Pola

Pola is a quaint little town in Oriental Mindoro.  Hometown of my father and a place that I also call home.

Since moving to Makati, Pola is the closest get-away I can go to.

What I love about the place?  Lots of things and here are some:

- It's small
- There are no tourist
- You can easily walk around
- There's the river, the hills, the beaches
- Fresh fish... lots of fresh fish!!!
- And vegetables and fruits...
- And family (believe it or not).

I'll write more about Pola soon.

30th on Planet Earth

It is on!!!

I had somehow a not so good news from yesterday regarding my plans for August... though it resulted to a much better plan.

My original plan for August is to celebrate my birthday with my friends on the island where I found most of them... same island that I consider home.

The celebration will be two-parts: OUTREACH and PARTY!!! These 2 activities has been how I spent most of my life. :-)

Bus... Beep-beep

Traveling in the Philippines meant lots of bus rides, boat or ferry rides, some plane rides... and very seldom train rides.

Buses connect the towns and cities.  They bring you to all directions possible.  They travel almost all-day and all-night.

You are lucky if you are one of those who can sleep well very much everywhere.  And if you can sleep on the bus, it is a good sign.  Bus travels in the Philippines can take as long as 16+ hours (that's at least the longest bus ride I did - from Zamboanga to Cagayan De Oro).

The Good Side
The thing with buses is that they are fairly cheap.  It is like 2Php per kilometer to compute the fare rates.   And there are always buses to almost everywhere.  Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao is connected by these buses as well (with the help of the nautical highways where there are ferries that can connect islands).

So it is cheap and it has frequent trips.

The Other Side
Oh well, bus rides can take forever!!!  We don't tell distance by the kilometers mostly but by the time it needed to get from point A to B.  Like: How far is it to La Union?... Answer is: It can be 6-8 hours.  That 6-8 hours bus ride is only covering roughly about 300kilometers.  If you do the math, you are driving about 37 to 40 km/hour which is... really SLOW!

So it is slow.

However, there's almost only the bus or you better start walking to your destination or hitchhike (but hitchhiking is not that popular in the Philippines as it is in Europe or in some SE Asian countries).

But, anyway, I will still take the bus.  I can sleep well on the bus and I usually take the night trips.

I hope, that there will be more organization with the buses in the Philippines to make things lot easier.  In Negros Occidental, there are just one bus terminals per town/city.  In the capital city, there is the north and south terminals like in Bacolod and Cebu.  I hope there will be something like that in Metro Manila and other major cities.

The bus ride last night from La Union was a bit stressful.  Standing for more or less an hour before getting a sit was tiring.  And you really have to literally catch a bus. The bus companies in Metro Manila has got their own terminals each.  If you want to catch another bus from another company, that would mean sometimes from 500meters to a kilometer away... only if you know about it.  We ended up waiting for 3 hours on our way up north as we just went to one bus company and we are not sure where the other bus terminals are.

I think, not being biased towards the places I lived in the past decade, Visayas and Mindanao are much organized in terms of transport.  Lesser traffic might be one of the factors BUT having a centralized terminal is definitely the biggest reason.

Easter Backpacking 2013 - the summary

Seeing dolphins at the start of your trip brings good luck as they say. It was also believed that it meant good weather.  And it was true with my recent trip.

My whole trip was just for 10 days.  But the 10 days felt like months having found new crazy friends and met the old crazy ones! It was a memorable trip.

Here were the stops:

• Pola, Mindoro - short visit at my father's hometown.  
• Iloilo, Panay - dinner with my friend with his Mom's home-cooking
• Bacolod, Negros - some card game and beer while waiting for the bus
• Cauayan, Negros - community life and start of the intense island life
• Sipalay, Negros - secret paradise, card game under the rain, sea snakes and a barracuda
• Dauin, Negros - some more big fishes and serious flunky ball game
• Dumaguete, Negros - calamansi collecting and fighting cock concert
• Lake Balinsasayaw, Negros - tri-kayaking, mau-mau, and last chance for the boys to win the flunky ball

View Larger Map

Highlights:

• We've visited different ecosystems and seen lots of wildlife (including our wild life)... Dolphins gave us luck then we found a seahorse and pipe fishes while snorkeling.  We also had a short mangrove tour that leads to a waterfall.  Swimming through the seagrass forests was also very cool.  It is like being in a dream world.
• Our trip was a working holiday - Kerstin grated some coconuts, Simon picked the leaves of Malunggay for the soup, and I was cooking a dish.  The best one we did and with full of love is baking bread - the banana-choco bread and the garlic-chili bread.
• We had too much tuba the whole trip - from Mindoro to Negros.
• We had a straight trip for 30 hours (from Mindoro to Negros).
• We saw lots of sea snakes, some moray eels, and a hunting barracuda.
• The sea glittered and the forest as well.
• We heard a whale splash in the lake and killed some tiny people (only Simon did).
• Flunky ball is soon to be a national sport --- and we will be the pioneers.  
• Mau-Mau is gonna spread in the Philippines.  Thanks to the German influence.
• Meeting my family and friends along the way was great.  It's not everyday I see them and I always make sure I keep in touch.
• Regularly high on seaweed.  
• Finding eco-thingys like the eco-cigarette and eco-wine.
• The main highlight would be finding people I can be very open with.  People who seem you have known and to have known you all your life.  Like long lost friends... and friends you don't want to lose in any way. Thanks a lot Kerstin and Simon!!!

