Our clock alarmed at 5 am. It was Sunday and we were about to push the plan that was canceled a day before because it rained. We target to visit this mountain resort in Cebu as recommended by a friend, and have breakfast, as we used to do when we have an out-of-the-city trip to the mountain thru our two-wheels. But, time was teasing us, it rained at almost 6 am. So we waited for a couple of minutes and luckily, it stopped. We departed at exactly 6:40 am.
We took the usual route going to the Trans Central Highway from our place. And we noticed that the road was wet until we reached uphill. We passed by a lot of cyclists, people who were walking, or in short, people who loved to burn calories on the road. We also noticed a lot of vehicles going uphill, which is normal for a weekend. People love to escape from the chaotic side of the city to the fresh atmosphere in the mountains. And TCH is a very famous destination in Cebu to cater to this need. Since we left a little bit late from our place, there were already a lot of vehicles going uphill, though the weather that morning was a bit gloomy.
We were a bit confused if where we were heading at. Then, we saw a signage of the resort on the side of the road, so we turned left. We were glad because we found it, so we followed the road. The road was quite steep as we went downhill. It became narrower as we moved further and passed by some sketchy road. But we continued to drive until we reached the part that the road became wider. We also referred to GPS for reference.
After how many minutes of driving, we reached the location, Dales at Terracota Manor, before 8 am. And, we were the first customers because we were so early. We arrived before their opening hours. But the owner was so considerate and he accommodated us. The resort is located on top of the hill. It is a two-hectare development where you can enjoy the scenery and at the same time, relaxing. They also controlled the number of guests, because they avoid the place being crowded. And that makes it so preferable for people who want to enjoy the beauty of nature with fewer people, especially during a pandemic.
While waiting for our order, we had a short conversation with the British owner about how they started the place with his Filipina wife. He also shared how he enjoyed discovering places, and we were amazed at how adventurous he is. He was able to explore a lot of places already in the Philippines. Since we were the only customers at that time, we felt as if we booked the whole place. They got a good selection on the menu and the foods were great. When our food was ready, we ate right away. We just had a sumptuous breakfast with a very beautiful view of the front. As I always mention this to my friends, good food and beautiful view are my thing. The swimming pool is located at the side of the restaurant, so it added that relaxing ambiance. We enjoyed our food while having a conversation in between.
Since it was too early to leave, one of the staff gave us a tour of the place. I was amazed by how accommodating the staffs were, like their boss. So we checked the different spots they have, especially the view uphill. They have a big area for the guest for a short hike, so you will have the chance to enjoy the surroundings while burning some calories. And, they have a magnificent view on both sides of the mountains. I was delighted when we reached the top hill. Anywhere you look, all you can see is the green scenery while the air kisses your skin. Not to mention that the temperature in the mountains is a bit cooler compared to the city, so it made the place more favorable to relax.
After enjoying uphill and the rest of the tour, we went back to the restaurant. Since it rained a bit, we had the chance to enjoy the place more while waiting for the rain to stop. At 10 am, we departed and decided to continue exploring the inner road. We discovered that it leads to another side of the highway, going to Manipis. Since we haven't tried it, we checked if where it goes.
We drove uphill, then downhill. The road was a bit narrower and some parts of it were not good. Since we enjoyed the ride, we continue further. And this time, we got lost. We were able to turn in the wrong direction. Nevertheless, we turned back and able to find the right way. We were amazed by the different plantations along the road. We also met a lot of cyclists. It was our first time passing by on this road. And we never expect to drive it for almost an hour before we reached the highway. Our knees were quite hard already at that time. So we decided to stop over along the side of the road for a couple of minutes before we headed home, enough for us to straighten our legs and relax a bit.
The experience of that day was a bit tiring but fun. Considering that we inserted a trip that was not included in the plan. But, most of the unforgettable trips that we had in the past are unplanned.鈾ワ笍
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