Moalboal Weekend

With much anticipation and excitement we welcomed the weekend - we were pleasantly surprised to see a program retreat weekend at a nice beach resort on the CSC itinerary, which ABV shared just before we were ready to leave...  The Club Serena resort looked splendid on their website and was even more than inviting in person.  The team traveled after work on Friday and arrived at dark, only to be greeted by the fresh smells of the ocean and the plumeria blossoms... along with a welcome cookie (just like my mom's butter cookies =o) and a drink.

The boys...

The girls..

Excellent food, most friendly resort staff, gorgeous surroundings, and a full schedule of adventures, team bonding and relaxation in true tropical style.  We had way too much fun w/ my waterproof camera in the pool until late in the evening and getting ready for capturing reef life next.

Pescador Island

Saturday was a boat / dolphin watching (yeah, we did get to see some!) trip with snorkeling and open water diving at Pescador Island, which is famous with its sardine run.  I only got to see the fantastic colors and reef action just off the boat, but the snorkeling crew (special thanks to Tati for taking pics/video for me) brought back excellent evidence to help vicariously experience being in the midst of it all.

The afternoon offered a "discover scuba" opportunity for beginners and I was so wishing my husband was here to jump on the chance - he would have loved it!  While the scuba enthusiasts were watching the instruction video and practicing in the pool, I enjoyed a fantastic Mango Baileys drink w/ Waya, and the comfort of the cabanas overlooking the beach - ahhh, the life!

Scuba was a huge success, with special kudos going to Garima, who doesn't swim... yet found the courage to not only give it a shot, but successfully complete a dive.  The instructors were fantastic and made it look like maybe just maybe I could try it sometime...

Daniel, Nicholas, Tati, Alexis, Falk, Janet, and Garima

If you thought the snorkeling pictures were magical, wait until you see the images the scuba trip delivered - special thanks again for sharing.

Beach-side dinner was the perfect ending for a day like this and we enjoyed creating another fantastic memory together.

And there was still Sunday...  when we headed to the Kawasan Waterfalls.  What fun... after a short walk through the tropical forest, we came upon this view...  Crisp air, cold water, beautiful colors...  We swam - ok, it did take me a few extra minutes and friends' encouragement - many thanks, Janet, David and Denise - to get in... but once in the water, I was surely glad...  I swam behind the waterfall and all around it - super cool, couldn't stop grinning.

We then got on one of the rafts and had the best time going under the rocks behind the falls and getting a "body massage" under the waterfall. 

St Thomas de Villanueva

Guess we were pretty loud and picked up "The Scream Team" nickname...

So many impressions, emotions and sensations packed in a single weekend ... it was sure hard to leave. 

 

On the other hand, could not have thought of a better break to celebrate the CSC - Philippines 10 adventure half-point and recharge for the final stretch.