Monday, November 24, 2014

Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa









Dressing up for a place like this is a must-do so you'll definitely look good in pictures.  Thank heavens that there's this lacy tube-top mullet dress from Chalou that is not too formal nor too casual as a resort get-up.  The dress' beige color also blends well with the view which makes it more pleasing to the lenses.  Studded flip flops are also a great match for that classy look yet comfy feel.  Flats with elegant style are must-haves for travels 'coz you can wear 'em on the streets or inside a posh cafe.  With the Charms and Memories pendant and Ong's Fine Jewelries chain, you'll surely be a perfect fit for a plush resort like Shangri-La Mactan!  I was also wearing Etude BB Cream for a fuss-free-no-make-up look.  It is so light to the skin that makes you look fresh and glowing the entire day.  Additionally, it also includes sunscreen protection to shield you from the sun's harmful rays.  Always include one in your travel kit so you can do away with much retouch.  Watch out for more #tosomtravels only here on The Other Side of Mae! :)

     

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu


When one of my besties announced to the universe her wish on celebrating her birthday at Mövenpick, my other bestie's ears popped up and seconded the motion that wish!  It was last sembreak when the chogs got reunited after "48" years at Ruth's place when her mom instantly volunteered to watch over her daughter while she's away.  Tita Be Lan also encouraged us to go with the plan and just enjoy life even just for while.  So Cherry Ann excitedly booked our trip to the resort as soon as she got back to Cebu for work.  Then off we went to Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu for her grandiose 32nd birthday celebration!


Mövenpick comes from the German word Möwe for seagull.  Originally a restaurant at Zurich, Switzerland, Mövenpick envisioned to "open up a window to the garden of pleasure to relish the everyday delight of eating and drinking into reality".  With that, they offered good food for people in a hurry without the waiting just like seagulls dropping by and moving on to their next flight.  (source:  Mövenpick's official website)  With the mission into keeping this vision, Mövenpick eventually grew to become a large-scale chain of resorts and restaurants all over the world!


In the Philippines, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts chose Mactan Island, Cebu to be its home for another world-class resort.  As the former Hilton, the resort is conveniently located right along Punta Engaῆo Road, just a 6-km drive away from Mactan-Cebu International Airport.  If you come from the city proper, allot a 45-minute to an hour drive depending on traffic conditions.


And so the day did came for Cherry Ann's birthday shindig!  We arrived at Mövenpick just in time for lunch.  When we entered the place, it was like "Santorini, is that you?"  Oh, come on!  With the whites and blues all over the place, I felt like being transported to alluring Greece.  I fell instantly in love!!!  What more with the Kenneth Cobonpue's furniture?  It was beyond love at that!


As part of Cebu Watersports Complex, you can also enjoy Mövenpick's various water activities like kayaking and snorkeling.  The beach is so gorgeous that even to a non-beach goer like me, it looked so appealing that you couldn't resist!

     
And if you want to release that stress from everyday pressure, Mövenpick also has a luxurious spa, the Spa Delmar to do the works for you.


With that, you can surely have a more relaxing staycation at this decadent paradise.


And for our staycation, Cherry Ann picked the residential room wherein we had our cute nook overlooking the beach, convenient kitchen, spacious closet, and bath tub.  The room was so perfect for a group of five like us!


If Mövenpick is lovely by day, it is even lovelier by night!  Blue and pink hues of lights highlight Ibiza Beach Club, the venue of Cherry Ann's party.  The club offers Balearic Churrasco and Mediterranean tapas with a variety of fine wine.  Live band entertainment also makes you feel a bit more like partying in Brazil where you can also dance to the beat!  But if you want some privacy, there is also an indoor resto where you can be romantic with your loved one.


To encapsulate our Mövenpick experience, it was like a dream!  Just like seagulls, we were also in a hurry dropping by and moving on with our 24-hour stay there.  How I wish we'd stayed longer.  But we had to get back to our respective posts as employers (Cherry Ann and me), clinic-owner (Liza), and mothers (Ruth and Queenie).  Hopefully next time, we can visit the place again without the haste.

