In Love with Badian

There are some things you never in your wildest dreams expect to happen. For example, never did I imagine a horse bumping the car I was riding in.

On my way to Badian, a hundred kilometers south of Cebu City, a horse went wild, came terribly close to my window, and damaged the Corolla I rented for the day. While I managed to appreciate the novelty of the incident, uttering "Only in the Philippines!" the car rental driver was agitated. Unlike a collision with another car, who will cover the damage caused by a wayward horse and its karitela? But a few hours after the horse accident, I am living a surreal reality sweeter than I could ever dream of.

The irresistible combination of a beach and a sunny day is bliss for this sun worshipper. But at Badian Island Resort Spa I have much more than bliss–I am spoiled. It is hard not to fall badly in love with Badian. Driving down the roads provides a stunning view of the deep azure waters of Tanon Strait. The picturesque vistas unfolding before me make the journey as enjoyable as reaching my destination.

After a quick five-minute motorboat ride across Badian Bay, a dozen of the resort’s 80-strong staff mark my arrival with spirited songs. Even the simple tune of Hail Hail the Gangs All Here becomes a sweet serenade when sung by musically gifted Cebuanos. Dressed in shorts and a tank top, I am appropriately garbed for the occasion when a charming Cebuana put a lei of white fragrant flowers around my neck. Another lady greets me with fruit juice in a coconut garnished with kalachuchi and gumamela blooms. It feels like a scene from Fantasy Island. And indeed, my stay is nothing short of a fantasy.

My travels around the country have led me to sleep in simple as well as strange dwellings. The Badian Suite tops my list for simply sublime accommodations. Everything I could long for in a room is luxuriously laid out in this 85-square meter suite. Island life is celebrated in the company of Badian Bay and mountains in the distance while resting in the hammock of my private balcony. The best feature of the room is the glass-roofed bathroom’s tub filled with fresh flowers. Soaking in blooms while soaking up nature’s beauty make me feel like an island princess indulging in her daily bathing ritual.

Flowers abound in this resort. The bed is artistically littered with flowers, as are the tables and dresser. Never have I appreciated the splendors of tropical blooms as I have in this island. The resort’s mission to pamper and anticipate every guest’s need to the last detail is obvious. A native woven basket is a thoughtful and practical gesture for guests to use for their outings to the beach.

If not for my growling stomach, I would not have left my palatial domain. Lunch further celebrates island living with Prawns in Coconut Milk and Mango Balls. Again the flowers make an appearance. Every dish served comes with a tropical bloom.

With my ears, eyes, nose and mouth all sufficiently stimulated by Badian, my tactile sense beg for attention. Bathing in the spa’s outdoor shower allows me to intimately connect with nature. Like Eve exposed in a natural setting, there is an unusual aura of sensuality and innocence.

The pampering experience begins with little sips of spicy sweet salabat tea while a maiden rubs my weary feet. Then two therapists provide surreal decadence with the Badian Deluxe Four-hand massage, a first in the Philippines. The movements of the attendants are synchronized. Two women magically achieve the same strokes, motions and pressure. With my eyes closed to enjoy every minute of this hour-long indulgence, it is hard to believe how two masseuses can function perfectly as one.

I learn that each masseuse has a set partner with whom she trains and practices to achieve a unified therapeutic experience. In silence, they use only eye signals to communicate and synchro-nize their movements. When I open my eyes after that extraordinary tactile dance, a flock of white birds flew in formation as if on cue over the lagoon.

In this sprawling eight-hectare resort, guests bump into each other only at dinner. To make the evening meal truly memorable, the staff takes great pains in setting up dinner in different places around the resort. Tonight, it is by the beach under the stars. Three boats are turned into a buffet table for the fresh seafood, grilled meat, pasta, salad and dessert.

With twelve Korean couples on their honeymoon in Badian, romance is definitely in the air. All walk hand in hand to get their food, stare starry-eyed at each other with every bite, and giggle as they learn to dance the tinikling with the local high school dance troupe.

The morning sun catches me pinching myself to awaken from this dream. I have a date with Kawasan Falls, a brief 15-minute drive and a leisurely 15-minute walk into the mountains. Easily accessible, the virginal beauty of waters gushing from a height of 20 meters make a sublime setting for a memorable picnic. The clean waters invite a dip into the chilly waters of the natural pool at the base of the falls.

And as if I do not have enough memories of Badian, Ryan, the island’s young sales manager, insists I experience a ride in the glass-bottom boat, where the rich coral and marine life is on full display.

Lunch is served at the nearby Coral Garden where the Korean couples partake of the sumptuous meal with sidings of their indispensable kimchi. In this secluded cove, the couples sit in the shade of native huts listening to the crashing waves. Some opt to snorkel and enjoy the vibrant hues of the Coral Garden. After taking the plunge into married life, many couples plunge into the great depths of the ocean on their first dive. They gush and become wide-eyed at the corals’ kaleidoscope and thrill to swim amongst schools of tropical fish like curtains of vibrant hues in motion.

With the Badian sun about to set, it was time to go. Since their first guest left the island some 20 years ago, it has become traditional for the sentimental resort staff to serenade each departing guest with Dahil Sa ‘Yo. As the boat distances itself from the island, my tropical fantasy becomes smaller and smaller, the sweet melodious voices slowly fade, but the love song plays on in my heart. I never imagined falling so badly in love with an island. Like pained lovers parting, deep down there is a silent promise of returning someday to relive Badian’s romantic fantasy.