Trip Ko Lang

Here’s our story… while strolling around Ayala mall, we saw people in line, trying to line up in a resto called Ice Castle… Hmmm… Why are there so many people? Got near the entrance, saw pictures of icy halo-halo and big and colorful ice creams… Hmmm… Okay, let’s line up!

Ice Castle at Ayala mall Cebu

Thou the line was long, we didn’t really wait that long because the turnover was quick. We ordered 1 Special Halo-Halo @ 66.50php and 1 Banana Craze @ 125php…

Ice Castle Menu

Halo-halo and Banana Craze

Yes it was icy, yummy, and really worth the price. I think their Halo-Halo is very affordable and has more ingredients (sahog) compared to what we have here in Manila. We definitely enjoyed our mini and accidental merienda of Halo-Halo and Ice Cream.

In case you will be in Ayala Cebu, Ice Castle is a must try and you will surely come back for more desserts and ice creams.

Yummy Ice cream

I must confess… I can no longer remember my Philippine history… the specific details on Magellan’s expeditions, Spanish invasion, and other events that happened during that era… But visiting the very historical Magellan’s cross, made me reminisce on its significance to the lives of many Filipinos.

Magellan's Cross

When I saw the location of the cross, I didn’t expect it to look like that… Again, I’m not familiar with the history… Haha. It was situated in the middle of a plaza (a community like place) with a City Hall infront of it and the Sto. Nino Basilica on the other side and there was also a school beside it. Thought I would see the cross on a hill and we will do some trekking to reach the place. Hehe.

In Magellan’s Cross, there were a lot of old women selling long candles which according to them would signify your wishes and prayers when lighted. And yes, I bought one because the woman was a bit annoying encouraging me to buy. But I think I was fooled because you can’t light that candle near the cross or anywhere inside the place. So in case, you see them, you don’t really have to buy them unless you want to do some charity for these women. We prayed for awhile and then transferred to the other side to see the Sto. Nino Basilica.

Sto. Nino Basililca

Sto. Nino Basilica

It was a big and old church with so many people going in and out. It is known as a miraculous church that devotees and Catholics from all walks of life visit. The interior of the church was very well preserved and still beautiful. We didn’t manage to attend mass on our first visit and so we just returned early Sunday morning to attend the English mass. Our visit in Sto. Nino Basilica was successful because we were able to hear and complete the mass and even seated in the first row just infront of the altar.

Just want to add, beside the church, there were vendor stalls selling images/statues of Sto. Ninos, wooden necklaces, mini guitars, wooden beads, bags, and other nice stuffs that you can buy at very affordable prices and can bring home as pasalubongs.

It’s a good thing that Crown Regency  has this mini 4-D theatre for kids and for the grown-up kids , cause we were with our youngest brother and he was not allowed to ride the extreme challenging rides in the hotel cause of the height requirement.  There were 3 movies to choose from (Deep Sea, Dino Rampage and Lost Island) and we opted to see Dino Rampage. Ticket cost 150-200php, for 2 persons (again they have their buy 1 take 1 promo) and the show runs for 15-25 minutes only.

Crown Regency's 4-D Movie Theatre

The 4-D movie was extremely good! My brother really enjoyed it because the scenes were really thrilling and  felt – scary dinosaurs running after you, shattered glasses, moving trains, helicopters flying, mice under your feet, splash of water and all intense actions in the whole short film.

If the movie was just cheaper, maybe we could have watched all of them… hehe. But one 4-D movie is enough just to experience it.

Inside the 4-D theatre

Day 2, first stop in our itinerary – Casa Gorordo Museum at 35 Lopez Jaena St. Cebu City. It was early Saturday morning around 8am, we were already on our way to see this museum, planned to ride a jeepney but the jeep number that we needed seldom passed by and so when we saw an Avanza taxi we immediately got in. Told the driver, Lopez Jaena St./Gorordo Museum, thought he understood us but later on realized we were getting far and the ride was supposed to be short because it was just nearby. Finally, the driver spoke and he thought we were going to the Gorordo in Lahug, a bit embarrassed that we went the wrong way, the driver was laughing and won’t stop saying sorry. (It’s okay, Manong… we understand…) Then, when we arrived in Lopez Jaena St., he just asked us to pay 35php and still saying sorry… we also felt shy but anyways, thank you so much Manong driver for being too kind.

Casa Gorordo Museum

We went in and paid for our entrance fees, total of 60php (30php each). But the prices posted at the entrance were different, surprised to pay cheaper. Maybe, Bishop Gorordo was with us and taking care of our expenses… haha. Camera is not allowed inside the house/museum. You can only take pictures outside.

view outside

The place was really, really amazing. I really love to visit old Filipino houses built in wood as well as the stuffs inside. Everything was so beautiful. I was wishing to live in a house just like that… haha. It was also my first time to see different parts of a house during the Spanish era – they have the descantos, the salas, the suitor’s room, guest room, library, music room, small and big dining area, kitchen, etc. Suitor’s room, wondering if we still have this in our homes, haha, and maybe proper courtship will remain and men will really have a hard time because there was even a seat for the chaperone. Library was also interesting; it has a copy of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and some of his other books written. I can’t really contain my excitement in what I was seeing and so I managed to get some shots of the inside of this lovely old house.

Salas, Kitchen and Hallway only in Trip Ko Lang

We all had fun viewing Casa Gorordo Museum and had different insights about Bishop Gorordo, their lovely home, Spanish times, their one-of-a-kind kitchen utensils, the restroom at that time and other stuffs. And we will forever wish we can live in this kind of home and maybe meet the first Filipino Bishop in person.

I'm really wondering... hmmmmm....

Taoist Temple

Day 1 isn’t over yet, for we still managed to get to Taoist temple and thanks to my friend for accompanying us. We got a cab from Ayala Cebu; travel time was short, around 20 minutes or less. The Taoist temple is located inside the village of Beverly Hills, Cebu, cab or private car are the only means of transportation to get there.

If you’re a Chinese, a Taoist, definitely your visit will be fulfilling. Of course, we didn’t do any worship or anything but to take pictures of the beautiful structure and different designs of the temple. Luckily, the temple has been recently painted and so we were really fascinated by its lively colors. By the way, to reach the top, you will need to take flight of stairs, so it was a bit tiring for us after having a long day on the road.

On our way back, unfortunate events took placed – no cab available because it was already 6pm and all cabs have left the place. We didn’t have any choice but to walk ourselves out of the village. Honestly, the walk was so tiring because we were far from the entrance/exit point of the Beverly Hills, the roads were wide and just like a hill we went up and down… When we reached the main road, empty cabs seldom passed by, I think it took us 15 minutes or more before we got a ride. Feeling hot and tired, we just went back to our hotel to shower, rest and had our dinner.