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| The RUINS in Bacolod City |
It was late when I’ve come to find out how far the Silay
airport is from the city. The initial plan was to stay in a pension house
somewhere in Bacolod for the night, and head back on the road the earliest
possible time the following day. And, honestly, even when I got to Bacolod, I
still am not sure whether to head over to towards Ilo Ilo for Guimaras, or
southbound, towards Dumaguete. Not sure what happened lately such that I lost
appetite of researching destinations.
Given that we may not have transpo from the airport to the city, my friend has contacted her colleague Suzette to pick us up from the airport. She has also offered her house for the stay. Whewww... savings, savings, savings.
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| the highlight of the trip: chicken inasal in Manokan Country in Bacolody City |
From the airport, since we were complaining of starvation,
we asked to be driven to the Manokan Country.
Whereas, I always told myself, the highlight of this trip will be to
have authentic Bacolod inasal, hence forward, I am accomplished J Yay!. And, god knows
how I wished I can have a second round of that chicken, if only they could cook
it faster. It took us 30 mins to get it served, and we just can’t wait another
30 mins to have another.
Suzette was kind of excited to tour us around, and since they are medical representatives, they know where to have socials ( and I will admit, this is not in my itinerary, and don’t even have shoes nor pants with me). We were brought to ICE in Mangaldan, where I was, by force majeure, made to fit my feet in my friends 1-inch less rubber shoes. I remember I had to change clothes twice because my attire was just totally odd to match the shoes.
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| the performers in ICE in Mangaldan, Bacolod City (we're obviously the early birds) |
It was already past 2am when we left.
The morning after, or shall I say, noon after, we were quite
late for out Guimaras trip.
After a quick breakfast, we head straight to Bacolod port,
and luckily, the (weesam) ferry is leaving in about 10 minutes (saving
ourselves the “bore”ding time).
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| Fares from Bacolod to Ilo Ilo and vice versa for Weesam Express; as of June 2012 |
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| RORO Schedule; Bacolod to Ilo Ilo and vv |
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| Weesam Express Ferry Schedule; Bacolod-Ilo Ilo and vv |
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| Inside the Weesam Express economy class cabin; From Bacolod to Ilo Ilo |
When we got to Ilo-ilo, another friend, Je-han, is again to
meet us; Again, another medical representative. We drove to Ocean City, where
food was relatively affordable (but I would really have preferred carinderia
then; I just couldn’t suggest as she might not really be the type who eats just
everywhere).
After that late lunch, we were dropped in Buena Vista/Parola
for the boatride to Guimaras. See post for our Guimaras Trip here.
From Guimaras, we were again picked up in Parola by the Ilo
Ilo Med rep friend. We asked to head home first to wash and clean up. By then I
was really hoping we could at least get to Miag Ao church. Then again, before I
could even politely ask about the church, Je-han said we’ll head to the bars to
meet the other med reps...Ooops. here we go again.
So, there we were. We went to Smallville and walked around
to survey where we can have dinner. The settlement was made in Pirates.
Some minutes after we finished dinner, the other friends
were already phoning. From there, we transferred to another bar and spent the
rest of the night. It was past 2 am when we left.
Again, it was late when we woke up and consequently, arrived
late in Bacolod.
From the sea port, we head straight to the RUINS. It kind of
feel awkward, to my thinking that we are lost, that we are driving towards a
village, which later heads to a cane plantation. I also thought that it was
just an abandoned structure. There was also a coffee shop, and some
illustrations of the concerts held in the building.
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| the garden inside the RUINS in Bacolod City |
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| Halls in RUINS in Bacolod City |
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| the walls in RUINS in Bacolod City |
We bored ourself well in the RUINS since there was nothing
much to do other than to see, and take pictures. We headed next to Mambukal.
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| getting closer to Mt Kanlaon where Mambukal Resort is |
In Mambukal, luckily, we still made it to the 7 falls. I
think it took us even less than an hour to get to these 7 falls. Each falls is
rather 2-4 mins away from each other. Besides, you can only swim from falls 4
onwards. Not sure what the issue with the first 3 falls is.
From the last falls, we took a habal service back to the
Mambukal resort. It was P50/head and a very very rough 15 min ride down.
