Saturday, March 28, 2009

Scud's Travels: Bantayan Island, Cebu

5 is the number of years I spent in Cebu as a college student.

1 is the number of times I went to a Cebu beach in a span of 5 years. Heck, I could not even remember what beach we went to.

2 is the number of times I went back after college graduation. The first time was a stopover from Boracay in 2006. The second time was with my family to do some Christmas shopping in 2007.

7 is the number of years I let pass before deciding to go "beaching" in Cebu.

5 is the number of hours we travelled to get to Sta. Fe, Bantayan - 1 hour by plane, 3 hours by bus, 1 hour by ferry. That number excludes the transfer and waiting time.

7.5 is the total number of hours we travelled from the time the plane left Manila to the time we set foot in Sta. Fe, Bantayan.

***

Sta. Fe is the town in Bantayan where beaches with clear aqua blue waters and white sand are found. The beaches of Sta. Fe may rival that of Boracay but the similarity ends there.

Boracay boasts of all-night parties, high-class hotels and restaurants, and other beach activities like parasailing, banana boat riding, etc. Sta. Fe has none of these.

Life there is laid-back. Quaint. Quiet. Simple. Peaceful. I liked it. The place is
the best place to relax and hit the beach shirtless without getting conscious of your non-existent chest, sagging shoulders, protruding belly, and chicken legs.

We stayed at Kota Beach Resort which probably has the best shoreline in the island and the best view to witness the sunrise. It also has a sandbar and a surprisingly warm "lagoon" that is only chest-high at its deepest during high tide. I could have stayed there for hours.

I had fun. And I want to go back. And do these things all over again.

1. Walking to the sandbar late at night then lying in the sand on my back staring at the moonless but star-filled sky while the sound of the surf almost lulled me to sleep.
2. Jumping at night on an almost dried-up portion of the beach. The sand that we landed on would light up for a second or two. This is caused by an algae similar to that scene where diCaprio and the French girl swam in the beach at night in Danny Boyle's The Beach.
3. Going to Bantayan (the island's capital) to buy danggit, visit the 400-year-old church, and stroll in the town plaza.
4. Eating at Blue Ice Bear and Hard Kock Cafe. Weird names but these two restaurants serve the best food.
5. Relaxing at the beach while amusingly observing a group of local tourists play hide-and-seek in near darkness.
6. Relaxing on our cottage's veranda.
7. Snorkling in Virgin Island.
8. Walking the Sta. Fe shoreline passing through 3 other resorts - Budyong Beach, Yooneek Beach, and Sugar Beach.
8. Enjoying the sunset and sunrise at the beach.
9. Taking photos similar to those I uploaded below and in my previous post.

***

Kota Beach Resort


Kota Beach Resort - Lagoon, Sandbar, and Shoreline


Kota Beach Resort - Lagoon, Sandbar, and Shoreline


Kota Beach Resort - Taken from the banca on the way to Virgin Island


Virgin Island


Virgin Island - Snorkling Area


Virgin Island - Snorkling Area


Virgin Island - Snorkling Area


Bantayan Sunset


Bantayan Sunset


Kota Beach Resort - Cottage


Kota Beach Resort - View from the cottage

12 comments:

The Gasoline Dude said...

Nakapunta na din ako ng Bantayan Island dati, kaso 'di ko masyadong na-appreciate kasi hindi ko gusto mga kasama ko. Work-related kasi 'yun, at na-badtrip ako nun sa Boss ko. Hehe pero gusto ko bumalik.

gillboard said...

magandang lugar yang nabisita mo... summer na summer na nga... naiinggit ako, kelangan ko may manlibre sakin sa beach!!!

len said...

I envy you, you always get to see beautiful places in the country.

The Scud said...

gas dude > balik ka dun. isama mo si gf. ayos dun. wala masyado tao. hehe.

gillboard > hala! naghanap pa talaga ng manlinbre. :-D

len > masaya kasi mag-travel. kahit nabubutas parati bulsa ko. :-D

escape said...

astig ng numbers ah. hehehe... cebu cebu!

ganda ng mga sunset shots. kakatuwa ang sandbar dyan sa kota.

Raft3r said...

i've been to cebu
pero di ko pa sya na-e-explore ng maigi
puro malls lang yata nakita ko non, eh
hehe

The Scud said...

dong > thanks. i want to go back. sinulog!

raft3r > haha. madaming malls sa manila. beaches in mactan and faraway towns ka dapat punta. :-D

Ely said...

ei, recommended mo ba place na to? We'll be in Cebu next month and we're still looking for the best (yet affordable) places to visit. Baka may ibang suggestions ka? 2-3 days lang ata kasi kami dun.

The Scud said...

ely, ayos sa bantayan pero kulang kung 2 days lang kayo. if 3 days naman di na kayo makakagala sa cebu city. ito suggestion ko:

kawasan falls - di pa ako nakakapunta pero maganda daw. i-google mo na lang.

beaches sa mactan pero mahal ata dun. kung trip nyo i can ask my friends. email mo na lang ako.

taoist temple, edge coaster, magellan's cross, tops.

email me if you need help. :-D

Ely said...

ei, thanks! I've asked my friend, also the tour guide, and kasama pala ang Bantayan sa mga pupuntahan namin. Ibang name lang nung resort, bat same island. Mukhang kulang nga ung 2 days, limited kasi time namin, or else ndi kami papayagan mag-leave. :P

The Scud said...

ely, kelangan madaling araw alis na kayo from cebu city para before lunch andun na kayo. enjoy!

cagayan de oro resorts said...

Great pictures. you really described bantayan very well. i also like your post. keep it up, more power. keep on posting nice beaches ^_^. proud to be pinoy.