Travelling south of Cebu is as amazing as taking an excursion in your history class. With the century-old heritage sites that you'd pass by in your four to five-hour trip, you sure don't want to just sleep the entire trip!
One of the iconic places that marks the town of Boljoon is the Eli Rock. A towering cliff by the sea is how you'd see it from the road but there's actually a bigger space atop it. Before it got hit by an earthquake, it was quite difficult to climb up but since there are plans to turn it into a tourist spot, stairs and handrails were built for easy access.
The best time to be here is during the sunrise from 5:30 to 6 AM. The lush colors of the daybreak could create a dramatic effect on your photograph without filters needed! It's absolutely a great kick-off for your adventure trip or your beach-bummin' moment.
From Eli Rock, one of my companions suggested an alternate route which leads to a residential area of the town before reaching the heritage site. It was quite interesting to note how simple and serene life is in the province. The village reflects a progressive state of living. The houses were built with a modern touch. Gone are the Spanish-inspired architecture yet its atmosphere suggests a well-preserved culture and ideals of Boljoon.
Straight ahead, you will notice right away the conspicuous tall stanchion of the missing gates to the heritage site. Like a portal to another dimension, the pillars seem to safeguard a world of unmatched richness of culture. The benches, lampposts, and even the trees all together complement the historical picture.
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| © Aldrin Floyd | https://www.youtube.com/user/aldrinfloyd89 |
Since our group did not have the time to take our breakfast, we tried strolling around the area for food stalls or karinderia (small restaurants) and alas! We found it right after exiting on the other side of the site. The karinderia looked like a normal house at first so we were amazed to find seats and dining tables inside and some delicious yet affordable menu! I would also give a thumbs-up to the owners who were very accommodating and proactive.
We knew we got a long way to go so we headed straight to the marketplace where we hired a motorcycle for our entire trip to Ablayan Peak and Dayhag Falls. Boljoon public market is a walking-distance from the church but we chose to ride on a sidecar. Fare is at 10 pesos / passenger. The lad explained that the fare was more expensive since he was using an e-bike instead of the ordinary pedal sidecar. There were three of us inside a two-seat sidecar, and yes, we tried squeezing in our bloated stuffed belly, but we enjoyed that short trip.
Next stop: Ablayan Peak and Dayhag Falls.
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