It's my 2nd time and Coron! My second chance was all about re-exploring and re-appreciating the beauty of this piece of paradise on earth. 

Back in 2012, I traveled with my friends for the first time. This year, 2015, was there for a company planning/ outing and must say, even though I've been to places we visited, there were nooks and crannies I left unexplored.

Of course, Coron has 50 minor islets in the Calamian Archipelago of Northern Palawan and a few days each wouldn't be enough. I was thrilled to be back!

• Mt. Tapyas- was able to conquer the 720 steps in 2012 but this time, was able to experience the 'back door' while we waited for the sunset. The back door I'm mentioning is the hilly top at the back of the gigantic white cross. I was like, oh! If the view deck gives a panoramic shot of the city (with the houses and everything), the 'back door' was pure nature: hills, skies, greenery. It was wonderful.

View from below or 720 steps below hilltop level

Panoramic shot from the view deck

This bahay-kubo is already at the 'back door'

Look at the scenery (me included) going to that nipa. This is beside the pathwalk.

Apparently, the scenery is conducive for this drama. haha

Can you see the view??? Thus my own drama. haha

Sunset at Mt. Tapyas

Time to go down

• Malcapuya Island- first time here and if I was all praise for Banol Beach last time, Malcapuya Island gives a different kind of exhilaration. It offers a stretch of wine sand amidst the crystal clear blue waters. It was breathtaking! What's more, it's not yet developed that close to the nature, it was. There were hammocks we rested in while enjoying the view. Lunch was also superb here. The freshness of our meal complemented the serene surroundings. 

I call this the docking area because here's where we parked our boat

What greeted us! WOW!

I had to take a shot, of course

Serene :)

Safe to swim also. You can see what you're stepping on and water's very clear

Away but shallow

There are fishes here near the corals!

• Twin Lagoon- again, my first time. Wasn't able to go here last time. Going to Twin Lagoon was spectacular. Limestone cliff formations were just so awesome. As we wade through our way, our jaws dropped. Twin Lagoon though is perfect for a swim especially when in the inner lagoon. But it was so deep already that of course, that snorkeling isn't advisable.

On our way to the lagoon

Not yet there but the limestone cliffs enveloping us were hard to resist (not to take photos of!) 

Outer part of the lagoon where we docked

The shallow part connecting to the other lagoon

Happy to be at the inner part of the lagoon, eh?

• Kayangan Lake- as always, Kayangan Lake never fails to impress. It was stunning! Beyond compare. After quite a steep ascend, I was already anticipating the breathtaking view from atop and whoa, still an exhilarating panorama. Same goes with our descent to Kayangan Lake. Happy to note that it's still as clear though there were less fishes than I can remember. Probably because we were a big group so they went away (hope so). This time too, just enjoyed the 'unsalted' water. Last time here, explored the caves but it was fun just to swim back and forth. 

The most photographed, and for a reason

Mandatory turista shot--- bec I don't have a copy before

Trail down to the freshwater lake

What a beauty! Apart from us, that is

Enjoying some freshwater

Coron is still a beauty. Three years after, I'm still in awe. I pray and hope that come another 3 or more years, Coron will stay as pristine, as beautiful. I know we Filipinos can maintain this paradise. I will never run out of hopes for my beautiful country and confidently beautiful (with a heart) countrymen. :)

I <3 CORON!

Some photo credits to dey, henry and blesr. 

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Saturday, December 19, 2015

The island of Coron is blessed with divine beaches, pristine waters and amazing dive/ snorkeling sites. Three years after, I'm glad to see that its town proper is still as rustic and as simple as it can be: no malls, no big grocery stores, no fast food or coffee chains. 

That's what I love about this little piece of heaven on earth: beautiful yet unassuming. Second time around, having more time to explore the town, I was able to enjoy some of its unique coffee shops and restaurants. Thanks to TripAdvisor, learned that Coffee Kong is good and near the hotel. 

Night-cap

Small but comfy

The place is just small but I love their Banana Choco Frappe at Php 160. It's my first time to try banana as my drink with my favorite chocolate and happily, it did not disappoint. The price, as the sole coffee shopt in town if I'm not mistaken, is priced for tourists. Ala say, Starbucks but enjoyed this more. 

