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What’s up travelmaniacs and Steemitians! I am back once again for today’s travel story. In my previous blog post, I have shared to you our Manila trip with my mom and sis. This time, I’m going to share one of the unforgettable road trips I’ve ever had with my dear sister and friends in the southern Cebu.
<img alt="Now that’s a long way down!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T091421870Z-12643003_10205943713771208_8352945083816712248_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
It was February 2016, and my sister and her friends are planning to have a Love Month getaway in the Southern Cebu. She invited me to join their road trip adventure. Since I love adventure and their schedule falls on a weekend, I accepted her invitation.
It was Friday night, and my sis and I are packing up our stuff and prepare for a long road trip with her friends. We ate dinner first before getting picked up by her friends. Luckily, we have a private car and it’s a Montero Sport. We slept in her friend’s house for a few hours and set our alarm around 2 A.M.
Before heading off on a long road trip, we stopped over to a 7/11 store to buy some finger foods and snacks. From Bacolod City, we head off to the Bais City port and we arrived approximately 4 hours tops. We ride on a barge along with the Montero Sport heading to the Southern part of Cebu. From Bais City to Oslob, it took us at least an hour to get there.
<img alt="Riding the barge to Oslob" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T193447184Z-12657239_10201206938172784_6437347148592009267_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Seeing the sun shining while riding the barge" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T165843980Z-12631344_10205940859459852_2841240658140375729_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
After docking off in the Oslob port, we had a stopover somewhere with amazing view. I just forgot what exact place of Oslob this is, but I feel amazed on what I've been seeing here.
<img alt="Our Cebu road trip begins!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T193521844Z-12657387_10201206936532743_5346687067686621485_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Shoreline stopover for eating breakfast" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T170058220Z-12651021_10205940859219846_6572045276555527633_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
Since we bring along our food in the Montero Sport, we just eat it outside and seeing the amazing view from here. After that, we proceed to our first stop, the Cuartel.
<img alt="Behold the Cuartel" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T170338734Z-12642746_10205940855979765_7298164591474727199_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Lookin’ around this historical structure in Oslob" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T171321267Z-12654118_10205940856819786_2347938546717455466_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Say cheese!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T171407519Z-12669582_10205940860939889_8626851702131046239_n.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Enjoyin’ my time with sis!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T192906506Z-12695067_10201206935532718_2326451408661452319_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
Not only we check out the historical Cuartel structure, but they also have a church nearby.
<img alt="Catholic church near the Cuartel" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T192729426Z-12642433_10205940861979915_2174865677453508691_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Last Cuartel pose with the gang" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T193728489Z-12698306_10201206941692872_304629393752510552_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
After our Cuartel exploration, it's time for us to go to Simala Shrine in Sibonga. It's said to be one of the miraculous churches in the Philippines, and the area's so big! From Cuartel to Simala Shrine, the duration would be approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes via commute (much faster with private car).
<img alt="Behold the beautiful Simala Shrine" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194108471Z-12643020_10205941612398675_2864670358779006357_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Goin’ up!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194132403Z-12650891_10205941613678707_2925731122417017509_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="The ”Welcome Mama Mary” sign" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194454739Z-12650911_10205941614558729_8199590856911495351_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Fantastic view from above!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194539301Z-12651089_10205941614878737_9196508110956538446_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Spectacular nature view from the other side!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194606655Z-12642713_10205941613958714_4625237448851629750_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Let’s have a pose before going inside the Simala Shrine" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194401873Z-12716231_10201206937172759_5391332983301615458_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
They say that there are lots of people who come here praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary are healed and having their prayers granted. If they did experience that, so can we!
<img alt="People lighting the candles inside the Simala Shrine" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194809717Z-12642624_10205941614958739_7538374167541954768_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Walking inside the Simala Shrine" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194839088Z-12417645_10205941615318748_7911092863320707819_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Granted prayers of these people who successfully graduated and passed the board exams" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194906140Z-12642707_10205941615878762_4754444995015422218_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Granted prayers of disabled people. They donated their wheelchairs to the shrine because they can finally walk." src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T194935219Z-12654100_10205941616158769_3961430213611749580_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
I was so amazed to see these people having their prayers granted. Each of us are given a piece of paper and ballpen to write down our wishes to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Of course, my main wish is for me and the entire family to be healthy, to be blessed with career opportunities and so on.
