Where I stayed in Malaybalay, Bukidnon: Plaza view Tourist Inn

I arrived a little late and hungry at 6pm. No itineraries, no reservations, just my backpack and my wallet.lack of preparations was not a challenge though. I had my internet over phone that helped me research for my needs.

The bus dropped me right in the plaza. As i was hingry, i munched on the balut, tempura, and kwek kwek that piled up in the plaza. 

Shortly after, i checked in at plaza view. There was no single ordinary room available so had no choice but to pay in the twin bed settlement.

I have also posted about ARL Resto in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon here

Travelling Philippines? Follow @CheapBedsPH on Instagram for geotagged backpacker accomodation below PHP400 (US$9) for easier searches.

I arrived a little late and hungry at 6pm. No itineraries, no reservations, just my backpack and my wallet.lack of preparations was not a challenge though. I had my internet over phone that helped me research for my needs.

The bus dropped me right in the plaza. As i was hingry, i munched on the balut, tempura, and kwek kwek that piled up in the plaza. 

Shortly after, i checked in at plaza view. There was no single ordinary room available so had no choice but to pay in the twin bed settlement.

I have also posted about ARL Resto in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon here

Travelling Philippines? Follow @CheapBedsPH on Instagram for geotagged backpacker accomodation below PHP400 (US$9) for easier searches.

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Where I ate in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

My last meal for the day has been that brunch in the JRJ Chicken in Cagayan De Oro city; A stop over at CEDAR in Impalutao, Impasugong, Bukidnon ( and the unexpected muddy 700m trek to the falls) left my knees shaking.

Asking the locals for where to eat steered me to this the locals still refer to as Mendez (ARL resto & jazz bar).

I asked the waiter for their specialty and told me it's the chicken barbeque. But, chicken barbeque has been more staple than rice in this northern mindanao trip (though I wont refuse it if it were Family Fried Chicken of Zamboanga ;-) ). Then, I asked for an alternative; was pointed the sizzlers; ended up ordering sizzling squid.

The squid was served in a super salty and lavisly peppered gravy sauce which made me hope its chicken instead and have less regret of what I'd be paying. Would've been better in the regular oyster/worcestershire sauce. Below is the menu.. And I don't recommend this squid.

Try the kwek kweks, balut, and tempura stalls in the Plaza :-). Just fronting Plaza View Tourist Inn

See here for where I stayed in Malaybalay City

My last meal for the day has been that brunch in the JRJ Chicken in Cagayan De Oro city; A stop over at CEDAR in Impalutao, Impasugong, Bukidnon ( and the unexpected muddy 700m trek to the falls) left my knees shaking.

Asking the locals for where to eat steered me to this the locals still refer to as Mendez (ARL resto & jazz bar).

I asked the waiter for their specialty and told me it's the chicken barbeque. But, chicken barbeque has been more staple than rice in this northern mindanao trip (though I wont refuse it if it were Family Fried Chicken of Zamboanga ;-) ). Then, I asked for an alternative; was pointed the sizzlers; ended up ordering sizzling squid.

The squid was served in a super salty and lavisly peppered gravy sauce which made me hope its chicken instead and have less regret of what I'd be paying. Would've been better in the regular oyster/worcestershire sauce. Below is the menu.. And I don't recommend this squid.

Try the kwek kweks, balut, and tempura stalls in the Plaza :-). Just fronting Plaza View Tourist Inn

See here for where I stayed in Malaybalay City

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White water rafting in Cagayan de Oro city

Travel bud Choks arranged everything in this trip, and I must be honest I have no preparations nor any contribution for this trip. All i know is that i decided to go just a day before the flight, had to finish my laundry the night before, and have not had sleep at all.

Upon landing in landinguin airport, we head straight to Vines pension house in Cagayan De Oro where we will be picked up by the Kagay team (our tour operator for the whitewater rafting).

