The best part about a three-week vacation is the ability to live like a local. Not only did I get to visit some of the tourist destinations, I was also able to hang out and go to places Cebuanos frequent every day. Day 15 One of the best places to have drinks and cocktails in Ayala is a bar called The Social. The selling point for me is the airy patio. The downside? It's clearly an expat hub where old white men take their young Filipinas on dates. Day 16 I've heard a lot about Ilaputi in IT Park and decided to give it a try. Based on reviews online, they have the best beef stroganoff! One of my fondest childhood memories is passing by SM mall and wondering what's going on inside the spooky building beside it. Abandoned for years, I'm glad to finally see it turned into Radisson Blu, a 5-star hotel! When at Radisson Blu, guests go to Feria, the hotel's in-house restaurant. My friends and I didn't have the change to check it out. We donned our bikinis and went for a night swim instead! Day 17 Another night of debauchery at Politics bar on Escario. Day 18 If you want to pig out on a budget, go to Parklane Hotel. Their in-house restaurant, Manuel's, offers an excellent lunch buffet for ₽550. A few hours later, I bumped into the eternally glamorous Amparito Lhuillier enjoying her salad at La Vie Parisienne stall in Ayala, one of the many Lhuillier business ventures in Cebu. I finally had Shellac pedicure at Salon de Rose. And before I knew it, I got hungry again and had a light dinner at TGI Friday. Day 19 Another one of those childhood feels at Majestic in SM. Back in the day, Majestic used to be a Sunday afternoon treat by my parents. We would go to the restaurant after mass. Historically, they're known for their sumptuous patatim! Today, it's as mouth-watering as ever. Another go-to in SM is Duty Free shopping if you want to buy pasalubong or souvenirs and random food stuff, like chocolates. Not very cost-efficient as the bundled chocolates are way more expensive than what you would normally pay for in North America or Europe. But still a better option as opposed to carrying them all the way in your luggage. Day 20 It's beach time once again! This time, in Plantation Bay Resort and Spa! My girlfriends and I had the grandest time in this luxurious resort and only paid ₽2,000 per person. How? By getting the Daytripper Adventure Package. This package already includes: lunch and choice of beverage, access to lagoons and swimming pools, wall climbing, bicycle rides, kayaking, foosball, air hockey, table tennis and shower and change room facilities. All for ₽2000? It's totally worth it. All that swimming got us famished. We went back to the city and had dinner at Circa 1900. A heritage house built in the early 20th century, Circa 1900 brings you back to Spanish colonial times in Cebu. Purchased and renovated by a real estate group, they opted to preserve the mansion's classic interior and architecture. A bit on the pricey range, but well worth it on special occasions. The restaurant is the ideal venue for marriage proposals and wedding receptions! Day 21 My last day in Cebu and I scrambled to check all touristy things to do on my list. When in Cebu, you can't miss going to Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. Even if you're not one of the faithful, there's much to appreciate in this historical church. I also managed to take a few photos of Magellan's Cross. Encased in wood is supposedly the original cross planted by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in Cebu. I also bought pasalubong for my family in Toronto - mostly dried mangoes. Now, they have dried mangoes dipped in Belgian chocolate! How about dried mangoes dipped in peanut butter? Now that's a thought! With my glorious vacation coming to an end, I gathered some of my besties for dinner and drinks. First stop: appetizer at Tinderbox. Next stop: dinner at Carnivore Last stop: dessert at Tymad Bistro There are a lot of restaurants, bars or cafés worth a special trip in Cebu. Let me know where they are and I'll be sure to check them out next time.
Well, those were the highlights of my trip to Cebu! Toronto Traipser will be back in...well...Toronto! Haha! See yah!
0 Comments
Viva Pit Señor! My adventures in Cebu continue into the Sinulog weekend! Day 8 It’s Sinulog and my best friend and I woke up late in the afternoon! We both have a strong aversion to big crowds so we decided we're not really missing out much. That's right - we're a couple of party poopers! Haha. But seriously, if you've seen the crowd on Mango Avenue, you would think twice about going to the street party. I'm all for having fun in Sinulog, but the event is also a recipe for disaster. I'm always on high alert for human stampedes and crushes. But let me not discourage you from joining in on the fun. Sinulog is still one of the best things about Cebu! We had a really late lunch at Lemon Grass in Ayala. My best friend calls the first meal past noon as "brunner" or breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also had cocktails at New Orleans and watched the fireworks from the mall's rooftop area. If you're looking for authentic Creole vibe, unfortunately New Orleans isn't the place. Sinulog won't be complete without a disco party, of course. We partied it up at Cubana Lounge on Mango Avenue. And it's a bonus since ladies get in for free! Day 9 Our brunner tradition continues at Abuhan Tres in IT Park. This time, with their sizzling pochero! Day 10 My Camotes adventure begins with two of my fabulous friends! Camotes is actually a group of islands east of Cebu. To get there, you have to go to the port in Danao and get on the Jomalia ferry. Upon checking in at Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort, we were immediately welcomed with a refreshing pineapple juice. While waiting for our villa to be available, we had lunch at the lounge next to their infinity pool. We had the most glorious view of the beach! To get around the island, you can choose a tour package and a driver with his vehicle will drive you to different tourist destinations. Since we were short for time, we decided to just have three stops: Lake Danao, Timubo Cave and Santiago Bay. Day 11 Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort was not only exceptional in service, but also in food and refreshments. My friends and I absolutely enjoyed the complimentary breakfast buffet. I would definitely come back to this resort the next time I go to Camotes. Arriving back in Cebu, we already brainstormed for our upcoming adventure in the South. But first, drinks and cocktails at the Monastery. Is it just me? Or are Cebu's restaurants, lounges and cafés littered with electric neon trees? Day 13 Here we are in Oslob, Cebu! A lot of tourists - both local and foreign - come here to swim with whale sharks or butanding. Wearing sunscreen is strictly prohibited. Also, we weren't allowed to touch the creatures. You don’t have to tell me twice! On our way back to the city, we stopped by different beaches and churches. One of which is the restored church in Boljoon. Formally named as Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria, the church has been declared as a national cultural treasure. It is a prime example of baroque architecture from the 18th century. I was mesmerized as we drove along southern Cebu. The public beaches are absolutely divine! Check out the white-sand beaches at Tingko Beach Resort in Alcoy. We also stopped by the grandiose Simala Shrine in Sibonga where conservative dress code is strictly enforced. Of course you can't just go to the South without trying some of Cebu's finest delicacies - Carcar's chicharon and Argao's torta and tableya! Day 14 Café Laguna is one of the restaurants in Cebu that's consistent in flavor. I opted to have lunch here with my aunt and cousin since we were all craving once again for crispy pata! For coffee and desserts, I took them to Figaro Coffee Company. Based on their website, it's a coffee company established in the Philippines! Yay for Filipino entrepreneurs! I've been to many Italian restaurants in Cebu. But Figaro has THE best tiramisu! If you're looking for a lounge with a scenic view, try Bellini in Lahug. The romantic and sophisticated setting is the perfect place to relax and unwind. But beware of their champagne prices! To offset the chichi ambiance at Bellini, we proceeded to Larsian, the ultimate and undisputed gastronomic institution in Cebu. Larsian in Fuente is a showcase of barbecued pork, chicken wings, chorizo, adidas, intestines - all paired with woven-palm-leaf-covered rice or pusô. The next post will be about my third and last week in Cebu! Updates are on the way!
|
AuthorThe Toronto Traipser aims to explore the vibrant city by indulging in its many sights, sounds and flavours. Archives
July 2016
Categories
All
|