Toledo City: Hashtag Cafe

June 24, 2016

at Rafols Street, Poblacion, Toledo City

The best Taro in Toledo!

A new Café has just opened in Toledo City, offering a variety of mouth-watering beverages, commonly-enjoyed snacks, and light meals. The establishment is operated by a family and had been serving customers since June 12 during their soft opening. The family is very accommodating.

This is what the interior looks like. The Café is suitable for study-outs and group meetings. The owner has mentioned that the place can be rented for an exclusive event.

Food prices range from 25.00 to 300.00. I would suggest you try the Taro and their Frappe beverages.

Hashtag Café has closed its store as of March 05, 2017.

Moalboal: Basdaku

LOCATION:
Moalboal, Cebu (Southwest part of Cebu)

FESTIVAL:
Kagasangan Festival (May 16)
Basdiot Fiesta (April 27)

FEES: (as of June 2016)
Barangay Entrance Fee (5.00)
Basdaku Entrance Fee (10.00)
Cottage (500.00)
Grilling Stand (200.00)
Fares (50.00 - 100.00)

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT:
Pescador Island
Matutinao River
Montaleza River
Orchid Gallery

The perfect white sands of Moalboal greeted our eyes!

Amidst the flocking tourists in Moalboal and an active tourism industry, it is still a fourth income class municipality.

After a cool dip at Mantayupan Falls, we took our swimming to Moalboal. I can't say much about our trip because we feasted our eyes over the handsome foreign nationals (just kidding!). We were too preoccupied with swimming, I forgot to take photos.

Barili: Mantayupan Falls

Check out: https://travellingandbeyond.com/

LOCATION:
Barili, Cebu (southwest coast of Cebu)

FESTIVAL:
Kaumahan Festival (July 26)

FEES: (as of June 2016)
Bus fare from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Barili (est. 90.00)
Motorcycle fare from Bus Drop-off to Mantayupan Falls (est. 30.00)
Entrance Fee (20.00)
Parking Fee (20.00)
Table (150.00)
Life vest (20.00)
Food corkage (50.00)
Food Group Servings (100.00 - 400.00)

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT:
Molave Milk Station
San Rafael Hill
Sta. Ana Church
Candugay Beach Resort
Paril Mountain Resort
Sayaw Beach
Bolocboloc Spring Pool
AC Tilapia Fun Fishing
Paradise Valley Mountain Resort


Nothing beats this! At last, we set foot at Mantayupan Falls at Campangga, Barili.

Barili, which consists of 42 barangays and categorized as a second class municipality, was believed to have acquired its name from the word balili - a grass which grew in abundance within the area. It was told that when the Spaniards arrived and asked the locals for the name of the place, they had mistakenly answered 'balili', thinking that they were asked about the grass being pointed at.

My collegues and I had planned this escape for quite some time. Even though our trip to Mantayupan Falls was a long one, we were ecstatic and thrilled to see what's in store for us in the early hours of a Saturday. We entered its vicinity and found it to be commercialized - or so we thought.

entrance fees are collected upon entering the vicinity

lavatory and showers

We paid our fees and proceeded ahead.

It only took a few steps and the first station was at sight. It had three falls, all an average of 14 meters tall.

Since another group ahead of us went straight to the second station, we followed their lead which brought us to the majestic view of Mantayupan Falls. The 5-minute hike was worth it.

Charmed by staring at it; mesmerized by the sound of water falling to the base. It was music to the ears. Finally, we saw the tallest falls in all of the Cebu province - the 92-meter waterfalls - an astonishing sight. Kawasan is fully commercialized and we thought Mantayupan had undergone the same improvements, but no, it retained its natural environment.

A good swim ended our Mantayupan Falls visit.

(from left) Jupiter, Ma'am Ting, Cheke, Edward, Mac, Sir Gats, Jade

Barili: Molave Milk Station

June 11, 2016
(Barili, Cebu)

Travelers heading south via Barili wouldn't miss a milk station to their right.

Our June 11 trip included the Molave Milk Station as a stopover. It was in the early hours of the day and we were one of the few people who wanted ice cream for breakfast (lol), in all honesty, we had to go to the lavatory.

Molave Milk Station offers a variety of food products.

They have delicacies for pasalubong or gift.

Pasalubong: (as of June 2016)

Barquiron (22.00)

Barquillos (22.00)

Baked Polvoron (60.00)

Sun Cake (65.00)

Podreda (60.00)

Tostados (60.00)

Torta (35.00)

Piyaya (35.00)

Pastillas (20.00)

Macaroons (35.00)

Sylvanas (125.00)

Chicharon (20.00)

Tamarindo (50.00)

Banana Chips (30.00)

Hopia (60.00)

Puto Flan (45.00)

Bico (15.00)

Salted Peanuts (20.00)

Patatas (12.00)

Peanut Brittle (30.00)

Cassava Cake (100.00)

Coco Bar (20.00)

Camote Special Candy (20.00)

Peanut Turon (15.00)

Puto Cheese (40.00)

Pinamungajan: Hidden Valley Beach Resort

Check out for updates: https://travellingandbeyond.com/

LOCATION:
Tajao, Pinamungajan, Cebu

FEES: (as of May 2016)

ROOM TYPE
Family Deluxe Room (good for 5 persons)
          Day Use (2,000.00)
          Overnight Stay (3,000.00)
Superior Deluxe (good for 2 persons)
          Day Use (1,400.00)
          Overnight Stay (2,000.00)
Extra bed with breakfast (300.00)
Function Hall (good for 50 persons)

Room Amenities:
          - free use of swimming pool
          - free entrance to the beach
          - 24 hours cable TV
          - WIFI ready
          - toilet and bath ready
          - food and beverage room service

All guests for overnight stays are entitled to continental breakfast servings.

