We have now had a few days to digest, study and examine the events of August 23, 2010 and what it means for the country. Fingers have been pointed, people have been sacked, the Philippines has been pilloried by the people and press of Hong Kong and our President even excoriated for his facial expressions but the fact remains that we have to move on. We cannot continue to linger on the what ifs and what abouts that have flown across the social networking sites, news outlets and simple daily conversations. Let history be the judge of that. It's time to shake off the stupor and get moving.
When something like this happens, tourism will always be one of the first industries that will take a hit. We are so closely tied in to the peace and order situation that sometimes I think that the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces should come under the Department of Tourism. But then again, I don't think any Secretary of Tourism would wish that on themselves. Naturally, with what happened, Philippine tourism is again at the eye of the storm and we now find ourselves trying to figure out how to resurrect it once more. Lazarus can actually take a lesson from our tourism industry if I may say so.
In keeping with my last post and having some time to think it over, I would like to offer some more unsolicited advice on how we can get started.
1. Have the Department of Tourism come out with an official statement addressing what happened and at the same time, reassuring our major markets that the Philippines is a generally safe and hospitable destination.
During my time as the president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, whenever a situation would arise, one of the first things I did was to get in touch with the DOT to see if they had an official statement on whatever happened so that the Association can immediately liase with its counterpart associations around the globe and give them official information so that they can also disseminate it to their members. We found that this was quite helpful in smoothing out whatever misconceptions or incomplete information our partners abroad may have.
More importantly, the DOT has offices overseas that can effectively distribute the statement to the major wholesalers in their respective markets. This will do a great deal in allaying fears that they may have in the wake of an event like this. The DOT offices are our windows to the world and they can be mobilized to do damage control.
The same statement can also be sent to our local tour operators and have those companies send it to their individual client agencies so that they have information they can tell their traveling clients.
2. The entire tourism industry, both government and private sector, must embark on an image-building effort to recover lost ground.
One of the fastest ways to recover lost ground is to make offers that people cannot refuse. What would this entail? The easiest way to get people coming back here is the price. In the past, when events would occur that make travelers wary of visiting the country, we have found it quite effective to adjust prices to make it more attractive to come here. I'm not suggesting that fire sale rates should be given but at least something that would make people consider coming. This would mean lower hotel rates, lower transportation rates, lower airfares both international and domestic, special offers by retailers for shopping, reduced rates for tourist attractions and various other ways. The rates would be extended for a limited amount of time that can be agreed upon and can be revisited periodically to see the results.
No image-rebuilding effort will be complete without inviting top travel wholesalers and the media of our main markets to come to the Philippines and to see the situation for themselves. Yes, this will entail a lot of cost and sacrifice mostly for the private sector who will host them but government also has to ante up and show that they mean business when President Aquino gave the mandate for tourism arrivals to double by the end of his term. Invitationals have shown some success in the past and at this time, should prove to be a critical effort in trying to improve the country's image. The best way we can assure people is to show them what the actual situation is. More importantly, no special treatment. Show them the country as they were regular tourists so they can feel normal.
3. In the meantime, let us focus on markets that are not as affected by the events and continue to reassure them that the Philippines is still a desirable place to visit.
No disrespect to Hong Kong or the China market but we must accept that there will be a definite downtrend which may take some time to recover. With sentiments and emotions running high, the Philippines is definitely not a place people from Hong Kong will visit.
In the same breath, that is just one source of arrivals and the Philippines still has other markets to rely on. Let us continue to promote to those markets and even increase efforts in sustaining arrivals from those countries. There is India, the ASEAN region, the Middle East and other regions where can expect continued influx of tourists.
As the situation improves with Hong Kong and China, we can gradually get back to aggressively promoting there once more.
There are far more smarter people than I in the industry and I'm sure they can offer better suggestions but whatever steps the private sector and the DOT take in regaining lost ground, I hope that they are studied painstakingly, planned properly, coordinated cleanly and the appropriate resources allocated to them. Our margin for error is quite small this time and any wrong move can scar our industry deeply in the years to come.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
UNSOLICITED ADVICE
In the wake of yesterday's tragic hostage taking of Hong Kong tourists by a former policeman, much outrage and finger-pointing has happened. Yours truly has been one of the most vigorous posters on social networks last night, venting the frustration, anger and disappointment that comes with such an incident.
