At the tallest peak of Cebu, Osmena Peak

At the tallest peak of Cebu, Osmena Peak

I've heard a lot about Osmena Peak and seen a lot of beautiful pictures of the place. And from then on, I started wishing that someday I can experience the beauty of Osmena Peak first hand. For someone who wants it that bad, nothing is impossible. So I spearheaded an event to climb Opeak with the help of course from my mountaineering friends, Bagtaks and Chupacabra. It was also joined by our guest who made the event more fun.

We arrived at our jump off point at around six in the evening so it turned out to be a night trek. It was an hour trek from the jump off point to the camp site. And after arriving tents were pitched and we started cooking our dinner. Socials follow though there's no need to really introduce the participants since we only have a few new faces. Both groups have always been together in most of their climbs and so the night was spend giggling, sharing stories and some boze. Or maybe for myself, got to much of it.

It was cold and the fog has surrounded us most of the time, glad I was wearing two layers of clothes and a really effective warmer. So there I was, spared from the cold.

Morning came and slowly the fog started to disappear and the beauty of the mountains was slowly revealed. It was spectacular! Can't explain how happy I was seeing the valleys and the seas below. I could have sit there in the cliff all day and still I couldn't get enough of it. Feels like I'm in heaven... (or is that a song?) But really, it gave me peace of mind, not that I am troubled but deep in my soul I felt the peacefulness of the place. Its like, all the worries has been wiped off, changed with a more enlighten spirit.

I felt the goodness of our creator seeing the beauty of the place. Can't say more but to bow down to his greatness.. It's not an exaggeration, because it really is very beautiful.. I wish to be back there again, and I won't be promising that it will be my last. The scenery is addictive, you'd wish for more and that's what's happening with me... I'd like to go back and I will be going back...

The Milk Station at Barili

The Milk Station at Barili

When traveling the west side going south, you can pass a Milk Station somewhere in Barili. It's a small park that has a store selling homemade products. These are ice cream, fresh milk, white cheese and other dairy products.

The main ingredient which is milk, came fresh from their farm. It taste good and is very affordable. The ice cream comes in different flavors such as strawberry, ube, chocolate and vanilla. And I love all the flavors.

There's also white cheese which is really tasty. It is rarely found in the city nowadays even in market place where we used to buy some. I haven't eaten white cheese for quite a long time and I don't know where to buy it until I discovered that in Barili. These are either from a cow's or carabao's milk. And yes I did ate the white cheese raw. Eating it with crackers is also a nice way of enjoying white cheese but there was no crackers available.

The best part of this milk heaven is the price and the ambiance. It doesn't cost much and it gives a quick break after traveling the south west national road of Cebu. There are tables and chairs under the shade of the trees that surround the area. So if you're on a road trip and on a milk food trip then this is the place to go.

photos from Raymond Lazaro

Talaba Food trip, anyone?

Talaba Food trip, anyone?

Enough for those adventures, either climbing peaks or exploring beaches because it's time to enjoy some food trip. Oyster or Talaba in the Cebuano language has been very abundant lately in Cebu. Though I guess that not everyone is a fan of this.

I don't like the taste and the slimy feel the very first time that I've tasted it. Then I got a chance to taste a baked talaba and that's how my addiction started. From baked talaba I began to love the raw or half cooked talaba with just a squeeze of lemon juice or kalamansi.

We flocked to Consolacion, a town north of Cebu. Its just after you crossed the bridge connecting Mandaue City and Consolacion. Its situated near a fish pond that doesn't only offer fresh talaba but also fresh milk fresh or bangus.

Both can be cook over charcoal, right from the fishnets. There was approximately 15 of us and we were able to consume 29 kilos of talaba. We actually bought our own home made spicy vinegar, butter and cheese to add flavors to our talaba, but eating it raw is just fine, because fresh talaba taste sweet with some salty feel.

The place may not be a class A destination but its enough to give you a feel that you are away from the city, its very relaxing and gives you a breath of fresh air, sea breeze that is. And the food doesn't cost that much, 35 pesos for every kilo of talaba consumed. Not bad, right?

I am Back!

I am Back!

Its been a long time since I have updated this blog, for the reason that I have bought my own domain and was planning to work on it. Unfortunately, I miss my skimchix blog. Just writing the things that interest me and not just the pictures (my plan for my own domain).

I love to capture beautiful pictures but I love to share tips and advises in going places, share my experience to all my adventures and inspire you to find your own adventure. So here I am again!
To all my coming adventures, bring it on, because I'm blogging it!