SkimChix - island life

Another destination to spend a day or an evening with friends and loved ones is Mountain View Resort. It has approximately 180 degrees view of Cebu and its mountains.

During daytime it is best to experience the short walk of their hanging bridge which is over looking the city. And it is best to take some walks to experience the natural beauty of the area. Play grounds and small parks are available in area for kids to safely play.

During night time there are videoke or juke box in the area. You can sing your heart out for a fee or play nice beat that suits your mood. Or you can just enjoy the peaceful view of the city at some of the cottages that surrounds the area with your loved ones.

Entrance to the park would cost fifty pesos and it is best to bring your own food since available food is expensive. And it is best to go there late in the afternoon before the sun sets and to stay there till late in the night.

A good place to take a date for a dinner or a family celebration would be at Casa Verde. It used to be an old house with a small restaurant in the ground floor and a boarding house on the second floor. There are also study rooms available. And the place was so serene with only a few diner, it has a very cozy ambience.

Now the business has grown and they where able to open 2 branches in metro cebu, one is in Ayala Terraces and at IT Park. Still offering the same, tasteful dishes. The place is always fully packed even on a weekday. Many has discovered there sumptous meal that is worth coming back.

Way back, it was the baby back ribs that I was addicted. Then later I started exploring their menu and I was able to discover the other mouth watering dishes. Some of my favorites are, Surf and Turf, a grilled beef meat with grilled shrimps, baked potato soup, watermelon salad, a green salad with a twist of watermelon, mango and a mouth tickling dressing that is sweet. And to conclude a wonderful meal, I'd finish it with desert, Death by Chocolate. Yum. Nothing beats a sumptous at Casa Verde.

We were on our way to the mountains of Central Cebu when I noticed that most of my view are of brown shades. Looking closely I noticed that the green bushes that dominates the scenery of the mountain slopes has dried up and turned brown.

We have been talking about El Niño and Cebu has not been spared. We've been having random rain during the month, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I noticed the big change to our landscape. I felt bad, I hope there's something I can do for to help eliminate global warming because this is the main reason why this is happening.

Let's help preserve the green scenery in our own little way. In line with this, I support Earth Hour.

Another fun way to spend the evening with friends is karaoke. At K1 KTV in Crossroads, Banilad you can enjoy singing and dancing in solo, duet or group of friends.

They have a big space to accommodate a big group and you can sing your heart out with their 24 monitor displaying the lyrics of your chosen song. And you won't be afraid of being heard at the other room since they have good sound proofing rooms.

They also serve foods and alcoholic beverages. So there's no need to worry if your hungry in the middle of your singing sessions since it is served in your private room. And they do have delicious dishes.

They have reasonable prices and bonding with friends is always worth the memories.

In memory of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, mountaineers, locals and politicians flock to Mt Manunggal to celebrate his death anniversary. It was in these place 53 years ago that his plane crashed, last 17th of March.

It was also my first outdoor experience in the mountains. With the surrounding temperature of approximately 15c, it was really cold. There are times that smoke forms near the mouth once it is opened, and I was pretty much amazed by this. Just couldn't capture it with the camera. And since this is to commemorate the death of our late president and at the same time a fiesta in the barrio, the atmosphere was really festive.

But even with the banging sound from the band or music filing the air, I can still feel the peace and serenity of the place. I was able to find new friends and learn a lot of survival skills that I hope will be applied on my coming trips and climb.

Right at the heart of Cebu Business Park is a world-class hotel, that house mostly businessmen and employees of multinational companies in conference and seminars. Just recently Marriot Hotel has re-invented its facade to a sophisticated modern style living.

I have always like there interiors. the staff are accommodating even for locals like us. And the food? They have the best eat all you can breakfast buffet among other hotels that I have tried. Just thinking of there food spread all over the place from cuisine all over the globe, makes my mouth water. Lots of choices are offered and i just wished I have enough place in my stomach to cater to all these menu.

Right beside there restaurant is a pool. And even if its beside the walk way of Ayala Center, you'll still have the privacy to enjoy lounging and relaxing in their pool area.

Over all the place is worth the price. And they also offer discounts, especially for the locals who want to unwind, right at the heart of a business area.

I have always love the outdoors, be it in a beach, on top of a mountain, inside the cave or under the sea. And one essential gadget for someone like me is a tent. Staying or sleeping inside a tent can maximize our experience of the outdoor.

I used to own one, but I don't think it was a good buy. During that time when I bought it, I chose a bigger tent that was cheaper over a smaller, a bit expensive but of good quality tent. And this is one disadvantage of an impulsive buyer.

Later I realize how bulky my tent was, it was not convenient to bring it anywhere. Another disadvantage of having a bigger tent was it can accommodate lots of people, no privacy when you need one (naughty grin, hehehe). And since quality comes with a price, mine easily lost its waterproof feature and the poles broke after several times of use.

Lesson learned I should not sacrifice the price of anything I'm looking forward to use for a long time, and I don't need a big tent, all I need is a secure one that can protect me from the cold and the rain.

Good thing I was able to buy a small tent from Coleman at Ace Hardware for a reasonable price and it comes in a refreshing color of orange. This will be my faithful companion on my coming adventures..