Cebu City Tour

This is a one-day tour of Cebu City. It started with the Walking Tour of Heritage Sites which lasted about 4 hours in total. From the vicinity of Fort San Pedro, we asked directions from the guard there on where to ride a jeep going to SM City Cebu. It was just a short minimum fare ride going to SM to take some lunch while on fresh cold air. The original plan was to go to nearby CNT Lechon Branch beside SM but since we are all tired and wanted to be on cold surrounding, we opted to have our lunch at SM Foodcourt and still trying the famous Lechon Cebu (now of Marina's Lechon). Well I think the lechon wasn't that very much fresh as it is still to be delivered and you can notice from the skin's not so crispy and tender anymore.

Marina's Lechon at SM City Cebu Foodcourt

We rested for quite some time here to re-energize ourselves again and made some quick tour of the mall. Our next target is to go to Taoist Temple at Beverly Hills Village. We asked (again) a security of the mall on which taxi bay we should take. Our kind taxi driver allowed to take us all five without any extra charge! For about 100 pesos and in 15minutes ride, we are there already. Just make sure that your driver knows where he is going since ours still confirmed where the temple is and I just said that it's in Beverly Hills. Here are some pictures of the temple (no entrance fee)...

Taoist Temple entrance

the main temple, picture-taking not allowed

is this the one they called as pagoda?

I think this is somewhat like their main assembly area 

amazing structures

view from the top

We just waited at the entrance gates of the temple for a taxi, now going to Crown Regency Hotel to try their SkyWalk Experience. There are some cement benches outside so we leisurely waited while having some chats. For only about Php100 again and around 10 minutes, we were already in the vicinity of the hotel. Just ask for directions on where the Sky Adventure venue is as the hotel has three towers. We actually got lost when getting out since they also have numerous elevators and exit passages with no proper signs and no visibility of staffs at some point. For me, I won't desire to stay on this hotel as it gets crowded from their reception areas to room corridors as guests. I also forgot on what exact floors we entered since the main entrance and cashier is on different floor from the main Sky Adventure lobby (still is on two floors). Entrance Fee is at Php250 plus Php300 for one ride; we only opted for Sky Walk by the way. Cameras are not allowed once you are inside the main Sky Walk venue. They will lend you shoes so bring your own socks or you will need to buy a pair for Php20. They will also lend you a locker for your things to be deposited, including cameras and jewelleries. I suggest to be there before 5pm as the line gets really long after that and would take you about one hour just to be served. They sell their own camera-shot pictures for Php260 a piece; but the resolution wasn't that impressive. 

Sky Walk Extreme signage ar Cebu City Crown Regency Hotel

Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City by night, taken from Fuente Osmena Circle

Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City by night

It took us around one and a half hour to finish everything, from entry to exit. From the entrance of the hotel there is a taxi lane and their security would happily assist you through. We will  be having our sumptuous dinner at Ding Qua Qua Dimsum House at JY Square Mall in Lahug City; it was just around 10 minutes ride via taxi costing us only Php80-100. I have reserved seats since I read from some blogs that this restaurant usually gets crowded and would entail you to line up. Their buffet meal costs only Php218 (without drinks); dinner time is from 6pm to 9pm while the lunch is (I think) 12nn to 2pm. I'm not an effective food critic since I enjoy almost every food that you'll serve me but my mates where very delighted with their siomai!

Ding Qua Qua Dimsum House entrance

numerous food choices, not only dimsum

my plate with a siomai indulgence

This ends our Day 2 touring Cebu City.

4 Days / 3 Nights Cebu Itinerary

Cebu City Walking Tour of Heritage Sites

Here are our walking tour maps with the succession of our stops:

(1) COLON STREET OBELISK

Off from our Pension House at around 0930H and aimed to look for a food stop for our breakfast. From R. Landon St., we walked the entirety of Osmena Blvd southwards until we reached the intersection with a  McDonald's on the corner. We then tooked our breakfast there. Unknowingly, the intersection was already Colon St. so we just then walked eastward towards the Colon Street Obelisk at the Colon-P. Burgos St. intersection.

Colon St Obelisk up-close

The Colon Obelisk and the view of Colon Street at the back

(2) CEBU HERITAGE MONUMENT

Then upon reaching the intersection, we turned right (north) for the Cebu Heritage Monument. Actually you can already see the monument from the obelisk. It was on the edge of the Y-shaped road. It has gates but we lately found out that the gates on the side of the firestation is open so we freely came in.

Heritage of Cebu plaque with its history on it

it is fenced or gated

so many structures in it!

