Day two, 21 August 2012
We have to be rush in a hurry to take our breakfast, we planned to go out at 7.30 am.
What can we see today ? We will go to Mactan Shrine at Mactan island there we can find Lapu-Lapu monument and the Magellan shrine, after that we go to the beach hmmm....
Owh what kind of transportation that we will take ? you are right, we will take a Jeepney ride horrayy, it must put on our record that we can easily find the public transportation in Cebu to go to the tourist site. That is great !! In Cebu, the driver is on the left side okay, so first time we have a little bit problem when waiting the car on side of the road, hmmm one -two time we are wrong in a position to wait opposite that route hahaha...but then we become more clever hihi...
Okay then we hit the place where Lapu - Lapu, the hero of Mactan people, killed Ferdinand Magellan, portuguesse who come to Mactan with the spanish troops it is called Magellan Shrine. A little bit about The Magellan Shrine. The Magellan shrine is a large memorial tower erected in 1866 in honor of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The spot is believed to be the area where Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan on 1521, Philippines. The monument measures 30 metres high and it is located in the place of Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu. There is a Lapu - Lapu monument as well (Lapu -Lapu is like Capitan Pattimura from Ambon, Indonesia). Well, a little about Lapu - Lapu Shrine, the Lapu-Lapu shrine is a 20 metres (66 ft) bronze statue ( in Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines, erected in honor of Lapu-Lapu, a native leader who defeated Spanish soldiers led by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the 1521 Battle of Mactan.
And what other you can find around this place ? For sure you can find some souvenir shops, you can bargain here, the price is still competitive.
From the Mactan SHRINE experiences we move to the beach, we are looking for the hotel that we can have drinks on their beach side and we found it. That story starts, We met a woman who is the owner of the one souvenir shop, on our way, we drop by to her shop and bought some sea shell souvenirs. She is a very kind lady, we chit chat and she suddenly offer us to visit her unit in movenpick apartment, She rented the unit to foreigners and local, it is great coincidence for us. So we go there to see the unit, 2 BR type apartment with a balcony facing the sea view, wow cool it is so deep blue ocean and the deep blue sea collide *_* and white sandy beach at the rear side, what a great combination LIKE that view, perfect, suddenly I feel so reggae like in the carribean beach, maybe, hahaha.... So anyway if I have another time to visit Cebu, maybe this apartment would be one of the best choice to book.
Oh well, time is running very fast, after enjoying the tropical breeze and enjoying the white sand, we have to go back to our hotel quickly because we made an appointment to meet Cille Ardiente from Penfires.com. We are hurry back to Ayala Center and still took the public transportation, mini bus and Jeepney hmmm I have to tell you one expereince that I never forget. When we were heading the central Cebu, we have to wait for one more Jeepney to take us to Ayala Center, time was running and Oh ghost I need the phone, I was looking for public phone and asked a man who standing few inch from me, where can I find the public phone ? He point out somewhere far across the busy street, ohhh nooo...it is very far according to my point of view hmmmm i do not want to walk again but waittt after a few words of conversation, he showed his surprise knowing that we are not Philipina but Indonesian. Wow, he (maybe) suddenly decide to help knowing the that we are foreigners, he said please follow me you can use the phone at my office ? Ohhh that is great, OK no problemo we follow him, he brought us to his office, just few meter behind us. He trully help me by dialling the hotel number and I finally can leave the message to the hotel staff for them to convey to Cille Ardiente if she comes. At least no need an effort to be so rush back to the hotel if Cille comes she knows we were late already. Hmm... the guy that help me and my friend is so kind and sincere, God bless him.
6;30PM Cille was waiting for me downstair. I go down with Mba Venny, my friend, and I am so happy I finally can meet the WRITER of PENFIRES.COM, Cille Ardiente. Cille came with her best friend, Dorris (Doi) Domasian -the food & travel blogger from Travelingfeet.com- So perfect I met two Cebuano blogger expert. Live begin at 7, we were ready to explore Cebu City at night. Doi was driving, she brought us to the tourist spot and let us enjoy the chill hang out at Cebu IT Park (i hope I am right that is the place for young Cebuano to hang out at night). Shortly we go around Cebu visiting the Colon Street, the oldest street from 18thCentury, but we do not stop it is not so reccomended to stop at night here. We just passing by. We also visiting the Magelan Cross at Basilica Del Santo Nino, but it closed so we only take a picture from outside. We go to the City Hall, the House of Yap San Diego Ancestral, passing by the Cebu Heritage Monument, stop for awhile at the side of the road city center roundabout and look the Crown building from the distance that look nice of the lighting game, Doi and Cille said this area is very close to the Backpacker area and very central location. Well, our journey was finally ended up at La Marea Pastry shop and Lavazza Cafe at IT central Park, place that very recommended by Cille & Doi. So we spend our last night at Cebu here, tomorrow we have to fly at 11am to Manila again, but yes we do the tour in Cebu too fast, in fact. After 12 midnite we go back to our hotel again hmmm it is like Cinderella hahahah no we are tired already. We are happy to have new friends here, we wait for your guys to come to Jakarta thank you very much. Well, time to sleep ladies. (continued)
