DanFam5 was promoted from domestic travel to international! Finally! I have been trying with no success to travel to another Asian country before we leave SoKo. I decided there was no better reason to plan one last big trip than BOTH 8th grade and 5th grade promotion.
It was exciting to be leaving the country! However, there was a large amount of paperwork involved, even up to the point of checking in at the airport. So much easier when the kids can fill out their own stuff on their phones. It still took us about 30 minutes.
Resort time
There was only one flight available, and it was overnight. We arrived around 5 am. Due to our lack of sleep, the first day was a resort day. Abe and I took a trip from the BnB to pick up a few items from the store. We rode in a little motorcycle side car taxi.
I had no idea what a low socioeconomic country that the Philippines is. Many unfinished buildings (which we later learned was probably due to a huge typhoon that destroyed this island last December), lots of trash around, and tons of dogs, chickens and goats in the streets.
But there were some pretty sights in the streets, too.
We enjoyed a lazy a pool day.
Daisy took a pic of us from the room.
Most of the dogs were wild, but a few let you pet them, like this sweet girl.
After walking past the perimeter of our BnB grounds, we came across a place that was buzzing with locals at a port.
We were able to purchase a parasailing experience. Lijee had an upset tummy, so just us three went.
The jet ski guys met us in the water, and we jumped straight from the boat to the jet ski.
Then there was more pool time.
Look at this gorgeous morning sky.
Our BnB provided a scooter for us to use around the island of Mactan. I was too nervous to drive because I was worried I was too short to catch myself when I stopped, but Abe tootled around.
We got up before the sun to take a tour to Pescador Island. The van ride there was pretty long; I'm not gonna lie, it was a bit scary at times, too. The roads are tiny and the drivers speed around cars to pass while other cars are heading right at you. Their horns are well utilized. I was going to count how many times our driver honked it, but there were way too many to count. A couple hundred. For real.
Pescador Island
We boarded a banca boat, which is the traditional Filipino boat. They are basically canoes with bamboo outriggers on the sides to stabilize them. This particular one had a very loud motor.
We traveled a few kilometers off the west coast of Moalboal with this beautiful ambiance.
There's a dolphin in the water. We saw a few different pods, but they were not very photogenic. Pescador Island is the land mass in this picture. It remains uninhabited, except for feral cats, despite several attempts over the years to build various houses. It is because of these failed attempts that the locals think it is haunted.
The water was absolutely gorgeous.
That's Zekers snorkeling. Pescador Island is known for its sea life. 'Pescador' translates to fisherman, because of the large number of fish that was caught during the Spanish colonial period. The island is an ancient mound that grew up out of the ocean above sea level.
That's Zeke, Abe, Daisy and Lijee in the water.
I brought my water pocket to hold my phone and I was excited to take underwater pics. Unfortunately the touch screen doesn't work underwater, so I was unable to get good fish pics. We saw clown fish, sea anemones, sea stars, and lots of other pretty fish. The weirdest thing we saw was salp. Never heard of salp? Neither had I. It was like a clear snake with red balls all along the body. This is not my picture, but I want to show you what it looks like.
They are also known as sea squirts and are closer to humans than jellyfish. Turns out they are harmless, but we avoided it because it looks scary,
After snorkeling for a bit, we climbed onto the banca again for a ten minute ride to Sardine Run. We had tiny stings on us from jellyfish in the water. I didn't feel getting stung while snorkeling, but I could feel a bit when I got out. I have never experienced that before. We just put on a little treatment from our guides and it was fine.
More dolphins.😍
Sardine Run
I read that there are over one million sardines in each school at Sardine Run. I don't know if that is true, but there certainly was an amazing amount of fish. The way they swam in a group and gracefully flowed and functioned in a perfectly timed dance was beyond description. Neither of these photos of the sardines are mine, but they look like what we saw. The sardines swim in from the deep to Panagsama Beach to feed on plankton.
We also swam with sea turtles. I have never seen sea turtles while snorkeling or diving, so that was a treat for me. We saw several of them, just hanging out near the shore munching on seaweed. Their life span is about a hundred years. Makes me wonder how old the ones we saw were and what they have seen throughout their lifetimes.
Kawasan Falls
I had already experienced a pretty magnificent morning, but then we traveled to Badian for lunch. We were served a home cooked traditional Filipino meal in an outdoor hut right on the ocean.
Then they put us on the back of motorbikes and drove us up a mountain. You can see Abe in the far back, and that's Daisy and Zeke on the bike in front of me. Somehow they crammed three people on each motorbike.
We were dropped off at the Badian Zipline Adventure. That was a bonus! We didn't even know we were going to get to do that part.
This zipline's harness was the type that made you lay down. I haven't done one like that before, but it made you feel like you were flying.
Eli and I were side by side, and Daisy and Zeke were able to go with us at the same time. It is the 2nd longest dual zipline in Asia.
Daddy flew by himself.
The blue skies and green foliage up top were just so pretty.
After the zipline we took a short trek through the forest.
That trek led us to Matutinao River where we had plans to go canyoneering.