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| trekking; closer to falls 1 in Mambukal Resort within Mt Kanlaon in Bacolod City |
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| falls 1 in Mambukal Resort within Mt Kanlaon in Bacolod City |
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| falls 2 in Mambukal Resort within Mt Kanlaon in Bacolod City |
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| falls 3 in Mambukal Resort within Mt Kanlaon in Bacolod City |
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| some more falls in Mambukal Resort in Mt Kanlaon in Bacolod City; I don't know whether this is already 5, 6, or what have they; it seems like every mini drop is a fall; |
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| Within Falls 6 in Mambukal Resort within Mt Kanlaon in Bacolod City |
After Mambukal, Suzette said we’ll hit the bars again, since
it’s a Saturday. My friend will be wearing her rubber shoes, so, I had no
choice but to go seek alternative. I asked that we go to SM department store
first and I’ll scout some less than P300 peso shoes which I did from those on
SALE.
Thereafter, we head to Chicken House for Dinner, then went
home to clean up; Gone to Siberia til half past 12mn, then ICE again in
Mangaldan, where, at about 2:30am, I was already dancing in the ledge until
4am. I couldn’t count what and how many drinks I had that time. I thought i’d
rather enjoy my time rather than whine at what I missed in that trip. I was
accomplished at that though. I was throwing up before we left ICE. From ICE,
head straight to the airport for our 5:55am flight; Threw up again in Bacolod
airport, and again in NAIA3. My friend had to wake me up during boarding, take
off, touch down, etc.
SOME TIMELINE:
Night 1:
8:07 PM Arrived
in Bacolod Silay Airport; Picked up by host
8:48 PM Arrive
in Manokan Country for dinner
9:46 PM Leave
Manokan Country
10:17 PM Arrive
in Ice Mangaldan for drinks
Day 1:
11:15 AM Arrive
in Port bound for Ilo Ilo
11:30 AM Depart
Bacolod Port
1:27 PM Arrive
in Ilo Ilo (Parola) Port; Picked up by host
1:45 PM Arrive
in Ocean City in City Proper for Lunch
2:27 PM Depart
Ocean City
3:05 PM Boat
leaves Parola Port
3:20 PM Guimaras
(Jordan/ said: Hordan) Port; Take trike cab to destinations
3:55 PM Arrive
in Trappist Abbey;
4:10 PM Leave
Trappist Abbey
4:15 PM Arrive
Mango Plantation
4:17 PM Leave
Plantation
4:27 PM Arrive
in Nueva Valencia
4:43 PM Arrive
in Raymen Beach Resort
5:30 PM Depart
Raymen Beach Resort
5:53 PM Drop
by in a Cozy Restaurant along the hi-way for Batchoy
6:05 PM Back
on the road
6:20 PM Buy
Mango
6:46 PM Arrive
back in Jordan Port
Day 2:
12:16 PM Parola
Port (Bound for Bacolod)
12:40 PM Depart
Ilo Ilo Port
1:53 PM Arrive
in Bacolod Port
2:29 PM Arrive
in RUINS
3:11 PM Depart
RUINS; head to Mambukal
4:33 PM Arrive
in Mambukal; Trekk to Falls
*There are cheaper P60 RORO trips to Ilo-ilo from Bacolod,
however, this goes to a remote town in Ilo-ilo that will require another 1 hour
travel to the port. I would have not minded about the extra 1 hour travel had I
known about this the night before. They have trips until 11pm from Bacolod; And
I would have enjoyed the extra 1 hour ride tour of the remote town.
*For those who’d like to contact Kuya Dodeng for
pre-arranged trike service, you can call the tourism desk and ask to be
transferred: 0948 152 3629 or 0948 532
8292. In case the tourism desk offers other trike drivers, insist that you have
been recommended to Kuya Dodeng.
Alternatively, you may also contact him through this no: 0927 570 7185
(owner of the motorcycle to whom he pays his boundary).
*for the jeepney service in Guimaras, from Jordan port, take
the jeeps bound for Nueva Valencia and get off in Crossing. Fare is P40/head.
From Crossing, take a trike to Alubihod, Fare is P30/trip. Jeep ride will take
more than an hour as it will fill from stop to stop.
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