Vista Veranda Beach Resort

It's a beach resort in San Jose De Buenavista, Antique.

But I had no idea where the beach resorts in this town are. Well, we went to a beach then, but that was more than 2 decades ago. My priorities in those crazily-fun years were different. I didn't care where I was, I was busy enjoying activities with the pack!

So, when I and my contacts agreed to meet, I said I wish we could gather at a resort with a nice cozy terrace or balcony, overlooking good views of a beach and the sea.

It wasn't too random. I based that on the town's name: de buena vista which means of or with good views. I said, let this be a meeting of great people amid good views!

They said that's easy as all their beach resorts are like that! One suggested we meet at this popular resort that just spruced-up its balcony with an already fantastic view.


So, I went to find it, and this is it... Vista Veranda Beach Resort!

That is the veranda of one building, made like, and with the ambience of a café. You feel connected to that wonderful panorama of Sulu Sea, as that window is just open.

Or should I even call it a window? It is just as you see it in the picture - no grilles nor panes or panels. And that sill is wide like a countertop or desk, with individual seats facing the sea - enough space for food, drinks, even with a laptop or other gadgets!

Hey speaking of that window sill that doubles as a countertop, a workdesk or table, did you notice there are puck lights underneath? Yes, that hidden decorative lighting!

From afar, it makes the whole window look like a photo frame. Cool aesthetics, 'no?

If you're in that veranda facing the sea, this would be to your left...

While to your right is an even wider 'window'. This...

Those wide 'open windows' not only makes the area breezy cool, they also provide a good view to virtually the entire length of the coastline (and, the happenings below)!

Oh, it may not be clear in my 2 photos above, there are glass balustrades. Look also behind the 'sofa', that is a glass wall separating the veranda from main dining room.

Yes I was in a meeting, but the panorama did not skip my 'experimental mindset'!

I told my 'ambisyotic royal highness self' "magkaroon lang ako ng maganda-gandang talepano, kakarerin ko na ang maging kodaker"! Immortalize the beauty of our planet!

Especially the scenes and sceneries that I come across only once in a sometimes!

Wouldn't you daydreamingly wonder what might that ship be carrying, where it came from, where it was going, were the people aboard also having a good day like I was?

Ah, that veranda is one cozy perch for just lazily looking at nothing but where meets the Sulu Sea and this country's western skies. I could do this all day, for many days!

Aw, sunglasses are a must in that veranda! Antique is almost always sunny bright! I was just dismayed I wasn't able to witness sunset in this place. It must be amazing.

I think this resort directly faces the sunset. Hah, I could just wonder how it looks. Eh dapat talaga di pa ako umalis. But I had to! Well, pag balik nalang (kelan kaya yon)?

Ay, we hogged the veranda (meeting eh). But I did have a chance to look around.

That's the café/bar/whatever - basta dyan nag-oorder hehehe! I think the area (café, restaurant) was newly opened (re-opened) when we visited. There was only that guy whipping up and serving things. Waiters were busy serving folks down at the beach.

He was also the dude frying ice cream, and his green shirt says Miguelito's Fried Ice Cream. Aw, the veranda had no customers but us, so we were promptly attended to!

I'm not really into 'sweetness' these days. Happy na ako sa Coke. So, I just watched.

But watching the process made me remember, that first time I saw and ate fried ice cream was at Isetann Cubao! That mall was still a hit then, and this fried thingy was one of their promotional come-ons by the entrance! Don't ask kung anong 19 pa yon!

Down At The Beach
From where we sat at the veranda, these were my views of/to "down there"...

We appreciated it, that this resort has many kinds, types and sizes of chillout areas.

They have day-use cottages for just 2 to 4 people, family/group cottages with loong boodle-fight tables, the cafe and restaurant where we met at (if you don't want to be in the sand), a transparent-glass-walled area for videoke and/or private events, etc.

This big round open area with a cool native roof is their walk-up restaurant and bar.

That guy-in-blue at right is one of the waiters serving food & drinks to the cottages.

Oh, in the middle of the picture, do you see that man with a bike? He is an ambulant vendor, allowed by the resort to enter their premises and hawk his goods. Nice one!

I personally think it is a good gesture on the part of the resort, even if the manong's product is food related. They help a small business at the same time adding variety.

Resort-goers can buy from the manong without anymore going out of the premises, but one of my companions disagrees. She says it is complicated, to even dangerous.

And the meeting went on. That, was one of our topics anyway hehe!

Caught a chance, and I went down to see and feel the beach!

Here was looking left from where I stood:

This was looking in front of me...

And this was looking to the right...

I turned around, and this was the view from where I stood on the sand:

One big happy family! All I could whisper was kasadya ba la hoo! Yan ang "sana all"!


Elsewhere in this resort
Oh look at the building on upper-right-corner of the photo. That's the veranda where I was having a meeting, and where I took all those lovely panoramic pictures above.

Returning back up to my meeting, I got a glimpse of the building we were at. This:

Look at the right edge of the picture. That is the veranda that I've been talking about above. Those other spaces at left are yet unfinished - probably event halls or rooms.

Speaking of rooms, I didn't have a chance to see any. Even the pool. All were taken. Somewhere beyond the left edge, at an older building, is their front desk/reception.

This one:

At etong si manang, is a lively conversationalist, ayaw lang mag-smile!

The above 2 pictures are near the entrance, in the vicinity of these...

If you're wondering why I placed these last 2 photos (of the entrance area) just now, ah ehh... I took them last, on my way out! Buti naalala pa! I was in a meeting, okay?!

Hahaha, nakakalusot din naman ang ulyanin - paminsan-minsan!

Going out and away (reluctantly), I took a tricycle to city center, for another meeting! But I had a 'special request'. I asked the driver that we pass via the coastal road, not the cemetery road! He asked "nahadlok ka, sir?" So the talk won't be long, I said yes!

Unbeknownst to him, lingid sa kanyang kaalaman, wala lang sya kabalo hehehe...

I wanted to have a glimpse at other beach resorts along this southwestern coast of town - even just at their entrance areas! As you can see, I wasn't at all disappointed!

When I come back, the son of a beach that is me, has an idea where to stay. Di ba?!

Let's go elsewhere. Next!

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