Kandaya
before nightfall (Photo by Dr. Xavier Solis)
I did exactly what I wasn’t supposed to do: I looked down.
My lower body was straddling a huge animal, my legs swinging on its sides. For a horseback rider or an average jockey, this probably wouldn’t have meant much, but for the likes of me with a healthy fear of impending misadventures—including related fear of heights and bone dislocation—the idea of horseback riding dropped from a scale of exciting to nerve-racking.
“Look forward,” said the girl with glasses whose name I came to know was Annie.
I was certain that a horse didn’t look that towering, well, not from afar to say the least. It was entirely different when you were up on its back, swinging from side to side as it stomped its powerful hind legs.
Series of my peril flashed in my head. This windy afternoon could bring thunder and Brandy (yes, that’s my horse all right) might get out of control. I could fall and get dragged and stomped on.
“Don’t worry,” Annie said, reading my mind. “Brandy is the slowest to run.”
Wow. That’s very comforting, Annie. Thanks. But true enough, my horseback riding at Kandaya Resort turned out to be okay, if not surprisingly fun. Down we went—passing the coconut trees—to the seashore, sweeping against the cool sea breeze. The pleasure it must be for seasoned horseback riders to just ride off into the sunset along the powdery shore.
Horseback riding is one of the many activities guests look forward to at Kandaya Resort. The Kuwadra offers guided riding for beginners and independent riding for the skilled.
Among others are kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, diving and jet skiing or boating to the nearby Malapascua! Yes, the laid-back island is only a 30-minute boat ride; but it is the Monad Shoal, or the shark point, that makes the site a cut above the rest. Deep under, divers can spot thresher sharks regularly before sunrise.
Kandaya Resort is located in Barangay Agujo, Daanbantayan, facing the open Visayan Sea where a picturesque sunset caps the day.
Kandaya is derived from the Bisaya term, “Kang Daya,” which means “owned by Daya.” Datu Daya was a legendary brave tribal chieftain and protector of the town from the Moro pirates who continually attacked them.
Kandaya Resort’s Kusina serves
Asian and Western cuisines. (CDN Photo/ Dr. Xavier Solis)
A watchtower or bantayan was built to look out for the enemies and defend the community.
The entire Kandaya covers 14 hectares, 7 hectares of which is the resort. It houses 18 contemporary-styled rooms and suites and 22 spacious villas with private pools.
There are quiet nooks on the grounds, and the surroundings are perfect for strolling.
The other seven hectares of Kandaya is coconut plantation, and speaking of vegetation, the place undeniably has an abundance of it. Kusina, the resort’s restaurant, thrives on its distinct food philosophy of “farm to table” which means health buffs would love the juice cleanses and super smoothies available all year round.
The writer
befriending Brandy. (CDN PHOTO/ DR. XAVIER SOLIS)
That’s an ace for sustainability right there.
General Manager Fritz Sommerau said they use natural pesticides in their organic gardens, such as coffee grounds, as it is a good repellent for ants, seaweed for slugs, basil for flies and lemon balms for mosquitoes.
They serve mainly Western and Eastern cuisine with the flexibility of special dietary conditions. Artisanal and traditional baking methods are used for the restaurant’s homemade bread and pastries, while fish and seafood are caught fresh daily. With the abundance of locally sourced and in-house organic products, Kandaya prides itself in offering only the freshest flavors and ingredients. A number of physical fitness routines are made available in the gym, yoga studio and mixed martial arts center.
Kandaya resort (CDN PHOTO/ Dr.Xavier Solis)
Eat clean, train dirty, so they say.
And at the end of the day, a visit to the Daya Spa to bring back the state of balance and wellness from head to toe is the most perfect idea there is. I was already sold to the thought alone of
relaxing sounds combined with rejuvenating organic essential oils soothing the tired muscles and clearing the mind. True to its word, Daya Spa has a full service menu of services to suit your preferences from massages and body treatments to facials and mani-pedis.
There’s a rare mix in this place. Whether you’re up for a group adventure in one minute and wishing for a solitary moment the next, this piece of paradise doesn’t disappoint.