By the way, the point-and-shoot photos here are an understatement of the real beauty and splendor of the place.  These don't give justice to what Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu  really is.  So better check out their official website here for prettier images.  :)



Cheers to Cherry Ann, cheers to good life, cheers to Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu!  :)


Saturday, November 22, 2014

The After-Party of #yrech32

And the party didn't end yet!  The morning after Doc Cherry Ann's birthday, we had an early morning dip at Mövenpick's luxurious swimming pool with the radiant sunrise.



Then off we went to another resort nearby, the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa!


For further party-party, we had the best spareribs in Cebu for lunch at Casa Verde.


To digest the big lunch, we had tea at Cafe Noriter while also having fun like little kids at playtime.


And to cap it all, Ruth treated us an early dinner at Bucket Shrimps!


There you have our road trip, food trip, and laugh trip!  Oh, how I wish it will always be this way.  Far from worries, far from responsibilities, far from pressure.  A get-away like this with fun-seeking friends are to be treasured forever.  Once a while, we need a breather and sweet escape from everyday's reality.  So thank you so much to my girl friends, Cherry Ann, Ruth, Quennie, and Liza for a very memorable vacay!  Hope we can do this again sometime soon! :)  

And to you my dear blog readers, thank you for the sweet comments and follows!  Because of you, I'm inspired to write and share with you "the happenings" of my sometimes-up-and-sometimes-down life.  These three blog entries are only a summary of my recent trip.  This ain't over yet for I will still be blogging more of our #yrech32 experience!  So stay tuned for reviews and suggestions of each place we had checked-in. :)


Friday, November 21, 2014

The Night of #yrech32

Now here comes the party proper of Doc Cherry Ann at Ibiza Beach Club!  It was like her debut with the documentation of her glamming up for the party and all.

Perfume Giveaways from Fascino by Maria Rosalia
With Queenie's Papang, Archu
Wine and Dine
With Dockie's Pretty Cebuana Friends
Oh!  We're Dancing in Ibiza, We're Having a Great Party!
Lemon Grass Therapy
Indoor Fine Dining of Ibiza Beach Club
Good food, connoisseur wine, upbeat music, awesome place, new friends.  The night of Cherry Ann's birthday was just so perf!  And like a debut, the night ended with the opening of gifts.    


Our birthday girl was just so happy for everything turned out as she wished for.  So to our very generous friend, thank you so much for inviting us over!  'Twas really an experience of a lifetime!  We wish you all the best and more blessings to come.  Continue keeping your feet on the ground.  Happy happy happy, joy joy joy, love love love to you, chog!  We love you! xoxo

Watch out for more blog posts on our Mövenpick experience only here in The Other Side of Mae! :)   #tosomtravels

  

Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Day of #yrech32

My high school barkada, chatmate, and mangbukingay yet a very good friend, Dr. Cherry Ann Tuba celebrated her 32nd birthday just last Tuesday at a very prestigious resort in Mactan Island, Cebu!  Here are only a few snippets on how we celebrated her very big day!

Check-In at Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu
Lunch at Fiesta Bay Asian Seafood Restaurant
Chillin' in the Garden
Gearing Up for Swimming
By the Beach
Beach Bums
Jacuzzi Time
At Ibiza Beach Club
By the Bar
Got Wasted in Broad Daylight?
Pool Time
Watch out for more blog posts on our Mövenpick experience only here in The Other Side of Mae! :)   #tosomtravels


Thursday, November 13, 2014

Catching Up with the Roses

It has been quite sometime now that I haven't showed myself to the whole JCI-Ozamiz Red Rose community!  But as what my students always say, "Past is past, let's not discuss", let's not discuss heartaches here!  I am just glad that I did saw them last night for Atsi Ann's birthday bash!


To my "mother" president, thank you so much for making my baby Jaycee year a very memorable one!  Thank you, Atsi Ann for your kind heart and never-ending understanding.  Thank you for the love and care as a real Atsi to me!  You are the older sister I never have.  I love you, Atsi! :)

After the dinner party at New Central Restaurant, onto my favorite couch in the city!


And there we had more talk, more fun, and more laughs!  Oh, I had missed this kind of super bonding moment with these beautiful red roses!  'Till our next meeting, ladies! :)