My eldest son, who had already psyched himself up for a trip, decided to travel on his own, but to a southern destination. He was raving about it when he returned, so I decided to let him tell you, first-hand, his experience. Here’s my son, Juan Carlos’ chronicle of his “Southern Escapade”:
“Zamboanga City is not at all the way it is portrayed in print media and in talk shows as a place where terror floods the streets and where danger lurks everywhere you go. On the contrary, everyone feels safe and secure, and greets you with a smile.
“Just 15 minutes away from the Zamboanga International Airport is a beautiful beach resort aptly named, Vista Del Mar (View of the Sea). One’s immediate thought would be its safety, in the face of that recent kidnapping by Muslim rebels in a beach resort in Samal Island. Well, Vista Del Mar is very safe because a whole battalion of Special Action Forces of the Philippine National Police has made it their home for the past decade. I have to admit that their presence made me sleep soundly at night.
“Over the next few days, I immersed myself in Vista Del Mar’s most valuable offering, the magic combination of ‘sand, sea and sky.’ Nowhere else have I been enthralled by the mesmerizing beauty of the sunrise and the awesome grandeur of the sunset, with the colorful rays of the sun shimmering on the bluish waves of Basilan Strait. It was a calming scene I looked forward to every day, a commodity which is also being sought after by the day guests, overnight customers and long-staying residents the resort caters to.
“For accommodations, day guests rent either the sheds or the picnic huts, depending on the size of their group. Those who stay one or several nights and are on a tight budget go for the dormitory-type accommodations.
“Of course, those who want deluxe accommodations choose the air-conditioned casitas, each of which, although furnished with the same accoutrements of modern hotels, has a different interior design and façade. For those who want something unusual, there are also treehouses, or casitas up in the trees, which offer a fantastic view of the surrounding area.
“The resort has an events/convention hall for all types of functions, and multi-purpose huts lined up along the kilometer-long resort, for smaller gatherings. These huts may even be used by guests for that relaxing massage by the sea that weary city dwellers like me always look forward to.
“But what Vista del Mar also prides itself in is its culinary offerings. Nowhere else can you find an abundant supply of Zamboanga’s iconic seafood, curacha. As I looked around the resort’s restaurant, everybody had it on their table. Being allergic to shellfish, I had to content myself with the delectable chicken barbecue and other fish dishes on the menu. But my appetite was perked up by a special salad called chamba, a mix of eggplant, mango, and a few other things I couldn’t quite make out. It was just heavenly!
“Over the course of my stay, I got hooked on two comfort foods that fired up my energy every single day – bagoong gata, which I happily paired with mango slices, crackers, bread and even rice, and saging rebosado, fried banana slices crusted with sugar. It was only when I returned to Manila, when my palate started to crave for them, that I realized I had them every single day while at the resort.
“There were many other things I enjoyed about Vista Del Mar but the cathartic sun-sea-and-sky scenery and gustatory delights are really all I care about. No wonder it labels itself ‘Vista del Mar Resort and Re-Creation Center.’ I thought at first this was just a typo but my weeklong stay made me realize that the place did ‘re-create’ me. It changed me, breathed more energy into me, and gave me a lot of reasons to smile about.
“Visa Del Mar did not just give me a breathtaking view of the sea…it gave me a rosy view of everything in the world around me. It even gave me a beautiful view of ME.”
Hearing this from my son, I’m almost tempted to book myself on the next flight to Zamboanga. If you feel the same way, here are some important contact details:
zamboanga.vistadelmar@gmail.com or +63.917.8002214.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:
A young woman was taking an afternoon nap. After she woke up, she told her husband, “I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s Day. What do you think it means?” “You’ll know tonight,” he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Thrilled and delighted, she opened it excitedly…and found a book entitled “The Meaning of Dreams.”
