kentisnowhere: Visayas

Opon's Favorite: Lumpia ni Senyang

10:53 AM
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Weekend Fun at Tabuelan

Tabuelan is just a few hours away from Cebu City. This easygoing town is in between San Remigio and Tuburan. If you wish to be on a pristine beach minus the crowd, Tabuelan is the place to be.

How to Get There

Anyone can visit Tabuelan via two popular routes. Some take the Balamban route passing through the Transcentral Highway but most take the main city route. We opted for the main city route which will pass through Mandaue City, Danao City up to Sogod. We took a bus from Cebu North bus Terminal. There are several vehicle choices in the North Bus Terminal that ply the Tabuelan – Tuburan route.

Options:

Ceres Bus with air con – Php 115

Ceres Bus Regular (without air con) – Php 90

Inday Memie Bus (without air con) – Php 90

V-hire (air con) – Php 120

For a pleasant ride, the best choice is the Ceres Bus with Aircon. They have comfortable seats, cold air conditioning and they play full – length movies.

The bus will drop you off at their empty Tabuelan Bus Terminal which is adjacent to their public market. From there, hail a motorcycle (habal – habal) and inform the driver to bring you to your resort. Best to arrange pick up with the driver ahead of time since cellphone reception in Tabuelan is intermittent and unreliable.

Accommodation

Durhan White Beach

Maravilla Beach Club

La Familia Beach

We stayed at Durhan White Beach and got their AH accommodation. It’s a bungalow that has one room with two bunky beds plus a good for two person bed. It includes a functioning refrigerator and a two -burner gas stove. Mind you, this is a non – a/c accommodation.

Durhan Room Rates

Airconditioned Room for 2 – Php 1500

Airconditioned Room for 3 – Php 1800

Airconditioned Room for 4 – Php 4000

AH accommodation (non – air con) for 6 heads – Php 3100

Food

I suggest you bring your own food and buy your grocery items from the city. Since we were stubborn and didn’t bring our own food, we bought our grocery items from their public market. Unfortunately, Tabuelan Public Market does not offer much variety and quality.

We bought 3 kilos of Pork belly from one of the stalls. We bought the best – looking belly. And it was a total fail! When we started cleaning the belly, there was clearly an unpleasant smell from the pork. Yet, we still grilled and ate some of the pork. And we instantly realized that we were sold spoilt food.

Avoid their wet market. Bring your own food.

Luckily, Durhan White Beach has a dedicated restaurant which serves breakfast items and a sumptuous lunch. As expected, goods sold inside the resort are pretty expensive. Food price ranges from Php 150 – 300.

They also impose a corkage fee for drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). They have their own mini bar that serves drinks. You can buy a liter of rhum for Php 100 and pair it with your favorite cola for Php 30 for 1 liter. Durhan also sells a 5 gallon jug of drinkable water for Php 60. They don’t charge a corkage fee for food, though

If you plan on cooking your own food, you can use their dedicated grilling station and rent kitchen utensils.

Pair of spoon and fork – Php 2.50

Plate – Php 5 per piece

Cooking Pot / Pan – Php 25 per piece

Knife – Php 15

Activities

Frankly, there’s not much to do in Tabuelan. Just swim and enjoy the clear waters. You can also rent a motorcycle or bicycle and cruise around town.

We definitely enjoyed our short weekend fun in Tabuelan. So don’t wait for this place to become mainstream. Visit now before it gets too crowded.

7:10 AM
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Exploring Isla del Fuego - Siquijor Adventure

Siquijor

Siquijor - alternatively known as Isla del Fuego.

People often label Siquijor as peculiar. The island is quite known for being mystique and magical. These descriptions make the island more alluring to visit.

Siquijor is located in Central Visayas. Its capital is also known as Siquijor.

How to Get There

Getting there is easy. Read: How To Get To Siquijor

Accommodation

The area for most accommodation would be San Juan, Siquijor. This is where most backpackers look for affordable hostels.

We had a cheap yet comfortable stay at Casa Miranda Guesthouse. The place is strategically located along the roadside of San Juan. They don't have fancy rooms. They only have fan rooms which cost around Php 300 - 500 per night. This is quite a steal considering that it's a beachfront property. You'll get to enjoy the sunset whilst relaxing on a hammock, holding your favorite beer, and converse with people from different countries. Yes, most foreign backpackers prefer to stay in this underrated place.

