White Water Rafting in Cagayan De Oro City

Right after we attended a wedding in Bukidnon, we took a 3-hour bus ride to Cagayan de Oro City. The city is famous for its white water rafting. Well, it was not really white that day because it rained the night before. They said it was a good thing because water level was high so there was low probability of our raft turning upside down.

Low probability. How low is that? 10%? 20? 22.4? C'mmon! I am such a sucker for certainty. I don't want to be confronted by unexpected circumstances. So tell me right now what to expect. *Sigh. But of course, life offers so many uncertainties which sometimes go with beautiful opportunities. And even if I feel helpless, I choose to jump into the experience.

My friends are the bravest human beings I know, while I'm the most coward. These people like life-threatening activities - the exact opposites of my kind of adventure. I only want to watch the sunrise and the sunset, walk the city streets, and see the landmarks named in my grade school history book. But I thought, I  already traveled 11 hours from General Santos to Cagayan de Oro, so I might as well give it a try.

We took the beginner's course of 14 rapids for approximately 3 hours. I never thought I'd try the river rafting. I did not know where I found the courage to paddle forward and back, to scream when the rapids are extra tough, to hold on to the ropes and right after, laugh. "High five!", was our scream when we passed a rapid. There were only 14 rapids but I think we had 50 high five's. Kudos to our very humorous guide, Kuya Dodo (or Jojo) and his buddy. The still waters almost bored us but Kuya Dodo acted like Vice Ganda and washed away all the boredom. 

Believe it or not I want to do it again or even better, try the advance course! Haha! (Yabang ah.)

Thank you friends for giving me little pushes (ok, big) to convince me to do this. I would have missed 1/3 of my life. :) Thank you for all the many knee-trembling, heart-pumping exciting moments we've had.

I am not your typical adventurous girl but I would like to believe I'm turning into one. :) Well, at least about 30.2%! :)

P.S. Great White Water Tours gave us above satisfactory service so I would like to share their FB page here.


Rates for beginner's course: White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro City

• P700 - 14 Rapids, rafting only, short course, no meal, 5 pax min (or P700 extra for every emtpy slot), transfers, guides, gears
• P900 - 14 Rapids w/ Meal and Snack, rafting only, short course, 5 pax min (or P700 extra for every emtpy slot), transfers, guides, gears

Easy Recipe: Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
   1    teaspoon baking powder
   1    teaspoon baking soda
   1/2 teaspoon salt
   3    large bananas, mashed  (or 7-9 medium bananas)
   3/4 cup white sugar
   1    egg
   1/3 cup butter, melted


Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt). Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl with the butter, stir in sugar gradually until fully incorporated.
3. Stir in egg.
4. Stir in bananas.
5. Fold in flour mixture and mix until smooth. Do not over mix.
6. Spoon the batter into muffin liners (or sheets) in a muffin tray.
7. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

This mixture makes 18 muffins.

Very easy banana muffin recipe. :)

Easy Recipe Series

I am starting a new series on this blog! :) I love to bake! I love it so much that I can do it all day long forgetting about the time. Well, because it really takes time. There are days, however, when I just want to bake something quick. Thus, I want to have (and share) a collection of quick and easy recipes! :) 

This will not be just about baking (I hope). Rest assured that the recipes that I will be sharing are tried and tested. Meaning, these have passed through discriminating taste buds. :) Thus, worth sharing with your own family and friends.

P.S. Please see my  Creamy Carbonara recipe shared few years back. :)

Yummy Gensan: Chicken Mushroom Pasta at Cafe France

This is my kind of resto. Comfort food at its finest!!! *I'm screaming on top of my lungs. Hehe. I love everything about Cafe France - the yellow walls, the amazing wall accents, the colorful and interesting furnitures, the oh-so-pretty tablewares, the lovely crew, and of course, the yummy and delicious dishes!

They have almost  the same menu as other restaurants like them but I don't know what they do that they taste so interestingly different! I am particularly impressed by their chicken mushroom pasta. I think they use linguettine pasta on this one because its width is a little smaller than fettucini but a little bigger than spaghetti. :) Having a different pasta on a usual dish is already a plus! And the taste! Boy, was it the best chicken pasta I'd tasted my whole life! I don't kid! The creaminess and the blending of the spices are just right! 

