Cebu Bantayan Trip 4D3N

So, I'm back from our whirlwind trip, settling back into reality and catching up on stories. We had planned an international trip for our one and a half year anniversary but ended up booking a domestic trip instead.

We booked our flights through Air Asia, but we didn't get the promo fare, so it's quite expensive compared to the usual promos available online. We booked our accommodations through Agoda, which I usually do because it is less expensive, but you can also try Expedia.com.ph, which also offers a best price guarantee.

We checked in online and had our boarding passes printed, so we skipped the line at the check-in desk. Online check-in saves time and is definitely less stressful. Our flight is at 0600, and thankfully, it is not delayed. Yey ✈

Upon arrival at Mactan airport, we took Mybus (Airport to SM Cebu)  for only 25PhP. Then from SM Cebu we got our Uber ride to the hotel 🏩 Gran Tierra Suites.  We are lucky to get an exceptionally nice and helpful Uber driver, so we had an instant tour guide en ruote to the hotel. Yay! Thanks Sir :)  

We arrived at the hotel and left our belongings because early check-in was not an option. The receptionist handed us a complimentary hot egg tart when we returned from our City tour. Yum 😝

We took a jeepney from the hotel to the Basilica; according to Google Maps, we can walk around the city and discover the most interesting places.

Okay, I won't bore you any longer, so here's a sneak peek of our #Cebucation.

DAY ONE

Gran tierra suite 

Basilica Menor del Sto. Niño

Magellan’s Cross

Plaza independecia 

Fort San Pedro

Malacañang sa Sugbu

After a short nap at the Hotel, we decided to go to Ayala Mall (hahaha! , as if we don’t have one here 😀)

I'd say that it is indeed #TatakAyala. Felt like we're just in Glorietta or Greenbelt.

We're both hungry by 7 p.m. He wants to try Crown Regency's buffet and skywalk, but as a self-avowed acrophobic, I'm not going to agree. Well. I like the idea, but I'm not going to try it! So I told him I wanted to try Zubuchon, which was on our itinerary for the first day.  Guess what, I won! Wooo! Girl power. Thanks dear!

Photo: My Instagram 

DAY TWO

We got up before cockcrow to get ready for our trip to Bantayan Island. We checked out of the hotel early and took an Uber to the North Bus Terminal. As I have heavy bags and don't want my BF to suffer, this is the most convenient way for us to commute. Anyways, Travel time from North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya port is 4hrs. I know I know, the traffic is terrible. According to the blogs I've read, the travel time is about 2-3 hours. But, yes, it took us four hours. The bus fare is 170 PhP. We boarded the Roro bound for Sta fe Bantayan at the Hagnaya port. The ferry fare is 170 PHP plus a 10 PHP terminal fee. The travel time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

We arrived at Bantayan Island after an hour and a half. We took a tricycle to Yoonek Inn - we were supposed to get a free ride from Yooneek, but for some reason, we haven't heard back from them. We decided to walk along the beach after lunch and take a lot of pictures.

We had our dinner at HR Music Bar and Native Restaurant -I ordered baked Scallops and pork steak tagalog. Day 2 has ended with a tired feet/body yet a super full and happy tummy.

DAY 3:

It was half past five when we woke up. Without eating our breakfast, we grabbed our camera - we went to the beach, took pictures and enjoyed the beach. 

We pretty much had the beach to ourselves at times, which was fantastic.

Mangrove Garden

We availed the tricytour offered to us by Kuya Remi for 500PhP. Our 1^st stop is at the mangrove garden, entrance fee is 50phP for adults and 20 for kids. They also offered boating and kayaking.  We also asked Manong if he can get us fresh tubâ. We got 2bottles of fresh coconut wine for only 50PhP. I super love the taste -tangy and refreshing.

Tuba

Next stop - Baybay. I love the panoramic view and the smell of the ocean - i love the saltiness and freshness of the sea breeze. 

This is one my favorite views in Bantayan. Probably because of the blue ocean, or the sea breeze maybe. One thing's for sure, i love this place. You can smell freedom and love and serenity.

Last stop -  Ogtong Cave. Entrance fee is 100PhP. Unlimited access to the beach, pool and of course cave. This amazing cave is at the middle of the resort, you wont notice it except because of the people coming up and down the stairs. 



We went back to Yoonek by midday to check out and asked kuya Remi to drop us off in Beach Placid. We booked one night here as we want to see the other side of Sta Fe and it is indeed a good decision. 

Based on the blogs I’ve read, beach placid has much to offer when it comes to (sea)food, spa/massage services, water bikes etc. During lunch time, I saw a lady selling giant clams (Taklobo or Manlit). I’ve always dreamed to eat this giants since gradeschool. Taklobo costs 50Php (small) and 100Php (large). I just bought the small one as I haven’t tried it before. I know that we shouldn’t be eating this due to extinction, but please don’t judge me. I just want to have a taste of this yummy (baby) giant clam. The vendor opened the shell exposing the fresh multicolored lip of the clam and chopped the meat, added chopped onions, squeezed some calamansi juice, added a few spoonfuls of coco vinegar and added sliced red chili.  I’d say that I am literally salivating when she finished the kinilaw na taklobo. The white meat from the clam is exceedingly crunchy, while the purple colored meat is deliciously slimy. My verdict? Thumbs Up !

