Ice Skating at SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier

SM CDO Downtown Premier just launched Cagayan de Oro’s first ever mobile indoor ice skating rink!

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Photo courtesy of Stefanie Laya Uy

This state-of-the-art installation is situated on the ground floor of the city’s premier urban shopping location so more Filipinos can now enjoy this winter sport in our tropical island nation.

leia khu fitting ice skates

Before you step onto the ice, the skating rink staff will assist you in fitting on a pair of ice skates and walking your way to the rink.

leia khu ice skating polar bear leia khu ice skating polar bear

Ice skating is an exciting sport but it can be a little intimidating, especially for first-timers. Fortunately, there are cute penguin and polar bear skating aids to help with balance so skaters, with little to no experience, can gain confidence inside the rink.

With a little patience and practice, you can slide and glide with ease in no time.

leia khu ice skating

Experience the magic on ice for only 180 PHP per hour on weekdays or 200 PHP per hour on weekends and holidays. Skating aids cost an additional 60 PHP for every 30 minutes. You must be at least 4 feet tall to be able to skate. Please refer to the image below for rules and code of conduct.

sm cdo downtown ice rink rules

Adventures on Ice: Ice Rink Experience is only available for a limited time. Make sure to mark your calendars and create a fun, memorable experience with your friends and family. It’s open from July 25 to September 30, 2018 from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. only at the coolest place in town – SM CDO Downtown Premier.

adventure on ice tickets giveaway

I had a spectacular time yesterday during their press launch and now it’s your turn. I’m giving away two Adventures on Ice tickets to one lucky winner!

Simply…

Like me on Facebook.
Follow me on Instagram.
Tell me your Facebook and Instagram handles plus why you want to win the tickets in the comment section below.

This giveaway contest runs till the 10th of August. The winner will be announced here on the 11th of August. Open to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro residents only.

Drink Selfie Coffee at Bean Voyage Coffee Roasters

On the corner of Pabayo and Gaerlan streets in Cagayan de Oro City, at the entrance of Marfori Compound, a new coffee shop has emerged. Bean Voyage Coffee Roasters is a concept cafe that marries the love of coffee and travel together.

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The moment we swung the door open, baristas chorused “Welcome aboard!“ with great enthusiasm as we walked right inside.

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Adorned with travel memorabilia, tour brochures, directional signage, and world clocks, this travel-themed coffee shop will surely inspire your wanderlust.

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Bean Voyage Coffee Roasters is a place for travel enthusiasts, curious souls and people from different walks of life who want to sip on their faces… literally. They are the first (and the only one as of this posting) to offer the selfie coffee experience outside the area of Luzon.

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Of course, we had to give it a go and take a selfie.

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Staring at 140 PHP, you get to have your selfies printed on top of your favorite coffee blends.

If you want to grab your first selfie coffee at Bean Voyage Coffee Roasters, here’s how it’s done:

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbeanvoyageph%2Fvideos%2F1553452298297957%2F&show_text=0&width=500

Simplejoys Bakery and Cafe

Ever since I found out about Simplejoys Bakery and Cafe last year, my boyfriend and I have been quietly trying to hunt it down. The elusive cafe proved to be a challenging quest for both of us and it was only after our third failed attempt of locating it that we finally found it along J.R Borja and Burgos streets (close to the new bridge) in Cagayan de Oro City.

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This whimsically designed concept café is a haven for those who love everything quaint and charming. Obviously, I’m part of that statistic. Hehe 🙂

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Fully adorned with dainty decor, vintage finds, and shabby chic furnishing in pastel colors, it creates the perfect space to duck in for some afternoon tea and desserts.

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Still full from our fill at Wild Onion, we opted to get some of their desserts only. We had their green tea gelato, chocolate avocado cake, and ube halaya frappe. While I genuinely enjoyed the ube halaya frappe and green tea gelato, the chocolate avocado cake is in a league of its own.

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The cake comes with a chocolate coated breakfast cereal base and the middle is smeared with a silky, creamy avocado filling. Its topped with a rich chocolate ganache that has just the right amount of sweetness and then sprinkled with fine cocoa powder. This cake made a great impression on my first bite! I’m afraid to say that I’ve finally found a cake that I enjoy as much as Micky’s Cakes (if not, more).

Whoever thought that avocado and chocolate go well together is a freakin’ genius! If there’s only one thing you should try from their menu, it should be the chocolate avocado cake. For the love of everything holy, don’t miss it.

Simplejoys Bakery and Cafe should be expecting to see me more often. Not only is their place cozy and makes for great photo ops but the desserts are also worth the journey!

Wild Onion Pub and Grub

Centerpoint is the newest dining and entertainment hub located at Domingo Velez Street in Cagayan de Oro City. Lined with karaoke lounges, bars and restaurants, this strip truly comes alive at night.

