Ellis Suites

Ellis Suites. 

Tucked in the bustling part of Purok Malakas in Gensan, you will find this whimsical hotel. You might want to peek a little closer when you reach the junction between Aparente and Yumang Sts since in front of the hotel are rows of business establishments which comprise of the entire Ellis Arcade. 

Morocco Rooms in the Middle of Gensan

Fancy a trip to Morocco without leaving the island? Well, now you can have a feel of Moorish interiors at Gensan's Morocco Rooms by Hotel San Marco.  

Greenleaf Hotel Gensan "Green is a luxury you can afford"

General Santos city, the city of champions is turning into a new leaf...

with the rise of establishments and commercial buildings in this booming city, 

 Greenleaf Hotel 

is a welcome addition to its new line of hotels opening in its locality.

Tuna fountain sculpture by Leeroy New in front of the hotel :)

Greenleaf Hotel is a deluxe hotel being managed by Asian Grand Legacy Hotels Corp, the same ones who operate Astoria in Boracay, Astoria Palawan as well as Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar in Bataan to name a few.

Microtel by Wyndham - General Santos

Gensan is indeed booming with the onset of business establishments sprouting left and right in its mantel. Just recently, the generals welcomed the opening of... 

Microtel by Wyndham. 

Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas), Inc.'s latest addition to their line of affordable yet chic abode for leisure and business travelers.

This hotel boasts of a total of 66 well appointed Double and Suite rooms. Adhering to the chain's unrivaled value for cleanliness, comfort, and safety. 

Mt. Sabrina Mountain View Resort (Jam's Garden Restaurant)

Mt. Sabrina at dusk

I've previously blogged about this beautiful resort on top of a hill, overlooking the picturesque Sarangani Bay. Quite frankly, I get confused whether it is really called Jam's Garden Resort or Mt. Sabrina Garden Resort. But forget the name since the mere mention of Mt. Sabrina to locals, they will readily point you to this wonderful resort.

First Glimpse of Mt. Sabrina Garden Resort

Up in the hills (Mt. Sabrina), hidden from view of the public's prying eyes sits Jam's Garden Resto-Bar. The handsome property started as a venue for countless prenup shoots done in the area, well mostly by Mr. OSG :).  Maybe due to the picturesque view in these hills, The owner Ms. Sol Mananquil, decided to invest in the property and put up a permanent structure which is perfect for garden weddings. 

I love the view from up here, where you can see all the way to Sarangani Bay. 

According to photographer extraordinaire -- Mr. OSG (excuse me for being biased :), sunsets here are breathtaking. So if you are planning on having a garden wedding, you might want to consider having it here at Jam's Garden Resto-Bar.

I remember MR. OSG telling me a story about the first garden wedding that was held here at Jam's Garden and Resto-bar, they had no covered areas yet, and the wedding party was constantly getting worried should the heavens shower them on their very special day. According to the owner, she will put up a permanent structure if the wedding goes well without a hitch. Well, I suppose the heavens wanted future brides to enjoy the place so true enough, we can see and enjoy the new buildings put up in the  area. Here are a few of the pictures from that wedding...

Their restaurant on the other hand, sits with pride in the highest peak of the entire establishment. 

From my visit there, I think, they can comfortably sit around 50 people inside the air conditioned hall and about 20 more in the restaurant's entrance. 

 This is of course just my guess-timate so you might want to see for yourself how many of your guests can be seated comfortably if you prefer the covered area.

For inquiries, you can get in touch with them through these numbers: (0917) 708-1693 or (083) 553-2763 .

Manny Pacquiao's Roadhaus Hotel

Manny and Jinky Pacquiao has always been GenSan's power celebrity couple. So it was no surprise that visitors to the city, especially first timers are curious to visit and some to stay at their very own

 Roadhaus Hotel. 

I for one couldn't contain my excitement to tour around the Pacman's hotel, hoping against hope that he might be there checking his business.

