El Rio Y Mar...A Writer’s Haven

I have been looking forward to this vacation for a LONG time! Because of all the wedding preparations, we haven’t gone on a REAL vacation in months. On top of that, I get to bring a luggage...my first time in the Philippines after years of backpacking. 

Finally after the wedding...Saturday wedding day....then Sunday back to Manila and rest day...then Monday shopping, work and packing day...then Tuesday HURRAH...we’re off!!!!  

We landed in Busunaga airport. It was all too familiar, it almost felt like home. We boarded a luxe air conditioned jeepney. R wants to have one of these for his tours someday.

Afterwards, we hopped on a boat for a slow 25-minute mangrove/river/sea ride to our destination – El Rio y Mar resort. The breeze and the relaxing glide of the boat were seemed to tell me...”Vacation starts NOW”.

El Rio Y Mar...A Writer’s Haven

I could see the cream-colored beach and the bar dock as we entered the cove. Upon docking, the staff warmly greeted us with songs and drinks.

Our room

We got a detached native casita, very spacious and very clean with all the comfort a city person looks for minus the television. It has a perfectly sized patio facing the beach. At the back of the casita is a long mangrove walkway and a path towards the hiking trail and in front is our very own chunk of the beach!

The place is so private that it almost gives you a feeling that you’re the only one there.

Day 1

We decided to skip lunch and settle down first. R fell asleep almost immediately (as usual :)) after taking a few pictures. He slept for a good four hours or so. I, on the other hand, got my “essentials” and went to the patio. While munching on my V-cut and Twix, I alternately listened to the reggae music in my Ipod and to the sound of the forest and the waves on the beach (unbelievably just like the nature sounds I download in Youtube to momentarily get away from the crazy busy work schedule). 

It is a writer’s and reader’s haven. It is amazing how much I was able to write and read in a few hours. I am just very grateful for being able to have these experiences while I still have the ability to appreciate and enjoy them.

When R got up, we went to the activity center because it is the only place where we could get a WIFI signal so he can work. He worked for a couple of hours while we snacked on a BIG serving of cheeseburger and fries and a virgin Shirley temple. YUM!

For dinner we had lamb chops in pepper sauce and chicken curry and after dinner, we had tequila sunrise and Tanduay ice while chatting with Ed and listening to their “jamming” session.

Day 2

We had a typical Filipino breakfast this time and got ready for a day of “doing nothing”. We headed to the beach area, picked our spot, read our books, dipped in the pool and fooled around with our camera.

For lunch we had coleslaw, kinilaw na tanigue, grilled prawns with sides of rice and steamed vegetables and a fruit platter. We then went snorkelling in their in-house reef. There were a lot of corals and fishes but they were not as colourful as the ones I’ve seen in other places. The shallow water at the beach in front of our casita was warm and very clear and the sand was relatively fine.  

We then took a shower and dressed up to have a massage before dinner. We had a one-hour shiatsu massage. You could either have it in their outdoor massage area with beach view or inside the spa room. Though we wanted to have a couple’s massage, only one therapist was available that day so R went first. I opted to have my massage in the spa room because having a massage in a warm, humid area always made me feel greasy. It was a relaxing “island zen” experience. The mood lighting, the music, the scent and the very gentle and relaxed strokes of the masseuse’s hands made the whole experience perfect.

Dinner was grilled pink salmon with marinara sauce and a side of steamed veggies. R had sinigang na prawns. We wanted to try their crepes but we were already stuffed and one of the guests was celebrating her birthday that night so they were giving out chocolate cake.

The staff

Great service! We have been to different places in the Philippines but this has got to be one of the best service I have experienced. Everyone was warm and very accommodating from the managers, the information assistants slash dinnertime singer, our room attendant Tonton slash guitarist slash dinnertime and bar singer, Ed the bartender slash magician to everyone around. Everyone greeted us with smiles.

This is a place where one can come alone yet never really feel alone because someone is always ready to chat whenever you’re up for it.

My Footsteps... ANDA, A different side of Bohol

I am admittedly biased when it comes to Bohol. It is one of my favorite destinations in the Philippines because of the peace and relaxation that it promises, even in the busy beach of Alona. In our constant search of unspoiled and less popular places in the Archipelago, we came across information about Anda. 

The municipality is located at the eastern tip of Bohol and about 30-minute drive from Tagbilaran city. It is a quiet municipality, not yet too accustomed with tourists. The wide stretch of white sand beach is still mostly inhabited and enjoyed by local fishermen and their families.

From the main highway, we turned right to a 15-minute rough road before reaching Anda White Beach Resort, our retreat for 2 days. 

The room and the facilities

To our delight, though it is very far and hard to reach, the resort is equipped with most modern amenities. The rooms are spacious, clean and tastefully decorated too. It should be no surprise since the owner used to work in 5-star hotels deciding to open the resort.

The amenities are basically limited to a garden, restaurant, pool table, swimming pool and jacuzzi but for someone looking just to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle, these are more than enough. The added bonus was they allowed us to bring our drinks to the edge of the infinity pool so we can sip our cocktails and shake while watching the sun set. They also served our fries while we were in the jacuzzi! I felt so pampered! :)

There was nothing really special about their food but I could tell that the ingredients were fresh.

Grilled fish, Sinigang na hipon and Vegetable curry

Boneless bangus and Omelette for breakfast

The beach

It delivered as promised! The unspoiled powder fine and white beach was all ours. There were fishing boats passing by fro time to time from neighboring properties but other than that, there were no other tourists. The water is clear and the whole stretch is very clean. In the afternoon until the sunset, local kids went to play with their dogs on the beach next to ours. 

Different places have different appeal to people. It may be the party and convenience for some or great food and service for others. To me, a place is most charming when I get to stare at and enjoy its beauty without a single person passing through my view for hours at a time and when locals who have lived there for generations are still able to experience and play on their beaches. To some extent, I am attracted to isolation.

I do not know when I will come back but I sure hope that when I do, the sound of nothing else but the waves of the ocean will greet me on my arrival. :)

http://www.e-philippines.com.ph/