There are several nice beaches in Cebu but most of them require at least a 4 hour car or bus ride to get to the north of Cebu. We reckon that Bohol is a decent distance away and it has a good mix of countryside and beach activities so we booked our Oceanjet ferry from Cebu to Bohol on the 3rd day of our trip.
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to BoholInside Oceanjet 2 hours ride to Bohol from Cebu
Our driver from Peacock Garden greeted us at the arrival gate of Taglibaran City seaport with a nice wooden signage with our names on it. It really stood out as the other hotels used paper or whiteboard (starting to raise our expectation of this luxury hotel). The journey to Peacock Garden was about 20mins and we really liked the peaceful surroundings of the hotel. We spent the first hour walking around the compound and taking photos of the facade, fountains, garden and of course the view at the swimming pool.
Peacock Garden Receptionist who took us around the resort and welcomed usWelcoming bed at the peacock garden premier infinity and sea view
Peacock Gardeb – right in front of the infinity pool and ocean view
Magnificent view over the infinity pool and ocean!
Peacock Garden Infinity poolArty shot of the infinity pool at Peacock Garden
Kate then decided to splurge at Fontana Aurelia Spa and chose the Signature Indulgence: Gift of Gaea (3950 peso) because it has 2 of her favourite food: coffee and chocolate! While she was being pampered for 3 hours, I stayed in the infinity pool and was mesmerised by the different shades of blue: the sky, the sea, the pool (which inspired our “Guess and Win – Paradise” contest).
Fontana Aurelia Spa at Peacock Garden BoholFontana Aurelia Spa in peacock garden hotelPeacock Garden Massage tablePrice list at Fontana Aurelia Spa Peacock Garden
Dinner at the Old Heidelberg was exquisite. Classy and tasty (usually you get either or but at Old Heidelberg, you get both!) The hotel staff also prepared for us a heart-shaped chocolate cake for our wedding anniversary when we were done with our main course.
Inside Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock GardenChefs Recommendation at Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock GardenChoice of breads of great butter and spreadKalderatang Baka Filipino Beef Stew 480 pesoJaegerschnitzel with spaeztle 540 pesoComplimentary heart-shaped anniversary cake courtesy of Peacock Garden Hotel
After dinner, we strolled past the swimming pool and took a couple of night shots. Back in the room, we were pleasantly surprised by the turndown service and we love Peanut Kisses!!! Yummy!
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What a relaxing time on the 3rd day of our Cebu/Bohol trip! We’re almost at the halfway mark of our Cebu/Bohol trip. But more awaits on day 4 of our trip! Stay tuned tomorrow to find out more!
There was so much planned for the second day of our trip! We had arranged to meet Long at the hotel’s lobby at 10.30am for our Cebu City private day tour but we wanted to explore the neighbourhood too so we woke up early and went for a stroll, looking for breakfast. We eventually settle for Alberto’s Pizza (nope, we did not have pizza, check out what we had by clicking on the link). We headed back in time to the hotel to meet Long, and our first stop was CnT Lechon! Haha…more food! Ahhh…i miss the crispy skin and tender meat *dreamy look*
Alberto’s Pizza HUngarian and Cheese Krainer with garlic rice and egg for 75 peso eachHalf kg of CnT lechon. crispy skin.juicy meat. 200 peso
Half kg of delectable crispy skin and juicy meat at CnT Lechon! – You may be visiting 2fatbears.com in the near future if we keep up our eating antics! :p
Soon we began our trip proper and learned about Cebu’s history at our first stop: Cebu Monument. As we could not stop along Colon street, we took a couple of photos and videos of the old street. The City Hall, Magellan Cross and Basilica del Santo Nino were around the same area so we covered these fairly quickly. It also started to drizzle very lightly but when we reached Fort San Pedro, the rain had stopped. We tried to remember the dates in Cebu’s history when we were walking around the Independence Plaza but found it really hard 🙁 We then spent about an hour and a half at Cebu Museum as there were 6 different galleries that showcased the different periods of Cebu’s history. We were not very keen to visit the Taoist temple but we were curious about the “Berverly Hills of Cebu” and wanted to check out the huge and expensive bungalows. The view from the temple was nice but it was nothing compared to the view from Tops. We wanted to stay till it was dark for a night shot but it was getting chilly and we did not pack a light jacket in our bag. But we still enjoyed ourselves, watching the skies changed colours as the sun set, enjoying our chilled San Miguel Lemon flavoured beer and SML.
Cebu MonumentCebu Metropolitan CathedralThe Magellan CrossFort San PedroCannon in fort with the remnants of the wallCebu Capitol BuildingOur driver for the day Long with his cab on TopsView from Tops. Mactan IslandSan Miguel at 60 peso each on TopsArty shot of seating area on TopsNight view from Tops
Long drove us back to our hotel by 8.30pm. We wanted to pamper ourselves so we went up to the Twin Peaks Spa for facial at only 400 peso each. Kate had the extra indulgence of pedicure at 100 peso and had her nails painted bright fushcia pink 🙂
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People usually think that Cebu is all about beaches and clear waters. But in fact, there are also other interesting attractions, history and food to indulge in. Stay tuned for the 3rd day of our Cebu/Bohol trip tomorrow!
It’s more fun in the Philippines!! The tarsier’s eyes do freak me out when I see the advert on the tourism board webpage. But since we have never been there before, SGD is strong, the people speak english; and we want to go somewhere that is not crowded, nice scenery, laze on a beach, we decided to visit Cebu/Bohol. Many people ask why are we not going to Boracay instead…well, it’s more convenient to do Cebu/Bohol and everyone else has probably already visited Boracay. Cebu/Bohol has a good mix of everything – history, countryside, beach; and we definitely enjoyed every moment of our 8 days there!
We took Silkair ($774 including travel insurance) because of the flight timings.
It was easy to get around with the abundant metered white taxis (How to get from Cebu to Singapore). Our driver Long (yes, that’s his name!) was friendly and seemed honest. He asked us if we want to book his taxi for a day tour; we negotiated the itinerary and price and arranged to meet at 10.30am the next day at the Castle Peak Hotel lobby.
White Cab at Domestic Departure Cebu Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
The room in Castle Peak Hotel was not ready yet when we arrived at 1.30pm but we were pleasantly surprised by the newly renovated Twin Peak Spa. Kate went for a one-hour massage while waiting for the room to be ready. After the massage, we were ready to check out what Cebu had to offer!
Huge bed in Deluxe room of Castle Peak HotelBath Tub in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
We chose to walk to Ayala Mall (even though our taxi driver mentioned that it may not be that safe) because it was still bright daylight and the mall could be seen from our hotel room so we reckon it is not that far. The walk took us 15 mins and there were proper traffic lights to allow us to cross the roads safely. The only gripe we had was that the pavements were narrow and uneven; and at times we had to walk on the road.
As it was a weekday afternoon, Ayala Mall was fairly quiet. We window-shopped and decided to catch a movie! While waiting for the show, we challenged each other at shooting hoops in the arcade. And of course I thrashed Kate …I am the best! *evil laugh*
Movie and snacks at Ayala MallMovie and snacks at Ayala Mall Snacks stall. hot dog 70 peso. popcorn and coke 100 pesoAyala Mall 4 storeys of shopping
Even though we were kinda full from the hotdog and popcorn, we can’t wait to try the local dishes! We quickly flag down a taxi and soon we arrived at Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant. The food was delicious and the price was reasonable. Washing the food down with cold San Miguel beer made it even better! With our tummy filled, we took a cab back to Castle Peak Hotel and rest for the night; in preparation for the city day tour the next day.
Times fly when you’re having fun and this quickly rounded up our first day in the Philippines. Stay tuned tomorrow for the 2nd day of our Cebu/Bohol Trip!
What better way to kick off the Singapore Staycation series than to find out some of the interesting Singapore Staycation ideas our local hotels have …
From the road junction of our hotel, we can see a low building with a banner that says it is an authentic spanish restaurant. We were glad to find out that it opens at 10am as that would mean we can squeeze in a early lunch because we have to be at the airport by 12pm to catch our flight back to Singapore.
Decorations at Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Decoration of Spanish restaurant Ipar’sDecoration of Spanish restaurant Ipar’s CebuDecoration of Spanish restaurant Ipar’s Cebu Philippines
We love everything about Ipar’s! The decoration in the cosy restaurant, the friendly waitress, the delicious food (the garlic bread! Have we mentioned how much we love garlic because of this trip? Hehe.) and the reasonable price.
Although we were quite full from breakfast, we still ordered starters, mains and a carafe of sangria. As with typical KS Singaporeans, we wanted to make the most out of this trip 🙂
What we ate at Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Starters Churizo 200 peso Garlic Bread 120 pesos Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuSangria Carafe 450 pesos Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuBreaded Pork Chop 200 pesos Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuFillet of fish in famous parsley sauce 350 peso Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Initially, we wanted to try out the roasted pork so that we can compare to the one we tried at Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant in Singapore. However, due to the time required to prepare it (at least an hour), we did not have enough time to wait due to our impending flight. We even tried to ask if the wait could be half an hour instead of an hour. But due to the emphasis on the quality of the food, the waitress was quite insistent on saying no to our request. Hence, we settled for the above choices. Still, the food took a while to come, which is why we’re glad that we chose these food instead.
The churizo was a little salty. Good thing that we ordered the garlic bread to even out the saltish taste. As for the garlic bread, you usually have the spreads at pizza hut for their garlic bread? Not so at Ipar’s, you can see actual bits of garlic on the bread and there was a nice crunch with every bit. Like this version compared to Pizza Hut’s.
For the pork chop and the fish, they were both good. Especially the pork chop. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The fish was good but because of its quantity and the fact that we already had breakfast, it became a little jerlat towards the end. That’s where your sangria comes into the picture. It refreshes your taste buds and provides a great compliment to the dishes as well.
Menu of Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Menu of Ipar’s and the price of the foods we ate…
Tapas Menu Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuMeats Menu Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuFish Menu Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
We were sooooooooooo full when we went back to the hotel to get our luggage and checked out. But we did not at all regret having this meal 🙂
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City Suites Ramos Tower is an apartment building with some units available for guests to book for accommodation while travelling in Cebu. Our first Cebu hotel, Castle Peak Hotel, is on the east of Cebu. So for the second leg of our Cebu trip, we wanted a hotel nearer to the Fuente Osmena Circle; and City Suites Ramos Tower seems ideal. The rates for one night is $73 which may be a little pricey as the unit is small with 2 twin beds and only standing shower but check out the view from the 20th floor!
Sunset and Tops Hill seen from our room at Ramos Tower City Suites
Sunset from our room at Ramos Tower City Suites orangey sky
Awesome view from the balcony of the 20th floor at City Suites Ramos Tower!
City Suites $73 double super single beds
Small but well-equipped room at City Suites Ramos Tower
Video tour of room at City Suites Ramos Tower
We did not want to “waste” the view so we ordered in pizza and beer for dinner and sat at the balcony to enjoy the awesome view and equally awesome food 🙂
Huge all meat pizza and 4 SMB for 448 pesos cheaper than dominoes. Thin crust and yummy!
Turrones De Cebu for 75 pesos but the one at Amorita was better and crunchier
All meat pizza and Turrones de Cebu for dinner while enjoying the sunset view at the balcony
While enjoying the pizza, we also caught a re-run of Matrix Revolution! One of Tom’s favourite movie! (while Kate just doze away in dreamyland) Think the movie bumped up our stay by a notch 😉
City Suites Ramos Tower Cebu
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Do note that there are residents staying at the Ramos Tower. It is like a serviced apartment with some rooms rented out while others have residential occupants.