Also, Casa Miranda is always happy to serve their guests with food and drinks. You can have a 50 - peso meal consisting of stir-fried rice, sunny side up, and your choice of meat.

There are other inexpensive inns within the area - Lorna's End of the World, JJ Backpackers, Charisma Beach Resort to name a few.

For more discounted Siquijor Island accommodations, please see this link

Things to Do

Tour

Anyone can explore Siquijor's hidden gems in a day. There are a number of ways on how to tour around the island.

If you are into driving then below are some options.

Motorcycle / scooter - Php 350 per day
Bicycle - Php 250 per day

If you want to just sit, enjoy the scenery, and let the driver do its thing, you can avail of the options below.

Tricycle with driver - Php 1,000
Multicab / Easy Ride with driver - Php 1,600
Motorcycle with driver (Habal - Habal) - price differs. You need to have strong haggling skills.

Since I have been to Siquijor twice, we have toured the island via scooter rental and a chartered Multicab ride.

Capilay Spring Park
Often referred as the oasis in the middle of a bustling town. This is popular among the locals. Take a dip in their refreshing spring pool and swim amongst the fishes.

Old Enchanted Balete Tree
A must visit place. This century - old tree holds hair- raising stories which contribute to the eerie feeling of the whole place. Also, get your toes ready for some nibbling action with their man - made fish spa.

Our Lady of Divine Providence Church
The main highlight of this stop is the statue of Sta. Rita or the infamous 'Black Mary'. Legend says that Sta. Rita is a 'nightwalker'

St Isidore de Labrador Church
This church has unique wood flooring. You'll feel like you're being transported to the past with every step on its historical floor.

Lazi Convent
This old structure looks stunning but needs restoration. Located just across St Isidore de Labrador Church.

Cambugahay Falls
After descending for several steps, Cambuhagay Falls will greet you with its blue water and green scenery. A rope swing is also available for adventure junkies.

Salagdoong Beach Resort
Great beach with a breathtaking cliff dive spot. They also have a restaurant which is a bit pricey.

There are still other places in Siquijor that are worth a visit. Spend at least a week to experience its culture, talk to locals, and act like one.

3:59 PM
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Swim with the Famous Oslob Whale Sharks

Cebu

Ever - wondered how it feels to swim with sharks? Well, if you can't afford a South African Shark Cage Dive and Great whites scare you a lot (who isn't?). Then Oslob Whale Shark Diving is the perfect experience for you.

Oslob is located in the southern part of Cebu. This is a 3 - 4 hour drive from Cebu City. This part of the province boasts awesome marine life. Great for scuba diving, swimming, beach bumming, and island hopping.

Oslob Whale Sharks

As per the locals, these baby whale sharks has always been in the area. They were even considered as 'pests' since these gentle giants are scaring away the fishes. And fishing is the common livelihood in the place.

But everything changed when a foreign tourist hired a fisherman to bring him near these young whale sharks. And that is how the famous Oslob Whale sharks attracted more tourist.

Person swimming with whale shark in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines

How to get there?

From Mactan International Airport, hail a cab that will take you to Cebu South Bus Terminal. Hop on a bus plying the Bato - Oslob route. The fare is Php 155.
Inform the ticket guy/driver to drop you off Tan-awan, Oslob or simply, Whale Shark. The bus ride will last for about 3-4 hours.

Most of the time, buses will drop you off at a resort that offers the whale shark experience. You'll have to pay Php 100 on top of the Php 500 (local tourist) and Php 1000 (foreign tourist) whale shark watching fee. The Php 100 includes free use of lockers, restrooms, shower, and transportation going to the briefing center.

But you can just walk directly to the Whale Shark Watching Briefing Station and skip the resort fees.

Alternatively, you can also book a plane ticket to Dumaguete airport because it's geographically nearer to Oslob than Mactan airport.

Where to Stay?

Oslob offers a variety of accommodations. Below are a few places to check.

Hotel Sebastian
Book now via Travelbook!
Book now via Agoda!

Seafari Resort Oslob
Book now via Travelbook!
Book now via Agoda!

Sascha's Resort Oslob
Book now via Travelbook!

