resorts » gerryruiz photoblog mark II

Year 2011 was no doubt a year for photo enthusiasts. With an unprecedented growth in sales of DSLR’s and mobile phones, tablets and computers with digital cameras, I doubt if there ever was any other time in mankind’s history when there were just as many people snapping away photos all the time.

Looking back at the year just passed, still nursing a hangover of the holidays, I was struck with the number of subjects I was able to cover – from birding to weddings and beauty tilts to travel destinations; from the time I had a glaucoma attack and subsequent laser procedure down to baby pictures and awesome adventure rides and treks in far-flung areas.

Thus I decided to compile my favorites and share them with you for a brief replay of gerryruiz images of 2011.

I hope you like it. Cheers!

Enchanting Hagimit Falls, Samal Island

nature, photography, resorts, sports-adventure, Travel No Responses »

May 072011

Davao City viewed from Samal Island across Pakiputan Strait

Samal Island across Davao City is more popularly known for its beach resorts and dive sites. The island, however, offers more than just white sand beaches.

The Island Garden City of Samal (it’s a city and that’s the official name!) is bestowed with a lot of other beautiful natural resources, such as the Monfort Bat Colony, natural caves as well as enchanting waterfalls.

We got to visit the Hagimit Falls located at Brgy. Cawag, Peñaplata (a city district), about 2 kilometers away from Peñaplata proper.

Hagimit Falls is actually a series of small falls and ponds in its natural setting, scattered wide over a large forested area, with small natural pools and cascading waters all around. It is a haven for nature lovers, campers and picnickers – a great place to take a refreshing waterfalls “shower,” a dip in its very cool waters in a rainforest setting.

Since it covers a wide area privately owned by several families, the resulting “development” initiatives over the years have turned the place into a hodge-podge of huts, cottages, canteens and what-have-you. In fairness to the original owners, they have tried their best to preserve the natural settings, albeit the concrete mini dams and other old-fashioned, concrete structures built decades earlier can stand some renovation and face-lifts to make them blend more with the natural surroundings.

Still, if you come early, ahead of other campers and picnickers, you can go survey around and explore the wide expanse and find a private, undeveloped nook all to yourself.

And therein have a serious commune with nature…

VIEW FULL GALLERY >>>

For more information, contact Leyte Gulf Travel & Tours:

(053)321-7966; (053)523-7966; email: leytegulf@callezaragosa.com

Giant water slides and canopy walk to the max!

nature, photography, resorts, sports-adventure, Tourist destinations, Travel 1 Response »

May 062011

There’s this aqua-adventure nature park in Davao del Norte where one gets to enjoy all kinds of water sports activities plus a “walk” high up in the trees!

It’s called the Maxima Aqua Fun and Canopy Walk Tours located in Samal Island – officially called the Island Garden City of Samal or IGACOS, for short – just across Davao City.

Maxima Aqua Fun is where you’ll find the “Abyss” and the “Super Drop” – two giant water slides, among the longest in the country today – and Canopy Walk Tours.

Here’s the Abyss and the Super Drop giant water slides… you climb up, sit at the starting edge as instructed, say your prayers and go! 7-8 seconds later you are jettisoned out into the sea! (lifeguards are there awaiting hehe)

Below, the Canopy Walk…

The Abuyog Hotel opens!

resorts, Tourist destinations, Travel 2 Responses »

Apr 262011

The Abuyog Hotel formally opened its doors to the public in simple inaugural and blessing ceremonies held Eastern Sunday, April 24, 2011.

Abuyog Mayor Octavio “Bebot” Traya and former Represesentative and now Baybay Mayor Carmen Cari led the ribbon cutting ceremony formally opening the new three-storey, P29M project of the Abuyog Local Government Unit (LGU).

Located at the heart of Abuyog near the Public Market and the Municipal Building, the new hotel now provides comfortable accommodation options to guests and travelers traversing the central-eastern region part of Leyte province.

The three-storey landmark showcases a well-refurbished lobby, a restaurant, function rooms, and a rooftop cafe and lounge with a panoramic view of the entire municipality and environs.

For the internet savvy, there’s free high-speed wi-fi web access.

The hotel project was started in 2006 during the time of former Mayor Ofelia Traya initially funded by a P15 million allocation. Another P14 million was released this year for its completion.

The hotel is currently staffed by some 20 local personnel and would be complemented by students taking up Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) at the Abuyog Community College (ACC).

An added direction further boosting the tourism industry in the area is the LGU’s plan to develop soon a mountain resort in Barangay Balinsasayaw.

The hotel’s promo room tariff ranges from P1,788++ to P2,700++.

For further info, please contact Leyte Gulf Travel & Tours at (053)321-7966 and (053)523-7966. Email: leytegulf@callezaragosa.com