Going to Negros Oriental and Southern Cebu is an adventure.  Though I expected it and thought I was so ready with all the things we needed, there were still a few things I missed.  So here is my checklist of things to prepare.  I am a city girl with kids so whatever it is I want to have a few simple things and pampering stuff which we might need.    I will try to be as complete as possible.  Then again, if you just want to be adventurous, you do not really need to bring anything and you will still survive 🙂  

1.)  Since we were a big group with 5 families, I pulled out our matching bags which we got from one of our family events.  I was so happy I found a reason to use them.  It’s easier for the porters to spot de Jesus family – all red bags! 🙂   

2.)  Aqua shoes – it’s safer to use these when walking around the islands and waterfalls.  Many still used flip flops but this is the safer one since many of the island are still rustic and rough with plenty stones – slippery too

3.)  If you are a city girl like me 🙂 you need to bring this!!  I need to charge all my gadgets – camera, phone, laptop, external battery.  Thats just mine, my hubby’s gadgets still 🙂  So you rely need a strip – whether in the Philippines or just anywhere you are travelling.  Not many hotels provide these and not many provide plenty outlets to plug your gadgets

and an external battery charger that can charge my iPhone 4 times

 Previous entry: External Battery Charger Feb 24, 2014  

4.)  Since we were roughing it out, I really made sure I had every medicine possible in case anything happened in the middle of the ocean 🙂  I took this from Florentina Homes, in case you forget, they have and you can buy easily too 🙂 But any special medicines or ointments, it’s best to bring.  Anti itch ointments, allergy medicines, etc etc

5.)  Towels – this is in Bluewater which is a resort so they provided lots of towels.  But in the other areas where we went to, no one will provide you with any towel!  🙂  So make sure to bring lots.  Especially during our trip, it was drizzling or raining at times, aside from getting wet from swimming

6.) Snacks – just in case you get hungry in between meals – it is always handy.  Thanks to my friend Mish we had homemade brownies which we were able to eat for dessert in one of our meals 🙂  You can choose healthy snacks of course 🙂  It’s just always handy  

7.)  Bottled Water – in some of the vans we rent abroad, they provide bottled water but here they do not.  So it is best to have your own – you can just buy this probably in a supermarket when you arrive to avoid being charge for overweight.   They will also have this for sale in the places you go to.   But it is a must to have water in the car or in the boat, you might get thirsty so you have to have this and also to rehydrate.   

8.)  Clothes change – This may be common sense but we were not ready.  We thought we would just remove our clothes, swim, then put them back, but since we rode boats and it rained at times, everything was wet.  So it’s just always good to have spare clothes to use to avoid getting soaked and risking getting sick.  Some of you might like to bring rash guards so I am advertising Swordfish Philippines 🙂  the company of my friend’s sister – Jennie Bautista.  Swordfish makes for many of the big brands

9.)  snorkelling gear- They have many for rent in most of the places you will go to but you might want to bring your own.  Though you have to consideration weight on the plane

10.)  Lots of Sunblock- I like the ones that you can just spray

11.) Wet wipes  and hand sanitiser – You will need lots of this – it’s an unnecessary luxury but if you can bring some, you will use a lot 🙂

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