Paradise ...

In time for summer we stayed overnight at the nearest beach resort across Davao City of 10 minutes ride by boat across ... The Paradise Island Beach Resort at the Island Garden City of Samal.

We were greeted with resort staff bringing with them welcome drinks as they ushered us to the front desk for us to check in. We took the premier aircon accommodation, take note - with hot and cold shower, cable tv and intercom, a veranda and a garden plus room service for food and drinks. The room for three cost us only less than US $100.

It was our promise for the kids to cross the sea and enjoy the Samal sea waters during semestral break but our unica hija decided not to join us because her sked for enrolment for summer classes was the next day so there were only the three of us, me and my husband and our son who stayed for two weeks vacation then back to Manila for his summer classes too. All that stayed overnight were families spending time for bonding. Some were newly weds vacationing before going back to their home while others were foreigners who like us bathe till they dropped.

After depositing our things in our room we toured the resort and saw the mini zoo, the kids playground, the spa, the convention area, the kitchen, souvenir shops, the pearl shop, aquasport gear, the play area for billard and table tennis and the restaurant.

We had cold drinks and halo halo then we move on to swimming till evening. We started swimming at 5 in the afternoon where the sun was moving to where it will rest for the night and when it was dark the bright moon appeared and the lamp post plus the the spot light lighted the blue and calm waters. Twas cold but we did not mind it.

Our dinner of grilled tuna belly, prawn, sizzling squid and calamares was served by the sea with lighted candle and capped with fresh fruits and ice cream for dessert. The cost of food was also reasonable.

Not contented, all of us again went swimming at 6 in the morning again as we saw the workers picking the leaves and raking the sand. They do this everyday preparing the resort for the coming in of visitors. Guests started coming and all the line up tables by the shore had occupants.

We had a light breakfast of bread and egg omelet and fruits again and at 11 we had our full meal of boneless bangus, corned beef, buttered chicken and fruit salad for our dessert. While dining we were serenaded by a local band.

We left the resort at 12 contended and satisfied with our day and night swimming and our overnight stay worth a come back. I am sharing you some of the pictures I took.

I love this ....

We love the beach and we love to play in the rain as well but mothers don't like the kids carry with them the sand and mud. That is why this portable deck where you can check at http://www.hugajug.com/ answers what mothers hate most after the kids enjoyed bathing and playing.

With the portable deck, sand, gravel, dirt, mud, asphalt and slimy surfaces are no longer a problem using the elevated portable deck. It keeps you elevated and off undesirable surfaces. This is very practical.

Leisure-residential sites

Filinvest eyes new projects in Davao

After given the authority to sell by the Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board (HLURB), the Filinvest Land, Inc. plans to put up the second and third phases of Kembali Coast, the first of its kind leisure-residential development in Mindanao.

In an investment forum held at The Marco Polo Hotel, Dennis Molina, sales team head of Kembali Coast said over 50 percent of the 400 residential lots were already sold out to buyers coming from the different parts of the country.

Molina said the lot size of about 1,000 sq. m. gives the home buyer the privacy and exclusivity they desire.

The project lies in a 50 hectares property in the Island Garden City of Samal where it offers view lots located along the city's highest elevation that boast of majestic views of both the sea and the entirely exhilarating island.

The ridge/cliff lots are sprawled over a rolling terrain that conveniently rewards easy access to the beach white giving an exquisite peek of the Davao Gulf. The beachfront lots offer a spacious retreat each with a private path leading onto the fine white sand.

The Balinese-themed development gives one a taste of high-end resort living where a 1.8 km long beach line welcomes the residents to their home which is likened to a private own paradise.

The Kembali Coast offers numerous exotic amenities where every family member finds a personal watery haven. It has a pristine swimming pool that stretches to a beachfront that houses an aqua sports shop providing day rentals and tutorial programs.

The residents can do skiing; wake boarding and knee boarding where some branded aquasports equipment are available. It also has Canadian banana boats and Australian kayaks for the sports enthusiasts.

The Kembali Coast is every water-enthusiast's dreamscape where one can lay back on the shore or walk along moors at the docking facility lined with personal crafts as one could also watch Optimist sailboats speed by.

At Kembali there will be fantastic fusion of activities with infinite space for leisure and no room for boredom.