Island Vacations – The Nomination

Island Vacations was nominated by Marcia of Inside Journeys to participate in the “My 7 Links Project” (Thanks Very Much, Marcia!)

Initiated by Tripbase, the My 7 Links Project aims “to unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.”

Island Vacations – My 7 Chosen Blog Posts

I’m very honored that Marcia has nominated my Island Vacations blog. It was difficult to select just seven of my blog posts but I hope you’ll like the ones I chose.

My Most Beautiful Post – Majestic Beach Resort- 3 Irresistible Motives To Visit Club Tara in Bucas Grande Island

There are lots of beautiful places that I visited but the Club Tara Resort stood out as the best. Its location inside a small sheltered bay on the idyllic southern coast of Bucas Grande Island, Philippines set in the backdrop of verdant islets and rolling karst hills carpeted with lush tropical vegetation is very enviable. The breath-taking sight of the sparkling light, purplish blue color of the waters fronting the resort resembling that of a clear and unclouded sky surely captivates your senses and rejuvenates your soul.

Club Tara Resort at dusk.

My Most Popular Post – Island Vacations- Why Sohoton Cove In Bucas Grande Island Is Dubbed As All-In-One Tourist Destination

Considered as the Philippines’ emerging all-in-one tourist destination, the Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande Island, Philippines is accessible during low tide only through the 40-meter Sohoton Cave serving as the sole entry and exit point. Once you’re inside the cove, you’ll surely ask yourself if you’re still in this world. You would really enjoy your island vacations by sightseeing and birdwatching on its thickly vegetated identical islets and scenic rock formations, snorkel and dive on its sparkling turquise waters, experience fun and thrill on its magnifecent caverns and swim with the smack of non-stingy jellyfish.

Kayaking on foot the Dagongdong Rock Formation inside Sohoton Cove.

My Most Controversial Post – Saltwater Crocodile Wrestling – My Visit To A Thrill Seeker Destination in Bangkok, Thailand

It was during my travel to Thailand that I had witnessed the most controversial stunt in my whole life- that of a human wrestling with a saltwater crocodile. My heart was pounding heavily from start to end of the Crocodile Wrestling Show at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo located west of Bangkok.

My Most Helpful Post – Battlefield Tours – My Trip To Corregidor Island, Philippines (Part 4)

I had criticized the acts of the tour guides  during my Battlefield Tours in the historic Corregidor Island in the Philippines in cracking jokes branding the Philippine Senators and Congressmen, in general, as a bunch of “leeches.” I might forgive them for uttering those words if only we were all Filipinos in the group. What pissed me off was the fact that the foreigners beside me were laughing their hearts out with that crap joke. My post on my Island Vacations blog had helped in pushing the management to ban the offensive “green joke-cracking” among their pool of tour guides.

Welcome Shed at Corregidor Island

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me – Real Friends – My Key In Wining The Go Pro Hero Contest

Almost all of my blog posts were Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tight. I intentionally made this post as SEO light as possible at it was dedicated to my supporters during the Go-Pro Hero Camera Contest sponsored by Dave and Deb of The Planet D. It turned out to be one of my two highest ranked blog posts by Google.

SOEMCO lady-real friends in lighter moments.

A Post I Feel Didn’t Get The Attention It Deserved – Island Vacations – 3 Overwhelming Basis To Visit Kapihan View Park in Bucas Grande Island

Candidly, I consider the Kapihan View Park to be one of the best sightseeing destinantions in Bucas Grande Island, Philippines. Hence, I poured all my writing prowess into this Island Vacations blog post hopefully to catch the maximum attention as possible. Sadly, it seemed didn’t fit with my readers’ taste.

Video shooting at Kapihan View Park

The Post  That I Am Most Proud Of – Heritage Tours – My Travel To Rizal Shrine In Dapitan City, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine National Hero, in his dying scene of the novel “El Filibusterismo” had quipped: “I die without seeing the dawn shining in my native land. You who could see it, welcome it, and forget not those who had fallen during the night.” In honor of Rizal’s 150^th Birth Anniversary last June 19, 2011, I wrote this post as my own little way of responding to his clarion call and as my maiden entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival. Fortunately, it gained wide acceptance from the members of the Filipino travel blogging community.

A comely spot in the Rizal Shrine Dapitan grounds featuring the immortal lines of Rizal's famous poem Canto Del Viajero (The Song of the Traveler) written on serpentine concrete slabs.

Island Vacations – My Nominated Blogs

And now, I’d like to nominate these very fabulous travel bloggers to participate in the My 7 Links Project.

Off Track Backpacking

Backpacking Worldwide

Philippine Travel Notes

Backpacking Philippines and Asia

Lakwatsera De Primera

Aside from being fabulous, the blogs I nominated are really suited to the taste of island vacations enthusiasts and travel junkies.

Majestic Beach Resort – An Introduction

A majestic beach resort is one of the best vacation spots as well as the most sought out island getaways of island vacations enthusiasts and takes the form of either a hidden beach resort, a white sand beach resort or any  best family resorts or couples resorts situated in a black sand beach ideal for island water sports and family beach vacations.

Majestic Beach Resort – Why Visit Club Tara?

