Damnsel Travels : 5 Days in Cebu

Going to an unfamiliar place feels like a trip to another world, and although Cebu City looked almost like Manila, I couldn't help but marvel at my new surroundings. The feeling that everything was yet to be discovered by me, got me all pumped up. I had been looking forward to this trip for ages and I just felt this need to share with you how memorable this trip had been for me.

First stop: Plantation Bay Resort & Spa in Mactan Island. We stayed there overnight, and enjoyed the cozy ambience and the impressive interiors and facilities. We were greeted by a lobby that looked like a wooden cottage. A soothing sound is provided by a pianist at the lobby as we waited to be checked in, while another musician entertained us with his jazz music in the evening.

The view got even better the next morning with hectares of well laid-out man-made beach interspersed with stylish restaurants, swimming pools and comfortable accommodations and other amenities.

photo credits to my mom, I love this photo so much!

Unfortunately, we immediately had to get to the port as fast as we could. It was a three to four-hour trip to the port. The air was filled heavily with the smell of fish and the sea. The throngs of people at the port were in complete frenzy; apparently, we weren’t the only ones in a rush. The next thing we knew, we were already on the boat going to Bantayan Island.

It was an hour or so of seeing nothing but blue and clear water. The rays of the sun glistened on the surface of the water. I was expecting the temperature to be as high as it is in Manila, but surprisingly, I felt the cool air blow and it made me a little chilly. Soon enough, I was able to make out the silhouette of the island, a hint that we’re about to dock.

Bantayan Island is a small, rustic island, raw and unspoiled. A few resorts lined the shores with some bars and modest restaurants that offered a relaxing view of the pristine waters.

My feet felt the prickly sand and I started scouting for hermit crabs and shells. The sun was almost setting by the time we got to the beach resort, but the view was exhilarating just the same. It was like a scene taken out of a movie. The next morning, we spent some more time in the beach, gathering shells, making a sand castle (which didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to). We even saw a starfish, in the flesh (but we set it free immediately).

photo credits to my mom (again) :))

We soon found ourselves making our way back to Cebu City. And finally getting there after the three to four-hour boat ride and land trip, we immediately scouted for a place to eat.  We were so happy to eat at Zubuchon located at the IT Park.  When in Cebu, Zubuchon’s super crispy and flavorful lechon is a total must-not-miss. We just couldn’t get enough of this delicious treat that we decided to buy some at the airport before our flight back to Manila.

The next day, we set off for the last leg of our Cebu trip -- a day tour of the City. We started with the Philippine Taoist Temple, where the climb through flights of stairs proved to be a real challenge, but the tiring climb was worth it. The peak gave us a breathtaking view of the city.

really love the details and decorations of the Taoist Temple

We also went to see The Heritage of Cebu Monument, a towering statue honoring the historical defeat of Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan by local chieftain Lapulapu. Thanks to a local who showed me the best spot where I could take a great shot of the historical landmark!

We also passed by other places like the oldest house in Cebu City and Fort San Pedro.  We also had a brief tour of the Cathedral Museum just across Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral,   which houses Catholic artefacts, like the letters of Mother Theresa and early day equipment used in celebrating the Holy Mass.

We visited the Basilica del Santo Nino, but we weren’t lucky enough to see the famous Magellan’s Cross which was then undergoing some repair works.  Too bad, I was really looking forward to seeing it.

Our Cebu adventure is unforgettable not only because of the sights and the great food, but also because of the new things I’ve experienced. It was a trip of many firsts. It was my first time to ride a plane and a ferry boat, and to come face to face with interesting sea creatures that included unexpectedly catching a sea snail. And most of all, it was my first time to set foot outside of Luzon, to explore some of the wonders of the Visayas.

Our trip had ended and we caught out flight home at around 6 am. I was blessed to have an interesting view of the sun rise from my window seat on the plane. The vibrant beams of the sun burst through the clouds. Its magnificent colors spread as the sun peeked out of its resting place to signal the dawn of a new day, of a new adventure.

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How about you, what's your latest summer adventure so far? Include it in your comments below!

Lemonade

Hey you, yep, I’m talking to you.

You’re probably wearing thick-rimmed glasses and monthly-adjusted braces.

You’re probably walking with your shoulders slumped, your head facing down and your eyes focused on the ground.

You’re probably wearing make-up, with polished and painted nails, and that glamorous smile, but deep inside you feel empty and ugly.

You’re probably listening to music set to high volume so you won’t hear what the world screams at your face because it’s just too painful.

You’re probably counting the pills you’ll take, thinking of ways to die, thinking of ways to end your sorrows, once and for all.

You’re probably thinking that death is the only solution to end a life of solitude, and/or pretending, and/or crying, and/or enduring, and/or hurting.

But you probably might just want to think, consider even just for a minute, of living.

Yeah, sure, life is hell, life sucks. Believe me when I say that, I too have been through a hell load of crap that at some point I also wanted to give up. At some point, I wanted my life to end because I thought I can’t take it any longer, but don’t you just want to know what might happen if you live through all this load of crap?

Maybe what’s important is not how difficult what you’re going through is, maybe what’s important is if you get through it. You’ll think you can’t, you’ll think it’s impossible, and you’ll think you’re not strong enough for it. But if you’re weak, you wouldn't have gone this far. Look back at how much you've gone through because sometimes, we tend to forget what we've accomplished and only remember our failures and defeats, and all that negative stuff. It's human nature to only see what's bad, it's blinding us from looking at the brighter side. Look back and you’ll realize you've gone through so much, you've gone past a lot.Each time it gets harder, you get stronger.

You've already gone too far to give up now.

As said in my favorite cartoon show, The Amazing World of Gumball, "When life hands you lemons, you gotta make some lemonade."

At first I thought it was just funny, but then I realized it meant more than a joke. When life is being a real pain in the ass, take advantage of it. Make yourself stronger from it. You make lemonade, you make something good, out of something bad that life is throwing at you.

P.S.
According to my friend, Nicolo, when life gives you lemons, you gotta SQUEEZE IT BACK IN LIFE'S EYES. (sadistic but cool right?)

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