One fine day, me and my friends decided to go to Osmeña Peak. Without further ado, we packed our stuffs and prepped everything that we need to bring for an overnight journey without planning on where we are gonna stay or spend the night.
Early in the morning, me and my friends met at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. We thought that we can ride on the bus around 3 in the morning hoping to see the sunrise at Osmeña Peak but in our surprise, a numerous people lining for the bus heading to Oslob or somewhere going to the south of Cebu. We were able to get on the bus after almost 2 hours of waiting.
Tell the driver or conductor of the bus to drop you off to Dalaguete Junction to Osmeña Peak. The landmarks would be 7/11 and a bakeshop just across it. You'll also see many habal-habal/motorcycle in one corner waiting for passengers. The ride will take you for about 30-40 minutes and the motorcycle can accommodate 2 passengers at a time with a fare of 100 pesos each.
You'll be dropped off at the tourism office and you'll pay 30 pesos for the entrance fee. You may opt to get or hire a tour guide going to the peak. But for us, we didn't get one.
(not the summit yet)
You'll reach the summit for about 20-30 minutes only. Seems easy, right?
There is a camping site in Osmeña Peak if you plan to stay overnight but you need to bring your own tent. There will be a charge of 50 pesos per person.
The view was really amazing and breathtaking when you reach the summit. You'll see some neighbouring islands and beautiful seas. Time to inhale the fresh air!!!
Spend a lot of time taking pictures and maximising our time before starting our traverse to Kawasan Falls. We talked to a local and asked some advice on how to get to Kawasan Falls. We almost decided to get him as our tour guide for our traverse but in the end, we were so determined to try our best and be independent. So as you all know, we traversed by ourselves.
The calm before the muscle breaking journey
Still fine after an hour
We lost our way several times but we were so lucky to see some locals or passerby and ask if the way that we are taking is still correct or not. In this journey, we were not able to rely on google maps because the signal was not stable.
Finally! After 5 hours, we were able to reach the highway as what the locals instructed us. It means, we are almost done with our traverse.
The first waterfalls in Kawasan.
The second waterfalls.
The instagrammable dam in Kawasan Falls.
We took a tricycle from Kawasan going to Lambug Beach. It took as about 30-40 minutes to get there. We spend the night there by renting a tent that is good for 4 persons. Facilities there were good and locals are so helpful that you'll never be intimidated.
You can also check the video (below) that I made for this journey on YouTube. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe.
4:30 AM Departed Cebu City
6:30 AM Arrived in Dalaguete (Drop off area to Osmeña Peak)
7:00 AM Osmena Peak Tourism Center
7:30 AM Touchdown Osmeña Peak
9:00 AM Started the Traverse going to Kawasan
2:30 PM Touchdown Kawasan Falls
6:30 PM Lambug Beach
Da Nang, the fourth largest city in Vietnam, marks the halfway point between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Apart from visit some sightseeing spots, Da Nang is also the home of beautiful beaches such as My Khe Beach, Lang Co Beach, My Son and Hoi An.
Everything is accessible by car, taxi, motorbike and bicycle. All you need to have is the courage to drive in the busy streets of Vietnam.
Here are the places I went when I was in Da Nang:
Located on the peak of Son Tra mountain with a very beautiful overlooking view of the beaches and the city, you can see the what they called Lady Buddha. It measures about 67 meters and said to be the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam.
When the legend began, people built a place of worship here and from that, everything went stable and fishermen received abundant blessings and worked in peace during a long time.
The Linh Ung Statue is also surrounded with its main shrine. It was built with contemporary design combined with inherent tradition of pagodas in Vietnam with curved roof in dragon shape and solid pillars surrounded by revolutionary sinuous dragons.
Marble Mountain
Also called as Ngũ Hành Sơn, is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills. The five mountains are named after the 5 elements: Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). It is considered as a well-known attraction among the locals and tourists. It is known to be a pilgrimage site and spiritual land of Quang Nam.
All the mountains have cave entrances and tunnels making the tourist spots accessible to one another. The Marble mountain also is a home of several Buddhist and Hindu grottos.
A stairway of more than 150 steps will lead you to the summit of the Thuy Son. The only Marble mountain that is accessible to visitors. While on the summit, you'll see the panoramic view of the surrounding area and also the other marble mountains.
**When I went to the summit, I followed some group of foreigners trying to pass through a narrow opening. Whenever you see this, just be careful as some limestones can be sharp and may hurt you. Going down, I used the stairway but it may slippery too.
Museum of Cham Sculpture
This museum has a lot of masterpiece from the existence of Champa period. Champa came from the Sanskrit word Kampala, which means a large evergreen tree. This museum collected all the deposits from 192AD-1697, where Vietnam's indigenous people lived an Indian way of both life and culture.
The museum displays almost 300 stone works of art ranging from the 7th to 15th centuries. Most of the displays are considered masterpieces of their own field according to the region where they were found.
All of the sculptures on display fall into the following sections: Icon, pedestal, pediment or fragments with the area where they were found.
Dragon Bridge
This modern bridge crosses the Han River with 666 meters long, 37.5 meters wide and has six lanes for traffic. It was opened to traffic on March 29, 2013 during the 38th anniversary of the liberation of Da Nang City.
The bridge offers a dazzling display of colourful lights at night and spits water and breathe fire every Saturday and Sunday at 9 in the evening.
**I came near this bridge to have a nice view of how the dragon breathes fire but the weather didn't cooperate, sad to say, it rained so hard and they postponed the show. I came back to my hotel soaked under the rain but t'was a great and awesome experience though. Thanks to some people who offered their umbrellas to me.
