One fine Friday morning, I decided on a whim to ditch work (ooops!) and went to the mountain town of Balamban in the province of Cebu. I was all geared up for work when at the last minute I opted to do something spontaneous and by myself for the very first time since I started to love travelling. 

From the concrete jungle of Cebu City, we rode our way up to the mountains of Busay and towards Barangay Gaas in Balamban through the scenic Transcentral Highway. I didn’t really have any concrete plans in mind; all I knew was that Adventure Cafe was right along the highway and could be a good place to kill some time before going back to the city.

Finding Adventure Cafe is easy! 

Just look for this signage on the right side along the Transcentral highway when coming from Cebu City.

Adventure Cafe is located in Barangay Gaas, Balamban in the province of Cebu and prides itself as the first “resto-adventure” cafe in the country. Being in business for the past years or so, this lovely cafe on a mountain has been a go-to place for people looking for some adrenaline-filled adventures or a quick stop for those wanting to take a quick rest when heading to the southwest towns of Balamban, Asturias, or Toledo.





The waitress was very attentive and she readily handed me the menu the moment I sat down. Surprisingly, there were a lot of items on their list ranging from Filipino classics to American dishes like steaks and ribs.

The food I ordered would take around 15-20 minutes so I decided to roam around and explore the rest of the Adventure Cafe.

I am not sure how much they charge for the zipline or if they're still offering this adventure. If you ask me, the facility and the equipment look a bit dated and could use some bit of updating and improvement.





Scattered along the rails of the restaurant are love locks or padlocks that lovers put to symbolize their unbreakable love for each other. They say, the lovers would then throw the key so no one can tear them apart. This reminds me of Pont des Arts in Paris which was recently taken down for safety reasons.  



On the left side of the cafe is this blue-roofed house overlooking the mountains of Cebu. I hope someday I get to have one just like that - a small cozy rest house on a mountain surrounded by plants and trees.




I didn't expect it to be this big! But I didn't have a hard time finishing it anyway as I was hungry as a hog. Haha! The meat was soft and tender though the taste wasn't up to par as to what I expected it to be. The vegetables were a nice complement to balance the taste of the main dish. Too bad the fresh fruit shakes weren't available that day I visited; it would have been the perfect pair for the feast.

Verdict

Adventure Cafe is a great place for a quick stopover for food if you are passing by the Trancentral Highway or to chill if you want some quiet time away from the city. If what you're after are the adventures (zipline, wall climbing, etc) then I'm afraid this adventure resto may disappoint you as the facilities seriously need some updating. But that's not to say I'm not coming back, I definitely will if my friends and family are game for some joyride to the mountains.

How to Get There

• V-Hire in Ayala. Vans going to Balamban or Asturias pass by Adventure Cafe. Travel time may be around an hour for 120 Php (as of November 2015). This is the safest and most convenient option. Going down the city, fare is reduced to 50 Php.
• Habal-habal (motorcycle for hire). Motorcycles abound at JY Square in Lahug. Fare may be a bit more steep compared to the van and may be a bit more dangerous. 
• Hitchhike. Why not eh? :)

Also dubbed as the “Taj Mahal of Cebu”, this architectural wonder of Greek/Roman inspiration is fast becoming one of Cebu’s top tourist destinations.  Located in the mountain barangay of Busay in Cebu City, you’d be in awe not only of the structure but of how this amazing temple came to be.

Temple of Leah was born out of Teodorico Adarna’s  “undying love and ceaseless devotion” to his beloved wife, Leah Villa Albino-Adarna. This showcases a man’s grand profession of love resonating in the vast halls and picturesque beauty of the place.

There isn’t much to do here except to roam around and to sight-see (with a fantastic view of Cebu City) as it is still under construction but I personally think it is a promising place, more so once completed.

When in Cebu, visit the temple to get a glimpse of how a man’s love could bring forth a structure that could match most of the Roman’s greatests like Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.

Temple of Leah

https://www.facebook.com/TempleOfLeah/

Roosevelt Street, Busay, Cebu City

Entrance Fee: Php 50

Inarguably, Cebu has the best-tasting lechon (roasted pig) in the Philippines. Some people may not agree with me on this but once you’ve tried Cebu’s pride, you will keep on coming back for more.