The awesome thing about our room is its view (overlooking tops and Crown Regency Hotel that offers “sky experience”), room service (cheap and good pizza, with surprisingly tasty Turrones – must try!) and comfort. If you’re here in Cebu on a budget, City Suites Ramos Tower is definitely an excellent choice!
Ayala Mall is a short 15 minutes walk from our where we stayed – Castle Peak Hotel and it is a NEW mall that offers many shops and eateries!
How to get to Ayala Mall
Means of transport in Cebu – White cabs and Jeepney
Means of transport in Cebu – White cabs and Jeepney
Ayala Mall (also known as Ayala Center) is located at Cebu Business Park, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City 6000, Metro Cebu. Besides taking a short walk, you can also choose the various means of transport including the Jeepney (which follows a fixed route but costs only 8 pesos!) or the white cabs (safest form of taxi transport in Cebu)
What to do at Ayala Mall
We spent the evening at Ayala Mall just like the locals. Shopping, played the arcade and caught a movie – the Heat!
Ayala Mall 4 storeys of shopping
Shopping options & Alfresco Dining at Ayala Mall
Movie and snacks at Ayala Mall Snacks stall. hot dog 70 peso. popcorn and coke 100 peso
Movie and snacks at Ayala Mall
Here’s what we did…
Arcade
7 peso per game
For 50 peso, we get to shoot hoops for 30 mins and enough “tickets” to exchange for 2 Hello Kitty erasers! 🙂
Movie
180 peso per ticket
Huge cinema (Hall 4, with toilets inside!)
Snacks for Movie
Hotdog 70 peso
Popcorn and Coke 100 peso
Kate usually needs her snacks to stay awake during the movie but The Heat is hilarious!
After our enjoyable evening at Ayala Mall, we headed next to Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant (arguably one of the MUST TRY restaurants in Cebu) for dinner!
Ayala Mall Cebu
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On the 2nd day of our Cebu trip, we had a private day tour of Cebu City by our friendly local guide – Long. But before we talk about the Cebu City Tour proper, here is a little background on how we got to meet Long
How to arrange a Cebu City Private Day Tour
Our taxi driver, Long, who drove us from the airport to Castle Peak Hotel seemed friendly and honest, so when he asked us if we wanted to book his car for a day tour, we agreed. His first quote for the day trip was 2000 peso, and when we wanted to add Tops into the itinerary, he increased it to 3000 peso. (The market rate for the taxi fare to and fro Tops from Cebu city is 1000 peso, according to our online research 😛 ) When we replied “too much”, he then asked us “how much?”. With our “experience from bargaining in vietnam/Indonesia”, we said “2000 peso”. Long then said “Ohhhh…cannot. Too little. Tops is very far. 2500 peso”. Kate and I decided that we do not really want to see the Mactan shrine and that would also take up some time due to the traffic to lapu-lapu city, we re-negotiated with Long and counter-offered “Okay, don’t want Mactan shrine. 2000 peso”. He turned around, smiled, and said “Okay. Tomorrow what time?” (After chatting with Long for the whole day, we knew more about his family, and decided to treat his family to a box of Dunkin Donuts. A great way to end the day.)
Attractions Cebu City Private Day Tour
Well, the great part of a Cebu City Private Day Tour is that you have the flexibility of where you want to go and how long you want to stay at one place. So these were some of the attractions that we visited in Cebu City…
Cebu Monument
Cebu Monument
Cebu Monument
The Cebu Monument is a structural representation that depicts all the major events that took place in Cebu beginning with the famous event of how a native chieftain by the name of Lapu Lapu killed the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
University of Visayas (Oldest University) & Colon Street (Oldest Road in the Philippines)
University of Visayas Oldest University in Cebu – Owned by a politician
University of Visayas Oldest University in Cebu – Owned by a politician
Colon Street – Oldest Road in the Philippines (Part 1)
Colon Street – Oldest Road in the Philippines (Part 2)
City Hall – Right across from Magellan’s Cross
City Hall – Right across from Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross
The Magellan Cross
Magellan’s Cross Cebu
It was said that Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, ordered the cross to be planted in Cebu. His quest was actually to prove that the earth was round and could be circum-navigated (i.e. sail round the world in one direction and return home). Eventually, his crew did prove that. However, he was killed by Lapu Lapu and he died in the Philippines.
Basilica del Santo Nino
Basilica del Santo Nino – Short walk from Magellan’s Cross
Basilica del Santo Nino – Short walk from Magellan’s Cross
Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro – Entrance fee of 30 pesos
Fort San Pedro, built in 1738 is a small triangular (yes, unique shape for a fort) bastion fort built by the Spanish settlers in defence against Muslim invaders. Cost of entry is 30 pesos and you can also ask a guide to give you a tour of the compound. It takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to cover the fort.
Miguel Lopez Monument at Independence Plaza (Opposite Fort San Pedro)
Miguel Lopez Monument
Miguel Lopez Monument
Around Independence Plaza
Museo Sugbo – Cebu’s largest Museum
Cebu Museum. 75 peso each.
Entrance of Museo Sugbo – Entrance fee of 75 pesos
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Tops Cebu Lookout
Our driver for the day Long with his cab on Tops
Tops San Miguel and our driver Long
View from Tops. Mactan Island
San Miguel at 60 peso each on Tops
View of Cebu City from Tops in the Day and after Sunset
Video from Tops Observation Lookout – Day Time
Video from Tops Lookout – After Sunset
Cebu City Private Day Tour
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The day’s tour was essentially a stop for lunch at CnT Lechon, followed by the attractions above. After Tops, Long actually waited for us when we went to the supermarket to replenish our stock of mineral water and snacks. The great thing about having Long bringing us around is that the timing was very flexible. We could spend however long or short period of time at each stop.
Kate noticed Bo’s Coffee striking logo in the streets of Cebu and decided that we should try the coffee and food there. There is one branch near City Suites Ramos Tower so that was what we had for breakfast on our last day in Cebu. Established in Cebu in 1996, Bo’s Coffee was founded by coffee enthusiast and entrepreneur Steve Benitez. The deco in Bo’s Coffee is warm and inviting; and the selection of food was also fairly extensive. We took some time to decide what to have for breakfast. We were also tempted by the cakes and pastries but unfortunately we were too full after our mains 🙁
Bo’s Coffee
Bo’s Coffee
Bo’s Coffee mushroom and cheese omelette with toast 150 peso
Bo’s Coffee corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancakes 175 peso
Drip Coffee (10 pesos with any order of mains), Mushroom and Cheese Omelette with Toast (150 pesos) & Corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancake (175 pesos)
It was definitely a great place to enjoy coffee and pastries while people-watch as the locals make their way to work and the students heading off to school.
Bo’s Coffee Cebu
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Lechon (pronounced as lay-xi-on) is simply roasted pork and the most famous of them all? CnT Lechon!
Females chopping up whole pigs at CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon – Best Lechon in Cebu
According to locals (including our driver Long), CnT Lechon is arguably one of the best Lechon in the whole of Cebu. When you even mention Lechon, everyone will point you here…
CnT Lechon beside SM Mall. best pig ever according to anthony bourdainOther side dishes at CnT Lechon
For us, it was actually quite surprising to see only ladies at this joint. Have you seen how big the pigs are? They actually start with whole pigs and chopping them up according to the weight that customers want…check out this video of the strong women chopping up the lechon! In the video you may also notice this rather impatient guy standing in front of us whose head kept popping up because he wants to know if his food is ready! 🙂
We decided to go for the half kg (for only 200 pesos – $6 SGD!) for the 3 of us to share (including our driver Long). Not too much else we would have to run many hours on the treadmill to burn off the fats! Worst of all, we may have to rename our site to 2fatbears.com! Haha!
And here’s our half kg of lechon!
Half kg of lechon. crispy skin.juicy meat. 200 peso at CnT Lechon
As the caption says, the skin was so crispy! It’s actually Tom’s favourite part. Crispy and slightly saltish, goes really well with plain rice and a dash of the sauce provided. The meat was also tender and juicy. It was good. However, not the best for us. The best pig? If you’re referring to pork knuckle, it has got to be the pork knuckle from Hofbrauhaus Munich. As for roasted suckling pig, the one at Serenity tops our list.
Nonetheless, for the value and quality, it is still a must try when you’re in Cebu!
What else to eat at CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon mixed veg at 30 peso per servingCnT Lechon Fresh lumpia or popiah at 12 peso each
In addition to the lechon, we also had mixed vegetables (30 pesos per portion) and fresh lumpia (12 pesos each)
The lumpia is a little like our popiah in Singapore. Vegetables wrapped in a fresh flour based sheet. Not too bad.
Receipt for lunch at CnT Lechon
Location and Opening Hours of CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon is located at V. Rama Ave, Cebu City and its opening hours are from 8am to 6pm. Be there early as the lechon often gets sold out by mid-afternoon!
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The sun rises fairly early in Cebu and we were up by 6am. After washing up, we strolled around the neighbourhood to look for breakfast. We wanted something local but weren’t sure what to eat. Not far from Castle Peak Hotel, we chanced upon Alberto’s Pizza. The menu was decent and the price was reasonable. And although it was Alberto’s Pizza, we went for the local breakfasts instead! We choose the Hungarian and Cheese Krainer, each at 75 pesos (about $2!).
Alberto’s Pizza HUngarian and Cheese Krainer with garlic rice and egg for 75 peso each
Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
Each set came with a sunny-side up and garlic rice! Yum! However, the Hungarian sausage was a little too salty for our taste.
Alberto’s Pizza Breakfast Set
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The title of this post speaks for itself 🙂 We walked to the Fuente Osmena Circle from City Suite Ramos Tower and shopped in almost all the malls around it. Some of the buildings looked rundown and we did not dare to enter. Oh! Did we mentioned that there are security guards checking your bags when you enter the malls? We were not used to that. We also ate at Jollibee and KFC to see if there is any difference in the food served here and in Singapore.
Shopping at Fuente Osmena Circle
KFC in Cebu Philippines – 150pesos ($4.5)
KFC in Cebu Philippines – 150pesos ($4.5)
For KFC, the price is definitely cheaper as compared to Singapore. They do have unique items such as the cookies and cream drink which we tried on the hot afternoon. The not so good thing? The chicken was pretty small!
Our first visit to Jollibee in Cebu!
Spaghetti meal with one piece chicken and coke at Jollibee
Jollibee in Cebu Philippines – 108 Pesos ($3?!)
The standard of Jollibee in Cebu is pretty much the same as in Singapore (yes, we got to try the Singapore one after spending much time in the queue). Portion was quite generous as well. The only difference we thought was that the spaghettic sauce was a tad bit sweeter than the Singapore version. Perhaps they changed it a little to suit the local taste.
Shop Eat Cebu
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You may wish to note that there are several shopping centres such as the Robinsons Cybergate as well as Robinson’s place around Fuente Osmena Circle. Tell us more about your experience at Cebu in the comments section below!
