Wednesday 21 August 2013
PESCADOR ISLAND-MOALBOAL
Dive, Explore, Travel to Pescador IslandThere's just something about the beach that most of us find very exciting. Is it because of the waves and adventure it gives us? Is it because of the heat of the sun, the blue ocean and sky that makes you feel relax? Or maybe because of the summer fashion trends, those beach bodies and those jaw dropping swim suit parties? Whatever the reason is, the hype of the beach when summer time comes is immeasurable – simply because it's fun staying in a place we call PARADISE!Even though Pescador Island is often referred to as one single dive site; it can be dived a few times before the whole area is explored. It a small island very close to Moalboal on the West coast of Cebu. The wall starts very shallow and drops fairly steeply to about 40 meters, even deeper in places. Visibility here is usually very good and a variety of beautiful corals are on show. Turtles are also common here along with Frog Fish, Nudibranch and many species of reef fish
.TAOIST TEMPLE-CEBU CITY
Perched high in the northern hills overlooking the city, the Taoist Temple is a symbol of the city's large and prosperous ethnic Chinese population. It's not one for temple aficionados; the architecture is functional and austere by Chinese standards. Nevertheless the trip here, past the gated mansions of exclusive Beverly Hills, is a good excuse to see how Cebu's wealthier citizens live, and the views over the city are noteworthy.To get to the temple take a Lahug or Calunasan jeepney and ask to stop at the Taoist Temple or Beverly Hills you've then got a short walk uphill.
CASA GORORDO MUSEUM- CEBU CITY
Downtown, in a quiet residential area, the newly renovated Casa Gorordo Museum is one of the hidden gems of Cebu City. Originally a private home, it was built in the 1850s and purchased by the Gorordos, one of Cebu’s leading families. The lower part of the house has walls of Mactan coral stone, which makes it deliciously cool in the middle of the day. The stunning upper-storey living quarters are pure Philippine hardwood, held together not with nails but with wooden pegs. As well as having Spanish and native influences, the house incorporates principles of feng shui, owing to the Chinese ancestry of Gorordo matriarch Donna Telerafora (whose death portrait graces the hallway). Items on display include kitchen implements, antique photos and furniture. The price of admission includes a guided tour. There is a pleasant cafe area in the forecourt.Kawasan Falls is the most popular tourist destination in the town. It is well visited by both foreign and local tourist. Kawasan Falls is a three-tiered cascade of crystal clear waterfalls. It is the highlight of Barangay Matutinao located in the town of Badian. The waterfalls makes up the Matutinao River System, also awarded many times as the cleanest inland body of water in the country. The water coming from the falls is clean and crystal clear.From Cebu City Kawasan Falls can be reach by bus right at Cebu South Bus Terminal or at Librando Trans Inc. It will take 3 to 4 hours travel to reach Matutinao, a barangay in Badian where Kawasan Falls is located. You need to hike 15 to 30 minutes from the entry point in Barangay Matutinao to Kawasan Falls. The riverbank will lead you to the very heart of Kawasan Falls. Along the way you can view several wild tropical plants, birds etc. Kawasan Falls is surrounded by lush, green rainforest and its magical landscape is truly a magical paradise.Getting tired of the 15 to 30 minutes walked from the entry point? Relax for while, enjoy the scenery and reward yourself with a very cold swim on fresh crystal clear water from the falls. You can choose to stay at the first level of the falls or you can continue climbing up to the second level. The very cold swim on fresh water is a cool and refreshing experience for the whole family and friends.At the highest accessible point of Kawasan Falls, the source can be found. It is called Kabukalan "The Source", the fresh water rushes from a small cave and pours over the stones. Climbing up to Kabukalan needs extra energy coz it's quite far from the second level. Visiting the place is indeed a very unique, an extraordinary day of experiences for you. Come visit us!