As usual, tourism will be the one of the first industries to feel the backlash of yesterday's event. The fallout has already begun with the Hong Kong government issuing a Black Alert for the Philippines which basically tells all Hong Kong travellers to avoid the Philippines. Arrivals from that market have remained strong in past years and with this development, Philippine tourism takes another step backwards.
What happened yesterday can be attributed to a lot of factors and I think it has been discussed ad nauseaum and would be useless to discuss here. We've all become armchair quarterbacks, me included, and have offered various theories on what should have been done. We can all that discuss that until we're blue in the face but the more important task facing the tourism industry now is planning its recovery from this latest setback.
Call me presumptous but as the title of this post is says, I want to give some unsolicited advice on how it can be done. Perhaps this is my way of dealing with what happened and hopefully, my small contribution as to how we can overcome the situation.
1. We must impress upon our markets that this was an isolated event and not an everyday occurence in the Philippines.
Any way one looks at yesterday's events will agree that it did not look good at all. In fact, it was a showcase of incompetence by many sides - be it the police, media, government and plain bystanders. But all that considered, this government, whether through the Department of Tourism or Department of Foreign Affairs or any other department, must continously reiterate that the hostage-taking of tourists is not a regular happening in the Philippines.
While I understand the Hong Kong government's issuance of its Black Alert against the Philippines, it was a knee-jerk reaction seeing that it was Hong Kong nationals that were affected. I cannot recall, at least in recent memory, major crimes committed against Hong Kong tourists on a regular basis which would legitimately justify the issuance of a Black Alert. It must be explained to the Hong Kong government that their nationals are not being singled out as a people to commit crime on.
The DOT should now formulate a statement reassuring our major markets that this incident is not representative of the overall peace and order situation in the country. Similar tragedies have occurred in other countries and has sadly become a fact of life. The Philippines is no different than London where bombs go off on the Underground, or Egypt where tourists were shot while touring the pyramids or Bangkok where malls were burned in anti-government protests. It was just unfortunate that it was our turn this time around.
2. The law-enforcement agencies must have a protocol for handling these kinds of situations especially when foreign nationals are involved.
As evidenced by yesterday's televised siege of the bus, our law-enforcement agencies looked every bit the amateurs while trying to resolve the situation. It was doubly more painful knowing that foreigners, tourists at that, were involved. It was quite obvious that the police and other agencies that were there were woefully prepared for this sort of a situation. The relevant government agencies must go back and look into the formulation of protocols and procedures that will address these kinds of situations and geared towards peaceful resolution and with the least amount of casualties inflicted.
They must have the proper training to deal with these situations. Our policemen and special forces have trained with some of the best law-enforcement agencies in the world and it baffles me why can't that training be applied when the actual situation arises?
Doubtless, some law-enforcement agencies will insist that procedures were being followed. However, as the millions of people watching television last night will attest, those procedures were obviously not in use.
3. DOT and tourism private sector must now embark on damage control efforts to minimize whatever effects the hostage-taking incident might have on other markets.
In the past, the DOT and the private sector worked hand-in-hand in getting the country's image back on track. We went on short sales missions to our main markets and made presentations to assuage any doubts that they may have about the Philippines. We went door to door on sales calls to our clients just to assure them that the country was safe. Hotels, resorts and tour operators came up with special rates just to make clients offers they couldn't refuse. Media from many countries were invited for familiarization trips to show them that the Philippines was a viable destination for tourists.
If nothing else, the tourism industry is a resilient bunch but we will need the help of the government, through the Department of Tourism to get us back to snuff. And it goes without saying that it will take a considerable amount of resources to make this happen.
Being in the industry for almost twenty years, I've seen my fair share of things that have affected tourism and our incredible ability to stand up and dust ourselves off. As much as what happened at the Quirino Grandstand was tragic and sad, I believe that we will be able to rise up again and slowly recover from this. It may not happen tomorrow, or the day after or even the month after but we've done it before and we can do it again.
As usual, tourism will be the one of the first industries to feel the backlash of yesterday's event. The fallout has already begun with the Hong Kong government issuing a Black Alert for the Philippines which basically tells all Hong Kong travellers to avoid the Philippines. Arrivals from that market have remained strong in past years and with this development, Philippine tourism takes another step backwards.
