Snorkeling-virgin No More at Anilao

It all started with Ms. Chyng Reyes. She posted an open invite on her site to Anilao, Batangas. I confirmed and was even tempted for sometime to purchase my own snorkeling gears 'coz I got envy of chyng's funky gears. By the way, I WAS a snorkel-virgin till Anilao.

WHO:         8 damsels in distress 

WHERE:   Anilao in Batangas

WHEN:     September 17-18, 2011

WHAT:      sun + sea + snorkel + strangers = fun

It was also my first time to meet with other bloggers since I only started blogging last January. This trip was a breakthrough. So after a few exchanges of e-mails and text messages, our trip pushed through. I brought a friend with me who didn't have any clue about what will happen - all she knew was we were going to Anilao. 

This is the first trip that I didn't even have to bother researching about. All was arranged and planned by Chyng in a no fuss manner. We met up and broke the ice along the way to Batangas. We were 8 strangers in a public van on our way to Portulano Dive Resort - our haven for the next 28 hours.

jump-off point

We arrived at the jump-off point to the resort at around 11:07 a.m. (according to my shots) and waited for the resort's boat service (included in the package). It was a smooth 12-minute ride to the resort and the sun is on our side that day. Without a trace of rain clouds or whatsoever.

resort's facade

top view

rooms have their own veranda

We reserved a quad sharing room for 2,800 pesos. Included in the package were the A/C room, private toilet and bath, 3 buffet meals and afternoon snack, free use of the infinity pool and the kayak, and the boat transfers. With the food and stuff, the price is so reasonable right?

homey feel

bamboos and nipas

We checked out the rooms and other areas around the resort and we were surprised to see that we were the only guests for that day (until late in the afternoon). We were roaming around like rats on the loose. There were many areas to lounge around and relaxation was our theme for that day. 

beds - quad sharing

room from the veranda

beach view from the veranda

And the buffet meals? I particularly liked the dinner buffet which served salad, spinach soup (malunggay), kebabs, pasta, calamares, chicken barbecue and fruits for dessert. For the first few minutes of every meal, we were quiet. And then chatted endlessly afterwards. The staff were so nice and attended to every need we have.

ze dinner

With a limited network coverage, we were stuck with each other and gave way to more "breaking the ice" moments. Chill, chat and relax.

The original plan was to snorkel after lunch so we hurriedly changed into our bathing suits/rash guards then fixed their snorkeling gears (only chyng and maricar). As we were about to rent our gears, we were told that snorkeling was not feasible at that time due to the notorious waves (coined by chyng). The staff there suggested that we can just swim in their infinity pool (tubig alat din naman daw).

So we all gathered in the pool area to try their "tubig alat pool". Chyng handed me her funky gears for me to try it (thanks dear). It was my first time and it felt like I've been doing it for years now. I love swimming but snorkeling is a different genre. It also made way for some chitchatting with the group. 

the "notorious waves"

we now have neighbors - the owners

After swimming in their pool, we found ourselves playing with sungka and jenga. And I tell you, we played jenga like there's a roundtrip tickets at stake. We were all so competitive. And it's fun!

what's your next move?

After the backbreaking and excruciating game, me and my friend just chilled and waited for the sunset. We even dipped into the small packet of sand and sea along side of the resort. We were pretending to be Paris Hilton in her music video "Stars are blind". It was so hilarious.

After dinner, the group played "Truth or Dare - take it to the next level" at the topmost massage area of the resort. There were cabana-type lounging areas with lotsa huge pillows enough for the eight of us.  It was so intense that we were all at the edge of our pillows as revelations came after revelations. We couldn't help our jaws dropping every time someone was on the spot. 

dawn breaking

We welcomed the new day with a hope of snorkeling (as it's the reason why we're all there). We headed for the breakfast buffet and immediately changed into our suits. We rented snorkeling gears for 85 pesos and off we went.

It was my first time to snorkel and it was GREAT.  It was really a different world deep down there! Good thing our affluent friends have their underwater cameras with them. All brands - Canon for Maricar, Olympus for Gladys and Sony for Kath. Thanks for the photos guys.  

virgin baby!

awkward angle

take me away

Snorkeling and the resort stay was really fun. But the best thing for me was meeting new people - new friends for that matter. Very distinct and unique personalities converged. Diversity is really a very good thing. 

Thanks chyng! I can't take you enough. Alam mo na 'yun :)