To the south!

The sunny days were coming to a close. A few more days and the stormy weather would start painting the skies with a different kind of light. I was fortunate enough to squeeze in a little more sun time with friends as my last hoorah for summer.

 

As an unwritten promise left to a tree, I was en route to south of Cebu once again. I have been on this route a couple of times already but it never gets old. I was still huge-eyed. I have to say that this route is by far my favorite. Just being in a bus or your own private car driving through winding roads with the sea through your window so close that you could hear its waves of welcome. It is always exciting to see. I bet it is even more amazing to ride a motorcycle along this road. On the bucket list! 

 

We arrived close to 4 hours at Brumini Resort (our little discovery from my previous blog). Rented a table, ate lunch and we were set to meet the Gentle Giants of the south! Unfortunately, I didn't bring a camera with me through the whole duration of it. I feared that my camera would get wet...again (and pay thousands! ..again.) It was a good call not to risk it because it was a hella bumpy ride. The waves were roaring as if these giants were playing beneath. 

 

Were just a little farther from the shore and out comes one of them at the left side of our boat. We were full of giggles. At first, we were intimidated to dive in because we didn't know what the behavior of these creatures were. Nonetheless, once the boat parked to where it was suppose to be we dove in feet first and saw how majestic these creatures were from underwater. Even though I didn't have a camera with me to capture the scene, it will be forever embedded in my brain. (Cherished foreva!)

I made a promise to them that I would come back and take photos of them. They answered, “Ok.”

A New Home We Found

As to how many "Welcome to" and "Thank you for coming" have greeted us along the way, we lost track. It was a plan laid out with uncertainty. A clear path with no direction. It was about getting lost.. but instead we found ourselves. It sounds ironic but trust me,the right kind.

We drove to the south of Cebu with nothing but a sense of adventure and a dying feeling to eat lechon of Carcar (we heard its one of a kind). :) We started our travel at 6 in the morning, early enough to avoid the city traffic. Started the trip with some P!nk tunes and it set the mood for a perfect day to drive. We drove by town after town, fiesta after fiesta. The shadows of the trees danced on my lap as we drove by the tunnels courtesy of the Acacia trees in Carcar. Then I knew it was time.... for some lechon!

It was like the heavens opened up :)

It was rows after rows of lechon in the Carcar public market. Vendors haggling over customers, boasting they have the best leachon. One vendor came up to us boasting the name of their lechon house like it was a name we should know. We believed her and ended up buying from her with no regrets at all (read through to find out).

The hours spent after buying was agonizing. I could smell the lechon inside the car even though we placed it at the luggage compartment. It was still a long drive ahead to the beach we set our minds on.

We finally got there and the beach was fantastic! But we had a certain inkling that something much better was ahead. We didn't like so much the aura of the beach. It was much more of a videoke-drinking-booze type of beach and we were looking for something quiet & relaxing. So we ventured on despite with our hungry stomachs.

We were already driving for hours with the fragrance of the lechon caressing our noses but the surreal view fed our growling stomachs. It was as if we were in front row seats of a cinema where films and films of great landscapes just kept playing -we were huge-eyed. 

Failing at finding a beach we could settle at, we stopped at the side of the road to finally ate our lunch. We popped the luggage compartment and started digging in with this view to compliment. The lechon was awesome. It was my first time eating lechon with its juices like soup beneath it. Despite us not being able to sit down and eat like civilized people, I wouldn't trade the experience at all. The view we had plus eating yummy lechon plus with the ice cold watermelon (we also bought in the market), it was beyond! 

After lunch, we stopped and re-planned. We were already too far and continuing ahead might not be the wisest decision because it will take hours and hours of driving again when heading back. So we... headed back. We decided that we would look for a path through the trees and just find a beach somewhere, anywhere! because it was just right there and we just have to get in it. 

Then we found this place, Brumini Resort. It was the perfect spot. Though it was resort and not a deserted paradise that we envisioned, it was enough. The people were kind and the price was right. We were only charged Php20.00 for the parking.

Brumini Resort also offers the famous Whale Shark watching but we were not able to do so since their cut off was 12nn and we arrived after lunch.

The waves were roaring but we were able to find a spot near the resort where it was peaceful and the sea was calmer. We laid out our banig, placed our things and dived into the blue. It was the exact spot we were looking for. Clear blue waters, trees by the beach where we could rest under and no one to bother us. It was a new home we found. We took a nap after swimming and ended waking up after an hour and a half. lol. We quickly packed up and left with a promise of coming back.

PS. The photos were taken using my friend's phone. I was able to bring my camera but forgot to place the memory card in it. *face palm*

Lambug, Badian, Cebu

Lambug, Badian is a public beach at the south part of Cebu just right after Cebu International Golf Beach Resort. It's quite tricky getting there. We never saw any signs anywhere despite Manang telling us that it was just right ahead right after its sign. Though I might have misunderstood her because the sign didn't say Lambug at all. All I can say though is if you've already reached Kawasan, Badian, then you better head back and ask for directions (based on experience lol).

The light at the end of the tunnel

Sometimes it's good to look back

From the main road, you still have to pass through a narrow winding asphalted road where you can have about a minute preview of Cebu International Golf Beach Resort's golf course. (Mahn! Their resort's name is long.) The second photo is the view if you look back while you're heading to Lambug. I think that's Osmena Peak?

I'd say the best damn parking lot!

view of a part of the golf course from the parking lot

We have finally arrived and parked the car on the seawall. The beach immediately blinded us with its sand and when my eyes finally adjusted, whatta beauty! This song came in to mind instantly.

As you can see in the last picture, it has a long shoreline and as you walk along and get to the part where there are many resorts and cottages, the sand gets better and finer.

Ants gathering the top of the tent. Go figure.

It wasn't a summer-y weather all day. It rained a few times (not saying that I blame the never ending singing of karaoke around the beach. lol) The beach is surrounded with plenty of karaoke places. Some people stay up all night and belch their hearts out. It may be a little bit of a turn off but hey if you can't beat them, join them!

We picked a spot, negotiated with the caretakers (we rented that small hut to the left of the first picture for 500/night) set-up our tents and enjoyed the beach. :)

I like that the sea is alive in Lambug. I saw different kinds of fishes and starfish. A few corals could be seen too! My brother even spotted a Lionfish. Not advisable to get close to them. My brother was snorkeling when he stumbled on one. He started taking a video and swam closer to it then suddenly, it sort of pounced towards him -like moved for an attack. He quickly swam away for his dear life and took a video of other marine life instead. What he didn't notice was that the current was still taking him towards the Lionfish. So when he turned it was right there again next to him! Hahaha!

Breakfast of champs! We stayed there for one night only. Just a short weekend getaway with family and friends. It was fun. I would definitely go back. I love the beach there. Simplicity just does it at times and with a beach like Lambug, simplicity is it's middle name if beaches had middle names (and last names). :)

Lambug Simple Beach - CHECK! Thanks to my brothers for taking me here.