After listing down on a piece of paper, we prayed and drop the letter on the designated box. Before leaving the Simala Shrine, we managed to purchase some rosaries made with birthstones. After that, we head off to Carcar to eat some lunch.
<img alt="Eating our lunch at Jollibee Carcar" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T195527047Z-12662704_10201212644115429_3809965959742268981_n.jpg" width="512" height="384" />
After eating our lunch, we buy some original chicharon from a local store. Carcar is the home of the original chicharon, and it's freaking delicious with or without sinamak (spiced vinegar). Unfortunately, we didn't have any pictures of the original chicharon in Carcar.
The next destination we have is one of the toughest I've ever experienced. The Osmena Peak in Badian. It is said to be the highest peak in the Cebu Island. The estimated travel time between Carcar to Osmena Peak in Badian is approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes (faster if private car). For us to get there, we need to ride on a habal-habal motorcycle. So we left the car at the checkpoint to begin our habal-habal riding to the Osmena Peak.
<img alt="Now that was fun!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T200139710Z-886839_10201206904051931_8982736563871885220_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
We hired a couple of habal-habals. In the first motorcycle, it fits me, my sis and Sheila Mae. As for the other motorcycle, JB and Denise are there. As we go together, there are many bumpy roads and curves before reaching the Osmena Peak. The entrance fee to hike the Osmena Peak is P30 or $0.60. It's optional if we need a guide, which is P150 or $3.00.
<img alt="In the hiker’s registration area" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T200700434Z-12646959_10205943714291221_8190049960759131475_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
We make sure that we bring more water in our bag to stay hydrated, because it's going to be a long way up. Since it's the highest mountain in all of Cebu, I expect that it's gonna be my toughest hiking experience ever.
<img alt="And off we hike!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T201050902Z-12642655_10205943713971213_8893387112262165302_n.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Keep smilin’ while our exhausting journey begins!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T201241843Z-12698164_10201206946332988_3835059621080625442_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Looks like Chocolate Hills! Almost!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T201109783Z-12645248_10205943714891236_1352656956567431956_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
And finally, we managed to go to the top of the Osmena Peak! Hurray! Even if it's really exhausting, it's definitely worth the experience! The view from the mountain peak is absolutely stunning and breathtaking!
<img alt="That view from the highest point in the entire Cebu island!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T202029223Z-12710880_10201206952373139_1022926547311177016_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Me and my sis from the top!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T202103940Z-12654685_10201212650995601_499516461686502922_n.jpg" width="852" height="640" />
<img alt="Say cheese from the top!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T203004774Z-12698584_10201206948973054_7306235634283096709_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
After we eat some snacks from the mountain peak, we head back down (which is easier than going up) and going back to the check point by riding the habal-habal motorcycle where our car was parked. But before that, we managed to stop in an area that is so attractive and stunning as well.
We asked the habal-habal riders if we can stopover for just once and take some pictures. I just don't know the exact location of this, but it's between the check point in Badian and the Osmena Peak.
<img alt="Man I’m lovin’ this!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T204102989Z-12687878_10205943716091266_2751747630044424643_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Would you look at that mountain view!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T204140756Z-12669414_10205943717371298_5375555962058945488_n.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Ain’t darin’ to come down man!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T204211804Z-12644891_10205943717611304_8114139741382383429_n.jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="The gang is super happy and excited!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T204241692Z-12710727_10201206955413215_6779973372125565580_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
After our brief stopover in this area, we ride back to our habal-habal motorcycles to the check point. This is indeed a fun and unforgettable experience for us. As we head back to our service car, we go back to Oslob for us to check-in to our assigned guesthouse.
I just forgot the name of the guesthouse though, but it's just near the beach. The setup was like one room with two double deck beds. We were exhausted that time, so we took some rest and eat dinner together. For our second day, we proceed to encounter the whale sharks! We woke up around 5 A.M., just to be one of the first batches to ride on a motor bangka to see the whale sharks.
<img alt="All set for our whale shark experience!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T205121753Z-11257222_10201206905651971_5360650101862334981_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
Good thing that we brought ourselves a Go Pro camera, so that we could capture while in underwater. The price for whale shark watching while in the motor bangka is P300 or $6.00 per person for 30 minutes. If you want to dive, there will be additional P200 or $4.00 for that. It already includes for the motor bangka rider to capture our moments underwater with our Go Pro camera.
