Bellarocca Island Resort: A Beautiful Rock

Inside our villa, my dream home, everything was perfect. It was like everything else didn't matter. But of course it did. We had to go out at some point. For one, we had to eat. We brought in enough snacks, but not real food. Besides, I really wanted to try out their restaurant The only negative comment of this resort is about the food in the restaurant so I wanted to check them out myself.

On our 3-day stay in the island, we were able to try 4 complete meals from the restaurant. The menu was very limited but acceptable. Its not like anyone will be staying there for a month. They also had a buffet but we didn't try them. We weren't big on eating so it wouldn't be worth it. Two meals plus drinks for the both of us costs around 1000 Php. Only on our last night, we indulged on their expensive meals and desserts, and our check got a little overboard. 

complimentary bread, butter and jam

Contrary to the negative reviews, the food was actually good. Its expensive but really worth it. I guess they've made a few adjustments to the menu after receiving those comments. Too bad I wasn't able to take a picture of anything we ordered. We were always hungry every time we went to the restaurant and they all looked so yummy that I couldn't take the time to stop and snap at least one photo before we ate them. Aside from the gorgeous and classy restaurant, guests may opt to have their meals in the garden or in other exclusive areas in the island - subject to certain charges, of course.

Hotel Facilities and Marina Cafe and Bar

Terazzas and Hotel Lap Swimming Pool

After our lunch on the second day, we were scheduled for a free tour around the island. First stop was the hotel rooms. These are the cheapest accommodations you can get in the island. If you just want to experience staying in the island and trying out its amenities, then this is the way to go. Plus, its in the same building as the restaurant and its steps away from the infinity pool. Well, they're not really cheap, I think it costs around 30,000 Php per night. If you're lucky, you can get promo rates for a lesser price. Next to the infinity pool are the more expensive terrazas. They are like the villas without the backyard. The casas are like the terrazas but they're located on the far end of the island. 

Bellarocca Spa

Inside the spa room

We were also able to visit the other facilities in the island during our short tour. There's a bar/cafe where they organize movie nights and other parties for the guests. It can fit around 20 people. There are also venues for weddings (for rich people) and the like. There is also a spa at the top of the island. Its very exclusive and very relaxing. But of course, their rates are crazy expensive. We didn't even consider trying them. On the lower part of the island is a mini, man-made beach where people can try out water sports activities. Another infinity pool can be found here where most of the guests hang out. We didn't get the chance to try any of the pools and the beach because it was always crowded. 

the beach, seaside swimming pool and outdoor venue

Needless to say, we didn't spend much time outside the villa. But all in all, the entire Bellarocca experience was wonderful and perfect. The staff were nice and friendly. The food was superb. The facilities were great. And the villa, oh my villa. I don't think we'd be able to afford another trip back there any time soon. But I have enough great memories with me to last a very long time. This remains as the most expensive trip we've had so far, but I say, indulge yourself every once in a while because you know you deserve it. 

Till next time. :)

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa 
Province of Marinduque, Philippines
http://www.bellaroccaresorts.com/

Tuggy's Travel

Contact Tuggy at +63 928 554 6564 / +63 2 892 4120

http://www.tuggystravel.com/

http://www.facebook.com/tuggstravel

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Bellarocca Island Experience - The Villa

From the reception area, one of the staff assisted us to our villa. We could actually walk from there but he insisted we take the golf cart instead. All the villas were named after Gods and Goddesses, still aligned with the Greek Theme of the resort. Ours is named Aphrodite and oh how appropriate of a name it was.

