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Finding paradise in Club Noah
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: By RACHEL CASTRO-BARAWID
Date: 2005-10-16
 
"Ang Palawan paraisong tunay," chanted the friendly staff of Club Noah Isabelle upon our group’s arrival at the resort. Under a sunny sky, the sarong-clad staff danced and sang on top of a rock formation while others at the beach performed a medley of popular tropical dances accompanied by guitars, a gong and other native instruments.

I was flattered to receive such a grand and warm reception and from the looks of my companions who are Manila-based travel journalists and a young couple from England, they too, looked pleasantly surprised. Little did we know that this was just the beginning of many other surprises in store for us at this side of the paradise.

Getting to the island, however, proved to be an adventure in itself. After a comfortable 90-minute flight via Asian Spirit, the sole domestic carrier that flies to the Cesar Lim Rodriguez Airport in Taytay, we rode a jeepney for a short ride to the Tamisan River jetty. There, we crossed a bamboo bridge to get to a dinghy and later on a bigger banca that will take us to the resort.

JUNGLE CRUISE

The 40-minute jungle cruise on the Tamisan River unraveled a spectacular scenery of lush foliage, mangrove swamps, a thick umbrella of trees as well as stories of its dwellers which are mud crabs, monitor lizards, monkeys, eels, and crocodiles. Although I was happy to relish the bucolic scene before me, the thought of eels and crocodiles scared me. Good thing, our hosts Ito Tuason, chief of Club Noah’s Public Relations and Planning Department and PR man Pete Dacuycuy were quick to assure our 100 percent safety in the big banca.

As our boat neared the resort, I could already see the picturesque scenery that people have been raving about. I was intrigued though, by its most prominent feature — a wooden cross on top of a seemingly sculptured rock formation. Ito said the cross was put up by Club Noah to constantly remind its staff and guests that there is a God who created all these natural wonders. The explanation was as simple as that. Yet it speaks much on the religiosity of its owners.

INSPIRING HISTORY

Club Noah Isabelle sits on the dragon-shaped island of Apulit in Taytay, northeastern Palawan. Considered a jewel among the province’s 1,779 islands, Apulit is home to an immense ecosystem, exotic wildlife, and one of the most colorful marine sanctuaries in the country. With these natural treasures under her care, Club Noah has become a veritable eco-tourism attraction and site of many environmental studies.

The resort derived its name from an 18th-century Spanish fort in the town of Taytay called Puerto de Santa Isabel. The name Noah, on the other hand, has an inspiring history attached to it. One of cleansing and a new beginning, it refers to its owners’ similar experience with the Noah of Biblical times.

Club Noah chairman Keizaburo Homma is among the pioneers of the resort business in Palawan. He first teamed up with individuals of diverse backgrounds and interests but shared his passion for diving. What started out as a Japapese-Filipino dive boat business eventually developed into the El Nido Resort, then a modest 15-cottage dive camp for the Japanese in Miniloc Island, Palawan.

Years later, he parted ways with his partners and searched for his own haven, bringing with him his loyal resort staff.

Then came the birth of Club Noah in 1995. And the rest is history.

Ten years later, the core group that formed Club Noah is still the same united spirit at the helm of this resort.

After the welcome ceremonies and briefing, Abante’s Lifestyle editor Elvie Altez and I rushed right away to our cabaña to rest and prepare for watersports activities later in the day. Like front-row seats to a concert or orchestra, our cabana built on stilts offered not just excellent accommodation but a verandah that gives the best view of the sea as well as a closer look at cute baby sharks and various kinds of fish frolicking below us. What a treat! We also watched crabs that creep up the stilts of our cabana and ducks and geese that float at a distance. If lucky, one can also find rabbits, squirels, anteaters and Palawan peacocks roaming around the resort.