One of the best restaurants in the Philippines is the Golden Cowrie Restaurant. Known officially as the Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant, it serves up authentic Filipino food at a very reasonable price in a restaurant setting…
Interior of Golden Cowrie
Inside Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Restaurant – Best Filipino Restaurant Cebu
Touted as the best Filipino restaurant in Cebu, Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant embodies the pride in filipino cuisine and is one of our must-try when you visit Cebu (pronounced as SEE BOO). The funny thing was that although there was a Golden Cowrie Restaurant at Ayala Mall, we did not know about it at that time (so near and yet so far)! Therefore, we took a 10 minutes taxi ride from Ayala Mall to the Golden Cowrie Lahug @ Salinas Drive…
Our server Precious at Golden Cowrie
As we pulled up at Golden Cowrie, we were ushered by a security guard (meaning its a decent joint) who opened these big wooden doors for us to enter into the restaurant. The deco was nice, warm and inviting. Much like coming home. It has an alfresco dining area outside as well.
After being seated, our server Precious (see inset above), asked us politely if it was our first time here. She was friendly and patient in explaining the various local dishes (some of the dishes had Filipino names) while recommending some of the best sellers. Good service is always a great start to a meal isnt it?
What to eat at Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Precious then recommended for us to have the crispy pata (pork knuckle!!), squid in coco sauce, kang kong and shrimps with garlic. This was accompanied by garlic rice and free flow white rice! Oh, every order of normal rice is free flow. And you know what? We don’t usually eat that much white rice, but surprisingly, the rice was especially fragrant while the texture of grains full of goodness! No wonder even ladies pile up on the rice while eating at Golden Cowrie Restaurant! Yes, even Kate!
Golden Cowrie Squid in coco sauce 179
Crispy pata and Squid in coco sauce – Must try from Golden Cowrie Restaurant!
Golden Cowrie Cebu Kangkong 79
Kang Kong and Shrimps with garlic Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Cebu Garlic Rice 39Golden Cowrie Cebu Shrimps with garlic 89Golden Cowrie Small crispy pata 295
Guess what? EVERY DISH WAS GOOD!! The serving of the crispy pata was HUGE and when you take in a piece of meat together with the crispy skin, accompanied by the garlic rice? Simply SHIOK! Now we understand why many Filipinos enjoy garlic rice. It’s not only the fried garlicky taste that attracts you. When mixed in, it gives a different mild crunchy texture with every mouth. Yum!
Served sizzling hot, the squid in coco sauce was fresh and succulent, not the rubbery kind but the Q type with a refreshing taste of spices and charred taste. With a little chili on the side (not too much cause their version is actually quite spicy), it was just a perfect combination with the fragrant white rice.
The kang kong and shrimps with garlic also accompanied the rice really well. After typing for the last few paragraphs, we’re starting to wonder if dishes revolve around the rice? Because they complemented each other oh oh oh so well! Haven’t had this much rice in such a long time – SERIOUSLY!
Okok, here comes the best part. Our total damage? Only 824 pesos (including drinks) which is about $25 SGD!! This is less than a third of what you would have paid at a zi char stall in Singapore!
Where to find a Golden Cowrie Restaurant in Cebu
Here is a list of Golden Cowrie Restaurants in Cebu.
Ayala Terraces
Cebu Business Park, Biliran Road
Cebu City
Golden Cowrie Lahug (The one that we went to!)
Salinas Drive, Lahug
Cebu City
6000
Parkmall
Ouano Ave. North Reclamation Area
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie A.S. Fortuna
A. S. Fortuna St
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie SM Cebu
Lower Ground Floor, SM City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Cybergate
Robinsons Cybergate, Fuente
Cebu City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Mactan Marina Mall
Lapu-Lapu City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Restaurant is opened at lunch from 11am to 2pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10pm.
Golden Cowrie Restaurant
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Although we have already seen dolphins during our trip in Perth/Bunbury, we were excited to go for this dolphin and island hopping tour as we will be able to see the dolphins swim care-freely in the sea. We paid 2,900 pesos ($85 SGD) per pax for this 9hr tour (i know….many of you would comment that it is pricey. And I have read blogs written by the locals that they only pay probably the same amount for a 3D2N itinerary but we liked the fact that there’s only 2 of us in the boat, and the timing is very flexible. We can stay however long we want at each stop.) And anyways, we would like to think that we have boosted the tourism economy of Philippines 🙂
The day started early at 5.30am. The hotel staff at Amorita Resort greeted us at the beach gate with our packed breakfast for the journey which included a gourmet sandwich and a bottle of chilled water. The staff also carried our snorkeling equipment and life vests to the boat. We were then introduced to our boatman and his helper (who is his younger cousin). Not long after, we were ready to go look for our dolphins!
Headed towards Balicasag island catching the dolphins first then going to the island for snorkeling followed by sand bar at Virgin island
Leaving at 530 for dolphin watching!
Video taken from boat enroute to “Dolphin Hunting”!
We were one of the earliest boats to arrive at the location where the dolphins are frequently sighted. However, we were not so lucky this morning. After an hour of waiting, more boats joined us and we were all eager to see who could spot the dolphins first. Suddenly, like an action-packed movie (along with amazing race theme song), the boatman skillfully made a sharp right turn, gained speed, and told us where the dolphins were! It was initially hard to differentiate the reflection of the morning sun on the waters and the movement of the dolphins. But soon we were experts 🙂 We managed to spot more dolphins, including the spinner dolphins as we were making our way to Balicasag Island.
Finally! Whole school of dolphins sighted!
Dolphins sighted!
First glimpse of the dolphins at Bohol! Notice how our boatsman uses whistle to attract their attention
Clapping works too…
Snorkeling in the waters around Balicasag Island was next on the itinerary. The guide recommended that we rent the waterproof cover for our camera for 300 pesos ($9 – Quite ex for a cover no?). Initially we were reluctant but well, we had already come all the way here, why scrimp on this and miss the chance to take photos underwater? Our guide was very hardworking and was on a lookout for turtles for us. Twice he shouted “Turtle! Turtle!” and we could see the turtle but was not fast enough to take a photo of it.
Our Guide at Balicasag who worked very hard to steer our boat and look for interesting fish turtles at the edge of the corals
Our guide who fixed the waterproof casing for us and points out all interesting sights to us!
Clear blue water at Balicasag Island
Balicasag Island where we got to snorkel and see fish and turtles!
Snorkelling off Balicasag Island – Corals
Tom with corals and fish!
Snorkelling off Balicasag Island
More corals and fish at Balicasag Island!
We were soon hungry and was informed that there is no food on Virgin Island (our next stop), so we settled for a cold bottle of Coke and a plate of fried bihoon (but it is actually our “dang hoon” – green bean vermicelli) at Balicasag.
Small shops on the island
Fried Bihoon at 200 pesos and coke at 30 pesos
Shops selling trinkets and beach wear / HUGE plate of Bihoon
Virgin Island has very fine soft white sand and clear waters. One can just sit/lie on the sandbar and not worry about a thing in the world. Once again, we were one of the first few to arrive at the sandbar. This was good because we left before the place got really crowded with tourists.
Virgin Island Sandbar
Temporary stalls at the sand bar of Virgin Island
Virgin Island Sandbar with locals selling coconuts and sea urchins
Bohol Island Hopping Snorkelling and Dolphin Watching
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The day trip was about $200SGD in total. But was it too expensive? For us, it was a tad on the high side. But the exclusivity, privacy and convenience we got was certainly quite worth it. Our guide took us wherever we wanted to go and allowed us to stay however long (or short) we would like at all the spots. This allowed us to stay longer for the dolphins and sandbar while shorter for the snorkeling (cause Kate did not like snorkeling – leaving earlier meants she “tanned” for a shorter time). If you ask us if we would do it again? We certainly would!
There are many hotels in Bohol that claimed to be beachfront and it is really quite hard to tell how the actual conditions of hotels/resorts are. Pictures can sometimes be REALLY deceiving… We finally chose Amorita Resort in Bohol because of its location and facilities (and also because Kate loves the fuschia pink logo! Hee.) We booked thru Agoda and the rate per night was about $224 (including tax).
Amorita Resort is about 30mins away from Peacock Garden Bohol. The entrance is a huge heavy gate at the end of the road that is guarded by a security guard. He dutifully checked our room reservation against a list that he had for the day before he let us in. We were impressed by the level of security at Amorita Resort.
Facilities of Amorita Resort Bohol
Lobby of Amorita Resort
Lobby and surroundings of Amorita Resort
View of the beach from the pool at Amorita Resort
Swimming pool of Amorita Resort
View of the bohol sea from the infinity pool Amorita Resort
Swimming pool and view of Alona Beach from Amorita Resort Bohol
See how clear the waters and how blue the skies are at Alona Beach Bohol
Amorita Resort Bohol – Deluxe Room
Flower deco for anniversary at Amorita Resort Bohol
Welcome cookies and customised anniversary balloon decorations at Amorita Resort Bohol
Video of Deluxe Room Amorita Resort
Kate arranged for a surprise for Tom at Amorita Resort. As we entered, we were greeted by a HUGE balloon decoration as well as petal arrangements on the bed for our anniversary! There were also welcome cookies (which we devoured promptly) along with some fruits as well.
After checking out the room, we left our luggage in the room and went for a stroll along the beach with the balloons! On the 2nd day, Tom went to the beach again with the balloons and started to give them out 1 by 1. People were quite reluctant at first but as others watched many before them taking balloons from Tom, many started to approach to get for their kids. Some even asked us what the occasion was and congratulated us 🙂
Video taken on Alona Beach
The great thing about Alona Beach is that the sand is so fine that when mixed with the sea water, it becomes like a clay/mud. Tom started applying on his body and many others followed suit. It could be psychological, but the skin somehow felt smoother! The best part was, once you immerse yourself in water, the sand comes right off! As we were strolling on,there were many boat operators asking if we wanted to book a trip to the islands or hire a boat to catch the sunset. We also noticed several “divers” looking for something beneath the water. While Kate was doing her massage, Tom went and searched for…sea urchin! There were many old ladies with their baskets scouring for sea urchins. Tom managed to find one with the help of a local and savoured a freshly opened sea urchin – this is as fresh as it gets, eating in the ocean!
However, do be aware of the correct species of sea urchins (as well as the edible bits) before going to catch one on your own. Otherwise, approach one of the friendly locals and they will kindly help you out as well 🙂
Alona Beach from the garden deck of Amorita Resort
Alona Beach and Kate enjoying a massage by the beach
Grill Buffet Dinner at Saffron Amorita Resort Bohol
The Grill at Amorita Resort
Grill Buffet Dinner at Amorita Resort
BBQ dinner at Amorita Resort: Grilled sotong pork ribs which was VERY tender bone fell off succulent and fresh prawn shrimp macNcheese meat on stick cheese croquette and favourite adobo drumlets
White chocolate mousse anniversary cake placed in our room when we went out for dinner SURPRISE!
Yummy grills and desserts – especially the sweet icy cold mangoes!
For Saturday nights, the hotel has grill buffet dinner (at 750pesos++ which is about $25SGD for seafood buffet!) and it was well-received by the hotel guests. The restaurant was full of guests by 6.30pm and the smell of grilled meats waft through the restaurant.
Setting at the Garden Deck for our dinner at Amorita Resort
Marvellous view of the setting and evening of the beach at Amorita Resort
Romantic Dinner for 2 at the Deck overlooking Alona Beach
We had a table reserved at The Deck, overlooking Alona Beach…a romantic setting at sunset and as the candles kicked in after dark, it marked out a special place for 2. The seafood was really fresh. You definitely wont go wrong with additional servings of the prawns! After we finished our mains, we headed back to the restaurant for desserts!