DAY TOUR
Use of Swimming Pool
          Adult (11 years old and above) (80.00)
          Kids (3 - 10 years old) (40.00)
Kiosk (Nipa Hut) Cottage (2,000.00)
Duplex Type Cottage (600.00)
Beach table with 4 chairs (250.00)
Extra Beach table (no chairs) (150.00)
Sun Bed (200.00)
Corkage (per menu) (50.00)
Corkage for whole lechon (250.00)
Rental of videoke (per hour) (150.00)

SPECIAL PACKAGES
(for groups minimum of 10 persons)

PACKAGE A: (1,225.00/person)
Inclusions:
          3 meals (family style = 2 main dish + side dish + soup + fruits with drinks)
          2 plated snacks (AM /  PM snacks)
          Family Deluxe fully air-conditioned room (2 rooms)

PACKAGE B: (1,940.00/person)
Inclusions:
          Overnight Stay @ Hidden Valley Beach with fully air-conditioned Family Deluxe Rooms
          2 Family Style meals & 1 plated snack @ Hidden Valley Beach
          1 Family Style meal & 1 plated snack @ Hidden Valley Wave Pool
          Free entrance and use of pool both wave pool & mountain resort
          Free 1 native cottage @ Hidden Valley Wave Pool
          Van Transfer from Hidden Valley Beach to Hidden Valley Mountain Resort to Cebu City

(no beverage allowed to bring inside the resort except for resorts display)

CONTACT DETAILS:
email : hiddenvalleybeachresort@yahoo.com.ph
telephone number: (032) 468 8025

Murcia: Mambukal Mountain Resort

Check for updates: https://travellingandbeyond.com/

LOCATION:
Murcia, Negros Occidental

FESTIVAL:
Mudpack Festival (June 23 or 24) (third week of June)
Tinabuay Festival (December 8)

FEES: (as of June 2016) (check their website for rate updates)
Entrance Fees   (Adult 50.00; 11 yrs old and below 20.00)
Entrance Toll Fees   (Light Vehicle 15.00; Trucks or buses 30.00)
Rooms
          Villas
                    Matrimonial (1700.00)
                    1 Single & 1 Matrimonial (2000.00)
                    4 Single Beds (2400.00)
                    Extra Bed (200.00)
          Family Cottage (4000.00)
                    Extra Foam (100.00)
          LGU Cottage
                    Good for 2 persons (900.00)
                    Good for 4 persons (1200.00)
                    Good for 6 persons (1500.00)
                    Extra Foam (100.00)
          Tourist Lodge
                    Ordinary Room (600.00)
                    Deluxe Room (750.00)
                    Family Room (1000.00)
          Dormitory (good for 20 persons) (2000.00)
Camping Fee per person (30.00)
Picnic Huts   (big  600.00; small  300.00)
Tables with 4 chairs (100.00)
Additional Foam (100.00)
Conference Halls (2500.00 - 12000.00)
Ofuro Hot Spring (100.00)
Swimming Pools  (adult  50.00; 11 years old & below  20.00)
Slide for Life (50.00)
Boating (30.00)
Butterfly Garden Entrance (25.00)
           Souvenir Items (30.00 - 500.00)
Wall Climbing (25.00)
Spa Fees (300.00 - 1500.00)

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT:
Twin River Resort
Hilltop Restobar
Pandanon Silos Mountain and River Resort
Barangay Sta. Rosa Monument
Hacienda Kaftrees
Kahulihoha Herbal Garden and Serenity Park
CasaMia

A nature lover's dream!

Murcia is a first class municipality in Negros Occidental. It has 23 barangays, one of which is Brgy. Minoyan where Mambukal Resort is nestled.

According to the resort's official website, Mambukal resort serves as a gateway to Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. It was originally designed as a bathhouse and picnic garden by a Japanese architect, Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927. It's total land area reaches 23.6 hectares.

Mambukal has bats as a tourist attraction. Three species are found in the resort; the Philippine Flying Fox, the Philippine bare-backed fruit bat, and the Little golden-mantled flying fox. The hot sulfur springs boast its medicinal waters.

A lot of activities can be enjoyed in the massive property. There's a zip line for the thrill-seekers. There's a wall climbing activity for those with super duper upper body strength (which I obviously lack); a  boat ride on this lake can be quite an exhilarating experience too. There are many activities to choose from.

The canopy walk has been damaged and will be temporarily inaccessible.

The trek to the falls was exhausting. Unfortunately, swimming at the first to the fifth level is not allowed. The sixth level I find too narrow for everyone to enjoy. I wasn't able to reach the seventh. It was too far and had too little time as we were to head home that day.

Take note that booking a room at Mambukal should be a month before your preferred date. The resort is always booked. In case you do not receive a confirmation of your booking, bring a tent for camping. There are available tents for rent ranging from 400.00 to 600.00, but it would be too costly - VERY VERY COSTLY  (there are rooms of the same rate as that). The camping area does not have a comfort room which makes this tent rental fee too much. These tents are owned by the employees of the mountain resort.