Pearl Farm Beach Resort: A Samal Experience

 

If you are looking for pristine waters and calm beach in Davao,  Pearl Farm Beach Resort is a place to be. Known to be a topnotch beach resort in Samal Island after a 45-minute boat trip from Pearl Farm Marina Davao City, this 14-hectare paradise is strategically located on an exclusive cove in Samal highlighting spotless beaches and thriving fauna. 

Once a pearl farm, the place of bliss has transformed into luxurious resort with Maranao and Samal inspired houses and suites perched on stilts directly above the sea with a breathtaking and spectacular view of unspoiled blue waters of Davao gulf.  

Malipano Villas and Samal Suites are designed with  the relaxing outdoor sofa,  a hanging hammock and  huge veranda to provide a panoramic sight of the peaceful sea. On the other hand, Samal Houses and Sunset Suites are ingenious  stilt houses of nautical Samal tribe of Sulu with mini porch to catch a glimpse of the unruffled waters.

Pearl Farm Resort’s pride  includes Parola Bar, formerly a lighthouse, where guests are welcomed with drinks, is currently transformed to chill place that serves cocktail delight and munchies with the dramatic backdrop picture of the deep and adjacent Malipano island. This  Pearl Farm owned island can be reached through scheduled boat which features the breakwater and white sandy beach perfect for snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. With the panoramic scene of Parola  Bar and Davao Gulf spots the exquisite and picturesque Pearl Farm infinity pool infront of Ylang ylang Spa and the Maranao Restaurant that doles out sumptuous snacks and buffet at reasonable prices. 

Pearl Farm is an exclusive resort where everything for your vacation is within reach. Excluding the  assortment of Palawan and happenings of Boracay, Pearl Farm Beach Resort is a getaway paradise that boasts splendid  facilities and excellent customer service, serene nightlife, the solitude of pleasant beach and the Island’s grandeur untouched.

For Reservations and Accommodations:

PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines

Tel: (6382) 221 9970

Mla. Office: (02) 750-1898 / 750-1896

893-2093 / Fax No: (02) 750-1894

www.pearlfarmresort.com

Day Tour Fee:

Monday – Thursday : Php 1,850.00

Friday – Sunday: Php 2,250.00

Discover Mui Ne (Part 4)

The Mui Ne Tour booked with Lotus Mui Ne Resort& Spa, where price starts from 1M VND for chauffeur-driven 4x4 jeep, was indeed a teenage dream. As the group hurriedly reserved two military jeeps, butterflies filled our tummies with a splendid anticipation. The tour began at 13:00H and lasted until 19:00H. 

It was a smooth journey despite the cloudy and slightly rainy weather, a rarity since Mui Ne's climate is hot and dry for most of the year. Though it took us about 45 minutes, the trip was interesting as we were fascinated by the province's diversity and beauty. Due to the strong winds, Mui Ne is famous to be a kitesurfing and windsurfing coastal resort town of Vietnam with a strip of beach resorts in town.

Fishing Village

Our first spot was Fishing Village, an overlook with a magnificent view of multiple colorful fishing boats decorating the bay. If you have ample time, you can stop by the  fishing harbor, where you can buy fresh seafoods from the locals or walk down the beach to take a glimpse of Vietnamese fishermen busy with their catch.

The view from the coastal road is very nice boasting the line of sandy beaches while the other side amazes everyone with its reddish and yellowish desert scene. 

Mui Ne Lotus Lake

The picturesque lake of flourishing lotuses is just great for photoshoot. It is stunning that one may wish to boat across the wonderful and blossoming waters. 

White Sand Dunes

The perfect time to go basking in White Sand Dunes is early morning or late afternoon before sunset. The view of the dunes bordered with lake shore of lotuses that symbolizes Vietnam, is very striking and appealing. One word to describe White Sand dunes: Breathtaking!

It used to be a virtually hidden place despite its serene and panoramic ambiance. Now, tourists can avail an ATV at a rate of 250VND per 20 minute where no haggling allowed. If you want to experience the adrenaline rush in the desert, rent an ATV without second thoughts. I drove this vehicle at a speed that I ended up with broken slippers and my hitch almost falling off from the backseat. Hurray! Lastly, be mindful of your belongings and avoid any unnecessary assistance offered.

Red Sand Dunes

As we spent more than an hour in dunes because of the cool weather, we decided to head towards the next spot. Red Sand dunes is glorious and its sand seems finer.  It is nice to go sliding down the hills and walk with barefeet to really feel the desert experience.

Fairy Stream

This is a little majestic river that run its way through faunas and forests, boulders and the dunes. This resembles a miniature version of Grand Canyon with a stream that is about an ankle or knee-deep. Since it is sandy and safe, the Fairy Stream can be walked comfortably barefooted. Moreover, there are red hills with a view of river valley you can climb. Traversing the stream and reaching the tiny waterfall after the 20-minute walk, one can dip in the waist-deep water for a refreshing bath or swim.

