Where We Stayed in Oslob - Malonzo Pension House

My mom did her research on the whale sharks and she found us a reasonably-priced pension house where we could stay. Unfortunately, she did not research about what else we could do in Oslob so she booked us for three nights at the Malonzo Pension House.

The Malonzos were decent folks and were super helpful to make our experience in Oslob a comfortable one. The pension house was about 20 minutes away from the whale shark area but it was in the town area so it was not that bad. We arrived late in the afternoon from the city and we had dinner there with the lechon we bought from Carcar. The Malonzos had a small sari-sari store so it was very convenient for us to just get stuff and they just put everything on our tab.

Day 1 was for rest. After all, it was almost dusk already by the time we got there. Day 2 was for the whale sharks and Tumalog falls. We even had siesta in between. Day 3 was lull day. My brothers and my dad decided to go to Dumaguete which was an hour's bus ride and ferry ride away. They bought loads of crabs and shrimps from the city since there's no seafood in town AT ALL. My sister then grilled the shrimps and I cooked the crabs in coconut milk (and yes, it was tasty!). And early morning of Day 4, we headed back to Cebu City. But we also stopped by the cuartel and the old, old church for some photos!

I suggest folks visiting Oslob to stay a maximum of one night only since there's barely anything to do. Some even fit the activities in one day. One night and two days is adequate enough to have your fun without being too tired. And there's also the option of coming in or flying out from Dumaguete since the trip to Oslob is shorter (about an hour) compared to the four-hour ride from Cebu City.

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Family is the most important thing in the world.

Princess Diana

Tumalog Falls

Another breathtaking scene in Oslob is the Tumalog Falls. It was a very steep walk down the mountain in order to reach the beautiful falls. The water was freezing cold so a few minutes under the natural shower was more than enough.

And the climb back up was treacherous.  My dad and I gave up and hired a motorcycle to bring us up one at a time. Rate was P50 each. You also have the option to ride the motorcycle going down to the falls for the same rate but walking down was so much easier than climbing up. 

And upon reaching the top, we quenched our thirst with fresh buko juice.

How we reached Tumalog Falls from the Malonzo Pension House:

The Malonzos arranged a multi-cab for us to rent at a very reasonable price. A multi-cab is like a tiny tiny van that can fit 7-8 persons.

Quotes to Keep Me Going This 2014

Yes, we all want to start anew this 2014 and we wouldn't want to slip into bad habits creating nasty patterns. We want to move forward and make the most out of what life has to offer. So here are a couple of quotes to keep me afloat, keep me going, help me look at the bright side of life this 2014. And I hope these inspire you too.

1. And maybe, a happy ending doesn't include a guy. Maybe it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is just moving on.
2. There is no such thing as a "broken family." Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates, divorce papers, and adoption documents. Families are made in the heart. The only time family becomes null is when those ties in the heart are cut. If you cut those ties, those people are not your family. If you make those ties, those people are your family. And if you hate those ties, those people will still be your family because whatever you hate will always be with you. ~ C. JoyBell C.
3. It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~Aristotle Onassis 
4. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. ~Omar Khayyam 
5. I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it. ~Groucho Marx 
6. Satisfaction is not always the fulfillment of what you want; it is the realization of how blessed you are for what you have.
7. Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! ~Audrey Hepburn
8. A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.  ~Elbert Hubbard
9. Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. ~ Khalil Gibran
10. Friends are the family you choose ~ Jess C. Scott
11. Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. ~Jim Rohn 
12. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go. ~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
13. The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. ~Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
14. Each one of them is Jesus in disguise. ~ Mother Teresa
15. Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it. ~Mother Teresa
16. That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. ~Friedrich Nietzsche
17. Sometimes it’s very hard to move on, but once you move on, you’ll realize it was the best decision you’ve ever made.
18. Be strong enough to let go and patient enough to wait for what you deserve.
19. Don't waste your time looking back for what you have lost, move on for life wasn't meant to be traveled backwards.
20. It is the power of thought that gives man power over nature. ~Hans Christian Anderson
21. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. ~Gautama Siddharta
22. Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. ~Willie Nelson
23. With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from 
    growing. You get to choose. ~ Dr. Wayne W Dyer
24. When the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to pray. ~ Rumi
25. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
26. Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
27. Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don’t waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail. ~ Og Mandino

I hope you would be inspired with these quotes. Let's all make 2014 the best year with our best selves!

Note: Quotes are from all over the internet and quotes without names have unknown authors.