Tuesday, May 27, 2014

My Cebu Trip

For almost two years I didn't go out on a long trip, it was all work or just plain rest from work due to health issue. Last week I visited the Queen City of the South (Cebu City) with a friend and we also traveled to the City of Friendship that is Tagbilaran City. However, I made a mistake in booking the return trip to Manila via Mactan Island (Cebu) so we had to return to Cebu again. Now I learned my lesson that if I will do backpacking or visit other nearby provinces, I will surely check out if there is an airport and if I could exit via that place.

We left Manila past 3pm but flight supposedly was at 2:15pm. We boarded on time but takeoff was delayed due to traffic congestion.

We reached Mactan Airport nearly past 4pm. Mactan Island to Cebu City proper is 30 minutes drive however if there is traffic it can take you 45 minutes to an hour. It took us 45 minutes to reach Maxilom St.

You can chose either metered taxi or fixed rate taxi. Mactan - Cebu City is Php475 if it is the latter. However, I selected metered taxi because I am optimistic traffic won't be that horrendous. Yes, there was traffic along the way but meter fell only up to Php302 overall. Riding metered taxi was a good choice.

Took this snap while we were stuck in the traffic
The first order upon arrival was to find a decent hotel in Cebu City (Sampaguita Suites and Palladium Hotel are affordable ones) and next one is to have a taste of Cebu Lechon. :) I was told by a colleague to try CNT Lechon but our hotel was nearer Zubuchon at One Mango building.  Off we went to the latter.

Cebu Lechon, Ginataang Langka and Lemongrass with Lime Juice

Can you resist eating lechon?  Looks yummy!
To be honest, what I really enjoyed from this meal was the Lemongrass juice.  The lechon was tastier than the lechon in Manila or Pangasinan but it was a bit salty.

May 20 - We made plans to have day tour of Cebu City.  Most of the places to visit are of historical or religious sites.  We opted to check out historical sites only since we are non-Catholic.

We checked out tour agencies on their  day tour rates and it is quite expensive.  They charge Php2000-Php2500 per head.  So what we did is negotiated with a taxi if he can tour us for 3 hours only for Php900. Boy, we nailed the deal. :)

Here is our itinerary.

Cebu Heritage Monument - quickly revisit Philippine History by visiting this site.

At Cebu Heritage Monument Park the caretaker was kind enough to take our photos and explain each side of the monument.

Next stop was Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House.




Another tour of musuem was Casa Gorordo.



Go to Intramuros of Cebu City, that is Fort Sn Pedro.


Last stop with our three hours tour was the Taoist Temple.



View from the top of the temple

I recommend KaonaGrill near Lapu Lapu Camp.  Food and customer service was great in this resto.  We capped our half day tour in this resto.

We went to Tagbilaran City in Bohol via Supercat Ferry at 3:15pm same day. We continued our Cebu Tour on May 22.  We hired the same cab driver to tour us around Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova. Don't miss out in trying Lantaw, floating resto in Cordova.




Dine with this amazing sea view.



I can't resist having my picture taken in front of The Big Foot building.  I dream of working in an animation film.



Don't miss out in checking the Guitar factory in Mactan Island.  Cebu produces best guitars in the country.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

My New baby!

Yey! Happy to finally own a DSLR! I bought my first camera last May 15, took me a long time to get one. I had to choose between Nikon D5100 and D5200. After reading dozens of reviews and seeking some professional photographers' advice I settled for D5200 which is newer model.


I bought the camera from an online store and personally picked it up in their office last Thursday. While the sales clerk was opening the box and putting out the contents for me, I have great feeling because I can finally pursue one of my passions which is photography. I am thinking of giving her a name because she will be my companion in my travels and adventures :) Just watched the Hallmark movie "Lucky in Love" and got this idea to name it Peggy. Jonah, one of the main characters in the film became a writer and he wrote a book entitled "The Story of Peggy."

"Peggy" traveled with me to Cebu and Bohol. I will be writing soon about my trip to these provinces.