We departed NAIA 3 at around past 6AM and arrived at Zamboanga City at 7:20AM via CEBU PACIFIC AIRLINES.
From the airport we hired a tricycle and took us to Zamboanga Metropolitan Cathedral to attend 8:45am mass.
From the Cathedral we take a walk going to City Plaza, the PERSHING PLAZA.
A few meters away you will see the Zamboanga City Hall. You will find it old but, the beautiful structure and its history remains.
Before we continue our tour along the city, we needed to get some energy first, so we stopped at SUN FLOWER fast food just in front of the City Hall. One of their best seller, the EGG PIE.
After breakfast, we headed to LANTAKA HOTEL on the seaside to check in, where we stayed for 2 nights. Our room, located at the 2nd floor, overlooking the pool and the sea. It cost us about P2,200 (I don't remember it exactly) for a night,with 2 single beds, cable tv, hot and cold shower, of course it is an airconditioned room. The staff are very courteous and friendly.
As we continue our City Tour, from the hotel we hired a tricycle to take us to RIO HONDO. It is the village of some of our Muslim Brothers, where their houses built on the stilts above the water.
From Rio Hondo, the tricycle driver dropped us on the main road where we took a jeep going to TALUKSANGAY, where the Red Dome Mosque, the oldest mosque in the western Mindanao can be found.
From Brgy. Taluksangay we headed back to the city at the Gateway Mall for our late lunch (1:30PM) at Mang Inasal.
From the Mall we walked along the main City going to the jeepney terminal (near Police Station) bound to Yakan Weaving Village.
After buying some souvenirs at Yakan Weaving Village we returned to the hotel to rest a little while and freshen up. Then we took a walk again from our hotel to PASEO DEL MAR. A park along the seaside next to Lantaka Hotel. It is like the Manila's Luneta Park. There are vendor's on their banca selling some souvenir goods and local children asking for a little money and dived when some tourist threw some coins on the water.
There are also some restaurants and fast food at Paseo Del Mar where some tourist and locals stay until the wee hours.
Then, back to the hotel at around 6PM to relax at the pool and to be relieved from a very tiring yet very enjoyable city tour.
And then, at around 8PM, we were back again in Paseo Del Mar for our dinner at ALAVAR'S and enjoyed watching the dancing lights.
HOW TO GET THERE:
1. Tricycle from the Airport to Cathedral... fare P100 (special trip)
2. Just take a few meters walk from Cathedral to Plaza Pershing and to City Hall
3. Tricycle from City Hall to Lantaka Hotel... fare P50 (special trip) we didn't know that it is just a walking distance, just go straight from the street of the City Hall to Lantaka approximately 200 - 300 meters.
4. Tricycle from hotel to Rio Hondo, to the main road where you can take a jeep going to Bgy. Taluksangay... fare P80 (agreed price).
5. From main road to Taluksangay... fare P25 ea.
6. From Taluksangay to the City... fare P25 ea.
7. Take a walk going to the mall of your choice (gateway mall & southway square)
8. Jeep from the city to Yakan Village... fare is about more or less P15 ea.
9. Jeep from Yakan Village to the City... fare is about more or less P15 ea.
10. Tricycle from the City to Hotel... fare P50 (special trip)
11. Walking distance from the Hotel to Paseo Del Mar (vice- versa )
NOTE: There are no Taxis at the City, only Jeepneys and Tricycles are the means of transportation.
From the hotel we walked to see the Zamboanga Port Authority where ships are bound to Jolo Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
From the Port, we continued walking towards the street to City Hall, Plaza Pershing to the Jeepney station going to Pasonanca Park. (located at the city proper or PUEBLO)
Our first stop at Pasonanca, the Ma. Clara Jardin, we visited the Butterfly Sanctuary (entrance fee of P10 each) and the El Museo De Zambaonga (entrance fee of P10).
From the Museum, we walked headed to Pasonanca Park where the Office of the Boy Scout of the Philippines is located. We really enjoyed the ambiance of the park, its so relaxing. Climbing also to the Tree House was great!
From Pasonanca, we returned to the City proper (PUEBLO) and had lunch at Sunflower Fast Food (near the market branch).
After recharging from lunch, we took a jeep bound to Canelar Barter Market to buy some souvenir like T-shirts, Coffee and Chocolates imported from Malaysia and Indonesia (you will find it on a cheaper price).
From Canelar, we went back to our Hotel to freshen up.
We were ready again after gaining some strength on our interesting City Tour. So, from hotel we walked again a few blocks going to Petit Barracks, the former camp of the US army's 43rd Infantry Regiment during World War II. Unfortunately, only the ARCH of the camp remains that marked the history of the place and which is now the main entrance gate of the BIR office that is situated on the area.
As we continued our journey, we headed to Fort Pilar Shrine which is just next to Paseo Del Mar.
And then, went back to hotel, enjoyed the pool, relaxed and had a very special dinner at the Hotel Seaside Restaurant.
HOW TO GET THERE:
1. From hotel to Port... walking distance
2. Port to Jeep terminal going to Pasonanca.. walking distance about 500 meters, but you can opted to ride a tricycle at P10 each.
3. From Pueblo (city) to Pasonanca... fare P10 each
4. Pasonanca to Pueblo ( City)... fare P10 each
5. Pueblo (City) to Canelar... fare P10 each
6. Canerlar to Pueblo (City)... fare P10 each
NOTE: Jeepneys and Tricycle are the only means of transportation.
PUEBLO means "City Proper"
DAY - 3 JUNE 04 2013
The last day of our TRIP to this City, the City of Flowers. We started our day at the pool (after breakfast). Had swimming until 11AM, just relaxing.
And for lunch, we went to ALAVAR'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT at their main branch at TETUAN (as far as we know Tetuan is one of the barangay in the city).
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We tried of course the famous "CURACHA" a kind of crab that can be found only at the deep sea of Zamboanga. It was cooked with the special sauce of ALAVAR'S. We found it quite expensive but so worth it...taste so good... very yummy..(A MUST TRY).
We returned to the hotel after that heavy lunch. Took a nap and prepare for our 630PM flight to Manila.
Many thanks to Lantaka Hotel, they let us checked out late at around 3PM without any extra cost. According to them, they allowed late check out specially for their guest that have a late afternoon flight. (if the room still available and there are no incoming guest).
We still find a little time to walked along the Rizal St. (street parallel to the street where hotel lantaka is), to see those various century old ACACIA TREES where they stand. They looked so good, very tough.
And so, a little past 3PM, we left the hotel and arrived at the Zamboanga City Aiport before 4PM.
Bound to Manila via CEBU PACIFIC AIRLINES.
Boarding time..
HOW TO GET THERE:
1. Tricycle to Alavar's (at tetuan)... fare P70 (special trip) 4 persons
2. Tricycle to hotel...fare P60. (special trip) 4 persons
3. Tricycle to Airport...fare P120 (special trip)