What happened yesterday can be attributed to a lot of factors and I think it has been discussed ad nauseaum and would be useless to discuss here. We've all become armchair quarterbacks, me included, and have offered various theories on what should have been done. We can all that discuss that until we're blue in the face but the more important task facing the tourism industry now is planning its recovery from this latest setback.
Call me presumptous but as the title of this post is says, I want to give some unsolicited advice on how it can be done. Perhaps this is my way of dealing with what happened and hopefully, my small contribution as to how we can overcome the situation.
1. We must impress upon our markets that this was an isolated event and not an everyday occurence in the Philippines.
Any way one looks at yesterday's events will agree that it did not look good at all. In fact, it was a showcase of incompetence by many sides - be it the police, media, government and plain bystanders. But all that considered, this government, whether through the Department of Tourism or Department of Foreign Affairs or any other department, must continously reiterate that the hostage-taking of tourists is not a regular happening in the Philippines.
While I understand the Hong Kong government's issuance of its Black Alert against the Philippines, it was a knee-jerk reaction seeing that it was Hong Kong nationals that were affected. I cannot recall, at least in recent memory, major crimes committed against Hong Kong tourists on a regular basis which would legitimately justify the issuance of a Black Alert. It must be explained to the Hong Kong government that their nationals are not being singled out as a people to commit crime on.
The DOT should now formulate a statement reassuring our major markets that this incident is not representative of the overall peace and order situation in the country. Similar tragedies have occurred in other countries and has sadly become a fact of life. The Philippines is no different than London where bombs go off on the Underground, or Egypt where tourists were shot while touring the pyramids or Bangkok where malls were burned in anti-government protests. It was just unfortunate that it was our turn this time around.
2. The law-enforcement agencies must have a protocol for handling these kinds of situations especially when foreign nationals are involved.
As evidenced by yesterday's televised siege of the bus, our law-enforcement agencies looked every bit the amateurs while trying to resolve the situation. It was doubly more painful knowing that foreigners, tourists at that, were involved. It was quite obvious that the police and other agencies that were there were woefully prepared for this sort of a situation. The relevant government agencies must go back and look into the formulation of protocols and procedures that will address these kinds of situations and geared towards peaceful resolution and with the least amount of casualties inflicted.
They must have the proper training to deal with these situations. Our policemen and special forces have trained with some of the best law-enforcement agencies in the world and it baffles me why can't that training be applied when the actual situation arises?
Doubtless, some law-enforcement agencies will insist that procedures were being followed. However, as the millions of people watching television last night will attest, those procedures were obviously not in use.
3. DOT and tourism private sector must now embark on damage control efforts to minimize whatever effects the hostage-taking incident might have on other markets.
In the past, the DOT and the private sector worked hand-in-hand in getting the country's image back on track. We went on short sales missions to our main markets and made presentations to assuage any doubts that they may have about the Philippines. We went door to door on sales calls to our clients just to assure them that the country was safe. Hotels, resorts and tour operators came up with special rates just to make clients offers they couldn't refuse. Media from many countries were invited for familiarization trips to show them that the Philippines was a viable destination for tourists.
If nothing else, the tourism industry is a resilient bunch but we will need the help of the government, through the Department of Tourism to get us back to snuff. And it goes without saying that it will take a considerable amount of resources to make this happen.
Being in the industry for almost twenty years, I've seen my fair share of things that have affected tourism and our incredible ability to stand up and dust ourselves off. As much as what happened at the Quirino Grandstand was tragic and sad, I believe that we will be able to rise up again and slowly recover from this. It may not happen tomorrow, or the day after or even the month after but we've done it before and we can do it again.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
OF VOLCANOES AND ISLANDS
After 17 years in the tourism industry, I finally got to make my first trip to Bicol. The board of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) was invited to spend a night in Legaspi at the posh Misibis Bay Resort on Cagraray Island for its monthly board meeting. Suffice it to say, it didn't take long for me to make up my mind whether I was going or not. I was definitely not missing this.
But before I get ahead of myself, allow me to take you on a blow-by-blow account of how the day progressed.
