Been to : BORACAY

Every Filipino beach bums had been dreaming of going to the most popular Summer get-away of the Philippines, Boracay. So when I got the chance to finally set foot on this most talked about beach hub, I grabbed it right away.

If you are the relaxation-in-vacation type of person, here are some things you can do when in Boracay:

1. People Watching

 Boracay is one of the best places where you can just sit and watch people. They come in different nationalities, different races, different colors and different shapes. Thus, perfect sunglasses do come in handy as you settle in the white beaches of Boracay. 

2. Finish the NOVEL you've been eyeing to read.

 If you do not want to try the water sports Boracay has to offer, reading a book in a bench is good idea. Look for a perfect spot where you won't get toasted, wear a nice piece of bikini, bring a bottled water or order some fresh fruit shake and you are good to go.

 

3. Watch the beautiful sunset.

 Boracay has one great view of the Sunset and a Boracay visitor should never miss it. The setting would be more romantic if you have a love one with you. Go to the seashore around 4 in the afternoon and start waiting for the sun to set. It is also the best time for meditation as you savor the natural beauty of God's amazing creations.

4. Walk or Jog

 With different food stations and restaurants Boracay has, most likely, you will over-eat. To warm you and your sore butt up, take a walk or jog along the shore lines of Station 1 to Station 3 of Boracay. It is also one way of checking the shops, restaurants and more shops Boracay has without spending much.

5. Take a lot of Picture

 Being in Boracay gives you the right to become a camwhore. Make sure to take a photo of you with the popular stores, shops, hotels and restaurants in all stations. Your Boracay experience would not be complete without you taking a picture with the white sand and the ocean as the background.

These are the very few of the things you can do in Boracay. If you are more into adventure, they offer a lot of water activity packages, make sure to ask around first before saying yes to a package.

Enjoy Boracay!

Been to: Bluejazz Resort, Samal

Last August 19, 2011, the whole family troop to Davao to attend the Awarding Ceremony of my father for his 20 years service to PAGCOR  (Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation), just in time for the Davao's celebration of the famous Kadayawan.

As a gift, our father treated us to a beach get-away. The trip is pretty special since its the first for a very very very long time. So, off we went to Bluejaz Resort and Waterpark. Going to the said resort is a first for all the members of the family so everyone's excited.

views from Bluejaz Resort

Since the resort operates a regular boat service regularly, we decided to take a a 5-minute ferry ride from the Beachside Resort, Maryknoll road, Barangay Vicenta Hizon, leaving our car at the available parking lot. For more details click this link for the directions.

What made your visit to this resort extra speical is the band of drummers that enthusiastically welcome its guest from the Pump Boat! You would really would love to dance along its island beat.

Aside from its infinity pool, water rides and white sand beach, one great offering Bluejaz gives is their exciting Gigantic Water Slides to die for. Do not miss to try and take a huge splash at these famous slides. You may check the resorts website for more info - Bluejaz Resort.

Experience the Gigantic Water Slides

Meanwhile, here is a rundown of the expenses incurred for those who are saving and are planning of visiting the place (per person):

PUMPBoat Fare (Back and Forth)         - Php 30.00

Entrance                                            -        90.00

Rides: Unlimited use Gigantic Slides      -        90.00

           Banana Boat                           -      250.00/person for 15minutes

           *other water sports are for RENT check their website for the fees.

Food  - you can either order from the resort's resto or bring your own food with corkage fees

Cottages - Day Tour: There are available open cottages for free or you can rent a "bahay kubo" type cottage for P250.

I hope this helped you with the budgeting!

Been there TIP! Be among the early birds and you can skip paying CORKAGE FEES for the food you bring!

Been to: IML Resort & Nature Park

Sarangani Province is indeed working hard for its tourism. The success of the recent Sarangani Bay Festival says it all. But that is just the other side of Sarangani, The other side is also gaining its fair share of popularity as well. If Gumasa, Glan is proud of its white sand beaches, the Municipality Maasim Sarangani got different type of fun to offer.

Slowly drawing crowds from its locality and neighbors, Maasim's Lemlunay already got its regular from the diver community, extreme sports enthusiast also troop there for the Water Tubing adventure and to those who want a serene beach setting on a weekend goes to Susan Beach Resort.

Last April 8, another tourist destination opened at Barangay Lumasal, Maasim Sarangani Province, Philippines.

 Pool 1 - also known as the Kiddie Pool

IML Resort and Nature Park is strategically located on top of a hill just before you reach Kiamba. The place has two big swimming pools. One for the kids with 4 feet as the deepest part plus two slides and the other one for adults which is 8 feet deep. For an adrenaline pumping activity, IML Resort and Nature Park has a 500-meter long Zip line. A firing range is also set-up to those of you who enjoys the thrill of practice shooting. Little children would also enjoy the kiddie playground designed for them. Planning to stay overnight? Fret not for IML Resort and Nature Park got affordable hotel rooms good for the whole group or your family. They also have a restaurant which offer meals for the budget conscious tourists. They also serve different dishes of native chicken. They say they got a function hall but I haven't seen it so I cannot tell you exactly its person capacity. 

