Frustrated Sosyalera Plays Chicken with Gravity

Like everyone else who's been to Cebu, my friends and I went for the Sky Walk Experience at the 40-storey Crown Regency Hotel.



I was feeling mighty adventurous at the time.




You basically walk around a fenceless walkway all around the outside of the 37th floor in a suit and harness.




The view of Cebu from that high up absolutely stunning.




The suits are apparently cleaned after each use. Trainers are recommended footwear and if you arrive without any, you can buy a pair of socks at reception and pairs of shoes may be provided.

I was absolutely fine until we started putting the suits on. I thought I'd forgotten my extreme fear of heights, but I apparently haven't! I can't remember how many times I've gone to the loo before we went out -- I was really nervous!

When we did eventually went out for the 10-15 minute stroll out in the open air, I could hardly walk.

And to my horror, the photographer made us do these poses --







Jen was particularly enthusiastic about it --





I, on the other hand, could only manage this --


Wtf is that, so far away from the edge???


PATHETIC.


I just froze up! Seriously paralyzed!! I'm glad there wasn't any videotaping going on, otherwise people'd think I've got Parkinson's with all the shaking I've been doing. Sheesh.
I will need to redeem myself in the future somehow... I'm dead serious.


The group photos were a lot better, though, thank goodness.








Ooooh! Look at that, I was able to dangle my feet over that gaping ledge of horror!


Overall, it was good (despite my momentary paralysis). I want to go do it again, but not at night -- so I can see my death in broad daylight.


Rates for this "experience" on the main site.

Casa Escano & Don Merto's Restaurant, Cebu

Casa Escano is this lovely little B&B we stayed overnight in while in Cebu City.




It can be found along Juana Osmena Street, just outside the busy city proper.




I was given one of the standard rooms (just enough room for 1 person), which costs at least P1,749/night.




It was comfortable and very clean -- I was very happy with my room, except that I got the one which was at a dark corner of the B&B.




Not that it matters, really, as I only had to stay the night. Plus, you get a newspaper everyday!




Casa Escano also has its own restaurant named Don Merto's. Meals here would set you back at least P200 per head, but they are very good and worth the money.




It's also where you get your free breakfast in the mornings.





Pork Back Ribs




Mushroom Swiss Burger (a half pound burger that I shamefully couldn't finish -- quite tasty,though!).

Lost in Cebu

I kept churning out these emo-boo-hoo posts lately and I don't even have a clue if anybody's reading them. I'm not entirely sure if that even matters to me, but I just can't help but wonder, if you know what I mean.

Anyway!

After one night at Nalusuan Island and enjoying its beautiful sunset, my friends and I decided to go back to the mainland and experience Cebu City.

Unfortunately, it was a little difficult leaving that amazing resort and we arrived in the city a lot later than planned. So we didn't have that much time to really get around.

So we just made sure we went to the city's major attraction -- Magellan's Cross.




It's not much really, when you look from afar...




But when you think about how much of the country's religious history comes from this cross, it becomes rather amazing.




So don't underestimate small things.




The trouble with having photography as a hobby is it's kinda hard to have others take your photos -- so will hafta make do with some camwhoring instead (of course, that was only an excuse).




It was getting dark and we wanted to go to some market to buy pasalubongs to take home, but we didn't know which direction to go. So a friend asked the local policeman.



I don't know what happened, maybe nobody understood each other, but these other policemen arrived and another friend had to go explain some other things about where we were supposed to go, etc. It turned out to be such a palaver that evening fell and we ended up not getting to that market after all.

Never mind, that's what happens when tourists don't do their research properly, right? Sheesh. Lesson learned!

Nalusuan Island Resort from Dusk til Dawn

I was pleased to have brought my cameras to Nalusuan Island. I've used my Nikon, Sony T70 and even my Blackberry to take photos. The scenes are just that breathtaking. I hardly slept because I wanted to make the most of every possible scene during my stay.

Here are my sunset favourites --







That's my friend wading through the sand bar at low tide.



Sunsets are best for silhouette shots.



