Is Cebu Ocean Park Worth To Visit?

             Cebu Ocean Park is the first-ever ocean park in Cebu that opened last August 2019. It is just near the SM Seaside, Cebu. 

Glowing Jellyfish at Cebu Ocean Park

How much does it cost?

•  Walk-in: ₱600

•  Via Klook: ₱590

Buy a ticket via Klook: Click Here

Main Tank Feeding / Fish Feeding Show at Cebu Ocean Park
Note: This area is also the Main Tank Luncheonette (restaurant)

What's the inclusion for the ₱600 / ₱590 price?

Admission to:

•  Jungle Trek

• Creepy Critters

• Seven Seas

• Lorries Loft

• Amphitheater Bird Show

• Crocodile Lair Exhibit

• Oceanarium 

• Main Tank Gallery

Plus:

• Digital Photo

The Amphitheater Bird Show at Ocean Park Cebu

The Creepy Critters at Cebu Ocean Park

Things to be mindful

• Re-entry is not allowed once you leave the place

• Outside food and drinks are not allowed

but no need to worry as there are Food & Refreshment available in the place

Here are some of our snaps taken at Cebu Ocean Park.
It's my mom's 60th birthday celebration. ♥ 

Opening Hours:

• Monday to Sunday: 10:00am to 6:00pm

• Last admission: 1 hour before the closing time

Is it worth to visit?

Definitely! It is worth every penny. I highly recommend it.

Book a ticket online 

• Buy a ticket via Klook: Click Here

SpongeBob SquarePants Setting Spray: Careline Bubble Town Spray

            Lock in your look and bring on the fun with Careline Bubble Town Spray.

         So you’ve done a flawless make-up look and you’re ready to face the day. Of course, with the humid Philippine weather, the last thing you want is to keep re-touching your make-up just to make sure your makeup will stay on the whole day.

Careline Bubble Town Spray — Setting Spray
(Photo Credits)

         Careline offers the perfect solution to lock in your look with the Careline Bubble Town Spray (P325) – the brand’s newest setting spray from its SpongeBob SquarePants collaboration, which ensures that you look fresh all day with make-up on.

             It contains nourishing skincare actives such as Snow Mushroom extract and Aloe Vera extract to lock in your make-up with a moisturized satin-finish glow. Best of all, it’s very easy to apply. Simply shake the Bubble Town Spray and then spray in both ‘X’ and ‘T’ motion at least 6 to 8 inches away from the face.

         So keep your make-up looking fresh and in place with the Careline Bubble Town Spray, available in physical stores: Watsons, SM Department Stores, and other leading stores nationwide or online on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.

For more updates, visit and like Careline on Facebook (@CarelineCosmetics), Instagram (@carelineph), and TikTok (tiktok.com/@carelineph).

Shopee Link: https://shope.ee/AKE47UHOwa

Steak Shack At IL Corso Lifemalls, Cebu

                 Are you craving for a delicious yet affordable steak? Try to visit and dine at Steak Shack. Their exact location is at IL Corso Lifemalls, Cebu. A few steps away from Lantaw - IL Corso (north side parking lot).

Steak Shack, IL Corso, Cebu

Steak Shack, IL Corso, Cebu

What's special on their menu?

           You can additionally order Bone Marrow with your meals (by the way, all our orders have no additional Bone Marrow for personal preference).

Plus they offer:

• Unlimited Rice

• Unlimited Gravy

• Unlimited Soup (Sabaw)

The food we ordered at Steak Shack, IL Corso, Cebu

            So far, all the food we ordered is affordable and delicious. The meat is tender, and the gravy is good. It complemented well with the meat. Also, I love the free soup. It's so savory. As per the staff, the soup is Fish Sinigang. 

            Additionally, their staffs are accomodating. It's one of the few shops in Cebu that I'll surely visit again and again.

Note: I'm excited to try all the other food on their menu on my next visit.