 Uphill -Downhill

IML Resort and Nature Park got all the elements of a good place for relaxation. With an easy view of the vast Sarangani Bay, it is like enjoying God's creation at its best. They have an accommodating staff which are mostly from the locality of Barangay Lumasal. Maybe with more trainings and orientation the human resource of the resort will be better. There are few restrictions though, since 1ML got restaurant, bringing of foods is discourage- but if you cannot help it  you'll have to pay for the corkage. You also cannot bring floaters and the likes (e.g.salbabida) - the resort has floaters for rent.

Playground

Rating the resort, 10 as the highest I will give them 6 for now. As we always say there is always a room for improvement. Here are some things that I am not very happy about IML - their open cottages area is so small that you can already rub the elbows of the other people occupying the next cottage. Aside from that, the cottages cannot keep you from getting wet if it rains - the management should do something about that. I would also recommend they assign a standby waiter with a walkie talkie at the open cottage area to take orders and requests of their guests and customers, since going to the restaurant from the pool area is tedious considering the uphill/downhill walk you need to take. Those are just my 10-cent worth for now.


If you wish to visit the resort one of these days, here are some of there rates:
ENTRANCE - Php 50 (Day Rate)
                      - Php 75 (Night Rate)
ZIPLINE       - Php 200/ride
COTTAGES - Php 150 (small)
                     - Php 200 (small)
ROOMS       - Php 1,500 - Php 2,000


Oopps! Before I forget, tell your driver to check your car's brakes if you are planning to go the resort. It is an uphill drive afterall.


For more inquiries or reservation you may 
contact these numbers: 09489757710 & 09077494549.

Un Dadsan Festival 2011

The southern most part of Mindanao is becoming one of the places that travelers both local and foreign would love to visit. With the growing popularity of the Sarangani Bay Fest that is annually staged by the government of Sarangani Province, people considers this part of Mindanao a place to be during Summer Breaks. Check the Schedule of Activities of SarBay Fest here.

Sarangani and General Santos City is gifted with beaches that should be taken care of thus the Barangay Council of Dadiangas South thru the leadership of Punong Barangay Alvin Veneracion- taking cue from its neighbor - conceptualize a Summer Feast that can be likened to the SarBay Fest of Sarangani. Highlighting the improvements of the then Lion's Beach - the Festival would like to promote and develop the Queen Tuna Park into an inexpensive Summer destination.

An addition for the Summer Attraction in SOCSSKSARGEN is the 1st Dadiangas South UN DADSAN Festival. Before you troop to the white beaches of Gumasa, Glan, check out the Dadsan Festival on May 4-7, 2011 at the Queen Tuna Park, General Santos City.

Beach activities includes, Volleyball, Football, Frisbee and other competitions you could think of. See the poster above for the schedule of activities.

It will be a party 

from 

Sun Up to 

Sun Down 

at Queen Tuna Park 

with the 

1st DadSAn Festival!

SKIMBOARDIN' @ QUEEN TUNA PARK - GENSAN

Skim Dance

Where in General Santos City, can you spend one summer day or afternoon just lazing and dozing on the sand or swim and soak in the salty waters or learn new water sport with all your might for FREE?


Years after rehabilitating the Lion's Beach Resort, people of General Santos and few of its neighbors started to flock their way to the now known QUEEN TUNA PARK during hot weekends and holidays.Located just at the downtown area, the park is pretty accessible for beach bums everywhere. FACT. It is near the Public Market and a walking distance to a number of restaurants. Plus, rides like tricycles and jeepneys are available on your way out.


QUEEN TUNA PARK is now clean and safe to bum around the place. The Generals who are on tight budget or not, go to the park to meet with friends, bond with love ones or just enjoy the beach. There are those who do more than that!


Introducing a water sport that you might consider learning - SKIMBOARDING!

SKIMBOARDING
- n The sport of riding a skimboard over shallow water on a beach and into oncoming waves close to shore The board is usually tossed ahead and jumped on after a running approach.

SHOW TIME! PLAY TIME!

Since its was introduced in 2000 at Tanauan, Leyte (SkimBoarding Capital of the Philippines), the SKIM fever reached the shores of General Santos City also!At first, young generals usually come together at the Queen Tuna Park to simply enjoy the small waves through skimboarding, until they considered joining friendly competitions and staging Skimboarding Competition as well.  


Considering that  General Santos shores does not have huge waves like those of Hawaii, skimboarding is a good substitute for surfing. No need to go to Leyte to experience SkimBoarding. You just need a skim board and you are good to go!


Interested? Let me know and I'll help look for someone to make a Skim Board specially made for you.


Who says Summer Outing need to be expensive? That I differ!