My Favorite Isla Reta!

I was in college when I first visited Isla Reta Beach Resort. I fell in love with Isla Reta. A love at first sight indeed! From then on, I kept on coming back with different friends and company. Every visit is perfect. And a single day visit is always not enough for me. An overnight stay is good but I always wanted to stay longer. Its not a posh resort yet I love its simplicity and the splendor of the beach.

ISLA RETA BEACH RESORT is located in Talikud Island. It's a 45 minute to an hour ferry boat ride from Magsaysay Wharf. Sometimes it will take longer when the waves and ocean currents are strong. They have their own boat that docks at their own wharf at the resort.

Ferry docks at Isla Reta's own wharf

Ferry waiting the visitors to leave in the afternoon

Boat fare is only Php80.00. Affordable, isn't it?

The first trip to the resort is at 9am and leaves the resort around 3pm or 4pm. So a day tour is not enough to enjoy the beach because to exactly count the time you are going to spend there is like four and half hours only. An overnight stay or more will be satisfying.

Trips after 9am are for the locals and will dock at Sta. Cruz wharf but no worries, it is just a five minute walk to the resort.

Rules & Regulations

RESORT RATES:
Day Tour:
Adult Php 75/head/day
4 to 10 years old Php 35/head/day
3 years old and below free of charge

Overnight fee without cottage
Adult Php 150/head/day
4 to 10 years old Php 75/head/day
3 years old and below free of charge

And believe me, the moment I step out from the boat, I was mesmerized all over again by the clean and clear blue waters. The fresh sea breeze made me breathe so deeply.

Mother & Son gathering empty shells

Lowtide

The clear and clean blue waters will make you stay in the water longer and swim to your heart's content even when the sun is angry. You can even see the corals in the ocean floor. Please don't forget to bring your goggles and snorkels because it will be a sin there without those.

The Clear Blue Waters of Isla Reta

The powdery white sand felt so therapeutic that you want to go barefoot all the time. I just love walking barefoot there.

Walking barefoot

Powdery White Sand of Isla Reta

ISLA RETA is sorrounded with mature and lush talisay trees that will protect anyone who wants to hide from the scorching sun. The trees are perfect to put your hammock on and read your favorite book or just have a relaxing sleep.

One of the best site to hide from the heat of the sun

Talisay Trees lining at the shore

Hammock in between Talisay Trees

Lots of tables under the Talisay trees are free of charge. You will enjoy your lunch here. They also have picnic huts for Php 150/day.

Concreted Tables under Talisay Trees

Wooden Table For Free

Hut for Rent


Big Huts

Talking about lunch. Bringing food is recommended but not a requirement since they have a restaurant. Since they only have few in their menu, bringing food is the best option. You may also want to bring beverages. They have corkage charges but in minimal amount.

Restaurant

If you want to enjoy the catch of the day, just visit the wet market outside the resort. It is near the the town's dock. There you go, you can have them cook for you with a minimal pay or grill it yourself at the barbeque stand around the resort.

No fresh water available for drinking so bringing bottled water from the mainland will save you some pennies.

As what I have said, ISLA RETA is not a posh resort. They don't have the amenities that other resorts have. This resort is basic and left untouched with commercialism. In this case, they don't have airconditioned rooms. They only have the following rooms:

Concrete Room Php800/night (good for 2 persons)
Native Room Php700/night (good for 3 persons)
Dormitory Type Php 6,500/night good for 22 persons
Rates are inclusive of entrance fee and overnight fee.

Concrete Rooms

Huts for Rent

Huts for Rent

Voila for the campers! Isla Reta is the perfect spot. I have done this many times few years back. I always love to pitch my tent under the Talisay trees near the wooden tables where we arranged and made our meals. Most of all, tie our hammocks to chill.

Pitching Tent near the shore is perfect

Campers love it here

Tents under the Talisay tree with wooden table

Tent charge per night is only Php100. If you don't have a tent of your own, you can rent it for only Php400 per night good for two persons. Beddings like mattress, pillow, blanket and complete bed are also available for rent.

When rinsing after swimming, do not be surprise when your soap will create less or no bubbles at all because the water is somewhat salty.

Comfort and Wash Room

The resort is safe with lifeguards and security personnel at sight.

Electricity in the island is run by a generator set. They have this daily sched for the island's consumption. It is turn on at 3pm and turn off at 6am.

The visitors that you are with in the boat in going to the resort are the same people you will be with in leaving the resort. Except when you stay overnight.

WHAT ELSE TO DO?
1. Snorkelling
2. Diving
3. Rent a boat and explore Talicud Island

For me, it's the best beach near Davao City. No other resort could fill that space in my heart... The best and my favorite beach in Davao!

contact number: (082) 2347903, 09282141487, 09335187346

Dish Garden

As I am sched to move to my own roof, I decided to make my dish garden. 

I have been impressed with the beauty of a small garden in a dish. I have seen it in offices, condo units and apartments. I find it so cute and beautiful. Plants with different leaves, texture made me inspired and the arrangement in a miniature space made me challenged.

Before making such, I researched the internet how to make it. The most important tip I learned was grouping. Plants in one dish should be in the same family or if one plant needs watering everyday, all should need watering everyday. Or if they need to be hide from the sun, all should be like it. If they love full sun, all of them must love the sun. They should have the same requirement to thrive together and for easy maintenance.