SIDE TRIP TO THE ANCIENT CITY OF HOI AN
WHAT ABOUT HOI AN?
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Hoi An was the international trading centre in the Southern Vietnam. Foreign trader ships came to Hoi An in great numbers for annual commercial fairs. Right in this town, Japanese, Chinese and Indian traders set up their establishments for permanent habitation.
Today, Hoi An is named as the Ancient City where some of the shrines, temples, pagodas, markets and even houses are still intact and well preserved.
You may go inside some temples, shrines or heritage houses when you purchase this ticket from the Hoi An information office located just across the Japanese Covered Bridge. Ticket is worth 120,000VND and is only valid for 24 hours upon purchase. You can already visit 5 places.
The Japanese covered bridge. Built in the former Japanese quarter, Chua Can--the early 17th century. The unique and beloved symbol of Hoi An people. Also serves as the entrance for the cultural houses and temples.
Trung Hoa Assembly hall, is also one the oldest assembly hall in Hoi An. It is not only to be home of Chinese migrants in the old time but also a worshiping place to dedicate to Thien Hau Holy Mother.
Mot Hoi An (Traditional herbal drink) --Don't forget to try this famous herbal tea in Hoi An. It has a little sweet taste of lemon and lemon grass with some special herbs. There are a lot of people selling this kind of drink in the streets of the ancient town. One of the famous seller is Mot. Many people were ordering their drinks when I passed by. I patiently waited for my drink to be served and it made me crave for some more. It was so refreshing and healthy at the same time. 1 cup of this tea is only 10,000 VND.
The instagrammable streets of the ancient city of Hoi An.
You will also witness the reenactment of the wedding procession of Princess Nuoc Hot and Japanese trader Araki Sotaro from the Japanese bridge area going to the streets of Hoi An.
Phuc Kien Fujian Assembly Hall, the largest and most famous of the assembly halls in Hoi An. Phuc Kien was built in order for the people of Fujian in China to meet up and socialise whenever they go to Hoi An.
Strolling around Hoi An, you'll see a lot of locals selling some of their delicacies. Some are offering tours and some are offering to take pictures of you.
Hoi An has become somewhat of a foodie destination. But you'll also see various of houses made as a cafe, restaurant or even a souvenir shop. Hoi An is also well-known for their silk products and tailor-made clothes. If you’re looking to have a dress or suit made, Ancient Town is the place to go.
From the16th to the 18th centuries, Hoi An attracted international traders because of its location on the banks of Thu Bon River, conveniently flowing into the East China Sea. The merchants chose to stop here to wait for the right wind directions for their next destinations.
The whole town is reintroducing the use of gorgeous and colourful hand-crafted lanterns. And when you are lucky to go there during their festivals and special occasions, you'll see hundreds to thousands of these lanterns on the verandas and windows of the houses being hanged as what they did 300 years ago. It is also a famous souvenir among the foreigners.
Aside from the lanterns, you'll see a lot of vendors selling different stuffs. From handicrafts, souvenir items, foods and many more. Don't forget to try some exotic foods while you're here!
The lantern festival has become famous enough that even you visit isn't on the full moon date, you can still participate in the Hoi An's traditional full moon festival. Lanterns are being lighted right at dawn. Candles are placed in or at the bottom of the lanterns and letting it float on the river. They said one can make a wish while setting the lantern on the water. Unfortunately, mine sunken fast.
Going to Hue, I rode a train for about 10 hours from Ninh Binh (I know what you are thinking!). Yes! It was a pain in my back especially I was assigned on the uppermost bed of a 6-bed room. But one good thing, I was able to sleep for 6 hours after eating dinner. It was my first time to ride the train for that long so I consider it as a nightmare.
I don’t wanna waste my time in Vietnam knowing that I have a spontaneous trip and uncountable places to visit here so after having enough rest, I visited the listed places below. And I hope you will visit these places someday or when you go to Hue because these places are so important to them.
Imperial City of Hue
Like many countries in Asia, Vietnam also used to be ruled by dynasties of families, emperors, grand palaces and many more.
So from 1802-1945, Vietnam was ruled by the Nguyen Dynasty. They are known to be the powerful family who had its capital in the city of Hue for more than 100 years.
By visiting the Imperial City of Hue, you’ll get to know more about their history. There was even a part of the citadel known as “The Forbidden Purple City” which was only reserved for the most important people in Vietnam.
Tu Duc Tomb
Built between 1864-1867, this tomb was designed as a tribute to the fourth Nguyen Emperor’s long and frustrating life since he served and died without heirs.
The tomb site and buildings are well preserved despite the war and time. This serves as a reminder that money and power can only buy one so much happiness.
Royal Tomb of King Khai Dinh
Of all the rulers who had built themselves a tomb, I can say that Emperor Khai Dinh built the grandest design. With the 37 steps entrance, framed by carved dragons. Statues of horses, elephants and military line the forecourts. Ceramic and glass form mosaics of dragons along the walls. The ceilings of the tomb are hand painted.
Emperor Khai Dinh died young and was not very popular among the people but the design of the tomb itself will give and leave you a mouth opening art masterpiece.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Built on the overlooking hill of Perfume River lies a pagoda that serves as an icon of Vietnam and a symbol of Hue as the citadel. This 21 meter high pagoda was constructed under the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri in 1844.
Over the centuries, the buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times.
It is advisable to visit in the morning before tour groups show up.
Thanh Toan Bridge
Driving through the beautiful rural landscapes, I found this almost deserted attraction. Known to be the sister bridge to Hoi An’s famous Japanese bridge.
The bridge is difficult to find so make sure you pinned the right place on your map if you’re going there on your own.
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