Hiking at the Trans-central Highway

Clean air, cool breeze and lush scenery. Those are what await me at one of my favorite places --- the mountains flanking the trans-central highway.

Yes, the mountains of Talamban and Cebu city are now among my regular hang-outs. It's definitely better than gallivanting at the city malls or staring catatonic at the television screen. The best part is that the trans-central highway is just 20 minutes from my house. Despite its distance, Cebu's mountain feels like a different country, especially when the fog (yes, the fog regularly appears at dusk) starts to appear at mid-day and temperature starts to drop; very difficult to imagine in a tropical island, right?

I enjoy talking to farmers selling sweet corn and vegetables by the roadside, absorbing the peaceful scenery at one of Balamban's mountain resorts, hiking on the nearly deserted highway and taking a simple lunch at a quaint store made of thatched nipa. These uncomplicated activities allow me to get my mind off office work --- something very important for me.

I really have to thank God for my good fortune. I am lucky enough to be living just minutes away from the sea and the mountains.

USPF to Capitol Hills

I love museums, that is why during my vacation leave, I decided to visit the University of Southern Philippines' Rizal Museum at Salinas Drive, Lahug

According to the curator, the Rizal Museum at the University of the Philippines Foundation is actually the biggest collection of Rizal’s artifacts outside Manila.

The personal belongings of Rizal were donated by Doña Trinidad, Rizal’s younger sister, to the University. Her niece, Concepcion Herbosa, the daughter of Mariano Herbosa and Lucia Rizal was married to the former USPF Vice President Escolastico Duterte. She promised to donate the personal belongings of her brother when she visited USPF on February 11, 1951. Doña Trinidad wanted to give her niece the cherished possessions of our national hero.

After my museum tour, I took lunch at the school canteen and then went to CAMP Marina at Capitol Hills via taxi, I heard that they have a botanical garden. Unfortunately, no one knew where the botanical garden is located. It's not within the Boy or Girl Scouts' Headquarters. So, I proceeded with my day's walk by ambling down the hill towards the Capitol building. Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia was right, the present location of CAMP Marina is no longer ideal for girls and boy scouts since it is a bit polluted, what with passing vehicles and houses surrounding it. It is best that Camp Marina transfers to a cooler, mountainous area where the air is still fresh.

Along the way, I “rediscovered” the Cebu Zoo and got to know the new animals. From the caretaker I learned that the administration has recently signed an agreement with a private party to develop the Kalunasan area to achieve a better and bigger zoo.

When I reached the Capitol site, I took a jeepney and went to Paseo Arcenas, a relatively new shopping and dining area, a product of the booming call center industry in the province. If you are looking for a spacious place with less people for supermarket shopping, Rustan's at the Paseo is the best.

Two hour's walk from Capitol to Tisa

I was suppose to take my day's walk at Tabor Hills in Talamban. However, there was a huge Sinulog procession last Saturday. All transportation routes were clogged and I got stuck at Fuente Osmena. So I decided to instead take my breakfast at a new mall across Chong Hua Hospital called Robinson's Cybergate.

After a pleasant meal and a quick look around the mall, I walked out to the street congested with people. What made my walk inconvenient wasn't so much the crowd as the rain which didn't seem to stop.
Yes, the rain hasn't deterred the Santo Nino devotees from attending the procession.

Many people have said that even if exercise is not your thing, you'll still be forced to walk during Saturdays and Sundays of the Sinulog celebration.

Kan-Irag Nature Park and Taoist Temple

When your job entails sitting in the office on most days and staring at a computer, you'd naturally want to go outdoors on weekends. That's exactly what I did on January 9 and 10. I guess that started it on January 1 when I spent my New Year's day at the Mountain View Nature Park. It was fun! I should do this often throughout the year 2010.

I visited the Kan-irag Nature Park on January 9 and Taoist Temple on January 10.

Kan-irag, aaah....the terrain reminded me of the setting in the book "Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Love walking in this man-made forest... fresh air and mother nature. Finally, we have a real nature park in Cebu... Thanks Ayala. Ayala land donated the 70 hectares lot after they realized that the area is part of Cebu's watershed. Good thinking, guys!

For those of you interested in visiting this park, check-out my other blog: http://diarypublisher.blogspot.com/

I got to use my hiking boots which I bought at a discount and locally made sandals cum rubber shoes "Sandugo brand" (This shoes can be turned to sandals or flip-flops) with water drainage feature.

The man in the pictures is my guide, by the way, not me. He was panting and wheezing on the way up, not me (ha...ha..ha..my diet of tea leaves must be working).

As for the Taoist Temple, a popular tourist spot, it was a long overdue visit. The climb of 100 steps to the temple did not pose a problem to me. I like this better than walking the treadmill (boring). Hiking is definitely more pleasurable than working-out at the gym.