Surigao 3: International DollHouse & Ocean View Park

Next on our itinerary is the International Doll House & Ocean View Park Restaurant. Located in Purok 6, Barangay Cumawas, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur - it boasts of great affordable dining with a view of the ocean and a collections of dolls of varying types and origin. 

At first, I wasn't really keen in stopping there because am not that fond of dolls with their beady lil eyes and the thought of seeing my mortal enemy - stairs (200+ steps) - that I need to "conquer" wasn't really a good welcoming experience in my mind.

Reluctant I may be but my curiosity in seeing why it has become such a tourist attraction burns higher than my earlier qualms. The stairs design is unique and even if it seems to eat my energy away I did enjoy alternating from one path to another. 

One of the staff welcomed us at the top of the steps, and I am very sorry to have forgotten his name because he was such a warm and welcoming person. Visiting places is amazing but if people who welcome you in those places are kind and happy it makes the place a whole lot more awesome. The staff were kind and very enthusiastic  you can really see they find a great pride in the place. 

Upon going inside the Dollhouse, thousands of dolls come into view but one can also immediately notice how clean, cold and well kept the place is with. From famous Disney characters, to Barbies, to Matryoshka dolls  and other dolls of varying origins and materials can be found there, it really is a great sight. My friend's nieces who were with us at that time looked as if Christmas came early, their eyes were big as saucers while taking in the display. ~hahaha

According to the staff.. the most expensive item there is the gold Matryoshka dolls while the most expensive Barbie - is the ceramic yellow gowned Barbie. 

The staff are knowledgeable about it too and they gave us a info about how the dolls are kept in pristine shape and what country it came from and what are those made of. They asked if they can take our cameras and encourage us to do several poses while showcasing the dolls and that's an offer we couldn't refuse so after knowing about the dolls we spent the time there do pose from point A to point B. ~hahaha

We moved onto the Oceanview Park Resto however we didn't dine there though because we just ate before leaving Tinuy-an falls but the ambiance is nice. Its something nice to visit with family or while in a date and one can have a view of the ocean.

For more info and their contact details you can visit their FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/OceanViewParkPhilippines

ENTRANCE FEE (for the view park only)

Adult - P20.00

Youth - P12.00

Child - P5.00

Kindergarten - FREE

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Surigao I : Magnificent Tinuy-an Falls ( Lil Niagara of Pinas)

FINALLY! After several failed attempts and 5-6 hours of driving from Tagum City, the Powerpuff girls (my friends and I .. our silly lil nickname) stepped on Surigao del Sur soil. We have been planning this trip for more than a year now and the earlier plans to go to Surigao has been cancelled due to different reasons like weather problems, or the road being non accessible (- complications to the weather problems) or our own schedule changing etc. , that later on it made us all the more excited to be there but at the same time skeptic if we will ever be able to. It was just funny that Taynee, Fox and I were really skeptic about it and we finally believed it until the last moment that we started to begin the journey to Surigao at 12:30 am. 

It was gonna be a full day tour of the best places Surigao del Sur has to offer. We arrived in Surigao around 6am then have another hour or two travel to Bislig City (Booming City of the Bay) to reach our first stop of the day, the amazing Tinuy-an Falls. Also known as the "Niagra Falls of the Philippines", which it undoubtedly deserves being the widest waterfall in the country - measuring 95 meters (311 feet) in width and in a towering 55 meters (180 feet) in height -  Tinuy-an Falls is truly a magnificent sight. 

I was in awe. First word came to my mind to describe it was power - with its great towering height, its wide berth and the rushing flowing water - its all very imposing but beautiful. My friend, the Capilitan family (who were the ones who invited us on this trip as Taynee's mother was celebrating her birthday) and I wasted no time to wade in the waters and rent the bamboo raft to bring us to deeper part of the waters. It was really fun because while we were swimming and jumping from the raft, the falling water felt like rain and we can see the rainbow so close enough to touch.

Tinuy-an Falls is a four tiered waterfall however  we weren't able to go up to the 3rd and 4th tier because of  stairs to go up to that place was covered with mud due to the recent storm. It was a bit of a let down since that's really a place where you can play with the small falls but it was a truly magnificent experience overall. 

I was busy having fun when we arrived so hopefully these rates I found online are updated.. ~kekeke XD

Rates:
Entrance Fee – Php 20
Cottage Small – Php 200
Cottage Big - Php 300
Function Hall - Php 500
Life Jacket – Php 30 per hour
Table with Chair (4 chair) – Php 100
Chair - Php 10
Umbrella shed- Php 150
Gaket/Raft- Php 100
Parking Fee - Php 20
Boat- Php 50
Room Rental – Php 150 per Person

Special thanks to the Capilitan Clan.. who made our Powerpuff journey not only possible but they assured it would be a safe,fun and super "busog" trip!

Rates source: http://www.wayph.com" http://www.wayph.com 

Photo courtesy: Thalia Hernandez & Mommy Capz

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