For updates, feel free to visit their Facebook Page:  Click Here

Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu

              Here's another must-visit café in Cebu. It's Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu.

Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu

          This cafe is more than just its aesthetically beautiful interior. It also serves delicious sweet delights and drinks. It's like, you get what you paid for. Perfect!

Look at these delicious delights.
at Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu

         This Strawberry Choco Croissant is heavenly. It was sweet but not-so-sweet, at the same time flaky. The chocolate cream blended well with its pasty and strawberry. It's a great pair with their hot cappuccino.

Strawberry Choco Croissant
at Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu

Hot Cappuccino
at Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu

          I also love their Strawberry Puff. It's so soft and not-so-sweet. The strawberries on it elevated the taste.

Strawberry Puff
at Merci Bakery & Brunch, Cebu

Where is it specifically located?

• Aurora Bldg Paseo Saturnino, Ma Luisa Rd, Cebu City

Operating Hours

•  Monday to Thursday: 7am to 10pm

• Friday to Sunday: 7am to 12am

The Little Switzerland Of Japan — Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

          Did you know there's a place in Japan that looks like "not" Japan? It's like the little Switzerland of Japan — Fujikawaguchiko.

Fujikawaguchiko, Japan (Hi my fiancé ♥)  

About Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

             Fujikawaguchiko is a town in southern Yamanashi Prefecture. It is near Mt. Fuji, Japan.

Sooo beautiful, isn't it? It's Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

Spotted my fiancé's dream car GTR R34 parked in front of our hotel. Sooo cool!
at Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

What's interesting in the place?

Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
at Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

It was about to snow at the time we visited this place.
A few days after our visit, it snowed.
So, the place is sooo cold. Temperature is from 2℃ to -3℃.

           It's the Lake Kawaguchi's location. Plus, it is the perfect place to get a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji.

            According to Wikipedia, Lake Kawaguchi is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of surface area and lowest elevation.

The beautiful Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
at Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

       Additionally, this part of Lake Kawaguchi (in the photo above) is just a few steps from the Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum. As per Google, the Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum is a European-inspired garden with an antique music box museum, vintage organs & live performances.

Best hotel — HOTORI no HOTEL BAN

This is the facade of our hotel —  HOTORI no HOTEL BAN, Fujikawaguchiko

• It's just a few steps away from the Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum

• Very accessible as right in front of the hotel is the bus station

• You'll get a perfect view of Mt. Fuji from your hotel room - window

• There's a FamilyMart on the first floor of the hotel building

• The room is very spacious (you get what you paid for)

• If you opt for a car rental, there's a vast parking space

• It's just a few meters from Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway and a minute's drive to Fuji-Q Highland.

Book the hotel? Click Here 

How to go to Fujikawaguchiko?

           There are two ways of going to Fujikawaguichiko. You can either take the bus or by train.

• By Train (Fujikyu Railway Line) - From Shinjuku Station (Tokyo), you may take the JR Chuo Line to Otsuki Station. There, transfer to the Fujikyu Line to Kawaguchiko Station.

• By Bus - Two direct buses operate going to Kawaguchiko. It's Fujikyu and JR Kanto. From Tokyo Station, look for Yaesu South Exit. Additionally, you can buy bus tickets in advance online (even if you're still in the Philippines, as we did).

           Furthermore, if you booked a hotel near Lake Kawaguchi or at HOTORI no HOTEL BAN, take the Red Line bus from Kawaguchi Station. Bus fares flashed on the screen in front. Prices may vary depending on your drop-off point. 

The most memorable place because this is the place (the same spot in the picture)
where my long-term partner proposed to me.  

Indeed! When God is the center of your relationship,
HE will always guide and hug you two together, forever. ♥

“And over all these virtues put on LOVE, which binds them all
together in perfect unity.” - Colossians 3:14

Yours truly with Fuji-san at Lake Kawaguchiko

My gwapo fiancé at the drop-off point of the bus near our hotel

Where to book a flight?

