Monday, July 30, 2012

Cagayan de Oro: Food Trips: Dinnertime at Plaza Divisoria

by lakwatserong tatay

It's our Day 4, and 2nd night in staying in Cagayan de Oro, For our accomodation, we choose again to stay in Victoria Suites. And our next spot to explore was just right besides our hostel Plaza Divisoria, the night market happenings....

Sad to say we wasn't able to explore much the city of Cagayan de Oro, because most of the time were in hurry to catch bus rides and were always on the go. We did not have the luxury of time to walk around and even visit the church of Cagayan de Oro which was also few meters away from our hostel....huhuhu...even see the monuments park of Plaza Divisoria namely as Ramon Magsaysay monument, Pueblo monument and Jose Rizal monument.

As per talking to our hostel guard, this park is actually popular for Cagayan de Oro locals because it serves as resting place for them, in morning few locals jogs and stroll on this park. There some local skaters uses the grounds of the park as their training ground. It also located in the center of town proper, you're just like walking on the busy streets of Manila, where Taxi's, Jeepney's, and  Motorela traverses. Locals, tourist and foreign travelers alike are walking to and from the streets. This park also serves as monuments to several filipino heroes.

But what makes this plaza unique is.....every friday's and saturday's, this plaza turns and transform as it fills with food stalls where locals and travelers alike us, fill themselves up with local delicasies. It has also weekend night market where there are differents items are for sale from brand new and up to ukay-ukay.

grilled street food choices....^_^
Because of curiosity, we tried to dine in and experience the nightlife in Plaza Divisoria. Actually if you have eaten in Banchetto and Merchato, it just like a resemblance of those two street dining experience. But what makes it differ to from two streetlife dining...most of the guest where call center agents, and price of the food where quite pricey due to some guests that where also dining on this areas, not like in Plaza Divisoria, you will just feel like your one of them. Purely local where present in the area, tourist and travelers alike where also present. All of items that you could find in a market is available from fruit stands, to different food stalls...basta iba siya....^_^
Me @ Nightlife and Street Dining Experience @ Plaza Divisoria
As we walk and choose were to eat from, two of my co-xplorer decided to have street massage on half of their body....while waiting for their order. We choose to dine in in front of the stage so for us to much the upcoming bands that will perform that night.



After our dinner, the performers had a break,so that's the time we had a quick stroll around each end of Plaza Divisoria. Sad to say, i wasn't able to take photos much because the battery of my camera was drained and i forget to charge it after our a day of adventure from Bukidnon and River rafting experience... huhuhuhuhu...sayang ganda pa naman ng gabi although umambon ng sandali pero buhay na buhay parin ang gabi sa Plaza Divisoria.

But thanks to my co-xplorers Reggie, Jayson and Melvin for sharing few of their photos below, because i wasn't able to charge the battery of my camera that night....they had very nice shots from fruit stands, one of the monument park, the street crowd in market area, the ukay-ukay portion, the streetlights that ws just looks like in Baywalk, Manila, and some dining area on Plaza Divisoria...^_^








Infact, being disappointed that time due to my camera, i manage to take two last shots for that night. First shot was while walking on the market area, together with my co-xplorers but as i browsed it, back from our hostel it was just like Melvin's solo photo opps in market area.....hehehehe...^_^

daya ni melvin siya lang meron photo opps dito....^_^
After few minutes of walk and strolling around the market area, we hurriedly back on the food stall that we have dine in, and actually we reserved the spot we had earlier...lakas namin kagad sa mayari...thanks ate & kuya..forgot to got their name...di bale meron pa naman next time eh....^_^. Here is my final and last shot for the night, one of the band that performs Visayan songs that time although i'm just the xplorerboyz who really understand more of their songs, my co-xplorers like the tune and the actual song even though they did not understand it lyrics....hehehehehe..sad to say i wasn't able to note the name of the band...^_^. We just had a few sets of drinks and few grilled pulutan's and then we called it a night, because we have to check out earlier again tomorrow for Iligan City trip and to see two of the majestic falls of Lanao del Norte.


