Out of the Ordinary

The Cebu Experience

An hour after, our aircraft landed at the Mactan International Airport.

  We were in Cebu, finally!

 

We really haven’t planned our Cebu trip.  I haven’t done my homework of google-ing the Must-Dos in Cebu.  Thus, we found ourselves standing at the Arrival Area, clueless.  They were actually relying on me since I’ve been to Cebu, but that was ages ago and, at that time, traveling for me means going to the malls!  And I was also relying on MJ who planned this trip in the first place but, unfortunately, had to cancel her trip on the last minute.

 

Relying on MJ’s printed excel IT, which wasn’t very helpful (sorry MJ), and CebuPacific’s In-flight magazine that I got from Chie's seatmate, we braved the cold streets of Cebu.

First goal, EAT!

 

Taking the advice of Smile, CebuPac’s Inflight mag, one of the Must-Eats in Cebu is lechon (roasted pig) at CNT Lechon .

  For an authentic Cebu-style lechon, we took the advice, but no address was given on the mag.  So we tried our luck at the mall, The Ayala Center Cebu Mall, the only place I remember in Cebu (and SM Mall!).  And lucky for us, there’s CNT Lechon in their food court!  For the lechon, well, it was kinda disappointing.  It was tasteful; don't get me wrong.  The meat’s tender and skin's crunchy, but we just didn’t like the sauce, especially Chie.  Anyways, we left our table with clean, clear plates.  Yeah, we didn’t like our food.  First goal:  Lunch, Checked!

 

Next goal:  Buy ferry tickets for Tagbilaran.  After asking for directions for the ticketing office, then lots of wrong turns, we finally found the ticketing office for Cokaliong Shipping, per MJ’s IT.  However, they don’t have a scheduled trip for that night.  Tachycardia moment.  We searched again for the office of Lite Shipping, our last hope of getting to Tagbilaran.  Finally, we found it and immediately bought our tickets.  VS:  Stable.

 

That search was like a blessing in disguise as next to it is a travel & tour office that sells Sky Experience Adventure tickets at 50% off and it's the last day of sale!  Hesitant at first, as we might not be able to enjoy it, but since it’s discounted, the suckers-for-discount bought the tickets.

 

Then it rained.

 

But this didn’t stop us.

 

We grabbed a cab and headed towards the Magellan’s Cross.

 

The Magellan’s Cross, housed in a small chapel in front of the City Hall and next to the Sto. Nino church, the cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who discovered the Philippines, the symbol of the Roman Catholic religion and Cebu City as well.  I had to take pictures of it as the last time I was there, all I had was my Nokia 7650.  I told you it was ages ago.  :)

 

Next to the Magellan’s cross is the historical Sto.

Nino church, considered as the oldest church in the Philippines.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go in as it was flocked by churchgoers and devotees celebrating Sinulog.

 

Next stop, the triangular Fort San Pedro.  We saw a picture of it in the Concierge Center in Ayala Mall and we were intrigued by this oldest and smallest fort in the Philippines.  Actually, I only want to go there because I wanted to imitate the picture, with a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) in front of the fort.  It was just beautiful. But when we got there, there were school children having their field trip.  There's no way I can get that same picture.  And there was no kalesa!  Urgh.  We didn’t bother to go in.  It was still raining and there was an entrance fee.  (The latter was the determining factor actually..Bwahahaha)

 

It was time for a different experience.

 

The Sky Experience

 

-- Ultimate High w/ The World’s First & Only Edge Coaster --

 

From Fort San Pedro, our cab dropped us off in front of the Crown Regency Hotel & Towers.  Nineteen floors up, we were at the Sky Lounge, passing our tickets to the staffs for the sky rides.  Taking the scenic elevator that brought us up to 38^th floor, we were at the Sky Observatory and a stone’s throw away from the Edge Coaster Ride entrance. 

 

It was still raining, a great excuse to delay the ride.  :)

 

There was a couple riding the Edge Coaster.

  The girl was screaming like hell.  It didn’t look scary at all!  At first, I thought it was like a roller coaster ride, but it was actually a slow 4-minute ride around the edge of the hotel.  Easy!  I survived the EK’s Space Shuttle; this is nothing!

 

All proud, I went in first.  Since it’s a two-seater, Chie joined me.  Bjorn & Viola:  L-O-S-E-R-S! :)

So we handed out our tickets and the staffs placed the safety device.  It was still raining so they offered raincoats but we insisted we didn’t want them.  Bring on the rain! 

