Sugar? Yes please! :) Valentines Day in Oslob,Cebu

It was early January when one of my friends saw a seat sale with AirAsia departing Davao to Cebu. She asked us if we would like to travel this February 2015. And we said, hey! it would be a good idea to travel on Valentines Day. Fare only amounts to PHP 1,370 per/pax (inclusive of the return flight).

There were nine (9) of us who have agreed to come to this trip. Sofia, Eugine, Cathy, me and five of Sofia's friends whom now is also our friend. :) There was Charisma (Chang) and her boyfriend, Marky, her bestfriend Julius, ate Rosie and Tita Edna

Sofia and Eugine not in the picture.  

Oslob is  about 115.2 km South from Cebu City. Travel time is 3-4 hours by bus. Fare is PHP 150.00. It is suggested to be there in the morning because the whale sharks will be there at the area  only until 11:00 am. So if you do not wish to go over night at Oslob, be there early.

Tan-awan, Oslob Cebu

Facing the giants. It could swallow all nine of us without difficulty.

We have arrived at Cebu late in the afternoon. We had dinner at Giligans, Ayala Mall. We have agreed to travel to Oslob at 1:00am, both to save accommodation for the night and for the purpose of arriving there early. My friends Angel, Cathy, Julius and I went to Mango Square for a little beer and videoke. Eugine fetch Sofia at the airport. We meet the rest of the group at South Terminal at 12:00am. 

We've left Cebu at 1:00am as agreed. We have just advised the bus driver to drop us off at Whale Watching receiving area, and he did. There is a HUGE billboard outside the receiving area just along the highway. Though we have not seen it immediately because it was still dark when we get there. Imagine 4:30am. We were the first customer to arrived there on that date. We took a little rest, had coffee and waited until the break of dawn. 

With my friends and our local host (i forgot his name) 

Breakfast is available at the area. I had rice, bacon and egg @ PHP 70.00. But we went swimming before we ate breakfast. We have ordered in advance though so that after swimming, we could eat.

We have paid PHP 500.00 for the whale watching for 30 minutes inclusive of boat, lifevest, snorkel and goggles. We had brought with us underwater cameras. If you don't have one, you could rent there at PHP 100.00.

Hah! Watermark 

W/ my friend, Sofia. Lovin' the effect of sunlight.

Few minutes away from the area is a waterfall called Tumalog Falls. We went there after breakfast. We have paid PHP 40.00 inclusive of the motorcycle and the entrance to the waterfalls. Although, you still have to walk few meters downhill to get to the waterfalls. 

• We had lunch at Oslob Center. We have dropped by Baluarte and then Simala. It's along the way back to Cebu City.YES. It was a very looooong day. But it's worth it. 

To the last frontier, El Nido, Palawan

♪♫♪My heart is sinking as I'm lifting up

Above the clouds away from you.

And I can't believe I'm leaving

Oh I don't kno-kno-know what I'm gonna do.

But someday, I will find my way back 

To where your name Is written in the sand. ♪♫♪  

 ~Simpleplan ,Summer Paradise:)

It was January 2013 when Ate Grace, one of my ex-housemates at my boarding house in college came back from Oman. She told us that she is going to Palawan with her then boyfriend and now husband, Kuya Vanjow. She asked us if we, ex-housemates of Bahay ni Tatay might want go to Palawan and meet them there. Ate Grace had worked in Palawan as nurse for a year or two before working abroad. Only Ate Rachelle and I had agreed to come. 

We were lucky because that time, there was still direct flight from Davao to Palawan. We have paid about P2,400 per head for the airfare with Cebupacific. That's for back and forth. We have arrived at Puerto Princesa at 9am. We have noticed that there were many tourist guides waiting for their guests outside the airport. Some have rented vans to take them to their destinations. As for us, we walked a bit, and then rode on a tricycle to RORO Bus Terminal Station and headed North.

El Nido is 229.4 km north from Puerto Princesa. We had a short stop over at Taytay where ate Grace and Kuya Payat are waiting for us. It took us 6 to 7 hours to get to Taytay. I forgot how much is fare. It was so funny because when we arrived at Taytay they told us that we have just rode unto the most antique or the oldest RORO Bus there. But it's okey because it will cost us time if we will wait for the next available bus.

With the ostrich at Ate Grace's sister's house in Taytay.

With ate Grace and kuya Vanjow

We have seen this sunset on our way to El Nido

At Residencia Katrina, it seems like we're busy with our own business. :)

We rode on a van from Taytay to El Nido. It took us 2 hours or less. We had stayed at Residencia Katrina Bed and Breakfast. We had paid P 2,000 for the room accommodation good for 4 pax. I remember that I was still having tutorials then. Teaching Korean kids English online (via skype). After my tutorial for an hour, we went out for dinner by the beach. 

We went Island Hopping the next day. They have package tour A, B, C and D for lagoons, islets, coves and caves. We, however have availed of only one package tour because we only have one day to stay in El Nido. We have paid P800 per/pax for the package tour inclusive of lunch. 

While waiting for our food :)

Ate Rachelle waiting for the go signal for us to eat. 

View of Snake Island from the top. 

I'm not a fan of Life Vest :p

Passing the narrow entrance of Cudugnon Cave

Inside Cudugnon Cave. They say it used to be a hideout of
Japanese Soldiers during WWII

Pinagbuyutan Island

I'm definitely coming back to this paradise :)