I finally had the time to tinker around this Curated Collections thing and I find it really interesting. I have an existing four different travel series and to find all the entries of those series in one post is a game-changer. I have Kim's Quest, Definitely Cebu, Philippine Islands, and Kim's Taste. It has always been my dream to promote my country and have all my travel series in one place to help me get closer to that dream. If someone asks me about my travel content, I will just give them the link to the collection and they will find everything there.
For this collection, you can find everything about Cebu - my home since 2007. I dream that once you hear about a place in Cebu somewhere, you would say, "Yep, that's Definitely Cebu, I read about it from Kim's blog.".
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-1-tuslob-buwa-at-colon-street-cebu-s-street-food-scene
This is my first entry to the Definitely Cebu series. This was when I felt I was the only one from Cebu who's very active on Steem. I created the series to serve as an identifier of Cebu from the rest of the world.
What's interesting about this post is that it's two unique identifier of Cebu in one post: Tuslob Buwa and Colon Street.
Tuslob Buwa literally means "dip in bubbles" since tuslob is a Visayan term which means dip and buwa means bubbles.
Colon Street is the oldest street in the Philippines - that I know by heart. When I researched more about it, I only knew just then that it is also the shortest National Road in the Philippines. I don't know about you, but that's so cool for me! I learned something new.
Find out more in the post. I think it's a great start for a travel series. It's showcasing what's unique about Cebu which is really aimed at drawing more people to visit.
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-2-puto-bumbong-and-halo-halo-filipino-desserts-in-colon-and-tisa
This is the second part of our spontaneous street food escapade. After Tuslob Buwa, we decided to have Filipino desserts which are also unique identifiers, not just in Cebu, but also in the whole country. It's Puto Bumbong and Halo-Halo.
Puto Bumbong is a type of Filipino purple rice cake which was made by steaming ground purple rice mixture in bamboo tubes. It's typically prepared during the Christmas season when vendors are seen steaming Puto Bumbong outside churches during simbang gabi. But you know in the Philippines, the Christmas season starts in September and will end in February.
For those who didn't know, halo-halo is a Filipino dessert that's a concoction of crushed ice, evaporated milk, and an endless combination of various sweets and sweetened treats. Ube, pinipig, sago, gulaman, coconut strips, and sweetened banana are common ingredients that are often topped with ice cream and leche flan, but every region in the Philippines has its own version with whatever sweet treat that's available. It's very popular especially during summer as it's a perfect treat to cool off.
Don't forget to try these desserts when you visit Cebu!
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-3-mt-lanaya-via-legaspi-trail-algeria-s-coast-to-base-camp
This is the first part of our trek to one of the most difficult trekking sites in Cebu - trek to Mt. Lanaya via Legaspi Trail.
I think one of the reasons why mountaineers often say that Legaspi Trail is one of the most difficult trekking trails in Cebu is because the trek started at the national highway. At first, it will follow a small paved path where motorcycles often pass. Shade and cover are provided by coconut trees and banana leaves.
We passed by a few houses along the trail. Tañon Strait was very calm below. No visible waves can be seen as it was a sunny morning, but Negros Island was not visible. The trail is generally characterized as open grassland with sporadic trees.
It's mostly a collection of photos along the trail. I just find the trail interesting especially on what they call as "Windows XP" part which is just a grassland that resembles the famous wallpaper.
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-4-mt-lanaya-via-legaspi-trail-assault-to-the-peak
This is the second part of the trek - an assault to the peak. The assault part has no interesting photos because of the dense foliage, but upon reaching the peak, we had an awesome view of the west side of Cebu.
The first part of the ascent is not so steep but under very dense foliage. It's almost no sunlight that can penetrate the forest floor. It's not a forest with very huge and towering trees, but a pack of small to medium-size trees. I think it's due to the rocky condition of the mountain that trees don't grow very large (I'm not sure though).
If you're standing at the peak and overlooking Tañon Strait, at your back would be the mountain ranges of south Cebu where Osmeña Peak and Kandungaw Peak belong. It's really spectacular.
I had some drama at the beginning of the post because the previous part was downvoted by a large stakeholder and I haven't developed a thick skin yet at that time. I guess we all evolve and improve. I'll be adding more to this collection.
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-5-maravilla-white-beach-tabuelan-cebu
This was one of the most spontaneous trips I've ever had. I could say I had a lot of memories there. The beach was awesome, especially during low tide.
It was still low tide when we got there. It was a huge sand flat that reflects light because of the remaining seawater on the surface. I never realized it was so magical until I took a photo. Its beauty became more apparent as the sun slowly rises. It was a first for me, so I didn't know I would enjoy the beach at dawn.
Happy memories were created on this beach and it's one I shouldn't miss being included in this collection.
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-6-cheesy-goodness-at-fat-dois
This restaurant is one for the books because we dined here before the lockdown. We should have flown to Bacolod to attend the wedding of our workmate and friend, but we decided not to pursue the plan because we feared we won't be able to go back. After all, Manila was already in lockdown. It felt like eating our last meal outside because true enough, the lockdown due to the pandemic started a few days after.
Everything in their menu is absolutely delicious! Since its opening, it has created a buzz here in Cebu, but I didn't bother to check out because I was discouraged by the long queues, but since they opened a bigger branch, I finally gave in to the hype. I would say that the restaurant lived to its name! It didn't disappoint! I was really shocked that despite its fancy reputation, the price tag is not that high. It was worth all my money. Their servings are good for 3~4 people, so I think it's best if you are in a group.
I was able to dine here again after I was invited by a friend, but it never felt the same. The pandemic has really made a toll on businesses.
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-7-arterra-bayfront-residences-at-discovery-bay
Written in the middle of the lockdown and it was summer, this was when I really missed my work and my colleagues. We had a team building on this resort.
Arterra Bayfront Residences is a relatively new condotel that's located at the northern tip of Mactan Island. When you traverse Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu City, this will be the last establishment in that area. It's relatively new real estate and I think developments are still ongoing. In the coming years, I bet that the area will become one of the sought-after places to relax and unwind especially during summer.
Located at the tip of the strip in Mactan Island where high-end resorts are located, this place has a great panorama of Camotes Sea. Definitely, a place to watch out for in the future.
@ybanezkim26/definitely-cebu-8-alta-cebu-village-resort-and-convention-center
Another resort where we had an outing and team-building with my colleagues from my previous work. Written during the time of the pandemic, this was when I scoured my Google Photos for photos I haven't shared yet.
Alta Cebu Village Resort and Convention Center is a low-key garden resort that is located beside a river bordering Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova, Cebu. It's just a few kilometers away from picturesque beaches and wonderful dive sites in Mactan Reef Flat.
This place is famous for groups especially teachers to have a team-building activity. It's not that far from the city but offers a quiet and exclusive venue to have fun while escaping from the city's hustle.