CEBU
The "second city" of The Philippines is generally easier to navigate than Manila and depending upon where you are staying can be walkable. If not taxi rides are cheap and can take you from the city center to beach resorts for less than $10. For better or worse malls tend to be the best spot to see Filipinos out and about - the recently opened Ayala Center has all the Filipino restaurant chains, a large mall, and a karaoke lounge. The mall is also a hub for the "other side" of The Philippines travel industry.
Cebu has two historical sites, Magellan's Cross and the Basillica de Santa Nino, which are a short cab ride away from anywhere in the city. Magellan's Cross is exactly that - when Magellan landed in The Philippines in 1521 he supposedly placed this cross in the ground claiming the land for Spain and commencing over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. A short walk away is the Basillica de Santa Nino. If you visit on a Sunday it will packed with locals with services scheduled every one or two hours with an occasional sermon in English.
Roast pig may be The Philippines national dish but unless you are invited to a clan reunion it may be difficult to have as a meal unless you are in Cebu. CnT Lechon near the SM Mall and the port cooks several pigs a day but you'll want to arrive early for lunch before they run out and you're left with the scraps.
Cebu has resorts that cater mostly to locals. If you're not spending the night at a resort they generally are not receptive to people using their facilities as paying day guests but if you search around you should be able to find at least one resort willing to rent you a jet ski for 30 minutes.
Cebu has two historical sites, Magellan's Cross and the Basillica de Santa Nino, which are a short cab ride away from anywhere in the city. Magellan's Cross is exactly that - when Magellan landed in The Philippines in 1521 he supposedly placed this cross in the ground claiming the land for Spain and commencing over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. A short walk away is the Basillica de Santa Nino. If you visit on a Sunday it will packed with locals with services scheduled every one or two hours with an occasional sermon in English.
Roast pig may be The Philippines national dish but unless you are invited to a clan reunion it may be difficult to have as a meal unless you are in Cebu. CnT Lechon near the SM Mall and the port cooks several pigs a day but you'll want to arrive early for lunch before they run out and you're left with the scraps.
Cebu has resorts that cater mostly to locals. If you're not spending the night at a resort they generally are not receptive to people using their facilities as paying day guests but if you search around you should be able to find at least one resort willing to rent you a jet ski for 30 minutes.
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For additional Cebu photos see FLICKR ALBUM.