Dipolog Food Trip: Dakak Park & Beach Resort

The package that we paid for includes daily buffet breakfast at the Port Orient Restaurant. But with this view in the morning, I would gladly pay for it if it doesn't come free.

On our second day, we woke around 8am and headed to the restaurant with our breakfast coupons on hand. After getting a table, we went straight to the buffet to check out the fares.

Bread

Congee with all the condiments

Ham

Spanish Sardines and Boneless Bangus

Fresh Fruits

We had a hearty breakfast which took about an hour and a half so you can just imagine how much we ate! To burn off the calories, we went swimming until we got hungry again. Instead of going to the Italian restaurant like we previously agreed on, we came back to Port Orient to have more seafood!

Grilled Tanigue - Php200.00

Lengua Estofada - Php200.00

Sizzling Bangus - Php210.00

Lapu-Lapu ala Dakak - Php285.00

Everyone woke up extra early on our 3rd and last day so we can have more time swimming in the beach before the sun comes out. By 930am, we hiked to the restaurant to have breakfast. It's nice to see that they change the menu everyday!

Congee with lots of garlic

Pork Siomai

My first plate

Dried Fish

Adobong Boneless na Bangus

Vigan Longganisa

Omelet

Papaya and Mango for dessert

Eat. Swim. Sleep. Shop. Swim. Eat. Repeat.

This is my kind of vacation!

~o~o~o~

Port Orient Restaurant
Dakak Park & Beach Resort

Taguilon, Dapitan City
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Tel.: (6365) 213-6813
Website: http://www.dakakresort.com

Dakak Park & Beach Resort - Day Two

My friends and I decided to cancel the trip to Aliguay Island and just spend the day at Dakak to maximize our stay in the resort and see what this 5-star accommodation has to offer. The sun was out and shining we when arrived at Port Orient to have breakfast.

Hoping we could burn all the calorie intake, the group decided to walk and feel the fine powdery sands of Dakak touching our feet.

There are actually three pools in Dakak -- the dolphin pool with water slides, the kiddie pool with waterfalls and another adult pool with jacuzzi. The resort uses spring water in both the kiddie and adult pool with jacuzzi.

An hour massage will cost you Php300.00 only. I had mine a few hours before check out which was a perfect ending to our vacation. Two days of walking, swimming and hiking really stressed out my muscles since I don't have enough exercise anymore.

Being the appointed guide of the group, I encouraged my friends to trek the peak near the resort's check point to give us a bird's view of Dakak. After hours of convincing, we were finally counting the steps going to the highest point.

We all lost count as we were laughing at each others' crazy tactics just to climb to the top and see this view.

We didn't stay long at the peak since it was becoming crowded and we wanted to give way for the people who wanted to take photos. Walking back to the check point was of course, easier than climbing up. We asked the driver to drop us off near the beach so we can catch the sunset.

After spending a good few minutes of harutan by the beach, my friends and I went to The Pirate Bar to have some cocktails before dinner.

Good thing we arrived early so it was still Happy Hour! While they enjoyed their 50% discounted cocktails, I had fun watching the kids dance and munch on the finger food they ordered. *wink*

~o~o~o~

Dakak Park & Beach Resort

Taguilon, Dapitan City
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Tel.: (6365) 213-6813
Website: http://www.dakakresort.com

Night out in Dipolog City

Our friend fetched us from Dakak Park & Beach Resort to tour the group around Dipolog City. She first brought us to UrChoice, the most popular Italian Restaurant in the city only to find out that it closes at 8pm. So we drove another 30 minutes until we reached one of the local restaurants (which I totally forgot the name) to have dinner.

We ordered a bilao of seafood to share. Food was affordable but service was really sloooow.

Before heading back to the resort, we also dropped by the flagship store of Montaño Sardines - The Home of the Best Spanish Sardines in the country. Dipolog City is also dubbed as the Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines mainly because this is where two of the most famous brands are based -- Montaño and Zaragosa.

The flagship store is located in front of the Montaño ancestral home.

But our friend suggested we buy Montaño Sardines instead of the other brand.

Montaño Sardines is a family recipe which started as a home-based business until an expansion was necessary due to the growing demand not only in Dipolog, but throughout the country.

I bought 5 of each flavor priced at Php65.00 each and my family loved it!

I like the Spanish Style in Corn Oil more.

There's no malansa taste and I can eat it straight from the bottle. It's a little spicy on the side but nothing a spoonful of rice or a piece of bread can remedy.

Export quality as the sardines are all the same size!

Gloria's Fantasyland in Dapitan

When I was told that the package we paid for includes a ride-all-you-can ticket at Gloria's Fantasyland, my friends and I had second thoughts of using it since we were tired already and just wanted to stay in for the night instead of going to a perya (or so we thought). But the staff at Dakak insisted that we give it a try and so we found ourselves at the lobby to wait for our ride to Fantasyland.

The trip from the resort is less than an hour but enough time for me to recharge my energy for a night of adventure and more walking.

Gloria's Fantasyland is named as such in honor of former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The pride of Mindanao is owned by the Jalosjos Family along with Dakak Park & Beach Resort and it currently sits in a 3-hectare land near the famous Sunset Boulevard.

Gloria's Fantasyland is nowhere near your typical carnival in the province but more on the Enchanted Kingdom level of theme parks with more than 30 rides operating from 5pm to 12 midnight from Monday to Thursday and extends up to 1am during the weekends.

Some of the rides include Old Western Train, Midi Flume Ride, Mini Coaster Ride, Flying Balls Wheel Ride, Tea Cups Ride, Wonder Flight, Telecombat Ride, Bumper Cars, Roller Coaster, Apollo Ride, Swinger Ride, Pirate Ship, Happy Journey Ride, Fight Shark Ride, Horror Ride and Go Kart.

Swinger Ride

Bull Ride

Galleon

Ferris Wheel

Mini Coaster Ride

5D Cinema

Giant Roller Coaster

Horror House

Flying Balls Wheel Ride

Jumping Bed

But the highlight of the night is Fantasyland's world-class show which starts at 8pm and runs for an hour. It stars local dancers -- some as young as 7 years old (I think), who are really good! The performance was breathtaking with all the lifting and air dancing!

While everyone have their eyes fixed on the stage, my friends and I can't help but stare at these guys who make the air dancing possible and totally safe. It's like they have their own dance routine on the side of the stage as well.

The group taking a bow after the amazing performance. Hope someone can bring them to Manila for more people to see. Paging Resorts World!

The Zamboangeños are lucky to have a first-rate theme park in their province and I'm glad that I got the chance to experience it for myself.

For all of you who wants to visit Gloria's Fantasyland, you may refer to the rates below:

Ride-All-You-Can - Php500.00
Entrance Only - Php200.00
Go Kart - Php100.00
5D Cinema - Php100.00
Horror House - Php100.00

~o~o~o~

Fantasyland sa Dapitan

Sunset Blvd., Dapitan City
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Tel.: (6365) 906-0054
Website: http://www.gloriasfantasyland.com