TRAVEL DIARY: CEBU day 1

I'm not gonna stop, I like the view from the top - well I really do. This is where the wanderlust in me wants to stay, can I just stay here?

As we landed at MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, we rode a taxi immediately to the bus terminal that will take us to Oslob, Cebu - well, we didn't have much time to waste, THE START OF OUR JAM-PACKED SOUTH CEBU EXCURSION.

It took about an hour for us to get to the bus station (taxi) , and another three hours to dalaguete, but it didn't stop there, our main goal was to see the highest peak in the south, OSMEÑA PEAK. Approximately, if we trekked our way to the top, it would consumed another 3 hours of our jaunt, so we rented "HABAL-HABAL (motorcycles)" and we reached the peak after thirty minutes.

Dalaguete will give you "BAGUIO-FEELS" for its temperature, abundance of pine trees, and the crops planted in landscapes.



The motorcycle dropped us near the peak, and we trekked for 30 minutes in a muddy terrain with beautiful grasses, flowers, and vegetables - a beautiful mess. We were assisted by a local, she was 7 years old, a jolly girl with so much dreams, hehe.

It was tiring, but it kept us going because of the hint the view gives - an ethereal feel.

Osmeña Peak is like a grotesque twin of CHOCOLATE HILLS, and ironically it is better, for I think, its sereneness will caught your soul and its majestic landscape will leave you breathless.



NOTE TO MY SELF, never ever wear slippers again, if I am to trek a muddy road, specially, white havaianas.



It was almost 3pm, and we had another destination, KAWASAN FALLS.

So we're back with the "HABAL-HABAL" ride, and it was an hour of unending road, full of trees, and cliffs - I was silently praying, yes I was.



By 4pm, we reached our destination. Sadly, tour guides said that KAWASAN FALLS was badly hit by a typhoon, and it was not possible for us to pursue canyoneering - it was really evident how disasterous the storm was, the road, coconut trees and one of the bamboo rafts were destroyed.

But no regrets, the main waterfalls still stands, its icy-cold aquamarine water surrounded tropical forest with serene sound of waterfalls is still a beauty - idyllic, and tranquil.



Obviously, it was a tiring day, an inconvenient road trip that leads to two paradises.

---

AIRPORT TO BUS TERMINAL (Taxi) - approximately 200 pesos, 1 hour
BUS TERMINAL TO DALAGUETE (Bus) - 170 pesos, 3 hours (go for buses bound to oslob, ask the driver to drop you off at dalaguete junction)
MOTORCYCLE/"HABAL-HABAL" to OSMEÑA PEAK drop off area - 800 pesos, 30 minutes *for two persons* *travel to kawasan falls included*
OSMEÑA PEAK drop off area to OSMEÑA PEAK - 30 minutes trekking, *you may give a tip to your tour guide
OSMEÑA PEAK to BADIAN, KAWASAN FALLS - 1 hour