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Still in precious Palawan |
Aired March 10, 2007 |
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In this particular episode, we took our viewers to Club Paradise, a 19-hectare private island blessed with talcum soft- white sand and turquoise water. And as a big bonus, the 8th Philippine Hobie Cat Challenge sailed into the island. If you take a 15-minute boat ride from where we were last week, The El Rio Y Mar Island Resort, you will be able to reach Club Paradise The bountiful beauty this island has to offer is endless. In case you didn’t know here’s an F-Y-I for you. The El Rio Y Mar Island Resort is a sister company of Club Paradise. Palawan is so captivating. It combines the sophistication of the mountains and the natural beauty of the sea. Good news, Club Paradise welcomes all El Rio Y Mar guests and vice-versa. So you get the best of both islands! Club Paradise and the Hobie Cat Challenge have a common denominator. This island is a perfect hideaway and the hobie cat participants will tell you that sailing does take you away from it all. Island life in the Philippines is tailor-suited for the sailor. How do you have a Hobie Cat Challenge without wind? You don’t!
Hobie cat sailing is happening. In the 13 years since the first Hobie cat set sail, the craft has become the favorite American weekend sailboat by far. It has already become very much part of the summertime scene! Over 100,000 Hobie cats are sailing around the world. Participants have an opportunity to enhance the quality of their recreation time and strengthen the spirit of friendship that have graced the sport of Hobie cat sailing through social and racing activities that have become incorporated in a hobie challenge. The participants at this 8th Philippine Hobie Challenge are a group of diversified individuals who love sailing the hobie way. Though the twin hulls of Hobie cats make them a bit tougher to maneuver than single-hulled sailboats the real thrill of skippering a cat is in its exhilarating speed. These Hobie cats can reach 25 miles per hour in a fresh wind but if there’s no wind it gives sailors time to breath and time to soak in all the beauty that surrounds them. An event like this showcases the beauty of the Philippine islands. For those who are admittedly Hobie cat addicts or for those who are smitten Hobie enthusiasts they will insist that nothing quite measures up to the unrestrained joy of breezing along on a twin-hulled Hobie. As a matter of fact, the the bottom line for these sailors is: “Happiness is a Hobbie cat” There is nothing that makes you feel island bliss than a cozy torch lighted dinner right on the beach with the sound of water hitting the shore playing in the background. The Club Paradise staff will be happy to give you this romantic set up upon your request anywhere on the island. You almost feel like this island is your backyard with this kind of privacy. No wonder Club Paradise is a much sought after honeymoon destination.
After a great dinner like that you just can’t go straight to bed that’s why the Island Spa at Club Paradise stays open until 10 p.m. A great massage before bed is an irresistible idea. The Island Spa is one of the newer additions to Club Paradise. My partner Marc and I are surely no newbies to massages on island resorts but this signature “hilot” massages on Island Spa is definitely way up at the top of the list as one of the best massages we’ve had. The aroma alone at the Spa relaxes you instantly. You are also given the choice of which scented oil you want the masseuse to use. You actually don’t realize how much your body needed a massage until you feel thisgreat release of tension exactly where the masseuse puts pressure. That’s how well trained the staff in this spa are. It seems like these massage therapists have a secret communication with your muscles and that’s why they know exactly when and where to push and pull. There is only one word to describe the massage here, “heavenly”. And when you fall into a deep relaxed sleep during a massage that means the massage is very very good. Here‘s another F-Y-I: when the massage is over and you feel so relaxed and don’t want to get up that means the massage was great and then you find yourself booking the same massage the very next day. This signature “hilot” massage at the Island Spa in Club Paradise is an absolute must-have. We recommend having it everyday if you can. Your body will not be able to thank you enough.
A jog like this does exactly that. My partner Marc and my sister Jackie are more breakfast in bed type of people at this time in the morning but I think they’re glad I got them to jog with me. The breakfast buffets here have everything you can think of and even everything you won’t think about. Apart from the great food, every table has a nice view of the beach. I know you’ll agree that breakfast tastes so much better by the beach. Now that we’ve pleased our pallets, it was time to feast our eyes on the rich marine life that lives by the Club Paradise. The wonderful thing about snorkeling in the islands of Palawan is that you don’t need to go far at all to see so many kinds of interesting, beautiful and colorful marine life. We were hardly 15 meters away from the shore and came across this large and playful school of jackfish. By the way the water was no more than 10 to 20 feet deep. We had a ball following and swimming with this big school of jackfish. The way these jackfish stayed together and swam almost seemed like they were choreographed, it was fascinating to watch them. We decided to leave the school of jackfish and explore some more. The varieties of fish you see in these waters are just awesome. What a treat for people like my sister Jackie who does not have to dive just to see all kind and all colors of fish. They were just a stones throw away from the shore. The water temperature is close to perfect and it’s just so pretty down here that you almost forget you are in the water sometimes. It seems like you’re just staring into an exotic aquarium.
Snorkeling in Palawan is a total delight when it comes to marine life. The islands in Palawan are world-famous. There is no telling what you are going to see in these waters. We could have snorkeled all afternoon but we remembered that we had a plane to catch in just a few hours. With heavy hearts Marc and I had to say our goodbye’s and leave the island. You always get a warm welcome when you arrive at Club Paradise but the send off the staff gives you are even warmer simply because the staffs have now become our friends. Whether you are a sailor, a beach lover, a sea lover or a nature lover, you will say the same thing when you leave this island “when do we come back?”. |
By DYAN CASTILLEJO-GARCIA
Hobie cat sailing is all about having a heck of a lot of fun. To experience Club Paradise together with the 8th Philippine Hobie Cat Challenge is really cool.
And if you are not yet engaged, this would be the perfect place to propose to the one you love.
The sun is up but it’s still early so the air is still nice and the cool perfect weather is an ideal place for a morning jog. There is nothing more rejuvenating than working your body, soul and spirit.
My partner Marc is so comfortable in the water that he almost blends in with the fishes. I also observed that the fish here are not at all intimidated by our presence and that’s because this is a marine protected area so the fishes know that humans come as friends and not as predators.