Breakfast at Amorita Resort Bohol
Amorita Resort Breakfast Egg station
Amorita Resort Breakfast Salad and cold cuts
Omelette Station and Buffet spread at Amorita Resort
Fruits and fresh mango and watermelon juice.
Mains and Fruits – LOOOOOOOVE the mangoes!
Arroz porridge. savoury chicken porridge
Arroz porridge and mains
Breakfast at Amorita was pretty decent. You can choose from the various egg choices at the omelette station and have the usual western fare of milk, toast and bacon. Or you can have some rice with fish (side note : the fish looks terrible but tastes AWESOMELY FRESH!) or some local porridge. After which you can top it off with some of the sweetest and juiciest mangoes around! Not too bad for an idyllic breakfast overlooking the sun-blessed ocean!
Amorita Resort Bohol
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There are so many things we loved about staying at Amorita Resort Bohol. The close access to the beach, great base for island hopping, great views, fantastic food, excellent service and just that idyllic holiday resort feel in Bohol…give Amorita Resort Bohol a try the next time you’re there, you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!
Bohol is the home of the Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills. We definitely cannot visit Bohol without signing up for the Bohol Countryside Tour. We chose to book the tour with Peacock Garden even though it is slightly pricier (4,200 peso for 2 people) because we can trust the quality of the transport and the experience of the tour guide.
Bohol is known for its clear blue waters,beaches and fantastic snorkeling/dive spots. However, Bohol is also known for attractions on land. In fact, after we introduce the following attractions we saw during our Bohol countryside tour, you’ll go “Orh…I know them!”
Attractions in Bohol Countryside Tour
Rice fields Bohol one of the 2 main agriculture of bohol the other is fishing 4 sidelines include tyre recycling pottery jam making and bolo
Bohol Manmade forest 800ha
Bolo making, Beautiful Rice Field and the Manmade Mahogany Forest
Bolo is a traditional filipino knife or sword that is still being hand made today. This was one of the bolo making process that we saw during our Bohol Countryside Tour. In addition, we also came across this beautiful rice field that our guide insisted that we took a photo of…
One of the attractions that would make you go “Orh…” is this…the Manmade Mahogany Forest…
Manmade Mahogany Forest
Video of Manmade Mahogany Forest
Some scenic shots have been taken at this forest because of its peculiar growth (straight and high). It was initially an idea to re-forest the area to stabilise the soil (to prevent soil erosion). At first, the area was just “dead” in that there was only trees and no eco-system per se. So slowly, animals, insects and various plant species were introduced and the area sprung back to “life”. Today, it is a picturesque area for locals to enjoy and tourist to take some iconic pictures!
Chocolate Hills
Everyones favourite iconic chocolate hills Bohol
Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Chocolate Hills got its name because in the summer months (or dry months), the vegetation atop the hills would wither, revealing the soil or “brown” of the hills. With a sea of brown hills, the name Chocolate Hills was coined. As to the story of whether Chocolate Hills or Hershey’s Chocolate (which is shaped like the Chocolate HIlls in Bohol) came first, we tend to believe that the former came first and inspired the latter. What do you think?
Video of the Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Oh and do remember, if you’re bringing kids to the Chocolate Hills, remember to bring chocolate candies (Hershey’s if possible). Our guide told us that many a times, kids would literally cry when they come to know that there’s no actual chocolates at Chocolate Hills Bohol. So parents, go prepared!
Shiphaus
Filipino sailor who came back and built a house called shiphaus turned out to be an attraction to tourists and now is a hotel and restaurant
Shiphaus Bohol
The Shiphaus was originally built by a Filipino sailor (sailors used to earn alot more than locals in the past) and when he came back to Bohol, he decided to build himself a house that is shaped like a ship. We guess that it is named “Shiphaus” and not “Shiphouse”, probably because he visited Germany during one of his many voyages.
Today, the Shiphaus is not only a tourist attractions (many visitors, including us, stop by the roadside to take a photo – remember to park safely and not disrupt traffic!) but also a hotel and restaurant all rolled into one!
Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre
Butterfly Park – Bohol: Bear flying off as tinkerbell!
Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre and our very knowledgeable guide Peter
Thanks to Peter our guide for the day, he showed us many interesting things about Butterflies. For one, we realised that there’s one easy way to differentiate between moths and butterflies. Moths usually have “feathery”-like antennae while butterflies do not. Of course, there are other ways as well. For instance, butterflies are USUALLY more vividly coloured (there are dull ones too) compared to the moths and they rest with their wings closed while moths rest flat with their wings open.
Peter also took pictures of us “in-flight”. Think Tinkerbell. We stood a distance away from some butterfly specimen and were told to jump. As it turns out, he’s excellent at it and it really seemed like we were flying! Remember to say “Hi” to Peter if you see him at the Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre!
Butterflies mate for 6 hours when predators come only the female fly
Caterpillar and more pretty butterflies
Tarsier Conservation Centre
Tarsiers mate for only 3 to 5 seconds
Our guide Alice paying for entry into the Tarsier Conservation Area – 60pesos per person
Tarsiers are just a badly mistaken species. Because of its long tail and body shape in general, they were mistaken in the past as rodents or rats. Which meant that they were frequently hunted and killed. The number of tarsiers quickly plummeted. So conservation efforts started. However, at first, people started by taking care of them at home. But they did not realise they are actually creatures that are pretty hard to take care of. Firstly, they are nocturnal and are pretty adverse to noise and sunlight. Noise especially. Hence, we were told to keep real quiet at the conservation area. There have been instances where high noise levels have driven tarsiers to be so stressed out that they take their own lives! The other thing is that they dont eat fruits. In fact, they are helpful to people in that they eat insects, live ones, as their main staple. So in the past, when fruits were fed, they did not take them readily and also started to die due to their diet.
Close up of Tarsier in Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
Cute Tarsiers in Bohol soundly asleep
But with proper conservation techniques and extra care, tarsiers in Bohol are well taken care of. Look at how cute they are! It is also said that these are the creatures that gave inspiration to Steve Spielberg’s movie, ET in 1982.
Loboc River Cruise
As part of the Bohol Countryside Tour, we were treated to a seafood meal, great music, marvelous scenery and fantastic performances by the natives on the Loboc River Cruise!
Loboc river cruise
Buffet lunch included
Loboc River Cruise and Buffet Lunch
Performance by the Natives and Beautiful scenery enroute the Loboc River Cruise
Performance by the Natives and Beautiful scenery enroute the Loboc River Cruise
We thoroughly enjoyed this leisurely cruise. The music was fantastic! Great voice and guitar playing! I think his singing really made the difference to an idyllic river cruise 🙂
Buffet with musical accompaniment onboard the Loboc River Cruise
Bamboo dance with the Natives
Singing performance by the Natives
Baclayon Church
Original pulpit where the message was said the structure on top was said to be like an amplifier at Baclayon Church Bohol
Can you see the picture of saint pio formed under weathering at Baclayon Church Bohol
Baclayon Church – The Oldest Coral Stone Church in the Region of Bohol
The Baclayon Church is not only the oldest coral stone church in the region. It also has an uniqueness to the facade of the church. If you look closely enough at the wall in the picture above. You will notice that there is a man there. Locals see him as Saint Pio. Strangely enough, there was no paint work whatsoever. Simply weathering taking place. Miraculous eh?
Blood Compact Memorial
Blood compact memorial shrine they had to drink each others blood to be friends
Blood Compact Memorial
The blood compact memorial was erected as a remembrance of the initial compact between the early spanish explorers and the chieftain of Bohol. It was said that “drinking of one blood” is a sign of friendship which was done at this blood compact.
The controversy that surrounds the Blood Compact Memorial itself is its location. Apparently, there are 2 places that resembled a picture that was painted when the compact took place. So the current location may be eventually shifted.
Bohol Countryside Tour
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It costs us about SGD240 per night inclusive of taxes, and it was worth every single cent of it!
Peacock Garden Receptionist who took us around the resort and welcomed us
Welcome drinks at Peacock Resort 250sgd a night
Reception at lobby of Peacock Garden and Welcome drinks
Map of the entire Peacock Garden hotel
Map of Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Bohol – Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room
Peacock Garden Infinity pool
Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room Peacock Garden Bohol
The Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room is simply the best room at Peacock Garden. Not only do you get to enjoy the luxuries of a huge bedroom (staff even decorated our bed for our anniversary!), classy bathroom, cable TV, L’Occitane toiletries and of course this…
Peacock Gardeb – right in front of the infinity pool and ocean view
Magnificent view over the infinity pool and ocean!
Tour of the Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room at Peacock Garden Bohol
Turndown service of Bohol Kisses / Night view of the pool
Turndown service of Bohol Kisses / Night view of the pool
During our stay, we learnt something new (or at least Tom learnt something new). And that is turndown service. Turndown service is usually the practice of the housekeeping staff to make your bed and basically tidy up your room. However, at some hotels (such as Peacock Garden), they will leave an item of confectionery or chocolate and this time we got Bohol Kisses, a peanut based snack!
Facilities at Peacock Garden Bohol
Infinity Pool and Jacuzzi of Peacock Garden
Jacuzzi aka hot tub
Infinity pool and jaccuzi
Remember the contest we opened some time back? The video above was taken from the infinity pool and we asked our readers to guess where the video was taken from to win some memorabilia from 2bearbear.com. Unfortunately, the prizes were left unclaimed. Do look out for our next contest yah?
When you enter into the hotel
Interior and Exterior of Peacock Garden
As you approach Peacock Garden Bohol Hotel, you will notice the beautiful fountain lined by these lion figure heads. As you enter the lobby, you’d notice the collection of german mugs of the owners. There’s also a chess set – which we had a game on. Kate surprisingly does not know how to play international chess! Things we learn about each other on our travels… :p
Old Heidelberg Restaurant
Inside Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock Garden
Interior of Old Heidelberg Restaurant
Moving in, you’ll see the bar as well as the Old Heidelberg Restaurant where they serve quality german cuisine and of course local ones as well.
Angus the Peacock
Angus the peacock
Angus the peacock
Probably why Peacock Garden Hotel is named as such. Angus is the resident peacock and you’ll be able to see him walking around sometimes…
Fontana Aurelia Spa
Fontana Aurelia Spa in peacock garden hotel
Fontana Aurelia Spa at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Massage table
Interior of Fontana Aurelia Spa
Kate experienced a massage at the Fontana Aurelia Spa and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The interior of the spa was classy and one of the rooms has an angle view of the ocean as well. After the massage, there’s also a bath and foot spa treatments available. A great way to enjoy a staycation.
Dinner at Old Heidelberg
Speaking of staycations, to do so, the restaurants ought to have great food right? And at the Old Heidelberg, we were surprised by the excellent standard (really close in terms of authenticity to german fare) and we had 2 nights of dinner here…
Chefs Recommendation at Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock Garden
Menu and server with selection of bread at Old Heidelberg Restaurant Peacock Garden
Kalderatang Baka Filipino Beef Stew 480 peso
Kaderatang Baka – Filipino Beef Stew and Jaeger Schnitzel with Spaeztle – stewed pork with a type of starchy pasta
Mojito and Apple Pie at Heidelberg Restaurant of Peacock Garden Bohol
Complimentary heart-shaped anniversary cake courtesy of Peacock Garden Hotel
Complimentary Anniversary Cake, banana chocolate cake and apple pie with ice cream – with Mojito and Cappucino!
Frozen margarita and SML
Frozen Margarita/San Miguel with selection of breads with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pork fat garlic mushroom apple sauce with clear chicken soup
500peso for chicken cordon blue with fries and veggies. yummy.
