del Sol's website.

Disclosure: The company I work for has a business relationship with the owners of the resort. We were given free accommodations for our overnight stay. However, this post was made without either party's knowledge.