Chicken Mushroom Pasta at Cafe France, SM Gensan

Good food, good health, good future --- Cafe France, Gensan

Pumpkin Soup

Potato Salad

Fresh Orange Juice and the amazing interior of Cafe France Gensan

This was a few months back. I was joined by a very dear friend since high school, Bibay. She now lives and works in Laguna so her short visits to Gensan every once in a while are all we have to catch up. It was nice seeing you again, Bay! :)

Location: Cafe France at the ground floor of SM Gensan

Wedding in Bukidnon

Rommel and Shiella's wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings I've attended. It was very evident in numerous songs and dances that music was a significant part of their lives. The bride even sang as she walked down the aisle! How touching could that be! :)

We traveled all the way to Bukidnon to celebrate with their love and relationship. That was 8 hours of bus ride! But I loved bus rides as long as Bonamine was on my side. :)

Monastery of Transfiguration, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

 
 

 Congratulations Mr and Mrs Jagus! May God bless your marriage! :)

3 Cities in 4 Days

Attended a wedding in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Went rafting in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

Visited Ma. Cristina Falls in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

Summer is super love!!! :)

A Big Leap To Panglao

I've always had somebody to plan a trip for me and I've always traveled in big groups. So taking this Panglao trip is my bravest leap! It may not be a big deal to others but it sure is a great deal to the shy and coward me. :) Though it is not completely going out of my comfort zone because I've been to Bohol twice in the past making the place kinda familiar but still. It is, however, my first time in Panglao.

I planned the trip months before and did lots of research. :) I was half nervous and half excited or... one third nervous and two-thirds excited for a better approximation. Hihi. Taking new routes, figuring out directions, reading the map, asking and talking to locals, seeing the same things with different eyes were few of tons of things which I was thrilled about. Actually it was not just thrill. It was an ecstasy... a peaceful ecstasy.

How to get to Tagbilaran City, Bohol from Cebu City: Tubigon Route

• Cebu City Pier 3 to Tubigon, Bohol 3pm (1 hour for Php280, Starcraft. Terminal Fee: Php10. Ticket was purchased in Pier 1) Note: There are other fast crafts traveling directly to Tagbilaran City (Ocean Jet: 2 hours, Php520 including terminal fee; and 2Go. Bookings can be done online. I just opted to take the Tubigon route for a change and lesser expense.
• Tubigon Port  to Bus Terminal (Tricycle: Php8, 10 mins). 
• Tubigon Bus Terminal to Tagbilaran City (Bus: Php70, 1 hour)

I stayed in Tagbilaran for a night. I forgot the name of where I stayed. I was supposed to stay in Nissa Travelers Inn but it was fully booked. Luckily, there was another inn across the street. The next day, I took a little tour around the city.

Province of Bohol Capitol Building and the church across it

Then a country side tour (for the third time).

The Blood Compact

Tarsier Conservation Area (Entrance Fee Php60)

The Amazing Chocolate Hills (Entrance Fee Php50)

Loboc River Watch (Php450 with eat-all-you-can lunch)

I heart Loboc. Food, music, river cruise, What is not to love? It was the most fun part of my day.

I hired a tricycle for this half day trip for Php1000. It was the most unwise decision I made because I was offered a car for the whole day and the price was even discounted to Php1700 from Php2000. Had I figured out earlier that a tricycle could be so slow, then I would have accepted the car offer. The only reason I settled on the tricycle was because the price was just right within the budget. Oh well, I forgot to use my common sense. Haha! Budget matters could blind my rational thoughts.

• Loboc River Watch to Jeepney terminal - walking distance
• Loboc to Tagbilaran City (Jeepney: Php25, 30 mins). 
• Tagbilaran City to Alona Beach Panglao (Jeepney: Php30, 20 mins). 

The highlight of this weekend trip started. The main event included sleeping, eating, beach bumming then sleeping and eating again. Haha! I loved that kind vacation - just chilling out.

It was my first time in Panglao so I chose a very comfortable resort. I bumped into Isis Bungalows while searching the web and oh boy, was I blown away! It was the closest thing to my Santorini dream. The white bungalows drove me crazy. I booked their cheapest room for Php2000. I knew it was a splurge for a budget traveler me but I convinced myself it was worth it. It was right in front of the beach. The landscape was beautiful. The place was peaceful. The staff were very friendly. And please believe me. Their "houses" looked way too better in person.

Alona Beach was at its best during high tides. I exclaimed, "Amazing!" a thousand times. I stared at the blue and green canvass and I was in deep gratitude. Thank You, Father for this amazingly beautiful blessing. It was the perfect way to culminate my birth month.

Life's a beach!

Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol

 

I found an accessories haven on my way out of Alona Beach. Love! :)

Torn between waving a "Hi" and finding balance. Hehe

• Alona Beach to Panglao Jeepney terminal (Habal habal: Php20, 10 mins)
• Panglao Island to Tagbilaran City (Jeepney: Php30, 20 mins)
• Tagbilaran City proper to Port (Tricycle: Php50, 15mins)
• Tagbilaran City to Cebu Pier 1 (Ocean Jet: Php520 terminal fee included, 2hours)

“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.”

 -- Lillian Smith

You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  

--Wayne Gretzky