Dolce Cafe

Dolce is located in Panorama Heights, Nivel Hills, Lahug Cebu City. Driving up Nivel Hills, it is situated before the luxury hotel, Marco Polo, just right after Bellini. You can choose to enjoy the interiors of the coffee shop or sit outside where chairs and tables are provided. 

Cafe Interior

Life-size Santa

White themed Christmas tree to blend with the cafe

Merry Christmas!

Don’t be intimidated by Dolce Cafe’s posh tone, Dolce’s offerings are worth every dime. Their prices are a very affordable. They serve meals like tuna turnovers, quiches, salads, fresh fruits, cheesecakes, buttercakes, cheese burgers and salmon burgers, and since it’s a coffee shop - the usual round of coffee; hot, iced and blended.

Their delicious cakes

The MENU:

The cafe is a few meters away from Marco Polo hotel, so there are also other amenities you can enjoy that are just few steps away; the Leisure spa, Anzani (an Italian restaurant) and Bellini (a wine shop) and where else can you get a good cup of coffee with a mountain view of Cebu City?

You can purchase items from them as well

The Gazebo

Even the restrooms have a decoration

It was my first time going to the cafe and  I was really surprised at how affordable it is. My housemates and I decided to go there to chill. It was December so the cafe was decorated with Santas to have a Christmas-y theme. It was raining that time so we didn't have a chance to sit out and just watch the overlooking scene of the city. It is a place worth checking out.

 

Address: Panorama Heights Nivel Hills, Lahug Cebu City 6000

Contact Number: (032) 231-3973

Operating Hours: 7:00am -12:00midnight

You can check their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/DolceCafeCebu/

Cebu Westown Lagoon

 

Cebu Westown Lagoon is a breath of paradise in the otherwise busy and cosmopolitan city. The tropical ambience promises the ultimate staycation place in Cebu and gives the locals a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life. They got Playland for kids, adult and kiddie pools, two medium-sized heated Jacuzzis, and 2 slides that are 20ft. and 30ft. long. They also have a restaurant that is quite affordable for those who don't want to be burdened with bringing their own foods. You can choose to get the small cottages that have one table each or the big cottages that have two tables but you  can also opt out and get the free tables on the common areas at the sides though this is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also various tents and lounge chairs for you to choose from. One doesn’t have to go far to enjoy day and night attractions of Cebu since a Live Entertainment  Bar, Restaurant, KTV Bar, pool table and a disco are within the hotel vicinity. Two large shopping malls are within easy walking distance as well. One major perk for this place is that they have no corkage fee on outside food and drinks except for Alcoholic beverages and I heard that Lechon is also one at Php500 each item.

Aztec statue at the entrance

Adult pool

Kiddie pool

Playland

Its convenient location made us decide to have our Team Socials/Outing at Westown Lagoon. We paid 200 pesos/person for the entrance fee as they currently are on promo rate. Regular price is 400 pesos for entrance. We went there after work. The place is still nice even at night as the pools are illuminated with colorful lights though they only allow swimming activity until 11PM.

They are located:

FF Cruz Moonlight St., Subangdaku NRA

Mandaue 6014, Philippines

Contact information:

GLOBE: 09772158529

SMART: 09393453129

SUN: 09325672461

e-Mail: cebuwestownlagoon@yahoo.com

You can also visit their website at http://www.cebuwestownlagoon.com/

Badian's Lambug Beach and Kansanto Spring

Badian, Cebu

Badian is a municipality south of Cebu that is emerging as one of the go-to places because of the canyoneering activity there. However, I went there to do some soul-searching and the place can really help you. If you are not into canyoneering then you can check out Lambug Beach and Kansanto Spring.

How I got there:

From the South Bus Terminal, take a bus going to Bato via Barili. There are a couple buses there that has that route like but I took the Ceres bus. They have AC and non-AC type of buses. The fare is Php126 (AC-type) and although the non-AC costs lesser, it is not much of a fare difference. Travel time is 3 hours. Just inform the conductor that you will alight at the Badian Public Market or mostly known as Badian's merkado. You can opt to be dropped at the corner of the road to the golf course but I preferred the merkado as there are a lot of habal-habal there that can take you to Lambug beach. The fare from merkado to Lambug Beach is Php50 although I was able to haggle it to Php40.