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One of the places to visit is a gastropub called Wild Onion Pub and Grub. They offer a casual dining experience and provide tasty food and specialty drinks at reasonable prices.

Classic Burger and Hiroshima Bombs are some of their best sellers so, of course, we had to try those.

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Classic Burger 
Branded for a personal touch, this burger boasts a thick beef patty, packed with veggies that’s sandwiched between fluffy, tender buns. It also came with a side of crispy fries.

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Cucumber Lemonade
Served refreshingly ice-cold, this delightful mix of cucumber juice and lemon juice is good for relieving the summer heat.

Hiroshima Bombs
These are croquettes filled with mashed potatoes, mozzarella cheese and jalapeno bits served with a sour cream aioli dip. The Hiroshima Bombs are the bomb! They were flavorsome and surprisingly substantial. To all fellow potato lovers, this is everything you need.

I actually prefer this one over the burger.

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Dining at Wild Onion Pub and Grub was such a pleasure. The waiting staff was very accommodating and the food is good.

We will be back soon to try more of their food and when it’s not too early for cocktails. Happy Ending and Gugmang-Giatay sound too interesting too pass. Haha!

Wild Onion Pub and Grub offers:
15% discount on the total food bill every Monday
15% discount on the total food bill every Tuesday for Nurses, every Wednesday for Bank Employees and every Thursday for Teachers

Swimming at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort

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Another attraction at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort is their Infinity Pool.

Gaze at the wonderful scenic backdrop as you have a dip and cool off during warmer days.

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After your swim, you can enjoy watching the sun set here while sipping your favorite cocktail.

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Sadly, we weren’t able to take a splash into the pool. However, we did enjoy the view. More reasons to come back I suppose. 🙂

Click here for more deets about Ultrawinds Mountain Resort.

Read about our glamping experience at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort
For insider tips about glamping go here.

Dining Al Fresco at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort

Ultrawinds Mountain Resort served a special Valentine’s Day menu for only 449 PHP per person.

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Their rustic tablescape looked like it was taken right out from a Pinterest board.

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The open air venue featured an exceptional view of the city lights.

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But we chose to eat indoors, away from the blasting live entertainment. The buffet dinner started at 6:30 PM.

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While the variety of food was not that extensive, the well-curated menu was impressive! The menu included Bagnet Salad, Seafood Herbed Pasta, Caramelized Pork Belly with Spicy Apple Slaw, Buttered Roast Beef with Rosemary, Grilled Chicken with Creamy Garlic Sauce and Dark Chocolate Frozen Cake.

Wine pairings were also available for an additional charge. We enjoyed the food so much we kept refilling our plates. Hehe! 🙂

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The following day, we went back to the restaurant to check out the panoramic view of Cagayan de Oro during the day. But first, burgers. We sampled their BBQ and Cuban mini burgers.

I prefer the latter over the former.

Compared to our awesome dinner, they were alright.

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The overlooking view of the verdant landscape during the day is nothing short of breathtaking.

Indeed, it makes an enchanting backdrop for events.

With soothing ambient music playing in the background, I can’t help but feel relaxed as the gentle wind caressed my face.

If you want to see the city of Cagayan de Oro in a different perspective with a relaxing atmosphere, visit Ultrawinds Mountain Resort now.

Know more about Ultrawinds Mountain Resort Menu here

Read about our glamping experience at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort
Click here for more deets about Ultrawinds Mountain Resort

For insider tips about glamping go here

Glamping at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort

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For this year’s Valentine’s Day, I surprised my boyfriend with a glamping experience at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort.

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In turn, he reciprocated my gesture by treating us to Ultrawinds’ Valentine’s dinner buffet. The food was sooo good that we kept getting seconds. I’ll talk more about this in a separate post.

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Right after our dinner date, we retreated back to the campsite.

Thankfully, we got a free golf cart ride so we didn’t have to walk all the way from the restaurant.

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It was exceptionally quiet when we got there that you could hear a pin drop.

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The cool evening air was constantly blowing across the grounds.

So for some warmth, we requested to build a campfire. Their staff brought in a ginormous fire pan, some firewood and a box of matches to start the fire. They also brought a handheld LED light for us to use so we can still have some illumination even after the campfire goes out. Great service! 🙂

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The campfire brought joy and new life to the cold, dark night. We made ourselves a few S’mores before hitting the sack.

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I woke up early the next day when the bright morning sunlight warmed my side of the tent. I just had to enjoy the spectacular view before my morning shower.

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For our accommodation, we had to walk a flight of stairs in order to use their communal shower and toilet facilities. Be warned: there are no heaters so gird your loins for the icy morning showers.

