Jun 06
0

A National Geographic Moment at Amanpulo

By | Animals and Pets, Travel | 2 Comments

I am always looking for a National Geographic Moment since it’s quite rare to capture one. The last one was in 2008 in Bohol 

Previous entry:  A National Geographic Moment January 6, 2008 

While walking the perimeter of the island, I could see from afar little things crawling on the edge of the beach.  It’s a good thing I had zoom lens to see what they were – because they were quite sensitive, as we move closer to them- they move too.  This is dedicated again to my Dad and it’s his birthday today!  I am sure my Daddy would like to see these moments too after all it’s where I get my love for animals and nature

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Crabs!  Not the small transluscent ones but quite big.  They don’t look too big in my photo because I could not go to near or else they will disappear or move away. I was very careful 

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Zooming in some more 

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They are moving away as we go closer – some went up towards the greens

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here they are going higher up opposite the water 

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the small ones are also there  

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The others hid already which explains the big holes 

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As we go towards the tip of the island they are moving away further 

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Around the island there are also some avian species.  The resort gives you postcards which you can collect  

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I spotted a few around the resort but cannot identify 

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on top of Casita A 

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in the beach 

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Jun 06
0

Touring the Perimeter of Amanpulo

By | Travel | No Comments

After that heavy lunch, I asked James to take a different tour of the island.  The perimeter of the island is around 6 kilometers.  So we decided to do half! haha!!  So we walked through this secret passage from the Villa  

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and leads you to another world called paradise 🙂 I would not say it has the same white and powdery sand as Boracay but it is a beautiful island – a peaceful one.  For that brief moment, you have it to yourself to look at and savor 

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Starfish 🙂   

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There’s a bunch of these near the shore so you have to go further for clearer water – which I am afraid to do 🙂 

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Peace and quiet- I just like to look at this 

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Behind those greens are villas but from the shore you cannot see anything except maybe the tip of the villa 

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It’s a bit harder to walk the beach because your feet sink into the sand so I am justifying eating all that food and making this my exercise 🙂 

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Our shadow -it was just us  

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Proof that we walked that whole stretch 

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Footprints on the sand 🙂 

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Turning to the right going to the main beach 

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There was a sand bar! 

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A few people were walking the sandbar 

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Towards the clubhouse 

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There are more people on this side of the beach but still not many – 

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This we are guessing is an entrance from a casita – so the Casitas have access to the main beach 

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Moving closer to the clubhouse – kids playing 

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Another casita 

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Another casita 

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Halfway we are at the clubhouse- an hour’s leisurely walk halfway around the island 

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Almost dark 

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A nice set up for dinner by the clubhouse 

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Jun 06
0

Lunch at the Aman Villa

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

After the tour, we are hungry again 🙂 My dream is to have a real chef in the house to cook all the meals and wow we had a good one here at the villa 

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We ate outdoors this time 

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I can’t stop staring at this view 🙂 

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Fresh buko juice! YUMMY! 

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Our lunch spread

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Everything was so good!!!!   

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Philly Cheesesteak using Bryan Flannery beef 

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Spanish Torta ( with red peppers and tomato ) and Tortilla de Patata with Caramelized onions

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Fiduea Noodles with Chorizo and Scallops – Super YUM! 

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Mixed green salad with Feta Cheese and Olives on the side 

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And a special dessert is always made for Jerome – Chocolate Bouchons with Vanilla Ice Cream and Toasted Walnuts 

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After lunch, we just hang around the villa.  No reason to leave the villa

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He gets a photo for wearing a Villebrequin – Available at Rustan’s! Free advertisment 🙂

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Swimming till before dinner.  I love the beautiful capiz candleholders they put around the pool area.  They are available for sale at the Clubhouse shop

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Nice music Thanks to Jigger

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Jun 05
0

Touring Amanpulo

By | Travel | No Comments

After breakfast we wanted to see the resort and compare it to how it was 12 years ago.  Though there are bikes in the villa 

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We decided to take the golf cart instead 🙂  

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We went to almost every place in the island 

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Tree top casitas  

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More casitas 

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We wanted to see the clubhouse because that was where we used to hang out before and meet everyone.  It’s still the same from years ago.  Everywhere in the island is peaceful.  It was a weekday plus there are only around 40 casitas so it will definitely not be a crowded resort.  We practically had the whole resort to ourselves 

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Many beautiful things at the gift shop

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Love these capiz candleholders

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The library 

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You can have private functions here at the West Villa Club house 

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A big function room and a pool 

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Kids lounge

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Tennis courts – there are two and this is one of them 

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Headed to my favorite part of the resort 🙂 

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The view from the spa is the airport strip and more water and islands

