Showing posts with label what to do in misamis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what to do in misamis. Show all posts

Friday, May 27, 2016

Feature Friday: Wow Panaon!

Feature Friday highlights businesses, people, fashion, and basically anything under the sun!

Panaon, Misamis Occidental is a budding municipality located north of Ozamiz which is only three quarters of an hour ride through private transpo.  However if in public, an additional of 15-20 minutes won't break your neck 'coz there's never traffic jam here in our laidback province.  With that, I'd like to be called as a probinsyana (dreaming of Coco as my probinsyano).  Hehe.....  Anyway highway, enough about him and just allow me to start raving to you a place that surprises me this summer!  

Sideway, I never thought that my first write-up on Panaon's Punta Meriam would be such a hit!  Even after a year and a half, it's still on my popular posts list and I do get a lot of queries every now and then about it.  Some of my readers also asked other resorts they could visit in the area so I thought that I must do a follow-up post on it.

To start with, we checked into La Playa Azul (formerly Regalado's).  It just changed management so renovations are still on going.  Honestly, we found the place unwelcoming to guests because the staff was not accommodating.  Sorry to tell you this but I have to since I don't want to mislead people by "all praises" on this blog.  However, we understood and considered since the owner is not from the municipality and is residing in Cebu.  And when the cat is out, the rats always play, right?  So that's understandable.  But aside from the poor staff administration, the resort doesn't serve food too.  There's no resto so you better bring your own food.  The restrooms are also far from the cottages which is rather inconvenient.  Though the garden is still under reconstruction, the pools are not well-kept.  Hopefully the next time I'm gonna visit the place, renovations are done, personnel is already trained and prepared, and amenities and facilities are complete for the convenience of the guests.  Because with all honesty, we were not happy for the price we paid during our visit ('coz every move = price to pay).


      
In spite of that, we still enjoyed our day 'coz we went on a banana boat ride and island hopping!  Banana boat was P85 per pax and the pump boat ride to an island was P800 round trip.  But we waited for an hour for the captains of the ship to arrive.  The manang still had to call for them 'coz there's nobody on standby.  You can't also make bookings ahead of time as we inquired.  Tsk tsk.....  Actually, I got a little impatient 'coz I was only doing the outing on my 9 AM - 5 PM MWF class break.  Gladly, Rio was a speedy driver so she sent me back to school on time!



On the other hand, we also checked into Dela Paz Beach Resort.  It's a public one and it's just like Rama Beach in Clarin, another municipality in Misamis Occidental which is adjacent to Ozamiz.  The only entrance fee here is P10 for whatever car you're bringing including all passengers inside.  If by foot, you're not gonna pay for anything.  It's open to all so the beach is crowded.  The place is not really clean as expected but there are lots of water activities that are already in waiting.  There are more banana boats and pump boats with the additional kayaks and jetski.  However, they said that the jetski was privately owned and who knows you could talk to the owner to have a ride.  Haha!  Additionally, they also have this ride wherein you cling on to a big salbabida on your stomach and face down then you'll get tugged by a fast-moving motorized banca.  The ride was hilarious and would surely give you adrenaline rush.  My cousin Matoy even stopped the manong for she couldn't move forward clinging on to dear life anymore.  This ride was P100 per pax for an hour and oh, by the way, the pump boat ride to the island was only P20 per head here roundtrip so I guess La Playa also charged us more than the ride actually cost.  I feel like they snipped a big chunk of the P800 we paid.  Poor banca owners....

Now here are quick vids on what to expect of the water activities!  



With prices affordable at Dela Paz, our little cousin and nephew did the island hopping twice-thrice during our outing last Sunday for JP's birthday.  Everybody really enjoyed swimming with the fun water activities that are plenty in the place.  So there's no need to go to Boracay for white sand (though the island here is not as white) and watersports 'coz we already have 'em here in our nearby town, Panaon.  I just hope that one day, they're gonna also add parasailing.

So this is my local summer adventure!  I never thought I could experience summer this year for our school's second semester also covered April and May.  I am just glad that Panaon gave summer to me so hail to the municipal government officials for making the place a tourist destination!  Let's explore Misamis Occidental further, friends!  #tosomfeatures   

P.S.  Follow @exploremisocc on IG here! :)


I Heart Panaon!
(c) Rio

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For questions, invites, and collaborations, direct message me on Facebook.  For updates on my whereabouts and whatabouts, follow me on Twitter and Instagram! :)

Friday, March 21, 2014

Feature Friday: Oklahoma Island Rafi's Resort

Feature Friday highlights businesses, people, fashion, and basically anything under the sun!


Planning on a summer getaway with the whole family or barkada?  Well, this one is for you!  My dear blog readers, may I present to you - Oklahoma Island Rafi's Resort!  This gem of  an island in Misamis Occidental must be in your summer wishlist this year for the following reasons:

Pristine Beach and Crystal Clear Water

As the photos show, the resort is clean and well-kept.  There is no world-class infrastructure or the likes which makes it beautiful by nature in itself.  It has a laidback atmosphere that one would surely enjoy going back to the basics!  Additionally, it is secluded and just lets you experience ragged nature in solitude.


Affordable Rates

Entrance fee to the resort is only PhP50 and that already includes the pumpboat ride to the island!   There are cottages and rooms for overnight accommodations and also an open-style mini-function hall for events.  Food in their menu has reasonable prices but you can also bring your own with a corkage fee of PhP200 only for all the food and beverages that you had brought.
   

Fun Nature Experience

When in Oklahoma, you can be one with nature!  You can play, swim, snorkel, or just laze around inhaling the fresh air.  The sea is just so generous with aquatic finds and I also found the place suitable for a Biology field trip. 


The Bonding Moment

Should I say more?  Beautiful island, white sand beach, pumpboat ride, homey food, great people - you'll surely make the most out of your outing together! :)


The Unforgettable Journey

No matter how many times you've been to a place, it is the experience that counts.  So for us who are living here in Misamis Occidental, we may find same old places from last year since there ain't always something new.  Although we may find it already boring, just take a look at who you're with.  For this, you'll still gonna have that great adventure without stepping too far from our local roots.


The Pictorial

Of course, any outing won't end up without a pictorial!  Checking-in with photos in FB or IG would be an evidence that you were really there in that awesome place.


Visit Oklahoma Island Rafi's Resort and experience nature at its best!

How to Get There:  

If from Ozamis and in private transpo, take the Ozamis-Oroquieta road.  Just follow signages up to Calamba and I guarantee that you'll never get lost with the small province that we have.

If from Ozamis and in public transpo, take a bus bound for Dipolog, drop off at Calamba, ride a motorcycle/habal-habal to the resort!

For questions, invites, and collaborations, direct message me on Facebook.  For updates on my whereabouts and whatabouts, follow me on Twitter and Instagram! :)