and it’s in Cebu, baby!

Like what I stated in a previous post, I was invited by my colleague, Doi, to grace the soft opening of Adventure Cafe which is a new Cebu attraction with a lot of activities created for the family, friends, colleagues and well, adventurers in general.

Here are just some of the things to do in this part of Cebu to name a few: zip line, rappelling, wall climbing, stress wall – throwing plates against a wall, rope courses, guided tours, caving, mountain trekking, trek to Gaas Falls and many more.

 
you can’t miss it!

How to Get There:
We went to the Citilink terminal to ride a van going to Balamban. Fare costs a hundred bucks and it took us about an hour from downtown Cebu going to Gaas. We already told the driver to drop us off at the Resto Adventure Cafe and they didn’t have to ask us twice as it’s already a known destination even before it opened. The cafe is also just beside the road so getting lost is out of the question

100 Php – fare cost from Citilink terminal to Balamban
50 Php – fare going back from Balamban to Cebu City (you can wait for a van to pass by which will take you back to Cebu City).

Note: There’s also an option for you to ride at the Ayala Center Cebu van terminal which also costs the same.

 
signboard, Tiki statues

The skies were clear and the air was fresh. We were greeted by Nigel, one of the owners, who also gave us a tour of their project. It’s not yet complete but they have a lot of things planned for the place. Hanging Bridges, Horseback Riding, Massage Spa; just to name a few. You can’t help but be amazed seeing their vision come to life. I was already picturing the expansion happening.

   
view from the top of this new Cebu Attraction

The sun was up but the air was cool given that we were already in the mountains. We ate lunch and discussed their other plans which was quite a handful but exciting altogether.

I have never been to this side of Cebu (Balamban) and all I knew about it was that it’s situated in the higher areas of the region. I even wondered why they had a fireplace in each of the floor levels of the cafe. I didn’t expect for it to be so cold even during summer.

As Nigel explained to us, “You don’t have to go to Baguio or Tagaytay to experience this type of climate, it’s just a 30 to 45 minute drive or ride from Cebu City.” All the while I was thinking that I should’ve brought a jacket or sweater. Good thing I was already accustomed to the temperature in air conditioned buildings being in a call center industry.

   
with Nigel Wenceslao, discussing their projects and waiting for our tickets

 
Caver's Meal, Rappeler's Special, Zipliner's Steak

Nigel had to excuse himself to attend to other guests which we didn’t mind knowing how busy he was for the event. I was really glad that we were treated well despite how tired he and the rest of the staff already were. We took the opportunity to just take pictures of the cafe while waiting for our turn for the zip line.

   
wheel, house on the left – sheesh, a very nice resthouse on top of the mountains!, fireplace at night, transferring photos

When our numbers were called, I was already shaking a bit because I’ve never ridden on a zip line before. Though there were already people who went before me, there’s still that certain fear of falling. To think, that the kid before me was on his third ride. I had to gather all my courage but still made sure that the harness was tight.

Adventure Ideas is the team behind the technical set-up and they assured me that the cable was secure and everything was clipped properly. The hardest part was ‘letting go’ which took me some time too. But after that, I was already grinning from ear to ear because of enjoying the ride.

 
first time to zip!

I also tried climbing the wall which was also a first time – yeah, go figure. Darn was it high; but I was happy that I got to reach the top even if I was a beginner. Climbing was okay; it was again, dropping that took me by my nerves. I’m afraid of heights and conquering it is still a work in progress.

wall climb and rappel

ayos!

Initially, I thought it was just a restaurant wherein adventurers, travelers, backpackers can just drop by to eat and drink; like a stopover in the middle of the road. But I was wrong, it was coined as such because the owners wanted to offer something different; to have a wholesome adventure for the whole family. Surely, I haven’t heard of a restaurant in the Philippines that proposed these types of activities.

 
other things you can do while waiting for your turn. take pictures outside.

I talked to a lot of their employees at the bar before we headed home and what’s nice is that these employees are actually from the Gaas as well. They also knew the services that they offered and were very accommodating. One thing I always keep in mind whenever I am being served is when I say “Thank you.”, I always anticipate if they say “You’re welcome.” or “Thank you.” in return.

It’s just a simple test that I make to check how courteous people are; if they acknowledged the appreciation for their services. Indeed, they were polite which is really a plus in spite of the stress that they encountered from all the preparations of the soft opening.

   
when lights are yellow; me on the side, freezing from the cold.

I can say that Adventure Cafe is also great for team building activities so that employees of companies can bond together instead of going to the beach which is the usual escapade.

Everyday is an Adventure!
Adventure Cafe: The First Resto Adventure Cafe in the Philippines
Gaas, Balamban, Cebu

   
fireworks, at night

Activity Rates:
Zip line weekend: 150/person (to and from)
weekday: 100/person
Wall climb Rappel: 150/person weekend rate
weekday: 100/person

Contact Information:
Temporary Number: 0922 948 3947 (Romel Pia), 09209536895 (Nigel Wenceslao)
Twitter Account: http://twitter.com/adventurecebu
Facebook Account: Adventure Cafe Facebook

PS: Thanks for the warm accommodation to the staff and congratulations for a successful soft opening! Will be back!

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