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Peak of Bliss
It was the smoke that held my attention. I fell quiet with its hushed language, its unfurling dance. That and the volcano itself – its perfect cone and the rivers of red that are the frozen memories of lava. How could anybody pass up the chance to view this wonder? Clearly, not I. It was my second day in Misibis Bay, Bicol's six-star luxury playground resort, and I never imagined this scene: myself viewing Mayon Volcano at the cusp of sunrise and sipping hot cocoa while astride an ATV. This ride is only one of a ton of things you can do at Misibis Bay. In operation for only a year, the six-star resort has already attracted attention, admiration, and patronage. In a nutshell, it's a gem within a gem. One can bask in the natural beauty of Bicol and experience a sunrise that's five minutes ahead of the rest of the Philippines. There's Mayon Volcano. There's an eco-park that houses a lovely amphitheater; white-sand beach; fresh catch of the day; sumptuous meals; and the incomparable peace a secluded haven brings. And secluded it really is. This thought will most probably cross the mind of a visitor plying the road from Sula Channel towards Misibis Bay. Whether one is a full-fledged celebrity, an executive, or a regular Joe or Jill about to vacation at the resort, one would definitely feel like a celebrity. And a pampered one at that, as your hiatus unfolds. Our first day was composed of spectacular views, great finds, city stops, water sports, and a sunset cruise. After being picked up by a Misibis Bay-owned van, we drove on to experience Legazpi City. Apart from its practical purpose (why stop in the city before heading towards Misibis Bay, right?), I felt we were being immersed in the daily hum of Bicol life. We visited baroque-designed Daraga Church that serves as a replica of the now-buried Cagsawa Church. And then off to Cagsawa Ruins whose seven-kilometer distance from Mayon spelled its poetic death. The next stop was Lignon Hill that overlooks Legazpi's vast lands, fields, airport runway, and Albay Gulf. It was a panoramic look at a city at the threshold of boom. During this visit, Mayon was slumbering behind fluffy clouds, and so we let it be. We said hello to the ladies of Albay Pili Nut Factory along Rizal Street, in the Old Albay District where we sampled yummy flavored pili. Then off to Satellite Market where the smallest of pasalubong options – keychains, stone paperweight – and the largest of treats – hats, abaca bags, shirts, seashell chimes, and wall décor – awaited. The ride from Manila, then a city tour, then an hour-long drive towards Sula Channel, followed by a ten-minute barge to Cagraray Island, then a ten-minute roll towards the gates of Misibis Bay all dissolved when we reached the resort. A calm settled on our shoulders, and the scented towel given to refresh faces and necks was a fragrant treat. Whether it's only the two of you or a large group, expect a lively Ibalong dance as a welcome and as a commemoration to Bicolanos' ancestry. I scanned the resort, and it was a sight to behold: winding paths dotted with greens, villas with generous space in between, lagoon pools snaking in between villas, bali beds by the beach, and the Pacific Ocean rimmed by white sand. It was perfect. And as if we were royalty, we were ushered into our one-bedroom poolside villa where complimentary native pastry samplers, abaca bags, a spacious sala, a cozy dining round table, and a spotless bathroom awaited. Between the temptation of trying out the feather bed with a 300 thread count sheet and giving in to grumbling tummies, the latter won. Robust room packages include a relaxing, complimentary foot wash and full board meals to be enjoyed at Spice Market. Lunch at Spice Market was superb right down to the citrus cooler served by F&B Manager Rex Cortes. The place has a la carte menu and daily buffet where Filipino and Bicol favorites are served plus a coterie of soups, salads, and desserts. There are also action stations for hot-off-the-pan dishes such as Mongolian flavors. My eyes also feasted. The place has a high ceiling with large light fixtures designed as cog wheels suspended in air. Gigantic anahaw fans and wooden wheels, decorated the place. It also has an al fresco area and a bar for cocktails and spirits. I was also in good hands knowing that if I had a bout of craving for grilled seafood, there's DeLaPlaya Restaurant to take care of that. Our restless feet led us to Sitio, a one-stop hub housing a library; fully-equipped conference room and business center that has LCD projector, flatscreen TV, and a cluster of sofas; playroom; kiddie corner; and game room where we duked it out at billiards, air hockey, and darts. Time zipped by, and before we knew it, we were gearing up for water sports. This resort values space so much as seen in its Asian modern and tropical landscaping and design, in the largeness of the villas, and even space among vacationers! With lots of things laid out for them, visitors can do their own thing. Maybe they're tucked away in Essenses Spa or they're sunbathing or bird watching or snorkeling or fancying intro dives or doing indoor activites like karaoke or movie watching. In other words, we had our whole corner of the beach during our first day for water sports. Jetskiing was demonstrated by our enthusiastic and versatile guide, Joefrey Angeles, who also taught me to wind surf. I admit, it was tough learning it. I had to consider physics, body coordination, balance, and even unexpected occurrences (like almost swiping at the breakwater), but I got the hang of it. After, it was off to wind-propelled hobiecat for some genteel sea cruising. A sunset cruise capped off a great beach experience. The ferry can house 25 people, and it's an hour's cruise for sunset viewing. Truly, nothing beats the spectacle of a sunset that gives your vision of Mayon Volcano a romantic and solemn hue. Our interlude with Mayon during the cruise was only the beginning. At the crack of dawn, we were in full ATV gear for a ride towards a cliff that offered an unrivalled view of the volcano. Note that Misibis is 36 kilometers away from the perfect cone. The usual path for visitors taking the ATV ride is a breeze compared with the path taken by photo shoot crews for coverage. There was a point where we were chugging it on an uneven path strewn with large rocks. But the view along the way is varied and vibrant – shrubbery, rock walls, pools of water evoking a sense of lonesomeness. At blessed moments, the Mayon would reward our motor-jarred nerves. It would be peeking from a shoulder of trees or in between rocky crags. The reward for the bumpy ride: a view of Mayon, devoid of persistent clouds. On good days, visitors can also catch sight of Mt. Isarog and Mt. Bulosan. We rushed through breakfast, a sin because the morning spread was hearty and rich, but zip line and wall climbing beckoned. We came, we savored the heights and the distance, and we conquered. The reward for a packed day was a visit to a massive treasure, the amphitheater. It has seen exclusive events and fashion shoots and is poised to become the wedding destination in the coming years. Its oh-so-huge space, its view of the blue, and its Grecian pillars lend it majesty. We were also given a taste of what Misibis Bay can do when it comes to dining out. And when I said out, it's really out there. Headed by Mr. Rex Cortes, the team makes it a point to surpass guests' expectations. As per a guest's package, the F&B dream team can conjure a spread in a dressed up spot on the beach, or in the amphitheater, or in one's villa, or afloat a pool, or on rice fields, or even by the lava wall of Mayon Volcano. It's that fun and diverse. Said Mr. Cortes: "Whatever my idea is and whatever my guests wish for, I can do it as long as it's feasible, as long as the weather permits. We're open to ideas from customers, and I also aim to surprise guests." And yes, we were surprised by the afternoon spread waiting for us. There was a banana tree abloom right on the beach, a lanai with bean bags, and a table laden with fruit platters. Have you ever savored sliced fruits while relaxing by the beach? Priceless. I remembered what resort manager Ian Varona told me: "You can build a resort like this anywhere in the world if you have the resources and the expertise, but you cannot build a volcano, you cannot have a whale shark in the wild. You cannot have a sunrise that rises 15 minutes ahead of anywhere else in the Philippines. It's the natural beauty that also sets us apart." I took a forkful of fruit and gazed out towards the blue. Yes, we've been communing with nature in a world-class place, and it was something else. Apart from the dining surprise, we were able to sample delectable, a la carte dishes under the lead of Executive Chef Dan Gonzalez. It was a feast of flavors, I tell you. The Misibis Beefsteak Tagalog has rolled Angus beef strips stuffed with caramelized onions and marinated with lemoncito. It was tender and succulent, and the onions and pepper gave it edge. Praises also went to their Homemade Bicol Express with seared pork chunks and pineapple bits basking in a lather of spicy coconut and pineapple cream sauce. The pineapple inclusion is a modern twist. It gives zest to that good, ol' spicy kick, and the pork chunks were divine. The Misibis Burger a.k.a. Doughnut Burger is a giant of a meal with a delectable taste and one that's good for sharing. Its hole in the middle houses varied veggie sticks while the sandwich buns keep in a humongous patty of mixed Angus and Wagyu beef, strips of luncheon meat, cheese, and fried eggs. I fell in love with the Cagraray Pizza for its adventurous streak, appropriating a foreign base and infusing it with local toppings. It's topped with a cheesy medley of laing, Bicol Express, and salted eggs. It has spicy, creamy and semi-sweet flavors all played out on a thin crust. And the secrets to their Kinilaw na Tanigue? Fresh catch of the day and the use of local vinegar. Add to that dollops of coconut milk and slivers of lemon, and you've got a dish that's sure to please. The desserts are sweet delights, to say the least. These make use of muscovado sugar – Misibis Bay's nod to healthy eating. The super chocolate mousse cake is flourless with a rich, chocolate cake base, mango slivers, and raspberry purée. Just perfect. Molten lava cake also has raspberry purée for tartness with just the right sweetness to compel you to dig in for more. As if these weren't enough, we were wooed by their twist of the ubiquitous turon: the leche flan turon where jackfruit strips and leche flan act as filling. The sticks of turon are sprinkled with sugar, are accompanied by pili nuts as pica-pica, and are paired with vanilla ice cream serving as dip. Ingenious, cheeky, and delectable. The itinerary roused us from our meal-induced stupor. Off we went to view different types of accommodation in the resort. These are the beachfront one-bedroom luxury room; poolside junior suite deluxe; beachfront junior suite premier; poolside, one-bedroom premier; and the king of all, the beachfront luxury villa complete with its own infinity pool. Crazy good, right? Wait 'til you see the stores that spell comfort: handsome bathrooms complete with a tub and luxurious body spirits; kitchenette with sink, mini-ref, coffeemaker, and snacks you can purchase; iPod speakers; TV in the room and sala; generous closet space for your accoutrement; safe; beds that are just a dream to lounge and sleep on; all in a villa cleverly designed to maximize space and celebrate natural light. No wonder guests are tempted to have masseuse and spa treatments in their lovely villas. Essenses Spa is complete with a portable bed, oils, and scents for some mobile pampering in your room, or by the beach or poolside. But not for us. The walk towards the spa was a ministration as I spied the moon bathing everything in hushed light. Good thing we opted to have our treatments at the spa grounds. Peopled with a warm staff, its tropical and spacious interiors were a sight. The Mt. Mayon Hot Stone therapy massage was soothing and unforgettable. Scents used wooed the senses while the pampering package called Pure Indulgence consisted of a body scrub that used dead sea salt with fragrant oil; Swedish and a shiatsu back massage with an aromatic, orange-infused oil; and facial service. My dream that night was of the evening we had: It was a dinner set-up at the amphitheater. The evening was a perfect reason to dress things up. Candles lit the steps, the theater's pillars shone with bursts of light, and the garden-inspired table setting seemed to have bloomed in the middle of the stage. Everything was hushed and beautiful. We were at an elevated location, and the aria of bliss was everywhere, just the way the resort promised. |
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