Whenever I feel stressed out and lonely, I travel alone...
It was a Saturday morning when I felt like I was so stressed out with all the workloads and hectic schedules from last week that I decided to drive and wander and stay in a nice place alone. But I didn't want to go far yet so I went to the neighboring town (Oslob, Cebu) and try one of their famous resorts. I have been eyeing this resort since 2023 because I wanna experience the place and answer the questions lingering my mind, "Is it nicer in person or just in pictures?"
STAY N SAVE
From the name itself, you can definitely stay and save some good memories especially if you are with your friends of families. But, also save your heart from a heart attack when I tell you my experience in this place was a mini heart attack circumstance.
Stay N Save Resort is located in Cangcua-ay, Oslob, Cebu. It is situated near the famous tourist attraction in Oslob which was the whaleshark watching and Sumilon Island. The resort is just located beside the highway but when you enter the place, it felt like you were in a different dimension. You won't even feel that you are near a highway because it was full of trees and other plants. Plus, it is also facing the ocean and the view of the Sumilon island.
They offer rooms, glamping tent and tree houses for overnight stay. They also have "barkada rooms" with own comfort and shower area while the glamping and tree houses have common comfort and shower area only. They can also serve freshly-cooked food by order or if you bring cooking utensils, they have designated space for cooking and prepping. The resort also has a small coffee shop and free Karaoke session until 10PM.
If you want to have some alone time with a beautiful view, you can stay in their "kubo" or nipa hut and enjoy reading while sipping coffee or eating your delicious foods.
Their location is on top of a cliff and you need to go down the stairs if you want to dip in the ocean or bond with your friends and families.
BUT there is where my mini heart attack happened.
THE MINI HEART ATTACK INCIDENT
I was alone in this resort. There were only few people staying there and that was a good thing for me because I didn't like crowded places. I saw in the pictures that their seaview was amazing so after putting all of my things in my glamping tent and changing my clothes, I went down the cliff to see the ocean. ALONE.
I thought the stairs were just a hundred steps or so but I was wrong because the journey from the top to the bottom was a LOOONG WAY DOWN and it was steep. I wasn't physically and mentally ready for it. HAHA
My way down was just doing fine until I saw a komodo dragon waiting for me below, blocking my way. I stopped and prayed, hoping it would be gone because I was alone and I couldn't run to any side because I was surrounded with a cliff with lots of trees and I was already half way down my destination which was really the highlight of my stay there.
I waited for a few minutes. Gladly, the thing slowly crawled away from my way and I continued walking down the steps.
When I finally arrived at the surface of the shore, I was in awe. The view was just so spectacular. And it felt so peaceful despite the rumbling sounds of the seawater towards the rocks. I then opened my camera and took a video from passing through the bamboo bridge up to the peak of the big rock in the middle. It was so windy and I was on top of the rock. My hands were shaking and I was overthinking what if I'd fall?
And there was no one around. So I immediately went back down and took the steps up to the top. I was a quarter away from the top when I lost some oxygen. I was running out of breath and my hands and knees were trembling. That was when I discovered that when you are running out of breath, you must not breathe heavily because the more I try to breathe and take some air, the more I got suffocated and I felt like I was going to pass out so I calmed myself because I was thinking if I was going to die right then and there, no one's gonna know and if I shouted, no one's gonna hear because I was still too far from the top.
So I made a way not to pass out. Everytime I feel like my knees were shaking as I go up, I would just take a pause and calm myself until I was able to make it to the top and proceeded to my tent.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S EVEN WORSE?
I WAS NOT ABLE TO CLICK THE RECORD BUTTON OF MY PHONE WHEN I TOOK A VIDEO OF ME WALKING DOWN THE BAMBOO BRIDGE TO THE TOP OF THE BIG ROCK.
(Face palm)
I was about to cry because my hands were still trembling and my knees shaking and I was still managing to catch my breath at that moment. And I didn't want to go back because I was already afraid as the sun was close to setting and I was thinking if I'd go back, I'd pass out.
But I went back. After minutes of contemplating. I went back because that was the main purpose why I was here. So I went through what I had been through earlier. Just times two. Good thing I was able to take a video of it.
Anyhow, my overnight stay in that resort was by far amazing. I spent my night reading in their "kubo" and feel the calmess of the environment with the sound of crickets and sleep peacefully inside my tent.
If I was to be asked if I'd go back, I'd definitely will. But the next time around would be with friends already.
Hope you enjoy my story!