Book now via Agoda!

For discounted Oslob accommodations, please see the links below:
Agoda's Top Recommendation
Travelbook's Top Recommendation

Whale Shark Experience

Once registered, you'll have to wait for your boat. Whale shark viewing is about 30 minutes.

There are few things that the tourists should remember before the activity.

Sunscreen application is strictly prohibited
Do not touch the shark
No more than 6 tourists per shark
Keep a minimum distance of 4 metres from the shark
No flash photography
No feeding from boats
Throw trash or any rubbish in proper bins

3:55 PM
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Biliran

Biliran - one of Philippines' smallest provinces in terms of area. Known for its rich waters and majestic mountains. This underrated province has so much to offer. You just need to be assertive enough to explore it.

For our 2015 year-end travel, we have decided to explore this laid-back island paradise.

Reaching the island is easy. You can access it via Cebu or Leyte. Since we are from Cebu, we bought our tickets from Roble Shipping Lines plying Cebu - Naval route. They have several travel accommodations. From The breezy economy to the exclusive cabins.

We departed from Cebu around 8:30 pm and reached Naval around 8am. Sadly, we had to wait for another two hours before disembarking since the tide was low and the boat cannot go near the port.

Finally, we reached Biliran island at 10am!

Sambawan

We then looked for a boat that will take us to Maripipi - Sambawan. Unfortunately, boats going to Maripipi do not operate on a Sunday. So we have to do the more expensive route which is via Kawayan.

Before going to Kawayan, we bought supplies from a nearby grocery store in Naval - Charlie's

We then rode a PUJ / Multicab that took us to Kawayan Port. It was an hour drive from Naval. We paid Php 30 each.

Since we took the Kawayan route, we had to haggle with the boat operators for a roundtrip boat transfer. This is a direct transport from Kawayan to Sambawan. Normally, they would offer Php3,000 to Php 3,500. In our case, we got a lower price of Php2,800 since it was off-season and we were the only passengers amidst the rowdy crowd of boatsman.

The boat ride was roughly an hour. It was calm and fast.

We reached Sambawan Island around 3pm. We were greeted by the caretakers' warmth. We paid Php 100 each for the entrance fee. They have few cottages available for day use Also, they have fan rooms for overnight use that can accommodate up to 10 people!

Cottage: Php 500

Room: Php 2,500

But for budget travellers, you can pitch your own tent for only Php 100 per tent.

The island is fairly small and interesting. You'll see the whole island when you climb up the hill and get that famous shot that you always see on the internet. Aside from the clear waters and ravishing sunset/sunrise, you can also experience the flourishing life below the surface. Sambawan is a great spot for snorkeling and diving.

The island doesn't have tap water. Seawater is used in the restrooms. They have a small canteen that sells and cooks canned goods and other instant meals. But it's advisable to bring your own food and drinks. And for the alcohol lovers, the canteen doesn't sell vodka nor beer.

Mainland Biliran

We left Sambawan at 12:30 pm and reached Kawayan at 2pm.

As expected, we were flocked by the habal - habal drivers (motorcycle drivers). Each saying that they can take us to Naval for Php 150 per motorcycle. But we are not yet heading to Naval. We want to explore the whole island the next day. And, we needed a place for the night.

We found Estreller's Sunset View resort. Dubbed as one of the cosiest places in the island. It has a spring pool and a great sunset view. Eventually, we spent the night in this place.

Before we hit the sack, we contacted a multicab driver that will tour us the next day. We called different drivers, but the price was just too high. Luckily, we found the best driver!

The driver agreed to a 12-hour tour for only Php 3,000 (includes gas).

For cheap Biliran accommodation, check out the links below
Agoda's Top Recommendation
Travelbook's Top Recommendation

Day Tour (6am - 6pm)

Masagongsong Cold Spring Swimming Pool

A public outdoor pool located in Brgy Masagongsong, Kawayan. This is just a few meters away from Estreller's Sunset View Resort. Entrance fee: Php 10

Agta Beach Scuba Resort

Probably the most popular resort in Biliran. This is a haven for scuba divers and the like.

Paradizu Bayview Resort

This is just a few kilometres away from Agta Beach Scuba Resort. This resort is situated on a cliff. The best place to view the sweeping bay.

