A Dream Destination!
One of the places on the "Mc Travel Buddies Must Visit" list was ISLA NABUROT (Guimaras). I had heard and read a bit about it some years ago, and Tita Gina had friends who had already been there. The way the articles described the place intrigued me greatly. "It's a place with a soul" -- one writer said.
So for about 2 years now, I had been inquiring on and off about it, but never made any solid plans to go.
Birthday Treat!
For my birthday this year, I wanted to go out of town -- as I had some Mabuhay Miles expiring. Initially, I wanted to hit the beaches of Boracay, as it had been awhile since I'd last been there, but unfortunately (or fortunately?), PAL didn't have any "award tickets" left for Kalibo. Then I remembered Naburot and told myself... why not this time? And so the planning began -- I booked our flights, got the contact number of owner Teresa Saldana-Araneta and made arrangements with her, and did a bit of research about the island as I always do before hitting a new destination. Then the countdown began.
Fast forward... to March 7, Friday - we arrived in Iloilo (from Bacolod, where I wanted to spend my actual birthday with my relatives) at around 9:30 am. We were then shuttled over to Port San Pedro where the Isla's pumpboat was waiting for us.
We were soooo excited!!!
The Ultimate Rustic Charm!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)
It was approximately a 45 minute boatride to the Isla. On our way there, it had started dristling, but I didn't really care nor got worried as I would have been in the past. I was so confident that this trip would be truly magical and that nothing could ruin it!
Sure enough, as our boat pulled into the waters fronting the Isla, and we got our first look at the place, I could say that the island's charm was almost tangible!
In the rain, we were led to our cottage (#6), which was settled above a high formation of rocks. Gosh! The cottage was sooo beautiful inside and out! And our view of the Isla and waters below was breathtaking!
We were the only guests on the island on our first day, and it felt extra-extra special being such. :-)
They told us that they would just ring a bell when lunch was ready. So we settled ourselves in, took our first pics on the Island and laid back and relaxed.
Gastronomic Treat!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)
During my research about the Isla, I had read the most generous reviews and compliments about the food that was served here. I knew that they didn't have any ordering system -- you just had to eat whatever they prepared for you. And being quite a picky eater, I promised myself that I would try every single food dish that was placed in front of me -- whether or not it was something I had tried before...
OH MY GOSH!!! THE FOOD WAS AWESOME!!!
BEST FISH I HAVE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE!!!
BUT NOT JUST THE FISH!!!
EEEVVVEEERRRYYYTTTHHHIIINNNGGG WAS YUMMY!!!
BURP. ;-)
Crafted with Love!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)
After lunch, Tony Araneta (husband of Teresa) gave us the grand tour of the Isla. As he showed us around, and told us little snippets of how his mother-in-law had put together this place some 20 years ago... one thing became evident to us... Isla Naburot was built with so much passion and love! There was beauty in every corner... antique furnishings soaked in history... charming little details here and there... the mountain's rocks and plants as natural backdrops, etc.
This passion, we later concluded, was what made Isla truly "a place with a soul".
The rest of "Day One" was spent in total relaxation... we simply allowed ourselves to soak in the beauty of the place.
A Place to Chill!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)
Day Two however, turned out to be one of the best unplanned, free-flowing, delightful and fun-filled days of my life!
After breakfast, we met our other host, Boy Saldana (who we later nicknamed, Isla Boy). Within 5 minutes, we were on his speed boat, with our snorkeling gear in tow as well as a cooler full of drinks (read: beer). He took us to a small sand bar, situated beside their German's friend's beach house. Here we swam a bit, snorkeled a bit and just sat on monobloc chairs facing the ocean and chatting the morning away! Isla Boy was definitely a lot of fun to hang out with -- free-spirited, funny, and a little crazy. :-)
When we got back to the Isla, some other guests for the weekend had arrived and were having a buffet lunch. After another yummy meal, we decided to just sit back, sun bathe a little bit, and catch up on some reading and writing.
But at around 3:30 pm, Isla Boy persuaded us to get off our butts and go back out on the boat with a Spanish couple whom we met earlier this morning, Luis and Elena. He took us to another snorkeling spot which later also turned out to also be our sunset-watching spot. We just hung out on the boat, exchanged stories, had a few drinks, and had a lot of laughs.
Those two hours were filled with lots and lots of "this-is-the-life!" moments and lots and lots of happy sighs. :-)
