What I love about traveling is I get to explore the unknown through places and faces. And the best part is THE FOOD! I get to know the place by savoring its delicacies and certain cuisines that are quite new to me. Last month, I went to Asturias with friends for a short break away from the city.
Asturias is 71 kilometers northwest of Cebu City. It is famous for its cold springs, waterfalls, and caves. Its wide shoreline makes up a long stretch of the sand perfect spot for long walks at the beach.
In addition to these attractions, visitors to the municipality never leave without purchasing a warm batch of freshly baked millet cakes (bingka dawa) sold alongside the route.
For two days, my friends and I stayed at St. Anthony Beach Resort which is now managed by RedDoorz. The resort is safe and clean. It also gives value to its guests by providing exciting activities. This added value made my stay a memorable one.
Here are the five things that made me enjoy staying at St. Anthony Beach Resort.
CHASING SUNSET AND COFFEE BY THE BEACH
Chasing sunsets is another cheap thrill favorite of mine when I do travel to new places. I love the serenity of the sun “kissing” the horizon. As always, it leaves me breathless.
I grabbed my tripod and camera just before seeing my first Asturian sunset. Then, I looked for a nice location to take some selfie photographs.
One of my favorite cheap thrills is drinking coffee by the beach. I adore the way a strong coffee brew’s aroma mingles with the seaside wind as it caresses my face.
The first time I tasted the Asturias whole fruit coffee, I liked the aroma which reminds me of a strong corn coffee that my Lola used to make when she was still alive. The flavor has a slight sharpness to it that contrasts sharply with the sweet coffee drinks I’m used to. It was a potent beverage, as evidenced by the fact that I remained up all night after consuming it.
The prices for Asturias whole fruit coffee are Php 100 per 250 grams and Php 400 per 1000 grams.
BEACH DAYS AND BONFIRE NIGHTS
This is my ideal getaway, spending my lazy days at the beach and then capping off the day with my friends gathered around a bonfire over great food, drinks, games, and of course juicy stories on the side hahaha
Simple things and moments like these mean the most to me. Simple acquaintances turned into meaningful relationships with these blogger friends of mine. It’s good to spend your days with them outside the events world and simply hang out like any regular barkada.
Thanks to St. Anthony Beach Resort, my dream bonfire night came true that night.
HIDDEN GEM EXPLORED – THE BEAUTY OF MANGUIAO SPRINGS
After a hearty breakfast, we were in for another treat from St. Anthony Beach Resort. We left on time for a day’s hike to the undiscovered secret of Asturias, a cool spring in Barangay Manguiao that requires 25 to 30 minutes to reach. This is an exclusive offering to all the guests of the resort.
After 309 steps of trekking, we’ve finally reached the hidden treasure of Asturias, the Manguiao Springs. It was a challenging trek, alright for someone who hasn’t had any practice in road runs and hiking for ages. So, despite the fact that I had very little energy left, I was nevertheless able to plunge into the chilly springs out of sheer willpower.
The route may be tedious but once you hear the sound of the waterfalls, you would totally forget how hard it was. And that’s the beauty of exploring Manguiao Springs.
THE FIRST KAYAK AND FLOATING COTTAGE EXPERIENCE UNLOCKED
All my life, I shied away from water sports for fear that I couldn’t pull it off but my heart’s been wanting to try. My companions were kayaking on the beach following our Manguiao Springs adventure, and they encouraged me to give it a try.
“Dili kadaog ang kayak nako. Bug-at ayo ko.” At first, that was my excuse but they persisted. So I got on and tried to get a feel paddling my way to the water. Minutes later, I found myself enjoying myself a lot and I could hear at the back of my mind that Bench ad OST when Richard Gomez was rowing.
It was a freeing feeling to discover myself paddling through the sea as I let go of all my fears and inhibitions. I felt great throughout the kayak ride. I’m grateful for that kind old lady who gave some words of wisdom when she gave me the kayak, “You’ll never know until you try.” I was amused when she told me that.
The next day, we decided to continue with our plan to check out the floating cottage. The Lambaklad Fisherfolks Alliance of Asturias is a non-governmental organization that oversees the floating cottage. They provide this attraction to both locals and tourists in order to make their trip to Asturias more enjoyable and memorable. Guests can relax and swim along the area while eating with their family and friends at the floating cottage.
BEST PART: DELICIOUS FOOD, BIG SERVINGS
We were welcomed by the resort staff with a delicious spread of kakanin (Filipino snacks) when we arrived in time for merienda. At the oceanfront, we feasted on bam-i (noodles), biko and Asturias’ well-loved delicacy, Bingka Dawa. Totally enjoyed the soft and chewy bingka dawa.
The next day, I went to the beach and basked in the morning rays of the sun. Then I went straight to the resort’s cafe, where I was greeted with a hearty breakfast spread. favorites – Maling, corned beef, chorizo, and scrambled eggs. This is just a sample of a complimentary breakfast that you’re going to get when you stay at Saint Anthony Beach Resort.
Lunch arrived, and I lost count of how many ginabot I ate because they were so delicious.
@beyeecaballes #Ginabot ♬ original sound – Beyee
The entire Asturias experience was one for the books! It made me appreciate being away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a few days. Definitely a good way to recharge the stressed-out mind.
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