I am still with holiday hang-over.  My sunburn itches.  And I am sick (since I am back to work... hahaha...).

My New City

It's a challenge for nomads to settle in a place.  Nomads has got many cities or none.

When I decided to move to Metro Manila, I was really uncomfortable.  I lived with a friend for 3 months and during those months my stuff are always in my luggage.  I was also always not in Metro Manila during that time.

Last year, I finally moved to Makati City.  A city I never thought I would learn to like.  It is somehow the cliche of the big cities --- tall buildings, busy streets, swarm of people.  Well, it is!

It is also, however, trying to be livable.  And it is successful in its attempts.

I live in a vibrant area, the old center of Makati - Barangay Poblacion.  I now have all what I need and want within reach.  There are weekend markets: Salcedo Saturday Market and Legaspi Sunday Market.  There's a food bazaar some meters away from my flat: Baga Manila at the A.Venue Parking Area.  There's a grocery nearby and a wet market a kilometer or 2 away.

Hanging out is no problem.  There's a hostel next to my street and people can bring their own beer: BYOB (Bring-Your-Own-Beer) at the MNL Boutique Hostel.  The owners are really cool and you will not have a lack of topics to talk about.

Some meters away is the "red light district".  And the cheapest beers are everywhere: Giligan's sells Pale Pilsen 3-for-100.  Food is also in every direction, from Asian to African.  Just take a little walk and you'll find something that you might want to try.

For sporty peeps, there are boxing gyms along Makati Avenue.  Hotels offer membership for their fitness gyms as well - a friend is enrolled in City Garden and pays Php2,000.00 for a month.

And for me, swimming!!!  I found out about it recently through a work colleague and it was great.  Makati City operates the Makati Aqua Sports Arena (MASA)  with a dimension of 21x50 meters in the Guadalupe area just across the University of Makati.  It is only Php50 for Makati-residents and Php150 for the others.

I am starting to LOVE MAKATI... and starting to really LIVE in the city!
----
I hope I don't get in trouble by using the Makati logo... BUT Makati is really making it happen.  For more information on the happenings in my new city, check Make It Happen Website.

Filipino Time

One of my pet peeves is being late.  I grew up disciplined to be always on time or even being there before the agreed time.  And I do expect others to be punctual as well.  When I was in grade school, I would be so ashamed and start crying when I know I am going to be late.

Today, I was just wondering if there are other people in the world that are also known for being always late (in addition to the Spanish people - apologies to the Spanish).  And it's difficult to google it.

I found, however, an article explaining the Real Filipino Time.  And I agree with the author!!!

It is just difficult, I guess, to be exempted from this negative stereotype when travel guides and other magazines are branding Filipinos to be always late --- and having some Filipinos that are proud of this.  Oh well, I don't want to get into a long discussion on this - just read the article.

The next time I'm late, and I am not making an excuse but, maybe I got reasons... or maybe THE REASON IS NOT ME.

Bohol this time around...

Same with Panay Island, I get stuck in the capital or just in the known areas of the island... which is something  I am not proud of.  I am one for exploring and this time in Bohol, I broke the rut and headed west.

I went to Anda and see for myself what the fuss is all about (good fuss).

Arriving in Tagbilaran half-drunk from a very long night of chit-chat (28hours awake), I decided against hitting the road the same day.  So, with my already established habit once in Bohol, I went straight to Island City Mall (ICM) to get a sandwich from this Mediterranean-looking guy.  He offers quite a selection and this time I ordered a pastrami sandwich.  Been there many times but I still don't know the name.  It is easy to locate.  It's beside a doughnut shop or just look for the God-father inspired place.  Servers sport hats.

It was at first difficult to find a place to stay since I am not willing to spend.  Haha!  Luckily, the first ever lodge I went to years back is still open.  It's CHARISMA LODGE and in a very strategic location in the city.  It is near the plaza and the cathedral as well as the places to eat.  Catching a ride from there to almost anywhere in the city is very easy OR just take a tricycle for 25-30Php (special trip).

CHARISMA LODGE is a basic and affordable place yet decent and simple.  First time I was in Bohol in 2005, an aircon room is only 300Php.  I have not inquired how much it is now since all I asked for was the cheapest they got.  I got the fan room for 250Php.  You have there a single bed, a wall fan, a cabinet, and a table and stool.  Toilet is shared and it is constantly cleaned.

For staying in Tagbilaran, if you are not that picky, Charisma Lodge is fine.  Across Charisma Lodge is another affordable accommodation - NISA Traveller's Inn.

