May 2010 ~ His and Her Travelog

OUR TRAVEL
May 2010

This is our first official travel together outside mainland Luzon and we decided to visit the princess city of the south, Cebu. We didn't really plan much on where to go and what to do, we just took our time and decided to visit places on our own pace. Since I have already been here a couple of times at business trips, I got a gist on how to go about the place. Although, at the times I've been here, I never had a chance to go to some of the main attractions in the city. Now, our short visit allowed us to do just that, and here are the places we visited.

Sto. Nińo Church

One of the oldest and most well known catholic church in Cebu, The Sto. Nińo Church is situated in the heart of the city.

Magellan's Cross

Magellan's Cross is a shrine to commemorate the erection of the Christian Cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu on March 1521. Since then, it has been a historical landmark signifying the Christian roots of the Philippines. The shrine is just beside the Sto. Nińo Church.

The first Christian Cross erected in Cebu

Stroll along Colon Street

This street has been historically known as one of the oldest and shortest national road in the Philippines. Just a few minutes from the Sto. Nińo Church, strolling along the street, you will pass by local shops and street food vendors giving you a glimpse of the hustle and bustle of Cebu City.

Riding the Edge Coaster at Crown Regency Hotel & Towers

Trying out the proclaimed first ever Edge Coaster in the world. It is perched 130 meters at the top of Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Cebu City. The coaster will give you a ride on the edges of the tower and even tilting at a 45 degree angle for a more thrilling experience.

Not for the fainted hearts as the coaster will tilt 45 degrees on the edge of the tower

They will even give you a certificate after completing the ride... =)

Osmenia Circle

This circle is at the epicenter of many Cebu institutions the include, Cebu Provincial Capitol, Cebu Normal University, Cebu Doctor's Hospital, Robinson's Place Cebu, and Crown Regency Hotel and Towers. It is a large round about with a park and fountain where people stand during sunrise and sunset.

Lapu-Lapu Shrine

Located within the Mactan Shrine, the Lapu-Lapu Shrine is a 20-meter bronze statue to honor Lapu-Lapu, who is one of the first Filipino men to repulsed Spanish and Portuguese invaders. Lapu-Lapu is known for killing Ferdinand Magellan who was the leader of the invaders.

Chilled Out In Radisson Blu's Awesome Hotel Lobby

Before heading home we just chilled out in the Radisson Blu Hotel Lobby, which is where we stayed. We were amazed on this beautiful hotel lobby, which was probably one of the biggest lobbies we've been to.

We enjoyed our brief visit in Cebu City although we only visited a few places. We know Cebu has much to offer, that's why we will surely come back to explore more of this wonderful city.

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OUR TRAVEL

May 2010

When we went to Cebu City, we both agreed that we shouldn't miss out a side trip to Bantayan Island. We've heard all good things about this place and now we're here to experience it. Bantayan Island is located at the northwestern part of Cebu province. To get there, take a bus or taxi for a 3-4 hour drive to Hagnaya Port in San Remigio Cebu then take a 1 hour ferry ride from Hagnaya Port to Sta. Fe Port in Bantayan Island.

Hagnaya Port

Hagnaya Port is the port that offers daily ferry rides to Sta. Fe Port in Bantayan Island. Earliest trip from Hagnaya to Sta. Fe is at 4:00 AM with 2-hour intervals till last trip at 4:00 PM. Then from Sta. Fe to Hagnaya, earliest trip is from 6:00 AM with 2-hour intervals till last trip at 6:00 PM

Ogtong Cave Resort

Ogtong Cave Resort is one of the well known and top resorts in Bantayan Island. Once we arrived in the resort, we were astonished with the beauty of the place. The landscaped gardens, limestone rock formations, and the beautiful pool is truly a sight to behold. The resort also has a mini zoo and is apparently a bird sanctuary home to several wild bird species which perched on the lush trees within the resort. What we love about the resort is that their accommodations are very affordable with twin cottages as low as PHP 1,200 and villas as low as PHP 2,600.

Ogtong Cave

Given its name, Ogtong Cave is the main attraction of the resort. It is an underground cave that despite its proximity to the sea has freshwater in it. Taking a dip the cool and clear waters and exploring the underground limestone cave is truly a unique experience.

Strolling Inland By Trike

In the afternoon we hired a tricycle and stroll the island. You will notice the slow-paced island life with no present industrialization. This is good as it preserves the islands natural resources and traditional way of living.

At The Beach On Low Tide

As the sun sets, the beaches are on low tide. We noticed a lot of locals flock around on the far side of the beach so we decided to check it out. Apparently, the locals are having a picnic where in they catch sea urchins and eat it raw right in the beach. One of the locals even invited us to join them and we were delighted to have tasted sea urchins for the first time. Starfishes were also abundant during low tide.

Snorkeling And Boat Sightseeing Around The Island

The next morning, we hired a boat for a sight seeing tour in the island and bring us to a snorkeling spot. The tour made us realized the untouched beauty of the island with its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.