Sunday, November 22, 2015

Mactan Island Hopping

My husband loves Mactan Island Hopping! So every time we're in Cebu, we always try to spare a day to do this enjoyable escapade.

A whole day trip filled with amusement, Mactan Island Hopping is definitely for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

There are many places in Mactan where you could hire a local boat to visit different small islands and sanctuaries. If you're staying at a resort in Mactan, perhaps they could even arrange it for you. But the most popular place to rent the local boats is the port beside Mövenpick Hotel. The rates vary depending on the size of the boat and if food is included but the price normally starts from 50USD.

During our recent Cebu trip, we went out island hoping twice! First, we hired a small boat with 4 crew, went around different islands and sanctuaries outside Mactan. The second trip was with the resort, Plantation Bay, visiting only a sanctuary.


The local boat for Island Hopping.

Natural Pearls!

The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary.

Our crew cooking our lunch. ;)

The crew busy preparing our wonderful meal. It was fresh and really tasty!

The first island we visited! Though we never really stayed long at this island but it was so peaceful here.

Uninhabited island! What a paradise! :)


Plantation Bay

On our way to the sanctuary.

Huge Coral Castle.

The staff brought lots of bread for us to feed the fish in the sanctuary.

School of fish.

These two were very curious!

Relaxing!

What at lovely marine sanctuary!

The Sanctuary!

The Sanctuary!

The Sanctuary!

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Hop On Hop Off London

When we visited London, we didn't have enough time to see all of the city's gorgeous attractions. So the easiest way to for us to see London without the hustle and bustle is The Hop on Hop Off Bus. For only £30 (per person), you will get to see the city's biggest attractions like The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, British Museum, Palace of Westminster, St. Paul's Cathedral and a lot more plus a free River Thames Cruise. The Bus tour also provides earphones for tourists to listen to the history and story behind every attraction and sites.



First Stop: The Tower Bridge and Tower of London

View of Tower Bridge and The Tower of London.

The Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home of the Crown Jewels of England.

Built in 1886, The Tower Bridge has become an iconic symbol of London.

View of River Thames from The Tower Bridge.

Second Stop: St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral is the second largest church in United Kingdom. It is an Anglican Cathedral, where Prince Charles and Princes Diana got married. The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral is among the highest in the world.

Third Stop: The Shard

The tallest building in London and the fourth tallest building in Europe- The Shard or Shard of Glass is a 95-story skyscraper. 

Fourth Stop: The London Eye


Also known as the Millennium Wheel, the London Eyes is a giant Ferris wheel with a structure of 135 meters tall and has a diameter of 120 meters. It is currently Europe's tallest Ferris wheel.

Fifth Stop: Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, St. James Park, Buckingham Palace

Big Ben, the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, holds the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world.

Westminster Abbey is one of the most notable religious buildings in the United Kingdom and has been the traditional place of coronation and burial site for British monarchs.

The lovely St. James Park.

Home of Queen Elizabeth II, located in the city of Westminster, Buckingham palace is the London residence and principal workplace of the reigning monarch of United Kingdom.

The Changing of Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Seventh Stop: Harrods

Located in Knightsbridge, Harrods is a famous upscale department store in London.

Eighth Stop: Kensington and Notting Hill

The Churchill Arms is definitely a must-visit pub in London. Built in 1750, it is one of the oldest pubs in England.

Ninth Stop: The National Gallery

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the city of Westminster. It is one of the most visited art museums in the world.

So these were the attractions we hopped off! :)