Travel: A Glimpse of Cebu

It was my third time to visit the Queen City of the South, which is Cebu. It was my first time to step my foot on Cebu when my sister and her boyfriend visited our child hood friend last December 2010. Then my second time I went there is because of "Sinulog Festival 2011." It was an experience when I celebrated Sinulog with the Sugbuanos. Though there was circumstances that happened to us during the festival, however in this blog, I will emphasize my third time visit, which I almost visited the attractive tourist spots in the City.

　

I still remember, when there was zero seat sale in Cebu Pacific Airlines, me and my teammates decided to book a flight to Cebu. We had long time preparations for that out of town trip, because in my mind I don't want them to disappoint on what will happen.

　

I made a right choice in choosing our hotel, and even our city tour, and the rest of the activities that we will be doing there. We were five in the group who went to Cebu City last November 26-27, 2011. It was a 2 days and 1 night experience.

　

Our ETD from NAIA Terminal 3; Manila bound to Mactan Internation Airport;Cebu was 5:50pm, however our flight was delayed about 15 minutes. But for us it was still okay. Roxy and Jon were very excited, because it was there first time to go to Visayas and to ride in the plane. Our ETA in Cebu was around 8:30pm.

　

From Mactan International Airport, we take a cab there; the cost of our cab from the airport to our hotel was around Php180.00.

　

The cost of our accommodation there was very affordable. You could visit their website and check their rates for the accommodation. The hotel’s interior has a modern interior, simple but elegant. Gran Tierra Suites is simply famous on its complimentary breads; it is free when you avail their accommodation. If you like it, surely you will buy a box of it. All of us in our team bought at least 2 boxes of their bread. It will cost you around Php195.00/box.

http://www.grantierrasuites.com/.

 

We had our dinner in Larsian, if you have not heard of the word Larsian, then you probably haven't been around Cebu. Larsian is one of Cebu's most prominent eating havens, one of the few that passed the test of time. Located at the uptown area near Fuente Osmeña and Chong Hua Hospital, Larsian’s general location offers a myriad of scenes that is undeniably CEBUANO in charm.

The next day, we had an early check out. We left our hotel at around 10am. Our first activity was the famous sky adventure. We availed the skywalk and Buffet dinner package. The cost of our package is Php750.00

http://www.skyexperienceadventure.com/page/rates-and-schedules

Our van transfer was waiting in the parking area of CNT. We started our city tour after lunch. Our first stop was the Magellan’s Cross and Basilica de Sto. Nino. 

Planted by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand magellan for the glory of Spain in 1521. This marks the spot where the first Christian Filipinos were baptized. The original cross is now encased in Tindalo to protect it from the further deterioration and housed in a monument shrine.

Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521.

Next stop, was the Shrine of Lapu –Lapu in Mactan City. Lapu-Lapu shrine is a 40 feet (12 meter) bronze statue located in Punta Engaño, Mactan, Cebu and a famous Cebu tourist spot. The statue depicts the hero holding a bolo and a shield which was believe to be what Datu Lapu-Lapu used during the battle. This is erected to honor the 1^st ever hero of the Philippines who lead 1,500 Mactan warrior against explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The Statue is facing the bay of Mactan ever watchful to protect Mactan for any aggressor and serve as a reminder of Filipino Bravery.

Next stop was the Taoist Temple. Located in the wealthy residential suburb of Beverly Hills about 6 km north of downtown Cebu is an enormous Taoist Temple. It was built by Cebu's substantial Chinese community (the Chinese make up about 15% of Cebu's population).



We went back first to our hotel to pick up our baggages before we proceed to Taboan Market, where we can buy some Cebu’s delicacies.

Taboan Public Market is best known as the Danggit Center of Cebu. Danggit, also known as the rabbit fish in English is one of the top things in mind come "pasalubong" buying time once you’ve stayed in Cebu.　

Be ready to experience not just craters of dried fish on the sides of the road but rows and rows of different items in every stall.　