Where I stayed:

I stayed at the Lambug Beach Homestay and it was a very nice place. It is very homey and you can use their kitchen and living room. The homestay is just 1-2 minutes away from the beach. They offer dormitory type of rooms for Php400/person and double rooms that cost from Php1,500-Php2,000 but the rooms are spacious and all have AC on them. The caretaker, Ate Vilma, is friendly and nice to talk to. They also serve breakfast for Php150 but you must order in advance. You can check out their website here. You can also contact them through 09167620044 and 09254606573 or email them through: info@lambug-beach-homestay.com

Kitchen and Dining area of the Homestay

Living area of the homestay

The big dormitory room that can occupy 10-12 persons

If you really need to have a place to stay at the beach front, there are also other places to stay. Here are some of the accommodations you can check:

Grandeur Beach Resort*

Magic Beach Resort*

Angie's Beach House

*photos courtesy of owners
 

You can also set up tents at the beach and I've heard that it's for free. You can take your own equipment with you or you can rent one at the hotels and just ask about those. Take that for a budget hack.

The things I did and the places I went to:

Lambug Beach

Lambug beach has fine white sand and clear waters. It is not a crowded beach and when I went there, if it weren't for the locals, I may have been the only one there. It is a quiet place that can make you think and relax. I have not used any cottage and just opted to sit by the shade of the coconut tree with beverage and junk food in hand. With a music player on, I was enjoying the view and chilling out by myself. I wasn't able to swim at the beach as intended due to that time of the month. Still I was able to enjoy my time there. I got to meet locals and was able to try some sea urchin fresh from the sea. I also got to meet some friendly dogs there. I would definitely go back and bring some friends with me.

Sari-sari stores that sell basic needs

Unspoiled beach

The friendly pooch I met at the beach

The boy I met having fresh food for lunch

Fresh sea urchin - is this uni?

The beach is not complete without coconut trees

 

Kansanto Spring

Kansanto Spring is a lesser known place to visit in Badian. It is a cold spring and the water there is brackish. There are about 5 cottages there that you can use for Php350-Php400 and I also see a videoke machine certainly for Filipinos who love to sing and showcase their voices. There is no restaurant or store there that you can buy food from so better have some food/drinks ready or bought from the market before going there. The water is so clear and there are fishes swimming around. There are two other ponds/enclosures where they are somehow breeding fish but I was told that before they had sea turtles there that they were raising but because they are endangered species, it was ceased by the government and they had to set them all free.

I was also able to meet the caretakers, Ibong and Baldo, as I had the courage to join them because I was the only guest there. Yup, I had the place all to myself once more. It really is nice to meet locals, I spent my afternoon there with them and I got to know them a little more. It was a nice thing to get out of my comfort zone once in a while. Definitely, check this place out!

Hammocks to relax in

One of the cottages - not sure if the top part is a private function room

Here is the breakdown of my expense:

What I want you to know:

1. Tricycle drivers will ask you to do a "pakyaw" to take you Lambug beach if you alighted from the Public Market. They will ask you Php100 so don't opt for it if you are travelling alone. There is the habal-habal that you can take for Php50 but I was able to haggle it to Php40 so if you can do that, don't be shy to flash your charm. Of course, take the trike if you have a lot of luggage with you.
2. There are no restaurants at the beach front only small sari-sari stores for basic needs so better buy your meats or groceries at the market. For fish, I was asked by a local if I wanted to buy fish so I think you can ask some of the locals to go fishing but that's not a guarantee. I did see some carenderias at the far end of the beach near the port if you wanna try out local food but it is a bit far from the hotels/homestays.
3. ALWAYS have cash and change with you. There is only one ATM machine found in Badian and it is located next to 7-Eleven just adjacent of the drop off area. There is no guarantee that it will always work so better have cash ready. If the machine doesn't work, you will have to go to Moalboal, which is the next town, to withdraw cash.
4. If you want to have a driver take you to the homestay or to the market, you can contact Kuya Sawi at 09322456126.
5. The locals are very friendly, I recommend that you interact with them. I was able to hear stories from their life and also got to know the place a little more.

Hit me up if you have questions :)

A Look Back: Boracay

Boracay, the famous beach destination in the Philippines which is a go-to place for tourists who loves to party and chill. Most people go there during summer and that this location usually held beach events where local artists gather and do beach sports sponsored by certain companies in the Philippines. Now, what is an introvert like me doing in a place like this? A place flocked with people both foreign and local?

Well, there is a story to that one. I wanted to visit Boracay and see for myself why people talk about this "paradise". But within my bucket lists, it is not top priority. I didn't even planned on going there that time. I went there on the summer of 2013 and yes that was 3 years ago so apologies if I can't remember how much I spent there or how I went there.