Dive, Explore, Travel to Pescador IslandThere's just something about the beach that most of us find very exciting. Is it because of the waves and adventure it gives us? Is it because of the heat of the sun, the blue ocean and sky that makes you feel relax? Or maybe because of the summer fashion trends, those beach bodies and those jaw dropping swim suit parties? Whatever the reason is, the hype of the beach when summer time comes is immeasurable – simply because it's fun staying in a place we call PARADISE!Even though Pescador Island is often referred to as one single dive site; it can be dived a few times before the whole area is explored. It a small island very close to Moalboal on the West coast of Cebu. The wall starts very shallow and drops fairly steeply to about 40 meters, even deeper in places. Visibility here is usually very good and a variety of beautiful corals are on show. Turtles are also common here along with Frog Fish, Nudibranch and many species of reef fish
.TAOIST TEMPLE-CEBU CITY
Perched high in the northern hills overlooking the city, the Taoist Temple is a symbol of the city's large and prosperous ethnic Chinese population. It's not one for temple aficionados; the architecture is functional and austere by Chinese standards. Nevertheless the trip here, past the gated mansions of exclusive Beverly Hills, is a good excuse to see how Cebu's wealthier citizens live, and the views over the city are noteworthy.To get to the temple take a Lahug or Calunasan jeepney and ask to stop at the Taoist Temple or Beverly Hills you've then got a short walk uphill.
CASA GORORDO MUSEUM- CEBU CITY
Downtown, in a quiet residential area, the newly renovated Casa Gorordo Museum is one of the hidden gems of Cebu City. Originally a private home, it was built in the 1850s and purchased by the Gorordos, one of Cebu’s leading families. The lower part of the house has walls of Mactan coral stone, which makes it deliciously cool in the middle of the day. The stunning upper-storey living quarters are pure Philippine hardwood, held together not with nails but with wooden pegs. As well as having Spanish and native influences, the house incorporates principles of feng shui, owing to the Chinese ancestry of Gorordo matriarch Donna Telerafora (whose death portrait graces the hallway). Items on display include kitchen implements, antique photos and furniture. The price of admission includes a guided tour. There is a pleasant cafe area in the forecourt.Kawasan Falls is the most popular tourist destination in the town. It is well visited by both foreign and local tourist. Kawasan Falls is a three-tiered cascade of crystal clear waterfalls. It is the highlight of Barangay Matutinao located in the town of Badian. The waterfalls makes up the Matutinao River System, also awarded many times as the cleanest inland body of water in the country. The water coming from the falls is clean and crystal clear.From Cebu City Kawasan Falls can be reach by bus right at Cebu South Bus Terminal or at Librando Trans Inc. It will take 3 to 4 hours travel to reach Matutinao, a barangay in Badian where Kawasan Falls is located. You need to hike 15 to 30 minutes from the entry point in Barangay Matutinao to Kawasan Falls. The riverbank will lead you to the very heart of Kawasan Falls. Along the way you can view several wild tropical plants, birds etc. Kawasan Falls is surrounded by lush, green rainforest and its magical landscape is truly a magical paradise.Getting tired of the 15 to 30 minutes walked from the entry point? Relax for while, enjoy the scenery and reward yourself with a very cold swim on fresh crystal clear water from the falls. You can choose to stay at the first level of the falls or you can continue climbing up to the second level. The very cold swim on fresh water is a cool and refreshing experience for the whole family and friends.At the highest accessible point of Kawasan Falls, the source can be found. It is called Kabukalan "The Source", the fresh water rushes from a small cave and pours over the stones. Climbing up to Kabukalan needs extra energy coz it's quite far from the second level. Visiting the place is indeed a very unique, an extraordinary day of experiences for you. Come visit us!
FORT SAN PEDRO-CEBU CITY
One of the distinguishable landmark of Cebu is Fort San Pedro. Built for military defense by the Spaniards.
Fuerza San Pedro, the fort is described as built of stone mortar with a terraplein where guns are mounted. The fort contains the necessary buildings. The largest of these buildings was the “Cuerpo de Guardia” where the personnel that manned the fort lived. Adjacent to it was the “Vivende del Teniente” which was the living quarters of the lieutenant of the Fort. In between the aforementioned buildings is a well. At one corner attached to the walls of the bastion San Miguel (NE) was the “Alamazaros del Rivera” (powder magazine where the fort’s supply or arms and gunpowder from Manila were stored).
