Endangered Specie

Now I wouldn’t feel guilty at all if I’d say I wanted to travel the East side of the globe.  Not long ago, I dreamed of travelling atleast 1 or 2 provinces or city located in each 3 Philippine island groups Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao if I do that, I’m good.  I’ve been to Pampanga, Pangasinan and as far as Baguio.  Bohol, Aklan, and Cebu in Visayas, and of course Koronadal City in South Cotabato, Davao, and General Santos so I guess that makes me feel good =8)

4 days in Cebu was more than a lot of fun in the water, road trip, and the dreaded thing that makes you big - FOOD! 

We stayed at Hilton Cebu hotel and resort, the newest hotel resort in Mactan just 15 minutes away from the airport and a 30-minute drive to downtown Cebu.  It has a smaller beach front compared to Shangri-la Mactan and their building is higher but the view is also perfect.  The architectural design of the building is impressive specially when the lights are turned on at night but not too much at the day.  The color of the building reminds me of Paris Hilton

The food is sumptous with a lot of choices.  Boutique shops are open til 10pm and the hotel staffs are extremely nice.  Their excellent security measures to all the guests makes everybody comfortable to walk around the premises.  Over-all the hotel is a good place to enjoy vacation at the beach, relax and unwind, and a romantic place to celebrate special occassions.  It’s like another hidden paradise unfolded in the white sands of Mactan beach.

Auntie Nilda’s bestfriend during her medicine years Tita Mila was so nice and hospitable to tour us around Metro Cebu with major cities include Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay.  She brought us to the historical Magellan’s cross and one of the oldest church in the history of Christianity the Sto. Nino shrine right in the heart of Cebu.  We went to Taoist temple and saw the top view of the busy city of Cebu.  We passed by Malacanang South better known to them as Malacanang sa Sugbo where Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had her oath-taking for the first time as the duly-elected president of the Philippines. 

Cebu is a progressive region with infrasctructures already comparable to Manila.  The people’s fund are well-utilized and visibly seen in every corner of the road.  It’s not that "provincial look" that I was expecting to see.  I wish the government in the South particularly in Mindanao can do the same because honestly speaking, Mindanao has a lot of potential to invite foreign investors and businessmen in Manila.

Before hitting the road back to the hotel, we had dinner at Tita Mila’s house.  We had Cebu’s lechon as our main dish and it was really good and take note without the sauce!  I have no idea how much servings I had that night so to avoid the feeling of guilt better not look at the weighing scale…oh boy.

The next day, we just stayed at the hotel and soaked in the water the whole day.  The sun was really freaking hot to go swimming at the beach so we decided to stay in the pool.  One thing we all noticed, most of the checked-in guests are Asians - Koreans, Japanese, and some Chinese.  I attended a yoga at the beach one morning and we are only 2 Filipnos in that activity - me and the instructor and the rest?  They’re all Koreans!  Where are they coming from?  Anyway, all of them were nice and quiet.  Aside from the outdoor activities, Hilton hotels also have cooking demos so for those of you who are taking an indoor buddy he would not really feel bored in the hotel.

4 days was really enjoyable I wish my hubee was with me but I didn’t really missed our chats and my emails because I checked them once in a while in their free internet located in the lobby.

Thinking of the place to go in Cebu?  Check out hilton.com and explore Metro Cebu.  What a Cebu experience! =)

Better late than never, our trip last year was worth remembering. It was my first travel outside the country with the most special person in my life, my hubee Poms. Here are some of the highlights we had during our stay in China.

My parents-in-law treated us for a 9-day tour in the 3 big cities of China with stop-over in Hong Kong. It was right after our civil wedding when my parents-in-law decided to have a short vacation in China at the same time look for a cheaper tokens for the members of our wedding entourage (at that time we were also preparing for our church wedding).

Hong Kong Disneyland though small is a great place for kids and young ones who haven’t been to any Disneyland yet. If any of you plan to visit Europe, Tokyo, or LA Disneyland, you better visit Hong Kong first. Otherwise, you will not appreciate HK Disneyland. It was raining when Hubee and I got there. At the entrance gate, raincoats with Mickey and Minnie mouse logo are on sale. Though we already have 1 big umbrella enough for the both of us, we still bought raincoats as souvenirs.

For the first timers of Manila you won’t get lost. For each area there are 2 languages on all sign boards – English and Chinese and the best thing about it, all the Disneyland staffs speak fluent English. The mascots are in every corner of the store. The line at Mickey and Minnie mouse were the longest under the drizzle. We chose to have a picture taking with them because they are the highlights as in the symbols of Disneyland. After that rainy but enjoyable trip to Disneyland, we departed for China.

Shanghai – China’s most modernized city

Our Chinese tour guide is extremely nice and friendly. He met us at the airport which I thought looks like the whole Ayala Avenue in Makati. That huge! And I thought the Hong Kong airport was already 5 times the size of our very own NAIA wait til you see Beijing’s airport.  After checking in at the hotel, our tour guide brought us to the heart of the city.

