Cebu-Bohol Adventure June 20-23, 2014

CEBU-BOHOL ADVENTURE

June20-23, 2014

 Warning:  A "backlog" blog post, over one (1) year in the making :-D

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 (CLARK-CEBU)

Arrival in Cebu City

Since our flight to Cebu is scheduled at 8:40 PM, our group managed to report for work on Friday and went straight to Clark Airport after quitting time.  We arrived at Clark a little past 6PM, thanks to Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway!

We traveled light, hence, we have no luggage for check-in.  We had no hassle checking in except for one of our friend who forgot her ID!  Tips for lakwatseras and lakwatseros, always bring a Valid Identification Card when traveling, it definitely saves time and effort:-)  Anyways, the good thing is that the Customer Representative from Cebu Pacific considered the digital copy of ID shown by our friend.

Our flight departed on time and we arrived in Cebu at 10:05 PM.  One of our friends arranged transportation to pick us up from the airport to take us to our accommodation.

At 10:30 PM we checked in at Dragon Home Inn (175 Gen. Echavez St. Lorega, San Miguel, Cebu City).  We freshened up and went out for late dinner at Abuhan!

After dinner we hanged out a bit at Mango Avenue and went straight hotel afterwards as we are scheduled to go to Oslob, Cebu the next day.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 (CEBU CITY - OSLOB, CEBU) 

Swimming with the Gentle Giants of Oslob

Our call time is at 4:00am as the travel time from Cebu to City to Oslob, Cebu is approximately 3-4 hours.  Our budget for transportation was at Php 1,000 each, however, one of our friends managed to arrange a transportation (FB) free of charge.

We arrived at Tan-awan, Oslob Cebu a little past 7AM.  We were all excited as it is everybody's first time to ever try this once in a lifetime experience "bonding with butandings" or to swim with the Whale Sharks of Tan-awan, Oslob Cebu.  Based from our research, the Whale Sharks Encounter can only be availed in the morning, as it is their feeding time.

After paying the necessary fees including boat rental, gears (life vest, goggles and snorkels), we boarded a boat while the boatman paddled to the Briefing Area.  Some facts about the Whale Sharks and all the information on swimming/encounter with "Butandings" are discussed at the Briefing Area.  Locals pay PhP 1,000/each while Foreign Tourists pay PhP 1,500 each.

Our group photo before boarding our boats
We were divided into two groups, five pax each boat.  Here are some important info/tips to remember prior the Whale Shark Encounter: 
 -Be sure to leave all your belongings at the designated locker.
 -Refrain from using camera's flash (I suggest you leave your camera or phones at the locker and 
  bring underwater camera if you must or you can ask the resort if they have an underwater camera 
  available for rent);
-The Whale Shark Encounter is only good for 30 minutes so make the most of it!!!
-Do not use use sunscreen lotion;
-Do not approach the sharks more than 4 meters;
-Most importantly, Do not touch the sharks! 

At first, I must admit it was a bit scary and overwhelming!  Imagine a huge fish as big as our boat or even bigger swimming beside me! OMG!  I assure you though, you will overcome all your fears, I just did!  Because once I realized I am the only one left on the boat and all of my friends are already in the water.  I took off my life jacket and just used the goggles and snorkel to see underwater.

The BEST experience EVER!!!
I was the last one on the water when this magical photo was taken:-)  Buwis-buhay, hahaha!  Kudos to the boatman for all our underwater photos who became an expert at underwater picture-taking based from experience.  He counted and coached us when to go underwater.  We didn't have an underwater camera, hence, we rented one at the resort, and the boatman became our official photographer.

Our group photo after the Whale Shark Encounter

Wacky Group Photo after our bonding with the Butandings

Right after getting off the boat, I noticed itchiness and redness at the side of my right knee.  The boatman immediately poured vinegar as "first-aid".  Apparently, I was stung by a jellyfish!  No worries though as it appeared to be not poisonous, (Thanks God!)  However, the itching turned into rashes and it took almost a month before it healed completely.  I still have the scar from that jellyfish sting up to now.

Our group decided to have breakfast at the resort before heading back to Cebu City.  We had the usual Filipino Breakfast by the beach and ordered fresh buko juice, as in fresh from the tree! 

We traveled from Oslob, Cebu right after breakfast. We had to stop over at Carcar, Cebu Public Market to buy puso (rice) and their famous lechon.  We reached Cebu City at lunch time.  We had the puso and lechon for lunch with our driver.

After lunch, we went back to our hotel to rest a bit and prepared for  the 5:00pm Anticipated Mass at Basilica Minore del  Sto. Niño de Cebu (which is still under repair, because of the recent earthquake).

It was raining hard, but the rain stopped after the mass.  Although it was drizzling a bit, we strolled to Magellan's Cross and the Cebu City Hall.

At 7:00pm we had Dinner at STK (Su-Tu-Kil) Sugba Tula Kilaw (Inihaw, Tinola, Kinilaw)
100% Guaranteed Masarap!

After dinner we strolled at IT Park and had desserts at La Marea.  Soon after that we had a few drinks at Moon Cafe.  

 It was hubby's first  time in Cebu while it's my second time.  We really wanted mag suroy-suroy sa Sugbo but our call time for our full day in Bohol is also very early!  We have to catch the ferry on time or else! We can't afford to swim from Cebu to Bohol, jk!

SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014(FULL DAY IN BOHOL)

5:00am Call time
5:30am Jetty pier
              Travel to Bohol via Ocean Jet @ 6:00 A.M. (Cebu-Tagbilaran) (Tip: Book online!)
Full day in Bohol c/o Dodong
Budget: Php 1,800 including Ocean Jet Fare (PhP 800/pax –roundtrip)

  Bohol Tour

(PhP 1K/pax) inclusive of van rental, entrance fees and River Cruise w/ Buffet Lunch

-Chocolate Hills Tour

-Butterfly Garden
-Manmade Forest
-Tarsier Conservation
-Hanging Bridge (Try the Ginanggang na Saging for merienda)
-Floating Restaurant with Lunch (Loboc River Cruise)
-Blood Compact
-Baclayon Church
-Dauis Church
-Python Conservation
-Hinagdanan Cave

5:00pm Travel back to Cebu  (Tagbilaran-Cebu)
8:00pm Dinner/Night out in Cebu
               -Dinner at Larsian BBQ Fuente Osmeña
 -Coffee at Bo’s Coffee


MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

Cebu City Tour
5:30am Call time
6:00am Pasalubong Shopping
-Tabo-an Market for Dried Fish and Dried Squid
-Shamrock for at Fuente Osemeña
8:00am Back to Hotel Dragon Home Inn
8:15am Taoist Temple
9:15am Breakfast at Carlo’s La Paz Batchoy at Capitol
10:00am Back to Hotel Dragon Home Inn
12:00pm Check Out
12:15pm  Lunch at CNT Lechon (Rama Avenue) near SM Cebu
2:00pm Cebu International Airport
4:50pm Flight back to reality (CEBU-CLARK)
6:10pm Arrival to Clark

#midyearlakwatsa2014#tropangfoodtrip

PanxKlengMikeYengGlenbuKojiAtty.MIkeChaCaloyChe

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