One fine afternoon at Camiña Balay nga Kawayan in Guimaras

I just love traveling to Guimaras where a mere 15 minutes brings you a world almost a thousand miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And another 25 minutes from the Jordan wharf is the Camiña Balay nga Kawayan in Guimaras and Springbloom Farms where this picture perfect "picnic" took place a week after we had a sumptuous lunch during my first visit to this rest house of the Camiñas in Sibunag.

 The vast farm has mostly pineapples and papayas all around the bamboo and wood house with a stunning view of Lawi Bay and on clear days, both Iloilo and Negros (on opposite diections). Our welcome food were the signature Camiña Tsokolate and its quintessential partner ibos(suman). 

And to make it more Guimaras, mangoes were served. They don't only look good but tastes the sweetest event if it wasn't really the season for mangoes, typically summertime peaking in April when the province celebrates Manggahan Festival. I just wish I could eat the mangoes in this photo...

More ibos and "palawan" (a kind of rootcrop similar to gabi) gave us more reason to stay on the table.

And of course there on the table was the "signature" of the Camiña Balay nga Kawayan - bino-ug nga baboy. It's basically grilled pork with a salt rub and cooked over high heat giving it a crisp and crunchy outside yet still juicy inside. Now my mouth waters even with the thought if it ...

The vast papaya and pineapple plantation makes the Springbloom Farms among the big suppkiers of these fruits in the market and anytime now, the pineapples are ready to be harvested while the papayas; well they're really on full fruitty bloom.

An impromptu trip brought us to Guisi, around 30 minutes from the farm, and the white sand beach and the century old lighthouse were among its best tourist drawers.The beachfront is quite undeveloped giving it a more natural feel of seclusion and connecting with nature.

The Guisi lighthouse, used during the Sapnish Era, reflects it age and its grandeur that time which we can only appreciate now in ruins. But if this place can be restored as a historical site and be made more touristy it will have a lot to offer - including the spectacular 360 degree view from the top of the rusty lighthouse. As of the moment only a few can brave the climbing the spiral staircase and stand on top of the structure without any support ...

 

Going back to Springbloom Farms, we had time to catch the last rays of the sun for the day and it was a perfect backdrop to end the day with a glass of wine. A toast to what the island of Guimaras can offer even in just 4 hours - yes, we went there past 2pm and went home past 6 o'clock.

But we felt time stood still, that day - we didn't rush or anything yet time find a way for us to enjoy the food, the scenery, the history and a lot more, in that short span of time. That's the rejuvenation the island of Guimaras gave us that time and I personally can't wait to be back there ...

Camiña Balay nga Kawayan in Guimaras and Springbloom Farms are located along KM 17 in Concordia in the Municiplaity of Sibunag in Guimaras. It is around 15 minutes from the the Trappist Monastery and almost right after Camp Alfredo going to Alubihod beach.