What does 0400am stand for? OH MY GOD it’s early!!! Up at 0300am, final packing and at 0400am we are on our way…

Doing very well at 0400am in the airport now – a jump for joy???

A very good girl up at 0300am so for breakfast she can choose whatever she wants. No surprises there, the bloody clown wins hands down!!!

I have to agree with Amy, the chandeliers at Terminal 2 are quite amazing – super impressive in fact.

As we leave it looks like Singapore is being invaded. Busiest I have ever see arrivals. China exodus by the looks of it. Must a Gucci sale on in Singapore perhaps???

Fun and games on the way to the departure gate – that is one big Amy head, imagine the tongue inside that – you’d seriously have to give her a good listening to.

Be with you soon Mum and Baby Jude….

Still feels like the middle of the night – phew. Actually this was weird – we were boarding at gate F55 Terminal 2. We ended up boarding a coach and we drove for like 30 minutes to get to the plane, even crossing ECP – yes as you can imagine a rather late take off.

See in 3 and a bit hours Philippines… (“at least you have leg room” – says Dad – “more room on my scooter back home than Scoot.”)

And we are here – morning Cebu, so glad to be back…

OMG it’s the Movenpick Hotel, Mactan Island we all stayed at for my 50th in June. How amazing is that! You can just about see Club Ibiza too.

There you go – zoom in! Great memories with family and friends here. WOW!!! Here we go again!!!

OK it’s a LOW. It is NOT FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES @ Mactan, Cebu Terminal 2 when they only put 1 or 2 staff on the foreign immigration channels with this many pax – just ridiculous. Makes you even more angry when there is like 20 of the immigration guys just milling about chatting. Likely chatting about how busy it is. This made us miss the 1140am ferry – literally costing us 2 hours at the beach. Not a happy camper.

Here’s a panorama now – maybe 1,000 pax with 2 staff clearing them. Hold on a minute ok 3 more join – we finally start to move. This airport is NOT on my Christmas card list!!! If Mary had been with us we would have gone Filipino channel and been through in 10 minutes.

Finally out and in the taxi to Pier 1 for next piece of adventure, the fast cat to Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Daddy did well getting the tickets, and we’re in the crazy terminal. Tip to any travellers to Bohol on the ferry – GET BUSINESS CLASS – costs diddly squat, enables queue jumping galore, wider leg-room seats, a movie and beer – hell yes I am sold!!!

Amy was STARVING so we go with a local recommendation of Humba, or sweet slow braised pork belly. This is fall apart pork, with a unique taste. Apparently it is braised in pineapple juice – that would give the sweet taste and surely break down the pork enzymes to make it tender. Bloody delicious! Yummo!!!

This ferry terminal is nuts. This is the updated one too – when I was first coming here with Mary, believe me it was nothing like this. Still it is bonkers, and I can’t stop sitting here to watch the world go by. Cockerels crowing – yep they ship fighting cocks back and forth for tournaments. The guys to the right playing music in white are all blind, as the those in white performing back massages. Wafts of varying local food delights hit you as you walk through. This place, to me, is like the Philippines version of Grand Central Station – always moving, always something happening, just captivating.

All aboard the 2Go fast cat to Tagbilaran please…

Far from the madding crowd. Business class, see what I mean. It’s a steal at $36SGD for the two of us.

“Near, far, wherever you are….”

And we hit a mild storm. Surely does get these fast cats a bouncing and a swaying though. I loved it, Amy not so much ha ha!!! Brilliant!!!

Well hello there Tagbilaran. Bohol we are home again!!!

Awesome bathroom. With a bath too, that actually made Amy scream – I kid you not!!!

Liking this a lot. The King has reserved this one, just for him. Hell yes!!!

I don’t think the Princess is actually suffering though, do you. “Get your feet off the furniture Amy!!!” Ha Ha Ha

Yep we’re home! How can you not love returning to this time after time. Philippines Maldives in my reckoning, minus about 6 zeros on the invoice. And it is a little stormy too. Amazing!

This place is nuts truly. 3 restaurants. Buffets and entertainment most nights, super cool bar, beautiful pool, games room for the kids, gym etc. and so much extra activity to boot – too much to type up. It is BEAUTIFUL too. Look at all the staff having a pre-service meeting – they were ALL laughing and giggling – and believe me that is the entire service experience here – you could NOT ask for more, and it’s all done with chit chats, smiles, fun and engagement to all. Loving it.

Yeah I think I might have a dip tomorrow morning and soak in that view. Yeah baby!!!

Not a single piece of rubbish, and it goes on for miles. Learn on Singapore… OK OK Boracay got it wrong, but it’s learning. Still this is Panglao, where i have a house – love you Panglao!!!

Stormy skies disappear and out comes candy-floss clouds.

My beautiful Princess striking a pose with the beach and boats behind, wind blowing gently through her hair. Ha Ha – poser, she just could not be bothered to do a selfie herself!!!

Come on come on I have to get in one photo – yes I did ask for this one as a memory. Loving my new shirt ha ha!!!

OK OK – I promise I was just staring to sea watching everything going on and Amy snapped me. Kind of like it though. My good side. As in you can’t see my stomach!!!

Drinks arrive. Too funny. We order and iced tea and a Philippines Water (aka locally as San Miguel Pilsen). Bless the server, yep he probably thought white fella means water! We did giggle though, and I did get my San Mig. Bliss!

Amy pops upstairs to the bars upper deck area to snap some higher level shots. Crackers Amy – how good is this one! So the boats all sit here during evening/night as it is sheltered from the winds. At 0400am some disappear round to Alona Beach for dolphin watching, diving etc. but all the same can be done from The Bellevue Resort too.

Yes there boats, leeee-oads of em!!!

Then this kicks in – I mean come on. What and incredible end to an incredible day. And this is day folks. 12 or so more to come. Bring it on. I am in love once again with my second home.

OK OK just one more!!!

We choose the buffet with live entertainment. A Smorgasbord of food, like shit loads of it. Probably about 60% local which I love of course. Roasts, salads, soups, a huge BBQ doing meats and seafoods, desert station – you name it. I went very local local – Philippines Chorizo, Roast Lechon, Rice, local sauce, local vinegar with chili dip – and more and more and more… YUMMY!!!

Final pic for Day #1 before Amy and have a very early night as we are shattered. I like having dinner here!!!