Upon entering the huge double doors, we were welcomed to a small foyer that has a great view of the backyard and a small fountain in the pocket garden against a glass window. The staff walked us around the villa first, giving us a few instructions on how to use the facilities and equipment. I couldn't hide my excitement. I was almost jumping at my feet while he showed us each room.Our bags came in shortly after. Did I mention that the last time I saw them was at the airport in Manila? The staff took care of them all since we landed. We had the full-on luxury experience of a lifetime.

view from the foyer

Before he left, he taught us how to use the espresso machine. Yeah. We had our own freakin' espresso machine. It became my favorite item in this kitchen. Not that I didn't like the top of the class stove and refrigerator. We didn't get to use them though. I would've brought my favorite instant mac & cheese if I knew we could cook them there. Right next to the kitchen is a maid's room. Its a pretty decent one. It had its own air-conditioning, complete with beddings and pillows and all. Even has its own bathroom. Pati si yaya naka-bakasyon kung sakali.

the kitchen 

The dining room is exquisite. (Gosh, I'm running out of words to describe this place!) It has an elegant long table with cushioned chairs stowed underneath. Its very simple yet elegant. We had our plates set up for us but all that was served were a few local fruits. The best part of the table was the collection of mini liquor bottles carefully placed on the far end. I would've loved to try them all but, of course, it came with a price which I'm not willing to pay. Not in this island, that is.

the dining room

Just like how it was described in the voucher, the living room has a Sony Bravia LCD TV (42") with complete DVD Player and state-of-the-art home theatre stereo system, satellite cable TV, iPod dock and Hi-Fi compact sound system. Just, wow. All of that situated along with this comfy sofa set. We spent our first night here after renting a couple of DVDs from the library.

the living room 

booze and dvds

When we thought things couldn't get any better, we found the bedroom. It had the same electronic equipment as the living room plus the king size bed with the comfiest pillows and sheets ever. Every corner of the villa had its own air-conditioning equipment. (Is this really what its like in rich people's houses?) Further into the bedroom is THE masters bathroom. Its the single most amazing bathroom I've ever seen. Later on, I found out that this bathroom is actually on the list of top luxury bathrooms in the country. Who would've thought there's such a list? It has a rain shower, double sink vanities, a jacuzzi whirlpool bathtub (that creates bubbles) and a complete range of luxurious bath amenities (we got L'Occitane) replenished daily. And it was huge, I tells ya.

THE bathroom

And then finally, the backyard. The dining room, living room, bedroom and bathroom had individual glass doors leading to the backyard. This part was as convenient as it was difficult. We could practically get in and out of the house from anywhere in the backyard, but we had to close them too at some point. Its not that security is an issue. I'm just not comfortable leaving them open all the time. But most importantly, we had a backyard! Here we have an infinity pool, an outdoor jacuzzi, a pocket garden and a sun deck. This is where we spent most of our time. I mean, how couldn't we? How many time could you actually have all these amenities to yourself? Plus, we had the most amazing view of the ocean (or sea?), the mountains and the sunset. I just couldn't ask for more.

the infinity pool 

the outdoor jacuzzi

To be continued…

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa 
Province of Marinduque, Philippines
http://www.bellaroccaresorts.com/


Tuggy's Travel
Contact Tuggy at +63 928 554 6564 / +63 2 892 4120
http://www.tuggystravel.com/
http://www.facebook.com/tuggystravel

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The Journey to Bellarocca Island

The day has finally arrived. All our bags are packed and we are so ready to go. Our bags, by the way, contain loads of goodies. We brought as much food as we can to save some money because we expected that the meals in the restaurant would be expensive. We weren't charged for corkage or anything so I guess its not prohibited. 

to Marinduque via Zest Air

And maybe just to prolong the waiting, our flight was delayed by an hour. It was raining by the time we left Manila but it didn't stop us from leaving. Thank God. The plane was really small. I think less than 30 people can fit in it. Its cute actually. Knowing that most people on board the plane were also guests in Bellarocca made it kinda exclusive. It was a short flight from Manila to Marinduque, probably the shortest I've had since Naga. I didn't even had the chance to warm my seat when the pilot announced our landing.

at the Marinduque Airport

Once we've stepped on the Marinduque Airport, everything else was a bliss. We were greeted by the resort staff with a bottle of cold water and towels to freshen up. They asked for our names to verify our reservations and then led us to a van while they take our baggages from the counter. There were 6 of us in our van, the other van was much more loaded. We had a very comfy 40-minute ride through the province of Marinduque. Its very peaceful out there, but most important of all, the weather was perfect. The staff in our van told us a few facts about the province and the resort which only heightened our anticipation.

