The Island Explorer

General Santos has grown over the past years. When I first visited the city 7 years ago, Manny Pacquiao was not the attraction here. I passed by the city again two years ago, and was amazed at how much the city has transformed, and how the Pacquiao name is synonymous already with the city. This year, I made it to the southernmost city in the Philippines, the tuna capital and discovered a new resort that got me really excited.  Situated on top of a hill, providing commanding views of the Saranggani Bay, the Sarangani Highlands resort is one of the more popular destinations in the General Santos. Although it is located 30 minutes away from the city center, you will see a lot of balikbayans visiting the place for a day, or just simply to have lunch or dinner in.  I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the resort. After ascending in a dirt path, I was expecting to be in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't figure out what the resort will look like given the surroundi

The Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa is one of the most desirable resorts in La Union. I mean, it is the choice resort of celebrity surfers and the jet set crowd in popular San Juan beach. Hence, when I was on a roll in La Union, I just needed to find out for myself if the saying is true - that Kahuna is the best accommodation in La Union (even better than Thunderbird according to some colleagues).

San Fernando La Union is not known for its beaches. So it was surprising that there was one beach resort tucked away beside its airport that was as popular probably as Thunderbird. Welcome to Sunset Bay Beach Resort.

A visit up north to La Union usually comes with a stopover in the province's most prestigious resort complex - Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point. With an impressive view of the South China Sea, its notably Greek architecture and design stands out among the rest of resorts in the region. 

Moalboal is my Tagaytay in Cebu. If I use ant to escape the city, I usually end up driving here. Though it doesn't have the best beaches in Cebu, I love the vibe of the entire place. I have already featured Club Serena and Ravenala in the past. Now, let's take a look at another gem of Moalboal - The Dolphin House. The Dolphin House is located at the Bas Daku area, but it's not part of the shoreline. So it really is in between Bas Daku and Diot. But you take the road to Bas Daku to get here. The property is huge, and when you enter its gates, gardens of green await you. The resort is tropical in design and the rooms are in detached chalets. I love these types of resorts, wherein the rooms are spread out in garden paths. There is a pool but it doesn't look too inviting. It looked old, but it is still pretty decent. There are plastic pool lounges lined up by one side. The restaurant is bright and airy. It is actually the heart of the res

We finally end our trip to South Africa. We spent a total of 12 days here, traveling from Johannesburg all the way to Cape Town. Now, even though we didn't make it to Kruger National Park and experience a true safari, we were quite satisfied with what the Eastern Cape had to offer. So, here are a few tips if you want to visit this wonderful country: 1. CHOOSE YOUR SAFARI. Safaris range from the budget ones (you drive and explore on your own) to guided luxury (tour with all the comforts). You don't have to spend a lot of an lavish camp inside the park. If you're on a budget, you can spend your nights outside the parks. And again, you can drive through the reserves. Addo was a good choice for kids. Kruger is huge, and you have to plan your location there. The Sabi Sabi Reserve is said to be the best, but can also be the most expensive. 2. LIVE THE GARDEN ROUTE. If you can, get a car. Drive across the country. The roads are world class and can be easily navigated.  R

I have fallen in love with Cape Town that I wanted to buy a house here. Thus, it is only fitting to end my posts on South Africa at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town , which is the perfect Cape Town urban complex. Situated at the heart of the historic harbor of Cape Town, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a bustling myriad of entertainment attractions, shops, restaurants, cafes and even historical sites. Thus, it is the most visited tourist destination in the entire South Africa. The V&A Waterfront   It houses the Nelson Mandela Gateway which offers boat trips to Robben Island that weren't able to visit. Robben Island was where Nelson Mandela was held captive. There are also museums in the compound, such as the Chavonnes Battery Museum and the SAS Somerset . There is a mall of course, but the shops are quite limited. You get some high end boutiques but they were quite hidden in the 2nd floor area. Since I was with my kid, we visi

Long Street is known in Cape Town as a bohemian hang out and a venue for arts and culture. With its Victorian buildings with wrought iron balconies, Long Street is charming and has a very diverse selection of restaurants, cafes, bookstores and shops. It's not a long street though, and one can easily walk it from end to end. It is located in the City Bowl area, hence it is in the city center. Some office buildings are located at the streets parallel to it. I admired the eclectic art that dressed up facades of buildings. They looked so vibrant and gives character to an otherwise normal Cape Town street. It was our last two nights in South Africa, so we decided to book an apartment style accommodation. Hence, we ended up at  Flat Rock Suites , just off Long Street. We have stayed at almost all types of accommodations in South Africa, from chalets, to country farm guesthouses, to a villa in a vineyard, a boutique hotel and now, an apartment.