Beach resorts are found anywhere in the world. But a majestic beach resort, which can provide all the key ingredients for a great vacation, is seldom to be found. But in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines, there is one hideaway- the Club Tara Resort which stands out as among the best as it is blessed with the flawless blend of:

1. Enviable Location. You can find this majestic beach resort inside a small sheltered bay on the idyllic southern coast of Bucas Grande Island set in the backdrop of verdant islets and rolling karst hills carpeted with lush tropical vegetation. The breath-taking sight of the sparkling light, purplish blue color of the waters fronting the resort resembling that of a clear and unclouded sky surely captivates your senses and rejuvenates your soul. A watchful walk eastward through an uphill trail and a few careful steps downhill leads you to the serene lagoon “Kwaknitan,” so named after a bat specie, where you can commune with nature and go on kayaking on its blue-green brackish waters. Take a 5-minute boat ride  or go on a 20-minute hike southwards and you will be enthralled by the beauty of the Kanlunes Beach with the grains of its silver-white powder sand glistening like gems with just a slight touch of light coming  from the sun.
2. Intoxicating Amenities. Club Tara, the majestic beach resort, is known throughout Caraga Region as much for its inspired sceneries as for its world-class facilities and comfort-laden, convenience-oriented and pleasure-bearing amenities. Originally built by its owner, my good friend Dr. Potenciano Malvar of the General Miguel Malvar Foundation, the resort had reached its present stature thanks to his Korean business partner Mr. Marsi Kang who innovatively combined Korean-Filipino architecture on its cottages, restaurant and reception center carefully designed to capture the essence of tranquility. You can see 10 suite-cottages standing on the blue lagoon’s edge with only the walls and posts made of concrete but the roofs made of local “nipa” materials to match perfectly with the aggregate of features that give character to its surrounding landscape. Inside the individual suites, which officially opened for guest occupancy last October, 2009, you can witness the highest quality fixtures and furnishings- a California King-sized bed, cable TV and DVD and a tiny refrigerator.  You can watch with awe and admiration the floor to ceiling windows installed to frame the stunning view of the lagoon piercing though the wooden-floored veranda featuring a see-through glass designed for guests to peek the waters underneath playfully enwrapping the concrete posts en route to the shoreline. Upon entering the bathroom, you cannot help but feel engulfed with magical spells with the sight of the black pebbles carefully laid on the floor. The view of a jacuzzi pool for two set on glass side windows overlooking the lagoon would surely tickle your mind that the place is so perfect for romantics of all ages. In between the suite  cottages you can find a beautiful horizon edge serpentine-sized freshwater pool that appears to flow into the azure sea that entices guests in for a quick dip or a languorous swim. At Kanlunes Beach, you can see cottages in between palm trees deliberately  built 200 feet from the water, close enough to hear the waves pounding on the shorelines and high enough to enjoy the inspiring view of the sprawling Mt. Legazpi  in the mainland and the ever-changing  blues of the Hinatuan Passage seas and sky.
3. Excellent Services. Most importantly, in this majestic beach resort you can savor its innovative cuisine, which artfully blends international favorites with island flair. During your stay, you will be served with classic yet contemporary dishes fused with Asian and European culinary influences. As an added advantage, you can really feel the warmth, grace and personable services of the staff belonging to the Filipino race known internationally for their hospitality. You can dine and wine on its restaurant or arrange a special sunset dinner on the beach front. For island water sports lovers and enthusiasts like you, snorkeling, diving and kayaking gears with expert guides are always available.

Majestic Beach Resort – Final Thought

A great resort, sea view, lots of entertaining activities or relaxing time on a fine sand beach, good food and lots of sun are usual key ingredients for a great island vacations. In Club Tara Resort, you can find all these attributes and you can experience paradise in a secluded haven for luxury, elegance and superb cuisine. You can take my word that this majestic beach resort is one of the finest in this part of the country, but I recommend seeing it for yourself.

CLUB TARA VITAL INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE . . .

If you want to stay in another world-class resort within the vicinity of Sohoton Cove, please click here.

Looking for great island vacations spots in Bucas Grande Island, please click here, also here, as well as here.

A Breath-taking Sunset At Club Tara Resort

A photograph on 4 of the 10 Jacuzzi Suite and 2 of the 4 Tropical Cottages

The Club Tara Swimming Pool

A Distant View of Club Tara Cottages

Inside Picture of Suite Cottage with Floor To ceiling Glass Windows Facing the Veranda and Lagoon

Close Up View of the Jacuzzi with Captivating View of Floating Flowers

A dainty and demure Filipina enjoying the fresh and cool Jacuzzi dip

Special Sunset Dinner at Kanlunes Beach

Photo of Tents in Wooden Catwalks at Club Tara

Poolside Dinner At Club Tara

An Enviable Poolside Kiss Among Club Tara Guest Couple

Two Amiable Staff in Ethnic Attire Welcoming the Club Tara Guests

View of a Tropical Cottage Atop A Limestone Islet fronting Club Tara

A lady tourist savoring the mesmerizing beauty and serenity of the Kanlunes Beach...a part of Club Tara -this island's majestic beach resort.