Hidden Paradise, San Fernando Cebu

A friend recommended to me a unique and fun mountain resort I have never been to. I was a bit hesitant the first time my friend told me coz I already had a bad experience from a mountain resort I've been to in Toledo (which I'll never post in my blog, sorry). But you bet, this mountain resort I have been to, is totally different and an experience I will never forget.

Going there, is I guess the easiest and the most adventurous one. Well, let me tell you this, we took the bus from the city of Cebu and rode the famous "habal-habal" (cebu's motorcycle transport). The ride took 10minutes only, knowing that from the area where we stop, we still have to travel for another 5 kilometers.. I could say, I was a bit scared because not only that the road was rough but it was sheer as well .Like we could fall off the cliff if our driver is not so familiar with the place. I'm glad we had a good driver.

When we reached the resort, I was not totally wowed by it but when I got to see and experience what I can enjoy there, I realized it was not a bad place after all. This trip made me conquer some of my fears and that is the fear of heights.

Hidden Paradise, I would say has everything. They have three swimming pools, billard hall, videoke machines, functions rooms and rooms for rent that ranges from Php600-Php2,500. Not only that, they have this what they call "zip line" which really is a challenge to me because you will hold on to harness that will carry you from one side to the other not more than 100feet below the ground..Gosh! and i did tried it.. Not only that, I also tried their monkey bridge and I finished it in twenty minutes. Ahahahhah! Yes I admit I was a bit scared but the thrill is worth it! I say, you better try it when you get there.

monkey bridge

zip line

magnificent view

Swimming pool

Kawasan Falls, Badian Cebu

Kawasan Falls is located Southern part of Cebu. Going there is very easy. Go to southbus terminal and take a Ceres bus going south and tell the driver were you're heading(those not familiar with the place) and you can see the signage very visible when you take off the bus. When you reach the little road which is your track in going to the main falls, you will walk another 10-15 minutes and you can enjoy looking at the nice views, big trees and an old bridge i think older than your age..heheheh.. Bitaw, daghan nindot nga lantawonon una ka makaabot gyod sa imong tuyo.

Note: daghang bystanders who will ask you to have them as guide but you wouldn't really need one because going there is so easy. There are signages which will lead you to the falls and if you're an adventure seeker like me, then it's best if you go there without anyone guiding you were to go. After all, you will pass by a lot of people living near the falls so you can just ask questions just incase you get confused with the directions.

I've heard a lot from critics that Kawasan falls is not as beautiful as it was years ago but looking at it for the first time only gave me one word to describe it "amazing!" I just hope and pray though that those in the local government of Cebu would do everything possible to preserve this treasure only Cebu has before it's too late. Nindot gyod siya! Dile lang kay nindot apan dile paka dako og magasto. Bugnaw kaayo ang tubig nga wala gyod nako palapasa ang higayon nga masinati nako kung unsa siya kanindot. Mao nga akong mga higalang Bisdak nga wapa kaari aning lugara, ayaw ninyo kalimti og suwat sa inyong listahan ang Kawasan nga I would say, one of the most visited tourist destinations we have in Cebu. Kung naa kay Php500 sakto na nga budget labi na gyod kung daghan mo. Katong wapa kaadto, adto na! =)

EL Salvador, Danao City Cebu

El Salvador Beach Resort, located in Danao Cebu City. Going there, we took the most accessible way, which is to take the van for hire at Sm Cebu and travel time takes about 40minutes to one hour depending on the traffic. We are very fortunate to get the Php1,700 per night poolside suite which includes breakfast. The room was nice and clean. They have two swimming pools a small beachfront where they also use as venue for functions like weddings, birthday parties etc.

We really enjoyed our stay. I always look forward to going to resorts that are clean and well maintained and ofcourse having a pool and beach is an advantage. Sakto ra kaayo or shall i say, sulit among nabayad kay tungod gitagaan mi sa ilang staff og nindot nga serbisyo. Other than that, very affordable kaayo and their breakfast was sumptuos! Loooove it! Anyways, below are some of our pictures, pasensya namo nako, I just love wearing two piece even if I don't have the vitals, well who cares! Ang importante ang laag nako sa El Salvador! wohooooo! Nag enjoy nasad si Tisay kyog si Pikot.






For reservations, please call their numbers :+63 32 200 3622 or 63 32 200 4494
or visit their website at : www.elsalvadorresort.com

Sumilon Island

Sumilon Bluewater Resort is 3 in a half trip from Cebu city. I was so lucky to have gone to this place because fortunately it's the sister resort of the company where I am working, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort as a reservations officer. I was actually given the privilige to stay one night in one of their deluxe rooms with free transportation and fullboard meals. It was like an early birthday gift from my boss because I will be celebrating my birthday on the 3rd of October. Heheheheh.. But anyways there's so much to do in the resort, you can go snorkeling, trekking, kayaking, diving, swimming in their sea view pool which is in the picture below and just relax and unwind and enjoy everything the island has to offer. Not only that, the island has a sandbar and has a sandy white beach like in the photo above.. I really enjoyed the whole time I was there. It was the best experience of my life. I was with one of our new associates who is based in Manila who eventually became a good friend of mine.


Just some info about the island, getting there you can take a bus from the city going to the mainland of Bangcogon Oslob. Once you reach the mainland which is still owned by the resort, you will ride another 10 minute boat ride going to the Island. Note: the boat ride going to the island is already part of your booking wether it is room accommodation or day trip only.

