The second group came mainly for the weekend to do the whaleshark experience.
We all woke up very early to have our breakfast and then leave for Oslob which is only 20 minutes away from Sumilon. It’s the best way to enjoy the whaleshark experience
A beautiful day 🙂
There are several boats and boatmen by the shore waiting to take passengers
Before you go, they will give you a very short briefing
There is a special desk for residents of Oslob and they get a resident rate
Again Bluewater was with us all the way – with Erik and Raul, all the towels that we need, they watched our things while we were with the whalesharks, the boat to take us there and the vans
Snorkels and masks
The handsome boys! 🙂 The life vests are only to use from the shore while you are on the boat. Remove it right away when you are going to go into the water because you will not be able to go underwater 🙂
The kids all excited!! It’s much more fun when you are in a big group
They put two families per boat which we thought was too much- I do not really know what the rule is, but I suggest you get one boat per family or group
Just our group alone we were 26 and there were a few more people around us. I would also arrange that they give your group a separate time slot and not be joined with others so you can enjoy more and have the whalesharks to yourselves
FACEBOAT! 🙂 Only in the Philippines
They must have some strategy on how they put the boats and where to position the whalesharks
I should have taken a shot but underwater – down below – there are divers swimming around watching everyone on top – making sure that no one is breaking the rules and also just watching out for everyone swimming by the whalesharks. It gives me more peace of mind and so I jumped in too 🙂
Tama si Philip, he made us kwento that the position of the whaleshark is slanted horizontal. Philip next time we want to be with you in your boat 🙂
Reese and Rianna were not scared at all, they both jumped in with Papa Ronnie and Mama Laura
Even Erik of Bluewater was with us in the water 🙂
Look closely at this photo – that is our friend, Bulgin, who stayed in the water when everyone went up – you will see the whaleshark swimming towards him!! He looks like he is closing his eyes but he was wiping his face when I shot the photo 🙂
Another shot of Bulgin very near the Whaleshark! His family is just watching him from the boat! 🙂
I asked the guys to let the whaleshark go near our boat – I was brave because we were up already 🙂 These are just babies but they are already very big!
That’s krill in the plastic bag- the food for the whaleshark.
Another staff from Bluewater assisting our group – Eric
You can take a shower after 🙂
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Again the resort prepared for us a most wonderful meal, this time by the beach! We paid P 1,000 per person for this dinner and kids below 12 and yayas ate free! What a great deal!
Mommy Michelle as usual had baon! 🙂 She brought S’mores which she assembled for the kids to cook in the bonfire
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We were so glad we had great company during our vacation. We have been planning for a trip together with our friends Newton and Mish and finally we pushed through with this. And very funny and entertaining always is our friend Newton. Not only during this trip but all the time he always has some trivia and story to tell 🙂
For this trip I captured quite a number of shots of him showing me something 🙂 I am so glad I caught them from the beginning. First photo is a photo of the homemade brownies his wife, Mish, made and brought it on our trip!
It was a life saver because we were able to have it for dessert in the Malatapay market lunch Previous entry: Malatapay Wednesday Market Dumaguete July 21, 2014
and we were also able to eat it in between meals when someone would get hungry 🙂
Here’s Newton again showing me the starfish he saw in Apo Island
Beautiful 🙂 We put it back in the water after
“Rica, have you ever tried Apple Mango before? 🙂 ”
They bought this in the Bais public market for P 10.00 a kilo!! It’s very sweet though it is fibrous and as much as I wanted to eat more of it, it was getting stuck in between my teeth! haha But Newton continue to enjoy it. He even showed me how to peel it and of course how to eat it 🙂
Tuna panga!!! YUM!! 🙂
Newton getting the crab fat and crab roe from the crabs
More stuff found in the water
They are actually the ones you see in the stores with the shells
Beer! 🙂
Flowers he picked from around Florentina Homes 🙂 Beautiful!!
Previous entry: Florentina Homes Dumaguete July 21, 2014
Art in Florentina Homes July 21, 2014
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On the other end of the island of Bluewater, is a moving sandbar
During high tide, you will not see this sandbar
but if you do, it will appear in different areas of the island depending on the tide. We were lucky it was there even if it was habagat season though it was very very windy
From the villas, this is the pathway to the sandbar
Amazing 🙂
By the sandbar you can swim around it
The waves were quite strong but everyone still enjoyed
This is how it looks from the end of the sandbar
Other views
Around 5pm watching the kids swim and watching the resort set up for dinner
Just amazing!! This was our set up for our group which was exclusive to us for that evening
Bonfire
Our degustation dinner 🙂 P 1,500 per person for all this plus the set up! Kids below 12 and yayas ate free! 🙂
By around 9pm the tide was already coming up so we had to vacate the area. But we had a most wonderful time
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We all liked the island especially the kids. We wish we had more time to enjoy in the place
Just bonding 🙂
Anuma spa
There are two payags with two beds where you can have your massage
Huts to hang out in with a beautiful view
Swim by the infinity pool
Fishing
Activity area for the kids by the pavilion
Badminton or volleyball
Lagoon where you can go fish feeding
Fishing or fish feeding
Paddleboat
Kayak
Volleyball
Diving and snorkelling
Trek around the island
The morning before we left, Mish and I took the kiddie trail so it won’t be too long
Water tanks for the island requirements
Love this!!!!