Almeria Catholic Church

A beautiful church in the heart of Almeria Town.

Iyusan Rice Terraces

This majestic manmade agricultural landform is no longer exclusive to Banaue. Yes, Biliran has a lot of rice terraces.

Recoletos Falls

A 30-45 minute heart pounding and nerve-wracking trek is needed before you'll see the falls. Be extra careful because the pathway is right beside a cliff. The pathway tends to be slippery when it's' pouring.

Ulan-Ulan Falls

The same pathway with Recoletos. Again, be extra cautious when trekking.

Biliran Bridge

This connects Biliran to the rest of Leyte.

Nasunugan Watch Tower / Nasunugan Ruins

Ruins of a Spanish era structure made of coral stone blocks. This watchtower used to be a sanctuary for the religious. This was burned down by the Moros

Kasabangan Falls

This waterfall is located not far from the national highway. There is a foot bridge that will take you to the falls. Unfortunately, the foot bridge is in a bad state. Kasabangan falls is frequently visited by the locals. They've managed to create a few bleachers near the area. Entrance fee is Php 10 adults / Php 5 for children.

Casiawan Falls

A privately-owned falls. Entrance fee: Php 30

Tomalistis Falls

This is near the beach. Dubbed as the sweetest water in Biliran.

Mainit Hot Spring

There is great potential in this area. This needs to be rehabilitated by the LGU. Hot spring is located is right beside the national highway.

Tinago Falls

One of Biliran's best falls. This is the most known falls in Biliran.

Naval Spring Resort

Another spring pool resort. By far the best, amongst all spring pools we've visited.

Multicab Driver Contact number: 0916 446 4748

For cheap Biliran accommodation, check out the links below
Agoda's Top Recommendation
Travelbook's Top Recommendation

Biliran Island from Kent Lim on Vimeo.

8:13 AM
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How to get to Bantayan Island

Cebu

9:00 AM
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How to survive Boracay on a budget

Boracay

Yes, everything in Boracay comes with a price - waayyyy higher price. But if you're part of Forbes' richest. This post is not for you.

We all love to travel. But it's not that easy to show up in an airport and choose a random destination (how I wish I can do that). We have to carefully lay out a plan and that includes a travel budget.

Boracay - one of the most visited beach in the Philippines. With its clear waters, powdery sand, various food hubs, and fun-filled activities, you'll easily break your bank in a matter of hours.

Luckily, I've found a few ways to survive without draining my funds.

1.) Book an accommodation ahead of time - This way, you'll have the luxury to choose the best accommodation that is easy on the wallet. There are heaps of inns that offer an air-conditioned room for as low as Php 900 a night.

When I was there, We booked with Tan's Guest House located in station 2. They have great rooms! Most rooms come with a fridge. And, it is literally 30 seconds away from the beach. Price starts at Php 1000.

For other discounted Boracay accommodations, click this link

2.) When exploring the island, be on the lookout for cheap eats - Boracay is packed with different food places. And watch out for fancy looking restos because you'll definitely shell out more notes for a pasta meal.

Take advantage of local promotions. For instance, Tilapia 'n Chips' local treat - fish fillet paired with rice plus a glass of iced tea for only Php 99. Or you can also have your obligatory meal with Andok's. Gobble up their fried chicken and/or breaded pork chop. And thou shall not forget Mang Inasal! They'll be your life saver when the ultimate hunger kicks in. For under Php 150, you can enjoy their unlimited rice.

And of course, how can we forget the all-time favourite turo turo / carenderia for only Php 40 per viand.

3.) Do not spend all your money on expensive concoctions/cocktails - Walk a few minutes to Budget Mart. Buy your favourite bottle and enjoy whilst viewing the sunset. But, if there's really an urge to buy that expensive booze to experience the ambience of the bar, go ahead!

Also, most drinking hubs offer a happy hour that will satisfy your inner alcoholic self on a budget.

4.) Do not rush in paying Boracay water activities - you'll never know if the next person you'll bump into would offer a lower price. Be patient and learn to haggle. For sure, you'll get a better price.

5.) Plan your activities - yes, this is the ultimate money-saving technique. Have a budget and stick to it!

For cheap and discounted Boracay deals, check out this link

Well, that's an easy list! Good luck on your next Boracay Adventure!