And this is the end of our activities for Cagayan de Oro. Even though it was more that a food trip and did some adventurous activities, i promise to myself that if i ever had the chance again to visit this city of Cagayan de Oro, i'll be more focusing on this place. Tour the city and had the chance to walk and interact with the locals more......^_^. So watch out for more of our Northern Mindanao Escapades.....three more provinces to go....next province...The Island of Camiguin.


This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our first stop is the Capital City of Misamis Oriental, that is known as the "City of Golden Friendship", Cagayan De Oro City.

Food Trips:
Hammer Time Bar & Grill Restaurant (Bar Hoppin)
Mindy's (Eat All You Can Buffet Lunch)
Plaza Divisoria's (Weekend Night Street Food Dining)

Accomodation:
Victoria Suites

Activities:
Our Trip to City of Golden Friendship
Cagayan de Oro River (River Rafting Experience)
En Route to Camiguin (RORO Boat Transfer)

Cagayan de Oro: En Route to the Island of Camiguin

by lakwatserong tatay

For our 2nd day of Northern Mindanao Escapades. We woke up early to prepare for a long day of trip adventures in the island of Camiguin. From our hostel Victoria Suites, we went to Agora Market Terminal and arrived just in time for the 630am trip of Bachelor Express Bus (Yellow Bus) bound for Butuan. We paid php84 each for almost 2 hours trip from Cagayan de Oro to Balingoan, i told the conductor that to drop us off at Balingoan and then we proceed....^_^

Bound to Butuan Bus Liner
The was actually just like the non-ac bus of EDSA, but for this time there were no standing passenger or maybe it would depend on its season or the travel time...hehehe..we manage to have our own sit and stay on the backpart of the bus...where we will see everyone....we have also our photo opps along our almost 2 hours bus ride....^_^






The sun was really up when we arrived at Balingoan Bus Terminal, one of the stop over stations of Butuan bus bounds. From the bus terminal, you have option to ride a motorela (php7), if have big backpacks or travelling bags, it is better to ride than walk...hehehehe, or have a leisure walk to the port as it is just few meters away across the main street and Balingoan Bus Terminal, but be careful in walking because you have to cross the highway where all of the buses and trucks going.
Balingoan Bus Terminal
We bought a ticket at the booth for the ferry bound for Benoni Port, Camiguin. A one-way ticket costs php170 and php2.25 (terminal fee). Travel time is approximately 1 hour. Ferries leave Balingoan to Camiguin Island every hour from 6:00am to 5:00pm daily.


We had the chance to have some of our photo opps while waiting for for some vehicles and trucks to be loaded on the ferry, and  then afterwards other passengers got aboard too.....including us...^_^
xplorerboyz in photo opps mode...^_^


Super Shuttle Ferry 9
As there were only few passenger aboard the ferry, me and johari had the chance to roam around the ferry boat. We savored the cool breeze of the air while cruising and the rays of the morning sunlight as we cruise through the Camiguin channel. We enjoyed also the views as we started to cruise and the view of the majestic island of Camiguin as it is already visible from the ferry.
One of the islet as we started our cruise from Balingoan
ferry's open passengers seats...^_^
of course i would not missed the chance to have photoopps
the captain with other boat crews...




Care to have transportation rentals in Camiguin...
The majestic view of Mt. Hibok-Hibok
my co-xplorerboyz....^_^
This province is known to be as the island "Born of Fire" for it has seven volcanoes and several volcanic domes and it is said that due to volcanic eruptions and land movements have created this spectaculat island that is now bursting with natural wonders that we will be visiting for a 2 days stay....hehehehe. Camiguin Island is the smallest province in Northern Mindanao. Divided into 5 towns, namely: Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mahinog, Sagay and Mambajao.



Upon reaching Benoni Port, transport services such as habal-habal (single motorcycles that used in tricycles) and multicabs will be approaching you as you've departed the ferry and port. It would be really best if you already contacted someone for the tour so as to avoid getting annoyed, lucky for my group we did that. We were welcome by one of the port's porter and tell us to follow him to Kuya Chris (our tour guide/multi-cab driver).