The day started early as we met at the Terminal 3 airport in Manila to take the early Cebu Pacific flight to Legaspi in the province of Albay. It was a relatively short hop of less than an hour from the time we took off to the time we landed. The flight was mercifully smooth and we landed in Legaspi to very good weather. As one gets off the plane at the airport, the sight that greerts you is the iconic and majestic Mayon Volcano that looms in the distance, its once-perfect cone usually hidden by low clouds. On this morning, however, the old man seemed determined to show off and gave us an unobstructed view of its splendor.
With that view, I was convinced that I was in Bicol. Scratch an item from the Bucket List. Mine eyes have seen Mayon Volcano.
We were met at the airport by our hosts from Misibis Bay and taken to one of their newest properties in the city, The Hotel St. Ellis for breakfast and an short inspection. Just recently opened, St. Ellis is strategically located on Rizal Street and about 5 to 10 minutes from the airport. We could still the detect the "new hotel" scent as we entered the lobby. We were led to the Crossroads Cafe where a buffet breakast lovingly welcomed our still-sleepy bodies. The spread is modest by Manila standards yet more than adequate for a good breakfast to start the day. Of all the items, it was the tapa that made me come back for seconds and thirds. The coffee was also strong enough to jumpstart our sluggish senses.
As we toured the rooms, I was impressed with the warmth each room generated. Very simple but classily furnished, the accommodations gives one a feeling of being home away from home. Again, the earth motif pervades all the rooms and gives a soothing feeling. Rooms are configured to be for single occupancy, twin beds or double-bedded.
Finally done with the inspections, we were finally on our way to Misibis Resort. We took a 10-minute ride to the pier where we boarded a fast craft towards Cagraray Island where the resort is located. The ride took about 30 minutes or about 6 songs on the videoke machine we had onboard. Despite the fact that the airconditioning on the boat wasn't working too well, I don't think anyone noticed because of the all the singing.
Arriving on the island, we were met by the resort activity staff and taken to the main arrival area by coaster where a local song and dance number was being performed to welcome guests. On taking in the resort for the first time, one senses that a good time awaits and a special experience is in the offing.
The reception area is located in a building mostly made of glass and immediately sets the tone for the resort. With its native furnishings and helpful personnel, one is immediately put at ease. The welcome fruit drink was refreshing and quite welcome as it was a bit hot that day. Checking in was relatively quick and the staff eager to show guests to their suites.
We were led to our beachfront one-bedroom suite which faces the Pacific Ocean. The room was actually big enough to house four people comfortably as there were two beds in bedroom and a daybed which could fit two more people. The suite had its own dining area, mini bar and kitchenette and an LCD television. We were also informed that once we got to the room, guests got a footwash which was actually a 15-minute foot massage. A wonderful idea for people who may have been travelling for hours and need something to soothe them after long day.
The bedroom was the coup de grace as far as I was concerned. With a fantastic view of the beach and ocean from the bed, I could see myself actually staying here for about a week. The rooms are generously-spaced with very comfortable twin beds, another LCD television and an iPod dock for your listening pleasure. The rooms are tastefully done with being overdone. All around, this was a haven built to encourage people to stay for a while and exhale.
An important room feature to me is the bathroom. I don't care if the room itself is not all that good but the bathroom has to be clean for me to stay. Call it an obssessive compulsive thing but that's just me. To my happiness, the bathroom of the suite met my standards. It may not be as lavish as some resorts I've stayed at but it was more than satisfactory as far as I was concerned. And one thing I really appreciated was the peppermint soap in the shower. Being a hot day, taking a shower with a peppermint bar of soap was refreshing and literally left me with a tingling feeling all over. First time I've ever used that kind of a soap. The bathroom has a separate shower space, a bathtub and two sinks which is convenient for couples or families.
After freshening up, we decided to go for a short walk around the resort just to get a feel of the whole place. The resort is pretty much self-contained and most of the attractions like the swimming pools, restaurants and recreation areas are within walking distance.
An important facet of any beach resort is the beach itself. I've been to places where the beach is nothing great but because of the resort facilites, people come walking away with the impression that the place is great. I'm of the opinion that if you want to be near the ocean, the beach must be good. While I'm not about to say that Misibis' beach is anywhere near Boracay's, it's no slouch either. The sand is not white nor powdery but has a character of its own. It borders on the brown/pinkish hue which is a good change of pace if one is used to white sand. The beach is set up for people who may want to get a nice tan, chill out while reading a good book or just listen to the sound of the ocean as the day goes by. Lounge chairs and are plentiful and there's ample space to spread around.
