When I heard that people are going for a swim at Dumaluan Beach, I was a bit hesitant at first. I knew that Dumaluan is a private place with entrance fee per head but since it was Sunday and packed with mad people, I was able to get inside “undetected” because I didn’t pay a single cent. Yippee.
I love Dumaluan’s white sandy beaches located in Panglao, Bohol. It felt nice to be walking along the shore playing with the sands while enjoying the sea breeze. I would have loved to witness either sunrise or sunset but alas, it wasn’t possible at that time.
Last weekend, I found myself in Tagbilaran, Bohol supposedly on a photo course mission and more. Bohol, being the 10th largest island in the country, has lots of beautiful things to offer like the luxurious Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa but for cheap people like me who cares only for a roof over my head and a mat to sleep on, there’s a rundown place called Mellow Apartelle and Tourist Inn located in Dampas – Binayran Road which is just 10 minutes tricycle ride away from the seaport.
The cheapest room available cost only 600 pesos but it’s a very tiny room that features a bed, toilet and bath only. And if you don’t mind seeing a cockroach or two, the place also has several pogi (handsome) points like FREE seaport / airport transfers, located near public market and Island City Mall, FREE Wifi at the lobby and being attended to by their beautiful 22-year old receptionist, Rose.
For reservations:
Mellow Apartelle and Tourist Inn
Dampas-Binayran Road, Dampas District
6300 Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
I stumbled upon couchsurfing purely by accident. Relationship with then ex-boyfriend turned sour and I wanted to escape for a while so I googled for cheap accommodation in Davao and voila, hello couchsurfers.
Couchsurfing is basically opening up your house, heart and time for intercultural sharing.
Sounds too good to be true I know so it took me awhile to actually start using the site. I started with offering a bed space in my room at my parent’s house. I offer it to FEMALE couchsurfers ONLY of course or my mom will nag me like crazy. What I do is that I’d go to the airport with my home made banner “Couchsurfing Cebu”, take guests to our house and try to make them feel at home. I had guests from France, Russia and Sweden and they were all pretty that some male neighbors will be sitting outside our house to catch a glimpse. It was fun but a bit stressful because it’s not my house and my parents aren’t used to strangers in THEIR house (my father loves to wear boxer short only when he is at home and he can’t do that with female strangers around, nyahaha) so I put a stop to it. Now, I only offer meeting them at the airport and taking them around the city or meeting them for coffee or drink.
My happy guests…. at least I hope they were happy
I couchsurfed also whenever I do get to travel. In fact I look forward to it but I have NEVER STAYED in a stranger’s house yet. I am too reserve to try that out but I have great hosts who offered to walk with me around their city.
What Do I GET IN RETURN??
People at work asked me this question all the time. Do I get money in return for my services and how much? Frankly, they don’t look happy when they heard that I don’t get anything other than learning a few things from their own home country and swapping stories. You should see their faces when they learned that I even pay for my own meal. Nyahaha.
Couchsurfing is NOT for everybody unfortunately. I mean, how could you put a monetary value on things like being hospitable and helping out aliens?
DID I GET a BOYFRIEND from this site?
I remember one french guest who joined the site so she could get a boyfriend. She lamented about not having anyone for 2 years and was hoping that this site could change that. And yes, it’s possible to meet someone that you could end up with but I wasn’t that lucky yet. Besides, it’s a community of travellers and I try to stick to the adage “Don’t SHIT where You LIVE, SLEEP and WORK”. A holiday fling is NOT my cup of tea either. And I think my french guest didn’t get lucky too because she deleted her couchsurfing account now. Or maybe she did. Hmmm….
Do you want a FREE GUIDE around Cebu City?
Sign up at couchsurfing.org, create a profile and look up KARLOTA KARLOTA. But you may ask, why sign up at the couchsurfing site first? Because you can put up references on this site for safety purposes. Then I can be a bit assured that you are who you say you are and not a bloody rapists or a complete BU-ANG (wacko). Sadly, not ALL PEOPLE are nice.
By the way, I have my own rules:
I am NOT fit for human consumption on weekdays!! I work 9.6 hours from Monday to Friday + 4 hours travel time to office and home so I generally don’t attend any activities on these days.
If I don’t have any plans on weekends, I’d be happy to meet you at the airport and show you around Cebu City if you arrive at decent hours. I really love to sleep.
I hope to take a picture together with the couchsurfers I have met too.
Here’s a video to tell you more about couchsurfing:
Inhale! Exhale! Don’t you just love Yoga? If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a good workout program that not only tone your muscles but gives you inner peace as you concentrate on your breathing while doing several poses. I got into yoga at first because life became a bit stressful for a while that I just needed something positive to occupy my mind and time. From that moment on, it was love at first pose!
If you wanted to try this out but wasn’t sure if it’s right for you, you might want to take advantage of the FREE yoga that’s being offered by Body Mind Well-being Inc. located in Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City (across Metrobank, near Cebu Aeronautical Tech School). Yes, that’s FREE YOGA every Saturday for 1.5 hour which is absolutely perfect for beginners.
I’ve tried it for several weeks myself but after a while, it became very easy for me that I needed to up my level and try other types of yoga that’s a bit more vigorous like Ashtanga. If you care to join us, below is the schedule and contact information.
Namaste!
Body Mind Well-being Inc. 5th Floor AMWSLAI Bldg. Salinas Drive (across Metrobank, near Cebu Aeronautical Tech School) Lahug, Cebu city Tell #s 505-9164 / 516-5404 email: bmwellbeing@yahoo.com bmwstudiospa@gmail.com bmwb_10@yahoo.com bmwellbeing.com/spirit/
How would you like to retire by the beach someday where you wake up to a nice view of sunrise and the sound of the sea lulling you to sleep at night?
If yes, you might want to invest in this property located in Catmon, a small town about 1.5 hours bus ride away from Cebu, Philipines. It’s an 800 square meter seafront land, has 4 nice houses, 1 not so nice house and 1 unfinished house. It also has a swimming pool which needs thorough cleaning at the moment.
The 4 finished Houses
Looking out to the sea
Current price is set at 10 Million pesos (about 167,000 EURO / 222,222 USD) and considering that price tag in Cebu market for seafront property is around 10,000 pesos PER SQUARE METER, I’d say that this is a very good price already.
The pool
Even the ant likes the place a lot
I’ve had a few people who wanted to look at it already but then again, nothing is really settled if contract has not been signed yet. So for inquiries, please feel free to contact me.
Direct buyers only. Please note that per Philippine law, foreigners cannot own this property so you’ll have to have a Filipino connection like a Filipino wife perhaps. Someone that you can trust with your life.
And yes, it’s possible to meet someone that you could end up with but I wasn’t that lucky yet. Besides, it’s a community of travellers and I try to stick to the adage “Don’t SHIT where You LIVE, SLEEP and WORK”. A holiday fling is NOT my cup of tea either. And I think my french guest didn’t get lucky too because she deleted her couchsurfing account now. 
