The saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is something I strongly agree with. It's impossible to work non-stop without taking some time to unwind and have fun.
Human beings aren't machines; we have limitations and can easily become burnt out. This is especially true in the Philippines where extreme heat index can add to our daily stress.
Between work and other factors that affect our daily performance, it's important to make time for ourselves. Whether it's going to our favorite places, relaxing with friends and family, or exploring new locations, we need to prioritize rest as much as we do work.
Ultimately, we all need to step out of our comfort zones once in a while and take the breaks we deserve.
In my previous blogs, I mentioned that my partner has transitioned from being a cook at one of the biggest restaurants in the Philippines to working at one of the largest motorcycle taxi companies.
This new job has opened doors to many new people and faces, including his colleagues who are also riders. Since they share the same vision and mission, they have formed a group to help each other out, especially during emergencies on the roads.
Last weekend, we went on a ride towards the southern part of Cebu City, which was a place I had never been to before. It was a challenging yet fun experience that I'm excited to share with you.
📍CEBU IT PARK - Cebu City, Philippines
We met at the Cebu IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines, 13th of April 2024, Saturday at 3:00 am. Fortunately, everyone showed up on time, as we had a long day ahead of us.
Our plan was to conquer the municipalities of the southern part of Cebu City, which required ample travel time. To ensure that we had enough time, we had to meet as early as 3:00 am to gather and introduce ourselves to my partner's colleagues and their life partners.
After taking a photo to commemorate the start of our journey, we hit the road. Instead of taking the main highways, we decided to take the Transcentral Highway in Balamban, Cebu City, which was a scenic route.
This re-route allowed us to avoid the congested main highways heading towards Cebu City. Once everyone was settled and buckled up, we set off on our journey towards the southern part of Cebu City.
📍Balwarte Ni Alfredo - Balamban
Our first stop was at Balwarte in Alfredo in Balamban. This place is quite famous among riders and if you are from Cebu City Province, you probably know about it too.
Balwarte Ni Alfredo is known for serving hot coffee and hot chocolate, as well as licorice for the indulgence of the visitors. This place is also considered a riders' paradise, and one can use the comfort room here.
If you're traveling on the Transcentral Hwy, it's the perfect place to stop over, especially if you feel cold and want to sip into your favorite hot drinks or some hot noodles, all at an affordable price.
During our stop, everyone who needed to go to the restroom went there, and the others enjoyed their favorite hot coffee and hot chocolate.
If you want to know more about this place, I have already written a separate blog about it in the past. It was the perfect first stop for us to grab some hot drinks, and a great start to our ride.
The excitement and shivering cold from the early morning fog greeted us as we embarked on our journey at 3:00 a.m.
Traveling on TCH - Transcentral Highway is a surreal experience, surrounded by towering pine trees and an array of flora. The morning fog is a common occurrence and adds to the beauty of the landscape. The cold weather is worth braving, as the view of Cebu City from the highway is breathtaking, especially with the city lights in the distance.
The city's success in various industries is evident, yet it also boasts fantastic natural sites. Cebu City has much to offer, making it a must-visit destination in the Philippines. Add it to your bucket list, and you won't regret it indeed.
📍TOLEDO PORT - Toledo City
Toledo Port, located in the heart of Toledo city, was our second stop during the trip. While it may not be particularly special, it served as a good place for us to take a break and stretch our legs before continuing to our next destination.
When embarking on long rides, it's important to take breaks to use the restroom and stretch to avoid the physical strain of being on a motorcycle for extended periods of time.
Luckily, we arrived at around 6:00 in the morning before the sun became too hot, making it a great opportunity to take some photos. After everyone struck their poses, we stretched a little more before continuing our travels.
At around 7:00 in the morning, we stopped by at Aloguinsan Public Market to grab some breakfast. I was not able to take photos since I left my phone in our motorcycle.
At around 11:00 in the morning, we finally arrived here in Dumanjug. We had a house to stopover since my partner have some relatives here in Dumanjug and we sent them some funds for them to prepare our lunch. They did not failed us and welcomed us with our sumptuous lunch.
📍DUMANJUG
The quaint municipality of Dumanjug can be found in the southern part of Cebu province.
Fortunately, my partner has relatives there who were warm and welcoming to our group, as we had planned to stop there for lunch.
We collected funds from everyone and sent the money ahead of time so that our partner's aunts could prepare our meal.
When we arrived, after washing our hands, we sat down to enjoy the delicious food that had been cooked to perfection.
We were pleased with the warm hospitality and friendliness of our hosts, and after our meal, we continued our travels with full stomachs and happy faces. No regrets about our decision to stop in Dumanjug.
We then continued with our travel.
