Guimaras, More than Just Mangoes (Part I)

Less than 15 minutes later a pumpboat arrived and fetched us. While our boat nearly approached the islet I drew out my neck in getting the best view of this destination that promised to be a rustic and peaceful haven. Though I almost got elongated neck, still I could not see cottages or even a single dwelling in the islet because it is literally amid lush vegetation!

After docking, the resort staff led us to the sandy walkway underneath mangroves and pandan trees (a local plant belonging to the coconut species). It was only then that I saw its “hidden assets” ---cottages made up of local woods and bamboo, a small plain swimming pool, and the “main bungalow” that holds the common dining area. Don’t expect landscaped gardens and 5-star hotel accommodation, but I tell you, this place has a character of its own that you would never learn how to describe. Well, we can get started by calling it “a paradise lost.”

Before sundown we started to wander around the place through following a hiking trail. 30 minutes and we were able to see the whole islet. No manicured lawn and well-groomed flowers---there is actually nothing that will tempt you to take a second look, except when you reach the hills and cliffs of the trail. From there I was trying to picture the corals revealed on the beach during low tide. The place is devoid of pretensions of technology and creative designs, it is plain nature…and that makes it captivating!

One more thing that makes this resort more special is the way it serves its guests. We were actually treated not as visitors but as part of one big family. We ate our meals together with the rest of the tourists (local and foreign alike) in a long dining table that accommodates at least 20 persons. Service is very personal, it’s like living in an ancestral house with kind and reliable housekeepers. Most of the tourists are regular vacationers and what kept them from coming back is the feel of being in a “home away from home”.

Except for island hoping and snorkeling which are best in the morning, there are not so much activities you can do in this islet in the afternoon. Serene and simple living is what this islet boasts about.

After dusk I waited for the moonlight while enjoying the night sea breeze at the garden-bench beside our

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