(3) YAP-SANDIEGO ANCESTRAL HOUSE

From the monument, you can see also the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House. It was a corner house and really looked rugged over the years; can easily be seen since its design is unique among others near it. There is an entrance fee of Php50 and you can easily find the entrance along Mabini St. The very accommodating tour guide happily took pictured of our group for the rest of our stay there and we just rewarded him with a whooping Php100 tip! Not to mention he knew tips and techniques on how to pose and take good views inside the house; and you are allowed to hold and sit on everything inside, just don't break them. Terrific!

this is the view of the house from the Heritage of Cebu Monument, just magnified

the interior

very old furniture and statues

the facade from their garden

view of the corner lot

(4) CASA GORORDO MUSEUM

Right at the corner of the Ancestral House we took right turn (Lopez Jaena St.) towards Casa Gorordo Museum. It was just about 5minutes walk. They have Php40 entrance fee and you cannot take pictures inside; too bad! But just take advantage of using their comfort room inside, it is clean and spacious.

view from the entramce

the second floor terrace

(5) CEBU METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

We then took the same route going back to the Colon Obelisk and passing through it just straight of P. Burgos St. until we reached the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on our right. It was huge that you cannot see it. Iy would just cost you around 15-20 minutes walk. We rested inside for quite some time to regain some energy.

the Cathedral's patio and facade

the altar and inside peek

main door

(6) MAGELLAN'S CROSS

(7) BASILICA MINORE DEL SANTO NINO

Next stop is the Magellan's Cross, we just continued walking through P. Burgos St. for about 10 minutes. It was not barely along the road but you could see some signage about the Santo Nino Basilica and would hint you that you are almost there. You can see the shelter of the Magellan's Cross at the right side of the road just after the big Island Souvenir store on your left. From the cross you could see the entrance towards the Basilica Minore of Santo Nino with security guards inspecting the people going inside.

the shelter of the Magellan's Cross, view from the street

peek inside

Sto Nino image outside the Basilica

some Saint statues in the Basilica premises

(8) PLAZA INDEPENDENCIA

(9) FORT SAN PEDRO

In order to get to Plaza Indenpendencia, we then asked vendors from the place. Since maps doesn't really give where the entrance of the huge park. I forgot the road we took but it is on the side of Island Souvenir store; straight through it until we reached Mariano Cuenco Ave and you can see the park from there. The entrance is near the stoplight (Legaspi St - Mariano Cuenco Ave intersection). Plaza Independencia was a mere greeny spacious park; clean and tidy with security. I am impressed! From the inside you can easily see Fort San Pedro's walls. They have an entrance of Php40 there. This is similar with Fort Santiago in Manila, just smaller in size.

when you see this, you're near the entrance

the Fort's facade

the Fort's walls and entrance

view on the top

This ends our walking tour which damages around 4 hours in total of our time. It was worth it and really is an adventure. Just don't forget to bring the maps and bring a bottle of water which you can refill on the streets with minimal amount. Finally, don't hesitate to ask questions from the locals; they're very friendly and just be patient if they don't understand you.

4 Days / 3 Nights Cebu Itinerary

Lapu-Lapu City Tour

Upon our arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, we headed to the departure area for the metered non-airport taxi to have cheaper rates. We just followed the throngs of people crossing the street right straight from the arrival's exit doors and up the ramps. You'll easily see the taxi bay with guards in it upon you reach the exit on the second floor.

With our baggage with us, we dropped ourselves on our first landmark - Magellan's Shrine and Lapu-Lapu Monument. It was only about 15-20 minutes ride from the airport. This is advisable to be visited right when you arrived in Cebu or before departing out of Cebu since this is farther than the airport from Cebu City.

Here are the pictures I got in the park using my Panasonic LX5 camera:

view from the park's entrance

Magellan's Shrine

something about Lapu-Lapu

the Battle of Mactan mural

clean and green park

Lapu-Lapu Monument

Lapu-Lapu Monument with Magellan's Shrine on the back

souvenir shops, same price as from the city

Right after the park visit, we planned to have our dinner at a nearby SuTuKil (Sugbo-Tulaw-Kilaw) Restaurant. It was just around 10-15 minutes walk from the park, it was the same road that we took from the airport.

SuTuKil Restaurant's choices

SuTuKil Restaurant

Calamares

Buttered Prawns in Garlic Sauce

Sinigang na Maya-Maya

I haven't just had a picture of the sea weeds which you should also try. I just taste like okra. I enjoyed all our food. They taste really great and perfectly! The service is good as well; every request will be entertained without any hesitation on their faces. After enjoying our sumptuous meal, we headed to our Pension House. With the help of the restaurant's crews, we got our directions through riding only a jeepney. They can also hail a taxi cab for you if you like.

To get a glimpse of our total expenses and itinerary you may visit HERE.