The water is clear but do be careful as there are some rocks that you can step on once you get into the water. For those with sensitive feet, I would recommend wearing some water moccasins just to be safe.
As the afternoon wore on, we had to take care of business and do our meeting but tomorrow would be another day. Dinner was near the poolside and the buffet featured some local dishes as well as choices like a grill station for those who are a less adventurous with food. The food was so good that I literally went back for thirds and fourths despite being full.
The following morning, we had a great breakfast at the Spice Market, which is the main dining area of the resort. We then decided to take an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) ride around the resort which is part of the activities they offer. We were given a short briefing on how to handle the ATVs and given our safety helmets. On a trip of firsts, this was the first time I've ever handled an ATV.
It's about an hour's ride around some parts of the island. We were taken by the activity officer to the team-building area which includes a short zipline which I also did for the first time. I was less afraid than I thought I would be. The experience left me wanting to do a longer one in the future. We were taken to a ridge where some people may want to do a sunrise ride and catch the birth of a new day while sipping on some coffee or hot chocolate. If you're into photography, bringing your camera is a definite must.
As all good things go, the trip quickly wrapped up after our ATV escapade as we headed back to the resort to pack up and catch our flight back to Manila. Although we were at the resort for less than 24 hours, it felt like we had been staying there for a week.
I have heard much about this place and I'm extremely happy to say that what I've heard is mostly true. The warm and friendly staff, the luxurious accommodations, the serene ambiance and the great food - one actually has to find a reason NOT to go to Misibis Bay.
For more information about the resort or for bookings, please give us a call at Worldwalker Destinations at +63 2 470-8591 or 96. Or simply send us an e-mail at info@worldwalkerdestinations.com.
All photos taken with my trusty Nikon D90.
But before I get ahead of myself, allow me to take you on a blow-by-blow account of how the day progressed.
The day started early as we met at the Terminal 3 airport in Manila to take the early Cebu Pacific flight to Legaspi in the province of Albay. It was a relatively short hop of less than an hour from the time we took off to the time we landed. The flight was mercifully smooth and we landed in Legaspi to very good weather. As one gets off the plane at the airport, the sight that greerts you is the iconic and majestic Mayon Volcano that looms in the distance, its once-perfect cone usually hidden by low clouds. On this morning, however, the old man seemed determined to show off and gave us an unobstructed view of its splendor.
 |
| Mayon Volcano |
With that view, I was convinced that I was in Bicol. Scratch an item from the Bucket List. Mine eyes have seen Mayon Volcano.
We were met at the airport by our hosts from Misibis Bay and taken to one of their newest properties in the city, The Hotel St. Ellis for breakfast and an short inspection. Just recently opened, St. Ellis is strategically located on Rizal Street and about 5 to 10 minutes from the airport. We could still the detect the "new hotel" scent as we entered the lobby. We were led to the Crossroads Cafe where a buffet breakast lovingly welcomed our still-sleepy bodies. The spread is modest by Manila standards yet more than adequate for a good breakfast to start the day. Of all the items, it was the tapa that made me come back for seconds and thirds. The coffee was also strong enough to jumpstart our sluggish senses.
 |
| Crossroads Cafe |
 |
| Street View of Hotel St. Ellis |
After a very satisfying breakfast, a short hotel inspection was in order. The rooms, while not overly spacious, were comfortable and utilized bright earth tones to give the feeling of warmth. Like most hotels, the St. Ellis offers options for single, twin and double rooms. They also have suite rooms for the more discerning travellers who like to travel in style.
 |
| Twin Room |
 |
| Double Room |
Finally, it was time to head off to the places of interest in and around Legaspi. The first stop was the centuries old Cagsawa ruins. Once part of the Cagsawa Church, the structure was destroyed by an eruption of Mayon Volcano in 1814 killing 1,200 townspeople who sought refuge from the flowing lava. Today, only the church belltower remains as the solitary witness to the tragedy. The ruins are almost always part of pictures taken of Mayon, showing the two most prominent symbols of Bicolandia.
