Wanderlust Diary

It was an unusual trip for me, with a come what may attitude, my friends and I cut short our holiday celebrations back in the city and flew off to Cebu for our semi planned trip to Bantayan Island.

I was quite familiar with Cebu (thanks to my friends who usually bring me around the city) but outside Cebu, I’m clueless. We had to sandwiched our vacation, 1 night in Bantayan then the rest in Cebu because the island seemed so far from the city.

Hotel–check! Diplomat hotel in Cebu, Sta Fe resort in Bantayan
Transport--was still undecided at first (bus or taxi)..but upon rising the taxi, we just asked our driver to quote us his best price, our butts was glued to the seats! first was P 2,000 but going back, we got cheaper quote at P 1,500
Food–as long as there’s Cebu Lechon in one of our meals *happy*

Our ride to Bantayan was long and windy…I couldn’t sleep since I was seated in front. I turned on my Itouch, searching something familiar along the roads we passed by. My droopy eyes survived 2 hours of travel. I really hate it when I sit in front, I never get to sleep!

I noticed my voice became cranky..oh no…paos! Hard time talking the whole trip…I couldn’t speak well…I just smile and try to murmur.

Reaching the Hagnaya port, our taxi even asked for a tip for coffee (guess the junk food I was munching made him jealous) note: BBQ at the port, cheap!!!

After 2 hours of waiting to reach our destination, we sill had another 1.5 hours boat ride to the beach…was talking to my friend Reena the whole time, didn’t notice time flew so fast!

I caught a glimpse of our resort from afar (shoot! can’t swim, near the port!). We hurriedly went down the huge boat and heard someone screaming that they are from Sta Fe resort and the transport is free. Sta fe and Ogtong Cave resort are sister companies so guest on both resorts can use each other’s facilities minus the transport though (50 pesos per person).

It should be free, it was like 5 minutes away from the port! The resort reminded me of resorts in Puerto Galera, simple but clean but not much luxury to offer to guests. We wandered nearby to restaurants and tried some Portuguese cuisine, but I was disappointed with their “Paella” that tastes like curry rice..Booo!

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A brief vacation led me to visit something new in Cebu.

My good friend Gale suddenly had the urge to bring us to visit this so called 7 star hotel newly opened in Cebu. After hearing it couple of months ago, I was painfully curious about a 7 star hotel in the Philippines…(you sure??). While waiting at the lobby of Shangrila Mactan, I feel like a foreigner in my country. Locals were speaking in Cebuano while everywhere I look I see Koreans! Though I have been mistaken for a Korean for almost every time, I’m still a proud Chinese! =p

I have been used to speaking in language unknown to some prying neighbor, but here, I need to hold my tongue and keep some comments to myself!

I’ve been to Cebu quite a few times already, I feel I can navigate my way through the city….surprisingly, I have this urge to drive here though I don’t really like driving in Manila. Insane traffic! An array of Korean stores and restaurants was a familiar sight along a faintly lit road..which was also the route going to Plantation Bay if I remember correctly. A lot of Koreans seem to like staying in a laid back city like Cebu.

A quick left turn, we arrived at the hotel which seem to be awkwardly situated beside rural common houses. I was silently rooting for Shangrila Mactan to be better and I think I got my wish!

Imperial Palace was pleasantly new with the grounds still having evidence of concrete dusts around. The lobby reminds me of some British Indian hotel in Singapore (Raffles Hotel). Though it somehow lacks warmth around, the personnel seem to eagerly volunteer to take pictures for you anywhere you want way to go!

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Another 1 week til Sinulog…first time for me.

I actually just came back last week from Cebu..visited Bantayan Island. So next week..I hope I can prepare for the festival. Our Panasonic LX3 had taken a fall in Tagaytay when we were having our family picture taken (damn you wind! haha). I hope our technician can fix it on time for the festival or else…I have to use an DSLR! Hmm…let me think about it…my comfort or better pictures?

I will represent our shop in Cebu, but I’m no photographer! Shoot! I just have to smile and give discounts at the shop

Anyway, this is the schedule I saw online..
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It is still my paradise!!! Can’t wait to go back I hope soon…I’ll drag my family next time…I want my parents to see why I rave about it so much!

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Guess what fate gave me this Christmas?? Free trips using Jetstar Asia! The last time I remember winning something was betting on 4D when I was in Singapore! But then, that was only a few dollars, this one really made me smile on one gloomy day before the holidays!

Ok…I was thinking of trips..yet I can only take so much leaves..

So here’s my plan:
Singapore (visit my friends and food trip!!)
HongKong (shopping!!!! and eat eat eat!)

if only I get to travel with somebody, I could take a whole month off. Oh well, I should save up for more trips next trip! Cheers to the new year ahead! More good blessings for everyone!!!

I love taking pictures but friends hate me because I take pictures of them unknowingly! I click that camera like there’s no tomorrow (extra memory cards are lifesavers!). But I’m no photographer though ironically we own photography shops *PixelPro here in the Philippines. I am bound to learn this in my own amateurish way. These are the favorite pictures, some by me, some by my travel mates especially Berns! I think I’ll be stuck with our Panasonic LX3, can’t seem to be patient enough to carry a DSLR yet.

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