Finally, our last stop of our city tour was the Cebu Tops. It is Situated 2,000 feet above sea level on the cool hills of Busay, it is an excellent sight-seeing spot which offers a breathtaking view of Metro Cebu and the islands of Mactan and Olango. Open kiosks are available for daytime picnics and instant evening parties. 

Going to Cebu Tops is like going to Baguio. When we get there, the place was very cold. We were amazed when had our sightseeing. The entire city is like pieces of jewels that scattered in land. The view is for your eyes only. I would like to go back there and experience the calmness of the place. 

We went back to Crown Regency for our Buffet dinner which is included in the package we availed in the skywalk adventure. It was a sumptuous dinner for everyone.

　

　

After our dinner, we went to the airport. Our flight bound to Manila was around 11:50pm, and it was unexpected because our flight was not delayed. Everybody were exhausted, since it is a one day tour. However we enjoyed our sightseeing trip there. At least for my third time to go back there, I;ve been to other places that I never been go through.

--The End--

TRAVEL: Balatoc Mines Tour, a blast experience

It was our last day of stay in Baguio City. As we planned, our last stop is to have a Mines Tour in Itogon, Benguet.

We had an arrangement to a taxi driver to ride us there. We agreed to pay him Php400.00. Going to Itogon, we understand, why the transportation to Balatoc is quite expensive, road going there is a combination of winding roads and bumpy rides at times. Wide and thick greenery covering the mountainside along the snaking road going to Balatoc Mines will entertain you.

The Balatoc Mines is found in Itogon Benguet which is about an hour travel from Green Valley, Baguio City. What caught us by surprise is the path going to Balatoc Mines. A word of caution, the driver has to be fully awake and very careful while traversing the road to Balatoc Mines.

At last we reached our destination; you would not know that it has a mining tour.

We proceeded to the area where the tours are arranged. We paid Php250.00 for each adult guest. We were lucky, because we were only the first guest in the area. Since it is Monday, it is a normal day, and most people are in their work. There is a small museum where you can see stuff found inside Balatoc Mines.

Our tour guide gave us a short talk and told us a brief history and things to expect inside the Balatoc Mines. They also asked us about our expectation which was good because it showed that the tour guides were interested on our initial perception of the tour.

Finally the tour guide warned us about the Anaconda. I would like to share the story of the Anaconda but I would be spoiling the fun if I did. So I leave it up to the person reading this blog and considering Balatoc Mines as a destination to discover the story behind the Anaconda.

Technically, there are no restrooms inside the Balatoc mines so better take a leak before starting the tour. Bring a hat if you have one and wear comfortable footwear because you’d be walking along a railway which can sometimes become slippery especially inside the tunnel.

We saw different machinery used inside the mines. We saw a river where people can pan gold. We also saw the toilet car that’s why I said technically there is a restroom but I dare you if you have the guts to use it.

It was the trip inside the tunnel that we enjoyed the most - First because of the eerie feeling that you’re inside a damp dark tunnel where the temperature goes down as one walks deeper inside the hole. One can hear water droplets falling from the stalactites and the path ahead is a little muddy.

The tour guide described the parts of the tunnel and demonstrated how dynamite works. This was new information for me and I really appreciated it a lot. The anaconda was introduced to us in the most surprising way causing us to run to the nearest man-hole.

We had a taste of holding a drill and seeing the dog hole where miners had to crawl day in and day out as they go deep into the mines.

The climax of the tour is when dynamite exploded which surely got everyone’s attention. You can actually feel the intensity of the blast. It was a great learning experience indeed.

Finally, our cart arrived and we traveled the same route as we entered but this time inside a cart. Everybody was tired from the heat and walk and so the cart was a perfect way to go back.

Definitely recommend this tour to families because it’s a great bonding experience. There were lots of things to learn about the plight of the miners here in the Philippines and as to why gold is a precious metal. I now have renewed respect for all the miners in the world and what they have to endure to be able to get the gold to make the ring wrapped around my finger right now.

 ***THE END***