750 peso for set dinner. norweigen salmon with prawns in dill sauce. yummy. salmon was soft unlike dry hard ones
Chicken Cordon Bleu and Norwegian Salmon with Prawns in dill sauce / Mango ice cream with cream of cassis
All the meals at Old Heidelberg Restaurant were a pleasant surprise. All of the above tasted great. In addition, the prawns were exceptionally fresh and succulent. The cream of cassis was also something new for us. Turned out that the liquer-based cream went really well with the mango ice cream – who knew?
Breakfast at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden may be not so accessible, tucked away in the countryside, but you do not have to worry about going hungry or finding good food. I think we cannot stress enough how delicious the food is at Peacock Garden. What we loved about the breakfast is that it is semi-buffet style. You can order your hot mains with the choice of different sides, and while waiting for your food, you can try the selection of cheese and cold cuts, cereals, and native sweets.
Peacock Garden Breakfast Cereals, nuts and juices
Peacock Garden Breakfast Salty cream dory with tomato, mushrooms, ham and cheese omelette and pancake
Healthy and yummy breakfast at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Breakfast Cheese and cold cut. gherkins
Like the breakfast at Raffles Hotel, Peacock Garden Bohol offers a semi-buffet style where you can choose from a few choice of mains and enjoy the cold buffet/dessert separately. Food was great but dont try the chocolate rice porridge – unless you’re in an adventurous mood…
Peacock Garden Bohol
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The truth is, Peacock Garden could well be one of the best hotels that we’ve stayed in so far. The views from our room, the infinity pool, classy atmosphere, excellent food and impeccable service (did we mention that we were almost always greeted by all the staff in the hotel?). If you’re in Bohol and perhaps celebrating an anniversary like us, check in at Peacock Garden Bohol, you will certainly have a memorable time!
Bohol is about 1 hour 40 mins away from Cebu if you take the fast craft ferry. The tourist class ticket for Oceanjet is 1000 peso per person (return ticket). I understand that there are other ferries or boats that will cost a lot cheaper than 500 peso (one way) but if you want comfort and safety, I highly recommend Oceanjet. Different ferry companies dock at different piers, so remember to double-check so that your taxi driver can drop you off at the right pier. Also, if you choose to alight outside of the gate of the pier, you do not have to pay a fee. Can’t remember how much it was…probably a very small amount but it was really not necessary to alight inside unless you have a lot of luggage.
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
How to get from Cebu to Bohol
The check-in procedure was simple and fast. Soon we were waiting at Gate 1 for our ferry.
There are seats allocated so you do not have to rush to board. But there’s something I do not understand: there are sooooooo many people who just can’t sit in their designated seats! Either they can’t read the alphabet and numbers on their tickets or they ignore it. The Oceanjet staff was friendly and patient to get everyone in their right seats. And soon we were off!
Pier 3 Boarding Area
People waiting to board Ocean Jet from Cebu to Bohol
Inside Oceanjet 2 hours ride to Bohol from Cebu
Inside Oceanjet – 2 hours ride where we watched Hell Boy
Views from Cebu to Bohol
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Blue skies and clear waters with the hills as the back drop made the ride really relaxing and we can’t wait for what was in store for us in Bohol! 🙂
Oceanjet from Cebu to Bohol
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Castle Peak Hotel in Cebu Philippines is one of the many boutique hotels that have sprung up in recent times. Kate scrolled through Agoda and found that the room is very affordable, has bathtub (always a plus!) and have amenities such as a spa, gym and dip pool! In addition it is just a 15 mins walk to Ayala Mall!
Huge bed in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
Entrance and lobby of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
The deluxe room at Castle Peak Hotel only costs $57! The great thing is that the new wing is newly renovated and everything had a new feel to it…
Bath Tub in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
Watching TV while having a bath!
Take a tour of the Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel with our video!
Facilities and Amenities of Castle Peak Hotel
The best part of Castle Peak Hotel’s facilities has got to be the SPA!! This is because, the massage costs only 400 pesos ($11.50SGD!) while the manicure and pedicure costs only 100 pesos! Here’s the best bit…the spa closes at 2am! Which means that you can head out to Ayala Mall to shop, have your dinner, chill and have some drinks before going back to Castle Peak to unwind with a massage! Shiok!
Dipping pool at the Spa
In addition, for a price of between 200 to 450 pesos, you can use the gym as well as the dipping pool of Castle Peak Hotel. Breakfast was also relatively decent at 200 pesos per person. Although we did not like their chocolate rice porridge, we loved their dang hoon (green bean vermicelli)!
Buffet Breakfast at Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Castle Peak Hotel Cebu Philippines
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If you’re plannning to get from Singapore to Cebu, this post can give you a glimpse of how the planning can be done…
Flights from Singapore to Cebu
There are several flights from Singapore to Cebu which includes Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines and China Eastern. Direct flights will take about 4 hours while non-direct flights with stop over at Manila may take up to 8 hours.
Shorter flight times usually translate to a higher cost. But sometimes, the additional time in Cebu may be well worth the cost (think both ways!)
From Changi Airport Singapore to Mactan Cebu International Airport
White Cab at Domestic Departure Cebu Airport
Mactan Cebu International Airport
The Mactan Cebu International Airport is a small airport. So you dont have worry about losing your way after the customs. There are actually only 3 carousels for our luggage. However, we did wait for quite a while before our luggage came out. For a moment, we thought that we might actually have to activate our travel insurance!
How to get a taxi at Mactan Cebu International Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
There are some “taxis” waiting for you at the arrival area. HOWEVER, the official area to catch a cab is at the domestic departure area – the building opposite! So what you will have to do is to
1. Cross the road from the Arrival Hall
2. Walk up a slope and enter the next building
3. Continue walking along the path till you exit the building
4. If you’re lost, ask the friendly security guard for the “White Taxis”
You will then see this row of white cabs and there will be a guard standing at the front of the line to write down the license plates of the taxis. He will then pass you the slip of paper…
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
This slip of paper actually helps to ensure that you are charged at the correct price and if you have any complaints against the cab, you can raise it to the appropriate authorities.
If you see that the cab is clean and the uncle speaks good English, you wish to hire him for a day tour. That’s where your negotiation skills come into play…
Flight from Singapore to Cebu
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Village Hotel Katong Staycation. Singapore Staycations have grown in popularity among Singaporeans in recent times and this can actually be proven by asking your friends a simple question – “Do you know what is a ‘staycation’?”. These days, they may just give you a wierd look and think to themselves “Where have you been man? Staycation is a word play of the words “vacation” and “stay” – meaning a holiday while staying in locally”. But if you posed the same question 5 years ago, you may still be greeted with a wierd look but a totally different thought of “Whaaaaat??”
Thanks to the great people at Far East Hospitality, we were invited to a staycation at the newly refurbished Village Hotel Katong (formerly known as East Village Hotel and Paramount Hotel before that). The best thing about staying in the Katong enclave is that there are so many things to do in Katong that are so easily within reach! All within walking distance from Village Hotel Katong!
For those who do not already know, the Katong/Joo Chiat area is an idyllic enclave in the eastern part of Singapore that is rich in colonial history and Peranakan culture and Village Hotel Katong is right in the middle of all of that, allowing you to indulge in a staycation while reveling in the history and culture of an Uniquely Singapore experience!
But first, let’s check out the club room that the hotel has kindly arranged for us…
Village Hotel Katong Staycation – Notice the pyramid-shaped towerLobby of Village Hotel Katong – accessible via level 2 or 3 of Katong V Retail MallReception of Village Hotel Katong
Club Room with Peranakan Lounge Access at Village Hotel Katong
Let’s take a look at the video tour of the Club Room of Village Hotel Katong first shall we?
Video Tour of Club Room Village Hotel Katong
For us, one of the biggest draw of the room has got to be the Peranakan feel that the room exuberates. The hotel spares no effort in bringing out the rich heritage of Katong right in your own room…
Peranakan tea pot in Village Hotel Katong Club RoomPainting of Peranakan kitchen waresElegant blue and inviting bed of Club Room Village Hotel KatongPeranakan-inspired prints on the walls in the bathroom
The bathroom also comes with a standing rain shower. It really revitalised us after a day spent out exploring what Katong has to offer…
Standing rain showerView from the balcony of Club Room at Village Hotel Katong
There’s also a balcony that gives you a view of the surroundings (as you’ve seen from the video). The thing that you will have to note is that because of the “Pyramid” shape of the hotel, the larger rooms are below (club rooms are at level 5 and 6) while the deluxe and superior rooms are located at the higher levels. But at higher levels, you may actually have views of the sea! That’s the trade-off that you will have to decide on…size or view, size or view??
Facilities at Village Hotel Katong
Located beneath the hotel is the Katong V retail mall. It’s quite small really but it is anchored by Fairprice Finest allowing you to get your necessities – a stone’s throw away.
Katong V retail mall beneath Village Hotel Katong
As with all 4-stars hotel, Village Hotel Katong has facilities that include a swimming pool, gym, restaurant (Katong Kitchen) as well as a club lounge known as the Peranakan Lounge…
Swimming pool with Village Hotel Katong TowerSwimming pool of Village Hotel Katong
We thoroughly enjoyed our swim at Village Hotel Katong. It was a hot and sunny day and that gave us a good tan! Moreover, the depth of the pool varies (from 1.2m to 1.8m), allowing tall swimmers like us to enjoy a relaxing afternoon swim. There are also deck chairs for you to just laze and take things down a notch.
Gym of Village Hotel KatongKatong Kitchen – serves up peranakan dishes with international buffet spread
Katong Kitchen is the place where you’ll head to for breakfast. Surprisingly, the food was actually quite good for breakfast standards. Tasted much better than some 4 stars hotel breakfast that we’ve been to.
Breakfast at Village Hotel Katong
The breakfast at Village Hotel Katong was surprisingly good and the choice was quite extensive as well. Take a look!
Cereals and milkYoghurt and fruit bitsPastriesCold cuts and cheeses Hot dishes Village Hotel Katong Breakfast – including fried kuay teow, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, sausages, prata and curry chickenEgg station – for sunny side up and omelettesNasi Lemak – A highlight of breakfast at Katong Kitchen Village Hotel Katong!Our 1st round of food at Katong KitchenNasi Lemak Katong Kitchen
If you only have room for 1 dish, you have got to try the Nasi Lemak. Rice was especially fragrant and we realised that it was cooked not only with pandan leaves but also lemon grass – giving it that unique taste. The condiments of ikan bilis,peanuts,belachan egg, chicken chunks (there was chicken wings as well) plus the nonya achar, made the dish all that special. There’s also a noodles station, porridge and dim sum (har gau / chicken pau) for those who yearns for alternatives.
All in all, Katong Kitchen’s breakfast offered great taste and an excellent variety of choices. Yum!
Peranakan Lounge Village Hotel Katong
To truly enjoy a staycation at Village Hotel Katong, you MUST opt for the Club Room with access to the Peranakan Lounge. Drinks (including soft drinks/coffee/tea) and snacks are served at the lounge throughout the day…
Peranakan Lounge at Level 6 of Village Hotel KatongSeating areas in Peranakan Lounge – suitable for meetingsMore seating areas notice how each table only has 2 chairs They’re actually facing a TVSnacks includes cookies and jelly beans/marshmallows for the kidsPeranakan Lounge’s Coffee making machineLook at the exquisite arrangements of the snacks and those intricate peranakan serving dish!
