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SM Mall Cebu

SM Mall Cebu Ayala Mall and SM Mall are the 2 most popular malls in Cebu City. Two of my favorite stores there are Habagat and Ace Hardware. I got a 14 inch color tv at the appliance center for 4,200 pesos last week. I am staying in Samar and its hard to shop over [...]

Jungle karaoke

Jungle Karaoke “If there is electricity there will be Karaoke”. This seems to be true anywhere in the Philippines. While riding the back trails of Cebu island today we ran into a rain cloud that was dumping its load right on our heads.A quick listen led us to believe that there was a karaoke just [...]

Growing Orchids in Cebu

Growing Orchids – Moalboal, Cebu Seed pods are harvested and cured for a specific time and brought to Minglanalia near Cebu city to be cultured until they are transferred to the bottles. The young orchid starts are grown in glass bottles with newspaper over the opening which creates the humid environment they thrive in. When [...]

Tagged: Moalboal

Philippine Drivers License

Getting a Philippine Drivers License Getting a Philippine drivers license is a straightforward procedure if you already have a valid license from your home country. The LTO or Land Transport Office has become very efficient over the years and the system is getting streamlined whereas it used to be a bit of a hassle. There [...]

Buying a motorbike

Buying a motorbike in the Philippines Having your own wheels gives you a lot of freedom to get around in the Philippines. There are plenty of motorbike taxis and tricycles about but it always involves waiting for a full load before the driver departs. At night it is more difficult to find a rides as [...]

Tagged: Moalboal, Motorcycle

Ripe Bananas

Ripe Bananas Banana trees grow in small clusters and each stalk produces one bunch. When the fruit is ripe and ready to harvest the entire stalk can be cut down because it will no longer produce. There are many varieties of eating bananas but this tree produces bananas for cooking and are bitter if you [...]

Palalong Scenic Viewpoint

Palalong viewpoint Cebu The sharp curve in the road before you get to Barilli on the west side of the island of Cebu is a beautiful viewpoint for looking out across the bay at the fishing village on the other side. The restaurant has pizzas for 220 pesos. Cokes or Sprite are 12 pesos. A [...]

Mango Ice Cream

Molave Milk Station Cebu The best manga ice cream can be had at the little ice cream and milk hut alongside the road 3/4 the way to Car Car from Moalboal on the National Highway. For 8 pesos you can get a manga or chocolate ice cream cone and sit at one of the picnic [...]

Snorkeling Moalboal Reef

Snorkeling Moalboal Reef in Cebu Snorkeling along the reef in front of the dive shops in Moalboal is not a common activity. Most tourists are here for a week or two and want to do some intensive diving. If your finances are tight, keep in mind that you can go through a lot of money [...]

Tagged: Moalboal

Sinulog 2008

Sinulog 2008 Sinulog is the biggest festival in Cebu City and resembles Mardi Gras in Rio. Colorful native costumes and dance are featured for 9 days but the big day is the 3rd Sunday of January when a huge street parade shuts down the city. I wasn’t able to be there Sunday but enjoyed the [...]