Balmed. That’s what Bali-Bali did to me one
balmy weekend. Like my favorite beer, the swanky hideaway in the
Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), or simply Samal to most locals, soothed
my heart, mind and soul, getting me intoxicated by its sheer beauty, superb
amenities and sought-after exclusivity during a prelude-to-summer escapade with
two of my bosom buddies, Jobots and Manoy.
Samal may be besieged by tourists on weekends
and holidays, but it has some sweet secluded spots for those wanting to escape
the throngs. Bali-Bali, just a few minutes away by boat from Davao City, is one
of them. The semi-private resort is an exclusive refuge tucked into a
picturesque hilly landscape overlooking the blue waters of Davao Gulf.
Bali-Bali, as it is aptly called, derived its
name from the Pangasinense word for “beautiful”. Geez, I can’t seem to find the
right words to describe the exotic appeal of the resort. It’s a slice of
paradise that offers first-time visitors and frequent guests a different kind
of summery sweet escape from urban tedium that’s so worth any adventure
junkie’s time, money and effort.
Found along the southwestern part of the
island, the resort is the perfect hideaway for those seeking to break free from
the din and drudgery of city life without going to some faraway destination.
Bali-Bali entices weekend warriors with the rare chance to either hang out by
the infinity pool, hibernate inside their shacks or have fun in the sun.
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Bali-Bali's beachfront
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Samal as seen aboard the barge
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Babak Ferry Terminal
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Getting there is a breeze, be it by land or
sea. Upon arrangement, the resort provides boat transfers to guests coming from
Davao Boat Club Marina in Lanang. But we didn’t avail of this since I decided
to bring along my car. Instead, we took the 15-minute cruise aboard the barge
that shuttles commuters and vehicles to and from the island. The sea was calm
that day so we reached the island in no time.
Arriving at Babak Ferry Terminal, my friend
Manoy then sat behind the wheel and drove us to the resort. En route to
Bali-Bali, we passed by several resorts bearing such exotic names as Bluejaz,
Paradise Island, Costa Marina, Bluewaters, La Familia, Mayumi, Punta del Sol,
to name some. On weekends, the crowds overrun these hideaways, shattering your
illusions of finding serenity there.
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Davao City as seen from an elevated part of Samal
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What caught our fancy during the short drive to
Bali-Bali was the picture-perfect panorama that usually greets motorists who
pass by the island’s southwestern side. The seascape was spectacular, to say the
least; a visual treat that thrilled us as my car snaked its way through the
well-paved circumferential road that slithers up and down a cliff overlooking
the deep blue sea.
Stretched out below us are the deep blue waters
that separates Samal and its islands from the rest of the region’s mainland.
From a distance, the coastal fringes of Mindanao’s premier city loomed. Davao
looked resplendent with all the trappings of a highly urbanized
metropolis–malls, hotels, condos, residences, factories and manufacturing
plants.
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Bali-Bali's main attraction
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Surrounded by lush greenery, the one-hectare
beachfront property in the village of Catagman offers its guests with various
types of accommodations found in its chic villas and suites designed with Japanese,
Thai, Balinese, Oriental, Mediterranean and Filipiniana-inspired motifs. Aside
from these, Bali-Bali also boasts of a two-storey hotel that’s quite cozy and
capacious to give visitors the ultimate holiday experience.
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A picturesque
vista of the sea in Bali-Bali
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Staffed with warm, courteous and friendly
attendants, the resort makes visitors feel so welcomed. From the front desk
down to housekeeping, everyone goes out of his way to be nice and
accommodating—with a gracious smile at that! I can’t recall an instance when
our requests and inquiries weren’t promptly attended by the staff. To say that
they were at our beck and call would be an understatement.
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The exclusive resort sizzles at night
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Bali-Bali also delights its guests with a wide
array of delectable cuisine concocted by its in-house chef. Meals are served at
the sprawling pavilion where diners can relax and relish the view of the
resort’s main attraction—an infinity pool that stretches out to a picturesque
vista of the sea, perfectly framed by conifers, trees and ornamentals for a
tropical ambiance. At night, luminaires light up the pool, giving it a
fascinating mise en scène that would enchant swimmers and strollers alike.
After the exhilarating ride, we reached
Bali-Bali early in the afternoon. The staff served us our welcome drinks and then ushered us into a comfortable Thai-inspired two-bedroom villa, one the four
in the resort, all of which face the infinity pool, undoubtedly the most
distinct feature of the resort that sets it apart from the rest of the havens
in Samal.
The one we had is relatively small but we have
everything we need right around it—aircon, cable TV, private bath with hot
& cold shower (replete with the bare essentials, that is, soap, shampoo,
towels, rugs and bathroom tissue, the works), two double beds (plus one extra)
with comfy blankets, two fluffy pillows, among others.