Their hotel's facade is of modern architecture that is predominantly composed of parallel steel  lines adorned with classy plants and bonsai trees which according to our host, cost about P25k per plant!

Upon entering the hotel, I noticed pictures upon pictures of the power couple. Of course this is understandable since most of the Pacman's establishments in the city are treated by visitors in the city as a tourist spot. It was even mentioned by our host that they are thinking of bundling a tour of the Pacquiao's famous mansion as part of the perks of staying at the Roadhaus Hotel. Hmmm... I for one wouldn't mind staying there if it means I could sneak a peak inside that posh mansion.

Roadhaus Hotel strikes me as a chic motor inn. They have rooms that have provisions for parking for the avid traveler. 

All of their rooms are fully air-conditioned  which comes with complimentary breakfast, bottled water (which I must mention is also bottled by the Pacman water station), WIFI Internet access, PABX telephone system, hot and cold shower, LCD TVs and a state of the art electronic door lock system. Airport Transfers  are also available upon request.

Their Standard Twin room will take you back for P2,240 per night with all the standard amenities mentioned above.

Standard Triple Room costs about P2,560 with three single beds, sofa, coffee table and chairs.

A Superior Room with 2 matrimonial beds, sofa, dinette, reading desk, mini bar, coffee/tee making facilities will cost about P3,200.

And the Roadhaus Suite P2,560 complete with a matrimonial bed and all other amenities.

The Roadhaus Hotel is located at Aparente Street, Bgy. Dadiangas Heights, General Santos City. You can book your rooms through these numbers: (083) 553-8888; 553-5335 or email them at inquiries@roadhaushotel.com Visit their website here.

Hotel San Marco Exudes Class

Tucked in the middle of the bustling business and commercial areas of Gensan,  

Hotel San Marco

never fails to instigate a second look from passers-by. 

It's imposing structure screams elegance through and through. 

A first for General Santos city I think.

Upon entering the main lobby, I was in awe of its sophisticated interiors. 

The chic furniture was obviously carefully chosen. It made me feel like being in Venice all of a sudden.

It's baroque interiors remind me of the hotels I only see in luxurious hotels in Europe, so the only question left for me to ask was... is it also as pricey as the grand hotels it depicts?

Of course, being in Gensan has its perks... 

and among them is the affordable price of staying in this hotel. 

It was like having a taste of classy Europe without breaking the bank or putting a hole in your pockets. 

Their rack rate starts at P2,500 for a standard single but currently, they offer a promo rate of  P1,750. 

For their superior room, be prepared to shell out P3,200 rack rate/ P2,240 promo rate.

For more information, you can visit their website here. 

Hotel San Marco is located at Laurel East Avenue, Gen. Santos City

Or call them at: 083 301-1818/ 0922-8217332

Photography by Mr. OSG :)

Lemlunay Fever

For the snorkeling and diving enthusiasts, Lemlunay Resort never fails to impress...

It was my first time at this picturesque resort I have heard so much about. And clearly, it doesn't disappoint as the magnificent view of the Sarangani Bay and the neighboring towns of Glan even Balut Island can be seen from the Tinoto Wall or the cliff that is Lemlunay.

You will never have an idle time at this resort since they have a myriad of activities available for their guests. If you don't  feel like snorkeling or diving, you can rent their Hobie Cat for a measly P1500 for a maximum of 6 passengers for 30 mins. Just make sure though that the wind is strong so you don't accidentally just float in the water with no direction :)

For those who just want to chillax and wade in the water with the kids, you can enjoy their infinity pool. It has a magnificent view of the bay and a wonderful spot for day dreaming (well, at least for me). 

Their Poolside Cabins are perfect for families of four which you can rent for P3,000. What's good about it is, the rate includes breakfast for two. 