After the land transfer, we had to take another 10-minute boat ride to reach the island. There were two boats waiting for us at the dock. We took a few photos from there while the staff loaded our bags to the boats. The first sight of the island is unforgettable. Its surreal. From afar, you'll see the greens forest and white structures shaped like an elephant stuck in the sea. I couldn't stop taking photos even during the boat ride. 

the Bellarocca Island

On the island, we were welcomed with flowers and serenades from more resort staff. Then they brought us up to the reception area using golf carts. (Too bad we couldn't drive them by ourselves. I've always wanted to try that.) All guests gathered at this fab reception area for some introduction from the Resort Manager. They gave us welcome refreshments while we sign a few more papers for the reservations and wait for our rooms to get ready. 

welcome drinks and welcome letter

And at last, we reached our final destination, our home for 3 days, the villa. I couldn't even begin to describe how wonderful this piece of structure is. Seeing it made my dream house into a reality. I didn't even know what I wanted my house to be until I saw it with my own eyes. And it was there. In the freakin' gorgeous island of Marinduque. 

the Villa

To be continued...

The villa, the restaurant and more about the resort on my next blog. :)

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Bellarocca | A Dream in the Making

Photo courtesy of Bellarocca Island Website

I couldn't take my mind of Bellarocca ever since I found it on the internet while searching my next destination. It became on the top of my list of places I wanted to see before I die. Their rates are crazy high and it would take me forever to save up for it. But then, forever came too soon. 

When the era of group buying sites began, I took advantage of my unlimited internet access to check on their latest offers. Naturally, I was keen on getting the best travel discounts I could get. All the time, I hoped I'd run into a deal for Bellarocca. It came soon enough on Deal Grocer but I wasn't totally convinced so I waited for other options. I found another one on a travel agency's website, anywherephilippines.com. Their rates are quite acceptable and we were seriously considering it. Until I met Ruthy from Tuggy's Travels. If this was a fairy tale, she would be my fairy godmother. I saw her deal on Facebook:

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa
► Marinduque
► http://bellaroccaresorts.com/► 2D/1N in a One-Bedroom Villa
► includes:
- roundtrip land & sea transfers (Marinduque Airport-Resort-Marinduque Airport),
- Welcome refreshments at the Resort.
- Intimate and luxurious accommodation with individual climate control; Sony Bravia LCD TV (42") with complete DVD Player and state-of-the-art home theatre stereo system, satellite cable TV, Ipod dock (upon request and subject to availability) and Hi-Fi compact sound systems, in-suite safe, mini bar, pillow selections, modern bath and shower facilities with complete range of luxurious bath amenitites, a private balcony/verandah, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, entertainment/game room, and library.
- All villas have its own eternity pool, Jacuzzi, pocket garden.
- Complimentary internet connectivity in the accommodation (cable) and public areas (Wi-Fi).
- Complimentary drinking bottles of water in the room, replenished daily.
- Complimentary coffee & tea selections in room.
- Golf cart service
- Complimentary access to the resort's range of exclusive facilities and recreational activities, i.e. 9-hole golf course, 2 main swimming pools, tea house, meditation sanctuary, fitness gym, entertainment room, among others.
► inclusive of taxes and service charge
► Not valid during Peak periods
► Valid until 8/31 and 11/30 

I just died. A 1 bedroom villa? I wondered how much an overnight stay would cost. Other deals could only offer a deluxe room and I couldn't even afford that. But this one is a 1 bedroom villa. You get to have your own infinity pool, an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi, and all the good stuff that comes with a 1 bedroom villa. I wanted it so bad. I felt like I owed it to myself to at least inquire for their rates. So I sent Ruthy a message and she immediately responded.