The Resort and Restaurant Strip in Town

After that Mui Ne adventure, never forget to end the day with a delicious meal. The eating options are vast from simple Vietnamese cuisines to western foods as well. Mui Ne is also strand of beach parties or chill places to grab some late drinks or coffee.




P.S.
Credits to Paul and Robert for some photos. :)

The Hidden Treasure of Vienam: Lotus Mui Ne Resort! (Part 3)

After a half day of Ho Chi Minh City Tour, we boarded the Saigon to Mui Ne coach thru Sinh Café at exactly 3pm. For convenience, we asked the travel agent to pick us up at Pham Ngu Lao Street.  The trip to Mui Ne takes approximately 6 hours and costs around 9USD per person.

Mui Ne coaches are very comfortable with typical stopover at a petrol station wherein a variety of snacks, fruits and pasalubong are readily available. The long travel to Bin Thuan province can give you a chance to relax after the humid city tour or even catch up with your friends through lengthy conversation. 

We finally arrived in Mui Ne proper at 9pm. We were very excited since this part of the itinerary served as the highlight of the Vietnam trip: sand dunes, the beach, streams, lake and our resort. We took the cab to Lotus Mui Ne Resort in Pan Thiet and it only costs around 50-80VND .

At 10 minutes, we were amazed with the beauty of our home in Mui Ne, a truly luxurious place to stay! We were welcomed by the management and staff with refreshments and good news to match: Since there was an on-going company party, our deluxe rooms were upgraded to Beachfront Bungalow! From 2M VND to 6M VND, that was truly fantastic! We would be sleeping at their finest honeymoon suite which also would mean the beach would be a stone’s throw away, perfect for beach lovers like us!

With the glimpse of first-class facilities, our happy feet headed towards our suites and embraced the lavishness for a while. Then, we decided to grab some bites at Moon Beach Bar & Restaurant where we could enjoy taking pleasure of pristine sea landscape around an expresso as well as ice cream or experience the most exotic cocktails while admiring the pacific view. Also, the bar  provided sports center where we played billiards and foosball in competitive mode. We roamed around the resort to enjoy the ambiance and the picturesque pool under the moonlight before we decided to catch up with our pillows.

Waking up with the sound of the beach waves was a music to our ears.  The private balcony amidst the beach provided a space to chillax with a cup of coffee and perked up our first morning  Mui Ne. Buffet breakfast was served in Marina Seafood Buffet Restaurant offering Vietnamese delicacies to international favorites.

The whole morning was dedicated to bum around Mui Ne Pan Thiet's white sandy beach, try the resort’s Jacuzzi and enjoy such elegant and ultra-modern resort.

As a traveler, I personally recommend Lotus Mui Ne Resort  where it is classy and romantic at every single angle you look. 

Lotus Mui Ne Beach Resort & Spa

Quarter 5, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City,
Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam


Tel : +84 (62) 375 1777
Fax : +84 (62) 371 9066
Email : info@lotusmuineresort.com


Sinhcafe Travel
Email: sales@vietnamsinhcafetravel.com
Mr. The Linh (For urgent case, please contact +84904727377)

Shopping in Vietnam: Saigon Square (Part 2)

Saigon Square is a shopping complex that offers affordable clothes, bags, footwear and over runs at reasonable prices. 

There are two "Saigon Square" in Ho Chi Minh. For cheaper goods, make sure to visit Saigon Square with the address: 77 – 89, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It is near Ben Thanh Market heading towards the ISC building as landmark.

Vietnam is a haven for bagaholics! To shop for North Face, Crumpler or even Samsonite bags should be a vital part of  shopping itinerary.  With keen eyes to details,one can grab a precious North Face bag with a price dropped up to 50%. Bags are set to fixed price but just try to haggle if you’re buying a lot! Price ranges from 300VND to 550VND

Here are some tips to spot an authentic North Face Bag:

1. Ask the seller and confirm:

Take a hint from the vendor if North Face is a counterfeit or original

Authentic: "It's original"

Fake: “It’s copy..” “Same same” “No, copy but good quality”

2. Verify the quality of the details:

Check  the zipper, lining and tags. The tag of the zipper is embellished with North Face.

3. Check the front logo . 

This is tricky but if you are familiar with original bags sold in stores you can manage to spot the difference

Authentic: The embroidery and stitching are finer. Font used is tapered.

Fake: Irregularity in the stitching of the logo. Sometimes,immense. 

4. Find the Hologram and Inside tag.  

An authentic North Face bag has inside tags and hologram.