Delsey Luggage Scale

I've always been a huge fan of Delsey products specially their luggage collection as they have proven over time that they do last (some of my 'acquired' pieces were actually purchased during my mum's time).  And, fact is, they are reasonably priced compared to a Samsonite, Tumi or Rimowa.  Through the years, Delsey has diversified to other travel accessories such as travel pillow, luggage tag, luggage strap, umbrella, eye mask, etc.  

I've learned through my travels that having to guess one's luggage weight can cause a lot of anxiety.  Oftentimes, we get carried away with our shopping spree by buying a bargain or two...or three...or four (this always happens in Hong Kong!) and only to find out later on that  these little bargains are to make us pay more through airline luggage overweight charges!  On my recent trip to Kuala Lumpur, I decided then to actively look for a luggage scale which I can carry with me through my trips.  Since I believe in the Delsey brand, it was unthinkable of me to purchase any other luggage scale than a Delsey one.  There were digital scales available but I felt that they were not too accurate and I was actually looking for a 'manual' scale.  I was not lucky enough to find one in Kuala Lumpur but fast forward to two months later, I would find this Delsey luggage scale at a mall in Manila (Lucky Chinatown Mall... lucky indeed).  I was told by the SA that they actually sold out these luggage scales and the new orders only came in recently.  I hurriedly bought it as it was the last piece available.

 Although the packaging says it can hold up to 25 kilos, the actual weight that it can carry is 34 kilos or 75 lbs.  There's also a tape measure hidden on the side should you need one to get the exact dimensions of your luggage.

At a cost of Php 711 (approximately USD17.34) after getting a 10% off the sticker price, it is actually a bargain of sorts...it's a Delsey after all!

 Others may argue that it actually looks like a generic luggage scale that one can buy for less that Php 400 (USD9.7) and yes, although they may look similar, the Delsey one looks arguably more sturdy and accurate.

Now that I have this Delsey luggage scale, I can travel in peace knowing that I do not have to second guess if I should have to pay for excess luggage weight or not. (controlling one's shopping urges is another story though and it can't be cured by a luggage scale! :))

I ♥ CEBU

I just came back yesterday from a 3-day vacation in Cebu and I must say I really love that City. As someone said...If Manila is my city, then Cebu is my home! I was there to attend my very good friend, May Baruc Guani-Dy's 30th birthday party at the Penthouse and we did party and dance (at least they did) until 3 am! which is one thing I hardly do or enjoy in Manila. I was also there to meet up with my Japanese and Korean friends (who are actually better Filipinos than me in a lot of ways). Just between you and me, I wouldn't mind moving back to Cebu if the right opportunity came...

Bought this personalized shirt from Islands Souvenir shop in SM Cebu for Php 499.75 or US$ 12. 100% cotton so its either for our tropical climate (or so the SA told me)

Delsey Extendo

For someone who loves to travel (although not as much as I would want to or can afford to), having a good set of luggage is very important. I've always been very partial to hard case luggage as I never have to worry about the contents of my luggage breaking or something. The downside is hard case luggages are usually heavier than their fabric/canvass brothers (although there are super light hard case luggages now available in the market but expect to pay an arm and a leg for it)

My recent luggage purchase was a 54 cm Delsey Extendo cabin trolley which I asked my good friend, K. Pe to purchase for me in Singapore. Not that its cheaper in Singapore but its just that the Extendo collection has already been phased out in Manila (why, I don't know since this collection is still available in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong last time I checked).

The 54 cm was to compliment my 71 cm Delsey Extendo. I've always been partial to non-black colored luggages as they are easier to identify and pick up from the conveyor belt. Black, of course, is the most common luggage color and a reason for most confusions as well in identifying one's luggage

You can see on the right side my old and tested luggage peeking at his new and shiny brothers.

Pluses:

-expandable

-four wheels so its easy to move them around

-relatively light weight (except for the 71 cm if its filled to the brim, with a maximum capacity of 30 kilos)

-doesn't get dirty easily and if it does, it's very easy for the maid to wipe it off

Minuses:

-when you expand it and its full, it feels wobbly in the area where it is expanded since the expanded area is only made of cloth

Now all I need to save up for is the 64 cm Delsey Extendo...

Bohol Countryside Tour

If you happen to be in Bohol, you might as well take the Bohol Countryside Tour. Its a one day tour that highlights all the beautiful things/sceneries in Bohol. Priced between Php 3,000-4,000 (US$ 67 - 89) per person, this is one tour that is worth taking.

The tour starts with the Chocolate Hills. Why is called Chocolate Hills? Its because during summertime/dry season, the hills tend to turn a shade of brown, thus, looking like Hershey's Kisses. However, during the wet season, the hills are in a shade of green. My foreign companion kept on lamenting about how he cannot explain to his friends that these are the Chocolate Hills since they are green colored. Good for the greenery...bad for the tourist pictures.

Be prepared to climb a long stretch of steps to fully appreciate the view of the hills.


Next stop is the Loboc River Cruise. I've been to several Bohol Countryside Tour already in the past but the river cruise never ceases to amaze me. It's like being in the Amazon River without the creepy creatures. Very serene...