I practically begged her to give us a huge discount. She was very accommodating and even arranged for me to do the bargaining with his boss, Tuggy. I always thought I had good negotiating skills and this was exactly what I needed when I bargained with Tuggy over his Bellarocca vouchers. Eventually, we made a deal that was acceptable for both of us. I immediately called my boyfriend to inform him of the deal I made with Tuggy and I could hear his happiness equalling mine. We closed the deal and arranged a meet up for the payment and the vouchers. We couldn't trust them enough back then to just simply make a deposit for the payment, I mean, I've never heard of Tuggy's Travels until I met Ruthy. Its quite a large sum of money. We had to make sure it wasn't some sort of a scam. Well obviously, it wasn't, and I couldn't be happier. We made more deals with Tuggy after this one, but that's a different story. 

We dropped by Tuggy's office in Makati where I met him and Ruthy. Apparently, Tuggy works for a travel magazine and is currently based in the Philippines. He's originally from London which made it somehow difficult to communicate (major nosebleed). He explained a great deal about his work and his business. We made conversations about his personal life, his travels and our travels. Quite a funny guy. He even gave us copies of his magazine which featured a lot of tourist spots here in the country, including Bellarocca. Which leads us back to the vouchers. He showed us a couple more of his vouchers for other resorts. He's got plenty and I was eyeing each one of them. Right then I just knew I haven't seen the last of Tuggy's Travels. 

When we've finally concluded our little chat, we handed him the check and he gave us our vouchers. Getting our hands on the vouchers made it official. This is really it. My dream come true. 

I was so happy that I had to share the deal I made to my friends. And I owed it to Tuggy to promote his business after giving us a good price. I also promised to keep the price he gave us a secret. I think he'd be out of business if people started bargaining with him like we did. Anyway, I was able to refer a good friend of mine and she got a good deal with him too. So I guess I wasn't totally out of line. 

We arranged the reservation with Bellarocca right after we got the vouchers. My boyfriend and I decided to schedule it on his birthday in October. We made the deal in May. That was a very long wait. 

The booking was made thru Ms. Venus, a Reservations Manager of Bellarocca, and was finalized within a week. We immediately booked a flight to Marinduque following the dates we have reserved for the villa. For vacations in such resorts with limited capacity, ALWAYS reserve your accommodation first before your flight. Its easier to modify reservations on resorts than on flights. Had to learn this the hard way.

The only commercial airline that flies to Marinduque is ZestAir. Here are the flight schedules provided by Bellarocca management (valid as of October 2011).

We chose a Saturday to Monday trip, which was our BIGGEST regret up to this day. Its the shortest trip of them all! But we did have our reasons:

1) Longer stay means more meals and more meals means more expenses. Food in the island is crazy expensive. 

2) For some reason, those days have the cheapest flights when compared with others 

So we just thought a few hours wouldn't make much difference. But we were so wrong. The additional expenses of staying a bit longer could've been all worth it. 

The flight and accommodations are booked. Now the waiting game begins. 

Spent the following months reading articles and blogs about the island, looking at pictures, dreaming of the day when it'll be our turn. 

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa 
Province of Marinduque, Philippines
http://www.bellaroccaresorts.com/

Tuggy's Travel
Contact Tuggy at +63 928 554 6564 / +63 2 892 4120
http://www.tuggystravel.com/
http://www.facebook.com/tuggstravel

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Pearl Farm Beach Resort | Savoring Our Last Day

For our last day in Pearl Farm, we woke up a bit earlier to have breakfast and take a dip in the pool before we check out. 