MOUNTAIN VIEW NATURE'S PARK-CEBU CITY
Mountain View Nature’s Park is the nearest place in Cebu City where you can get a breath of fresh air. Thanks to this park, people from the city who want to unwind no longer need to travel further. The park is a romantic, clean and refreshing place where you can have a nice walk.
From Mount Busay, you’ll get a magnificent view of the City especially during the night where you can see the city lights. Mountain View offers function halls, a swimming pool, rope course adventures, camping sites, videoke, billiard, table tennis, playgrounds and rooms for rent if you wish to stay overnight.
There are also lots of picnic tables that you can use for free. There are restaurants in the park but the good thing is there’s no corkage fee so you can bring your own food.
KAWASAN FALLS-BADIAN
Kawasan Falls is the most popular tourist destination in the town. It is well visited by both foreign and local tourist. Kawasan Falls is a three-tiered cascade of crystal clear waterfalls. It is the highlight of Barangay Matutinao located in the town of Badian. The waterfalls makes up the Matutinao River System, also awarded many times as the cleanest inland body of water in the country. The water coming from the falls is clean and crystal clear.
From Cebu City Kawasan Falls can be reach by bus right at Cebu South Bus Terminal or at Librando Trans Inc. It will take 3 to 4 hours travel to reach Matutinao, a barangay in Badian where Kawasan Falls is located. You need to hike 15 to 30 minutes from the entry point in Barangay Matutinao to Kawasan Falls. The riverbank will lead you to the very heart of Kawasan Falls. Along the way you can view several wild tropical plants, birds etc. Kawasan Falls is surrounded by lush, green rainforest and its magical landscape is truly a magical paradise.
Getting tired of the 15 to 30 minutes walked from the entry point? Relax for while, enjoy the scenery and reward yourself with a very cold swim on fresh crystal clear water from the falls. You can choose to stay at the first level of the falls or you can continue climbing up to the second level. The very cold swim on fresh water is a cool and refreshing experience for the whole family and friends.
At the highest accessible point of Kawasan Falls, the source can be found. It is called Kabukalan "The Source", the fresh water rushes from a small cave and pours over the stones. Climbing up to Kabukalan needs extra energy coz it's quite far from the second level. Visiting the place is indeed a very unique, an extraordinary day of experiences for you. Come visit us!
Thursday 8 August 2013
Aguinid Falls in Samboan
How to Get to Aguinid Falls in Samboan
Aguinid Falls is a cascade-type waterfall located in Barangay Tangbo, Samboan. There are a total of four falls that make up Aguinid. They are located widely apart so it takes a few minutes’ walk to get from one to the next. The junction to Aguinid Falls is located just near the barangay center so you will not have a tough time finding it. Tangbo, by the way, is a 10-minute tricycle ride from the town center of Samboan. I forgot to note how far it is from Santander but I guarantee you will not have a tough time finding it since it is quite popular among locals. Many locals bath at Aguinid Falls because it is easily accessible, being only a five-minute walk from the provincial road. I will let these photos describe the falls for me. Please check Google Earth if you do not know where Samboan is. Google Earth/Map is a very powerful tool and I even use it to find single-track trails. Thank Google for it.
This trip is totally unplanned on my part. I just logged on to Twitter one morning and James Tan (my high school classmate which I thought was my friend) and the Boss were tweeting about going to the south. The next morning, I was on a bus with two oppressive people (details about oppression omitted to for this post to suit general audience). I got too ahead with the bus ride there. It rained that morning and I was dripping and cold while waiting for my “friends” to show up on time. Luckily, the backpack that I borrowed from my five-year-old cousin had a rain cover. His father got it from the ukay-ukay. The brand is Genova and it was quite good. Amen to patience.
***
There is another fall just a few minute's walk from the Aguinid Falls junction. It is called Gimbalayan Falls, located in Brgy. Bonbon. Bonbon is just right beside Tangbo. It's less than five minute's walk.
We tried going to the falls but we failed to find it. We walked up stream and just followed the tracks but at one point all the tracks vanished. We could not see beyond the river because it was covered with leaves and branches and twigs that cross over it. As we reached the highway, we found out from locals that the falls were just right behind it.