The REAL reason why the Peranakan Lounge access makes your staycation all that more wonderful is because of the evening cocktails from 6pm to 8pm! You’ll get free flow, FREE-FLOW of beers, liquors and wine and finger food to go along as well!
Free flow of alcoholic beverages during cocktails at Village Hotel Katong Peranakan LoungeSatay and quicheFish and chicken chunksRich smooth chocolate cakeCold cut and fruitsOur first round (of many) at the Peranakan Lounge Village Hotel Katong
The other cool thing is that you’ll be served at the lounge! We just went in, sat down and were promptly served by the staff of the Peranakan Lounge. All you have to do is choose a comfortable spot. While you chill at the lounge, you can choose to watch some TV or read the newspapers (something that Tom enjoys) and magazines.
Why do a Singapore Staycation at Village Hotel Katong?
Besides enjoying a comfortable, relaxing and rejuvenating stay at the Village Hotel Katong, the main draw of the staycation here is the proximity to the attractions at the Katong enclave. The great people of Far East Hospitality has even done up a booklet that tells you the things to do in Katong while you’re staying at Village Hotel Katong…
Attractions in and around Village Hotel Katong
There are really many things to do and attractions in Katong. You may also be wondering what are the things to eat in Katong? Well, we’ll talk more about that in our next post. But to be sure, there are tons of shopping options at I12 Katong (not 112), Parkway Parade Shopping Centre and Roxy Square. Food options abound at Marine Parade Food Centre and the famous joints (such as 328 Katong Laksa, Ampang Niang Tou Fu, Chin Mee Chin Confectionery and Yong’s Teochew Kueh).
How to get to Village Hotel Katong
Village Hotel Katong is located at 25 Marine Parade S449536. If you’re driving like us (parking is complimentary), you can enter into the carpark of Village Hotel Katong via Marine Parade or East Coast Road.
If you go by public transport, the buses 15,31,36,43,48,76,135,196,196e,197,853C and 966 stops opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Centre. Buses 10,10e,12,14,14e,32 and 40 stops at Roxy Square. Both bus stops are 2 minutes walk from Village Hotel Katong.
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We thoroughly enjoyed our staycation at Village Hotel Katong and we think that Far East Hospitality has got the Singapore Staycation formula right on. Just like our Village Hotel Changi staycation, both hotels offers an excellent base to rediscover the gems and unique attractions that Singapore offers. The formula is right in that staycations are no longer about luxuries of a hotel (that is a must-have) but also what one can discover around the precinct of the hotel.
*Special thanks once again to Far East Hospitality for inviting us for this staycation and kudos to the staff of Village Hotel Katong for excellent service rendered to us during our stay!
P.S. To Jennesa and Josephine, thanks for making our stay extra special by tending to our request and addressing our queries with such excellent service. Was particularly impressed with Josephine’s starting line of “Sorry to keep you waiting” eventhough we merely stood in line for 5 seconds. Great service overall, kudos to the team at VH Katong!
Marine Parade Food Centre is one of the highly rated hawker centres in Singapore and many will ask “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre ah?”. So during our recent staycation at Village Hotel Katong, we decided to check out the food centre and tell you what are some of the recommended stalls here…
Recommended foods at Marine Parade Food Centre
Xing Long Cooked Food
Xing Long Cooked Food – Economical Rice aka 杂菜饭 at Marine Parade Food Centre
Netizens have been recommending this stall for its otah,fried potato balls, curry chicken, lemon chicken among others. This time, we tried the stir fried chicken, potato balls,otah and because we saw many going for the fried fish, we had it as well. Our choices was also fuelled by Uncle’s incessant “来” (meaning “come” – what else?)
The total damage? $6.30!! The most we’ve ever paid for economical rice!!
$6.30 economic rice at Xing Long Cooked Food
Truth be told, we’re just too greedy and wanted to try all the recommended dishes here. Therefore the price became quite ridiculous (it’s actually a 4-meat rice). This is because even in the potato balls, there’s some beef rolled into it. To be fair, the food was not bad. The otah otah had a firm texture (not the soft slimy kind) while the fish bits stood out from the curry flavour (unlike some with curry and no fish). The stir fried chicken has some kind of satay sauce fried into it which tasted quite unique. There was nothing too special about the potato balls and fried fish though. Fish was fresh and there was a slight crisp on the outside. But that was it.
So for $6.30? It’s definitely on the high side.
Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak
Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak – Marine Parade Food Centre
The special thing about Hup Lee is that usually you’ll find $2 nasi lemak but this stall offers the same ingredients with Bee Hoon instead. Definitely an excellent price for a hearty breakfast meal.
Neptune Dim Sum
Neptune Dim Sum Marine Parade Food Centre
We did not manage to (or have the stomach to) try out this stall. However, many netizens have recommended the dim sum here. Have you tried it? Do let us know in the comments section below!
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow Marine Parade Food Centre
Another recommended stall at Marine Parade Food Centre. We were contemplating whether to go for this or give the hokkien mee a few stalls down a try. We decided to go for the latter. But according to the queues (and the look of Uncle Apollo), it seems that this is must-try as well.
Seremban Beef Noodles
Seremban Beef Noodles Marine Parade Food Centre
We’ve tried the beef noodles during our last visit here and thought that the taste was indeed good. It reminded us of the same traditional (dry version) of the beef noodles we had when we were young. Nowadays, the dried version of the gravy seems to be either too sweet or too salty. Seremban got it just right. There’s just one gripe that we have and we would just like to remind our readers to request the Aunty to cook the beef just a tad bit more (ensure that the colour changes!) If you know what we mean…
Hokkien Fried Noodles
Hokkien Fried Noodles (next to Seremban Beef Noodles) Marine Parade Food Centre
There are usually 2 versions of the Hokkien Fried Noodles. The dry and sticky version with all the taste infused into the noodles or this, the slightly wet version. Of course, we prefer the dry version. So it was with some prejudice that we tried this version at Marine Parade Food Centre. We also noticed that the uncle did not really “fry” the noodles but more of “stirring” the noodles into the soup. As a result, as expected, the noodles did not turn out as good as other versions we’ve tried. For the slightly wet version, Tiong Bahru and Clementi still tastes better. But as a consolation, as you work towards the end of the plate, you’ll taste the gravy and its quite sweet and delicious. Perhaps frying a little longer (and harder) would have made the difference.
Again, many have raved about the chicken curry puff at Marine Parade Food Centre. And it did not disappoint. The outer layer was puffy and crispy (bits dropped off as we went in for our first bite). The puff was still piping hot – an indication of fresh ingredients and regular crowd. Last but most importantly, the curry inside oozed out as you bite into it. This is in stark contrast to the usual “dry on the inside” versions that you would have.
So a thumbs up for the Katong Chicken Curry Puff!
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To enjoy these foods, why not do a staycation at Village Hotel Katong as well? Do try out the foods at Marine Parade Food Centre and let us know what you think thereafter!
Katong & Joo Chiat is an idyllic, culturally and historically rich area set in the eastern part of Singapore. There are actually quite a number of things you can do in Katong and this post will cover some of the interesting parts of this heritage area in Singapore.
Introduction to the Katong and Joo Chiat Area
As we exited ECP and entered into the Katong area, there was a breath of tranquility that filled the air. The contrast was stark because of the “hustle” of the traffic on the expressway and when you enter the precinct, it seems like time has gone back to a more serene era filled with old world charms.
According to the introduction, the area used to be a sea-side resort for the rich in the 18th to 19th century. Today, the Marine Parade Road marks where the original shore line was. Imagine the amount of land we reclaimed!
Old World Charms in Katong
We started off the morning with breakfast at Chin Mee Chin confectionary.
Traditional setting in Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
CMC is an old-school kopitiam that serves up traditional kaya and butter toasts. The unique part is that the toasts are on buns and the kaya is home-made, preserving that eggy (not the sweet overpowering type) taste of kaya. Our favourite was the cream cone. Really light for the cream (a little saltish) which went really well with the crispy outer layer of the cone and the kopi…
Breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
After the hearty breakfast, we continued on our walk around Joo Chiat and came across some architectures that were an unique fusion of chinese, malay, peranakan, colonial british and other old world charms…
Stretch of Peranakan-styled houses at Koon Seng road5 foot walkway – an iconic feature of chinese architectureFusion of colonial British and Peranakan architectureFurniture shop – using rattan as the main material!Haven’t seen one these 10cents coin telephone for a whileRow of shop houses in the dayEateries along the shop houses at nightUnderground walkways connecting Katong to East Coast Park – Notice the old-school tiles!
What to eat in Katong
When it comes to food, Katong has build quite a reputation for itself. This is a quick snapshot of the famous eateries in Katong and you should give them a try. They’re really quite good…
328 Katong Laksa
328 Katong LaksaActual stall of 328 Katong Laksa
There are two 328 Katong Laksa along Marine Parade Road and the unique thing about Katong Laksa? Yes, you can eat it by using a spoon because the vermicelli has been cut to “spoon-enabled” lengths…
328 Katong Laksa – great with its sedap chili!
Sometimes, when a stall is famous, you become skeptical. Especially for local hawker fare. Why? Well, simply because I have my favourites and you have yours. But this version? It’s REALLY GOOD. Here’s why.
First of all, the laksa soup is flavourful, rich with traces of shrimps and spices. By itself, it is not too spicy. But there are containers-full of home-made chili on the table for those of you who likes to spice it up a little. Speaking of the chili, it is the other main draw. The chili packs a punch and you can taste the hei bi (little shrimps) infused into the chili. Mixed into the soup? Simply sedap! Last but not least, for $4.50, one would think that you’ve been ripped off. But the fact is, there are alot of cockles, 3 prawns and seemingly endless amount of sliced fish cake that makes every spoon a chock-full of goodness! Now we understand why its so famous…
Marine Parade Food Centre
Yummy things to eat at Marine Parade Food Center Katong!
There are so MANY things to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre that we wrote a separate post just to cover “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre“. The standard of hawker food is quite high. But along with that, the prices as well. We noticed that in general, for a hawker centre, the prices are above average with char kway teow prices starting at $3. Perhaps it is due to the “atas” (high class) clientele in the area of Katong and Joo Chiat. But still, food such as the economical rice, curry puff, char kway teow and beef noodles are still worth a visit!
Yong’s Teochew Kueh
Yong’s Teochew Kueh Katong
Teochew oldies swear by this brand and you can often see them as gifts among friends. This is because of the tasty kuehs such as soon kueh (vege filled insides wrapped with a white outer layer) and peng kueh (rice filled insides with the iconic pink outer layer shaped like a tear-drop) that they offer. We prefer the fried version of peng kueh, cant really beat the taste when its fresh off the kwali (aka wok).
Ampang Niang Tou Fu
Ampang Niang Tou Fu Katong
The first time we tasted Ampang Niang Tou Fu was eons ago. But the taste was really unique and we can still remember it today. It is the sauce that makes this Hakka version of the Niang Tou Fu so special. Price wise, not as cheap as your regular yong tau fu. But you will enjoy the sauce in which it is prepared which goes especially well with the rice.
Peramakan
Peramakan at Santa Grand Hotel Katong
For a taste of traditional Peranakan food, head to Peramakan – a nonya family restaurant. Essentially, everything there is good. SERIOUS! Every dish was a surprise and with the fragrant (unlimited) rice, it just all came together. Ideas of family, home-cooked food, rich peranakan heritage all infused into the food served at Peramakan.