Day use rate is Php1,500 (weekdays) and Php2,000(weekends). This includes lunch, island activities that I mentioned above and boat transfers.

Room rate: Php7,500 w/ breakfast
Php8,500 w/ fullboard meals

For reservations: Please call 032-4810801 or 5167236

website: www.bluewater.com.ph

I guarantee that you will never forget your Sumilon experience and will cherish it for the rest of your life just like I did.

Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island is located in the Southern part of Cebu. Going there takes about 4-5 hours.

Going there, you will have a 3 hour trip from the city of Cebu going to Hagnaya via any landtrip transportation. Kami, we took Ceres bus and paid more or less Php150.00/person. Upon reaching Hagnaya, you will take another ferry ride going to Sta. Fe (Bantayan Island). Ferry rate ranges from Php35-Php200 depending on the ferry that is available. However, if you are on a tight budget, you can just wait for the ferry with the cheapest fare. Trip schedule are every 30minutes to one hour. Travel time takes about an hour.

We stayed in Budyong Resort, it was okay though except that you won't really be wowed by the room but it was I guess the best resort spot to stay and spend your holiday if you are a beach lover because the room that we had was fronting the beach and it is air conditioned. The rate is Php1,500 per night room accomodation only. Just a tip: don't eat inside the resort because their food is soo expensive and the price is very unreasonable, better eat outside. The resort actually is situated near the church, market and native restaurants so feeling hungry is never a problem.

The best part so far from the whole trip is that I was spending it with someone special to me.. The sunset, the serenity of the place was so remarkable that I am out of words to describe how happy I am for being there and I'd still go back for sure..


below are some of our pictures taken during our Bantayan Experience

taken just outside our room

This is our room. The good thing is that it's facing the beach which is something i love...heheheh..

These are just sneak peaks of what Bantayan has to offer.. Pero mas maayo gyod kung kamo ang muadto para makita gyod ninyo unsa kanindot ang Isla sa Bantayan. Peace!

P.S. Here are some contact numbers for Bantayan resort prospects:

Budyong beach resort +6332-4385700

Ogtong Cave +6332-4389129

Kota Beach Resort +6332-2545661

Realization..

it's 11:04 and I can't sleep. I have been so blind and lost for quite sometime after making the most stupid mistake of my life. Somehow someway, I never felt any regrets for doing what I did because I do have a lot of realization.

I was constantly in a dilemma between choosing the one I wanted and the one people thinks I deserve, and yes they were right. I thought choosing the one I wanted would me a better person and would make me feel happy..but I was wrong. I fell in a trap I made for myself. I was actually putting a stone in my head and creating my own problems. It's like the world was against me. People are ignoring me because I chose to be happy, as i thought, but I wasn't.

I tried to make the best of it making a scratch to a diamond, only to think that I was played and used. That's when the feeling of being lost sanked in. I was questioning myself why I allowed myself to be in this kind of ignorance and selfless generosity. Anyways, life can sometimes play your world and you don't realize it till somebody hits you so damn hard in the face. Oh well, how can it be so cool to be played by the one person you taught is the best for you? It sucks!

I thought I'd continue to be the worsest person others think I maybe for being so self centered and for choosing the wrong decision, hell no! I'm back and I'm ready to face the world! I did hurt a lot of people along the way, but I'm deeply sorry. Now, I'm picking up the pieces again and regaining everything I lost. I will bring back one diamond I lost because of being so insesitive and totally blinded by inferior life forms existing on earth.

As what I have said before, it will pass..and yes it did.

I have found myself and not just that, I know now where I belong....

Hear me out

it's Sunday April 12, 2009, and I'm at the office working my ass off trying to pretend that I'm well when i'm not. I am so sick, I have colds and fever and all I could think about is the mistakes I've made and the people in my past who got hurt because of my actions. I'm so broken, frailed and exhausted.. My heart is gnawing with enormous pain because once again it is broken into pieces. I have been so weak to let myself fall to another trap, only this time I am the one to be blamed.. I have been trying to please people who only wanted the best for me and forgot that I am old enough to make my own decisions. This weakness led me to hurt someone so fragile because I was torn between choosing the one I wanted for myself or the one the people around me thinks I deserve. I have been too busy giving the needs of others when my own needs are drastically dying, I have been too selfless and I forgot that I too deserve to be happy.

Life for me has been a continuous search for happiness and slowly I am starting to feel it's absence to my life. It's hard when you don't even have any idea what really makes you happy or who makes you happy. No matter how much difficulty it brings, it's not how many times you fail but how many times you never quit searching.

On a day to day basis, I try to focus myself to other things just so I can forget the suffering of my heart. The longingness of wanting to have someone to fill up the emptiness I feel continous to pierce me in my thoughts. Slowly, I will overcome this suffering but one thing is certain, I will drive my own ship without anyone's dictates and even if waves may stop me from my path, I will manuever my ship the best way I know how just to get through every obstacle. I will be firm in making decisions and I will be stronger during my weakness. Wether or not I'll have someone in my life or be alone, then I have no right to argue with God's plan for me, this is written in my palm and this maybe my purpose then SO BE IT..

Yes I am not ashamed to admit that I am in so much pain and sorrow right now, but I've been told, IT WILL PASS.. IT WILL PASS....