The river is surrounded by steep limestone canyon walls on each side. We worked our way down the river toward Kawasaki Falls by rock hopping, cliff jumping, slope sliding, and river swimming, all accompanied with a bit of adrenaline and topped of with the biggest smiles and laughter.
The water was a magnificent turquoise shade.
Zekers was fearless, as always. He was consistently the first jumper. The highest cliffs were about 12 meters--amost 40 feet!
There goes Daisy.
As is often the case, the photos do not do the scenery justice. The high canyon walls and blue waters were stunning.
One of our guides carried my phone for me and snapped pics of us all day long.
On my birthday just 6 months earlier, Super Typhoon Rai devastated Cebu. It was one of the most powerful storms on record to hit the Philippines. One of our van drivers told us that he and his young family were without power and running water for three months. Our tour guide pointed out many ways the river had changed due to typhoon damage.
There goes Zekers again.
This one is Abe.
The backwards fall was not very high at all, but by the looks of my face you would think I was falling to my death.
I saw a photo where the people were floating and made a cute star. We got an A for effort.
There goes Lijee sliding backwards.
This was me. The jump was high enough the kids said I had time to scream twice.
There were three big falls near the end of the trek. This was one of them.
This was the 2nd fall.
We scaled the wall back behind the waterfall.
This was the final waterfall.
This day kept getting better and better as the sun moved across the sky. It was one of my favorite days of all time. I love all things water. We started with a boat ride on the ocean. The snorkeling was great and we kept seeing cool things. Then the scenery was phenomenal for canyoneering. Outdoor activities are my jam, plus the scenery and canyoneering with my little family was so much fun. All of that stuff, plus the smiles and laughter made it one of my top days to remember.
The day was topped off with a big, bright moon shining across the water.
whale sharks
The next day turned out to be just as fabulous as the day before. After another long and dangerous van ride to Oslob, where we started with a light traditional Filipino breakfast in the breeze of an outdoor cabana.
I had been told how wonderful Filipino mango is. I am not usually a fan of mangos, but these made me a believer.
Daisy's 8th grade graduation gift was swimming with whale sharks.
It. Was. Amazing.
The only part that was not perfect was the current. It was a bit windy and the current was very strong. We had to hang onto the bamboo edges of the banca boat so we didn't float away.
Check out that whale shark!
The whale sharks were wonderfully huge yet graceful creatures. We were under strict rules no not touch them. I was shocked the first time is rubbed on my leg like a kitty cat.
Between the current, the waves, and the whale sharks, it was hard for the guy to take our pictures as the gentle giants glided by. It ended up being a bit like herding cats. But we gave it the ole college try.
Whale sharks are not actually whales; the name derived from its size.
Full-grown whale sharks can be as long as 60 feet. We were swimming with babies, so they were only 12 to 15 feet. Whale sharks are filter-feeding sharks and are the largest fish in the world. Although their mouths can be four feet wide and possess thousands of teeth, they eat krill, not humans, so there was nothing to be scared about.
It was a once in a lifetime experience.
Sumilon Island
A jeepney was our mode of transportation between activities. They are most the popular mode of public transportation in the Philippines. Jeepneys are usually quite crowded and loudly decorated.
Another trip aboard a banca led us to Sumilon Island. 
After snorkeling we played in the crystal clear waters all afternoon.
The island is 24 hectares (almost 60 acres), with just one private resort located there. Tourists visit the island for the gorgeous white sand and sparkling turquoise waters. The island gets its name from the word Sumilong, which means taking shelter; the island served as a refuge from torrential typhoons for the local fishermen.
We started with snorkeling at the Sumilon Marine Reserve. This sanctuary was established in 1974 and was the first marine park in the Philippines.
We were able to feed the fish, but once again I couldn't get good underwater pics.
When the tide is low there is a sandbar that the island is famous for. We were there at the wrong time so we did get to view it. But the water was so great we didn't even miss it.
The Daiser kept her snorkel gear and swam around us with it.
Abe and I like to get romantic to gross the kids out.
Look at those hues of blue.
Tumalog Falls
We left Sumilon with time to visit Tumalog Falls. We were able to catch another ride on motorcycles to avoid the steep climb.
The first peek in through a little window was amazing.
Once we walked into the little alcove we were to view the entire falls. Wow.
The area where the water descends is very high and wide. The water cascades down from about 90 meters (almost 300 feet). The water is dispersed as it tumbles over the jutting rocks, creating a fine sheet of water like lace.
The water has that same blue tint from the day before.
The trees next to the wall have stretched all the way up, boasting how impressively high it is.
My boys.
And my girl.
You can get a good idea of the sheer height when you see Zeke in the bottom of the photo. The roots of the tree are hanging due to erosion from the typhoon.
More gross romance.😍
After Tumalog Falls we enjoyed another traditional Filipino meal under a gazebo near the ocean.
Then time for the long and scary van ride back to the hotel. Another bright, full moon. Another day that was among my list of all time favorites.
Lapu Lapu Statue
Abe and I were up at sunrise. Gorgeous.
While the kiddos were still snug in their beds, we jumped on the scooter and zipped across the island to the Lapu-Lapu Shrine.
