Okay, am probably bluffing. I really didn’t get to see Cebu for all it’s worth. Blame it on the fact that I went there on a business conference sponsored by my beloved Company. There’s only so much you can do in three days when a good part of it is measured by marathon meetings, powerpoint presentations and the like. In fact, my favorite photo from this trip is not some tourist-y landmark, a towering skyline or a candid shot of one secluded beach at sunset. It is me in my hotel room dressed in a fluffy bathrobe. I’d like to think that the best part of a short journey when you’re all pressed for time is to be in the comfort of your room with its inviting bath, immaculate white sheets and the fantastic view from your window of the neon-lit city at night. These things you don’t ordinarily get at home.
My first impression of Cebu was how it closely resembled the usual city with its normal line-up of malls, shops and restos. It is said that what you can find in Manila, you can also get here. Likewise, my cousin warned me about encountering the usual suspects like snatchers and other petty thieves. It was a good thing that we were a sheltered bunch touring the city with our own drivers and airconditioned coasters. The heat was just extreme outside and though I wanted to see some of the sights, at one point I got on the wrong bus ~ the bus of people who wanted to go back to their hotel room and sleep instead of exploring the scenery.
Some notes from my recent jaunt to Cebu:
Tabu-an Market is the place to go for precious pasalubong like danggit and other dried fish. But beware, spend just a few hours here and you can smell really yucky. Even my undies smelled of dried fish when we got back to the hotel 😛
The lobby of the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug was really huge, with its own duty free shops in the ground floor.
The Marco Polo Hotel where we stayed was quite uncharacteristic. Stayed here when it was still the Cebu Plaza but I don’t have much memory of that time either.
Red carpet treatment and unbeatable service in the two casinos. Asia’s Friendliest pa rin!!!
Ballroom dancing galore at Casino Filipino’s Teatro Cebu. The old ladies here must like dancing so much because they come dressed to the nines. Dancing instructors were a-plenty and one was patient enough to teach me the moves of mambo-salsa.
Our group placed second in a talent competition. Yay! I haven’t danced in public in a long time.
Strolling down Ayala Center and noticing a few interesting restaurants which I must try on my next visit.
Outside the mall, Sunburst Fried Chicken!
Visiting the famed Plantation Bay and having lunch at Shangri-La Mactan’s Tea of Spring Chinese Restaurant with a good friend, the hotel’s director of communications.
Getting stoned with punch and wine on the last night. What a way to end our fun Cebu trip!
The visayas are truly one of the most pleasant places to travel… whatever you want from a holiday, you’ll find it there. Nothing like hop on the Supercat and head to some new island 🙂
Looks like a nice hotel you were staying, which one was it, and how much the rate ???? Maybe a tip for next time.
So true Pascal.. the islands are just very near each other, only 45 minutes to go to the nearest province like Bohol.
We stayed in the Marco Polo. Unfortunately, I don’t know the rate:)
Oh yummy! Sunburst fried chicken! What hotel you’re staying in is definitely, for me, half the fun when you go to a different place… and the fluffy bathrobes as well. 🙂 Uy, galing mo pala sumayaw! 🙂 Hey, I texted you Alice’s no.
Hi Toe. I received your text but the name card is not recognized by my mobile phone… can we try again? In the meantime, maybe you can give my number to Alice. Yay..am not really a good dancer..just good at trying,hehe
The best thing about Cebu is its people. They are one of the friendliest and most hospitable people I have met and they also love to sing and parteeh.
You will experience the best of Cebu and enjoy Cebu more when you are with a Cebuano. Believe me!
Hi Betty. I presume you are a Cebuano? I think Visayans in general love to sing and parteeh, I guess they’re more hapy go lucky than the rest 😛
thanks for choosing pics in which I am in! i’ve been waiting for this post since we came back hehehe. love your blogs. you go gurl!!!
Uy, first time to comment. Thanks Lovi, and thanks for sending me the pics. We really had a fun time on the last night huh. We had a live band, the whole dancefloor and unlimited wine to ourselves, hehehe 🙂
nature’s beauty and good scenery can never be perceived if your emotion has been crippled. Try to have a tour with your loved ones together even in the smelly creek, I am sure this place will be treasured and appreciated. have a nice day.