But if we really have to choose, we’ll highlight the Ikan Garam Assam, Beef Rendang, Nonya Chap Chye, Ayam Buah Keluak and durian pengat as the must-try at Peramakan!
What to do in Katong
East Coast Park
East Coast Park is within walking distance of the Katong precinct and is an excellent venue for the family. For physical activities, you can choose to bike, blade or jog along the long stretch of path along the beach. For those who are into extreme sports, you can opt for wake boarding (aka cable skiing) at Ski 360.
For the older folks who want to take it down a notch, BBQ is always a favourite. Fishing and camping by the beach are other things you can enjoy at East Coast Park. For us, the best part of East Coast Park? Enjoying the views by the beach and the sea breeze…
Views by the beach at East Coast Park
360 Tour of East Coast Park with views of Marina Bay Sands
I12 Katong (Not 112 Katong!!) – For movies, shopping and diningParkway Parade Shopping CentreVillage Hotel Katong Staycation – Notice the pyramid-shaped towerShopping in the Marine Parade Heartlands!
Night Life in Katong
If you’re thinking of having a night out, the area near I12 Katong has some options including Alibabar and Brotzeit. We had some drinks ($9.90 nett) and the char kway teow ($5) which by the way was quite tasty and the portion was huge! Good for 2 to share.
Alibabar at KatongInside Alibabar Char kway teow and beers at Alibabar
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There are many things to do in Macao and many attractions as well. But if you ask me what are the MUST do things in Macao, this is our list of the top 5 MUST DO things in Macao…
Macau’s famous Portuguese eggtartThis version has a slightly salty but flavourful pork with fatty bits and chewy bun – 20MOP
Portuguese egg tarts are world renowned because of its crispy yet flaky outer crust with its rich egg tart fillings. Pork buns on the other hand is flavourful with a tinge of fatty guilt. Yum!
Travel Tip : When you see a stall with portuguese egg tarts or pork buns, DO NOT WAIT TO TRY THEM! Just stop, get one to share. Otherwise, you may just tell yourself that “there will be another stall” and eventually when you leave Macao, you may not have tried them at all!
3. MUST TRY – Sampling at Koi Kei Bakery (鉅記)
Koi Kei Pastry (鉅記) Macau – Dont forget to try the almond cookies & seaweed eggrolls!
There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many Koi Kei Bakery stalls in Macao and at almost every turn of the street in the city centre, you may stumble upon one! The best part is that sampling at Koi Kei Bakery is free! There are so many products to choose from including almond, cashew, walnut cookies and an assortment of candies and gifts. But our favourite is the Egg Roll With Seaweed And Shredded Pork. Especially when it is freshly made!
Travel Tip 1 : You will have to lurk inconspicuously while maintaining “surveillance” over the tables as the chefs out on their final touches before the cookies, candies or egg rolls are complete. In this way, you will be able to sample the freshest bakes from Koi Kei!
Travel Tip 2 : Always go Koi Kei on an empty stomach (a cup of coffee is preferred). You may be tempted to try so many of its products that it can actually become a light meal!
4. MUST SEE – Cotai Strip
The Venetian Macau Cotai Strip
Modelled after the Strip in Las Vegas USA, Cotai Strip is the entertainment arena of Macao. With shows, shopping and many top notch restaurants here, you will be spoilt for choice on what to do next in Macao.
5. MUST ENJOY – Luxury Hotels
Indoor heated pool at a nice 31degrees during winter months!
Pamper yourself in one of the many luxury hotels in Macao. Our stay at the Hotel Royal Macau was an enjoyable and it did not cost us a bomb. So kick back, relax and lap up the life of luxury in Macao!
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There are actually many things to do in Hong Kong. Attractions in Hong Kong abound as well! But to sum up our recent trip, here are 21 Amazing Travel Experiences in Hong Kong you ought to check out!
Things to do, Attractions and Travel Experiences in Hong Kong
1. Breathtaking views overlooking Victoria Harbour
View overlooking Sky 100 from Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung Wan
For a room with the best views over Victoria Harbour, look no further than Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan. The rooms are decent and the price is reasonable. A night here will make your stay in Hong Kong a very much memorable one.
Read more about our stay at Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan.
2. How about views over Tsuen Wan Harbour?
Bathtub and shower capsule with view of Tsuen Wan Harbour
Bruce Lee’s statue added in 2005 to the Avenue of Stars
Many would say a visit to Hong Kong would not be complete without a visit to the Avenue of the Stars. With stars such as the “Four Heavenly Kings” (who can both sing and act by the way) among the many Hong Kong celebrities, who can dispute that Hong Kong is indeed the Hollywood of the East?
4. Ocean Park
Ocean Park Ocean Theatre Dolphins leaping beside its trainers
Having been around for 40 years, is Ocean Park still worth a visit? Our answer is a resounding YES! With shows, rides, attractions and play area for the kids, Ocean Park is really an attraction in Hong Kong for the entire family!
5. Countdown at Victoria Harbour
Crowd waiting for fireworks and countdown at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong
Start of Mid Level Escalator Stairs at Queens Road
Originally built to reduce travelling time between Queens Road and Conduit Road, this 800 metre stretch of escalator and walkway system in the longest in the world. Through this walkway, the Mid Level Escalators also cover an ascent of 135 metres. Today, it is very much a tourist attraction as it is a form of commute for Hong Kongers.
Where to shop in Hong Kong
People always say Hong Kong is about 买东西,吃东西 (buy stuff, eat stuff). It’s true! And here’s a low down of where you can shop till your heart’s content in Hong Kong…
7. Temple Street Market
Night Market at Temple Street
There are several night markets in Hong Kong and Temple Street is one of the more prominent ones. Here you can pick up clothings, bags, souvenirs and gifts. Just remember to haggle a bit and compare prices before making the deal!
8. Ladies Street
Ladies Street near to Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
Another prominent market is Ladies Street at Mong Kok. Do not be fooled by the name as the stalls here do not only offer products for ladies. Like Temple Street, Ladies Street offer a 1 kilometre stretch of shopping options that caters to your bargaining desires!
Entrance to Elements Shopping Mall from Kowloon MTR
For more conventional shopping options, visit Elements Shopping Mall at Kowloon. With its 5 different zones (Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire, Water) and a myriad of shopping options, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you visit Elements.
10. Citygate Outlet Mall Tung Chung
Shopping galore at Citygate Outlets Hong Kong!
For luxury shopping at affordable prices, head on down to Citygate Outlet Mall at Tung Chung. Having been to Woodbury Common Shopping Outlet in the USA, we did not think that we would be doing much shopping here. We were wrong. Prices were quite attractive but do note that they could be off-season items. Nonetheless, a good shopping destination in Hong Kong.
Where to eat in Hong Kong
11. Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Touted as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tim Ho Wan serves up dim sum the way it is supposed to be. Do not miss the “Four Heavenly Kings” that include the famous baked bun with BBQ Pork (above). Definitely better than the one that has opened in Singapore. Do check out our Minimalist Guide to Eating at Tim Ho Wan.
12. Lei Garden (Atas Chinese Food)
Baked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Lei Garden Hong Kong
You may expect to pay a little bit more at Lei Garden, but you will not regret the experience. We were pleasantly surprised and were eagerly anticipating how the next dish would turn out as we tucked into a sumptious meal here. Great service and ambience too!
13. Lan Fong Yuen Milk Tea
Lan Fong Yuen Hong Kong Butter Po Luo You and Milk Tea at 13hkd and 16 hkd respectively
Serving up cups of milk tea since 1952, Lan Fong Yuen is the place to go to enjoy a taste of traditional milk tea at a traditional setting (old kopitiam style). While at it, do try out their bo luo you (but maybe not the pork bun…)
14. Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop (麦文记面家)
Beef brisket Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38
For some of the best noodles that Hong Kong has to offer, head right on to Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop. I tell you, the noodles are Q (springy), ingredients are fresh and generous. One word to sum it up. SHIOK!
15. Desserts at Austraian Dairy Company
Steamed Almond Egg Pudding (杏汁炖蛋) at Australian Dairy Company Hong Kong
Still have no idea why its called Australian Dairy Company (when it’s in Hong Kong!!). But you’ve got to try their steamed egg puddings. Both white and yellow versions are unique experiences that we’ve tried for the first time here. Creation of a genius.
16. Dim Sum at Lian Xiang Ju
Traditional setting at Lian Xiang Ju – Can you spot the Ang Mo in this photo
For a more traditional setting for dim sum, Lian Xiang Ju is a great place that we accidentally stumbled upon (by stalking an old aunty no less). No regrets here. Great food, old world charm in its setting at a great price. Even ang mos visit! Maybe we should continue stalking old aunties and uncles? :p Read more about our visit to Lian Xiang Ju here.
This is a special mention for the best congee we’ve ever eaten. It is from Hai Xing Congee shop. No, we do not know where it is (ah!!) because we just headed into a place for breakfast and that was it. But the taste was just ma ma mia! Rich, flavourful and milky (yes we do not know how they do it but it is really milky in a savoury, nice kind of way). Definitely an unforgettable experience.
PLEASE tell us its location in the comments section below if you know where it is!!
18. How about some street food?
Hong Kong Fishballs in curry – 6 for 5HKDEgg Waffles Hong Kong for 7 HKD – Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside
Tuck into street foods such as curry fishballs, lok lok, instant noodles and those small round egg waffles known as 鸡蛋仔. You’ll know it when you see it, just follow your senses (yes, sense of smell).
19. How a typical Hong Kong Cafe is like
A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)
You have not been to Hong Kong unless you’ve visited a Hong Kong Cafe. Feel the vibe, order the toast, milk tea and instant noodles. Feel how the waiters hover over your tables, like bald eagles, waiting to swoop in when your plates and cups are empty. That is the way of life dude.
Side trips from Hong Kong
20. Shen Zhen
Entrance to Old Dong Men Shopping District (老东门商城)
You may want to make only 1 trip to Shen Zhen while you’re in Hong Kong. Just to shop and eat at a much cheaper price across the border. Nonetheless, being restricted in use of credit cards was a first for us (VISA and MASTERCARDS are not accepted in Shen Zhen or at least not commonly). Makes you re-think how much you rely on your cards these days.
21. Macao
Ruins of St Paul with long flight of stairs – middle of stairs
There are so many things to do and attractions in Macau! Visit the historic centre of Macao, tuck into the famous portuguese egg tart or simply take in the sights and sounds. Macau is definitely an excellent side trip from Hong Kong.
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On our last day of Hong Kong, we wanted to try out food at one of the food courts which we saw during the last couple of days while venturing the streets of Hong Kong. However, to our horror, the food court was closed!
Tom saw an old lady heading into a building, seemingly looking for breakfast. So we followed. The next thing we knew, we were in a lift! While in the lift, we were still wondering where we were going…but since we were surrounding by friendly grandpas and grandmas, what could go wrong right? The worst case would be to take the lift down again. Well, we were pleasantly surprised as we stumbled upon a traditional dim sum restaurant!
Aunty frying turnip cakes and other cakes in this make shift fryer in Lian Xiang Ju
As we sat down and looked at the menu, we finally realised that we were in Lian Xiang Ju…
Dim Sum Menu at Lian Xiang Ju – Actually recommended in Michelin Guide!
A quick search online will allow you to find out that Lian Xiang Ju is very much a traditional dim sum restaurant where servers still push trays of dim sum around to the customers for them to choose (similar to Red Star Restaurant in Singapore). The decor is very 70s and strangers just get seated with each other.