Alegria attractions
Mt. Lanaya - South of Alegria, Cebu
Mt. Lanaya is covered with secondary forest, apart from a dense of patch of tall (over 25m) lowland forest trees in the gulleys near the peak, which covers c. 20 ha. Patches of agroforests and coconut plantation cover most of the lower slopes of the mountain. The mountain is surrounded with limestone hills covered with secondary forest and dense scrub and bamboo similar to that found on Mt. Kangbulagsing (nearby mountain range). The Black Shama (Copsychus cebuensis) has been noted to inhabit the mountain (Mallari, Tabaranza Jr. and Crosby, Key Conservation Sites in the Philippines).
With almost 600m altitude, the peak of Mt. Lanaya provides a breathtaking view of the town of Alegria, and the neighboring towns of Malabuyoc and Badian.
You can climb the mountain from its base or via Lumpan Alegria, Cebu. You can hire motorbike (habal-habal) up to the chapel of Lumpan. Local folks will be happy to guide your way to the peak of Mt. Lanaya. Tourists who are more adventurous may climb the mountain from its base. Get off at Legaspi Alegria, Cebu. You can ask for Nanay Lucing or their Barangay Captain to arrange for a local guide. Climbing the mountain from Legaspi would take you at most two hours. You may need to pay the local guide PhP 500.00 (Five Hundred Pesos) or around 10 US$, depending upon your agreement.
Batong Malunhaw Beach Resort - Madridejos Alegria, Cebu
A resort developed and maintained by the Municipality of Alegria.
Cancalanog Falls - Compostela Alegria, Cebu
The enchanting falls is around 20-minute ride from the main road. If you are commuting, local motorbike (habal-habal) ride will take you to Cancalanog Falls. You will be fascinated with the very green tropical forest surrounding, and crystal clear waters. The chirping of birds, and the soft wind breeze surely will calm your senses.
Natural drinking water flows from the rocks beside the falls. Feel free to bring bottled water at your convenience. Picnic area is available for your family and friends. Although the place is not fully developed yet, we guarantee a fun and unforgettable experience. Don't forget to bring your swimwear!!!
We are protecting and responsibly developing our natural resources. Please do your share. Please take nothing but pictures and memories. Please keep the area clean, be responsible with your trash. Trash bags and bins are available for your convenience.
No entrace fees yet.
Canlaob Spring - Compostela Alegria, Cebu
The cold and clear waters of the Canlaob Spring would surely entice you to take a dip. This wonder is unexplored and people of Barangay Compostela are very proud of this treasure. A few minutes from the provincial road and around 10 minutes away from the Cancalanog Falls, tourists can experience the tranquil beauty enhanced by surrounding green forest and of course with the hospitality of the people of Barangay Compostela.
There is so much to do while in Canlabo Spring. Tourists are reportedly visiting unspoiled caves rich with stalactites and stalagmites. When you're in Alegria, Cebu, make sure that Canlaob Spring is in your itinerary.
No entrance fees yet.
Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Discover a resort in a class of its own. Set in 11.4 hectares of secluded grounds yet only one hour (when traffic is bad) from Cebu City, Plantation Bay offers one of the largest privately-owned waterways in the world, with the clean elegance of colonial-plantation architecture. Decompress from life’s pressures in the healing tranquility of an environment that truly feels “away from it all.” If you have ever spent time at a tropical plantation, you know what we mean. If not, come and discover a refreshingly different Flavor of Life. Whether you’re traveling for a family vacation or romantic getaway, for business or pleasure, this is far and away your best choice in the Philippines.
99.9% of our guests have a great time here. A very small minority are miserable. If any of the following are very important to you or describe your situation, please book in another hotel:
- Beach dimensions. Our open-sea beachfront is 88 meters long, compared with 200 meters or so for typical hotels around the world of this size. There is no adjacent beach either; ours is a separate cove. However, the waters are exceptionally clear, and there are living reefs and a diving wall very close to shore. Conscious that we are beach-challenged, we built extensive internal lagoons plus four freshwater swimming pools of varying designs. Because of the lagoons, a large percentage of our rooms enjoy an expansive view of water, and most of our rooms are closer to the action compared with the typical resort. The Rooms section on this website clearly discloses what kind of view and proximity to beach, lagoon, or swimming pool you can expect from each room.