We went to see Jin Mao building, the country’s tallest building which is said to be the 5th tallest tower in the world. It has 88 floors situated in the area of Pudong. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get a glimpse of the top because it was cloudy and the weather is not as good as we left Manila. Then we went to Oriental Pearl tower, the TV station where its building has a peculiar shape like 3 big pearls stuck in a barbecue stick. Our architects in Manila would surely enjoy seeing the odd but creative shapes of the buildings in China.

The next day we were brought at the factory of silk and pearls. I must say the Chinese people are so gifted in making earring designs for the pearls but the best pearls in the world are still found in Mindanao – not because it’s the homeland of my hubee but I’m telling the truth Before we left Shanghai City we went to the night market in Nanjing to buy some pasalubong. Believe it or not, the bags, blouses, and purses that I see in Greenhills are more than three times cheaper there. We were able to buy our tokens for 250 each there compared to Manila’s price that costs 700-800 each and you can still haggle! With already heavy luggages on our way to Beijing we can’t imagine how heavy it would be after Shenzhen trip.

Beijing – History tells it all

Summer Palace, our first destination, was swarmed by the different nations. Old caricatures, beliefs and sayings, accessories used by the ancient Chinese, the royal family, all these made me want to know more about the history of China. Why they made a man-made lake, man-made hill, and their prayer to Buddha to protect them from flash floods. The Summer Palace was a resort where Empress Dowager Cixi lived for a long time.

After a long walk at Summer Palace we crossed the street to enter the Forbidden City or the Palace Museum. I really don’t remember how big it is but sure it was a 3-hour walk within the premises not to mention how hot it is under 42 degrees temperature under the sun. It’s called Forbidden City because nobody is allowed to enter the palace without the emperor’s permission. Only the emperor, the royal family and the royal guards/households live there. This is also where the emperor keeps his concubines. According to history there was a time when the emperor had more than a thousand concubines all at the same time. Like a rented townhouse in the city, the emperor chooses his favorite concubine every night and sleeps with her. The color of the royal family is yellow so the roof tops are mostly colored yellow with dragons on each side of the roof which is said to bring protection to the royalties.

Just outside the forbidden city is the Tiananmen square where an unforgettable tragedy happened in 1989.

The next day we went to the Great Wall. For me, this is a dream come true, to see and feel the grounds of one of the world’s historical places. The steps are high and you need to bring water with you when you go up there. The oldies there were amazing! They can go up and down as their form of exercise. Then I thought maybe herbal wonders really work. Isn’t that originated from China? During the ancient times, soldiers wear a heavy armored gear and they go back and forth the towers of Great Wall. I was wearing very comfy clothes, sandals with socks and I wasn’t even able to finish climbing the first high tower. Maybe I should start drinking tea before and after every meal.

After climbing what it looks like forever to me, we went to Ming Tomb. This is where the bodies of the ancient emperors and his empresses rest. It was literally 7 steps down the basement and it was really cold. Don’t ask me where the air we breath was coming from coz I really didn’t bother to ask. I was impressed and amazed on how the ancient Chinese people were able to make such tomb 7 floors deep. The doors are all made in marble and every gate was carefully touched by feng shui.

For the first time in my life, I had developed an interest in the field of History. It was a boring subject to me but once you get to see the actual places you’ll ask for something more.

Our last stop was Shenzhen. We had a really hard time communicating with the vendors in the market here because none of them knows how to speak English. So before our Chinese tour guide left us to do our last minute shopping, she took us to the night market where some few Chinese knows how to speak English. Better few than nothing.

So there it is. Whew! That was a relaxing and tiring but enjoyable travel for us all. Next time I go there, I’ll make sure I know some few Chinese phrases.

Xie xie! (Thank you!) Zai jian! (Good bye!)

5 hours on the road is the longest road trip I ever had. Poms’ Auntie Nilda and the rest of her doctor friends based in the US are here in Manila for a medical mission which they do every year. And the designated area for them – Pangasinan City. Instead of joining them she preferred to have a short vacation with us in Pangasinan. The last time I visited this province was when I was 4 years old.

This is the homeland of my grandma and after she got married to my grandpa they moved in to Manila. I have no idea where our relatives stay there which again reminded me of how big the Ramos clan is.

We had fun touring Lingayen and Dagupan. On our way there, we noticed that the houses hung their washed clothes in front of their houses which is funny because the heat of the sun emanates at the back of their houses. The cows are extremely thin. I haven’t been to New Zealand but Auntie Nilda shaking in laughter said “kawawa naman ang mga baka dito, bat malnourished ang mga ito halos kita na ang mga ribs.” We thought it’s probably because of the grasses in their land which are almost turning into brown color.

Fish pens are everywhere on both sides of the road. Most of the houses are tourist’s spot. They’re old with windows made in kapiz. The churches are also well-preserved.

The government offices are a stone thrown away to the beach. It was my first time to see the hundred islands. Talk about the beauty of nature it still has its beauty. Clear waters, clean shores, and lots of foreign visitors too. I want to go back there and this time with Poms.

On our way back to Manila, we took the other route. We went to Clark and played casino at Mimosa. It was fun though but beginner’s luck? Nah, I really don’t have it. Poms is the luckiest among us when it comes to luck. Tomorrow, we’re off to Cebu until Sunday. And we’re going to have fun again with Auntie Nilda. She should do this yearly so everybody will be happy

Up next: Conquering Cebu in 4 days!