I was pleasantly surprised by the stunning scenery that overlooked the beach in the southern part of Cebu city. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful place was located within the confines of the city. The gorgeous view gave me goosebumps and transported me to a tropical paradise like Hawaii.
The sight was truly breathtaking, leaving me in awe. Seeing the place up close and personal was even more magical than the photos could ever portray. We had to stop and capture the moment with some photos. The beauty of Cebu Province is truly remarkable.
📍BADIAN HIGHLANDS - BADIAN
As I gazed upon the stunning scenery, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Living in the city and being surrounded by the usual buildings and infrastructure, this change of scenery was exactly what I needed.
Have you ever experienced that feeling of stress melting away when you come across a breathtaking view? This was definitely one of the best views we've seen on our ride.
It's the kind of view that belongs in a travel book, and it's exactly what I was hoping to experience on this trip: discovering new places and seeing things I've never seen before.
The sense of contentment I felt from just looking at this view was overwhelming, and it made me realize just how beautiful the world truly is. As humans, we often take our surroundings for granted, which is why it's important for us to do our part in preserving the environment. Looking at this untouched part of the world, I hope it remains that way for a long time to come.
📍OBONG SPRING, DALAGUETE
During our trip to Dalaguete,
we visited the magnificent Obong Spring located in Dalaguete, a southern part of Cebu province.
The entrance fee was 15 pesos per person, with an additional fee of 15 pesos for motorcycle parking.
We paid 500 pesos per cottage for tables and chairs, which we split among our group since there were many of us.
The Obong Cold Spring in Dalaguete is a great spot for those who enjoy swimming in chilly water, and it's a cheaper alternative to Banyan Spring.
Obong Spring feels a lot the same with Banyan Spring, also a cold spring famous in Tabogon, a town in the northernmost part of Cebu City. I also wrote a blog about the Banyan Spring previously. You might want to back track on that if you are lookinf for cold spring recommendations within Cebu Province.
Although the water wasn't as crystal clear during our visit due to the crowd, it still provided a refreshing break from the heat and stress of travel. Overall, I highly recommend Obong Spring in Dalaguete to any cold spring enthusiasts looking for an affordable and enjoyable experience.
After our last stop at the Obong Spring, we headed to Carcar, a municipality in the southern part of Cebu City, to grab dinner before heading back home.
Being from Cebu Province, we knew that Carcar is famous for its lechon and chicharon, so we fueled up on these delicious dishes before embarking on our long journey home. Our hearts were filled with happy memories as we returned to Cebu City proper, grateful for the experiences we had on our southern Cebu ride.
Traveling with your partner's colleagues and partners can be quite challenging, especially when going to new places that you're not familiar with. It's important to be prepared and keep in mind that long rides require planning and readiness. Therefore, it is highly recommended that we always prepare ourselves beforehand.
When traveling with our motorcycles, we made sure to complete several essential steps beforehand.
To start, we ensured that we had our driver’s license and motorcycle registration papers with us to avoid any potential issues during inspections on the road.
Additionally, we checked that our motorcycles were in optimal condition before embarking on our journey, including getting our oils changed.
We made sure to have full tanks of gasoline to ensure that it would last for the duration of our trip, as well as spraying the motorcycles to keep them in good condition. This is especially important since most of us were using scooters. We also checked that our coolants were at ample levels to prevent overheating. These steps are crucial to consider when traveling to ensure a safe and successful journey.
Before embarking on our long journey, we made sure to prepare ourselves both physically and financially.
We took the necessary measures to ensure that our bodies were well-rested and our immune systems were at their peak by getting a good night's sleep and taking vitamins.
We also made sure to bring plenty of water in our tumblers to stay hydrated and stocked up on first aid kits in case of emergencies.
Communication was also key, as we made sure to inform each other when we needed to use the restroom and to bring enough cash to cover unexpected expenses.
Overall, we prioritized our safety and comfort throughout the entire trip.
If you asked me if I'd do it again, my answer is a resounding "yes"! I just need to find the perfect time, with a sufficient budget and energy to sustain the trip.
Overall, I'd rate our experience a nine out of ten. While we visited a lot of places and even rerouted to other destinations, I believe we could have seen more if we moved faster. The southern part of Cebu has many tourist spots we haven't been to yet due to lack of time.
Even if we visited each place one by one, we wouldn't finish in a day. Despite that, I'm still happy with what we've accomplished. This experience is truly one for the books, and I highly recommend it if you have the time. It would be better to use a car, as it provides shelter from the sun and rain. I am so happy I get to travel with friends and colleagues every once in a while.
Hope you all get to unlock the places in your bucketlists too! Ciao! ☺︎♡