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We made our own breakfast using the outdoor cookware we borrowed from our friends – Elai of PS 95:11 and Porsche of THEYANGONE.

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There’s the manbear ready to devour his brunch. Hehe. 🙂

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I have to be honest though… I was disappointed at first because, once again, I fell victim to another batch of artistically rendered images. The interior of the tent and the campsite didn’t look exactly like what was posted on their website. But once I got past that, it wasn’t so bad after all.

We had such an awesome time that didn’t even matter anymore.

For a truly memorable family get together, romantic rendezvous or company outing, I recommend glamping at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort. It’s a refreshing outdoor experience that everyone should try!

EXPENSES
Safari Tent – 1099 PHP (peak season rate)
Bonfire – 30 PHP

Click here for more deets about Ultrawinds Mountain Resort
For glamping tips and ideas, read this

Ultrawinds Mountain Resort Travel Guide

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Based atop the scenic hill in Pualas, Baungon, experience the fresh mountain breeze and relax at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort. This popular day trip destination offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the southern portion of Cagayan de Oro City. They have thrilling outdoor activities that will bring out the adventurer in you and add to your memorable experiences. Whether you’re planning for a romantic getaway or a fun-filled family excursion, Ultrawinds Mountain Resort makes an ideal setting for an unforgettable holiday.

HOW TO GET THERE
Although it is technically located in Bukidnon, this mountain top resort is only 20 minutes away from downtown CDO.

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By Private Vehicle
Driving all the way up to Ultrawinds Mountain Resort can be challenging even for experienced drivers. A powerful rear wheel car is highly recommended since the inclination is very steep. Should you have any hesitations going all the way up to Ultrawinds Mountain Resort, just park your vehicle at the CDO Convention Center and their shuttle will pick you up for free.

By Taxi
As of this posting, a taxi ride will cost around 250 PHP from downtown CDO all the way to Ultrawinds Mountain Resort. An arrangement can be done with the taxi driver to either wait for you or come back to pick you up.

By Ultrawinds Mountain Resort Shuttle

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Ultrawinds Mountain Resort has a shuttle service which can fit up to 22 people. The round trip costs 899 PHP regardless of the number of passengers.

Their pick up and drop off point is at Dunkin Divisoria.

Cut off time for shuttle service at 8:30 PM, except for event bookings. Reservations required.

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Brace yourself though because it’s going to be one helluva ride.

T’was like Hindang all over again, only rougher. It got me thinking if I was way overdressed for the trip… Maybe I should have been in my trekking attire.

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TIP:
If there are only 1~5 passengers, ask for their Range Rover because it’s more comfortable. We never knew about this option because it was never brought up by the front desk officer when I made my booking.

By Ultrawinds Mountain Resort Toyota Super Grandia Van

Ultrawinds Mountain Resort has a van service which can fit up to 10 people. The round trip costs 1499 PHP regardless of the number of passengers. Their pick up and drop off point is at Dunkin Divisoria. Cut off time for shuttle service at 8:30 PM, except for event bookings. Reservations required.

By Jeepney
Take a jeepney going to Taguanao at the jeepney terminal by Rhapsody Suites in Cogon Market.

Get off at the crossing of Taguanao Highway and the Convention Center Access Road. Ultrawinds Mountain Resort can pick you up with their shuttle service for 200 PHP regardless of the number of passengers. Just keep in mind the maximum capacity of their shuttle service.

WHAT TO DO
Take a dip in their infinity pool
Glamp at their camping grounds and build a campfire
Dine alfresco while overlooking the cityscape of Cagayan de Oro
Experience thrilling outdoor adventures such as zip linecaving, horseback riding and more

ACCOMMODATIONS
Please note that check-in time in Ultrawinds Mountain Resort is 2 PM and check out time is 10 AM.

Hotel Rooms
Deluxe Double – 2350 PHP
Superior King – 2350 PHP
Upper Deluxe Double – 2250 PHP
Premiere King – 3999 PHP
*All rooms are good for 2 guests but Premiere King is good for 4 guests
*Rooms come with complimentary breakfast for two and free use of the infinity pool

*550 PHP per extra person with breakfast and swimming

Dormitory
Rate – 350 PHP per head/night
*Does not come with breakfast or swimming privileges
*Communal bathroom
*Minimum of 10 guests, maximum of 18 guests

Villa
Weekend Rate – 7550 PHP
Weekday Rate – 6550 PHP
*Includes 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchenette and private veranda
*Contains 3 double beds in total
*Maximum of 15 guests if using existing beddings
*Does not come with breakfast privileges
*Rent extra beddings at 250 PHP
*Maximum of 7 guests with free swimming privileges

Safari Tent Camping
Rate – 999 PHP
*Good for 2 guests
*Tent can fit up to 5 guests

*Communal bathroom

*Comes with bed, pillow and blanket
*Does not come with breakfast and swimming privileges
*Additional 295 PHP per person with beddings, 195 PHP without beddings

AMENITIES
For more information, please check their website.

