God's Grandeur in Camotes Island and Simala

“Escape from the reality”...our trip to Camotes Island began with this in mind. The booking via PAL Express was done months prior to our travel time – May 5 to 9, 2013. With me were colleagues/ (slash) friends, Ma’am Disay and Lamuel. There was a change of flight schedule then, from 9am moved to 7:20pm. I was really a bit anxious and nervous; first, because it was my first time (married) to travel without my son and husband, second, it was my first time to travel by plane at night. Alright…we landed at Mactan International Airport early 8pm and supper safe. Instead of heading to Liloan - Cebu where we suppose to stay courtesy of my old friend Nina, thanks to her hospitality but then we decided to go directly to downtown Cebu since the night was still young and there’s more to experience in Cebu’s night life which also, gladly recommended by Nina.

May 5, 2013

1^st Stop: Zubu Chon at Asia Town, IT Park, Lahug just along The Walk - for our dinner. The place was cozy and the food was great. With us was Yasser an old friend who helped us identify/ classify some “must do” in Cebu at night. This isn’t my first time in the city nor the first time of Ma’am Disay and Lamuel. But this will be “our” first time together to rock the city, to just enjoy and have fun - as the three of us invades Cebu. After dinner we headed to my old boarding house just along Salinas St., Lahug to hug and say “hi” to my old friend Leah and of course to finally unload my hidden fresh durian in my baggage, hehehe! 

2^nd Stop: Pension House along Manggo Ave. just to unload our bags and prepare for our nights itinerary.  

3^rd Stop: Manggo Ave. where everybody seemed to be drunk. We’ll that’s not exactly the experience we wish to have…until we ended up at 22^nd St. a comedy bar. Performing that night was crazy Marlon from Manila which gave us a great night because of the show not minding that it was already past 1am.

May 6, 2013

1^st Stop: Orange brutus for another dinner? Snacks? Or breakfast? I don’t know what to call it. But yes we ate…a lot. Then just headed back to the pension house for some stretching then checked out after an hour.

2^nd Stop: North bound terminal off to Danao =D yes we traveled an hour for 40Php going to Camotes Island pier at Danao - Cebu. From the bus stop we headed to the barge (180Php fare) and we’re then ready for our two hour travel. And so we call it our rest mode.

3^rd Stop: almost 9 o’clock in the morning when we finally say hello Camotes. At the pier exit a lot of single motorbike and multicab’s available for a ride. We hop on a multicab that directly droves us to Santiago Bay Resort for 50Php each. At the resort, there was only two remaining deluxe room left, in short its fully-booked. We hope to get the cheapest price but we’re left with no choice. We paid 2,300Php good for three persons, air-conditioned room, with hot and cold shower – actually not bad at all. Fixing our things follows then sightseeing from our veranda.  The place was really heavenly…

Camotes Island Pier

 

Bay Room

…overwhelmed by the view, we’re then disturbed by our hungry stomach, and so we headed to their seemingly public shore, just a little walk from the resort, where a lot of cheap and delicious food was served.  It was our BRUNCH…breakfast plus lunch since the food was finally served past 11am. With us are “balikbayan” and foreigners…we had a great chitchats with them sharing one’s unique culture and discussing more Philippine beaches and tourist spots.

Camotes Public Beach

...we’re done eating and still sitting enjoying the heavenly view of the island. Around 3 o’clock we decided to change attire and get ready to sssswwwwiiiiiimmmmm….and so we enjoyed the water in the beach and pool. Past 6 o’clock in the afternoon…fresh from our swimming adventure and still “drippingly” wet took our dinner still along their public shore. This time, it was like a festive atmosphere…more people locals and foreigners plus disco at their basketball court. We actually join the celebration by simply being alcoholic…kidding =D actually just a glass of beer not a bottle.

…and so we continue the celebration at the resort’s pool…then waited until the cut-off time at around 10pm. Then back to our room, bathed and ready to sleep.

May 7, 2013

Woke up early, had my coffee then explore the resort alone (Lam and Disay still asleep)…around 9am the two of them woke up…had our breakfast at the resorts restaurant then gets ready for our day tour. For 1,500Php we availed an exclusive tour…plus three young foreigners (Anna, Capucine, and Aileen) who joined us with the tour. In short we only paid 250Php for the tour…

1^st Stop: Mangodlong Resort (sister resort of Santiago Bay)

2^nd Stop: Lake Danao

3^rd Stop: Timubo Cave

4^th Stop: Baywalk

Back to the resort…bathed then fix our thing and checked out. We actually run after the 3pm barge. So we had our lunch at the barge, good thing there’s a canteen.  It was almost 6pm when reached Danao pier. Via FX taxi…we payed 70Php each which directly droves us to SM, Cebu with us still are Anna, Capucine and Aileen. 

5^th Stop: SM, Cebu for dinner

6^th Stop: Pension house (just along Fuente)…then night out around Cebu. We went to Mandaue’s secret place…let it be a secret. Alright the night ends at 3am…

May 8, 2013

1^st Stop: Rise and shine…ready for another long hour travel. Had our breakfast at Chowking, - Fuente then headed directly to south bound terminal - off to Simala.  Amazing! new building was constructed…I was really fascinated with the architectural design. On our way back…we drop by at Carcar (the oldest city) to buy some “pasalubong”.

2^nd Stop: We had our dinner at Robinsons then last night out at 22^nd St. to fully close our Visayas trip. As usual…business was until 3am. Good luck to “no sleep” policy.

May 9, 2013

We had breakfast at 10am then packed our things…also had our last minute gala at Ayala – Cebu…then off to airport…so ready for our 5pm flight.

To God be the glory for an extremely wonderful gift of nature…I left my heart in Camotes and surely I will be back. Amen