When the Spanish navigator and leader Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines he took possession of the country in the name of Spain. Lapu Lapu was the first native Filipino who vigorously resisted the foreign invasion and subsequent colonization. He is regarded as a national hero.
The statue commemorates the Battle of Mactan that took place in 1521 between the Spanish, led by Magellan, and the native people. The bronze statue standing 20 meters high (60.5 feet) depicts the Filipino warrior king Lapu Lapu. It is said the statue stands at the exact spot of the battle and the subsequent death of Magellan.
Just a few meters away from the Lapu Lapu shrine stands the Magellan Monument. Seems a bit odd to honor both men who were on opposite sides of the battle. This monument was built in 1866 by the Spanish colonial rulers of the Philippines. Magellan claimed the islands for Spain, thus giving them the name Philippines after King Philip II of Spain. Magellan's memory is honored as he was the person to bring Christianity to the Philippines.
Lapu Lapu is holding a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, which were the two weapons he used in the defeat of Magellan.
The shallow water and mangroves located in the area are thought to be the downfall of Magellan, as he was not able to bring his big guns close enough to use them in the battle.
An extremely large sword rests at the edge of the park threatening protection against intruders who mean harm.
Cebu Safari & Adventure Park
Lijee's 5th grade promotion celebration was to see the tarsiers, which are tiny little monkey-like creatures on the island of Bohol. The plan was to go via ferry to the island during the day, and then catch our midnight flight. When I learned that Covid testing stopped at 3pm each day, we had to think fast and make some new plans because the ferry times would not get us back in time to test. Cebu Safari and Adventure Park came in for the win.
Cebu Safari Park sits on over 170 hectares (420 acres), housing more than 1,000 animals from 120 different species. It all started with one man who wanted to be a farmer. He planted fruit trees, got some horses, visited San Diego Zoo, and violà! The birth of Cebu Safari Park.
The ticket office instructed us to wait at the front for a safari truck. When it arrived we hopped aboard and were promptly dropped off at the bird show. We saw parrots doing math and spelling, birds of prey zoom across our heads, ducks walking across the stage all in a row, and more.
We were given instructions to get aboard the safari truck right after the bird show to make it across the park in time for the white lion safari.
The white lions were no longer white. They were born albino, which is why they have pink eyes, but over time their fur has turned light brown; I had no idea that could happen.
There are two separate prides, from Germany and France, respectively. They have to keep them separated because the two groups will not get along. The lions roamed as if in their natural habitat and we rode in the back of another safari truck, but this one was caged in so the lions couldn't get us.
The ride through the African Savannah contained zebras. We were told that they are actually black with white stripes.
The Savannah was also home to wildebeest, antelopes, impalas, blesbok, eland, waterbuck, gemsbok, greater kudu, and East African crowned crane.
The Dutch are responsible for the name wildebeest, which actually means 'wild beast.' They can run as fast as 50 miles per hour, and they are also known to be playful.
The Philippines are beautiful, but surprisingly there were not that many flowers. The safari park had more flowers that anywhere else we had been.
Korea is full of legends, so I thought I would add a baboon legend. The story goes that a baboon and a crab found a bottle of honey together and agreed to store it up to eat during the winter. But the baboon couldn't resist and secretly ate it. The crab was so angry when he discovered the empty honey jar that he used his big claws to pinch down on the baboon's bottom, causing his buttocks to turn red.
The giraffes had a nice enclosure with a mommy, daddy and baby.
We literally just missed the feeding time.
Despite being 6 feet tall, a baby giraffe can run a mere 10 hours after it is born. It sometimes stretches its long neck back to use its own bottom as a pillow. The spot patterns are passed genetically from the mother; I had always thought their spots were unique like a tiger's or a zebra's stripes.
Tigers enjoy swimming in their natural habitats, which is why you often see them playing in water in captivity.
Lemurs have a female-dominated society--you go, girl!
Orangutans are the world's largest tree-climbing mammal. The name orangutan means 'person of the forest.'
Gibbons are the fastest tree-dwelling mammals, flying through the trees at 35 miles per hour!
The unique DanFam5 is native to North America, but has spent the past three years in Asia trying to see as much as possible.
This portion of the trip was dedicated to our 5th grade graduate.
The common crowned pigeon is very eye-catching with its bright blue color and piercing red eyes.
Thankfully the park offers free rides.
In the Philippines you can easily rent a driver for the day. He literally stays with you all day and drives wherever you want to go and waits until you are done with your activity to drive you to the next location. It actually ends up being cheaper than paying for each ride individually, unless you ride in one of the little sidecar things like below.
Our poor driver's van overheated on us on the way back from the safari. First the AC went out, followed by the engine light coming on. We pulled over and Abe helped him pour water into the radiator. That worked good enough to get us back to Cebu. He was a young father with two kids under 5 years old at home. I think he was pretty stressed about the van. We had him drop us off at the airport early instead of taking us to a restaurant first and waiting on us. He asked to take our photo, so I think he appreciated our gesture. On the way to the airport I enjoyed our last sunset in Cebu, Philippines. It was a whirlwind trip, but we had enough time to make many good memories!
[June 13-18]
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