Carcar: Malingin Falls

It's a Saturday morning when I and my workmate decided to go to Malingin Falls. He also invited his two friends who were already taking a night camp in Busay. One of the team has his own wheel, so we escape the hassle in going to the place.

We met at Cebu Business Park with my workmate friends, after our work, since we both have the night shift sched. We left the meeting place around 9:30 in the morning and we arrive in the City of Carcar at around 11:30 in the morning since it was not that too traffic along the way.

We decided to buy some foods in their market and one of the specialty of Carcar is their lechon baboy. It's really mouthwatering while walking around the stalls of lechons, you can choose what type of lechon, and the best thing about it is that it cost cheaper than in Cebu City and neighboring cities, like almost half the price.

After we got some food for our lunch, we traveled almost an hour going to the drop off point going to the falls, since the car can't go any further from place. You need to go on a hike downhill from the drop off for about 45 minutes, and the it's quite challenging though cause it's steepy and the thing that you can hold to are the grasses that grows along the way, and there's only a few trees along the hill.

When it's rainy season, you need to swim along the way to be able to reach the 1st level of the falls, and since we go there at summer time, so there's two options: we will walk along the hip deep water along the way or cling to the cliff to cross.

Upon crossing the first challenge, you can see the first level falls, and from there, you can enjoy jumping around but you need to be careful since it's really slippery. But if your interested to see the Malingin Falls, you need to cross and climb the first falls and have to trek and swim a few challenging pathways, and you have to be very careful cause it's slippery and got some sharped edges rocks and better to wear a trek shoes to help you cross the slippery pathway going to the main attraction.

Malingin got it's name since the falls itself has the shape like an overturn bowl, that it has a bigger circle down but a less opening at the top that enclosed a deep water. I have no idea how deep it was, and I was not able to jump on to the falls cause I it was really slippery and I got a hard time going to the top.

There are only a few who was there at the Malingin falls cause some who don't have the courage to swim along the muddy and walk along the slippery path choose to enjoy on the first level falls.

You can take a shower on a spring upon heading home that can be found along the way that's few meters away from the drop off point. It is also the source of water for the residents of the sitio.

The place is not known by many even by locals, only a few knew the place. 

Medellin: Funtastic Island - Gibitngil

Funtastic Island a town manage resort of Gibitngil, an island barangay gifted with pristine clear water, long stretch white sands and picturesque view that is also famous with colorful cottages on tops of rocks, coral rocks and blacks surrounded the island.

Gibitngil is located at the northern part of Cebu that is part of the municipality Medellin. You can reach to the island barangay through pump boats available in the mainland Medellin. From Cebu City, take a bus with a signage Kawit that will cost you 145-150 for the fare. Just inform the conductor that you’ll be going to Gibitngil and they will drop you to the drop off point for the tourist heading to the port in Kawit. Usually, the price range from 1200-2000 pesos when you hire motorboats, that is already a back and forth expense, and the price depends on the number of passengers.

Cottages price range from 150-500 pesos depending on size and location. Entrance fee is 50 pesos individual. You can do many activities in Funtastic Island, they have this Tarzan Jump, zip line, kayaking, cliff jumping (10 feet, 20 feet and 30+feet), snorkeling and diving. You’ll surely be enjoying in the resort even if it’s high tide or low tide.

If you are fun of hiking, you can actually take a walk around the island, and explore some of the hidden beauties that is within and not yet explore by some guest. There are also some cliff jump points I found while we sail along around the island. Just ask some localities to guide you, for your safety. I was actually planning to do this things when I visit the island again.

You’ll surely enjoy the sunset view in the resort. Early in the morning, you can buy some of the fisherman’s catch, and you can ask some localities to prepare it for you if you haven’t bring any cooking set. If you want to take overnight stay, you can actually stay in the open cottages, since there are some of the guest who like to experience the serene environment of the island. But if you are not comfortable staying in the island, there are a couple of resorts in the mainland that offers an overnight stay. The stay range from 1200-2500 pesos.

Overall, if your fun on extreme adventures and wanting to try something new, this is the place to be, but for those who are just want to experience the place, no worries, cause the island offers you a picturesque view, pristine clear water and long stretch of white sand for you to enjoy.

