It was summer of 2011, my unforgettable experience in Plantation Bay Resort and Spa for free. Yeah, you are right, it's free. Why it's free? Here we go.
When one of my colleague posted a link on Facebook last April 2011 that Plantation Bay will having a photo contest on their resort, well, I just click the link and go directly to their website. This time, I was so excited because this would be my chance to enter on one of the best resort in Asia. The excitement really goes to the highest level when they said that there's no registration fee and the entrance is free. Then, I just filled up the forms and email it to Plantation Bay and after that, they gave a schedule for our shoot.
Straight from the office after duty, I go directly to Marigondon in Mactan Island where Plantation Bay is located with my friend photographer, Rafael. It was 2 O'clock in the afternoon, the sun is up, the sky is blue and the weather is really good. Perfect when the staff of the hotel really gave us a warm welcome and they really treat us as a guest. So overwhelming, it was a five star greetings.
At the lobby, we start taking pictures, observing some of the guest that was entertained by some hotel personnel. They are really hospitable. They are treating everyone as VIP. The lobby pond is great, lots of colorful fishes, it really takes away my stress from work. Then after that, we go around the resort and whoah... the resort is really big. Time to Shoot.
Like a village in a resort, there are lots of swimming pools and different kind of accommodations with modern Western and Mediterranean architectures.
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| This is one of the fresh swimming pools in Plantation Bay. |
The pool was clear, so fresh and really tempting. I want to jump and swim.
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| The bamboo fountain outside the Spa |
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| The Mogambo Spring at Plantation Bay Spa |
It feels like we are in ancient zen garden. The ambiance is so relaxing and the landscapes are really beautiful.
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| The Kilimanjaro Cafe |
I believe, this is where the buffet lunch/dinner were served. Plantation Bay has a lot of restaurants and International food choices. They have Palermo Cafe & Bar, Fiji restaurant, Savannah Grill and Kilimanjaro Cafe(photo above). Good thing that we ate snacks before we go inside the resort. The prices of the food here is a little bit expensive but they say that the food is great because they have a good and award winning international Chef. So much for the food, let's go to the beach!
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| Plantation Bay Beach with speed boat and Jet Ski for water sports and fun rides. |
The beach scenery was amazing. The small white beach is quite, simple yet elegant and I'm sure that the guests will really love to have a sun bathing here. We stay here for almost an hour, just sitting on their mini port veranda.We keep on talking about the resort on how it was developed. We are lucky enough to get inside the resort.
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| The sea water pools inside the Plantation Bay surrounded by different accommodations, rooms and cottages. |
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The Water Edge accommodation.
My favorite room. I wish I could stay here even just for one night. |
We are now watching the sun to set and waiting for an evening lights. Perfect! Plantation Bay were having a "Night in the Plantation Bay" program. A night of entertainment with a dinner buffet for all the guests. Lights on the stage as the beautiful ladies and talented gentlemen performed on an spectacular modern and ethnic dance.
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| Fire dance during the Night at the Plantation Bay |
If you are really a guest, there are still lots of activities that you can experience in the resort like biking, kayaking, wall climbing and riding on their Kalesa.
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| Self Portrait before leaving Plantation Bay: Playing with the lights on lobby. |
After 6 hours of clicking and shooting at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, our tummy is now complaining. It's time to go home.
This is one of my unforgettable experience in the summer of 2011. Even though we didn't swim on their pools, or stay on their very luxurious rooms, we are still lucky enough to tour around and see the beautiful Plantation Bay.
I hope that someday i will go here for an overnight stay and experience the real hospitality as a real guest not just a visiting photographer. I really recommend this resort for vacations, relaxations and for fun. This is an all in one resort.
You can visit their website for booking and inquiries at http://plantationbay.com. Or you can go directly to the resort located at Marigondon, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines.
