Cebu Kurassic Life in Cebu, Philippines
Latest Post The fried and skewered series: banana-fritter-style kamote-que, banana turon and pinaipai. All around 25 pesos and easy to find once you know what to look for.
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About two hours by boat from Cebu lies Bohol β home to the whimsical cone-shaped Chocolate Hills and the tarsier, one of the most delicate creatures on earth. A travel diary of breathtaking views and tiny wonders.
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Every Saturday I walk 30 minutes uphill to the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel's weekly farmers market. Fresh vegetables, good coffee, and a reason to get out early.
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Karenderias are Cebu's version of a neighborhood diner β rows of big pots, you lift the lids to see what looks good, and order by the plateful. Cheap, delicious, and completely local.
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Day 2 in Moalboal: snorkeling with a massive school of sardines, getting swept out to sea, and an unexpected up-close encounter with not one but two sea turtles.
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Moalboal is one of Cebu's most famous destinations β known for its massive sardine tornado and sea turtles. A 2-night trip to see what the fuss is about, starting with the iconic Kawasan Falls.
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The last morning on Camiguin: a stop at the market for fresh tuna, a flight home, and some thoughts on what makes small island life feel different from the rest.
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My weekends always start with a morning walk. I wake up around 4am, brew a coffee, and sit on the balcony watching the last stars fade before dawn.
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Three more personal favorites: sapin-sapin (layered coconut rice cake), linugaw (mashed saba banana), and the hard-to-find empanada β the one I buy immediately whenever I spot it.
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Day 3 in Camiguin: a boat to the tiny Mantigue Island for a private beach, sea urchins, and the turtles that didn't show up β then a 'hot spring' that turns out to be a cold river.
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Cebu has massive malls β SM, Ayala, Robinsons β bigger than anything in Japan. One day, glancing up through the atrium of J Mall, I spotted the unmistakable logo: Beard Papa. What followed was four months of patient waiting.
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A coconut falls from the sky. A 70-meter waterfall. A lanzones fruit farm with a cafΓ©. A stormy sea cancels the sandbar trip but delivers something better: a 400-year-old tree in a ruined church.
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Cebu's local language isn't Tagalog β it's Bisaya (Cebuano). A few words go a long way. Here are the basic greetings that will make locals genuinely happy to see you.
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Camiguin is a tiny island between Bohol and Mindanao β seven volcanoes, a sunken cemetery, the freshest tuna, and sunsets so good you'll want to come back the next day.
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Three more Cebu street snacks, all made from glutinous rice: puto maya, bud-bud, and biko. Buy them at dawn, eat them wrapped in banana leaf.
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In Cebu, street food vendors appear at dawn selling traditional sweets made from glutinous rice, coconut, cassava, and banana leaves. Here are my personal favorites β Part 1.
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Before every trip back to Japan, I make one essential stop: the 7D Dried Mango factory outlet. Cheaper than supermarkets, plus exclusive products and sometimes fresh mangoes at incredible prices.
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Torta from Argao is arguably the best baked good in Cebu β made the old-fashioned way, fired in a coconut-shell kiln. A pilgrimage worth making.
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After hiking OsmeΓ±a Peak and Cassino Peak, I checked into a glamping tent at Campgrounds at Mantalongon β just 15 minutes away. Private bathroom, campfire, stargazing, and a breakfast served restaurant-style in the open air.
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After descending OsmeΓ±a Peak, a 15-minute motorbike ride brings you to Cassino Peak β a sharp rocky summit with jaw-dropping 360-degree panoramic views.
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OsmeΓ±a Peak is the highest point on Cebu Island. Rather than a mountain, it's more like the tallest hill in a highland area dotted with jagged peaks β often called 'Cebu's Chocolate Hills.'
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