On The Road... Cebu, Philippines: My Highlands & City Tour... Part 1!

Christmas Day rolled around and I wasn't ready for the chaos that 'tour day' would reign over Cebu! Don't get me wrong because looking back it certainly wasn't a dull day but certain aspects were completely unhinged. From the idyllic highland views to a plantain streetside breakfast, those aspects humbled me but who was 'Leah?' Lapu-Lapu, did what?! Truly, 'Part 1' was a lot! 

Let me break this down because Cebu saw me going through it, sure I made the best of my 'Quest' hotel room because this strange flu-like illness was playing games with me! Christmas Eve saw me limbering up for my Cebu 'Highlands & City Tour' with a whole day spent relaxing. For me, I don't usually take these days but work had been madness and Manila had kept me on my toes for the first 72 hours of my trip, I needed to rest! Breakfast set the mood, it was berserk and I wasn't about to face any stress or that's what I thought because 'Guide To The Philippines' was about to do the most! Feeling important, I ordered room service for breakfast on Christmas Eve, it needed to be a serving of 'Chorizo de Cebu' for the culture! What's this even got to do with the following days tour? The fact I stayed put and didn't venture down to 'Colon Street' cemented the fact I had high hopes for the following days excursion. I wanted to get the best of my coins spent for that sector of the trip, so having a rest day then just means I need to return! 

Christmas Day made an appearance, reporting for my tour at the respective time had saw me not have breakfast for a second time. I didn't give myself enough time for room service again but I secretly knew that I would be able to get something to eat on the road. My driver was a man of very few words, that wasn't a problem but I wanted to know more about Cebu because usually those trips don't need prior research. Without a tour guide, I was then feeling that the day would end up being misguided in more ways than one. Heading for the highlands, the drive allowed me to see a 'real' side of Cebu that wasn't like 'Mandaue City' but still served something honest. The comfort of my hotel seemed a long way but I had bigger fish to fry, should've I said 'Bananacue?' Did I need to go all Karen on the birthday of the Baby Jesus? The scenery definitely started to change dramatically for all the right reasons as the driver headed further into the mountains, ushering the first stop of that colourful tour! My WhatsApp messenger was about to blow up! 

I am a simple person when it comes to travel, I know what I want to see and garish isn't one style I appreciate! I could be really negative and offload the feelings I felt in that moment as I did to the tour company but I am looking back on this experience as character building. Taking a deep breath, I exited 'Sirao Garden' because it just wasn't my cup of tea. Not for me, I passed forth my feelings to the tour company in the moment but that shadiness wasn't going to define that unstoppable view, I felt blessed to snatch such an amazing highlands photo without any 'toy town' installations. I appreciated that Cebu view with nature staring back at me, the trees and landscape stood in front of me in their purest form. That view was my Christmas present, it was unlike no other gift I had metaphorically opened before on any other Christmas morning. Maybe I was 'hangry?' That wasn't the reason but in the midst of that exchange it stood as a firm probability. Talking of breakfast, I needed something to eat but the view was like a snack! Sarap?

Jumping back into the van for a moment, I requested to make a short stop before the drive would recommence. I ran towards a row of street side food stalls because I wanted a serving or two of freshly barbecued 'Saba Bananas!' They were like Plantain! I bought two because I was starving, to drink I ordered a freshly made mango smoothie because in that location the fruit looked really fresh indeed! That tropical roadside breakfast was what I needed, it reminded me of the warmth from the Filipino people and with it being 'Christmas' people were extra friendly! That breakfast stop relaxed me, I was able to refuel and get myself together because I wasn't about to lose my senses on Christmas Day. I am glad that I chose to experience the 'Highlands' aspect of that tour even thought the garden tried to distract from the natural beauty of the Cebu landscape. It's like presents, sometimes we get one we don't like, other grow on us after a while! Onwards and upwards? Like, turn right and head down the steepest hill ever! Ay, Hesus Kristo! 

The tone of the tour was about to take an opulent turn because the 'Temple of Leah' was about to confuse me! I had to question this location several times because I no idea what this 'Roman/Grecian' style building stood for? Who was this Leah woman? Tell me, Miss Gurl! It was giving 'hoarder's paradise' because each room was brimming with trinkets and glittering items. It was camp! The tour company had not updated me with an itinerary before the tour, I had no idea that point of interest would be presented to me! I was gobsmacked and in that moment I didn't know what to think of Cebu's 'Taj Mahal' because it was just so random! I now only know who this Leah person was but she still stands as an enigma because there's not a lot of information. I did judge her for her appearance, I asked the driver 'She's not a Filipina?' This 'Leah Villa Albino Adarna' looked more like a Spanish lady with her broad nose and high cheek bones, was she really not a Filipina? I didn't know! The whole tour became random! Sino siya?

Local businessman, 'Teodorico Adarna' commissioned this almost 'Taj Mahal' concept as an ode to his late wife. It seemed strange because who was bagging those tourists admission coins? Every Peso counts! I did have a short walk around this 'temple of sorts' but felt no connection to the 'Queen' herself because I had absolutely no idea who this woman was? Even asking the internet, I am still none the wiser, who was she? I did appreciate the view, I was able to clock the 'Cebu Strait' and 'Mactan Island' in the distance. Even though those first two attractions made absolute no sense, I was able to connect with a show-stopping view without any reservations made. I wanted to get back on the road, Miss Leah didn't impress me and there's only so much of someone's riches you need to see before it gets a bit much. Being back on the road felt correct, heading towards the city allowed me the chance to get excited about those heritage sites that were famous and gave Cebu a claim to fame! 'Lapu-Lapu' was a fella I wanted to know about! 

I had reached 'terra firma' at long last and I didn't want to change those 'ground level' settings. Almost located at the docks, I was able to see the 'Heritage of Cebu Monument' up close and personal. Sure, without a tour guide I didn't have a clue what this elaborate monument meant? I now know that national multi-awarded artist, 'Eduardo Castrillo' had designed this monument with celebration and commemoration of the longest standing Cebuano figureheads and heroes. Previously, I had visited 'Fuente Osmeña & Circle' with no knowledge that past president, 'Sergio Osmeña' was named after that 'uptown circle' and had been immortalised into that 'Parian Park' monument. 'Lapu-Lapu' stood strong in artistic form, he had been a 'datu' during the time when 'Ferdinand Magellan' had lost the battle to colonise the Philippines after his landing in Cebu. 'Lapu-Lapu's' muscle and 'puso' saw the Philippines stay rid of those Spaniards for 40 years after the attack. Now, I can only appreciate such a sight now I have the context! Oh! 

I had highly overlooked one of the oldest built houses in Cebu. I don't want to pay this next attraction much mind even though it deserves more respect, yet again without an itinerary and context I simply overlooked this mystery house. I want to use that experience to return in a timely manner because the tour company really didn't make any efforts to inform me about that attraction even though it held significance within Cebu. I don't want to quote famous lyric but I'm not going to 'look back in anger' because I will have my cake and eat it, just give me another year before I return to the Philippines. The day so far had been less than dull, I had not experienced the half of the programme but something told me that I would need to keep things simple when things didn't go to plan. I now see that tour as an introduction to Cebu, it served a different energy and when the time comes I will have my solo independent stance activated fully! I remain unbothered since I have processed the wildness, it wasn't Cebu's beef to front! Done! 

Ready For Part 2?

Desperately Seeking Adventure