It is very important to get a services only from someone you can trust. Here's one of the most recommended Multicab tour guide/driver Kuya Chris (contact #: 09215637788) for your tour on all of the tourist spots on this island with his multicab (we got a special rate: php2,500/ 2days) for group of 5 persons.

What's good with Kuya Chris, he was originally a local of Camiguin and really knows well where to bring you and gives your group information on the spots you toured on. It just like having an educational trip, besides being our driver, he will be your tourist guide, travel buddy and also be an photographer...hehehehe. Thanks to Kuya Chris for making our trip to Camiguin an eductional/ecomomical/most memorable one!
Lakwatserong Tatay @ Port Benoni, Camiguin
Watch out for the detailed tour and spots that we visited on Island of Camiguin. We had the chance to see and experience most of the best of Camiguin from swimming, island hopping, trekking and historical sites and many more....and one of the most important one to visit and buy Camiguin's best pasalubong Vjandep Pastel.


This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our first stop is the Capital City of Misamis Oriental, that is known as the "City of Golden Friendship", Cagayan De Oro City.

Food Trips:
Hammer Time Bar & Grill Restaurant (Bar Hoppin)
Mindy's (Eat All You Can Buffet Lunch)
Plaza Divisoria's (Weekend Night Street Food Dining)

Accomodation:
Victoria Suites

Activities:
Our Trip to City of Golden Friendship
Cagayan de Oro River (River Rafting Experience)
En Route to Camiguin (RORO Boat Transfer)

Cagayan de Oro: Eat All You Can at Mindy's

by lakwatserong tatay

Apart from our adventure packages between Bukidnon's Zipline, Walking on the Del Monte fields and River rafting ride in Cagayan de Oro river, we had also a Eat All You Can Lunch Buffet Meal included on our tour package.....^_^

Mindy's CDO
The buffet includes Pancit Canton, Crabs, Kare-Kare, Sweet and Sour Fish, Beef Steak, Fried Chicken, Chopsuey, Fresh Lumpia, Rice and Banana and Fresh Water Melon, Pineapple for dessert. Unlimited Iced Tea included with the meal. The food really tastes great, although di ako kumakain ng seafoods dun ako bumawai sa mga meat & chicken dishes nila...^_^ Ang malupit pare-pareho kaming naka 3 round sa kain...sulit ang Eat All you can namin...siguro napagod kami sa kakasigaw sa Zipline tapos after ng kainan nito....puro tubig naman...^_^

The dishes....^_^
The Dessert...^_^
Of course, photo opps naman...hehehehe..kain nakailan beses na ulit ng kain...all of the pictures were taken right before our third round of eating....hehehehe...pero parang di pa talaga kami busog...check nyo...^_^
Melvin's round 3
Huli ka regie....^_^
ubos nah...ambilis mo jayson...^_^

grabe pagkakahalo ng pagkain pareng johari...^_^

my plate....^_^
Just a little suggestion to the management, hope they could renovate few of their displays, we've found some pictures that are fading although the atmosphere was actually like your in an old brick house and refilling of their buffet dishes should be quite faster specially when there so many guests like on our time...the refill of food choices was not quite as quick as i've seen to other restaurants that serves buffet meals too...^_^ But all in all, we had really great time eating and we wish to go back and dine in this restaurant, if ever we had the chance to go back in CDO, maybe try the serving of dinner naman....^_^.....

Lakwatserong Tatay.....conquered Mindy's...^_^
For more information and inquiries:

MINDY's CDO
Yacapin St. Cor. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental
Phone no.: +63 88 272-0698


This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our first stop is the Capital City of Misamis Oriental, that is known as the "City of Golden Friendship", Cagayan De Oro City.

Food Trips:
Hammer Time Bar & Grill Restaurant (Bar Hoppin)
Mindy's (Eat All You Can Buffet Lunch)
Plaza Divisoria's (Weekend Night Street Food Dining)

Accomodation:
Victoria Suites

Activities:
Our Trip to City of Golden Friendship
Cagayan de Oro River (River Rafting Experience)
En Route to Camiguin (RORO Boat Transfer)

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