Tuburan: Vidar Family Beach Resort

Tuburan was already one of my favorite town to visit. I have visited the town for almost 5 times already. The town is budget friendly, quiet and has lots beautiful spots to offer, and I find a perfect spot here where I can explore every now and then.

One of the gems that Tuburan has, is the Vidar Family resort, where it was introduced by a friend who used to lived in the town, and also one whom I trust being my tour guide. The resort is not big, but it's already enough for you to stay and be relax with it's quite place, and very budget friendly accommodation and clean surrounding.

The staff in the place are really friendly that I make chitchats with them specially if I go there alone, and they sometimes gives you discounts on rooms specially on low season, if the there are no available rooms good for 2 available. They make sure everything in the resort are in order, to have their guest a happy stay in their resort. They have pools, one for the kids and the other one for the adults which is 4 feet deep.

The place have a mini gym, for those who want to energize their body through sweating and taking weights. The resort is just along the national highway that's why it's so easy to get there. It's also gated that gives you assurance for safety.

If you are fan of hiking, then you explore the places around the resort. Everytime I visit the place, I make sure to explore new places nearby and find new beautiful spots. Just take time to take a walk around the beach side and don't be afraid to ask and make friends along the way...

Tuburan: Molobolo Cold Spring

Molobolo spring, is one of the tourist attraction of Tuburan, a town found at the northwestern part of Cebu. Unlike with other nearby towns, Tuburan is a secret haven of some beautiful spots that was not known with many.

Molobolo spring, where you can experience a cold spring under the shade of the acacia trees. If you feel like wanting to go on beaching, worries no more cause beside the man-made cold spring pool already the beachfront. The water from the coldspring runs continuously to the beach. When it’s on a high tide, you can experience a different coldness and mixture of water from the mixing of cold spring and sea water.

For those who are fun of exploring, this is a place to discover. Experience, enjoy and explore the place.

How to get there:

If you’re from Colon, go to South bus Terminal take a bus to Tuburan. It will cost you 100 pesos fare, and just tell the conductor/driver of the bus to drop you at the corner Molobolo road. And if you’re from coming from Ayala, you can take vhire, it will cost you 140 pesos for the fare, the route will be from Lahug-Transcentral Highway-Balamban-Tuburan, just tell the driver to drop you at corner Molobolo road.

Medellin: Bakhawan Beach Home

Bakhawan, the last barangay of Medellin, in the northern part of Cebu which is next to Kawit. Like Kawit, Bakhawan offers some beautiful resorts with white sand beach shores. The resort is very near already to the boundary of Daanbantayan. The resort has 2 beach houses, a billiard, kitchen, living room, and garden and white sand shore. It got 5 wonderful rooms with different decorations and all of it have extra (sliding) beds that can be found under the bed.

The materials used in the construction of the beach houses are mostly local materials composed of tree trunks and bamboos. The concept of the design is more on oriental classic design, wherein you will surely admire the mix of oriental cultures base on the decorations and ornamental objects that can be found in the living room, terrace, and bedroom and even in the kitchen. Each bedrooms has its own decorations. I was able to get in 3 out of 5 bedrooms, and they have different ornaments inside. The best thing about the place was the privacy, since the place was fenced and thus really great for family occasions because you need to rent the whole place for 15,000 per overnight stay. I may say that you won’t have a boring day in the resort cause, they have sungka, billiard, volleyball, and paddle board.

The owner was really friendly, and also the staffs. They are very accommodating. You can surely relax and at peace while watching the beautiful sunset view in the beachfront or in the terrace. If you want to have a dinner at the beach, they beach gas lamps available. You’ll surely enjoy the beach even at night ‘because it was not that too deep, though still needs to be careful.

Early in the morning, there are fisherman nearby that will have their catch, wherein you’ll be the first to have the fresh catch. Regarding with the market, it’s really near in Kawit Market, so no need to worry too much. The resort is along the highway, which makes it more accessible and a plus point specially when going back to the city. You’ll surely won’t miss a ride going back to the city.