Sunday, July 11, 2010

Dinner at La Maison Cafe

After visiting one of our friend at the hospital,my friend and I decided to have dinner at La Maison Cafe located Terraces, Ayala, Cebu. La Maison's specialty are baby back ribs and steaks. Unfortunately, at that time both run out already so, we opted the La Maison Bento recommended by their staff. 


Seabass Bento (P375).This includes salad, creamy wine mussels and plain rice.Although, I'm not a food critic but the food indeed delicious.


My friend ordered the Grilled Spicy Chix Bento (285).

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Summer Outing At Sugar Beach Resort, Bantayan

June 5-6, we had our summer outing at Sugar Beach Resort, Bantayan. It is my second time to visit the place. I am still in awed of the place-the crystal blue waters,white sand, the sun.


Bantayan Islands from afar

Sugar Beach Resort

The blue waters and white sand of Sugar Beach

Late afternoon view of Sugar Beach

June 5, we hit the road around 6am to catch the 9:30 am boat in Hagnaya that will take us to Bantayan. If you will be bring your car to Hagnaya only, there is a parking area at the pier where you can leave your car and pay a minimal fee of 100 pesos ($2)per day. Boat ride fare will cost you 150pesos($3). It will take you 30-45 minutes ride to Bantayan.


Parking Area in Hagnaya where you can leave your car



Boat that will take you to Bantayan Island

Transportation in Bantayan is either multicabs,tricycle( bike with side cars), motorcycles. There are also vans that will pick you up from the port depending on the resort you will be staying.

We stayed at Sugar Beach Resort since there are 35 of us and because it is much cheaper there and again because of the wide shoreline for our team building activities. Sugar Beach Resort have both non- air conditioned and air conditioned rooms. They have rooms for that could accommodate in groups also. The air conditioned rooms which are quite far from the beach cost around 1,800 pesos( $35) and the non air conditioned rooms good for 4 persons cost around 1,000 ($20).

For our food, we went to buy our food in the market and have it cook at the resort. You can request the people at the kitchen department to cook food that you have brought for you at minimal fee. We had roasted pig and grilled fish for our lunch,grilled fish and sweetened pork for dinner, dried fish, eggs and corn beef for breakfast. 

The blue waters was really inviting, despite a few jelly fish we still went swimming.

During the night, a few went night swimming, some were drinking under the stars, few were singing( we rented a videoke system by the way), a few made tents near the beach and sleep there.


Photo's below showing our activities/games








June 5, around 9:30 we took the boat that will take us back to Hagnaya port.

We enjoyed and had so much fun in Bantayan islands.

***
Boat ride is every hour.



Saturday, May 29, 2010

An Afternoon At Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort



My friend,Mariam had an activity in Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort and she invited me and 2 of our friends to join her.

The beach,white sand surrounded with coconut tress and thatch huts. That day, the place was full of people. A company was having there summer outing. 

enjoying the beach and the sun  with friends

Reception Area









beach surrounded by thatch huts and full of people

Bluewater Beach Resort  has a complete aqua and sports facilities such as jet skiing,scuba diving,sailing,snorkeling,kayaking.  

my friends tried the kayak

We had a short tour of the resort to check out their amenities and restaurants. 

Oyster Bar At the Cove

with friends,cocktails at the Oyster Bar

Oyster Bar

Allegro Restaurant






Swimming pool

Royal Bungalows located on the beach(one of their rooms)



Although, we did not stay in for the night, we had a nice time relaxing and touring around the resort.

Next time, i'll stay in one of their rooms and try there Amuma Spa.

