YES. I have once again realised I have a tumblr account! Blimey!!! How many times had I done it already? I’ve been round and about some really amazing destinations without documentation herein. OOPS!
Anyways, short of going through all of them (Read: Bohol, Beijing, Boracay, Tagaytay, Baguio), can I just add a link of my newest Google+ album? =) HA!
Believe it or not, this was my first EVER trip to Cebu City. And I didn’t have that much expectation—I was in it for whatever the trip brings me. I was ready to be surprised, shocked or smitten by the ‘Queen City of the South’.
Ciara, my cousin and I were quite unprepared in the sense that we didn’t know much about anything — we tried researching on-line as I’ve had in all my past trips but unfortunately, useful information was lacking on Cebu. So I, or we, decided we’d just wing it. All we know is we’d definitely want to have a great time!
So first of the many things we’ll learn there is that Mactan Airport where we fly in to is on a different island from Cebu City. Is it just us who were unaware of this? Is this common information? ;0 Good thing our hotel provided a pick-up transportation from the airport to the hotel. Whew!
After checking in to our hotel, we were on a prowl for dinner. Then went where our instinct led us. We actually got lost going back to our hotel that night!!! We didn’t even bother to ask for the hotel’s complete address so it was a bit of a challenge trying to describe the place to the cab driver. That and a bit of a language barrier made the whole thing interesting and a major boo boo!
It was the next day that we realised that two destinations that tourists frequent in Cebu is just a hop and a skip away from our hotel! How lucky is that? We got to see Magellan’s Cross and the Santo Niño Church without that much of a hassle. We also went to some newer attractions such as the Ayala Cebu and the Regency Hotel.
Although we loved Cebu City and its lovely people, I must say that the highlight of this trip would have to be the trip to Bantayan Island —maybe because of the effort it took to get there or the risk involved (there being a super typhoon in PAR at the time), but mostly because it’s overwhelming how utterly beautiful this place is.
We had to take an ordinary bus out of the city for a 3 hour journey into a port called Hagnaya then take a supercat (a water vessel that carries people and vehicles across the open sea between the islands) to Bantayan Island port. This is adventure even for us! Especially me, who isn’t a fan of boats because I get terribly seasick and couldn’t swim to save my life. I do not exaggerate when I say that I stared at the life vests stowed overhead for most of this aforementioned boat ride. (i also kept thinking that since i’m travelling with a swimmer - between the life vest and her, i should survive,right?)
Well, we didn’t have hotel/resort reservations when we got to Bantayan Island ‘cause like I said, we wanted to just go with the flow. But we met a man who was at the port looking for guests for Marlin’s Resort. We have actually seen the on-line but couldn’t make contact with them beforehand. It turned out that we were destined to stay there after all.
But, Oh. My. Goodness.
Bantayan Island is a dream hideaway! It’s serene, underrated, almost deserted and stunning! I would recommend it to anyone who don’t mind the bit of travel involved to get there. I must have laid on one of the beach chairs and dozed off while listening to the crashing of the waves but just forced myself to awaken to better appreciate its beauty. You can gaze over the horizon for ages and you won’t get tired. The water is appealing and the seashells are abundant - so I went to pick one to take home as souvenir!
So yes, next time you’re in Cebu…please go the extra mile (figuratively) and visit Bantayan Island. Totally, totally worth it.
So it had once again occurred to me that hey, I have a tumblr - silly me! Well, my best excuse is…my last entry was August and I have been all over the place since September! Ha!
I went from London-Kuala Lumpur-Manila, spent 10 days in Manila then I headed to Brunei. Upon return I went to Cebu and I’d be heading to Boracay in less than a week.
With all these mucking about and all, I can’t help but realise…I NEED, am DESPERATE for a really good SLR camera! ;p
—p.s more Cebu pics on next post
Yamapi (Yamashita Tomohisa) - Loveless
i’ve been blogging for 6-7 years now. blogspot pa ang uso nun eh. and i kept that one really private. until now. ha! dala to ng insomnia. wag nyo nalang basahin =) haha
ok, last of the lot - for now, at least.
i’d say this has been the most relaxed holiday i’ve taken thus far. this was the only one where i wanted to extend because i was having such a lovely grand time.
…days that consisted of laying-in till hotel breakfast hours allow (there was no need to rush for anything at all), spending time at the beach, being spoilt for choice at the dinner buffet every night, going for a walk and having a drink after dinner…and meeting many friendly spanish people
honestly, it will be a really difficult holiday to surpass. the only thing imperfect about it is the length, it would have been perfect bliss if it lasted a fortnight. =p
p.s. im not only saying this because it’s the most recent one, and clearest in my memory lol
my foremost reason for wanting to go to rome & vatican city was to reinvigorate the religious in me. i mean, my faith is solid and my belief system is intact…and all the rest of it, but somehow, it has become more challenging to follow these with actions.
to further highlight the contrast, let me share this much - all through my high school and college years i would start my day by visiting the UST chapel and hearing mass…i would usually pass by there at the end of the day as well to say my thank you’s to Him or just to have a moment of peace before my journey home.
recently, i haven’t attended many sunday masses. my holy week traditions that used to be so grand has now been reduced to acknowledging that it is indeed holy week and say a little prayer for it.
indeed, our roman holiday worked wonders toward this end. however, with the recent controversy involving some diety and the papal authority i’ve once again been set adrift. i don’t blame them. i blame me. i take full responsibility for how i react to negativity.
i haven’t got any printed copies of these really amazing piccies, so i endeavour to put them on any other available means of making them available (mostly online) - primarily, to me.
seeing the pics where i’ve been (seemingly) extremely happy and carefree serves as instant mood lifter for when i’m going through a darker disposition.
so endulge me…there’s a few of these coming your way
tah.