The beach front full of tourists

My workmates wanted to go to Boracay and as they say the more the merrier so they convinced me in joining. I was really declining on joining but they convinced me otherwise. I just thought to take advantage of the opportunity as I may not be able to go there for the next years or maybe not at all. I am comfortable with my two workmates so I told myself that I am okay in going there with them.

How I got there:

We went to Boracay via Iloilo City.  What I remember is that, we were unable to go there via Kalibo or Caticlan as there were no more flights available because it was March and it was summer. Yes, it was Peak Season that time. I've researched the latest information on how to get there so that it will be much more accurate. Here are the ways you could get to paradise:

The ferry port

Iloilo to Caticlan

Take a bus from Tagbac Bus Terminal in Iloilo to Caticlan and then take the ferry across as described below. Both AC and non-AC buses run the route and cost (as of July 2016) ₱350. All buses pass through Kalibo and may only have a sign on the front for Kalibo, be sure to confirm the same bus goes through to Caticlan or you may have to change buses. The bus route takes approximately 6 hours. Private vans may also be hired to run the route. Vans that can fit up to 12 passengers may try to get passenger's at the port, near the airport, and from near the Tagbac Bus Terminal. Jeepneys can take you from the port or airport to the Tagbac Bus Terminal. You may have to change between Jeepney routes, but drivers should be able to direct you.

Caticlan to Boracay

Whether you go by plane or by boat, you will pass through the small town of Malay on the "mainland" of Panay island. Outrigger boats or "bancas" leave every few minutes from Caticlan's jetty port. After exiting the Caticlan Airport, find the tricycle stand to the right, past the various resort offerings. A tricycle and boat for two people from Caticlan Airport to the Boracay jetty is ₱150. Just the boat from the Caticlan Jetty to the Boracay Jetter will cost you ₱25 in addition to the following Environmental and Terminal fees. Tourists also have to pay a terminal fee of ₱100 and an environmental fee of ₱75.

By plane

There are two airports located near to the island of Boracay.

• Caticlan or Godofredo P. Ramos Airport
• Only relatively small aircraft can land at this airport. Airlines with flights to and from Caticlan are: Cebu Pacific Air from Manila and Cebu, Philippine Airlines and SkyJet from Manila only. From Caticlan airport you can either take a tricycle (₱50 fixed price for airport tricycle, or ₱10 per passenger if you walk out to the main road and catch the shared ride on a tricycle passing by) or walk (10 minutes) to Caticlan Jetty Port. If you are not comfortable on small planes (or with rough landings), you should consider flying into and out of the larger Kalibo Airport.
• Kalibo International Airport
•  Compared to Caticlan's airport, the Kalibo Airport runway is able to land larger aircraft such as Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. However, it is further from Caticlan's jetty port which is 80 minutes away.

There are minivans, vans, coasters and buses that serve travelers between Kalibo International Airport and Caticlan Jetty Port.

By road and ferry (RoRo)

The "Nautical Highway" is a combination of overland highways and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels that allows you to bring your vehicle to Panay Island and visit key cities like Kalibo. Taking your car all the way to Boracay, though, isn't possible.

Public transport also operates on this same route and is the most cost-effective way of traveling between Manila and Boracay. Assuming good connections, the total journey time is around 12 hours.

The easiest way of arranging this is to book a van in Manila by contacting private operators. This will enable you to book a straight trip from Manila to Caticlan at the cost of ₱1200, more or less. Their group operates several passenger vans which can load 10-14 or 15-18 persons. You book the trip exclusively or share with fellow travellers.

There are one or two ferries per day direct from Batangas Port to Caticlan Port, which eliminates the long sea and road journey from Batangas to Roxas.

he more challenging (but slightly cheaper) do-it-yourself version goes as follows:

The easiest way would be to book a straight trip that allows you to purchase just one ticket from Cubao terminal to Caticlan Port. The cost is between ₱1000-1200.

But if you really want to save money, you can also commute from Cubao bus terminal station (near Alimall). There is really no difference except for the fact that you need to purchase ticket/s in every stop.

Cubao-Batangas Best leave 07:00-08:00 so you arrive in Batangas Port before 22:00.

Batangas-Calapan the trip takes 2 hours via cargo ship or an hour to one hour and a half via Supercat. Do not purchase tickets for the Calapan to Roxas Van as this can either be a scam or you end up squeezed in one van along with several other passengers with tickets.

Disclaimer: The information above is from Wiki Travel. To know more details, please click here to be redirected to the website.

Inside the ferry terminal

Where I stayed:

I remember very well where we stayed. It was budget friendly and is located within Station 2 where restaurants and parties took places. It was Bonzai Beach Resort. They have 2 types of rooms. The bamboo veranda and main building rooms where the rooms are concrete. We stayed at the concrete room and we are satisfied with the place. For more info, check out their website here. 

