Keep that smile on your lips

The pace of our dinner on the beachfront was excellent, and it was ever so gently measured, as each course arrives in perfect time, from the green salad with mango and orange slices, through the creamy sugar beet soup, yes, sugar beet soup; dark deep and red; to our main course of carefully grilled shrimp in garlic and cilantro sauce, not burnt but enough to let the natural sugars heighten the flavor of the crustacean, and our chicken in curry sauce, it was paced perfectly in time with the California Rose’ . Our conversation worked along the lines of sharing with the people not as an employer but as one caring person to another, to pass on the attitude of always doing the right thing. They care for their people as they are a major employer of the town of Badian and as we watch a small dance show on the beachside, Maria reminds us that these are the youth from the town, children of some of the employees of the resort, whom they’ve supported in this effort to steer them clear of any wrong doing. It feels so much like family that you feel like you’re watching the children of the host performing before you. 

Our conversations with Hartwig and Maria are typically so convivial moving with ease from one subject to another. Through our lunch at the Panoramic restaurant overlooking the pool and our dinner at the poolside level, we are thrilled by the stories that can only come from many years of managing a resort but after 25 years, they may have settled on their target markets that will sustain them for a while. The warm day was perfect for the Zaru soba, cold noodles we were having as our appetizer for lunch including our discussion on best Japanese restaurants in Manila. This is the real secret of the property, little improvements adopted from their many travels as their chef Marichu Digaum has learned her skills from many years of practice in the kitchen and the guidance of the owners. We dine on prawns in coconut sauce, served like a cocktail from a hollowed out fresh coconut with the meat still intact, a traditional item reminiscent of a similar item at the Datai in Langkawi, shelled and sitting in the shell in a reduced coconut sauce; as well as an herb crusted fillet of lapu lapu redolent with the crust of herbs and reduction used as a sauce - Truly the result of careful experimentation and not purely chance, reflecting an understanding of world cuisine. Surprisingly, her training is in house with the inputs of the owners to emulate the product of professional work.

If this is going to be any indication of what to expect in the coming days, I almost know it. . .it will be all good . . it will be all right.

In dreams, I’ll be with you dear tonight

The morning sun filters through my room which does face East. It’s a hardwood floor that greets my bare feet and it feels smooth and cool to the touch. The cottage is part of a duplex that has a separate dressing area from the bed. There is no TV as that is not what I came here for. The bathroom is a study in indulgence; as the WC and Bidet stand on one side of the dressing area and off to the other, a curtain of shells reveals a tub filled the night before with water and flowers afloat, while next to it a stall for the shower. The tub and shower sit in all the brightness of the day as it does look out into the channel which we crossed earlier. As I step out onto the balcony, I try out the hammock secured on either post of the balcony. The birds are chirping, the cool wind is blowing, and the coconut leaves rustling in the breeze almost take me back to my sweet dreamless sleep but it is a busy day and I must go. This is your typical setup in Badian, a room that is so well setup that you don’t really want to leave it. This is where a famous personality, former Presidential daughter, I mean, still the daughter but no longer the President, spend most of the days, avoiding the hot sun lest it transform her into a darkened version of herself. But I must proceed as the day holds a promise of seeing what Badian has to offer.

Brush the tears from your eye

It is surprising how the beach seems magically transformed as we walk along the sands of Badian island. It’s nothing like what I saw (or in this case did not see) when I arrived last night. The sand is white and packed just enough to support a heavyweight as myself. Everywhere, the beehive of activity reveals the old saying “a place for everything, everything in its place”. There are those who tend to the beach, and those who tend to the facilities. The beach area itself is a photogenic gem that lines up palm thatched huts along a line facing the shore. The picturesque nature of the island puts its best foot forward in this area. Rather than be called one of the 10 best Spa resorts in the world, they should include this beach head as a major attraction. Everything else is just within reach of a short walk, from the dive facility, which does excellent dives to Moalboal and Anthony, resident dive master tells us Pescador island, inspite of the many years of divers visiting retains the challenge of a drift dive spot and deserves a second look. Badian does maintain the most modern and biggest air compressor facility in the Philippines, a claim we choose not to argue with. Too bad we did not have the chance to take their pleasure yacht to go dolphin watching and according to Ryan, the occasional whale shark. Instead we go see the Shell Beach bar which is off to one side and is a circular bar servicing the beach front while right beside it crossing the water inlet via boardwalk is the gaming area for what else but billiard and board games.

One more aloha

More than the beach and the diving, is the Badian Resort’s Spa facilities, supervised by an Indonesian of petite stature and an ever present smile, the spa revolves around treatments in the Badehaus where we are treated to a four hand massage. Ideally, this would be preceded by a session in the Thalasso treatment area where saltwater is pumped through a series of filters and energized with Oxygen where you can choose to sit on a clam shell under a waterfall , or as we have done, in the couch where many tiny bubbles caress your body as you lie there seawater raining down upon you. The word Thalasso is Greek for the sea and refers to the use of seawater for therapy. This is usually warmed or delivered via waterfall  or other mechanical means is meant to ameliorate the effects of hypertension, arthritis and a whole lot of different other afflictions. All we know is that coming out of the Thalasso pools, you can feel the pores of the skin, ever so much smoother, tighter and more relaxed than ever before.  From there it’s the four hand massage.

The treatment begins with a mute discussion of the different oils from their Indonesian consultant, Ms. Yuni, to choose from for the treatment. They range from the romance, which quite expectedly smells like a garden of flowers to serenity, which is more sublime, and subtle, as well as seduction, so spicy and minty. I of course, having gone alone, choose the serenity, so appropriate for the location and the purpose. We walk barefoot on the grass towards the Badehaus where the treatment begins with a foot wash in peppermint, completed with corn grits to help wash off the rough edges of the skin. Then it’s on to the treatment table where two attendants (where did you think the four hands came from?) begin with a sheet draped over you with panache, raised above you and slowly allowing gravity to settle the sheet on your back. They roll the sheet down and begin with two hands caressing the small of your back, slowly working its way up and then the other two hands mimicking the action of the first two, like an echo of a ripple repeating the same action. Along the sides two hands on either side work the shoulder blades, almost equal pressure applied for the same action like a mirror image of each other. It’s a surreal and feeling that makes the effect even more magnified and mesmerizing. This goes on for an hour and before I realize its done, I’ve turned over onto my back to have the same echo rippling treatment applied and I’m done. “ . . please no shower for one hour yet . . “ I am told. The oils still glistening on my body. With pleasure I tell myself.

Then it’s time for goodbye

As all things must come to an end so does this trip, and Hartwig sums it up, as he says, “ . . must always do the right thing . .” and rightfully so as any testament to success is its longevity. The Badian resort and spa has earned its place in our hearts and as we depart from the pier, Hartwig, Maria, Ryan and a coterie of staff is there guitar in hand, songs not of goodbye but ‘till we meet again cascading in the wind as we wave our farewell, Kitschy but if it isn’t broken why fix it?

And I’ll pray for that day when
We two will meet again
Until then, sweetheart, aloha

Badian can be reached via taxi from the Cebu International Airport to their private pier in the town of Badian in southwestern Cebu. From there it’s a short 5 minute speedboat ride into the island.