They have different dishes laid out that morning. But same as the day before, i hovered all the bacon i can get and also snatched up a couple of yogurt cups. Yummy. By this time, the waiters already knew our room number so they didn't ask us anymore when we took one of the tables in the restaurant. It was still early when we finished eating so it was easy to get a cottage by the pool. The day tour guests don't come until 9am, that is when the first boat trip to the island is scheduled to arrive. All the people there are the ones who checked-in overnight which makes it really private in a way. After a quick swim, we went back to our Samal House, packed up our stuff and prepared to leave. This is the part I hate the most. 

Check-out time is at 12nn. At the reception area, we were handed with all the receipts of the meals we had during our stay. We were glad we're still on our budget. We paid for our dues and left our bags there before we headed for lunch. There's a boat trip that leaves at 1pm, we could've taken that ride after eating but decided not to because we got nothing planned for an afternoon in Davao City. 

Lunch at Maranao Restaurant

The restaurant was unusually unfilled at lunch time. In fact, the entire resort is quite deserted. It was a Monday so I guess there aren't many day trippers on weekdays. We ordered a meal that was just enough for the both of us. And as we paid for our meal, we also gave the waiters a tip. Finally. I don't usually give tips. I'm not a tipper. But I thought we should at least give them something before we leave. They were pretty nice during our stay anyway. 

After lunch, we let the 1pm boat pass and just waited in the restaurant for the last trip back to the city which is at 4pm. We had 3 hours to waste and just spent it playing games on our iPads again. We ordered another round of buko which became a favorite in this island. Then soon came the time to leave. Took some final souvenir photos, boarded the boat, and then sailed away into the sea.

 Gong displayed at the entrance with a view of the Samal Houses

Our boat ride back to Marina Wharf

Same as the last time, the boat trip to the Marina Wharf took about 45 minutes. Included in our package are the round trip airport transfers but we were not leaving just yet. Since our flight is not until 9:45pm, we still had some time to buy pasalubong and grab some dinner in the city. One of the mistakes we made in this trip is that we didn't do enough research as to where to buy local delicacies. We counted on the Pearl Farm staff to lead us to a store like any other resort staff that we've been into did. But sadly, they were not helpful at all. They insisted that we avail their 3-hour City Tour that costs Php 1,500. But we didn't have that money to spare for a tour we didn't really want. So instead of driving us to the airport, we asked the driver to drop us to the nearest pasalubong shop in the city. I think we had a little misunderstanding right there. He dropped as off at a mall and said we could just get a cab from there that would drive us at some place we could buy pasalubong. So rude. We totally didn't expect that from them. But we had no choice. With all our luggages, we stormed into the city in search of the goods we need. When we couldn't find anything in the mall we were in, we decided to sit in a corner and do what we should've done before we came to Davao, RESEARCH. Good thing my boyfriend brought his pocket wifi with him, reception in the city was good, by the way. Then he found this place called Aldevinco which is about a 15-minute drive from where we were. We immediately hailed a cab and asked the driver to bring us there. Its late afternoon and we unluckily entered the rush hour. But the cab driver knew his way around the city. We arrived the place which was appeared to be a group of stalls selling antiques, arts and crafts, clothes and other local products that we had no interest in buying at all. I just wanted to buy suha for my mom and some durian delicacies to bring to the office. But as we looked around, I realized there was no way we would be getting it there. By this time, I was already tired and frustrated, and the weather was so freakin' hot adding more stress to my afternoon. Eventually, we found a couple of stalls selling suha and just bought everything we could carry along with our bags. I don't really know anything about suha, I don't even eat them, I hate this fruit family. After much bargaining and harassment with the sellers, we finally got what we wanted and left for our next destination. 

We went to Jack's Ridge to grab some dinner. The place is much like Antipolo. There are restaurants lined up around a cliff overlooking the city. It was amazing. The view brought me some relief from the stress of the earlier events. We settled into one of the tables in the restaurant and made our order. The menu is just plain Filipino food. Grilled meat is their specialty, I think. While waiting for our dinner, I grabbed my camera and took some shots around the place. People started coming shortly and the restaurant is suddenly full. I realized it was already dinner time and if we have come 30 minutes later than we did, we probably wouldn't get a seat right away.