There are a lot of lechon restaurants in Cebu and all of them deserve their own spot in the limelight. Even the lechons you’ll find along the busy streets of Cebu City or in the outer towns are very tasty and delicious in their own right. 

Let's take a closer look on one of the many lechon places in Cebu - Rico's Lechon.  

The Design

What probably sets Rico’s apart from other competitors is the restaurant’s ambience. It is brightly lit and modern but doesn’t lose touch of the Filipino barrio-fiesta feel which is fitting when eating lechon - the star of the fiesta table.

Their new restaurant was designed by Vito Selma - a renowned Cebuano artisan and furniture maker -  who said to have done the marvelous interiors on a tight budget. I really admire how he was able to achieve a contemporary look using indigenous materials (bamboo) and was able to showcase things that are uniquely Cebuano (like the puso).

The restaurant itself has both indoor and outdoor dining areas which is perfect whether you are dining as a couple or as a family/large group. Even the lavatory and the wash area were really well thought of - from the drawing on the bathroom door, to the innovatively designed washing sink and the exquisite “diner style” portion of the restaurant.

The wash area. We had a hard time figuring out how to wash our hands with no faucet in sight. Turns out that the three long bamboo sticks are motion-activated faucets. Ingenious!

The Food

Now, let’s go to the food, shall we?

And let's not forget the mighty lechon, the reason why we dined here in the first place. We ordered both the original and spicy lechon; and I liked the spicy lechon better as it has more taste and kick (obviously). 

The skin was crispy and the meat was tender but I was kinda expecting more from the lechon experience. It could be that being a Cebuana, I may have set my standards a bit higher than most people. But that's not to say I won't be dining again at Rico's, though.

When I asked our Manila guest who's a first timer on Cebu's lechon, all she could say was: "Ang saraaap" (So delicious) and that already speaks a lot of how good lechon is in Cebu. 

You could never go wrong tasting Lechon de Cebu for the first time at Rico's.




Rico's Lechon
www.ricoslechon.com
Acacia Street, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City (near Ayala and Hotel Elizabeth)
(032) 344-0119 / (032) 239-2830 

Quick Tip:
It's best to go there for an early dinner to get the best part of the lechon and to avoid the crowd especially during the weekend.

Taoist Temple is surely a spot not to be missed when going on a tour around Cebu City. Built in 1972 inside the Beverly Hills Subdivision, this Chinese temple is a manifestation of Cebu’s substantial Chinese community and influence.

The grand gate of the temple. Parking space is available here.

A long and winding road leads to the temple where hundreds of tourists and devotees (local and foreign) flock every day to pray and to sight-see. Seated on top of a hill, it offers a magnificent view of Cebu City, the neighboring island of Mactan, and the Mactan channel.

Often times, people go up there to pray, meditate, and to ask for favors. Inside the temple, you may talk with monks and ask for enlightenment; or you may use the wooden kidney beans in the altar to get answers to your questions.

They say there are about 81 steps to the temple. Visitors can pray, meditate, and perform rituals inside the temple.

Cebu was covered in haze when we visited and that explains why we weren't able to see the city of Cebu and the island of Mactan in the picture.

The giant dragon on top of the stairs and the Chinese pagoda in the background.

Here’s how the wooden “kidney bean” ritual works:

1.  Wash both hands to represent cleanliness (sinks are available on the left side).

2.  Light the Joss stick, hold with both hands, kneel down and pray.

3.  Place the stick on the altar, hold a pair of wooden blocks, flat side up with both hands.

4.  Ask one question, wish or problem at a time.

5.  Drop the wooden blocks gently to the floor.

6.  Give thanks.

YES:

1 block is flat, the other is round

NO:

2 blocks are round

MAYBE:

2 blocks are flat

A large dragon adorns the area reminiscent of the Great Wall of China.

How to Get There:

1. Private Car - The most convenient option to take. Parking is available inside the temple’s property.

2. Taxi - Another option is hiring a taxi though considerably more expensive than the other options. Oftentimes, taxi drivers would ask for an extra amount since the road going to the temple is uphill and they don’t have any passengers to take back to the city.

3. Public Transport - Take any Lahug bound jeepney and alight at the busy side street across the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Ride a motorcycle (habal-habal) to take you to the entrance of the subdivision. It is just a short but uphill walk from the guardhouse to the temple. Turn left on the very first corner you see.