The 40-hectare resort has 29 more of these single-detached water cabañas with sturdy wooden bridges connecting it to the main pathway of the resort and 50 duplex-style split-level family cabañas ideal for groups of four to six persons. All airconditioned cabañas have complete amenities including hot and cold shower.

FISHY ENCOUNTERS

Before the start of our activities , we were whisked to the west side of the island for a barbeque lunch on the beach at Puesto del Sol. The delectable feast comprised of grilled liempo and lapu-lapu, crispy shrimps, salads, veggies and more. A must-try, however, is the resort’s freshly-baked crunchy oatmeal cookies. What made our small fiesta unique was not the food though, but the tropical ambience — trees serving as our canopy, the crystal-clear turquoise waters and fine-white sand as our backdrop and young Korean kids playing with the sand as our entertainment. It was indeed, the good life.

Fish-feeding came next in our itinerary. Anywhere in the resort, one can feed bits of bread to the resident schools of fish that thrive in the resort. Its funny because they only eat bread from the resort kitchen and not any other, even a cupcake from me.

We also engaged in bottom fishing and there I discovered that I have a talent for fishing without even knowing it. I was the first one to catch a big Jack fish. I had to gather my strength, though, as I pulled it out of the water, with help from our friendly guide Mark. My succeeding catches were smaller bisugo but still a fulfillment for a first-timer like me. Everyone also got lucky, catching several of the Jacks and bisugos. It was a fun experience even for non-fishing enthusiasts.

If fishing is for me, scuba diving is not. The next day, we were given introductory lessons on scuba diving. I’ve been wanting to experience diving for a long-time but did not have the guts to do it until that morning in Club Noah. Most of my companions who were first-timers went ahead of me and did not have a hard time underwater. So, I found it easier to muster my guts and face my fear. At last, it was my turn. After a briefing and several reminders, Joy, my male dive instructor and I prepared to go down. It took several times for me, though, to get used to the deep breathing required underwater so we could not fully go down. Finally, I managed to go 10 feet deep. When I’m just about to loosen up and enjoy the sights, I suddenly panicked and signaled Joy to bring me up right away. I really felt bad that I did not get to enjoy much that rare chance to be face to face with the most beautiful sea creatures I’ve ever seen. Well… blame it on my sudden panic attack (that I did not even have before). On the other hand, Elvie, emerged as the ace diver in our group. She was able to go 20 feet deep.

The snorkeling adventure, proved to be much more enjoyable for everyone. We snorkeled in various parts of the resort and at the 20-feet indoor pool in Pabellon Cave. We had our "graduation" at the Isla Blanca, a stunning white-sand bar with a fantastic collection of corals and an array of marine life. The corals came in all shapes and sizes. Some resembled a table, fan, the ear of an elephant while others looked like a cabbage, sponge and a human brain.

EXTRAORDINARY DINING

Dining in Club Noah’s various food and beverage outlets is likewise an experience one cannot find elsewhere. Here, each mealtime is extraordinary. The Tropicana Restaurant is the main dining area in the resort where breakfast and dinner are usually served. Food consultant Ed Quimson and his well-trained local chefs whip up a sumptuous buffet spread of international dishes everyday. Diners are also treated to nightly themed production numbers by the resort’s very own multi-talented staff who are by day your tour guide, your housekeeper, your cook, your fishing companion, your activity officer and even your scuba diving instructor.

For more romantic candle-lit dinners or a see-through view of the water via its flexi-glass floor, guests are taken to Café Isabel Water Restaurant, an entire resto on stilts. For even more romantic and adventurous couples, the resort has caves convertible as dining areas.

Ever find a bar where you have to climb 109 steps first before being able to sip your favorite drink? The trek is worth it because at the top is a deck offering a majestic view of the cove.

Others include the Serena Bar at the pier and the El Capitan Bar where you can also play billiards, darts, board and card games.

Before hopping on a boat that would take us back to Manila, I gazed one more time at Club Noah and wondered why it took me so long to find this paradise.
 

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