The main reason why one travels is the creation of memorable experiences. From the food we eat, the scenes we see, and the people we meet, travelling soothes and refreshes the soul as well as feeds the mind with new ideas.
What that is mind, here is a round up of some the places I was able to visit this year, local and international, which left an indelible mark on my memory.
The Mövenpick Mactan and Manny O’s Private Wine Cellar
Thanks to the invite of fellow EDGE Davao columnist and Movenpick Mactan’s marketing manager, Meg Sta. Ines-Hernandez and Philippine Airlines, I was finally able to experience the beauty of Mactan Island at the Mövenpick Mactan Resort. The sea views of the resort was spectacular as was the food and entertainment at the property’s trademark Ibiza Beach Club.
The experience was made extra memorable by the main man himself, Mr. Manny Osmeña, who showed us around his own private wine cellar within the resort. The secure, oak-lined, climate controlled room is where he keeps his multi-million peso wine collection and is only accessible by Manny and his assistant.
High Tea at the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
Every visit I have to Hong Kong has been a rush to go around to look for the latest trend or shopping find. This year, me and travel buddy Otoi Mercado decided to take it easy for an afternoon and have high tea at the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong.
From the moment we stepped into the high-speed elevator that whisked us from grind level to the 103rd floor of the International Commerce Center where the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong is located at, we knew we were in for a one-of-a-kind experience.
The view of Victoria Harbour from where we sat was truly breathtaking as we sipped our properly prepared tea, biscuits, and sandwiches. We did not notice the time while we took in the views of Hong Kong Island which slowly turned from afternoon to sunset.
The luxe life of solo island living at Island Buenavista
If there is an island experience in 2015 that was hard to top was my stay at the Island Buenavista. Promising guests their own private island, the Island Buenavista delivers all that in aces. You get your own stretch of powder-fine white sand beach, your own private villa (there are eight different villas to choose from), your own private lounge and pool as well.
Owning your own private island does not mean you get to go there alone though, as you can bring along up to 9 of your friends to tag along and experience the island. All meals, snacks, and drinks are also provided for.
Lost at Tokyo’s Ameyoko Shopping Street
Many travellers love to shop and a visit to a local mall is always part of any shopper’s itinerary. My favourite places to shop for unique and quirky finds though would be at the many shopping streets that can be found especially around Asia.
I travelled to Tokyo this year and had the time of my life going around and getting lost at the Ameyoko shopping street. While many traditional shopping streets focused on specialty goods and are often zoned around the goos they sell, the Ameyoko is a hodgepodge of many different independent stores selling different goods right beside each other.
A store may be selling cosmetics and right besides it is a store that is selling sports shoes and right besides that is a shop selling fresh fish. This juxtapositioning is what makes the Ameyoko so exciting for travellers and shoppers alike and that is why it made it onto my list.
Philippine Eagle Conservation Center
It had been a while since I last visited the Philippine Eagle Conservation Center at Malagos that is why I was pleasantly surprised at how the centre now looks. Diola may have passed on but new ambassador eagles such as Pag-Asa and Mindanao are now spearheading the campaign to save our national bird.
My recent visit to the centre truly opened my eyes to the beauty and strength of the Philippine Eagle as well as what still needs to be done to save our national treasure.
Tracing My Roots in Xiamen
Looking back at 2015, my trip to Xiamen City on the South-east coast of China was special. Given that I trace my roots back to the area, Xiamen was both familiar and unfamiliar to me. The cuisine of the city was familiar to me, dishes such as oyster omelette, mee-sua, and ho-pia offer familiar flavours to what I had tasted in Davao and in manila’s Chinatown.
What was unfamiliar to me though was how much Xiamen has changed though the years. The main city of Xiamen is modern and pulses with life, yet there are still districts such as Zhong San Road and Gulang Yu Island where one can have a peek at the harbour city’s past glory and how it looked like when my ancestors left it for a better life in the Philippines.
Looking Forward to Talikud Island
Looking at 2016, I believe Talikud Island will be seeing more visitors thanks to the valiant effort of Davao del Norte’s Provincial Tourism Council president Ms. Araceli Ayuste as well as the island’s natural beauty.
Although there are other white sand beaches in the Davao region, Talikud Island’s long stretches of natural powder-fine white-sand public beaches that can rival those of Boracay are closer to Durianburg with just a ferry boat ride from Davao City to the island’s Sta. Cruz port. This, together with the new Talikud Island inland tours will now allow travellers more access to the island’s attractions beyond the shore.
