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Thursday, August 23, 2018

The Superb Cebu


The currency exchange rate as of 5th August, 2018.

1 MYR = 12.8111 PHP
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We’ve been looking for flight tickets to Cebu since last year, main reason is to attend the wedding of our dear friend-colleague, Merlyn. She’s married her >8-year lover, Rey, which is also our colleague.

Wikipedia source: Cebu is a province of the Philippines, in the country’s Central Visayas region, comprising Cebu Island and more than 150 smaller surrounding islands and islets. 



There are many beautiful and well-known tourist attractions in Cebu province. The beaches, islands and waterfalls. So, we’re looking forward to go around the big island and make the wedding as the side trip. Hehe.

Initially, only 3 of us but then ended-up with additional 3. Trip will be for 7 days but we have only 4 days to explore the land and do all the activities.
Here to share the itinerary that I worked with my friend, Ron.

*Time zone +8 GMT, same as in Malaysia.

Day 1

1300: Depart to KLIA2 Airport
1755: Flight to Cebu (4-hour journey)
2200: Arrival at Mactan-Cebu International Airport
2300: Check-in to Tsai Hotel and Residences

After that, we went out to have a dinner. The target place is Jollibee!
Yes, Jollibee, the pinoy’s proud and brag. For the first timer, sorry to say, it’s not as delicious as I thought. Sorry, I still vote for KFC! *but after trying the KFC there, it tastes a bit saltier than usual.
But but, the beef steak at Jollibee deserves a thumbs up. With the gravy, it’s yummeh~

Cost:
Grab from Airport to Hotel - P300 for 6 pax
Jollibee - P120

My first Jollibee with Mocha float. Nyummm~

Day 2

0900: The Big Wedding
The church is just a walking distance from hotel. After the church, we went to the Beverly View Events at Beverly Hills subdivision for the wedding reception by a shuttle van.
The ceremony ended about 4pm.

The magical wedding that I witnessed 💖

1600: Quick visit to Taoist Temple
Just for photography purposes.

Went back to hotel, freshen up and meet the newly-weds for dinner. We had dinner together at I.T Park. I had Jollibee again. Cos u know, it’s hard to find a halal food there.
I also had the can’t-wait-to-try-again desert, Halo Halo. Nyummm. But I think, the one that I ate in Mang Inasal is much tastier.

Cost:
Jollibee – P170


Day 3

0300: Wake-up Call from hotel
0400: Going to South Bus Terminal
0730: Arrive in Brgy. Tan-awan, Oslob

When we arrived, the place was already crowded with people. We bought a package to swim with Whale Sharks included a trip to Sumilon Island at Aaron’s dive centre.
And you know what, we had to wait more than 2 hours until our turn and finally been called at about 1050am!!
But the exhaustions are gone after seeing that gentle giants, big beautiful creatures! They worth the wait for sure. Although we only had about 15-20 mins to see them.

Do you think swimming with Whale Sharks is bad? Read here:


There are rules that we must follow, such as – do not touch them, no camera flash, do not apply a sun screen and only swim in distance of 4m.
Marine biologists stationed at the area always look after the Whale Sharks and while swimming, you can see many divers at the bottom to record and monitor the process.

1100: Swim with Whale Sharks

Photobomber!

Then we took a lunch at the stall nearby. I had an instant noodle and breads with tuna. Bought more to bring to Sumilon Island. Picnic by the beach!

1245: Sumilon Island

Swim and relax at the white sand beach. Clear blue water with nothing on the floor. Luckily the weather was not very hot and we really enjoyed the 3ft waves.
Went back to Aaron’s at about 330pm.

White beach at Sumilon Island

After checking a few options of transports to go to Moalboal, we finally decided to hire a car as it’s quite cheap and more convenience. Before going to Moalboal, the driver helped to take us to Tumalog Falls.
From the parking spot, we walked down and uphill about 15mins to reach the falls. The high bedrocks but small waterfalls with a shower drops, shallow green-milk pool and fortunately, only few couples there. Yeah, we had the whole place for ourselves.
1600: Quick visit to Tumalog Falls

Having shower at Tumalog Falls

1730: Going to Moalboal
1930: Arrive in Moalboal and check-in at Moalboal T Breeze Coastal Resort

The journey took about 2 hours from the coast to coast. When we reached there, it’s already dark and the road to our hidden resort has no lights and narrow, we can only see bushes at left and right which seemed to be a perfect scene for a horror movie.
After checking in, we had dinner at the resort. We were sitting in front of reception area where it’s just next to the beach, but we can’t see anything because it was pitch dark. We just listened to the music of waves crashing the resort walls.