I just love those colours! ^_^



The same boat from the first photo.



My friends doing "YMCA." Good thing there's only four of them. hahaha



To get the following sunrise shots, I had to wake up at around half 5 in the morning. Sound tough?



It's not so difficult once you open the balcony doors.


There was a lot of waiting goin on.


The starfish in the water underneath my balcony.


Even my bathroom window had a role to play.



The pier.



I've finally gone outside the cottage. Very nippy! Unfortunately, there was no sun -- it was hiding behind a big-ass cloud. Very disappointing.




Aaaaand I nearly dropped my camera.



The sun rising over the island.



The token camwhore photo!

Nalusuan Island Resort, Cebu

Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to live in your very own private island? That is just exactly the experience my friends and I got at Nalusuan Island Resort in Cebu.




Nalusuan Island Resort can be found just off the coast of Mactan Island. From Mactan Airport, land travel may take around 45 minutes to the port. It will take a further 45-minute boat ride to get to the resort.


The place is apparently surrounded by scores of sea cucumbers. Sea cucumbers look like penises. And according to Soloflighted.com, Nalusuan Island derived its name from the word kalusuan, meaning "a place of penises."




I, therefore, welcome you to PENIS ISLAND! harhar!


Compared to Bantayan or Malapascua Island where you will have to travel at leasat 4 hours to get to the beach, Nalusuan Island will only take you less than 2 hours. It's perfect for us, because we will only be in Cebu for 2 days. No time wasted!




I was a bit nervous coming here because none of us have ever been to Cebu before and I was the one who discovered this resort. Had it turned out badly, I could've been in big trouble with the guys! I nearly kissed the island sands when I saw how beautiful the place was. Whew.




Stunning views all around... and quiet too.











Nalusuan Island has what is apparently called a "wet beach." Meaning, the island only has a sandbar stretching out as far as the eye can see, but when the tide is high, it drowns.




1




2




You can't see it on this photo, but it's at this point where we can almost see the pink Hilton Hotel in Mactan.



What about the rooms, you ask? You would be amazed to see the rest of the photos I took --



I booked an aircon room (yes, all by myself -- don't bother asking why) good for at least 2 people.





It was amazingggggg. I was nearly in tears! T_T (Ok I admit, that was an exaggeration.)




Just imagine staying in a room like this! My P3,050 for one night was well worth it!




The room is a stilt cottage, so water directly below.








Can't resist camwhoring. Self-timer is my best friend.




I'm very particular about bathrooms and I found this one clean and really spacious. Taking a piss at night and seeing the stars out your window is magical! LOLLLL




I really am lucky that day, because even my front door view is stunning. *sigh*




I feel even more lucky when I woke up the next morning to this.





Being a dog-lover, they can be stars of the show for me sometimes --







Now here's what to expect should you want to book a trip to Nalusuan Island --

Reservations come with free breakfast, although it is a very sad affair. It's apparently continental. Four slices of verrrrrry lightly toasted white bread with butter, runny marmalade and a banana is hardly continental to me. However, I'm so pleased with the resort that it didn't matter much to me. At least we got coffee or juice with that.




So I ordered an extra Longsilog. I think this meal costs about P200+ and comes with juice.

The menu can be very limited, so expect not being able to eat what you intend to order. Dishes are mostly to share, so may cost around P200+ each. Just think how far the nearest supermarket is and you'll understand what I mean.

I'd advise you to buy groceries first before boarding the boat to Nalusuan Island. As for the corkage fee, there's none for food but only minimal charge for drinks. I think we brought 7 large bottles of soda and a couple of alcoholic drinks and we only got charged P300 for everything. Not so bad, me thinks.


Since it's a private island, don't go expecting any nightlife here. You will be most likely alone, as most people seem to come here only for day trips, scuba diving or snorkeling.


Oh and by the way, there's no electricity during the day. Find a way to keep yourself occupied then, because the generators are only turned on between 6pm to 8am.

Van pick-up from the airport would cost around P800 one-way. Return boat transfers are P2,000.