Traditional setting at Lian Xiang Ju – Can you spot the Ang Mo in this photo
We were soon served our tea in teapots and we observed how the uncles and aunty pour their tea. There’s actually a few steps.
1. Washing of EVERYTHING. And you thought you will only need to wash the cups right? Wrong! You’ll first need to use the hot water to sort of “disinfect” everything on the table including the cups, plates and chopsticks by pouring hot water (from the teapot) over them and into a basin provided.
2. Allow tea to sit. Tea has to sit in the water and allow the aroma to be infused into the tea for a couple of minutes before it is eventually served.
3. Enjoy. After a few minutes of “Ooo Ooo Ah Ah”, “Ouch Ouch”, “Hot Hot”…
Then we went straight into business and ordered our breakfast!
Siew Mai (16HKD) from Lian Xiang Ju – Fresh prawns within!Chee Cheong Fun (18HKD vermicelli roll) with minced chicken fillingsChar Siew Bao (18HKD) Lian Xiang Ju Restaurant – Yummy sweet filling with onions and fluffy outer layerFried Wanton (16HKD) – VERY crispy outer layer with big fresh prawns, went well with sweet sauce providedBeancurd Skin Wrap (20HKD) – Skin absorbed the tastes of the huge mushroom, chicken and fish maw within, Shiok!Traditional way of recording your expenditure – through stamping!Took a photo of Lian Xiang Ju when we left
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Lian Xiang Ju is definitely a recommended dim sum venue for cheap traditional food in a old Hong Kong setting! Just before we ended our meal, we ordered the char siew bo luo bao for take-away. We did not know there were so many in 1 order, so we gave 2 to the aunty and uncle who sat with us. We could see their faces lit up and we were glad that we shared 🙂
After the hearty meal, we took our luggage from Ibis Hotel and headed to Bi Sheung Wan where we took the city flyer A11 direct to the airport for only 40HKD. There’s even free wifi onboard the bus! Yes, the bus!
Queue for bus A11 outside of Ibis sheung wan 40hkd only with wifi onboard!
The last thing you will need to do is to remember to refund deposit for your octopus card. You can do so at the transport counter at the airport. The same counter where we bought the card on our 1st day…
Refund included at 9hkd handling fee plus whatever is left on your card
We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of our Hong Kong trip, every single day for the last month! Do let us hear about your thoughts in the comments section below!
Happy Travels Everyone!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
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You have just finished a post on our 9 day trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Shen Zhen. Read on to find out more about our adventures during this trip!
After 8 days in Hong Kong, I realised that I have not tried the instant noodles in Hong Kong Cafes! Kate on the other hand thinks that its just instant noodles (for crying out loud!). So, I went into the pestering mode. Pestered and pestered and pestered. Eventually, Kate relented and we got to “been there done that” and tried the satay beef version of the noodles, bread set (that included egg and sausage – part of the conventional 港式公仔面) and the famous po luo you (bun with sweet crispy top sandwich a generous slice of butter!)
While in Central, many would flock (literally! See the queue below!) to Jenny Bakery at Melbourne Plaza to get their hands on their famous biscuits!
Long Queue outside Jenny Bakery at Melbourne Plaza Hong Kong
We bought 4 boxes of mixed cookies at 60HKD each! (Since you’re already there, might as well just buy more right?)
4 boxes of Jenny Bakery mixed cookies – Butter and Coffee Biscuits of conventional and crumbly texture!Cute Bear for cookie box
The REASON why Jenny Bakery is SO POPULAR is because the cookies are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO crumbly! You can literally pop one into your mouth, wriggle your tongue around and soon, the cookie will just “dissolve” in your mouth! Actually, one box is never enough. You can finish 1 box quite easily in one sitting – so be careful about pounding on those extra calories!
Lei Garden at International Finance Center Central
We were told that a visit to Lei Garden was in order because of the excellent food that it serves as well as the great price you’ll get in Hong Kong (compared to Singapore its about 30 percent cheaper). Well, we were wonderfully surprised by our visit here as our tummies (and palate) were treated to a gastronomic fiesta!
Lei Garden at IFC Central Hong Kong Level 3
Here are highlights of some of the dishes we thoroughly enjoyed!
Juicy pork dumplings – bursting with juices on the first bite, topped with a light crispy rice paperBaked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Roasted Crispy Duck Lei GardenHand pulled noodles in lobster soup Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
Mid Level Escalators Stairs – Longest Walkway System in the World!
Next we visited the Mid Level Escalators walkway system. It was designed as a system to allow commuters to travel to the Mid Levels starting from Queens Road all the way to Conduit Road.
View of stairs going to SOHO – a row of pubs cafe and restaurants along the stairs
Today, it is also a tourist attraction. Spanning 800 metres, the entire journey (without walking) takes about 20 minutes and travels up an elevation of 135 metres. Read more about our visit to the Mid Level Escalators!
Chillax at SOHO
After visiting the Mid Level Escalators, we took a short walk to SOHO to round up our night. SOHO is somewhat like Holland Village in Singapore where you have pubs, bars and cafes where friends hangout and people gather to see and to be seen.
And so we headed to Hong Kong Brew House for some fresh brews (beers, not tea)…
Hong Kong Brewery SOHO Central Hong KongFunny description of Boring and Premium beers
Looking at the menu, of course we went for house draft instead of boring beers right?
Pale Ale and Lager – Reasonably priced at 44HKD per pint
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There’s also free flow of nuts that came along with the drinks and everyone just threw the shells EVERYWHERE on the floor! Be careful! You might just trip over a mountain of peanut shells!
Stay tuned for Day 9 (final day) of our Hong Kong trip tomorrow! We had a lucky find…
On Day 7 of our Hong Kong trip, Kate planned for a trip to Shen Zhen. In the morning, we woke up (stayed at Ah Shan Hostel) and started to look for a typical Hong Kong Cafe for our breakfast. We visited a congee place and had one of the best boatsman congee (艇仔粥)!
Of course we had more than that for breakfast (I mean with Tom around)…
Fried dough that remained crispy after dipping into soyabean milk – 11 HKDPeanut butter and condensed milk toast – 11 HKD
After a hearty meal, we headed to the Mong Kok MTR where we took a 40 mins ride to Luo Hu checkpoint at Shen Zhen China.
Luo Hu Port
The truth is that a trip from Hong Kong to Shen Zhen is very much like a trip from Singapore to Malaysia. Through the higher standard of living, commuters derive a higher purchasing power at the neighbouring city. So likewise, we went shopping!
Cheap Manicure
Kate did her manicure for ONLY 15RMB (2.5USD!!)
Cheap Food
Lunch at Dong Men Food Court – Loads of variety (and BBQ meat) at much cheaper prices compared to HK
Cheap Shopping
Endless shopping opportunities for you shopaholics out there!
Frankly speaking, it was relatively mundane and we would prolly not make another trip over if we were to visit Hong Kong (rather use the time to find more dim sum places in Hong Kong!)
And it was with a disappointing heart that we tucked into bed that evening.
But as they say, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings!” and our Hong Kong trip is still not over yet! Stay tuned for more recommendations (more hits than misses) in our last 2 days in Hong Kong!
Bomb raid shelter and walls of the Guia FortressGuia Lighthouse and Guia Chapel
Although it was a challenge for both Kate and I (absolutely not for the faint of hearts!), it was also absolutely rewarding to enjoy the views at the top and to finally have visited one of the major attractions of the Historical Centre of Macao.
After returning to Hong Kong in the afternoon, we headed to our next rest stop – Ah Shan Hostel. Another no-frills hostel, the room came with attached bathroom, TV as well as a bed, sufficient for the both of us.
Decent room at Ah Shan Hostel Hong Kong for 70SGD – Queen sized bed with attached bathroomSmall Toilet and Bath at Ah Shan Hostel Hong Kong
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!Went for the Beef Chee Cheong Fun instead – 18HKDBeef Ball with Beancurd Skin – 16HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Suffice to say that we were thoroughly satisfied without burning any holes in our pockets! To round up the evening, we headed for more shopping at Ladies Street – a night market selling clothes, bags, toys and souvenirs…
Mango Pomelo with 3 Mango Glutinuous Balls – 56 HKDMango Glutinous Balls – Eaten by Kate only!Bird’s nest with Fish Maw (Doesnt sound right does it!) but tasted surprisingly good with big chunks of coconut at the end!
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Day 5 of our Hong Kong, Macao, Shen Zhen trip sees us continuing our travels in Macao! After checking into Hotel Royal Macao, we started out on foot to visit the Historical Centre of Macao!
As our room was not ready as yet. We decided to head straight to the most iconic structure in Macao – Ruins of St. Paul’s!
Ruins of St Paul with long flight of stairs – middle of stairs
After visiting the ruins, Kate decided that she was too tired for a climb up to Mount Fortress. So Tom took the challenge (for our readers!) and ascended the fort…
Behind the Canons of Mount Fortress MacaoView from the top of Mount Fortress
The view from the top of Mount Fortress was indeed breath-taking. While there, you may also wish to decide on a visit to the Museum of Macau…
Macau Museum at the top of Mount Fortress
After descending down from the Fort, Kate and I headed back to the streets in the general direction of Senado Square. Along the way we savoured the tender pork bun!
Shopping Street Macao selling food snacks with abundance of almond cookie gift shops!Macao – Famous for its pork buns
After some quick bites, we proceeded to the area close to the Maritime Museum of Macao but stopped along the way to catch sights such as the St. Dominic’s Church @ Senado Square…
St. Dominic’s Church at Senado Square
Initially, we did not intend to enter the museum. However, as the sun started to bear down on us, we decided to go in – for a mere 10 MOP. Turns out to be a great decision as there was a good collection of exhibits and history about maritime in Macao (Portuguese & Chinese Maritime history too) for visitors to enjoy.
Macao Maritime Museum – Entry for only 10MOP!Wheel-driven boat – One of the great inventions in the 16th century by the Chinese
Following the visit, we headed back to our hotel and en-route, we took some scenic photos around the Sai Van Lake
Taken from Sai Van Lake with View of Grand Lisbon and WynnMacao Tower
Hotel Royal Macao was one of the best hotel we’ve decided to splurge on in Macao and here’s why…
Twin beds Superior for 117SGD a nightIndoor heated pool at a nice 31degrees during winter months!
As the weather was actually quite cold, the indoor heated pool just made the swim all that relaxing (after all that walking!). Snoozing in the comfy bed also revitalised us for the evening ahead as we checked out the glitzy hotels of Macao!
Grand Lisboa – Looks grand on the outside but has some dodgy arcades within!Wynn Hotel Macao with dancing fountain much like that of Bellagio in Las VegasMGM Grand Macao
We then started to feel really peckish (Kate’s atas word for hungry) and we popped by Wa Fung dim sum restaurant. Turns out to be one of the best dim sums we had in a while!
Best Chee Cheung Fun EVER! – 26MOPSiew Mai – 20 MOP (2 prawns each and meat inside!)Custard Buns with juicy filling – 16MOP
To round off the night, we decided to head back to Senado Square to get some gifts and snacks for our friends and relatives. Along the way, we stopped by for some desserts – Red Bean Milk Pudding!
Night at Senado Square – To get some gifts (almond cookies!) and souvenirsRed Bean Milk Pudding – 25 MOP (Expensive and not as nice as the Australian Dairy Company)
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