The Island Explorer

When we talk of white sand beaches in Davao, we are actually referring to the beaches of the Island Garden City of Samal. We always thought the quintessential Pearl Farm Resort is situated in Davao, since it is posted in most pictures of Davao, when in fact, it is just one of the many resorts that dot the pristine shorelines of Samal. Pearl Farm Beach Resort has been one of the pioneers of luxury resorts in the Philippines. With the burgeoning of high end resorts in different parts of the country, Pearl Farm still maintains its exclusive image. From its private wharf in Lanang in Davao City, you board an outrigger that takes you to the resort in Samal Island. If you get there before the scheduled departure times, you can get to relax in their wharf lounge, or even take a dip in a swimming pool. As you arrive in the resort's pavilion, a guest relations officer will brief the entire group about the activities one can engage in. They also show you a map of the entire resort. The pavil

After having a pleasant lunch in Nagarao, we decided to hire a boat to explore the surrounding islands of Nagarao. There was this one island that the staff recommended, Us-usan Island. As soon as I saw a strip of sand glistening from a distance, I knew we were in for a treat. Us-usan Island. The water wasn't as clear though as in Nagarao and in most of Guimaras. The sand bar jutting out of the island seemed like a catwalk on the sea. This provided a nice swimming area for the island's visitors as well. We began to explore the island, hoping to circle it in less than an hour. The island has a narrow shoreline, probably because it was high tide. There were also foliage all around, so it was quite a struggle going around. We were treated though with amazing views of the sea. This tree was alone and offshore for around 100 meters. It was quite strange to see a single tree in full bloom in the middle of the sea. After 15 minutes of walking, we arrived at a mangrove area. There were

Idyllic Guimaras Island is a 15 minute ferry ride from the port of Ortiz in Iloilo. And with flights to Iloilo being one of the cheapest in the country, a trip to Guimaras is your best bet for a budget escape. I already featured Alibuhod Beach in a previous entry. Now, let me take you further to the eastern coast, facing Negros Island. It takes a grueling hour and a half via tricycle to get to Nagarao Island Resort. From its jump off point on the mainland of Guimaras, it takes around 20 minutes to get to this island escape. The resort arranges the boat for you, so you just have to worry how to get to their port. For first time Guimaras visitors, once you dock at the Jordan port, just hire a multicab or a tricycle or even a single motorbike to get around Guimaras. It will cost you P200 for a motorbike (habal-habal), P400 for a tricycle and P800 for a multicab. So it really depends on how big your group is. If you're alone, the habal-habal would be best. Now, back to Nagarao. We app

When I heard the name Highway 21, I really thought the hotel beside Sarabia Manor would be a motel. But the pictures in the Internet didn't look like that, so we gave it a shot. Upon arrival from the Iloilo port from Bacolod, we found our way to Highway 21 Hotel. We entered a gate through the main road, and found the hotel inside a quiet compound. Right there and then, I knew we picked a good one. And we sure did. With rates from P895 (single) to P1,400 (executive) for the new wing (which I recommend you take), this hotel is a steal. The lobby was bright and clean. The staff greeted us and offered to help us with our bags. There was a restaurant beside the reception that had an outdoor terrace. There's no breakfast though with the price, but their meals are quite affordable. In any case, you can walk outside and sample some of the restaurants along General Luna St. The rooms were basic, still looking new. The picture above was a Superior Room (P1,100) for a queen size bed. The

We stayed in Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod. I was surprised to see that it has already been renovated. The hotel has been given a well-deserved remodeling and redesign, making it one of the best hotels in the city. The hotel is brighter and looks more modern with the renovation. I don't now when the renovation took place, but back then, it looked very dated. The rooms here are comfortable and reasonably priced. We got this standard twin room for only P1,100. The pool area looked even better. For the price we paid, I thought that this hotel offered the best value in Bacolod. And to top it all off, there was free breakfast. I wonder that we paid for in this hotel, considering all the amenities it had. So when in Bacolod, I highly recommend Sugarland Hotel. This historic gem is also located near the hippest and most happening place in Bacolod, Goldenfields. And with rates that are no match most 4-star hotels in other parts of the country, this has got to be one of the best value hotels a

It's been 2 months since I last wrote. I apologize for the inactivity for the past months. My schedule and trips didn't permit me to write about the places I have been to. Anyway, I will be picking up from where I left off in my last entry, and that was my 5 day trip around the Visayas and Mindanao areas. It began in the land of smiles, Bacolod in the island of Negros. Bacolod fills me with memories of only one thing: FOOD. Thus, my first stop was of course, Calea. Perhaps everyone who has been to Bacolod has been to Calea, that once quaint bakeshop that has now grown twice its original size. I was glad to see Calea has retained most of the sweet offerings they have been known for. I am a huge fan of their Concorde, as pictured below. The layers of rich chocolate and meringue are so addicting that this small slice is never enough. But there's one thing that I keep craving for. The thought of Bacolod almost relates to this cake, the White Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake. I on