 |
| Cagsawa Ruins |
One interesting and novel things about visiting the ruins is the presence of some youngsters who will offer to take "trick shots" of you against the backdrop of Mayon and belltower. The kids are very well-meaning and actually knoweldgeable about the area. They do not badger tourists but rather offer their services in a non-intrusive way which I rather like. Give them an opportunity to do their work and I guarantee you that the results will bring a smile to your face. They are also surprisingly handy with the cameras and know what to do with them. A tip of P50.00 is good for the number of pictures they can come up with.
 |
| Sample "trick shot" |
Next on the list was the Daraga Church, a Baroque-style church built in 1773 by the Franciscan Order. After the destruction of the Cagsawa Church in 1814, devotees of that church transferred to Daraga Church. It was later dedicated to Nuestra Senora de la Porteria (Our Lady of the Gates) in 1854. In 2007, it was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Institute.
 |
| Sculpture on the facade of Daraga Church |
 |
| Daraga Church |
Right after lunch, the group headed to the Hotel Venezia for an inspection of the hotel before heading off to Misibis Bay. Venezia, oddly enough, is located inside a subdivision in Legaspi. When asking our hosts why this was so, we were informed that the owner of the hotel happened to be the owner of the subdivision. Nevertheless, this was the first time I saw something like that.
Hotel Venezia is a 40-room affair with a number of standard and junior suite rooms. The lobby is very homey with a lot of creams and browns as the color motif. The Caffe San Marco, the hotel coffee shop, is spacious and offers a good selection of entrees.
 |
| Hotel Venezia facade |
 |
| Front Desk |
 |
| Twin Room |
 |
| Double Room |
Finally done with the inspections, we were finally on our way to Misibis Resort. We took a 10-minute ride to the pier where we boarded a fast craft towards Cagraray Island where the resort is located. The ride took about 30 minutes or about 6 songs on the videoke machine we had onboard. Despite the fact that the airconditioning on the boat wasn't working too well, I don't think anyone noticed because of the all the singing.
Arriving on the island, we were met by the resort activity staff and taken to the main arrival area by coaster where a local song and dance number was being performed to welcome guests. On taking in the resort for the first time, one senses that a good time awaits and a special experience is in the offing.
The reception area is located in a building mostly made of glass and immediately sets the tone for the resort. With its native furnishings and helpful personnel, one is immediately put at ease. The welcome fruit drink was refreshing and quite welcome as it was a bit hot that day. Checking in was relatively quick and the staff eager to show guests to their suites.
 |
| Reception Area |
We were led to our beachfront one-bedroom suite which faces the Pacific Ocean. The room was actually big enough to house four people comfortably as there were two beds in bedroom and a daybed which could fit two more people. The suite had its own dining area, mini bar and kitchenette and an LCD television. We were also informed that once we got to the room, guests got a footwash which was actually a 15-minute foot massage. A wonderful idea for people who may have been travelling for hours and need something to soothe them after long day.
 |
| Anteroom with kitchnette and daybeds |
 |
| The footwash basin |
 |
| View from the veranda |
The bedroom was the coup de grace as far as I was concerned. With a fantastic view of the beach and ocean from the bed, I could see myself actually staying here for about a week. The rooms are generously-spaced with very comfortable twin beds, another LCD television and an iPod dock for your listening pleasure. The rooms are tastefully done with being overdone. All around, this was a haven built to encourage people to stay for a while and exhale.
 |
| Beachfront Junior Suite |
 |
| View of the beach from the bedroom |
 |
| Another view of the room |
An important room feature to me is the bathroom. I don't care if the room itself is not all that good but the bathroom has to be clean for me to stay. Call it an obssessive compulsive thing but that's just me. To my happiness, the bathroom of the suite met my standards. It may not be as lavish as some resorts I've stayed at but it was more than satisfactory as far as I was concerned. And one thing I really appreciated was the peppermint soap in the shower. Being a hot day, taking a shower with a peppermint bar of soap was refreshing and literally left me with a tingling feeling all over. First time I've ever used that kind of a soap. The bathroom has a separate shower space, a bathtub and two sinks which is convenient for couples or families.
 |
| Bathroom |
 |
| Bathtub |
After freshening up, we decided to go for a short walk around the resort just to get a feel of the whole place. The resort is pretty much self-contained and most of the attractions like the swimming pools, restaurants and recreation areas are within walking distance.
 |
| Poolside Suites |
 |
| The main swimming pool |
 |
| Lounge chairs by on the water |
An important facet of any beach resort is the beach itself. I've been to places where the beach is nothing great but because of the resort facilites, people come walking away with the impression that the place is great. I'm of the opinion that if you want to be near the ocean, the beach must be good. While I'm not about to say that Misibis' beach is anywhere near Boracay's, it's no slouch either. The sand is not white nor powdery but has a character of its own. It borders on the brown/pinkish hue which is a good change of pace if one is used to white sand. The beach is set up for people who may want to get a nice tan, chill out while reading a good book or just listen to the sound of the ocean as the day goes by. Lounge chairs and are plentiful and there's ample space to spread around.
