Hot Cebu

Tara’s Cafe

Cebu was hot! Literally. And Figuratively.

I just got back last weekend from my one week visit to cebu. After the excitement and euphoria subsided, I can’t believe how hot it is there. Hotter than last year when I came home for the holidays! The fan was in full blast at home, and the water, every time I’m the shower, is just pure heaven to my scorching body. But nevertheless, I welcome it all with open arms and sweaty armpits… LOL.

But aside from the sweaty experience, I can not help but be amazed at how much my little hometown of Cebu has grown in just a year.

My last visit home was last December during my Christmas vacation. (This year, it’s my boss’ turn to  go home, he let me and my groupmate both go home to enjoy our Christmas with our families for 3 straight weeks last year . And I was working for just barely 4 months then. He soooo deserves a break.) After a year of being away, my little hometown of Cebu has grown a lot! A whole lot!

A visit to the Asiatown IT park for instance, where I worked for 4 years, displayed 3 buildings which were not there when I left. Hahaha. I sound like I haven’t seen my share of super skyscrapers. But then, it is heart warming to see so many developments happening in my little city. More offices, means more work for my fellow cebuanos. Yipeeee!!

There is The Walk which housed some of Cebu’s gastronomic pride. The buildings and offices where international companies are situated. The e-Office smack in the middle certainly still looks like an elementary school.

And a visit home is not complete without checking out the new Ayala Terraces. Man oh Man! So pretty. All these resto’s lined up in a curve with friendly and accomodating cebuano service and mouth watering dishes. I’d recommend them to my foreigner friends anytime. As well as none cebuano friends who I filled with delectable stories of my queen city of the south.

But I cannot help but be teary eyed when I saw the big, big sign which says “Fully Booked”. Waaaaaaaaaaaah! Hindi ka na nag-iisa National bookstore!

Ms.Wade, Me (Yang to Jang) and Jang. College close buddies Dinner at Tara’s

I was also surprised to see the Duty Free branch at SM North Wing! I had my passport registered and got a Purchase card which I gave to ate Cherry.

Too bad I wasn’t able to visit all the new malls, stores, cafe’s and shops that opened while I was away.

Even the old love that we so enjoy like the AA’s BBQ did some resto revamped without losing the taste that only Cebu BBQ can offer. Truly world class. (I had my fill of their pork belly and sizzling Bangus and my all time favorite guso!)

Cebu is really swinging it! I’m so proud!.

Because of the limited time I had While I was there I wasn’t able to meet everyone who I love to be with. Most of my day time was spent home with my family or in front of the TV. Hehehe.

I was able to meet Mimi for a bit, and gave her chocolates to give to the rest of the supergirls. Thanks Mi! (Mai and Kaith, See you next time ha! Hope to see Ai pud next time. )

 

Tara’s Cafe is also a sweet surprise. Had dinner there with my college friends, Jang, vanessa and Cesleen together with Ms.Wade (college professor turned post-college close friend ). It is so near our place! It’s located just across Zao, where I had dinner a year before with Mai, Chichi, Mimi and Kaith.

I so love Tara’s Cafe, and the food is something I’ll surely miss. (You should try their Baby Beef ribs, yummy!)

Tabo sa Banay is also one of my stops. Where I did some old school shopping. Tabo sa Banay shopping tips: Wear comfortable clothes, wear slippers and leave your cellphones and bulky wallets at home.

I also tried the night market at Colon Street. This is where I bought faked Havianas for 40 pesos, and him a nice pair of fake Adidas flats. Hahaha.

I hope that in the next few years to come, Cebu would continue to rise up and develop as one of the competivie cities to watch out for, and yet not lose it’s identity and charm which more than anything else beckons visitors and locals and prodigal children to come back to it again and again.

I also hope that in the next few years there’ll be more places which would cater to the artistic and creative side of Cebu. A place for dancing, poetry reading, crafts, plays and literary recreation infused with good food and perhaps a few modern ammenities. This bonus would be a good addition to this paradise in the South.

Soon. Soon.