*****
If interested to visit the resort:
Maribago,Bunyog
Mactan Island,Lapulapu City
+ 63 32 492-0100/ 232-5411




Discovering Tingko Beach in Alcoy-A Paradise in the South

Tingko beach is the best beach in Alcoy without spending much. The beach is available to the public at a cheap price. We paid only 50 pesos(Philippine peso) for the entrance. And we brought our own food. First time visitors,like us will be awed by the wonderful rock formation lying in along white coastal line. The beach is partly hidden  when going there as it is situated down below a low limestone cliff. So drive slow when you see the KM 95 marker, since it indicates the distance of the beach to the city. You will also be enamored with the warmth of the residents who are selling their kakainin or delicacies.


me,shara and kristine at Alcoy


A few meters beyond the Tingko beach stands the centuries old Spanish built Bantayan sa Hari (watch tower) on a promontory. There are also charming white houses nearby, a row of white-washed houses over a craggy shores, for out of towns who want to stay in town for a short vacation for  minimal fee.
Nearby white houses


If your going to Alcoy without a private car, you can take the bus or V-hire from South Terminal in Cebu City. It will take you 2 and half hours to reach Alcoy. Buses and V-hire ply regularly between the southern town with departures and arrivals every 15 minutes. the last trip for city bound buses will pass  Alcoy around 9pm.


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A Wedding and A Sidetrip to Dakak

After attending the wedding of our dear friend-Irvin in Dipolog City, we went to Dakak Park Beach Resort sort of a short vacation. It is a 30 minutes ride from Dipolog. But if you have accommodations at Dakak, they arrange a  free pick up to and from the airport or port/pier. 


Dakak beach resort is an island actually shaped as cove with off white sand and blue waters. They have 2 swimming pools feed by natural spring water. We went swimming in one of their pools with a mini waterfalls.
We had 1 night accommodation in one of their native cottages with all the bamboo and nipa leaves. Although, it was quite a long walk from the beach to our cottage you will enjoy seeing nature with trees and orchids around the place.


Dakak's shoreline

one of their pool, with mini waterfalls



Although, we did not really appreciate the food at their restaurant-Port Orient but the ambiance was nice, facing the beach.During night time, they will entertain you with a cultural dance.

Culinary Area-Port Orient Restaurant

ambiance-beach front and tropical garden

native cottages where we stayed for 1 night

If you are more of an adventurous kind of person they also have facilities such as sailing,water sports,boating. Or you may want to relax at their jacuzzi or have a massage at your cottage.




****
If you're interested to visit Dakak:
Contact Number: +63 09197959416 or +63 65 52136813









Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Run a Kilometer for Kerygma

Kerygma will be having a fun run on May 29,2010 5:30am SM Mall of Asia Grounds. This is for the benefit of 7 ministries: Anawin Lay Missions Foundations,Inc., Grace To be Born,Inc. , Tahanan Ng Pagmamahal Children's Home,Inc. , Pagasa Ng Pamilya (Hope of the family), Scholarship Foundation, Inc. , He Cares Foundation Streetchildren, Caring Center,Inc., Light Of Jesus Counseling Center, Shepherd's Voice Radio & Television Foundation, Inc.



For inquiries call  +63 2 725 9999 or click the link Run A Kilometer For Kerygma


If you don't run , you can walk beside like Bo Sanchez.He's a great walker. Interested, click the link Run A Kilometer for Kerygma .

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Bantayan Islands,Hidden Paradise at the Northwest Coast of Cebu

Two of my close friends celebrated their birthdays in Bantayan Islands.It boast to have white sands and crystalline beaches.
We left Cebu City around 8am and arrived at Hagnaya port around 12 noon where rode on a ferry to take us to Bantayan a 45 minutes ride.
We stayed at Sugar Beach in Sta. Fe town since the rates are more affordable and they have finer beach front.The room was huge and clean.No fastfood or restaurants near by but you can always request to have them cook for you. The good thing is we bought foods just in case.

This is where we stayed

The beachfront of Sugar beach

On our second day,we went to Sta. Fe Beach Club where Ogtong Cave is. There is an entrance fee if you are not a check-in guest.We enjoyed their beach and went for a swim at their spring filled Ogtong Cave.

With my friends at Ogtong Cave

beachfront of Santa Fe Beach Club



We had fun on our two days stay in Bantayan Islands...Next time we'll go island hopping.