The rooms inside the Poolside Cabins have two double bed, so if you are there with friends or with the kids, four people can sleep comfortably. Or for the fifth wheel in the group, you can opt to rent additional mattress at P200/each. :)

The Garden View Cabins (picture below) which is good for two persons will set you back for P1,200 and the Ocean View Cabins (sorry.. didnt get a chance to take photos) costs P2,500 per night. all includes breakfast for two. 

moi.. :)

Lemlunay Diving Resort is a paradise located at the edge of Tinoto Reef at Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province. For more info, you can visit their website at www.lemlunayresort.com or call them at 083 228 1704 or text them at 0928 5244528.  

Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant... A Cut Above the Rest

   

Tucked in a quiet hilltop overlooking the bountiful Sarangani Bay is a picturesque garden and restaurant which is slowly becoming one of the top tourist areas in General Santos City. 

Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant sits atop a hill with an excellent view of the bay, downtown Gensan and a commanding view of Mt. Matutum and Mt. Parker especially when the skies are clear. 

Sarangani Highlands boasts of beautifully manicured gardens with bonsai trees dotting the property. Every corner here is a perfect spot for a picture. 

They have tent covered spaces perfect for wedding venues. They can even set up romantic dinners for two in any corner of the garden you wish in case you want to impress a date. For us though,  every time we have visitors/tourists, we never fail to take them here for lunch or dinner. The place is not only a feast for the eyes but serves one of the meanest gastronomic feasts in Gensan.

And if you think this is everything, take a peek at their restrooms below which is calling out for me to photograph. 

But Sarangani Highlands is not just about the beautiful garden and food, they now offer bed and breakfast accommodations for visitors in Gensan. You now have a choice from a number of their standard rooms or deluxe rooms. (or choose the room according to your favorite flower!) 

Their standard rooms are perfect for big families or groups since they offer 7 individual beds with 2 toilet and bath, fully airconditioned with TV sets. The deluxe rooms have its own mini bar, toilet and bath, hot and cold shower and TV. Rates for the standard rooms is at P1900 nett, Deluxe single P1500 and deluxe double P1800. They also offer free airport transer and free wifi access. 

For more information, you can get in touch with them through these numbers: 083-3040752; 0922-8590043 or visit them at Purok Wal, Tambler, General Santos City.

Rrroaring Lion City (Singapura Day2)

The Lion city is readily one of my favorite cities as of date. Not that I’ve been to a lot of cities abroad but then Singapore for me is one of the cleanest and safest cities anywhere. I love that you can go walking around its streets even in the wee hours of the morning without fear of being mugged. Photo below of my mom and sister was taken at the Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay in one of our numerous strolls around Singapore.

On our trip here, we stayed at the Value Hotel Thomson, a cute high rise hotel located at the Balestier cor Thomson Sts. . The rooms are miniscule but clean and perfect for travellers on a budget.  What I love about this hotel is its close proximity to a number of good eating places like the 2^nd Kitchen at the ground floor and a lot of hawker stalls just a few minutes walk  away. It is near the Novena MRT and the Velocity Mall. A good location for a budget hotel I must say. Plus it has a swimming pool for guests with kids on the 7th floor.

photos from the Value Hotel Thomson website

One of the newest attractions at Singapore is the Marina Bay Sands, so on our 2^nd day here, we took time to visit this unique hotel – it’s the one with a sort of big ship on its top floor.  Its architectural design is truly one of a kind and is slowly becoming one of Singapore’s famous landmarks.

The Marina Bay Sands also houses a big Casino and one of the classiest malls in Singapore with big brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel et. al under its roof. It also houses the Art and Science museum with elegant art masterpieces like the works of Salvador Dali, one of the 20th century's best known artist and the most iconic figure of the surrealist movement. Truly, a wonderful treat for true blue art aficionados.