Just at the back is where Bonzai Beach is

Boracay Regency Hotel sign

7 Stones Hotel - located on the other side of the island

Still part of the Boracay Regency Hotel

The things I did and the places I went to:

Unfortunately, I didn't get to do the activities that Boracay is famous for - snorkling, scuba diving, island hopping/boat tours, kite boarding, skim boarding, ATV, parasailing, etc. Well, so happens that my travel buddies are more on the party side. So we just partied at Club Paraw and did some videoke and beers for those nights we were there. As for me, I had fun but I may have preferred staying by the beach and just relax (introvert problems). We did get to stroll along White Beach but I appreciated the sand when we went to Station 1. There are less establishments there and fewer hotels and people. It really is milk-ish white and unbelievably soft. We also visited the Virgin Mary's Grotto.  

The grotto

The fire dancer

Beachhut Bar Menu (2013)

Overall, it was still an experience I can't forget. I'm glad I went there. There could be a lot that have changed after all, it was 3 years ago. I would still recommend you going to Boracay. It has a beautiful beach front and has the parties that you could only hope for.

Dumaguete - Apo Island for 2 Days and 1 Night (Part 2)

APO ISLAND

How long have I wanted to swim with the sea turtles! Finally, I was able to experience it!

Chasin' turtles be like

Apo Island is located south eastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete in the Philippines. I wouldn't want to miss my chance. The best thing about group travel is to share cost of the pump boat that can take you to island which is PHP2,500 good for four and of course it is not pratical if you go on solo for that amount. Good thing that the place I stayed at has a joiner offer of PHP1,000 per individual. It is kind of pricey than group sharing but that amount already covers the transportation to and from Dauin, breakfast, lunch, boat, snorkel gear and the guide. You need to be at the hostel at 6:45AM and because I stayed there, it was convenient for me. You will be asked to sign a waiver and also just next to the hostel is the dive shop where the equipments are handed out.

Swimming away

It was past 7AM when we headed off to Dauin. Most of the people I went the trip with were Chinese and Koreans, there were Filipinos and I wanted to talk to them but I just didn't have the voice - I actually don't know what to talk about after the initial greetings. It was a good thing there was also another person in solo travel and I took the chance to talk to him and become his companion that day. That made me very happy! I got to meet someone new and I was able to meet two more when we were grouped together for the dive.

One side of the Island

The package includes three dive spots because we have divers with us. One thing to note though is that you will not be taken TO the island but the boat will just be navigating around it as there is an additional fee. If you want to have your feet touch the sand and be on the island as well as check out the lighthouse, this package is not for you. Also, most of the sea turtles are feeding in the shallow waters near the beach so the dives/snorkels  you will be having with the package does not assure a turtle encounter but it has 80% chance you will have one as what I have experienced. None the less, you will have a great time! It was on the third dive that we encountered turtles and our group was lucky to be the only ones there. We had the turtle all for ourselves! Even if the first two dives were turtle-less (is that even a word?), the island is a marine sanctuary and the corals and sea is full of life! The water is also clear, even if it is deep, you can see the sea bed. You are scheduled 1 hour snorkel for each dive spot, two are done before lunch and last one after as you need to be back on shore by 3PM as the waves gets high that time.  The overall experience was fun and I highly recommend joining the tour!

Here is the breakdown of my expenses:

Note: It could have been lesser if I have booked in advanced as well as I am a foodie so I do spend on food. (peace)

What I want you to know:

1. If you only have the weekends to visit Dumaguete and go to Apo Island, I would recommend you catching the 1AM schedule to Lilo-an Port from Cebu's South Bus Terminal. You will arrive at 4 or 4:30AM which is the first scheduled trip for the ferry. It only takes 30-45 minutes to Sibulan. You have time to catch up with the Apo Island tour (provided that they are not fully booked which is less likely).
2. The lunch including in the package is kinda like a "snack". We were just only served pancit though I was expecting a full meal. You may need to bring your own lunch if it is not enough. There is unlimited coffee/milk, bread and bananas though (at least that's what I have observed).
3. I really do advice to have Apo Island be your first day activity because it will be a three hour swimming under the blazing sun and it will exhaust you. Of course, it will be entirely up to you.
4. As you need to get wet in boarding the boat, be in clothes that you don't mind getting wet in.

That about sums it up with my first solo travel adventure! I can't wait to explore again! Hit me up if you plan to visit my place. I would love to suggest places and things to do for you :)