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Lindy and Carmina booking their spa 

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There are spa villas so you have your own private room with a nice view

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Salon 

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Beautiful gym 

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Jerome trying to stretch 🙂

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Pilates

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The other tennis court 

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The Beach Club

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Jun 05
0

Breakfast at the Aman Villa

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Everyone wakes up at their own time, so breakfast is also at your own pace

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Homemade yogurt with cereals, Soy milk, fresh milk and orange juice

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Fresh fruits from Davao brought by Raffy and Camrina

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And James wanted to brag about his Hobb’s bacon so he brought so much! We had this everyday for 3 breakfasts 🙂

Previous entry:  Should you Eat That Bacon December 12, 2012 

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Homemade bacon from the island which I wanted to try

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Steve and Jigger are the healthy ones who eat grilled chicken sandwich

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Jacques Torres Hot cocoa

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At around 11am everyone is complete!  and looking forward to LUNCH! 🙂

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It rained the next morning for breakfast 

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So we were ready to stay in and watch DVD!  but eventually it stopped

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Villa Breakfast Dining Menu

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Jun 04
0

Dinner at the Aman Villa by Chef Miguel Pengson

By | Foodie, Travel | 2 Comments

Each Villa has it’s own kitchen that is air-conditioned ( take note 🙂 )

Our chefs!  We were so lucky!  And you will see soon how we ate so well 🙂 

The hired private chef of the villa is Chef Miguel but sometimes other chefs help each other when they are not busy in their own villas.  

Normally you are not allowed to bring food to the resort, but if you own a villa, you can bring food and ingredients to consume.  Since we were overweight we had to prioritize the ingredients for dinner that day

 Living room beside the dining room

It was so nice to come home to a wonderful dinner!  I could stay here forever 🙂  

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Duck Consomme with Foie Gras Dumpling

Rocket Arugula with Davao Blue Cheese, Walnuts and Dried Blueberries in Citrus Dressing – Raffy and Carmina brought the cheese from Malagos

We contributed the Bryan Flannery rib eyes – Grilled Rib Eye with creamed spinach, wasabi mash and roasted tomatoes – the wasabi mash was so good!!

Plus one Bryan Flannery dry Aged Porterhouse which was really really good

Liquid Chocolate Cake with Coconut Ice Cream  

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The gang!  We stayed here for four hours! Just eating and talking and eating and munching 🙂

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Don Papa made it to the first trip! 🙂

In this villa there is an organic garden!  I took day shots so it would be clearer.  This is right beside the kitchen and the staff quarters

Menus for Villa Dining

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Jun 04
0

Casitas in the Aman Villa

By | Accomodations, Proud to be Pinoy!, Travel | No Comments

There are 4 Casitas to a villa surrounding the main pool.  All 4 casitas are more or less equal in size and all have the same interiors.  All the structures on the island are designed by Architect Bobby Mañosa

This was where we stayed

Outdoor balcony around the casita

Another casita near the pool

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Our nightly presents

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Jun 03
0

Arriving at the Aman Villa

By | Accomodations, Proud to be Pinoy!, Travel | No Comments

Each casita is assigned a golf cart so straight from the plane, you take your own golf cart to your casita or they can also drive you 🙂  

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The last time we came, we stayed in a Casita.  This time was a new experience for us since we stayed in a villa.  

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The Villas are on the opposite side of the main beach so it has it’s own beach front hence more private.  There are only seven villas on the island.  These are villas owned by private individuals but can be rented out by the owners when they are not in use.  All of the villas look the same and have the same features to keep it standard and easier to maintain.  You can rent these villas and it will be perfect for a big group of friends or a family.  Though you have the option of renting 1 Bedroom Villa, 2 Bedroom Villa or 4 Bedroom villa.  It’s more economical to rent all 4 together 🙂

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Though the casitas and amenities are standard- there are still some unique features like not all entrances are the same.  It depends on the shape of the lot.  This is Villa 5

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We were welcomed by the private chef of the Villa! Chef Miguel Pengson.  He is the brother of Chef Rob Pengson of The Goose Station.  So you can imagine the talent 🙂  

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Opposite view facing the main terrace

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Thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing – for bringing us friends together on this wonderful island – to spend time together

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From the pool, walk down further and you will see this path

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Which leads to your beach!!!!!

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There are several sun beds 

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And because there are only 7 villas, you feel you have the beach to yourself!!!  A perfect hideaway and a place to get away from it all! BEAUTIFUL!! Only an hour away from Manila!!

To the right

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To the left

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We were so happy to have Jerome visiting Manila!!  A perfect way to spend time with good friends!!!  

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From the beach this is your view leading to the villa – it seems like there is nothing behind – so that is how private it is

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