Anilao

A few weeks after Stephen's visit, we returned to Anilao for a weekend with JB and Ysa, the owners and good friends.  It's awfully hard to turn down an offer to spend time there with them!  

Nicknamed Kamalig, this seaside family retreat was designed and built by JB and Ysa as a place for family and friends to gather, relax and interact in a shared beautiful setting.  Boy did they succeed.  The entire place is oriented to enjoy nature, the ocean and most importantly, to share time with each other.  The main gathering area is the dining / kitchen area, totally open to the yard and the sea.  The "living room" is an open-air building with comfy couches and chairs, again open to the ocean.  One wall of the cabanas where you sleep totally opens up to views of the yard and water.  You feel like you're in a private five star resort.  

The beach is composed of broken coral and stones, so no sand castle building here.  But step out into the warm clear ocean, and you quickly find plenty of coral and bright colorful fish.  Mon, the caretaker, loves to take visitors to his favorite reefs and snorkeling areas on the kayak.  The area is now designated as a preserve after having been virtually destroyed by dynamite fishing years ago, and the coral and fish have returned and are again plentiful.  Snorkeling and diving are now the big local activities throughout the area.  

Tony, Diego and Manu

This trip was special because we got to spend time with Ysa and JB and their two kids, Manu and Diego.  That was a real treat.


For more Anilao photos, CLICK HERE.