About the food, I was expecting a nice seafood but unfortunately, they only have fish and prawns. So I ordered a prawn pasta. But too bad, the prawns were small and looked like a frozen food. Not worth for the expensive price.

That prawn pasta
Cost:
Bus from Cebu to Oslob – P192
Swim with Whale Sharks + Sumilon Island – P1440
Sumilan entrance fee – P50
Tumalog Falls entrance fee – P20
Car to Moalboal – P2400 for 6 pax
Dinner – P335
Room – P10,500 for 4 pax for 3 nights


Day 4

Woke up early and walked towards the reception where I can finally see the open ocean. OMG it’s amazingly beautiful! I’m happy I chose this place.

The amazing scenery in front of Moalboal T Breeze Coastal Resort.

0715: Going to Kawasan Falls

We hired the same kuya to drive us for a day. He picked us in the morning and directly went to Badian where the Kawasan Falls located. It took about 30 mins and before that, we stopped at Mc Donalds for breakfast.

0740: Reached the shop where we registered for the canyoneering activity. There are few packages but apparently the others not interested to go for extreme. So we just took the easy peasy which completed in only 2 hours.

What is Canyoneering?

Canyoning or canyoneering (in US) is a popular outdoor trek that involves traveling down creeks or streams within a canyon through variety of means including walking, jumping, swimming, climbing, abseiling.
The activity started after a short briefing and we rode a habal-habal for 15 mins to reach the starting point. From there, we trekked about 20 mins to reach the 1st jumping spot. It was so relieved when I saw the stunning turquoise water.
Overall, we did about 5-6 jumps and slided over small falls. The highest jump I did was about 25 ft! It’s terrifying but we had so much fun! Even though the amount I paid was quite pricey but the experience I had was priceless. I glad I did it!

The 25ft jump!


The adrenaline junkies!

1100: Back to the shop and had a free lunch
1200: Going to Kawasan Falls
Tremendous place! I don’t know how many times I asked this but why the water color is turquoise? Like, why our waterfalls (in Malaysia) have no such color? *unless it’s hidden somewhere*
This waterfall is already well-known. Hence, it attracted a big crowd. Hence, many photobombers. Hence, I feel annoyed. 😒
Before this, the bamboo raft can be rented and floated in the middle, but now no longer allowed. And, we MUST wear a life jacket to pass through the falls area. Because I was told that someone drowned a month before. Ewyuhh creepy~

One of the falls on the way to the main pool
The turquoise water

1600: Left Kawasan Falls
Get changed and stopped at shopping mall, Graisano Grand. We were looking for a birthday cake because IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!!! I wanted a chocolate slice cake or cupcake but there’s only choc muffin. But it’s ok. Ron bought for 4 of us. His treat. Oh ya btw, the other friend 2 just took a bus to Cebu city cos they were going to Bohol tour tomorrow. While the 4 of us decided to stay in Moalboal and planned for an island hopping + snorkeling trip.
And before going back to our resort, we bought a roasted chicken and a few stuffed rice that looks like ketupat for our dinner. As u know, it’s dark to go out at night and the food at the resort is expensive and not delicious.
We went back by tricycle because the Kuya driver just dropped us at the mall. It was a fun ride. Hehe.

1800: Reached our room and get prepared for dinner.
We had a small party for my birthday with choc muffins and chicken cake! Soo yummehh~ Thanks dear friends for celebrating. Hugss!

My choc muffin and chicken cake

Cost:
Breakfast McD – P200
Canyoneering – P1500
Transport – P1800 for 6 pax
Kawasan falls entrance – P45
Dinner – P241


Day 5

0700: Wake up time
Yesterday, we bought some instant noodles, bread, tuna and peanut butter to have a breakfast in front of the resort where we can see the picturesque ocean and enjoyed the sea breeze. 

The kind of place I wanna be every morning

1030: White sand beach
We decided not to proceed with the island hopping plan and just chilled at the beach instead. The trip costs P3500 for 6 people but because it’s only 4 of us, it’s gonna be quite overpriced.
The beach is only 10 mins walk from our resort. It has a sand bar, shallow clean water and rolling waves. We just spent a day from high tide to low tide, sitting under the hut, swam, relaxed, took photos, ate noodles and swam again. I was hoping to see turtles but they were nowhere to be seen.