View from Jack's Ridge

Cabs are quite abundant in the city. We got into one at no time at all. It was a short ride to the airport and the cab driver was really nice and chatty. He shared his own experience in Manila a few years back. Oddly enough, we didn't even tell him we were from Manila. Is it that obvious? 

The Davao International Airport is quite lovely. From the outside, I'm reminded of the airport in Puerto Princesa. But its just much more bigger in the inside. It has high ceilings, a couple of escalators and lots of check-in counters. Its looks good compared to other airports in the country's provinces, but well, its an International Airport so I think its just right. We have guaranteed our seats through the web check-in program the night before. This feature is very convenient i must say. After checking in our bags, we had less than an hour to spend at the airport. We found a couple of stalls selling local delicacies and took our moment to shop for pasalubong. It was a bit pricey but we had no choice. I have to bring something home. We let time pass by watching another episode of my new favorite TV series (Revenge). Boarding started right after we finish the episode. Our iPads have been very good companions during this vacation. Never had an idle time at all, thanks to these buddies. 

Our adventure didn't end when we arrived in NAIA. No one was picking us up from the airport and we have saved just enough money for a cab to bring us home. I read this blog about getting cheaper taxis on the departure area of terminal 3. They are the regular metered taxis that bring passengers to the airport. We could save half of the money we would've spent on airport taxis down at the arrival area of the airport. Though it was almost midnight and it wasn't advisable because taxis are rare at this time of the night.

We took our chances and went up to the departure area along with other passengers of some other flights. It was a nightmare. Everyone was fighting really bad for a cheaper cab ride home. There wasn't a line of any sort. Only people running around chasing after the next cab to arrive at the stands. And the cab drivers, with their usual attitude, took advantage of this and asked for additional charges. Whoever agrees to his demand gets him. Its like a bidding out there. We've waited for so long, giving in for others cause i was still playing nice, until I've just had enough. I was already tired and wasted, and most importantly, I have go to work in a few hours! So I put my game face on and fought for the next cab that came in. I was able to work an arrangement to share a cab with two other girls who were also desperate to go home. It wasn't what I had in mind and it was kind of risky, I know. But I was too tired to care. Luckily, we arrived home in one piece. 

All in all, it was a great summer vacation. Short but sweet. It was the perfect way to celebrate our 1st anniversary together. I wouldn't have it any other way. Its a little pricier than other resorts in Samal Island but its all worth it. Maybe I'd share our expenses in this blog sometime. Though I probably wouldn't go back there in the next couple of years, maybe someday.

Our next vacation is already planned and I can't wait to blog about it. 

Till next time. 

Pearl Farm Beach Resort 

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines

http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/

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Pearl Farm Beach Resort | Around and About

Since we practically slept through most of our 1st day in the island, we decided to make our 2nd day more eventful. 

The breakfast buffet is until 10am only. The plan was to eat as much as we can so it can serve as our brunch. I was excited for breakfast because I know there will be unlimited bacon. Oh I love bacon. They have plenty of food choices in the buffet. But I decided to concentrate on rice meals and then took all the bacon I can get. Brewed coffee is free, thank God.