It was a not so quick jeepney ride to the river, which as they say, divides cagayan and bukidnon. Apart from our group, There were 3 others in the jeep who will go for beginner level; So, after dropping us to our jump off, they proceeded somewhere else where they waited for us while we track through the advanced level.

Funny thing that happened was, we didn't flip anywhere in the advanced level rapids, but twice on the beginner level. The first time we fell off the raft was awkward. It was actually very easy; yet, we were foolig around at the time so 3 of 4 fell off the raft.

The second one was rather unprecedented. I could see from the face of the guide that he didn't expect us flipping. I think it was due rather to the distribution of our weight thats why we flipped. The rapid is facing the white wall, and while we were trying to maneuver sidewards, we were caught off hook diagonal to the direction of the current, such that we hit the wall with the heavier side of the raft on the latter position.

I must say it was a bad flip and I could tell from the face of the guides how unexpected it is. Overall though, had we not flipped, i would have found the rafting 100% boring (not sure because lack of rest and sleep made me short of good vibes). It takes too much time to get to the next rapid; and it is not called rapid for nothing; it happens too quickly, and takes too long to get to each of the 24 rapids.

There was also some part where we spotted some snakes hanging up the trees. (One more thing that made it less boring). Also, i jumpe off the raft at some streams; let myself flow woth the water, to make it more fun.

We each paid 1100 for the advanced level rafting with Kagay.

Essential: sunblock and armsleeves perhaps. The 3hours course under the burning sun is sure going to cook you well done.

At the end of the course is a nice resort with P50 entrance. Might want to add that to the iti. They also serve food and snacks for guests (and finishers of the rafting).

Still not sure where to stay in CDeO? I Posted photos here and here of where I stayed.and here's for how to commute from laguindingan airport to city proper
see here for where we ate in Cagayan De Oro

Travel bud Choks arranged everything in this trip, and I must be honest I have no preparations nor any contribution for this trip. All i know is that i decided to go just a day before the flight, had to finish my laundry the night before, and have not had sleep at all.

Upon landing in landinguin airport, we head straight to Vines pension house in Cagayan De Oro where we will be picked up by the Kagay team (our tour operator for the whitewater rafting).

It was a not so quick jeepney ride to the river, which as they say, divides cagayan and bukidnon. Apart from our group, There were 3 others in the jeep who will go for beginner level; So, after dropping us to our jump off, they proceeded somewhere else where they waited for us while we track through the advanced level.

Funny thing that happened was, we didn't flip anywhere in the advanced level rapids, but twice on the beginner level. The first time we fell off the raft was awkward. It was actually very easy; yet, we were foolig around at the time so 3 of 4 fell off the raft.

The second one was rather unprecedented. I could see from the face of the guide that he didn't expect us flipping. I think it was due rather to the distribution of our weight thats why we flipped. The rapid is facing the white wall, and while we were trying to maneuver sidewards, we were caught off hook diagonal to the direction of the current, such that we hit the wall with the heavier side of the raft on the latter position.

I must say it was a bad flip and I could tell from the face of the guides how unexpected it is. Overall though, had we not flipped, i would have found the rafting 100% boring (not sure because lack of rest and sleep made me short of good vibes). It takes too much time to get to the next rapid; and it is not called rapid for nothing; it happens too quickly, and takes too long to get to each of the 24 rapids.

There was also some part where we spotted some snakes hanging up the trees. (One more thing that made it less boring). Also, i jumpe off the raft at some streams; let myself flow woth the water, to make it more fun.

We each paid 1100 for the advanced level rafting with Kagay.

Essential: sunblock and armsleeves perhaps. The 3hours course under the burning sun is sure going to cook you well done.

At the end of the course is a nice resort with P50 entrance. Might want to add that to the iti. They also serve food and snacks for guests (and finishers of the rafting).

Still not sure where to stay in CDeO? I Posted photos here and here of where I stayed.and here's for how to commute from laguindingan airport to city proper
see here for where we ate in Cagayan De Oro

Read More »