Follow the yellow flag to make sure you are not lost 🙂
very rustic so make sure you have closed shoes – but we made it still with flip flops but its just safer to have closed shoes to avoid injury due to the stones on the pathway
The Lighthouse
We made it 🙂
The watch tower
Going back
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Erik and Raul from Bluewater Sumilon picked us up from Florentina Homes and we were ready to move on to our next adventure. Erik was with us from beginning to end!
We took a bangka/pumpboat from Dumaguete to Bluewater Sumilon for around 40 minutes
Since we were a big group, we hired the whole boat, but if not, there is a schedule for the boat to get you to and from the resort
So easy to spot our family’s luggage – RED for de Jesus 🙂
Previous entry: Checklist for Our Negros Oriental and Southern Cebu Adventure July 21, 2014
Equipped with life vests and towels 🙂
Of course no smoking on the boat 🙂
Sumilon which is in Southern Cebu
Full house on the boat
Bluewater Resort – I heard about this place from our friend, Laura Verallo de Bertotto. I had seen her photos last April and I asked her to help arrange our trip with the owner and the Manila office. I was told that this resort used to be owned by some Japanese and they just abandoned it. Bluewater ( Maribago group ) took over whatever was left and now they are starting to renovate the place slowly
The pool
I like the island because it is secluded. Some visitors come only for the day to swim for a fee but during our stay, there was not many and it felt like we had the island to ourselves. There are 27 villas and I was hoping we could fill that all up so we could literally have the island to ourselves 🙂 You could actually do that if you were a big group 🙂
Very friendly staff
We all went to the Pavilion
For orientation and briefing – I think this is good especially if you are in a big group
Map of the island
The Pavilion which is their main area for meals
Swimming pool which has such a beautiful view. I was told they will be renovating this and maybe even adding another pool
Below this pool, there are three couple pools!
Bar
Huts to hang out in
The villas. All Villas have sea view which is good!
I always try to ask what the best villas/rooms are in a place and they told me it is # 1 and # 2 – they say it is the best because it is renovated and the location is the best being nearest all the facilities. This is Villa 1 going down from the Pavillion
Villa 1 and 2 are in one structure and has a door to connect so you can get both or just use 1
In front the villas, there are sofas or hammocks to relax in.
The place is rustic and if you will see that is the water below the villas – it was low tide so that is how it looks. When it’s high tide, it’s all covered
Different views of this area at different times of the day
Morning wake up view 🙂 Since it was habagat season and if the wind is strong, you can hear the water /waves at night while sleeping
Villa # 1 🙂
Skylight in the bathroom ( looking up from the bathroom )
We shared one room for us and our two sons since there are two queen beds
If you want to be secluded, the best room for you will be the farthest one from Villa # 1 🙂 I suggest you ask for RENOVATED rooms. Not all rooms are renovated yet so make sure you get the renovated rooms. The other good rooms after # 1 and # 2 are – # 12 and # 14 ( deluxe rooms ) and # 16 and # 17 ( deluxe rooms ).
Deluxe rooms are the regular rooms yet are more prime because of location but if you do not mind being far from the pavilion – then the Premiere Deluxe rooms are bigger – again specify RENOVATED rooms
Raul and Jeanne and 4 kids stayed in the Premiere deluxe room. You just have to pay for additional persons
This is outside a Premiere deluxe room – Raul moved all the chairs nearer their room! 🙂
Buffet breakfast which comes with the room rate already
From the Pavillion, you need to walk down to get to the beach
You can pass the stairs
Or through this path
The beach is very rustic. It’s not white sand and it’s rocky. Don’t expect Boracay or Amanpulo when you get here. To me, it’s part of the charm that the island is untouched and is just in it’s natural state
They have a tram that can take you from the Pavillion to your rooms or to the sandbar area
You can also GLAMP – for the day or overnight. This is located by the lagoon and beach area
The beach lagoon
Huts by the beach
Security guards in the island 🙂
Saying goodbye 🙂
They have a Manila office and thanks to Margie and Edna, we planned and coordinated everything from here
Click below to go to their website
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Before leaving our home in Dumaguete at Florentina Homes,
Previous entries: Florentina Homes Dumaguete July 21, 2014
Art in Florentina Homes July 21, 2014
we made sure we ate in Gabby’s Bistro. Gabby is one of the owners and it’s named after him since he is the Chef there 🙂 I was hoping to see him there but missed him
The place is just as cozy and wholesome as everything else
Fun dining indeed
I know my friend, Mig collects frogs, so maybe someone else in the family collects cows 🙂
Catsup bottles recycled as pots 🙂
There is an extension which can be a private function room – we took this 🙂 since we were 26. As like any area in Florentina, there are so many things to see all around 🙂
Restroom
I noticed restaurants in Dumaguete are very extensive 🙂
Frito Calamari
Chips and dip
Mojo Tatoes
Tower of rings
Mozzarella sticks
Wing dings
Cheezee fries
Ramon’s Liempo
Meatzza
Bianca
Mexican Beefy Taco
Club Florentina
The Surf and Turf
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Our last stop in Dumaguete was a factory where they make inlaid stone products
Welcome drinks – Honey calamansi juice 🙂
I am sure many are familiar with these products being sold in Filipiniana souvenir stores
The owner Mrs. Yee with Paz Yuchengco and with Anita Magsaysay Ho who allowed them to put he designs of her works of art in their products
James recognised this painting and could be owned by our friend, Randy, so I took a photo 🙂 Love sunflowers!!
The shop
They took us around to see how it is maid and everything is done by hand!!
the stones are just there lying around the premises of the factory
Each piece is shaped and cut to fit the design
Proudly Philippine made
Click below to go to their website
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