I decided to make a cactus dish garden. They don't need watering everyday. They love the sun. And they are easy to maintain. I don't exactly know the name of each kind but I love each of it.

I would place them in the window of my comfort room, in the window of the kitchen, in the living room, in the study room and anywhere in the house where I find it suitable.

I would love to see them grow everyday...

Enjoy my dish garden.

Few months from now, they will be in their adult size and it will be more beautiful in my eyes..

Delphi, Greece

Delphi, Greece was never in my list. It's more than two hours away from Athens. I never thought it was included in our tour to Meteora. It came as a surprise.

Delphi is one of the most popular and important archeological site in Greece after the Acropolis in Athens.

Our guide was very good in her craft. She is an expert of the Greek mythology and history. I can't believe it, I was able to pass the road where Oedipus killed his father.

The ruins were unbelievably amazing.

Everything in Delphi was like magic, an old magic that came to life. I have only seen it in books when I was a kid and I was able to experience it live.

And these are the photos:

Temple of Apollo

Amazing View of the Valley below the Temple of Apollo

Carved Blocks

Treasury of Athenians

Stoa of the Athenians and the Polygonal Wall

Pillar along the Sacred Way

Sacred Way of Delphi

Ruins near Apollo

Perfectly Carved blocks at Delphi

Another Carved Blocks

Valley as backdrop

Carved Blocks (again)

Walls with Carved Blocks (again)

Because the Greek sun was too hot, I used this white shawl to help me cool down.

At the Remains of Byzantine Structure

Afraid we could not catch the bus on time, we did not pursue in going up to see the stadium. No regrets.

While I was there, I was imagining how life was. How did they built their temples and sanctuaries without the equipment and machineries of today. It's amazingly and wonderfully beautiful. The wisdom, strength and multiple hands of thousands of people surely had built it.

Travelled with friend, Trisha Corpus on June 9 to 10, 2012

Bestfriends Forever

We grew together. We were neighbors. She is one of my childhood bestfriends. 

High School Photo

Their family left our place when we were in high school. She went to Japan and started a family while I was in college.

I miss her terribly while she's gone. But God is so good, He always finds a way to reunite us.

She is very generous eversince. Her generosity is endless, limitless and fathomless. She gave lots of cute and memorable things to me. I still have them today. I got my first (polaroid) digital camera because of her. She gave me a gold ring, shoes, boots, bags, stuff toys, chocolates, ramen and lots of treats.  

Just few days ago, she gave me an absolute lovely free trip to Cebu, a day trip in Plantation Bay and an overnight stay in Gaite Ranch Resort. 

I learned from her a lot. She is a blessing to me and to everyone around her. I can't repay her for everything she gave me except my friendship. I hope one day I could treat her too. And I'm wishing to travel with her someday.

Her name is Marites Taping. We fondly call her IT-IT.

She is beautiful inside out.

Gaite Ranch Resort

I have known Gaite Farm through a friend who posted her review in tripadvisor. I was curious then and had the urged to experience the place. The reviews were positive.

I found this place just in time when my childhood bestfriend, Marites Taping offered a summer treat for me, Edward and Edger. She chose Cebu. I was tasked to make the itinerary so I counted Gaite Ranch Farm in my list.

On our second day, five of us went to the farm in Toledo City. Its two hours drive from Lapu-lapu City. From Cebu City you will reach there in one hour. There were no road signs yet leading to the resort so we asked directions few times until we reached the place.

It was so sunny and bright when we arrived. No signs of the building yet, it made us hesitant if we were really on the right place. Just when we parked, the security guard welcomed us and helped us carry our luggages.

The lobby was nice with unique ceiling light.

The interior of the hotel was impressive. The restaurant was rustic. I love the kitchen. The cabinets are made of hardwood, antique style. Dining tables and chairs are hardwood too.

We ordered lunch. Food were superb. The price were just right, not expensive. The ladies who attended us were so amiable and sincere.

After lunch, we treated ourselves for an afternoon sleep since it was too hot to swim or tour the farm.

Around 5pm, we walked to the ranch. The horses were so healthy, tall and beautiful. We horseback under the sunset where colours of the clouds changed. When the moon stole the beauty of the sun. It felt so good.

After the short stint of being an equestrian, we had our dinner. I still love the food Then we enjoyed the swimming pool until 10 in the evening.

While having dinner we met their ever friendly chihuahua, Laika. She is a very sweet dog and everybody's friend.

Zzzzzzz.....

On our next day, Mr. Arvin Donan, the manager was very hospitable since we arrived, guided us to the farm.

They have an aviary where a cockatoo melted our hearts. She danced a lot and we were laughing hard.Indeed she was a performer.

They also have roosters. Lots of them. Not for sale, I think its for cockfighting.

Bees, birds, flowers, trees and more dogs made us relaxed.

And they have a bee farm. From the bee produce, they are selling pure honey bee and soap made of honey too.

The manager was kind enough to take our photos. He never failed us as our photographer. And these are the photos he got for us.

Customer service is excellent. I hope they will maintain it.

When you are living in the city, Gaite is a place to relax especially when you love nature. It will be best to visit there a year or two from now when construction is done and all facilities are in place.

Bravo Gaite Ranch Resort!