Note:

- Be prepared to climb flights of stairs (around 81 steps) to get to the top. You’ll definitely get a rewarding view if you do.

- Picture-taking is not allowed inside the temple altar. Taking pictures of the gods are also prohibited.

- Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed when going inside the temple altar but cover-ups such as sarongs and cloths are available outside for free.

- This is a house of prayer. Loud music and noise are discouraged.

- It is best to visit in the afternoon to avoid the harsh heat of the sun.

Taoist Temple Cebu

Beverly Hills, Subdivision, Lahug, Cebu City

8 am - 5 pm, every day

No entrance fee

 

Bicol Region sounded a bit far-off to me at first and I haven’t really given much consideration to put this on top of my bucket list (along with Batanes and Palawan) not until my college buddies mentioned they wanted to see the majestic Mayon Volcano. I tagged along at first, not knowing that this could be one of those epic adventures I’ll treasure for a lifetime with my girlfriends! :)

Where is Bicol in the Philippines

Bicolandia (Region V) is located in the southern part of Luzon and is comprised of the following provinces: Camarines Norte and Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate. We were only able to cover Albay (Legazpi City, Daraga) and Camarines Sur (Naga City, Pili) during our three-day visit because each province would need a considerable amount of travel time.

Top Things to Do in Bicol

Don’t let the laid-back, quiet, and rural scene of Bicol fool you because you’re definitely in for the greatest adventure of your life! :)

PS. Just click on the links for more info on our epic Bicol adventure.

PPS. Btw, Magayon ka actually means "You are Beautiful" in Bicol.

A trip to Bicol will never be complete without going on a food trip. If you are a sucker for sili (chili) and gata (coconut milk),  then this unassuming region's sumptuous cuisine is for you!

My friends and I are not really fans of super spicy food of which Bicol region is known for but we were still able to try some of the region's homegrown restaurants.

Molino Grill

There's no better way to satisfy a growling stomach after an eventful day of wakeboarding at CWC than to feast on some delicious "home-cooked" comfort food like sinigang na baboy and pork adobo. SM City Naga was right beside the bus terminal so we decided to eat first before heading back to Legazpi City.

I liked how the warm tangy soup of the sinigang na baboy was just right - not too sour, not that bland. Though some of the meat of the adobo bits were a bit rubbery to my liking, it still wasn't a total disaster because the crunchiness of the skin was still there which was a must for this dish.

Dining at Molino Grill was a positive one without hurting the pocket that much. What stood out for me were their unique interiors and their food being served in tiny cauldrons and pans. I'll definitely dine again and try the other dishes when I'm given the chance to go back to Naga City.

Molino Grill

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Molino-Grill/530819223644105

(1) Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City, Camarines Sur

(2) SM City Naga, Camarines Sur

Phone Number: (54) 473-3344

Bigg's Diner

If you love the good old American classics, then don't miss out on Bigg's when in Bicol. This American-inspired 60's diner adorned with adorable vintage knicknaks is said to be Bicol's rival to Jollibee.

But before you dismiss this as just another fastfood restaurant, let me tell you why Bigg's should be on your list --- they serve really good burgers! Aside from their yummy burgers, they also have chicken, pasta, pizza, and rice meals.

If you're not keen on trying out authentic Bicolano cuisine (spicy), this diner may be your next best bet.

Bigg's Diner

http://www.biggsdiner.ph/

almost everywhere in Bicol

Mayon Backpacker's Hostel

My friends and I are budget travelers and we always scout for the best value for money without sacrificing comfort (and a clean bathroom)  so it was such a blessing that my friend came across this backpacker's haven while we were still planning out our itinerary.

We stayed in their dorm room with three bunk beds and an ensuite bath for just Php 350 each. Good thing there weren't anyone else checking in on the same room as ours so we had the whole room to ourselves.

They also offer coffee and chocolate drink all  day long coupled with bread and some fresh fruits. Though finding the hostel in a residential area may be quite a challenge for first time travelers, the affordability and genuine hospitality of the Bicolano staff sure did make our stay worthwhile.

Mayon Backpacker's Hostel

https://mayonbackpackers.wordpress.com/

Barangay Maoyod (near Albay Cathedral), Albay

Price ranges between 250-500 Php per person

Dios mabalos, Bicol!