We were lucky that during our trip there, there was a major rehearsal for the Singapore National Day parade. We were mighty confused since this rehearsal was complete with the actual firing of canons, helicopters were flying around in a formation carrying the Singapore flag, and the grandstands were filled with thousands of school children and an actual fireworks display which lasted for 30minutes! Imagine that! The expense would have been a biggie since this rehearsal was doing everything they were planning to do and its not even THE DAY yet! Very entertaining for tourists like us, I considered it an added treat.

Then on the way to Ikea at Alexandria (which I will blog about separately :), there was this very entertaining taxi driver Mr. Yeow Bee Hong ( I hope I got his name right). According to him, if you want your taxi driver to be really nice to you (I mentioned that taxi drivers in HK are rude) all you have to do is wave your dollar bills in the air when you hail a taxi. J And then he taught us how to make Bak Kut Teh...

Bak Kut Teh according to him is a Chinese soup which literally means “Pork Bone Tea Soup”, a sort of pork stew simmered in a combination of complex herbs and spices. It is one of the delicacies of Singapore that every tourist must try. It is comparable to our beef nilaga but with a certain twist in taste brought about by the combination of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, dang gui, fennel seeds and garlic thus the term Tea soup.

And then he was rambling on and on about other sites in the city that are worth visiting. When we asked him where these places are though, he just answered..."you have to pay me, I take you there!" haha. Talk about a driver with an attitude... very amusing. 

The last stop for the day was dinner at Chinatown.  As it is already around 9 in the evening, we just had time to eat at one of the hawker stalls along Smith St. And my goodness! The food there is really mouth-watering! I was so hungry I even forgot to take shots of it, sorry!  I think I ate a week’s supply of food there.  Mental note to hit the treadmill double time when I reach home. J

Chinatown like most like it around the world is a tourist haven with lots of souvenir shops selling affordable knick-knacks for you to take home. Specifically, Pagoda and Smith Streets are the ones to go to for souvenir shops and hawker stalls. Other streets in Chinatown like Temple St, Trengganu St.,  Pagoda Sts, houses some of Chinatowns temples, a good place for taking pictures.

After an activity loaded day, we just had to retire late to our hotel laden with bags filled with trinkets and souvenirs and our camera full of snapshots. Its no wonder, we keep coming back to this magnificent city.

A-Montana Resort - an A Class Resort!

A-Montana Resort (previously known as Isla Parilya) is a charming cove-like resort situated in Brgy. Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province. The resort is surrounded by a huge fishing pen which gives its visitors a sense of isolation, of quiet relaxation and peace. It is perfect for tourists who crave for a hushed respite amidst a busy life in the city.

Its facilities are newly improved and includes among others a kidney shaped swimming pool with a man-made waterfall. A perfect hit for families with kids. The swimming pool area is also a perfect venue for garden weddings and celebrations of other occasions.

While the kids are swimming, the daddies can while away their time and enjoy fishing around the resort. Fishing gear and bait are provided by the resort for a minimal fee.

The rooms in the resort remind me of Dos Palmas in Palawan, only miniature in context. The rooms are situated in concrete stilts above the water, with a boardwalk connecting everything to the main hall or the front desk. 

They also have a restaurant, the Formosa Café serving most Filipino dishes as well as an assortment of seafood at a reasonable rates. Guests need not bring food and drinks inside the resort. The Blue Emperor Bar also serves liquor and a variety of drinks.

They also have a big banquet and conference facility for corporate or company events which  is aptly named Sarangani Cove. Room rates start at P1,800 for the standard matrimonial or twin, P2,500 for a suite room, P3,500 for a family room, and P4,500 for the family deluxe room inside Sarangani Cove. For big groups, they have the Double Deck Room at P7,000 and Dorm Type Room at P4,000. All rooms are air-conditioned with TV, hot and cold shower and are all Wi-Fi ready. 

For further inquiries, you may contact them through their email: amontanaresort@pldtdsl.net or through any of these numbers: 083-826-6699/ 553-8553/ 553-0220/ 553-0110/ 301-333