Infinity Pool
Adult  – 250 PHP
Children (8 years old and below) – 200 PHP
*Comes with snacks
*No outside food allowed in the pool area
*Strictly proper swimwear only

Zipline
Adult – 399 PHP
Children (10 years old and below) – 250 PHP

Hut
Rate – 500 PHP
*Located at the camping site
*12 hours of usage (until 9 PM only)
*Guests may bring their own food without corkage
*Food must be consumed in the hut

Others

Karaoke – 449 PHP/hour
Golf Cart – 699 PHP/half hour
Horseback riding – 200 PHP/hour
Billiards – 200 PHP/hour
Darts – 200 PHP/hour
Badminton – 250 PHP/hour
Full HD Projector – 1499 PHP/every 4 hours

Entrance Free for Walk-in Guests
Adult – 100 PHP
Child – 50 PHP
*Consumable (Restaurant, Zipline, Infinity Pool)

Prices are subject to change without prior notice. 

Make Your Own Havaianas 2015

Back in May, I was invited by Spruce to attend the 10th annual Make Your Own Havaianas event at SM CDO. For this year, Havaianas went Hawaiian for that fun tropical vibe.

Fun Fact: Havaianas means “Hawaiian” in Portuguese!

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Havaianas is a line of flipflops that is famous worldwide for their quality, comfort and style. Revolutionizing the fashion trend in the 90′s, they started to make flipflops in exuberant colors and fun designs.

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As a homage to its Hawaiian inspiration, the event kicked off with hula dancers moving to the rhythmic beat of the drums.

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And just like everyone else, I waited (im)patiently in line for my turn.

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Customizing flipflops is a very simple process. But with endless possibilities, it’s in the choosing that makes it difficult. I absolutely took my time to think about what sole, straps and pins I wanted to go together.

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In the end, I decided to get sunny yellow soles and icy blue straps with pineapple and aloha pins for my pair.

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The first step in assembling my flipflops was fastening my pins of choice onto the straps.

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The next and final step was attaching the straps to the soles.

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Finally, when it’s all done, this is how my flipflops look next to my boyfriend’s pair.

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You can get your own pair of Havaianas at Spruce Iligan. They are located on the second floor of PYB Residence Building, corner Zamora and Lluch Streets.

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Boy Zugba

Time to throw your diet on the back burner because Boy Zugba is finally here!

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Zugba, from the Cebuano word “sugba”, literally means grill and that’s what Boy Zugba is all about. They are the newest grill and BBQ restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City and they serve classic Filipino food that we have all grown to love but just leveled up.

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Upon entering, you will be greeted by this sign which roughly translates to: “Friends, welcome! Please come on in to our Visayan Kitchen.”

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It’s always a full house here at Boy Zugba. A clear sign that we’ve come to the right place.

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Their bright, colorful caricature walls create a fun, energetic atmosphere where family and friends can gather together for some grub and beer.

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You gotta love Boy Zugba’s sense of humor.

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Whether you want to have another serving of rice or something else, no need to shoot your hands up in the air. Just press this button and immediately one of their wait staff will approach you. 

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Lovin’ their condiment tray. Not only do they have the basics covered (soy sauce, vinegar, chili), they also threw in some more spices and a garlic press. 

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Tsuper Sisig
If lechon and sisig were to have a love child, this would be it. I’m not a fan of lechon… But if you are, I think this would be something worth trying out. 

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Sinuglaw de Cagayan
Sinuglaw, short for sinugba (grilled) and kinilaw (raw), is a mixture of grilled pork and fish ceviche. These two very different dishes combined create an interesting contrast both in flavor and in texture. Not the best sinuglaw I’ve tried, but still good. 

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Bandihadong Karne
Literally a platter of meat, you get pork BBQ, liempo and cheezy chorizo with a side of atsara.

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Living up to their name, Boy Zugba does have great BBQ and liempo. But to me, the star of this dish is their cheezy chorizo (sorry no photo to show). It was the best thing that happened to me. I don’t think I can settle for just any chorizo from now on. I’m ruined forever. Please get your hands on it when you can! It’s life changing. Haha!

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And yes, carbo loaders, they serve unlimited rice. I suggest you come here famished. 😀

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Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Boy Zugba and we’d love to come here again.

Boy Zugba is located at Corrales Avenue and Ramon Chavez Streets, Cagayan de Oro City. Open from 10 AM to 11 PM. Price range is 200~400 PHP.