The Waterfalls of Cebu Island

There used to be a time when I didn't bother with invitations from enthusiastic friends to go see the waterfalls out in the countryside areas.

I always thought that we had only one place with those cascading bodies of water - Kawasan falls, and that was hours away at that time, when the roads were yet to be built.

And I also thought that Cebu was an arid island.

Not anymore.

Thank you to the Cebu Provincial Information Office for these stunning images.

A month's time is not enough to explore all of these amazing places here that refresh the eyes and soothe the soul.

Entry level: Mactan Island

The most logical place to start.

Mactan International Airport. Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information Office

After all, this is where you land before going to Cebu - unless you travel by sea.

Mactan International Airport. Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information Office

Mactan Island is not the remote island that we used to know in the 1960's.  Back then, we had no bridge and we had to cross the channel by ferry to get to the beaches.  This was when you would see a fin surface from under the waters - and getting a stern admonition not to swim, or else!

Beach resort view. Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information Office

Mactan Island has morphed into a resort island, with three industrial zones, an international airport and is dotted with over a dozen world class beach resorts - complete with scuba diving facilities and aqua sports leisure rentals.

Cebu Yacht Club. Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information Office

Really, there's a lot that you can do on this island. Half of the foreign direct investments in Cebu were located here once upon a time and there's a golf course right on the Air Force base that's just beside the airport.

You could fly in and fly out of Cebu without having to step on Cebu soil, but then, you'd be missing out on more by doing so.

Diving off the shores of Mactan island is vastly different from what it used to be around thirty years ago. Much has transpired and the marine life is sparse in comparison to the rich marine life that you'd see elsewhere on Cebu island destinations. Nonetheless, it's the best place to start when learning how to go scuba diving and getting your feet wet in these parts - along with the rest of your body.

Photo courtesy of Rudy Balbuena

Veteran dive instructors and old timers that know the island would know where to go for more scenic underwater tours.  But then again, there's the rest of Cebu island to explore - so just get the hang of it and go.

Photo courtesy of Rudy Balbuena

The good thing about Mactan island diving or snorkeling, is that you're just a ride away from great restaurants and bars from your resort and you're also at least thirty minutes away from the airport - just in case you need to fly out right away.

Photo courtesy of Rudy Balbuena

Mactan is still loads of fun. Two nights there is great. But you have to explore the rest of the island of Cebu for a really spectacular time.

A feast at Radisson Blu's Feria

Let me begin by saying that, as a rule, I don't really enjoy hotel food.

There are, however, a few exceptions.

And this is one of the rare few that my family and I enjoy when we are given the chance.

One of the newest hotels in Cebu is the Radisson Blu. I've worked here for several events as well as visited quite a few guests that came to visit us here in Cebu City and we've always enjoyed coming to this restaurant.

Feria offers an amazing spread of food in a buffet package, and surprisingly, it's good enough to make you want to come back - instead of just tolerate the offerings simply because the people paid a whopping sum to feed you at their hotel and you just have to be polite.

Each time we came back with a different set of friends, we were treated to a new set of offerings that made us look forward to another invitation that we'd be very prudent to undertake on our own, knowing fully well that one meal there would be the equivalent of two to three elsewhere.

But Feria just doesn't disappoint. Well, to be true - there are some items that could be better, but they're not a specialty restaurant. They're an in house hotel outlet, and they just happen to do their jobs better than most.

Their staff is attentive, very helpful and not overly solicitious, and that's not par for this course in most hotels. Radisson either trains them well or pirates them for a hefty sum. They know what service is all about.

I enjoy the food at a few more hotels - which never used to be the case, as I usually prefer to eat elsewhere before having to either work in the hotel or meet someone there for a late lunch (they eat, I have coffee and a bit of a sweet) or dinner.

Feria has done well enough to change my opinion about hotel food. That is, in a few places around this town, which just happen to be delightful to write about.