Hello, readers! I am back!
Did you miss me? Hopefully, some of you will say yes. =) I apologize for not posting anything for a while. I blame it to the holiday season which if you are in the Philippines, you would understand how people get busy from endless gatherings and parties. Add the fact that I have also been working since we don’t have holidays. (That’s what you get when you work as a nurse!)
However, it is not to say that I wasn’t going out and about as usual. I actually still traveled and visited some famous spots even just for a day or two because you know how I love to explore new places. One of those places is in Glan, Sarangani which if I can remember correctly, I’ve neven been while growing up in Mindanao.
While I was out of the country, I would always see my friends and relatives post beautiful photos of Glan. Understandably, it has become more and more popular over the past years.
Glan, Sarangani
If you are not from Mindanao or not familiar of Glan, it is one of the many municipalities in the province of Sarangani. It is located on the west by Sarangani Bay, the reason why there are many resorts and beaches in Glan.
A friend of mine who knows my love for adventure invited me with his family to stay overnight in Glan. He’s a childhood friend of mine and I know his parents and siblings since we were classmates when we were 5 years old. Therefore, I said yes. =)
How to get to (Belimac) Glan from Gensan
The easiest way to reach Sarangani will be from Gensan. In our case, we took the van from KCC mall and paid a little more than 100 PHP/person. The ride took almost an hour in which I slept like a baby, ha. Although, if it’s your first time, I would recommend you to stay awake because the sceneries you will see along the way are amazing.
We stopped at the terminal of Sarangani where we then rode a tricycle to the port. Because we booked with Belimac Beach Resort, we needed to ride a boat to reach it. It was quite exciting for me because it was the first time since I was back in the Philippines that I was in a small boat like that.
What I like about boat rides is the calmness I normally feel. Like there’s no need to talk with people around you, you can all just be quiet and enjoy the view or the sound of the waves. That’s how it is for me anyway, you might not like it at all though. =)
After the small boat, it’s not over yet though because you will need to be on a floating barge operated by kids from the resort to actually reach the resort. It makes the journey more fun, isn’t it?
Belimac Beach Resort
We booked one room at Belimac Resort for all of us for 2,500 PHP and that’s with aircon. There’s an option for big groups or families with or without aircon which as I understand would be cheaper.
On that day, I think there were only two other groups at the resort and two foreigners. So, it wasn’t very crowded and loud. If you want a vacation in a quiet and somewhat isolated area, Belimac is the place for you.
Belimac Tips
The resort has free water dispenser or you can buy a big gallon of water during your stay. They have a store where they sell chips, alcoholic drinks and other necessities but expect a higher price. The great thing is that you can cook your own food or bring already cooked food if you wish. There are rental fees for plates, glasses, etc.
I enjoyed the sunset at the beach. My only concern was probably the big rocks. The manager of Belimac, who was so friendly and accommodating, explained that it’s seasonal. Sometimes, there are rocks and sometimes it’s covered with sand. I guess we can’t always get what we want, do we?
We still swam in the water though, there are great sites for snorkeling if you are up to that. There are also blue star fish which are unique and pretty.
On the next day, my friend and I climbed up the viewing area on top with many steep steps. Make sure that you warmed up your legs and knees for that or else you’ll get painful muscles afterward.
What I learned from this Trip
In many places that I go or new things I experience, I make sure to stop for a few minutes and think about the lessons I’ve learned and how it made me a better human being. Other times, I would just be grateful like for being able to be in that place at that moment or that I was able to spend time with people I care. Sometimes, I’m thankful for meeting new people and friends too.
For this trip, aside from the fact that I got to hang out with my friend and his family, one important lesson for me was about the importance of family time. My friend told me it isn’t all the time that they get to go on trips like that but I’m glad and proud of him organizing it. I strongly believe that new experiences, especially from traveling, can strengthen the family bond more and everybody will have a chance to get to know each other better.
So, plan a trip with your family once in awhile. Invite them to the beach, mountains, falls or even just a treat in a restaurant.
Until my next post!
Read my other travel posts of the Philippines HERE.
Very nice! Never been there.