Wi-fi connection is better here too than in my hotel.

Good way to seal the night with sweetness!

Coffee Kong is located at:

Brgy. 5, National Highway, 

Coron, Palawan,

Philippines

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Saturday, December 12, 2015

Rico's Lechon is claiming to be Cebu's best, directly competing with the famous Zubuchon. Alright then, it's a new kid in the town of Cebu so when we visited there again, second time this 2015, rushed to taste their offering. Glad there's one near Ayala Center Cebu. 

Trying to get a picture but it's too dark outside.

It's us, don't be afraid. Haha

Lechon is an order for sure but choosing between regular and spicy was a debate. They said spicy lechon is so good but not wanting that, ended up for the regular. One half (1/2) kilo Regular lechon is at Php 310. Their lechon was good, not so salty alright but I somehow missed the aroma and flavor of Zubuchon's, making the latter still better for me. Although admittedly, the result could be otherwise if we chose the spicy. Anyhow, Cebu is just a few hours plane ride from Manila, hahaha. :p

Regular lechon

Aside from lechon (though I don't have photos already), ordered also:

• Monggo (good for 3-4 persons) at Php 180. Now this one's a good deal. Nothing so special but good enough for a chilly night.
• Chicken Skin at Php 135. Wow, chicken skin is almost as expensive as monggo but then again, that's chicken skiiiiiin and you can never go wrong with that (assuming we don't count the bad cholesterol, of course)

It was a challenge well fought, Rico's. That's evident with the many people lining up for dinner in their full house Kamputhaw branch. 

Rico's Lechon Menu: 

Rico's Lechon Menu

Rico's Lechon other offerings menu

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/cebu/ricos-lechon-kamputhaw" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Rico's Lechon, Kamputhaw and other Restaurants in Cebu" target="_blank"><img alt="Rico&#039;s Lechon Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/17828258/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> Rating: 4

Rico's Lechon has a branch in:

Tojong Corner Acacia Street, 

Kamputhaw, Cebu

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

An adventure in Cebu wouldn't be EXTREME without Crown Regency Cebu's Skywalk Adventure. At Php 1,000 package price, we enjoyed three thrilling rides:

• Skywalk
• Edge Coaster
• Urban Zipline

Photography is not allowed while up in the sky so we bought separate package for this. It's a must for a city adventure such as this!

SKYWALK- it might look like an ordinary walk in the park, but no-no. It still requires a great deal of strength! I don't even have the courage to peek on the edge. I was able to peek only in areas where the flooring's clear. Thirty-six stories? With only the harness and the flooring keeping us afloat? Whoah!

Aside from the 'walk', another plus was also the 360-degree view of the Queen City of the South. So breathtaking! 

The guides added the fun in the walk, too. 

EDGE COASTER- just sitting pretty? Oh, no. This was scarier for me. Imagine, at the first few seconds, the coaster was titled! And it's only the lock that's keeping us. Though we had the option to tilt it in a sitting position so as not to see what's under us, the chance was too rare. Might as well enjoy the ride!

Look at my fez in the first photo, below. HAHAHA. 

URBAN ZIPLINE- the first of its kind. An exhilarating 8 seconds going down! Going back to Crown tower was much slower. Perfect view of the city lights.

 Had sooo much fun! Obviously, right? 

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Friday, February 27, 2015

Sumilon in Oslob, Cebu was once listed as a must-see sandbar in the Philippines. Was so lucky to have enjoyed this famous papaparaside, recently.

But before that, let me first applaud search engines. For without it, I never would have known that hitting two adventures with one stone's possible. The beauty of DIY!

It's hard to miss, really. I mean the island. Even when excited or engrossed swimming with the gentle giants, the private island of Sumilon can be easily spotted.

The whaleshark encounter won't take too long. So usually, a sidetrip elsewhere's arranged. Mostly, the cheapest and nearest is Tumalog Falls. A few minutes ride up the mountain via habal-habal.

Well Sumilon's a road (or sea?) less traveled. 

Though just a short 10-15 minute ride via a relatively large outrigger boat, price haggling was cruel. Even when raining, Php 2,000 was still the last price given (entrance per head they already included).

Expensive. I was hoping to bring it down to Php 1,000 based on the blogs I've read. But since they won't budge, might as well grab whatever. For that moment in Sumilon.

