The sun is shining high in Sun City.

So our plan to go white water rafting on the Chico River had to be cancelled because the river's water level is not high enough ergo the end of the rafting season. Bummer! This was supposed to be the "highlight" of our trip.

To make up for this, we decided to make the most out of our resort instead. According to the itinerary we would practically just be sleeping in the resort but because of the change of plans, we get an entire afternoon of just bumming around.

Cheapskates that we are, we didn't rent a van to take us to Sta. Ana, Cagayan. We took a traysi to the Don Domingo market (P50) where the public vans plying the Tuguegarao-Sta. Ana route can be found. Fare in a non-aircon van to Sta. Ana is P180 per person. Fortunately, we found someone who had an air conditioned van charging P200/head. There were 7 of us and the driver said that if we're willing to pay for 10 people then we can get the entire van to ourselves. Sold! Van rentals cost somewhere between 4500-5000 including gas. We got the same service for less than half the price. Score!

The ride to Sta. Ana was an uneventful 2hrs 45mins. If we took public transportation the ride would have been between 3-4hrs.

Somewhere in the middle of a relatively barren area stood this huge white complex called Cagayan Holiday and Leisure Resort or more popularly known as Sun City. The grandeur of this place somewhat stuck out like a sore thumb amid the corn fields and wooden roadside shacks. Previously Sun City was only open to the mostly Chinese foreigners who frequent the resort for its casino. Sometime last year, the resort became open to the Filipinos. It's about time!

Sun City Reception Area

The place looked exactly like the pictures I've seen. Check-in was relatively quick. The Pinoy receptionist just had to ask the Chinese receptionist if we should be charged for the 7th companion since the villa we got was only good for 6. Good thing, we weren't. Full payment had to be made plus a deposit equivalent to one night. After that, a golf cart was dispatched to bring us to our villa.

Fancy the use of a speedboat for your island hopping?

Villas and your the primary mode of transportation to go around the resort.

Tuguegarao: Callao Caves and Pinacanauan River

We landed at the Tuguegarao Airport after a delayed (surprise surprise!) Cebu Pacific flight. In the same flight were some congressional spouses who were on a Lakbay Aral tour. Little did we know that we would be encountering more of them in the next few days.

We planned to just take a traysi (local tricycle) to our hotel in the city center but after asking a female guard at the airport where to get one, she told us that our hotel actually has a shuttle service we could use even if we didn't book transfers. Another airport staff, upon hearing the conversation, confirmed that we can ride the hotel's shuttle and took it upon himself to go out and inform the hotel's shuttle van driver that there were more hotel guests inside. We were approached by the hotel's staff and told us to wait since he had to call for another van to accommodate us. Barely five minutes in Tugueguarao and I am already bombarded with local hospitality. Seems like a good start!

A few minutes after the congressional spouses left, our ride arrived. We were picked up by a spanking white and practically brand new Ford E-150. High rollers!