The water is clear but do be careful as there are some rocks that you can step on once you get into the water. For those with sensitive feet, I would recommend wearing some water moccasins just to be safe.
 |
| Lounge chairs and massage cabana |
 |
| The beach |
 |
| Lounges in the sand |
As the afternoon wore on, we had to take care of business and do our meeting but tomorrow would be another day. Dinner was near the poolside and the buffet featured some local dishes as well as choices like a grill station for those who are a less adventurous with food. The food was so good that I literally went back for thirds and fourths despite being full.
The following morning, we had a great breakfast at the Spice Market, which is the main dining area of the resort. We then decided to take an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) ride around the resort which is part of the activities they offer. We were given a short briefing on how to handle the ATVs and given our safety helmets. On a trip of firsts, this was the first time I've ever handled an ATV.
 |
| On the ATV |
It's about an hour's ride around some parts of the island. We were taken by the activity officer to the team-building area which includes a short zipline which I also did for the first time. I was less afraid than I thought I would be. The experience left me wanting to do a longer one in the future. We were taken to a ridge where some people may want to do a sunrise ride and catch the birth of a new day while sipping on some coffee or hot chocolate. If you're into photography, bringing your camera is a definite must.
 |
| Ampitheatre |
 |
| View from the ridge |
 |
| Enjoying the view from the top |
As all good things go, the trip quickly wrapped up after our ATV escapade as we headed back to the resort to pack up and catch our flight back to Manila. Although we were at the resort for less than 24 hours, it felt like we had been staying there for a week.
I have heard much about this place and I'm extremely happy to say that what I've heard is mostly true. The warm and friendly staff, the luxurious accommodations, the serene ambiance and the great food - one actually has to find a reason NOT to go to Misibis Bay.
For more information about the resort or for bookings, please give us a call at Worldwalker Destinations at +63 2 470-8591 or 96. Or simply send us an e-mail at info@worldwalkerdestinations.com.
All photos taken with my trusty Nikon D90.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
HELLO WORLD
This is the first issue of my new blog The Worldwalker. As someone who has actually walked a little bit of the world, this project has been something that's been in the backburner for years. I have always wanted to share some experiences with people about my travels around the Philippines and the world. Somehow, I never got around to doing it.
Well, guest what? I finally resolved to sit down and attempt to write down some thoughts, images, pictures and recommendations for people who love to travel. By no means am I a well-versed travel writer or a travel journalist but more of an everyday joe who just happens to travel for his job. From this point of view, I hope I can get people to visit places I've been, to stay in hotels and resorts I've slept in, to eat at restaurants and eateries I've dined in and do some activities I've done.
Since getting a nice Nikon D90 last year, photography has also fast become one of my favorite things to do and I hope to share some images I've taken these past several months. I hope you all enjoy it.
With that, let me take you around and show you some of the places on this great big planet that I've been to. Take the journey with me and I hope to inspire you take your own journeys and walk the world.
- Jojo Clemente
Well, guest what? I finally resolved to sit down and attempt to write down some thoughts, images, pictures and recommendations for people who love to travel. By no means am I a well-versed travel writer or a travel journalist but more of an everyday joe who just happens to travel for his job. From this point of view, I hope I can get people to visit places I've been, to stay in hotels and resorts I've slept in, to eat at restaurants and eateries I've dined in and do some activities I've done.
Since getting a nice Nikon D90 last year, photography has also fast become one of my favorite things to do and I hope to share some images I've taken these past several months. I hope you all enjoy it.
With that, let me take you around and show you some of the places on this great big planet that I've been to. Take the journey with me and I hope to inspire you take your own journeys and walk the world.
- Jojo Clemente
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)