There are several companies that offer the cruise and it is very easy for your to pick which cruise company to choose. Although, if this is a pre-arranged tour, then all you have to do is pick up your ticket or let the tour guide lead you through


The newish docking station for the ferries is a sight for sore eyes as aesthetically, everything about it is the exact opposite of how it should have blended in with nature. Its very clean though and now it makes getting in and out of the ferries very easy




Once you board the ferry, a lunch buffet is readily available for you to partake. Very basic Filipino food


Feeling generous? There's a pit stop during the cruise with some local performers doing a song and dance number. Tip is recommended but not necessary. You may also purchse some of the local products from them such as honey or a guitar/yukalele


Breathtaking, isn't it? Love the greeneries and the serenity.

Up next, our shy and sensitive friends, the Tarsiers (haplorrhine primates).
Fact: Tarsiers are nocturnal and feast on insects.


There's also a couple of flying Lemurs near the Tarsiers. They kinda creeped me out though


Word of Wise: don't ever do the pose below!


Next stop is at the oldest coral stone church in the Visayas area (the oldest coral stone church in the Philippines is San Agustin Church in Intramuros)






As you can see from the pictures above, the church is full of history. Sadly, one cannot take pictures inside the museum as they have beautiful church artifacts stored in there.


Last stop was the blood compact site. I love that its location affords it a scenic view of the ocean. One question though that my friend kept on asking, why are they using mugs for their wine? Maybe somebody can give us a good and credible answer.

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino

Aside from being part of the only Philippine owned hotel chain and a flagship hotel at that, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino (WCCH) can boast that it is one of the best centrally located hotel in Cebu.

Opened in January 1998 in time for the Asean Tourism Forum, the hotel has 561 guest rooms, numerous restaurant outlets, a grand ballroom with over 2,000 square meters, a casino, a duty free shop and other various concessionaires spread out over the huge expanse of the hotel.

Upon the generosity of Mr Joseph Tam, Waterfront Hotel Group's Sales Manager, I was able to stay at one of their Superior Rooms

As you can see with the pictures, the guest rooms are in dire need of an update/renovation. Furnitures, fixtures and color scheme seem to date back to the 90s. The bed though is firm and comfortable although the sheets and pillow case need to be of a higher thread count as it feels rough on the skin.

Luckily I am not fond of watching TV so the ill-fitting TV (cabinet is too big or the TV is too small, you decide) did not bother me at all.

I've heard a number of accidents that have happened with regards to the bath tub due to the fact that the tub is perched a bit high and people tend to slip when getting out of the tub. I myself, have never experienced this although I always take great care when stepping in or out of the tub.

Overall, staying at this hotel has always been like going back to one's house as it is both comfortable and homey. But a facelift is what should be in the next order of the management of the hotel group.

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino

Salinas Drive, Lahug

Cebu City

Tel: (+63 32) 2326888

Website: http://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/

Crimson Beach Resort and Spa

On my free time during my recent trip to Cebu, I decided to check out one of Cebu's newest resort in Mactan, Crimson Beach Resort and Spa.

An introductory information about the resort which I picked up from their website, www.crimsonhotel.com

This 290-key deluxe beach resort oasis in the island of Mactan is managed and operated by Filarchipelago Hospitality, Inc., a joint venture of Filinvest Development Corporation and Archipelago International Pte, Ltd. a hospitality management group registered in Singapore.

Together with my good friend, the owner of Cebu Holidays, Mr. Ricky Tio and geomancer Santiago Tong Jr. (I have another story about Mr Tong Jr), we ventured out on a 45-minute drive from the city to the resort. We were greeted by one of Cebu's long-time and respected Associated Director of Sales, Ms. Golly Talens and was taken for a tour of the property.

Driveway drop-off/pick-up point of the resort

Lobby Area

Front Desk with those tree stump looking desks

The 3-layered infinity pool...for me this is the most scenic spot and the best if you ask me

Basically the resort has three types of rooms,

a. Deluxe Suites

b. Garden Suite

The welcome fruit is actually not supposed to be there (accidentally left by the housekeeping staff I'm sure) but I love the way the whole thing looks

I just found out I didn't have enough pictures of the Garden Suite and am not doing it any justice

c. Private Villa and Casita

With 3 LCD TV's, your own plunge pool and 115 sqm of space, this one bedroom villa will set you back around Php 17,000 (US$ 377) a night. Its also comes with a sofa bed, a king-size four poster bed, and DVD player.

One of two 42 inch LCD TV's in the villa

The bathroom has its own 22 inch LCD TV

plunge pool

The resort has the following facilities:

The main dining area

Pool and beach dining/bar area

The only hotel in Cebu with an indoor badminton court (I don't understand though, why they didn't make this an indoor badminton/tennis court)

gym with Precor equipment

Sport bar (where except for the billiard table, all the other table games are complimentary)

The resort is in my opinion, what a resort should really be...sprawling with no high-rise buildings. Although one may have to walk a mile under the sun to get from their room to the lobby/restaurants, this is part of the charm of staying in a resort. I also loved it that they had quirky pieces of furnitures are obviously made in the Philippines (i'm hoping they are and not some cheap imported stuff). This resort is definitely ideal for honeymooners, young and young-at-heart people and people who just want to get away from the city and get a lot of down time.