Birdland Beach Club Review
Traveling 5 to 7 hours from Manila to Bolinao Pangasinan is an experience that has to be defined with a fulfilling purpose.
It calls to restore your travel-exhausted body, mind and soul with nature-inspired activities and accommodations to give you a unique seaside retreat.
The tranquil atmosphere at Birdland Beach Club (check rates and availability) meets this purpose, particularly for us moms who had traveled long on the night bus with our young kids.
On the rugged coral coast of Bgy, Arnedo, Birdland Beach Club was the sanctuary that we needed to relax and revitalize in from our bustling city lives. Yet upon landing there, it became apparent that this eco-modern boutique resort was not just for people like us, but also for the birds nesting in the countless birdhouses planted around it.
While the birds snuggled up inside their cute wooden houses, we found lull in every spot we stepped into and in every one of its caring occupants, especially its lovely owners Michael and Joanna Parayno and their toddler Mikay.
On our first day, the couple accommodated us in one of their three minimalist cabanas.
Since the resort is new, we got to enjoy its new cozy queen-size bed, two-door refrigerator, cable-installed LCD screen, its private bathroom, the hot water rain shower inside it, and the magnificent view of the West Philippine Sea on its balcony.
Enjoying a complimentary breakfast from the balcony was a good idea, but eating a Filipino breakfast with heaping rice, three savory viands, a dessert and unlimited cups of coffee simply calls for the cool bamboo cabana fronting the beach.
Our special breakfast was made even more special with the presence of Joanna who dedicated her morning in ensuring us with a perfect breakfast experience, as she usually does to her guests.
So, for starters, we indulged in some hot pandesal with coffee, and later a big breakfast of Inihaw na Baboy (Grilled Pork Chops), Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelet), Inihaw na Tanigue (Grilled Mackerel), and ripe mangoes, matched with Binungey, a Pangasinan delicacy of glutinous rice and coconut milk steamed in bamboo.
Throughout the day, we simply immersed in the tranquility of Birdland Beach Club (hotel reviews).
On the dry moments of the overcast day, we stayed outdoors. We dipped in the grassy sea and felt the soft sea grass caressing our feet as we pushed the comfy tube where our children lounged, all the way to a floating raft a few hundred meters beyond for an exclusive communion with the sea, or for next time, turn into a romantic meal with the sun setting on the horizon.
At other times, we explored its nook and cranny, feeding goats and collecting hermit crabs, snacking on Halu-Halo and eating banana-que overlooking the tranquil sea from the resort’s rooftop lounge.
And on wet moments, we stayed snug inside our bedroom, napping to the soothing raindrop sounds and delighting in the resort’s Pesto Pasta while watching the generous sea turn dark by the rain and by the dawning of the night.
Succeeding a sweet slumber, the birds greeted us with their harmonious melodies, rousing us to the glorious day ahead.
The caring staff of Birdland, once again, served us with an unforgettable breakfast. We had Fried Eggplant with Tuyo (salted fish), Ensalada (chopped tomatoes, onions and boiled eggs), rice, pineapple slices, and five pieces of their delicious Homemade Pancake served with homemade jackfruit jam, honey and banana, plus juice and unlimited coffee.
It was exactly what we needed to recharge us on that eventful day, which was going to be filled with some land travel, a scenic boat ride and more than a hundred islands.
So it was, after our sea-soaking sunshiny day at the Hundred Islands in Alaminos City, we came home to Birdland where we were surprised with a comfy setup of clean mattresses laid in the breezy seaside kubo (native hut), tucked within an alcove of coral rocks and the dense harmony of crickets.
And much later a marvelous hilot massage inside our kubo, rendered by a gifted lady as a perfect interlude to another perfect day.
Thanks to the re-energizing atmosphere at Birdland, we were up and about at 4am, just in time for our 5am bus ride to Baguio City.
Taking us to the Victory Liner bus terminal was the most extraordinary tricycle I had ever seen. Birdland’s own creation of a bamboo carriage where you could have a first-class journey over a bottle of spirits and a nice video streaming through the built-in LED TV.
Nevertheless, visiting the many captivating sites around Bolinao on Birdland’s bamboo tricycle is certainly another set of itinerary to return to. Perhaps when Michael organizes his next successful West Philippine Sea Jazz & Blues Festival in the coming year.
Birdland Beach Club Bolinao
(Check Rates and Availability)
Location: Long Beach Street, Barangay Arnedo, Bolinao, 2406 Pangasinan
Telephone: 0917 791 9643
Weblinks:
https://www.facebook.com/birdlandbeachclub
http://www.westphilippineseajazzandbluesfest.com
Also Read:
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- Try these new, seldom visited destinations in Bohol this New Year
- List of The Best Manila Luxury Hotels
- 10 Stunning Beaches You Need To Experience While Visiting the Philippines (2018 Edition)
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