NOWHERE I would rather be.
I will never exchange what I have in Baguio. It is the most beautiful.
Unfortunately, what is beautiful is loved but at times taken for granted. Anything beautiful will be copied but never replicated, no matter what.
All my life I have lived in Baguio. I love it when it rains. I even love it when it’s too cold. What a beautiful place indeed. The locals, I don't know. I’m one of them. Always hard to please. Ever demanding. Always complaining. I just love ‘em.
But having to live up in the mountains, there is always a calling to sun, sea and sand. Nowhere else but by the beach. A place to thaw. Always, just an hour away from the mountain top and down below and not far is paradise. I know ours is too but nothing like being by the sun, sea and sand.
In Baguio, the Country Club is your home away from home. Even I from Baguio would call it that. It is what it is. I will find many others from all my travels. On recent trips to Boston and Orlando (2 weeks each), Austria (2 weeks), Italy (3 weeks), Australia (2 weeks) and London (3 weeks) Boston (2 weeks) Maryland (2 weeks) Orlando (2weeks) I find home. A home that is. Finding one just makes the trip more meaningful and memorable, not to mention cheaper and longer stay, with everything available.
New friends means new relationships. From this I will find something new. A new home. I have recently met John Tiu, through Jean Codinera. For our own sake, we immediately went to Sagada, I drove. I biked to Banaue for it and for him. Anyway, a bond is forged, a new one.
It so happened that he takes care of various homes. Discovery Primea, Discovery Shores and many more in Tubataha, Tagaytay and Club Paradise in Palawan. A separate island off Coron. Just a 20 minute boat ride away, to paradise.
From the airport, my family are met and ferried off to the boat. Upon arrival we are greeted with welcome food and drinks which my kids loved right away. A souvenir bracelet was handed to us. I already feel at home. A delayed flight more than made up for. It is beautiful, the island that is. The staff made it even better for us.
A simple orientation and introduction was made just for us. An itinerary was also prepared for us plus an answer to my queries for options on our stay was also given. But their offer was instead for us to just stay in the island to relax and enjoy. A staycation it will be. Plans for island hopping and a Safari Tour to Calauit Island will have to change from all this. No arguing with that, the island has much more to offer. This is paradise I am reminded. Remain at home in this club.
Within the island is a small lagoon and a short hike leads Juan to Eagles Point where the whole island can be seen from above. A sanctuary for turtles, stingray and black tip sharks is found. Turtle hatchlings are waiting to be released. Egrets and Kingfishers all around the lagoon together with giant monitor lizards. A resident school of Jacks is also found plus hundreds and thousands of giant flying foxes (bats) all nestled till 6:15 before sundown, when they will all leave and hover along the island on the dot everyday.
Our villa was just like my own home in the south. Anything I would find at home, I will find. I am at home in my home, here and away from it all.
Just by the deck I am alone on a hammock before wanting to write this story. It is beautiful and serene, just the sound of the waves and the birds. At times the island staff to make sure that all is swell.
Everything is definitely provided for. Water stations are something I find very thoughtful for the place and for its guests. In most, if not all resorts of this kind, water is never free and expensive. There's a choice of iced water with cucumber and lemon all day long. Even in the villa I will find bottles of drinking water. This I'm quite particular for.
Remember you are secluded in an island and no choice, not here in paradise.
You know you are right at home when you forego with any use of the aircon, I don't even in my Metro home. It was the same here, since it was paradise there wasn't a use for it too. Just the sea breeze. It was quite chilly too in the evenings but especially in the early morning. Cable TV of course plus movies by the beach with beers was nice.
Clark to the Club in Coron was it for me. A first time for me and my family. At home we were. Club Paradise made it for us. Just like in the Country Club everything is taken cared for. The locals and staff were most courteous and friendly. Just like any other club. It was as if they knew us very well.
The club feel is definitely found here in this paradise... Club Paradise.