Hello! My name is Karen Momono, a local staff member.
This article is about the sights I visited during my stay here in the Philippines. Although I visited relatively few places during my 11-month stay, I am very satisfied with the experiences I had and the memories I made during my stay☺ Of course, there are still places I would like to visit, so I will save them for when I return to the Philippines.
Contents
Below are the places I have visited.
- Bohol Island (Panglao Island)
- Boracay (island)
- Oslob
- moalboal
- Siquijor Island
- Pandanon (island)
- Palawan Island (Coron El Nido Puerto Princesa)
- Panay Island (Iloilo City)
Famous places are lined up. This time, from among these, we would like to introduce you to the most popular places for sightseeing in Cebu.Oslob." At the same time, it is a famous diving spot.Moalboal.I would like to write about these two places!
Oslob and Moalboal
These two place names will immediately ring a bell if you have ever researched tourist attractions in Cebu. Especially for "Oslob," you will find a lot of information about it on the Internet☺.
Simply put, Oslob is home to the world's largest fish, the whale shark, theOne of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks in the wild.And Moalboal is a resort area in the Philippines, especiallyPopular area with divers from all over the world.It is.
For more information about Oslob and Moalboal and nearby tourist attractions, please check the article written by another writer on the Ryugaku JP website☺.
Why am I going to write another article about the same place when ・・・・ already has articles about these two? It is because my trip to Oslob-Moalboal was a bit unusual. Well, perhaps "unusual" is a bit of a misnomer, because I couldn't find much information on the Internet about people who had done similar itineraries.
So, I decided to write this article to tell people that there are other ways to play!
Recommended for those who are short on time. Schedule for the good part of the day.
The first thing my friend and I wanted to do, and that's what we did.Swimming with whale sharks, diving in MoalboalThe two main things were The time allowed was about 40 hours. A friend of mine was coming from Manila to visit, and we were to meet up with him around 8:00 pm on Friday night, have a free day on Saturday, and fly back to Manila around 12:00 pm on Sunday.
Friday: Night bus to Oslob: Overnight in Oslob
Saturday: Early morning swim with whale sharks ▷Move to Moalboal
▷Diving in Moalboal: Overnight in Moalboal
Sunday: Departure from Moalboal morning to Cebu City: Airport
Actual process
Night departure to Oslob
We met up in Cebu around 8:00 p.m. and headed for the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. In Cebu, buses are clearly divided into two terminals: the South Bus Terminal is where buses gather for going south, and the North Bus Terminal for going north. 
At the bus terminal, buses bound for various destinations are lined up waiting for passengers to board. There is no set departure time for the buses; they arrive one after another every 30 minutes to an hour, board, and depart when the buses are somewhat full. This process is repeated from 1:00 to 24:00.
(Click here for the South Bus Terminal website)
To get to Oslob, you need to go to "OSLOBJust board a bus marked "BATO" or "BATO" and you are good to go. If you don't understand, ask a Filipino on the staff and they will kindly help you. There are many tourists going to Oslob every day, and the staff is used to it ☺.
We first decided to eat at the bus terminal to fill our stomachs. The bus terminal is lined with light food stalls for those who are going on a long trip or have just arrived.
The rates are also very inexpensive as they are locally priced. Also, there are no stores around the inn in Oslob where we are going. So we bought some bread at the bus terminal for the next morning. We decided to have breakfast ☺.
After purchasing breakfast and getting ready to eat, it is time to board the bus and depart. The journey took about three hours. If you fall asleep, it will go by quickly, but the speed was so fast that I woke up in the middle of the journey. The speed is higher than usual on empty roads at night, so please be prepared for that.
Stay in Oslob
It is best to board the bus and tell the fare collector where you are going when he or she arrives. Especially if you are going at night, it will be pitch black outside and you may not be able to get a good grasp of where you are. If you show them the address of the inn where you are staying, they should be able to drop you off near that location.
If you are looking for a place to stay, I would like to share with you the place where I stayed. If you are looking for a place to stay, I would love to share with you the place where I stayed☺.
this way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)D downhill'Place
This inn is located on a road where buses pass by, so if you give the address to the proper attendant,They will drop you off right in front of the inn.Very convenient.