So basically, that's it. It was fun, and im glad that we've spent our 1 and a half anniversary here in Cebu.

Will post our itinerary and expenses soon.

Thanks for dropping by lovelies 😍

Xx
Ash

Taytay Falls Day Trip

It was on my bucket list to find my long lost friends – well hindi naman totally lost, but I haven’t seen this group of people for 13 years! Imagine that, 13 years! One of my friends, Jeng, has just arrived from Brunei so all of us we’re excited not just because of the pasalubong (pero syempre kasama na yun. Hahaha) but most especially this will be our biglaaang reunion. There’s a Pinoy saying nga “kapag biglaang lakad natutuloy”, which I believe, totoo.

Based on our group chat, we’ll go to Caliraya, which we normally do, eons ago during Easter Sunday. So I packed my things with my Sunday Dress/Sandals on Saturday afternoon and rode a bus to Sta Cruz. My travel time from Calamba to Kalayaan is approximately 2.5hours- not bad 😀

Around 8pm, my friends started to arrived. Mind you, most of them are from Kalayaan na- it’s just me (Calamba) and Julianne (Antipolo) who travelled to Kalayaan but we arrived earlier than them! Hahaha!

Kalayaan Plaza

We had our (free) dinner thanks to Jeng and Jr, and it felt like old times, and yes, I suddenly felt old because most of them have babies. oh no! *Tick, tick, tock!

We gathered around after dinner, kumustahan, biruan, it was a lot of fun. Then, for various reasons, we had to change the location of tomorrow's mini picnic! Uh oh! It was a last-minute change of plans – it was changed from Caliraya to Majayjay! Now what? What about my Sunday dress and sandals? Hahaha! I'm completely dead. Yes, I have an extra shirt and flipflops, but that's all I have, and yes, the majority rules.

The call time is 0500, but we leave Kalaayaan around 0600. We took a jeepney to Sta Cruz and got off at Areza Town Center in Pagsanjan. I waited another 30 minutes or so for another jeepney ride to Majayjay, but the majority of them were either full or rented (Holyweek).

Areza Terminal

So we took the Nagcarlan/Liliw route and requested that the driver drop us off in Sambat. We then took a tricycle to the Taytay Falls Jeep Terminal. We took another jeepney from the terminal that had Taytay Falls signage on it. We arrived at our destination around 8:30 a.m. It's a long ride because there are only a few modes of transportation, so we had to re-route and use a different mode of transportation. Please see below how to get there easily 😉

Before going inside, we registered at the Barangay Hall first. Cost for entry/registration is 20 PHP per person. We chose to have lugaw+egg muna, which was more expensive than our entrance ticket, after paying the fees. Hahaha. As soon as we finished our lugaw, we started trekking all the way down to Taytay falls. It took us 15-20mins before we reached the awe-inspiring place! It should only be 10-15min walk, but since there’s a lot of people coming in and out of the place, it took us that long + the road is narrow and wet (raining) But man, you’ll thank God for this wonderful creation! You’ll feel the cool breeze and  hear the birds singing their thank you song (char ko lang yun).  The place is surrounded by trees so you surely are breathing the fresh air!

After 5 or 10min walk,  we heard the sound of the falling water that excites us even more! Upon reaching the falls, all of us we’re mesmerized by its beauty. Wow! That’s the 1^st word I uttered when I saw it. The water is crystal clear and yes, I’d say that this is the cleanest/clearest falls I’ve ever seen.

Tents and panlatag are for rents – rates starts at 100-250php. There are paid bathrooms so make sure you have coins on your pocket- but don’t expect too much. You can bring beers and wine and any types of liquors but before you enter the premise, the barangay tanods and security team will check your bags to ensure no glass bottles will be brought to the falls. You have to transfer those into a plastic bottle (empty mineral water or jugs).

The water is cold, no, it’s freezing/icy cold. NO JOKE! And honestly, I never had courage to take a dip. I tried, but that was just a futile attempt. I really cant! LOL :)

I hope the place will remain clean and untouched. So let’s all be a responsible visitor.

Take nothing but pictures, bring nothing but memories and leave nothing but footprints.

How we got there and breakdown of our expenses /pax
Bus	Calamba to Sta Cruz	₱61.00
Jeep	Sta Cruz to Kalayaan	20.00
Jeep	Kalayaan to Areza (Pagsanjan)	17.00
Jeep	Pagsanjan to Sambat	16.00
Tricycle	Sambat to Majayjay Terminal	35.00
Jeep	Majayjay to Taytay Falls	17.00
Entrance fee		20.00
Jeep	Taytay Falls to Majayjay terminal	17.00
Jeep	Majayjay Terminal to Areza	30.00
Jeep	Areza to Kalayaan	17.00
**** Food ****

How to get there (best option)

Bus ride (Buendia - Sta Cruz) – 140.00Php

Jeepney ride (Sta Cruz - Majayjay) - 40.00 PhP

Jeepney ride (Majayjay - Taytay) - 17.00 PhP

xx
Ash