- Artificiality. Plantation Bay is a man-made environment. The lagoons have a cement floor and occasionally need to be drained for cleaning. The waterfall is powered by pumps. Much “rockwork” is cement or plastic. Most guests quickly forget these details, but some people just can’t get over them. (On the other hand, our lagoons are a lot cleaner and safer than a real seawater lagoon would be.)
- Nature-ality. Plantation Bay is laid out like a village. This means walking in open air, or taking a golf cart. Sometimes the sun is hot, and sometimes you may get wet. Sometimes the carts are slow. There are mosquitoes in the air, but also sometimes the scent of jasmine. We think this is much more interesting than walking down long corridors that look and smell the same as those in midtown city hotels, but not everyone agrees.
- Typical hotel prices and policies. Our beer costs P 165 (about $4); laundry for a shirt is P 200 (about $4.60). Full buffet breakfast is P 950 (about $22); an ala carte American breakfast is half that. We do not insult your intelligence by claiming to offer “free” breakfast; rather, we give each guest the option, every morning, to have the buffet, the ala carte, whatever, and to pay only for what was consumed. Still, some guests have complained about our prices (honestly, we can’t figure out what their frame of reference is). There have also been a few guests who, having paid $160 for one room, felt entitled to invite all their local relatives to come swim, and became angry when we disagreed.
The Plantation Bay Room and Restaurant Satisfaction Guarantee. We would like all our guests to feel they made the right choice in coming here. And most of our guests do, so we can afford to be liberal with those who don’t:
Immediate change of heart after checking in. If after arrival you do not think you would enjoy your stay, please advise us (by calling a Duty Manager or the Front Office Manager) within 4 hours of checking in, and we will do the following:
- waive your room charge for the day (but not your charges for food, goods, or services if any);
- in case you made any advance payment or deposit, even for peak or blackout periods,
the entire amount will be refunded to you in cash in Philippine peso equivalent; - help you book at another hotel in metropolitan Cebu; and
- provide you with free chauffeur-driven transportation to that hotel;
You must, however, actually come. Our normal policies apply to no-shows and reservation cancellations made prior to check-in.
Early departure vis-à-vis the number of nights reserved. If after staying a day or more during a non-peak and non-blackout period, you decide to cut short your reserved stay, you will only be charged for the days actually stayed (you must of course leave by 12 Noon, our standard check-out time). In case you made any advance payment or deposit, the unused balance will be refunded to you in Philippine peso equivalent. Please note however that if you were accorded a discount due to the length of stay booked, an early departure may disqualify you from the discount, and the rate for the days you actually stayed will be calculated accordingly. This section does not apply to peak dates or dates that are “blacked out”, i.e., dates for which advance payment in full is required (roughly 30 days a year are peak or blackout dates); in respect of such dates, no refunds will be given for early departures.
Unsatisfactory food. When dining or drinking at any of our restaurants (but not our dinner shows or open buffets), if after eating or drinking 25% or less of the serving, any dish or drink is not to your absolute satisfaction, please advise our staff and there will be no charge for it. (We will of course offer you alternatives.) Please do this instead of just grousing about your meal later, when we can no longer ascertain exactly what the problem was or whether any staff member warrants correction.
Truly international. Opened in late 1996, Plantation Bay has already had over a million visitors from every corner of the globe. Virtually all of them agree that this is one of the best resorts they’ve ever been to. Experienced travelers in particular will feel right at home at Plantation Bay. English is spoken throughout the resort; we also haveJapanese, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish-speaking staff members.
There is NO TIPPING at Plantation Bay. All our guests receive the highest standard of personal attention without ever having to worry when, whom or how much to tip. If you’ve never been in a No-Tipping resort, you just don’t know what you’re missing. Why not find out?
Not just a resort, but an experience. Many leading resorts offer extensive facilities, terrific food, and lovely rooms. But regardless of the purpose of your visit, the one element that sets Plantation Bay apart from all the others is the absolutely authentic “feel” it recreates – like distilled Essence of Plantation Living, suffused with a sense of serenity and timelessness that you will remember and want to come back to.
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