Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort, Glan

This resort isn't in the now getting famous Gumasa Beach. This is further and farther south.., probably about 5 kilometers or so from Gumasa, therefore something like 10 kilometers from Glan town center.

But Isla Jardin Del Mar was a good choice, recommended by some friends - and websites! I don't have many things to say about this resort, except that it's a nice hideaway. Let me show my photos instead!

The beach is one of the best that I have seen on Mindanao's mainland so far...

These were all afternoon shots leading towards sunset...

And although cloudy, sunset was also nice (a guest told me it was even more beautiful yesterday).

After that 'sunset watch', on to dinner, and a lonesome muni-muni by the beach, under a moonlit night, I tried to shoot photos, to no avail hehe! Cameras these days still can't capture what our eyes can see.

But daytime (especially in the mornings)... this vast resort has a lot for your cameras to get busy with!

Here are some pictures in one of my mornings at this resort...

Yep, the fine sand is somewhere between pinkish to reddish during early mornings. It becomes lighter in color to about cream and white as the sun goes up and the sand get's dry. Uniquely lovely nice 'no?!

When you wake up, you'll discover that all their equipment, free or 'for-rent' are ready and waiting!

Even the little ones do not need to wait for their playthings to become available. All is ready!

Every morning, I would wake up to clean and tidy surroundings. I guess they do it very early at  dawn.

The short wait for breakfast is cool, as anywhere you look is clean and orderly, amid a cool breeze!

Ah well, breakfast is also just the way I like it - simple and no frills...

And your choice if you wanna make tunganga all day - at this restaurant, on the sand or your cottage!

This resort has many cottages of varying accommodation sizes. This was my 1-room cottage.

Note to solo travelers na madrama sa buhay. It could get lonely as everything you see is only for you!

Yep, that cottage and the wooden garden set are all yours - and no one dares use them when they see that the room is occupied! That small porch has a mini table and chair which was nice enough for me.

The room has only one small bed, which means there can't be more than two of you, yet you have that wonderful outdoor setup good for at least 4 (actually it can even be 8 as each wooden chair can fit 2)!

Here is the inside of that small cottage...

The room's peephole (also called peeping hole, peekhole, spyhole, doorhole, magic eye, door viewer or magic mirror by other hotels/resorts) is funny too low at just my waist level! Sumobrang baba hehehe!

Maybe they had children in mind when they made that hole - sobra silang child-friendly hahaha!

By the way, this resort is so vast, the sandy beachfront alone is probably a kilometer long. And there is an interesting portion at the eastern end that they call a "Sunrise Boulevard". I went there, just curious.

Aside from the concrete path and balustrade, this "serena" is the most noticeable thing in the area...

Reminiscent of "The Little Mermaid Statue" in Copenhagen, right? I asked one resort staff who was in the area if that is an attempt to copy or replicate the original. Unfortunately, the manang doesn't know!

The manang does not even know about that thing in Denmark nor what/where Denmark is hehehe!

I actually silently laughed, because whether or not this was an attempt to replicate the original one, no need for the government and people of Copenhagen to worry, as this one isn't a "sad young mermaid". This statue is more of an almost-smiling woman "nga kiatan"! Og taas loyloy na iyang totoy oi hahaha!

Anyway, I was more interested in those boats passing by, and this rocky corner of a promontory.

Not clear in this picture (as the sun was rising behind them), but I could clearly see with my bare eyes, that those are also white-sandy beaches out there just not anymore part of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort.

Reason probably why I a lot of boats are going to or coming from that area, even early in the morning.

Just looking at the boats, I could easily tell that they're not fishing vessels but for touristic purposes!

This is also the resort's "Sunrise Viewing Area" doubled with a wonderful picture-perfect pier!

I did not see boats dock at this pier during my morning walks, but awesome views anywhere I looked!

And when I say "anywhere" that includes the emerald green water below, teeming with abundant life!

The shrieks and shouts of those kids, even before they jumped into the water, were testament enough at the bountiful marine life one could witness in this area - fish from fingerlings to about my palm size!

I just learned that the surroundings of Glan is a "protected seascape & marine biodiversity area". They have defined/marked areas where commercial fishing (use of nets or trawls) aren't allowed. Thus, the juvenile marine life thrive here - until they're fully grown, and venture out to sea on their own, as adults.

Out there, the commercial fishing boats can catch them, so they become our food. Sustainable!