After brunch, we went to the other side of the island, to where the Mandaya Beach and Mandaya Houses were located. Its a short walk from the restaurant. On the way, we passed by a small garden with a pond, a man-made falls and a couple of bird cages. The Mandaya Beach is larger than the Maranao Beach but much more deserted. As in no one was swimming in the beach. Rocks and shells are scattered on the shore. It has white sand though its not fine at all. Much like the ones in the beaches of Batangas. There's also a huge rock in the middle of the shore and we were wondering how the hell it got there. But then maybe its been there ever since and they just left it there as a landmark or something. There are a few large cottages by the beach, but of course, they are occupied as well. We also saw the "game room" that has a billiard table on the first floor and a gym upstairs. Further off the beach are the Mandaya Houses that surrounds the pool. This pool is a bit crowded and all the cottages here are full. Found nothing special about the place. Maybe you'll get to enjoy it more if you stayed in one of the Mandaya Houses since its just a few steps away from the pool and the beach. We left shortly and went back to our usual hangout. 

the secluded Mandaya Beach

Mandaya Swimming Pool 

We rushed to the Maranao Beach hoping we could still get a cottage but all we got was a chair. It was fine since we were not planning to stay for too long. Even though all the cottages are taken, there were only 2 other groups swimming in the beach with us. Maybe because it was almost noon and the sun was striking hard on us. But we didn't mind at all, the sunblock lotion will have to protect us from the sun's harmful rays. 

our favorite Maranao Beach 

Eventually, we got tired and hungry from all that swimming. The restaurant was too much crowded already so we just decided to have lunch delivered in our room and rest for a while before we breeze out into the sun again. We ordered pizza and pasta, and as usual, it was too much for us. They didn't taste that good either. I'm okay with cold pizza, so we just finished all the pasta and placed the left over pizza in the fridge. 

Next on our itinerary is a visit to the Malipano Island. Its like a 2-minute boat ride from Samal Island and going there is free. Yay! In the Parola Wharf was a speed boat waiting for us. We have it all for ourselves and the driver was very friendly. He even offered to take our photo on the way. As we got near the island, I noticed the water there was really deep. There is a small swimming area around the shore and that's where I plan to stay. When we left the boat, another group came in heading back to Samal Island. Then I realized there wasn't really a boat schedule like they said during the orientation. People can actually come and go the island as they please. 

Malipano Beach 

Malipano Island is as secluded as any other beach in the resort. There are a couple of chairs hiding under the trees near the beach. We crashed in the best set of chairs and appreciated the view for a while. Its breathtaking. I can compare the sand to the ones in Boracay and Bohol. So white and fine. Though there are many corals on the beach. You'd have to wear your slippers if you want to go farther away from the shore. Its also quite difficult to swim because the water level in the swimmable area is just below my knee. We got out of the water in less than 5 minutes. It was too uncomfortable. But we didn't want to leave yet so we took a quick tour around the island. We followed the track around the Pavilion that leads you back to where you came from. There's nothing special there to see. Just a pond and a vast number of coconut trees. There is another trail that leads to a private area, its probably for the guests of the villas on the other side of the island. They have their own private beach there but I kinda feel we have our own back in Maranao Beach. 

The speed boat arrived shortly after we've requested the staff to bring us back to Samal Island. Its already late afternoon and the sun is about to set. I grabbed my tripod hoping to get a good shot of the sunset. We went back to Maranao Beach and I set up my gear there. While waiting for the sunset, we ordered another set of buko and took a swim in the beach. But the sun was hiding in the clouds as it sets and the sky gets darker as evening approaches. Its quite dangerous to swim the beach at dark, so we transferred to the pool and luckily found a spot to settle in. We stayed there till early evening and then went back to our Samal House to prepare for dinner. 

Before sunset

Maranao Pool at night

For dinner, we ordered Hainanese Chicken rice and I bet any Singaporean would protest to their cooking. Its quite cheap for a 1/2 chicken serving so we didn't expect much from it. Later that evening, we just chilled in our room watching TV, waiting for midnight to come.  (Its our anniversary, btw) As midnight came, we prepared coffee and ate our leftover pizza. Its not that romantic, I know. But we thought, hey we're in Pearl Farm, anything we do here is special. 

And just like that, our 2nd day in paradise has ended. 