The price? Well, I must say it’s quite pricey
by our standards but then again, you have to pay more if you want to enjoy the
placidity and privacy of it all. Ergo, it’s so worth it, especially for me
who’s been craving for a vacay in a place far from the madding crowd and for my
friends who wanted to be close to the beach, which is just a few meters away
from where we stayed.
That weekend in Bali-Bali was all about
flirting with indolence. We did nothing but bask in the beauty of the resort:
sprawl ourselves in the jacuzzi, the pool and the sea; saunter here, there and everywhere; speak
our minds about life and its unfathomable mysteries; and swill all the brew we
could.
Short as it was, the weekend wandering to the
resort rejuvenated me. Days have passed since that whirlwind escapade but until
now I haven’t gotten over my hangover of Bali-Bali. The delirium tremens of the
booze we gulped have long been flushed out of my system but the fun we had in
the sun, sea and sand still lingers in my head, probably remaining in my memory
bank for a long, long time. :
For
more about Bali-Bali, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtuwzVM5dns. :-D
Samal may be besieged by tourists on weekends
and holidays, but it has some sweet secluded spots for those wanting to escape
the throngs. Bali-Bali, just a few minutes away by boat from Davao City, is one
of them. The semi-private resort is an exclusive refuge tucked into a
picturesque hilly landscape overlooking the blue waters of Davao Gulf.
Bali-Bali, as it is aptly called, derived its
name from the Pangasinense word for “beautiful”. Geez, I can’t seem to find the
right words to describe the exotic appeal of the resort. It’s a slice of
paradise that offers first-time visitors and frequent guests a different kind
of summery sweet escape from urban tedium that’s so worth any adventure
junkie’s time, money and effort.
Found along the southwestern part of the
island, the resort is the perfect hideaway for those seeking to break free from
the din and drudgery of city life without going to some faraway destination.
Bali-Bali entices weekend warriors with the rare chance to either hang out by
the infinity pool, hibernate inside their shacks or have fun in the sun. 
Getting there is a breeze, be it by land or
sea. Upon arrangement, the resort provides boat transfers to guests coming from
Davao Boat Club Marina in Lanang. But we didn’t avail of this since I decided
to bring along my car. Instead, we took the 15-minute cruise aboard the barge
that shuttles commuters and vehicles to and from the island. The sea was calm
that day so we reached the island in no time.
Arriving at Babak Ferry Terminal, my friend
Manoy then sat behind the wheel and drove us to the resort. En route to
Bali-Bali, we passed by several resorts bearing such exotic names as Bluejaz,
Paradise Island, Costa Marina, Bluewaters, La Familia, Mayumi, Punta del Sol,
to name some. On weekends, the crowds overrun these hideaways, shattering your
illusions of finding serenity there. 
Stretched out below us are the deep blue waters
that separates Samal and its islands from the rest of the region’s mainland.
From a distance, the coastal fringes of Mindanao’s premier city loomed. Davao
looked resplendent with all the trappings of a highly urbanized
metropolis–malls, hotels, condos, residences, factories and manufacturing
plants. 
Surrounded by lush greenery, the one-hectare
beachfront property in the village of Catagman offers its guests with various
types of accommodations found in its chic villas and suites designed with Japanese,
Thai, Balinese, Oriental, Mediterranean and Filipiniana-inspired motifs. Aside
from these, Bali-Bali also boasts of a two-storey hotel that’s quite cozy and
capacious to give visitors the ultimate holiday experience.
Bali-Bali also delights its guests with a wide
array of delectable cuisine concocted by its in-house chef. Meals are served at
the sprawling pavilion where diners can relax and relish the view of the
resort’s main attraction—an infinity pool that stretches out to a picturesque
vista of the sea, perfectly framed by conifers, trees and ornamentals for a
tropical ambiance. At night, luminaires light up the pool, giving it a
fascinating mise en scène that would enchant swimmers and strollers alike. 
The price? Well, I must say it’s quite pricey
by our standards but then again, you have to pay more if you want to enjoy the
placidity and privacy of it all. Ergo, it’s so worth it, especially for me
who’s been craving for a vacay in a place far from the madding crowd and for my
friends who wanted to be close to the beach, which is just a few meters away
from where we stayed.
That weekend in Bali-Bali was all about
flirting with indolence. We did nothing but bask in the beauty of the resort:
sprawl ourselves in the jacuzzi, the pool and the sea; saunter here, there and everywhere; speak
our minds about life and its unfathomable mysteries; and swill all the brew we
could. 
