Cebu: 2012's Year-End Trip

I have to thank the bed weather today. I finally got the impulse to start writing again here in my humble blog. 

Looking at my last post, I can't believe it was as far back as May when I last wrote something! I feel really lazy these days, swamped with work the past few months so I'm just happy I have weekends to savour and do stuff like writing.

There's a lot that has been going since my last post. I went to a 2 week trip to Aussie last July and by far it was one of the most wonderful trip this year. There are few more trips remaining for the year. Anyhow, I'll post more about those in my succeeding blogs. But for this time, I have to go ahead and continue with some backlogs.

Last December of 2012, I was gladly been invited to my classmate's wedding in Cebu. I know, we have to fly all the way to Visayas. Well, I took it as another way for me to travel and probably enjoy other sites I haven't been to in Cebu. It will only be my second time in Cebu, and the first time I went there was when we had a quick stop for our Dumaguete-Siquijor trip. So there were still some sites I haven't explored yet.

I booked my flight care of my Mabuhay Miles. So I only had to pay for the taxes. I think the total only went down to 900 pesos for that round trip flight. I was booked into the Business Class seat since there isn't any seats left on the economy. I flew via Philippine Airlines (not the AirPhil express) and there isn't really that much on the Business Class actually.

Personal On-seat TV/Monitor

Thank you Mabuhay Miles!

My in-flight snacks

I stayed in Tunes Hotel with my other classmates in UST. The wedding happens the next day.

2 Bedroom Accommodation

Tune Hotel just a walk from Ayala Center

It was quite a nice and clean hotel. It looks to be new and just got the basics. The twin room for 2 persons almost cost us 3000 pesos, with aircon and toiletries. You actually have to pay for the aircon and toiletries separate from the room accommodation.

It was a short walk from Ayala Center Mall so it was very convenient for us if we need to eat or buy any thing we need.

If I remember, I arrived in Cebu in the afternoon. I came with my aunt and cousin who are both staying at our relative in Cebu.

The following day was the wedding.

The wedding was held at the St. Joseph shrine and the reception at Crimson Hotel in Mactan.

That's me looking classy...:P

Crimson Hotel's Infinity Pool

The Beach just across the venue of the reception

Crimson Hotel was really nice and the beach looks refreshing. There was an infinity pool and by the looks of it the place seems expensive. Maybe one day I'll be back and try to stay there.

The day after the wedding, I was supposed to fly back to Manila but my aunt insisted I extend my stay so I get to attend my Lolo's 92th birthday. So I did. Without a blink of an eye, I bought another flight leaving on the day before new year!

I had a great time with my extended stay. Aside from meeting our relatives in Cebu, I finally got the chance to visit other places. 

We went up the top of Crown Regency. Dropped by the TOPS, it was one of the stops in the Amazing Race Philippines. We also went to Plantation Bay Mactan and Fort San Pedro.

Magellan's Cross

I want the Dora balloon haha

 

Edge Coaster at Crown Regency

Getting a view of Cebu City from the top of Crown Regency

Nice and quaint bar in TOPS

Cebu is almost like Manila. Very commercialized too.

Anyhow, I consider this trip a great year-ender for my 2012. I would probably go back again to Cebu to see Oslob for the whale sharks unless I get to see them already in Donsol. Yes, it's on my bucketlist too.

One Day In Cebu

It's one of my most awaited trip this year since my supposed first solo trip was canceled in January. I was able to hit three wonderful province with one stone last March and I'm travelling again with some of the enjoyable friends from Couchsurfing. Our last trip together was the South Korea trip so we kind of missed the fun we had and here again is another memorable occasion for us to bond and just relax together.

It was an early Saturday morning and we need to fly to Cebu so early. I didn't mind since I always look forward to finally step to another place I've never been to and this time our first stop is Cebu. I'm travelling with Abby and Jester who have been to Cebu before so we didn't have any problems navigating around especially with the help of Jester's GPS enabled phone. I'm probably getting a GPS enable phone (jealous alert)!

We arrived in Cebu between 6-7am. We decided to stop by first the Mactan Shrine.

Mactan Shrine is the site where Lapu-lapu conquered Magellan in 1521.

Afterwards we head so SM Cebu to get something to eat as we are starving. We ate at KFC. True enough, I felt like I was just in Manila. But before heading there, we dropped by some souvenir shops near the Mactan Shrine.

After our lunch we head to check in and rest at Pacific Tourist Inn. We went to take a nap and later that afternoon we headed to Fort San Pedro to get our Rizal stamps. I'm still keen to complete my stamps although the contest may well be over in June. I still got a few more stamps to get.

Larsian is the quite well-known foodstop in Cebu. It used to be full block of the barbecue shops but when we got there there was just but one left.

We walked around and dropped by other Cebu attractions like the Magellan's cross, the Cebu Cathedral and made our way to Larsian for dinner.

I also got to see the Crowne Plaza Hotel where the SkyWalk is found. I'll hope to comeback and try it too! 

We had a great time and headed back to the inn to sleep and get ready for the next day. 

We are travelling to Dumaguete!