The owner's wife was very kind and waited for us even when we arrived late at night as we had told her by email☺.
A cute dog welcomes you together.
The rooms are not big but enough for sleeping, comfortable with wifi and air conditioning.
Above all, the best thing about this inn is,It is only a 500m walk to that ocean where whale sharks gather! If you want to swim with whale sharks, you need to be at the point and in the water by 10:00 a.m. at the latest to avoid the possibility of whale sharks disappearing. Therefore, if you do not stay in Oslob and start from Cebu City, you will have to leave Cebu at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning.
Sleeping on a bus is not comfortable. It is sure to make you tired. On the other hand, if you move during the night, you can sleep soundly in your bed until around 6:00 a.m. In the morning, all you have to do is change into your bathing suit and walk 500 meters! You will be able to meet the whale sharks with a refreshed and exhausted body.
The inn also has a small terrace, and when I went outside late at night and looked up at the sky, the stars were shining there! The sky is so beautiful and if you listen carefully, you can hear the sounds of insects and waves. It is a very peaceful time.
Swim with Whale Sharks
As you walk down the hill in front of the inn, you will see the entrance to the ocean on your left.
There are no people at all on the beach around 6:00 am.
It is very empty. This is another good point.There is no waiting time of any kind and no jostling of people.
First, fill in your name and other necessary information here.
You will then receive a light briefing here.
There will also be an explanation of the rules, including what to watch out for when entering the water with whale sharks.
After the reception and explanation, the next step is payment. The fee is exactly 1000 pesos.
After completing these steps, you can board the boat.
Since there are two of us, we are on board with the others.
The morning sun is dazzling.
When we arrived at the area where whale sharks gather, the attendant gave us the signal to "Dive! The attendant gave me a signal to "Dive! I followed his words and dove in, only to be greeted by a large, largeA whale shark!
I am very excited to see it in front of me☺.
While my friends and I were taking pictures of each other, a Filipino man in charge offered to take our pictures. I handed him my camera and he took a lot of pictures while signaling in Japanese, "Se-no! The tour took about 30 minutes or less.
I was able to dive as much as I wanted and share my time in the ocean with whale sharks.
When the swim is over, the swimmers will get out of the water and return to land.
After all the steps have been completed, the time is just before 8:00 a.m.. By this time, the neighborhood is swarming with people. There are a lot of them.
Even though the time is short, it is a must-do activity if you come to Cebu. My friends and I enjoyed it as much as we could.
Move to Moalboal
After swimming with the whale sharks and being satisfied, return to your lodgings.
The good thing about staying here the night before is that you can relax at the inn for a bit after taking a hot shower and getting dressed. Also, this inn has a check-out time of 14:00! This is another good point of this inn★.
We didn't have much time, so we pulled out of the sea right away, but if you have time, you should definitely go to the nearbySumilon (island)We recommend that you go to
The hotel told us that they set the time as late as 2 pm so that we could play with whale sharks, go to Sumilon Island, come back, shower, and check out☺.
After a short rest we checked out around 9:00 and waited for the bus on the road in front of us.
The first destination is "BATO" BATO bus terminal to Moalboal. However, sometimes the buses do not go through at exactly the right time. We wanted to take the bus too because it was cheaper, but we had no time to spare and the sun was too hot anyway, so we decided to ask a tricycle man who talked to us patiently to give us a ride.
Tricycles: 110 pesos from the inn to BATO for two people. Tricycles and motorcycle cabs often pass by on the road in front of the inn, so you should not have much trouble finding transportation unless you are very selective.
After arriving at BATO, we boarded a bus bound for Moalboal. When I told the attendant that I wanted to go to Moalboal, he told me that the bus was leaving just in time for Cebu City and would be going through Moalboal. The bus was not air-conditioned, but I wanted to leave immediately, so I quickly boarded the bus. The fare was 77 pesos.
Inside the bus, the windows were open all the way and the breeze passed through very well, so I had the impression that it was rather cooler and more pleasant than an air-conditioned bus.
But as for this, I think it depends on the road you take. We rode from BATO to MOALBOAL. I think the air was comfortable because the buses often run along the seaside. If the bus goes through the city, it may not be so comfortable because of the exhaust gas.