<img alt="Oh look! A whale shark from behind!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T205409090Z-12698187_10201206907892027_5375549238997460599_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Splashing together!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T205436012Z-12710742_10201206909612070_5402105575070400606_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
**IMPORTANT TIP FOR TOURISTS:** *Never use sunblock when you dive with the whale sharks. It has chemicals and it's hazardous for the health of the whale sharks. On top of that, there is a distance limit between you and the whale sharks, because they are very sensitive when touched. *
Even for just 30 minutes, it's absolutely worth the experience! This is something that I would never forget, and I would love doing this again when I come back sometime!
However, our adventure's not done yet. Our last stop would be at the Tumalog Falls. Luckily, there's a foreigner with a Filipina wife who offered us his service in going to Tumalog. We choose not to use our Montero Sport though because the road is too crazy, so we rather use the foreigner's service car. He drived us to the entrance of the Tumalog Falls. The entrance to the Tumalog Falls per person is only P20 or $0.40. You can choose to go down by yourself or hire a habal-habal.
<img alt="It’s a long way down the road!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T211208198Z-12651149_10205948115161240_7483406363140479723_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Coolin’ myself off!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T211239235Z-12697168_10201206920412340_4937487528545141033_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="We love everything around here!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T211350908Z-12695078_10201206925412465_1774740632667259895_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Groupie picture in the Tumalog Falls" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T211439840Z-12694563_10201206918572294_7173106430752238065_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
At first, I thought that the Tumalog Falls is so deep. However,I stand corrected. It's just only 3 feet above water, so we're all cool! After spending some time in the falls, it's time for us to go back up where the foreigner awaits us.
<img alt="Even if we’re exhausted going uphill, we’re still smilin’" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T211801621Z-12698494_10201206929132558_3447652673026735755_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Looks like we’re hungry while reaching back to the entrance area" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T211856904Z-12710814_10201206932372639_2230481424281408960_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
As we finished our Tumalog Falls exploration, we have one last unplanned place to explore. It's just within Oslob, but I forgot the name of the exact place, but it's absolutely breathtaking!
<img alt="Spectacular view of the shoreline!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T212528883Z-12657227_10201206955933228_2777969409760009415_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
<img alt="Look how beautiful it is! I wanna go down there!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T212606136Z-12592651_10205948105561000_181502055794432359_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
The thing is, we all decided to go down to this private beach and took more photos of ourselves!
<img alt="Time to hit the beach!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T212710939Z-10306312_10205948120121364_4187375565648858507_n%20(1).jpg" width="960" height="716" />
<img alt="Lovin’ the waves!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T212735634Z-12670559_10201212606994501_8477605441048943228_n.jpg" width="720" height="960" />
<img alt="One last group picture before heading home!" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/travelfury%2F20200221T212802685Z-12715828_10201206962333388_4954685054422678969_o.jpg" width="960" height="720" />
So far, my Southern Cebu getaway with my sis and friends is truly one of a kind! To all the tourists who have read this travel story, I hope this would encourage you to check out Oslob whale watching, Osmena Peak, The Cuartel, Simala Shrine, Tumalog Falls and other interesting tourist destinations.
Thank you so much for taking your time in reading my travel story for today! I had to admit that this is the longest travel story I've written so far. However, I'm very happy to share this to the entire Travelfeed and Steemit community!
<h2>Did you like my road trip adventure with sis and friends? I would be grateful if you could leave an upvote! Stay tuned for my next travel story!</h2>
**Check out my other travel stories here!**
[My Manila getaway with mom and sis](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/my-manila-getaway-with-mom-and-sis)
[Unplanned visit to the Eltoro Zoo De La Castellana, Inc.](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/unplanned-visit-to-the-eltoro-zoo-de-la-castellana-inc)
[Fambam getaway: Isla De Gigantes](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/fambam-getaway-isla-de-gigantes)
[Fambam getaway: Campuestohan Highland Resort](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/fambam-getaway-campuestohan-highland-resort)
[My first overseas trip with the fambam: Singapore](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/my-first-overseas-trip-with-the-fambam-singapore)
[My first overseas trip with the fambam: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/my-first-overseas-trip-with-the-fambam-kuala-lumpur-malaysia)
[Blissful days in Palawan](https://travelfeed.io/@travelfury/blissful-days-in-palawan)
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[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 9.55 lat 123.4 long d3scr)