Chillin' at White Sand beach

1400: Walked back to resort.
I thought to rent a floater but it’s already low tide and it’s no way to be used. Sad.

This was the time when we received a call from our friend, who were in Bohol for their day tour, informed us that an unfortunate incident happened, somehow the other friend injured her elbow. He said an ATV flipped over her and she had to be rushed to hospital. It was chaotic and tensioned situation, calls back to back, caused some disagreement but then, they finally got into a ferry to go back to Cebu city at 5pm. It’s confirmed that her bone is fractured *OMG that’s damn painful*, however the doctor said she can have a surgery when she’s back in KL.

1730: Ready for dinner
We ordered shrimp sinigang and chicken green curry at the resort. Gonna give them a final trial. I tasted the chicken curry on the 1st day we arrived and I knew it tasted good although I actually like it spicy. But it’s still not bad. And that was the 1st time I tried sinigang. Sinigang is a famous Filipino cuisine, kind of soup or stew. Its sour and savory taste most often associated with tamarind. It tastes alike with our Malay dish, singgang without turmeric powder. But you see, sinigang and singgang, sound similar right?

I rated the food 3 out of 5, cos it’s quite appetizing and additional 1 more star for the pleasant mango milkshake. That’s yummehhh!

Chicken Green Curry, Sinigang and the delicious Mango Milkshake 😋

Enjoyed the rest of the day at resort, watching sunset, packed up and slept early cos we had to catch a bus back to Cebu city on tomorrow morning. 


Cost:
White beach entrance fee – P10
Hut – P300
Lunch – P100
Dinner – P285


Day 6

0600: Tricycle arrived to fetch us to Bus stop
0630: Ride a bus to Cebu city
0930: Went to Taboan
This place is famous with dried fish. All of them purchased a lot, for their family and friends, while I just there sitting on a chair, waiting cos I bought nothing. Hehe.
Sorry, just not interested.

1100: Met up with the other 2 at Airbnb, San Marino Residences.
The friend who was injured, unable to move properly so we had to cancel the plan for City tour.
When I thought I was gonna die of boredom, they bought me a cake, KFC, Halo-Halo from Mang Inasal, gave me a balloon and celebrated my birthday again. What a surprise. More hugs and kisses for them. Hehe~

Yeay, I got a choc cake and balloon! 🙌

1830: 
Me and other 2 friends decided to go for a quick visit at 10,000 roses cafe.
This place which consist 10,000 artificial white roses that glow with LED lights and located at a sea-side, has become an Instagram worthy and made us very were eager to see it by ourselves.
When checking in Google maps, the place is only 17km away, but it takes about an hour drive. *well it actually took about 30min* After asking around, we rode a van that will drop us at the area and from there, we took a tricycart (a cart carried by a bicycle) which in total, the transportation cost is very cheap, compared to go by Grab.
If you want cheaper, you can take a habal-habal or jeepney.

It’s actually best to go there at dusk until night, but when we arrived at 730pm, it’s already dark. And damn so many people! And as u know, it’s annoying when it comes to – photoshoot session.
Well, it’s fine. We were happy that we went there, it’s a very lovely (yes, it makes u feel romantic 😍) place although some LED lights are already off. They should maintain the place, ensure the roses are still white, not faded and dirty, or else this place will turn to be overrated.


2100: Back to Cebu city and slept early to catch a flight at 755am.

It’s a bit disappointed that I can’t go to Temple of Leah and Tops Lookout. But overall, I was very happy and satisfied with this full-of-activities holiday.

Cost:
Tricycle to bus station – P200 for 4 pax
Bus from Moalboal to Cebu – P140
Jollibee – P120
Van to Cordova – P35 per pax
Tricycart to 10,000 roses café – P25 per pax
Room - 300 per pax


Day 7

1830: Left to Airport by Grab

Oh ya, for foreigners, in case if you don’t know, we have to pay a Terminal fee at the airport. When I went to Boracay, the terminal fee was P700 so I already put-aside that amount, but when I reached at the counter, I was informed the amount to pay is P850. So yeah, you have no choice. 😔

Cost:
Grab to Airport – P255 for 3 pax
Terminal Fee – P850

Goodbye Cebu city! Your people and your places are very awesome!
Salamat po!

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