Pearl Farm Beach Resort 
Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines
http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/

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Pearl Farm Beach Resort | Touchdown

Our flight to Davao was scheduled at 4am. Good thing there is a web check-in so we just had to be in the airport at least 45 mins before ETD. Thanks to Cebu Pacific's on time flight, we landed at Davao City Airport before 6am. The driver to pick us up from the airport was already waiting for us outside with a huge PEARL FARM signboard. We got into a car without waiting for any other passengers and headed straight to the wharf. Around 20 minutes later, we arrived at an empty Marina Wharf. I had time to explore the area and take some pictures. It was peaceful and clean, a very calming environment. As beautiful as it is, there isn't really anything much to do. There's swimming pool though i think it hasn't been used in a long time. The restaurant is just fine. We already had breakfast at NAIA so we just ordered some coffee to kill time. It wasn't until later that people started coming and the entire place got crowded by 8am.

at the entrance of Marina Whart

the Marina Wharf Cafe

the unswimmable swimming pool 

the dock

There were a lot of boats lined up in the pier. I think there were two boats headed to Pearl Farm that morning. The one we got into had around 30 passengers in it. They gave each of us a bottle of water before the boat left the dock. Its a 45-minute boat ride to the resort, just enough time to watch an episode of a TV Series (Revenge). It was quite a smooth ride. I didn't even notice we were nearly at the resort until people started jumping out of their seats and snapping photos. When the episode i was watching was finally over (its a good TV series, btw), I decided to join the crowd and take pictures of our first look at the paradise we'll be staying in for 3 days. 

the Samal Houses

the Parola

The island is amazing. The sea beneath us was so clean and clear you can see the fishes swimming around. On each side there are houses lined up on stilts made from some kind of wood. Lovely. There's also a small stretch of white sand beach with a couple of cottages and oh so comfortable chairs. You'll immediately notice the Parola, its a landmark in this resort. It looks old but well maintained. Its a 3 story structure - the 1st floor serves as the reception area, the 2nd floor is a bar, and the 3rd floor i completely forgot what it was for. A few staff from the resort were dancing and singing as our group arrived. They handed us a pineapple juice which i think was very refreshing. I mean, i'm not really a fan of pineapple in any form, but this one i liked. Once everyone has settled in the Parola, the host gave us a quick orientation about the resort facilities and amenities. He showed us a map of the resort, its huge. Before dismissing everyone, there was a raffle draw and we won the free snorkeling gear (which we didn't use at all). 

Map of the Island

The check-in time is at 2pm. The staff said they would let us check-in earlier if a room becomes available. But it was only 9am then and we had nothing to do! We were too tired and sleepy to swim or walk around the resort. So we just stayed in one of the cottages by the beach, ordered buko and played with our new iPad apps till we got hungry. We headed for lunch in their restaurant. It was still early for lunch and their lunch buffet was not yet ready so there were only a few people when we got there. The food in their restaurant is relatively cheap. We didn't trust the waiter when he said their servings are good for 2 people so we ordered 2 dishes. But we were wrong not to trust him. As usual, we had too much food on our plates. With the taste, I'd give it a 3 out of 5. It was good but not excellent. 

After we finished lunch, we looked for another place to hang out while waiting for our room. We found a couple of hammocks near the pond and stayed there, again playing on our iPad apps, killing time. Eventually, a room became available. HURRAY! We dropped our bags, inspected the room for a minute, then off to bed. We slept through the entire afternoon and woke up just in time for dinner. Dinner at the restaurant was different. There were fewer people occupying the tables (I guess most of the people during lunch were only there for a day trip) and there was an acoustic band serenading the room. We went for a night swim in the pool. The water was surprisingly warm. I considered ordering a bottle of beer but backed out when I saw their price. Geez. I could order 3 bottles in Manila for that price. So we just settled for some tea to cap off the night. Our first day and first night in the lovely Pearl Farm Beach Resort. 

Pearl Farm Beach Resort 

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines

http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/

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