Smile April 2015 - page 24

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IF YOU’RE IN THE SOUTHERN
CITY FOR A RUGGED
ADVENTURE, BOOK HERE
WOAH
fun summer digs
GenSan’s
leafy oasis
A cool spot way
down south
BETTER
LAKE THAN
NEVER
The brochure for the
Greenleaf Hotel declares
this place the city’s “first
and only modern business
hotel”, something that’s
immediately evident from
the property’s design. The
grand lobby echoes many
of nature’s lines — pillars
that rise and fan out at the
ceiling like trees — and is
filled with elegant lounges
and seats by Murillo, fine
furniture makers from
Cebu. It’s no stretch to
say the hotel offers luxuries
that are unparalleled in
these parts — some of
the suites at this 111-room
property come with pocket
gardens or verandas, and
all are fully carpeted and
boast orthopedic beds
with 300 thread-count
sheets, black-out drapes
that keep the light out if
you want to sleep in, as well
as flatscreen TVs. There’s
plenty to do on the property
as well: dine at Chinese
restaurant Tea Leaf or at
Mint Café for its Filipino
and Western buffet, work
out at the gym, swim in the
pool or enjoy a 90-minute
massage at Lavandin, the
hotel spa. The friendly
service and typical southern
charm are great bonuses
and definitely earn our
thumbs up.
Cnr of San
Miguel St and J Catolico
Ave, General Santos City;
Tel: +63 83 552 1111; www.
greenleafhotelgensan.com
If there’s one thing you
must do in scenic Lake
Sebu, it’s wake up to
breathtaking views of the
placid lake, partly shrouded
in the early-morning mist.
One of the best vantage
points from which to take
in this vista is Mountain
Lake Eco Resort, where the
rooms feature balconies
that overlook the water.
Located deep within the
ancestral domain of the
T’boli, the resort takes
special care to preserve
the environment — using
solar power and recycled
rainwater — while treating
visitors to one-of-a-kind
experiences. Guided
activities include a
35-minute cruise around
the lake to explore 11 islets,
canoeing (while the T’boli
use canoes carved out of a
single tree trunk, the resort
offers modified boats that
are easier for beginners to
row) and fishing for tilapia.
Still, for all its one-with-
nature fun, Mountain Lake
Eco Resort is equipped
with modern amenities,
such as the all-important
Wi-Fi. Villa rates start at
PHP750 a night.
Mountain
Lake Eco Resort, Lake Sebu,
South Cotabato; www.
mountainlakeecoresort.com
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