 

And so there we were, at the world’s very first and only amusement ride of its kind (according to its brochure), the Edge Coaster, and seated proudly.  BTW, the safety device, which I don’t know how to describe, didn’t look that safe at all.  It was just like a piece of metal placed between my legs and pressed on my abdomen where I can hold onto.

 

After we were securely (?) seated and instructions were given about the tilt controls, the ride started.  Boring.  Zzzzzzzz.

 

Then there’s the TILT.  When we’re nearing a curve, the coaster began to tilt.  Then I screamed.

 

Yes, it was scary!  I’m afraid of heights plus I didn’t feel secure with their safety device.  It’s like loose or something.  Plus it's like my Havs would fall off!  I had to hold onto the side of my seat (and even to Chie’s seat).  I was on the edge of my seat, literally.

 

I was shouting…screaming...like hell…like the couple before us.  :)

 

Chie, on the other hand, the scared one at first, kept on laughing at me.

  “Kaya pala ha!”  Then it occurred to her that we can manually control the tilt!  So she flattened the coaster.  Phew!  The screaming stopped.

 

Then I screamed again when she began tilting our seats.  The rest of the ride was a combination of screams, yells at Chie, and laughter , as Chie tried to tilt our seats up to 55 degrees and I return it back to flat. 

 

Signs of schiz?  Yes, beware of the Edge Coaster!

 

That 4-minute ride seemed like that longest ride of my life!

 

Consolation after the ride was a certificate that reads:  “I Survived the Edge Coaster.”  Now, if I can just add this to me resume….Well, it’s an achievement.  Can you handle the ride?

 

-- A Walk to Remember --

 

Included in the discounted tickets was the Sky Walk Extreme.

  Extreme as one can walk around the edge of the building while tied to a harness.  So one floor down, we had a leisure trip at the sky.

 

After safety briefing, wearing orange & blue jumpsuits, which weren’t flattering, and strapped to a safety harness, the walk in the sky began.  With us were a guide and a photographer.  At that time, the rain already stopped but it was windy and the floor’s slippery, which hindered us from doing certain activities, like sitting on the edge of the platform with feet dangling in the air.  That would have been exciting (& scary but exciting!). Anyways, our walk was still fun.  Camwhoring wasn’t to the highest level because of the slippery floors.  Jumpshots would have been amazing with the whole of Cebu as the backdrop.  Next time then.

 

The walk wasn’t scary at all!  This time, no screaming from me was heard.  :)

Actually, it was quite comforting with the wind on my face and blowing my hair away.

  And the view was just amazing.

 

After the walk, which took around 15 minutes, with our mahangin-ba-sa-labas looks, we were given certificates to prove that we survive the Sky Walk Extreme.

 

-- The Aftermath --

 

I got two certificates!  One from the Edge Coaster and the other from Sky Walk Extreme!  I’ll definitely add these to my resume.  They’re certificates of accomplishment anyways.  :)

 

After the two rides, we went down to the Sky Lounge for our free snacks.  Just how good can it get?

Well, it wasn’t exactly that grand!  Free snacks included a sandwich sliced into 2 (because its buy one, take one??) and bottomless ice tea.

  At least, it’s bottomless!

 

 

The Larsian Experience

 

After getting high from the Sky Experience Adventure, it was time for pasalubong shopping & dinner.

 

From Crown Regency, it was just a short distance walk to Fuente Osmena where we found a Shamrock store, famous for their otap, which is one of the delicacies of Cebu.

 

With a handful of otaps, the searched for Larsian began.  Aside from the malls, my memory of Cebu included a dinner at Larsian.  However, I was quite hesitant to bring the group to this place, especially Viola as she’s not used to carinderia or eatery food, and since Larsian is quite questionable in terms of sanitation.

  But I didn’t tell them that!  I just told them about Larsian’s uber-delicious and CHEAP chicken barbecue and that it can get crowded.

 

When we got there, it was really jam-packed, crowded, over-crowded with locals and even foreigners.  At least I was honest about that part.

 

But I received thumbs up from them.  Who can resist the aromatic smoke of barbecues!

 

Larsian is popular for its barbecue, so it was like a big covered  lot filled with numerous stalls claiming they’re better than the others, selling all kinds of barbecues -- chicken, chicken innards, pork, chorizo, sea foods. 

 

So we ordered chicken breast barbecues, chicken liver barbecues, chicken gizzard barbecues, and grilled squid plus lots of puso (heart-shaped coconut-leaf wrapped boiled rice) & a liter of cola.

 

Aside from the barbecues, we got amazed with the plastic gloves that they served.

  So we had the option of eating with our bare hands or use the plastic gloves.  I preferred the former.

 

So, I got stinky, I got dirty, but see, busog kung busog without hurting my pocket!