Noah's Charm

Club Noah charms you with savory food, personalized service, and climatic dives; moreover, it beckons you to care for life

I was reading Club Noah's brochure as my friend and I queued at the Seair hangar at the domestic airport. "This will be a good trip," I said, impressed by the resort photos. Boarding Seair's 19-seater plane that would take us to the resort even added to the excitement and the feeling of being privileged. We were told that this airline was started in the country in 1994 by Capt. Iren Dornier to carry passengers to world class resorts and tourist and rural destinations. Seair (South East Asian Airlines) started its regular flights to Taytay, Sandoval airport in Palawan in 1995. Since then, Seair has been flying daily to Sandoval.

After 90 minutes of travel, flight SE 411 landed in Palawan. Upon arrival, Liezl, our resort guide, showed a map of our travel path. "We will take a 15-minute jeepney ride to Tamisan River. From there we will transfer to a small boat going to a bigger boat which will bring us to Club Noah," she said smiling.

The Tamisan river shores thrive with mangroves that is home to brown-tailed monkeys and kingfishers. "On the farther end of the river lives the crocodiles," said Nestor, our boat guide. At the resort pier, the staff welcomed us with a Palawan song as we sipped our ice-cold coconut drinks under the 'El Capitan' hut.

Building the Ark

Christened as Club Noah - Isabelle, the resort is found on the Apulit Island in the middle of Taytay Bay in Northern Palawan. Your guess was as good as mine - the resort was named after 'Noah' of the Old Testament. The resort's Japanese chairman, Keizaburo Homma was inspired by Noah's experience in Genesis when "Yahweh saw the wickedness of man on earth; closed the ark's door on Noah; the waters rose leading to the death of all "those that had breath of life in its nostrils."

After the great flood, though, life bloomed again, thanks to Noah's ark that carried every pair of living things from land. There began a new era of life, a renaissance, a catharsis. The Japanese-Filipino team that brought back life to Apulit Island applied the same 'Noah' principle in reviving both marine and land creatures.

"When we surveyed the place seven years ago, there were very few fish in the area because bong-bong (dynamite fishing) was rampant during those times," recalls Mr. Sparky, the resort's operation manager. "But through our initiative, the number of fish increased." There is an existing policy of no fishing within a one-mile radius to make the island a habitat for fish hatchery and wildlife. Together with the local government, a system of patrol against poaching is also being enforced.

Virgin Dive; Crazy Surf

"I can't imagine we're doing this," gasped my friend at the start of a new activity. Since the Club offers a free introductory scuba dive - an experience you shouldn't miss if you're a non-diver -we took the chance excitedly. Amateur divers like us were awed by the colorful corals and fish under the sea. If you're not an environmentalist, the experience alone will make you one.

Romy, our dive master, led us snorkeling in the nearby Silanga Island a.k.a Noa-Noa after a 28-minute boat ride. He took us away from the white shores and marble-lime stones of Noa-Noa, midway to the cobalt-blue sea. We didn't get to see electric eels, though some say the place is home to plenty of eels.

Glowing red jellyfish afloat like angels, a huge turtle, purple-blue-green clams, and a variety of fish kept us staring underwater for more than an hour. Watch out for groupers, barracudas, clown fish, jack fish, and more. Amid the strong waves, a sense of adventure kept the adrenalin rush in awe of the coral that divide the deep blue depth and the surviving reef scorched by the drying effect of El Niño.

Experienced divers will equally enjoy morning and night dives in the nearby spots. Another area frequented by divers is the Dinot Rocks, designated as the sanctuary of marine-life like sea-turtles and tropical fishes. Others visit Isla Blanca (Quimbaludan), a nice place for sunbathing or snorkeling.

But if you want above water activity, try windsurfing. "It's easy when you get the hang of it," encouraged Mark, our surfing instructor. After countless hops, twists, turns, and plunges on the surfboard, I asked Mark, "Can I just paddle back to shore?" He would whistle a few times to call the wind, and indeed the wind came! But if you want stronger winds, go out the island cove, keep a grip on the sail, and be ready for speed.

Island Charmers

In case you're staying more than two nights, go to the nearby islands or visit Taytay Town, known before as Estrella del Norte. There you may visit Sta.Maria church, the old fort of Puerto de Isabel, or shop at the market place. You can also reach Lake Danao via a 30-minute jeepney ride where you can do bird watching, fishing, or kayaking.

Back in Noah resort, you might as well endear yourself to the animals. There used to be a myna bird that hops from table to table, blurting a number of words. But the bird's destiny was tragic. "The bird died recently after a bearcat ate it. Probably the bird talked too much," shared Ivy, another resort staff.

Although the myna bird had gone to rest, there is still Josephine, the parrot. Its blue-red, green-orange feathers and blabber beak will keep you entertained. It's fun to bring your family, especially when the kids see the brown and white shaded rabbits jumping at the white sand and digging their homes.

Ducks also roam and quack under the shade of the coconut trees. These chocolate feathered and white-collared fin-feet creatures would at times follow you while walking. Don't worry, they don't bite.

'Mame', Japanese name for the Palawan mouse deer, is not extinct in the island. They stay inside a fence large enough for them to play and snatch gumamela (hibiscus) flowers. "We hope to add more of these and other animals in the future," said one of the staff.

Baby sharks swim under the cogon-roofed cabanas at night while you sit on the rattan chair at the verandah facing the outskirts of the sea. These cottages are like Tahitian beach-houses, furnished with air-conditioning and hot water shower. A sparkling display of ray-fined fusiliers and barracudas under the cabanas would keep you awake in the moonlit night.

But it is not only the place and underwater fun that are charming. The resort staff deserves the same compliment. Their service is not the "business as usual" type, because you can sense the sincerity and humility in their approach. Their simplicity and attention to your needs would connect you to nature. The promotional kicker "a return to the essentials of life" aptly speaks of Noah's call to the resort experience.

Club Noah offers other diversions, too. Aside from programmed activities like snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, facilities for outdoor games such as badminton and volleyball, as well as indoor games such as table tennis, billiards and darts are available.

Fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down. The resort usually provides guests with a starlit dinner on the beach. Right after the evening smorgasbord, relax at the Rock bar while you stargaze through the night. A word of warning, you have to climb 109 steps up. Not to worry though, the stairs aren't that steep.