Happily, the trip was worth it. And hope these pictures would help paint that thousand words.

Almost there!

Oh sandbaaar!

Ooops, we're only allowed up to this point

Bad weather, but not the sight!

I can stay here loooong

:)

Clear waters despite the weather; fine creamy sand; the stillness of nature; the melody of the waves; amazing rock formations; not too salty water and little creatures living. It was a sight to behold. I wish I could fill in my lungs all the positivity and fresh air of that moment.

I wish too, to have stayed longer. If only I'm richer by a few thousands, I'll pay for a day trip in Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort-- an exclusive island were day tours range from Php 1,500- 2,000 per pax.

Bucketlist, prepare. 

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Saturday, February 21, 2015

Another tick in my bucket list: swimming with the whale sharks or butanding! One surreal and unforgettable experience!

Oslob, for their whaleshark encounter, only made a buzz a few years back. It rose to fame within the traveling community fast because the chance of seeing them in flesh was fat.

We had to be sure it's fat. The ride from Cebu City to Brgy. Tan-Awan, Oslob was about three (3) hours long.

That entailed waking up before dawn. Caught the earliest bus ride from South Bus Terminal to Brgy. Tan-Awan at 3am sharp.

It might sound like only the bravest can do, but really it's easy. Bus conductors already know where to drop travelers looking for this kind of adventure. 

We stopped at MB's Sunrise View Resort. After paying fees (Php 300 for whale shark watching/ Php 500 for swimming plus Php 100 resort fees), they took us by boat to the Briefing Center where do's and don'ts were discussed. Of the few that I could remember were:

• Each group's allowed 30 mins of watching or swimming 
• Distance from the whale shark should be 4 meters 
• No flash photography as they're sensitive to light
• No to sunscreens

Road sign so as not to get lost.

After the reminders, we went back again to the boat to wear our life vest and hola! All aboard to swim with the whale sharks! The interaction area was pretty near the shore. 

Not that far, right?

Once within, it didn't take long for us to meet the gentle giants. The moment I saw baby butanding (because I was still on the boat), I wanted to jump at once. Thirty minutes was just too short and I had to relish every moment. Seeing them on the boat was different from sharing the same water-space with them. Like, whoah!

Hello there, baby!

Submerged in water, it was kind of scary at first. I wanted to verify and recall my science lesson. Really, they don't eat humans? Once I'm sane, every time it's near, I'm awestruck though they smell fishy! I can't get over its breathing gills, too. And, my symbiotic relationship lesson was coming all over again. What do we call those freeloaders, again?

Up close and personal!

Of course, we cannot let this moment pass without pictures. The boatman and his assistant took us one by one for the photo-opp. The harsh process goes like this: they'd push us underwater (with or without life vest), then we'd strike a pose. I was afraid of trying it without my life vest on in my first few shots. But for precious moment's sake, I mustered everything for that, as kuya said, "perfect profile pic."

So here were my attempts for a selfie with baby butanding:

Look at my stunt with kuya! hahaha

Now for a groufie!

Better without the lifevest on. Hahaha

I keep on saying 'what an experience!' I hope that by enjoying them in the flesh no serious harm's done. It would be great if future generations will still be able to marvel at this wonder. 

P.S. Whale shark watching is until 1pm only. The usual side trip after that is in Tumalog Falls, but we took a different course, in Sumilon. Enjoy reading!

Here's our travel itinerary to Oslob, Cebu.

TIME	ITINERARY	PRICE
2:30-3:00 AM	Hotel to South Bus Terminal (Ceres)	Php150.00
3:00-6:00 AM	South Bus Terminal to Brgy. Tan-Awan via Ceres Bus (Non-aircon)	Php150.00
6:01 onwards	Sunview Hotel Registrtation	Php100.00
	(use of facilities such as shower and 'locker' included
	Whale Shark Watching	Php500.00
	Add-ons: Underwater cam rental	Php550.00
1:00-2:00PM	Side-Trip:
	Sumilon: (Free area only)/ Boat rental	Php2,000.00
2:01-4:30PM	Ceres bus to Cebu City (aircon)	Php155.00
	TOTAL:	Php3,605.00
	*Plus food and tip

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Sunday, February 15, 2015