Diving in Moalboal
Moalboal is dotted with numerous dive stores. Some are run by foreigners, some are local Filipinos, and many have Japanese staff. It is best to choose the one that best suits your needs based on price, dive sites, location, and other factors.
We started looking for a dive store the day before, partly because all our plans were made on short notice. We had two wishes.To see the famous sardine balls (schools) in Moalboal, two dives in the afternoon.
When I contacted them and asked, there were several places that did not meet the requirements, such as "we will not go to the sardine point that day" and "only one dive in the afternoon".
We contacted several dive stores and chose one that responded quickly and met our needs.This time, we decided to go to Emerald Green Diving Center, a Japanese-owned dive center.
___ ___ ___
On the day of the eventMeet at the store at 13:00So we arrived at Moalboal around 11:30. We checked in at the inn first, had lunch, and then headed to the store.
Many celebrities seem to have visited!
___ ___ ___
We board the boat with several groups that have been diving since the morning.
At the first point, we encountered everyone's favorite sea turtle☺.
I found myself looking left, right and up a lot ^^.
And the next point.
It is also our purpose of this project.A school of sardines.
Just as the dive master was about to signal "sardines coming soon" in the water, a large shadow suddenly appeared!
It is so powerful that for a moment it is hard to tell what this is.
If you notice, it's not just in front,Schools of sardines surrounding us front and back, left and right. The feeling of being surrounded by sardines in a 360 degree angle is indescribably exciting, and it is the first time to see them up close.The large schools of sardines are truly a sight to behold.
You can actually see this school of sardines even if you do not have a diving license. You can also enjoy snorkeling.
If you are a good swimmer, you can dive down and come face to face with a school of sardines like this☺.
However, I recommend diving because it is a more powerful experience, as you are surrounded by 360 degrees of water for a longer period of time!
Needless to say, I smiled a lot in the sea, uttering inaudible voices.
Stay at Moalboal
Here is where we stayed in Moalboal.
I chose it because it was featured on the website of the dive store we used and it was convenient because it included breakfast and was close to the store. 825 pesos per night.
It is a 1 minute walk to the stores. Our room was just on the ocean side and we could see the ocean through the trees.
There are several restaurants and massage parlors on the street in front of the inn.
It is not a very prosperous area, but you will have no trouble finding food and drink. Enjoy diving, massage your body after a day of fun, watch the sunset from the sea, and enjoy good food and drinks. Isn't this enough to satisfy you ☺.
Return to Cebu
After breakfast at the inn, we will head to the bus station.
This is the bus stop. The markers are small, so be careful not to miss it. Wait here for the bus to Cebu. If there are many people on the bus, you may not be able to sit down, so it is recommended that you get on the bus as soon as possible after it arrives! The bus left Moalboal a little after 8:30 a.m. and arrived at the South Bus Terminal in Cebu around 11:30 a.m. The trip took about 3 hours. The trip takes about 3 hours.
Why it's a good choice for people with time to spare.
The above itinerary is not only recommended for those who have little time to spare. Of course, we recommend it to all visitors to Cebu!
It is becoming a standard practice for Oslob travelers to leave Cebu City early in the morning,I would definitely recommend everyone to stay the night before!☺
Spending a quiet night in Oslob, a little away from the hustle and bustle of Cebu, and gazing at the stars is also a wonderful time. Depending on the time of day, Oslob is popular and crowded, but early in the morning, there are fewer people and you can enjoy it at your leisure. If you have time, you can go to Sumilon Island, which is famous for its beautiful sea, and then take a shower and rest at an inn. You can also visit Kawasan Falls and Osmenia Peak, which are popular tourist destinations in Cebu, since there will be no need to rush anything after this ☺.
summary
There are many popular tourist destinations in Cebu. However, each place is surprisingly far away! But each place is surprisingly far away from the others!
If you are traveling to Cebu for a visit,How can we visit more places in less time?This is a point that will be important. Also, for international students and long-term residents, what to do with their precious weekend time is also an important point here.
"TIME IS MONEY".
Time is money.
As they also say,
Why don't you all make your own best schedule so that you can spend your limited precious time efficiently and fully ☺.
See you★★★
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