• Check it here: Click Here 

Japan VISA Guide

• Check it here:  Click Here

Tips In Applying Japan Tourist Visa For Filipinos

              Japan is one of the countries that require Filipinos' visas for traveling. In light of this, there are various types of visa application purposes to acquire for Filipinos traveling to Japan.

               However, I would like to highlight the (1.1) TOURIST VISA APPLICATION as this is the visa we applied for.

Photo taken during our travel to Singapore (click here) with our most
favorite airlines: Singapore Airlines (click here)

 

Tips on how to get your Japan tourist VISA Approved

1.  Specify the visa you would like to apply for

         You can freely check the different visa types here: Embassy of Japan in the Philippines 

            In our case, we applied for a tourist visa under (1.1) TEMPORARY VISITOR: TOURISM, which has a 90-day maximum stay. The approved length of stay may vary if your proposed number of days aligns with your budget.

2.  Choose a travel agency

         You must have a travel agency as there is No Walk-in in processing your visa for Japan. In our case, we chose Friendship Tours (as this was the agency that helped my partner process his visa to Japan before).

• Friendship Tours Website

Cebu: Click Here 

Manila: Click Here 

• Cost: 

₱ 1,200 for Single-entry VISA

₱ 1,500 for Multiple-entry VISA

Cebu Office

• Address: Unit 2-508. 5th Floor, OITC 2 Bldg. Oakridge Business Park A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad,  Mandaue City Cebu

• Contact Number: 032-345-3459 /  032-344-4825 / 09177243373

• Email: info@friendshipcebu.com

• OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 NOON and 1:00PM-4:00PM  (Lunch Break: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)

Manila Office

• Address: 3F, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati

• Contact Number:  8819-5644 / 8810-9622 

• Email: Manila: visa@friendshipmanila.com

• OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Saturday from 9:00AM to 12:00PM and 1:00PM-6:00PM  (Lunch Break: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)

For Japanese

• Contact Number:  8840-1060

• Email: info@friendshipmanila.com

3. Requirements / Documents needed

• Passport

• Application Form

• Birth Certificate (issued by PSA within 1 year)

• Marriage Certificate (issued by PSA within 1 year. For married only)

• Itinerary in Japan

• Bank Certificate

• Photocopy of Income Tax Return 

           Take note, all the documents must be authentic and original, preferably in A4 size.

For a detailed copy of the requirements, feel free to click here.

4. Bank of Certificate

         Requirements may seem like the usual passport, birth certificate, and more. Yet, applying for a Japan Tourist VISA is very challenging.

         Let me stretch out the Bank Certificate part. If you're traveling as a Temporary Visitor Under Section 1: Tourism, it is vital that your Average Daily Balance (ADB) must not be less than 50K, and your savings must not be less than 100K, as suggested (if your bank account figures are higher than stated, then the better). With this, they will consider if your budget could sustain for the (number of) days you will be staying in the country.

    Additionally, on our part, since my partner and I are not yet married, we have to provide it individually.

Note: Getting your bank certificates from your respected banks a day before you submit your VISA application requirements to your agency is recommended.

5. Result of Application

        The standard visa processing may take between  7 to 10 business days. However, it may vary depending on the type of visa you applied for and the time of the year.

          I've read and watched from other bloggers and vloggers that some got the result after 2 - 5 business days. 

          Based on our experience, we got our visa application results after 6-days. 6-days later, after we submitted all the documents, the agency sent a message that it was ready for pick up (but at the moment of receiving the message from the agency, we didn't know the results yet. Results would be revealed at the office only).

         At the end of the day, just like all the tips you've read and watched from other bloggers and vloggers, nobody can guarantee your Japan VISA Approval (not even your travel agency, travel agent, etc.) 

Where to book a flight?

Check this link: https://bit.ly/40I1bYV

As you read this blog, we are already in Tokyo, Japan. Hehe

I hope you'll find this blog helpful in processing your tourist visa for Japan.

If you have any questions, don't forget to comment. I'll get back to it.

Mata ne! ♥