Lagawan

Last Thursday, March 5, I was invited by Yehey! to the Detour: Island Cove Adventure together with 30 blogventurers. The Detour was a successful fun-filled day of sportacular activities and adventure that tested our wit, strategical skills and physical endurance with the “ala Amazing Race, fear factor Game”. Bloggers faced up the challenge head on even though it was excruciatingly hot and humid.

Our first challenged was to wake-up early in the morning for the 7:30am call time at Gonuts Donuts, The Fort, it was really a challenge for me for I usually wake-up around 9 or 10AM. We left Manila around 8:30 and travelled for an hour and 15 mins. When we arrived at the venue the Yehey! and Island cove staff welcomed us immediately and we were given a welcome drinks and were served hotdog and chips for breakfast.

After the hearty breakfast, we were then divided into 3 groups of 10 and given a guided tour around the Island to familiarize ourselves with the place. We were told to pay attention with what the guide is telling us for this will come in handy for the afternoon adventure “ala amazing race”. Our group was the first one to finish the tour around 11AM so we had our lunch first and had a lot of time to rest before the sun-soaked race begin.

The race started at Tricia Miranda Hotel Courtyard around 1:30PM. Then when Lazlo of Yehey! blow the whistle to signal the start of the race, our team leader, Jennie, immediately grabbed the first clue. Our first challenge was to find our team color and our survival kit in one of the rooms of the Hotel. We saw the signed room with another team and they opted to be the Blue team while we opted to be the Green Team(leader: Jennie, Jeff, Bryan, Fitz and me). Next we run to the lobby and planted the first flag and were given our next clue.

The 30 something blogventurers

The next clue was to find the Cavite Hall for the next challenge, a 10 meter sack race. When we arrived at Cavite Hall 2 groups where already starting so we didn’t dilly-dally. We immediately jumped our hearts out. We were the second team to finish the sack race. We were then given the next clue.

Our next destination is the Alapan Pavilion to find the missing half of the mask. It didn’t take us a long time to find the missing half. So we were the first one to plant our flag and off to the next clue.

Fitz eating ampalaya with coffee

The next clue said “Aguinaldo”, and Jeff told us that it’s in Sangley Point. We went upstairs at Aguinaldo Hall but we realized that it was not the right place so instead we went downstairs and found the next task. It’s “going up and down the stairs challenge” as what Lazlo said. Fitz was the one who take on the task and he was lucky as he got the Ampalaya and coffee, not the ox brain or the frog and some weird drinks. It took Fitz a long time to finish the ampalaya, he told us that he was having a hard time swallowing the ampalaya since he’s out of breath.

Then off we run to the Oceania Water Park. The challenge required 2 members to take the slide and another 2 for kayak, but because Bryan and I can’t soak ourselves in the pool we asked Kankan if it’s ok that only 1 member will take a slide. She told us its ok as long as Fitz will slide twice to be fair with the other team, so Fitz slides twice while Jenn and Jeff waited at the kayak for Fitz to push them.

Fitz sliding and pushing the kayak with Jenn & Jeff

The next clue has something to do with a big square and a game, so we dashed to the Giant Chess Board Area just beside the Red Cross station. So far this was one of the easiest challenge in the race. Jeff volunteered to do the game and all he have to do is to move the Rook, but due to being excited and the adrenaline rush he got confused and moved the horse instead. We told him that his moving the wrong piece, so he grabbed the rook and moved it. Then we went to the marshal for the next clue and it’s about performing but not dancing — so definitely it’s singing!

Then we had to run all the way to Island Songs Ktv for the next challenge. Jenn, Jeff and Fitz are all wet when we enter the place. Jenn was shivering a little but that didn’t hinder us. Jeff volunteered again to do the singing, picked a song in a bowl and luckily he knew how to sing “GOLD”.

Jeff singing his heart out for with his Gold Rendition.

Then the next clue said to ride a bike. We went outside the KTV and find nothing. No bike, we asked the staff and they said they don’t know where the bike area is. Grrr… But luckily we were just a stone throw away from the bike area. Fitz rides the single, while I ride the pedicab with Jenn as my passenger and the other 2 members run all the way to the Paintball Area. Bryan took the challenge and hit the bulls eye 3 times. Then off to our next destination – the Animal Island Wildlife Sanctuary.

We were still on the bike going to the Crocodile Cabin, and it was the hardest and longest bike ride I ever did in my whole life. The sun is scorching hot, the road is rocky and bumpy and the pedicab has its own mind. It kept on going left even though I point it to the right. Halfway to the Crocodile Cabin Jennie took over and drive for a minute or so then I took over again. Our last challenge was to choose between the monkey or the crocodile. We opted for the monkey challenge. One member of the group must take a photo of the monkey (eating a banana). Not that hard, so I volunteered to do the task.

The last leg of the race was to ride the tram going to the Fishing Village. Since we finished ahead of the other teams, we asked and beg Lazlo if we could go ahead. If we could go and not wait for the other teams since they just arrived at the Crocodile Cabin. And he said yes, so off we go.

Well, guess who won the “ala amazing race” game? It was our team. Woot!!! Wooh!!! Thanks guys!

1st Place: Green Team ( Go Green Team!!!)

2rd Place: Orange Team

3rd Place: Red Team

What can I say? Well, all of us are winners – not just our team (Green). It’s not the price or the ranking that matters. What matter most was that we did it. We did all the challenges and finished the race despite the scorching sun. We joined knowing our limits, capabilities and fears, but still we faced up the challenge head on. Aside from that we meet and get to know new people and lastly we had FUN!

Thanks to Yehey! for organizing Detour: Island Cove Adventure, Island Cove and Cong. Gilbert Remulla (General Manager and one of the owners of the family owned resort) for welcoming the bloggers and for gracing the awarding ceremony. And I hope this will not be the last event in Island Cove, as what he said — this will be an annual event for bloggers. THANK YOU!!!

Island Cove – fishing Village

Thanks Island Cove & Yehey!

More Photos here >>>

Checkout some of the Blogventurers experiences here:

Summer Spot: Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park by Lace
Detour : Island Cove Adventure with Bloggers 2009 ( photo coverage) by Az
How I Survived the Amazing Race at Island Cove by Noimi
Detour Adventure Race b by Jane
Detour: Island Cove Adventure by Karla
Detour: The Island Cove Adventure by Aeirin
Island Cove Detour – Blogventure Race by Hannah
Detour The Island Cove Adventure A Success by Earth
Yehey! Island Cove Adventure A Success by Jonel
Yehey Blog Adventures Event by Leirs
Island Cover Adventure Getting There by Jonas
Island Cove BloggerVenture by Edelweiza
Patay Gutom Goes to Island Cove by Fitz
The Detour: Island Cove Blogventure To Remember by Chris A.