After packing up or home and lives in just over four weeks, the chaos of being robbed in Spain and only receiving replacement passports the day we left we were so happy to board our Qantas flight to Hong Kong. We’d used points to book our flight to Cebu, flying overnight from Sydney with a quick transit – we were so happy to be on our way.
And here we go again
Our luggage
This time we are traveling carry on only! It’s actually been fine so far. We really don’t need much, and after having all our luggage stolen in Spain we had very little anyway.
We both have a Lite Haul pack from Kathmandu – mine is green and Emmie’s is black. They’re 38 litres and they fit a lot. We both have two packing cells for our clothes – also from Kathmandu. One of mine is double sided so I carry the dirty clothes in one side until I wash them in the sink of wherever we are staying. We both have a medium and a small packing cell, a bought a large one but it was too big really, my advice is to not go larger than medium.
I’ll share a list of everything that’s in our bags soon.
FIRST STOP: Shangri-La Mactan Cebu Resort & Spa
The beautiful Shangri-La
I’d won a Webjet voucher a few months earlier and used it to book our first three nights in luxury at the Shangri-La. And it was divine. It really has everything for a luxe family holiday, and it’s only 25 minutes from Cebu airport so it’s a great place to go for a break if you’re living in Asia or traveling through the Philippines. We stayed here when we first left Australia on our big trip – you can read our review here.
So many fish!
We spent our days eating a delicious buffet breakfast, snorkelling in the house reef, swimming the pool and Emmie spent a few hours in the kids club doing the climbing area and slides. It was so easy and relaxing.
After three nights we were on our way.
Taxi to South Cebu Bus Terminal
We caught a taxi (around $20 for the 45 minute trip) to South Cebu Terminal where as soon as we got out someone asked me where we were going and straight away took us to the bus to Moalboal. There are many bus companies in Cebu but we like Ceres – its what we took last time and its reliable and so far very safe. The trip took around three hours and cost $5 each. You get on and then someone comes around and calculates you fare and gives you a ticket. So simple, and of course Emmie slept most of the way.
Always sleeping…
We got off the bus at Maccas at Moalboal and grabbed a tricycle (Filipinos don’t call them tuk tuks) for 150 pesos ($5) to our guesthouse.
I’d booked this guesthouse at the last minute online and I really didn’t know what it would be like but we LOVE it! So much that we’ve already extended and we are staying eight nights here.
Snorkelling here is awesome…
It’s called Dacozy Resort and its a little guest-house with a pool, a really good restaurant and it’s right on the beach with fab corals and turtles. It’s just so relaxing. We’ve hardly done anything except snorkel and swim – and wander down to the village to snorkel with the sardines schools that Moalboal is famous for. It’s just divine.
Check prices and book if you’re heading to Cebu. You’ll love it.
So is sunset
And that’s our first week! It’s been a cracker!
You can read our Philippines posts here.
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