:)

I sat there motionless, as if on a trance, as I watched the fields covered in pitch black darkness, accented only with soft yellow lights of the households we passed by. The wind was blowing hard against my face and it smelled like freshly-watered grass; the bus driver probably eager to get home and sleep on his comfortable bed, after almost half a day of driving from Metro Manila to Legazpi City. 

I was tired too and was starting to feel sore all over my body but like the thousand bright stars I've seen that night outside of that cramped rural bus, I knew that whatever pain I may have felt wouldn't equal to the day's awesomeness and this perfect countryside night view with the best company.

Wakeboarding at Camarines Sur Watersports Complex

CamSur Watersports Complex is the premier cable park facility in the country having hosted local and international events. This huge complex is actually located in Pili, the capital of Camarines Sur.



How to Get There

Since we were staying in Legazpi City (Albay), we had two options to get to Pili (Camarines Sur): either we take the bus or the van. We opted to take the van instead at the Legazpi City Terminal because we wanted to spend more time at the park and we needed to get back to Legazpi City by nightfall. 

It was an interesting drive to Camarines Sur and I spent the entire travel time not to catch up on sleep, but to admire the lush green fields and the beautiful mountains looming over from a distance. The van driver dropped us off  at the corner to CWC and we then hailed a tricycle to take us to the cable park itself. It was just a short tricycle ride, probably around 20-30 minutes, passing by several government offices and empty fields. 

Hungry Tummy

By the time we reached CWC, we were so hungry that the first thing we did was eat. Good thing they have a clubhouse and a restaurant that served heavenly Bicolano dishes at very affordable prices. We tried their Bicol Express which, to my surprise, was really good. Aside from the delectable Filipino food choices, they were also serving a wide array of other international dishes. Local and international alcoholic drinks and fresh fruit juices were also available. I heard that they even close the cable park on a certain hour at lunch and dinner time so all guests could eat together at the clubhouse.



Time for Some Action, Girls!

CWC was huge, and I mean, really huuggeee! Right in front of the restaurant was a huge oval waterpark with lots of obstacles scattered all around the path. My jaw dropped as I watched the guys somersault, twist, and turn with ease. "Is this where we skate?", I asked, already unsure if I should push through or not. I don't want to become one of their "obstacles" as I whimper my way to the side every time I fall off the board or if I even manage to get on the board.



"There's a beginner's park over there", the attendant said. What a relief! So off we go to the back of the complex where the Winch Park was. Maybe they named it Winch Park because the wakeboarders there were beginners who winced every time they fall, eh? Har-har.

Winch Park was a rectangular shaped man-made pool designed for beginners like us. There were two platforms, one on both ends, which was a good thing so we could start at either side without waiting that long. Luckily, we were the only ones that time so it wasn't that embarrassing and we would be able to maximize our half day pass. 



I was instructed to fit my "lotus feet" into the big slippers attached to the board, hold the hand bar with extended arms, and when the cable starts moving, I'd just have to bend my knees and ride the board. Easy enough, I thought. But when the cable started pulling me, I panicked, stood up on the board, and fell face down into the murky water. It must have took me three tries until I was able to stand up on the board and move a little away from the platform. The farthest I've been on the entire stretch of the Winch Park would be ALMOST reaching the other end (emphasis on ALMOST) after so many tries. LOL




Groups of people started to arrive and it was getting longer and longer for our turn so we decided to cool off for a bit by the clubhouse after three hours of wakeboarding fun. 

Non-Wakeboard Fun

If wakeboarding is not your thing, there are a lot of other stuff you can do in CWC.











CWC was a great place for me and my friends to bond and have fun. Wakeboarding was a first for us and it was especially made memorable not only because we were on the best wakeboarding park in the country but most of all because we had each other's company.

After an eventful day in CWC, we headed off to Naga City and that would be for a different story. :)

Notes:
Camarines Sur Watersports Complex
Pili, Camarines Sur
http://cwcwake.com/web/

Php 250 = van from Legazpi City to Pili, Camarines Sur
Php 15 = tricycle to CWC
Php 460 = half day use at CWC
Php 500 = rental deposit (refundable upon return of gear)

**Most of the photos here were taken by my friends.