Mr. & Ms. Jackfruit

Don't you envy this couple? Mr.& Ms.Jack fruit so much together. So much ready for the V- Day coming in 4 days. That reminds me to send you all my love this Valentine's Day 2011.

Back to the lovely couple, cuz' Che found them entwined with each other in the heart of the golf course in Shangrila/Mactan.

Well, I found out the fruits were not the only couple there. I saw another couple playing .This makes me think of my own date with (who else with?hihi) husband this coming heart day. For some reason, I'm always looking forward for an intimate date with this only guy I'm seeing for decades now. Not that we rarely find time to be together, on the contrary 7pm onwards daily is me and him time. Yet, for mystical reason _ we seem to haven't gotten enough of each other. I don't know why. Cupid must have had hit our hearts so deep, haha.

Anyway, I don't think I would be able to share you that date. Guess, you'd agree with me to think that it's awkward if we're going to bring a camera and take each other photos. haha.

So, what I'll do now ( while the day hasn't come yet and I'm still around. .) is share with you more bits of the paradise-y Shangri-la, Mactan. If you missed my post of the resort's beach, click here . To visit my post on the resort's spa (Chi) click here .

This is also to suggest that if you are planning to get out of town with your partner this V-day, this is one heaven of a place. The resort was so huge, you would definitely find an all yours- secluded corner, not to mention your hotel room ofcourse. Cebu is just an hour away from Manila and airlines fly almost every two hours daily to/from Mactan. Why not?

So for now, hop in this golf cart with me and let's have a mini tour of one of the best resorts in the country.

hotel

atrium

premier room

massive lobby

one of the pools

the weather was crazy, one minute it was raining , next minute rain stopped and the sun showed -up only to be followed again by a sudden return of the rain %%, haaay. . like a confused mind of a girl.

nice garden chapel

Did I mention that the resort is a bird sanctuary? It is. You would have fun seeing how close they can get, even share your breakfast table. see here.

Also a marine sanctuary. How awesome can it get?

With the lush sprawling garden foreground, pools, private beach, luxurious rooms, sophisticated bars and restos, aviary and marine sanctuary_ Shangri-la, Mactan is a slice of heaven for couples especially this weekend of l-o-v-e.

So bye for now. Let me find a way to share my next destination without ruining taking over my V- date, . haha. see ya ;}

May all the hearts smile this Valentine ;)

Shangri-la Beach

The beach of Shangri-la , Mactan  wasn't as huge as the other beaches I've seen around the country. It's like you threw one swept glance and you saw the whole of it. It was a small cove but boy it was one gorgeous beach! Pardon my lack of expertise in photography_ I hardly captured  its real beauty. Adding insult to injury was the gloomy weather which somehow diminished the natural glow of the place. But if you've been there you know what I'm talking.

 I love it that it was small and therefore suggestive of romance and seclusion.




Unlike overly large beaches, this one was calming and not tiring to beach around. When I seek relaxation, I seek privacy. Crowded beach tires me. Must be my age, haha.

 spa casita by the beach

beach bar

awesome beach furniture

Nevertheless, the beach also offered diversity of water fun activities. If you were a checked-in guest, you have the privilege of using complimentary water-fun facilities like kayak and other inflatables . It's a great place to hang around with your peers.

The sand was powdery and Boracay-like. What else can you ask for?

I also love the big rocks that accessorize the beauty of the beach.

I love Shangri-la beach.

Shangri-la, Mactan : A Bird's Haven

Shangri-la Resort (Mactan) is a bird sanctuary.While having breakfast at the Tides, I enjoyed watching them around. Look at my photo below :

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See the white arrow? Over there was a flock of birds feasting on the luxurious breakfast left-overs on the table.

Let's take a closer look. . . If  I could give you a bird's eye view of the foods they were eating_ you'll get envy.



I did try, expectantly, (clueless me:(  the birds got disturbed and started to dis-flocked.  Look at the doughnut on the left , that was sooo freshly baked and yuumm. Anyway, when I got back to my table, the birds got back to continue their feast.

Kindly read :

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If you were too lazy to read_ the gist of the story is that_ no matter how cutees these birds are, feeding is pro-hi-bi-ted!!!!
Ok, no one fed them. They voluntarily helped themselves with the  International cuisines left-overs at the Tides, one of the restos of the resort.

Oh well, I give you the keyboard to end this post  . .  . my lips are now temporarily sealed. See you on my next post ;)

Chi Spa, Shangri-la, Mactan

My recent marathon visit to Cebu was really tiring. The only saving grace was the complimentary (courtesy of an online friend) spa for two I shared with my travel buddy_ cuz' Che.

After breakfast at the Tides, still inside the Shangri-la, Mactan, we roamed around the hectares resort looking for Chi, the flagship spa of this luxurious resort.

We let ourselves be guided by the markers , directing us to the location of the spa.

We passed through this beautiful passage.

Until we reached this huge, palace like structure_ the Chi.



The walkway was really zen and I was loving it!

Sorry, photos were only up to here. This photographer needed a break too. But wait before I entered my villa, here I scored two photos for you courtesy of the website of  Chi. I guess, they won't mind.



This is how the interior of  that beautiful Asian structure pictured like.



A private villa. A-a-a-awesome!!

Anyway, I had element vitality massage. We were given separate private villas. Mine was called Badkan Villa. While waiting we were offered with cold water drink matched by cold hand towels. We answered some questionnaire regarding our sign/ element. The therapist then explained the particular massage that I was about to undergo, as well as the oil to be used , correlating them to my own element.

Everything was perfect! The more I was in awe of this spa experience when I learned later how much this cost. So expensive, I thought I would never afford it in this lifetime. C'mon, you can try to google it how much;)))

Dear Earth

Hello, I understand you're under the weather lately. You are cold, gloomy, windy and many times weepy. At times, you are uncooperative and so hard to be with. Can't blame you, I know nothing's personal. It's that thing we vehemently refer as global warming. It's not your fault. It's our fault_ we the human race, the major resident of your beautiful place. What's happening now to you and the would be worsen coming years could be dreadful and quite alarming. I could only pray we, the human could all be one in preserving and saving you from more harm to come. But this mom, could only wish for that. I try to do the basic and teach it to my girls but that's all there is to me. I wish I could share more.




Meanwhile, in my third world country, I'm happy to update you that most of our beaches are still as pristine and awesome as ever. I'm always proud of them. I'm happy about my country's nature abundance and hey, while at it_ let me (as a citizen of this island) enjoy it, savor it , anytime of the year. whatever mood you are in. Even if you rained the whole day and blew strong wind over my thinning hair_ I'm in the beach today and lovin' it!!!

ps: when was the last time you visit Cebu? me? before today, decade ago. I'm here now and it's beautiful. I love Shangrila, Mactan. you'll love it too. see you later :)