By the way too, this has been, so far, the closest that I got to the Wallace Line. Do you even know what that is? If you do, congratulations, as not many people are aware of it! A very interesting phenomenon.

Anyway, this edge of the resort became the 'highlight' of my stay, due to its fantastic morning views.

Even looking and walking back to the sandy beach area of Isla Jardin Del Mar was also picturesque!

You see that man in red shirt and white pants? He's trying to catch fish (hook-and-line fishing, allowed 'yan, since you will not accidentally catch the juvenile fish that way, so the younger fish can still grow).

Those other 2 folks also on that rock? Ah, they were tourists posing with that 'kiatan' mermaid statue! Oh, the Bisaya "ki-at" is "landi" in Tagalog. And "kiatan" therefore means "malandi". "Landiscious" hehe!

The boat at left, cruising on the water, is probably a "boat tour" or "island hopping tour". I could tell just by looking at the passengers - they're wearing the orange-colored life vests, which fishermen don't do!

Here here... when I was back that rebulto of this 'medyo malanding serena', I saw a banana boat. Yey!

All I could do was grin as I listened to the laughter, shrieks and shouts of those people having fun.

I was sure they were enjoying that ride and having a time of their lives. That's what I call "inggit much"!

Of course I envied them! Isla Jardin Del Mar is such a hectic place for fun and frolic, to the extent that I questioned my royal highness why I was there alone. I wished I was also with family and/or friends :(

Anyway, if you go back up three pictures above, the manong in red shirt, here was one of his "catch"!

I don't know, "butete" ba yan? I didn't ask him, he was busy being 'silent' eh! But he seemed to enjoy it!

Anyway again, returning from the sunrise view area to the center of the resort, this was the view...

And this was only about 8:01AM. That meant I probably just stayed about 2 hours at that sunrise area, yet I already saw many memorably fantastic things that nature at Isla Jardin DelMar has for us to see!

Not to mention that where the fine sand meets those big rocks, are also nice places for pictorials!

Not just as backgrounds to your pictures, but I saw visitors take photos of those boulders as subjects, kaya ayan, nakigaya ako! And not just rocks or stones on the sand actually, but even cliffs and ridges!

This place is mighty complete with all that nature has to offer, "from ride to reef" ika nga!

And mind you, all those pics I already had even before breakfast, because after that... tunganga time!

I enjoyed just sitting idle at the restaurant, chill lang watching everything (and everyone) in sight go by.

I even amused my self watching that manong and manang exchanging sweet nothings to each other!

I did visit the western end thy call "Sunset Boulevard" which attracts more people at midday...

And it is not just the fine white sand that lures many visitors to that area. There are walking trails amid trees and shrubberies but... either I didn't want to explore pathetically alone or 'tanders' na ako! Kapoy!

So that was it? No!

During the afternoons, I liked strolling by the front area of the resort where there' some kind of a lake.

That area across is the access road to this resort. Somewhere to the right is this resort's entrance.

This lake is rather long (probably also a kilometer in length). And in the middle they have this...

I couldn't make out what this 'wharf' is for, other than for great photo-ops! I saw fish and some birds!

There were folks (guests?) fishing by the banks. And a staff told me they grow some of their fish here!

This is the east end of the lake, viewed from the midle of that wharf whatever...

That structure with a red roof is the lobby, near the restaurant, near the mini-shop, near the play area.

This is looking towards the lakes's west end. Everything at left is part of their "sunset boulevard".

The resort staff told me that at the far end is actually also still a white sandy beach - Morales Resort. I already said it above, this isn't a so-so resort in terms of area. It is really vast and yes, worth exploring!

Here are more views as I walked around inside the resort area...

Snacks in the morning or afternoon were never a problem. There are a lot of choices!

Lunch or dinner was never an issue too! I didn't need to find outside restaurants, eateries or fastfoods!

FYI, I initially worried, since their menu only displays images of Pepsi and 7-Up. But as you can see my pictures above, meron din naman pala silang Coke! Plus, they also have SanMigLights, and even wine!

Especially on drinks and snacks, if you can't find what you want in their menu, try the in-house store!

Yep, the store also has beach wear and items you may have forgotten like sun lotions, even souvenirs!

It is rare for me, but this time I never had the need to go outside of the resort's vast compound, except to visit Gumasa Beach (a must)! Everything else I needed was available at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort.

Alright, next let's go to Glan, GEnSan and elsewhere. Not going home yet!