Wanderlust Diary

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!

Empty hallways, silent grounds….feels like a ghost town here but I feel they need to advertise to more foreigners and locals. I heard this hotel is owned by Koreans…maybe they want exclusivity for visitors.

I saw very chic cabanas for rent where people can hang out and watch TV near the poolside…very cool! Along extremely complicated water cube/slides (reminds me of Splash Island)..this looks like a water world! The beach was no beach at all…it’s like a breakwater type of beach. Go to Shangrila please..

I was a mere visitor trying to decide where to eat here with so much unnecessary comments in my head! We end up eating at Maru, some traditional Korean restaurant which I feel is overpriced! The ones in the city are much better! But I get to try some kimchi water (quite salty) which they say can quench that spicy aftertaste.