Going back to Anda, I took the bus to Guindulman the next day.  It is a 2-3hour ride for 80Php.  I prefer the bus over vans since I find it more comfortable.  There is also a bus straight to Anda if you are willing to wait for the schedules.  It is I believe at around 12nn (the second trip, I guess).

From Guindulman Market, I took a Habal-Habal to Anda for 100Php.  It is the regular price.  If you want to go back to Guindulman the next day, you can either take the tricycle from Anda to the border to Guindulman and take another trike to the market - OR just get your driver's number and get the same Habal-Habal when you are ready to take off.

Sleepy Anda Beach in the cool mornings

So, again, Anda.  Anda at first glance looks like Sipalay City (Negros) to me.  They offer a public beach that is well-maintained and there is even a Beach Bar that offers cocktails and good food.

Where to stay?  Don't stop looking... there is always something not so popular and better in most places.  I first thought Anda Lodge (given the name) would be the best choice but it is not.  So I looked around and found Anda Long Beach Resort.  They offered me a room for 800Php.  It is with a queen size bed, own bathroom, TV with cable, and fan.  Aircon and fridge is available if you upgrade it and cost 1500Php.  You can contact Jessica Damalerio at +63 908-824-4456.

The sugary beach of Anda

For local eats (everyday Filipino food), there is a food center some meters away that offers home cooked food.

What's more in Panay?

I am frequenting Panay since I was a child.  However, I'm always in Iloilo.  If not staying there to visit a friend or for work, I am just crossing to Guimaras or taking the bus through the west coast to catch the RORO to Mindoro.

Last weekend, I was glad to be invited by a friend to join his family to Estancia.  It was my very first time to really take the east coastal road up.

Estancia is one of the major fishing areas of Panay Island.  Seafood are available in plenty!  We were lucky to have been given kilos of shrimps, fish, crabs, and squids.  It is great to have fresh seafood in contrast to my usual diet now in Metro Manila.

From Estancia, you can take a boat to Sicogon Island and Isla Gigantes (which are now my next targets).

Near Estancia is another coastal and seafood town - Carles.  I would prefer Carles over Estancia if one is really thinking of the beach.

We managed to see Shangrila Beach Resort in Carles.  They offer affordable and decent accommodation at only 500Php for a beach hut.  There is a stretch of beach to enjoy a swim or watch the sunset (not sure though if it sets there).

The trip was also in a way educational since we visited a fish net (on a big pond that is natural, if there is such a thing).  It was more than a kilometer walk and a short bamboo bridge crossing to the "floating" fish cages our host shown us.

That was basically my weekend. Lots of seafood and more seafood... BUT sadly no swimming.  Oh, I've been carrying my snorkel set forever but there seems to be no chance so close to use it.  Maybe in the next trips.

Oh, please!!!

To all foreigners, aliens, or even Filipinos who are not happy being in the Philippines for whatever reason - from petty to major ones, YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE!!!

I am really tired of all the complaints about many things about my country.  If you are not happy about the food here, BRING YOUR OWN FOOD FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE FROM!  If you are not happy about the toilet here, BRING YOUR OWN TOILET AS WELL!  And oh, if you are not happy with the people here, maybe we are also not happy having you around!

My question is, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE? 

I am a traveler myself and I've learned how to adjust to the people and to the culture of the place I am at.  I would not complain in a Muslim country if they don't serve pork.  I would never insist of having rice with my Bratwurst instead of bread if I am in Germany.  I will not ask to sit at the last row of the bus if I am in Laos (or any Buddhist country even if I also pay the same fare).

It is maybe unfair for the country to judge it basing on the country you are coming from.  Countries are not all the same.  And if you have not noticed yet, welcome to the Third World!  And maybe you have just seen a part of it and you tend to generalize... report to the rest of the world (or your part of the world) without even understanding why we do what we do.

We might be poor in the Philippines.  I even live in an unfinished room.  Walls are rough.  Ceiling is non-existent.  Mosquitoes are very present BUT I am always willing to share it with other travelers and friends.  And I am living with great people.

My suggestion to those people who are not open to see something different from their own country or city, DON'T FUCKING GO ANYWHERE ELSE!  You are actually just going to spread negative energy wherever you go.

As I would always say, I am not a big fan of everything Filipino BUT I get to love it... to live with it... and to find my own spot in this ACTUALLY amazing archipelago where people are happy even if they have very less in material things.

You Should Meet ALICE!

I have been looking for a place where I can eat salad in Bacolod... Yesterday, I found another one!  And a good one!  That offers a good price! Yeah!

You should meet ALICE and try her recipes.

Well, I for sure tried the salad.  They got Basil Vinaigrette Salad (Php138.00) and on their weekly specials the Chicken Taco Salad (Php148.0).  My friend got the first one and I ordered for the latter.

The Basil Vinaigrette Salad looked promising.  You can choose for either Chicken or Beef for toppings.  The Chicken Taco Salad looked interesting.  It's got lots of tomatoes as expected but I didn't expect for it to be frozen.  It still got some icy parts which was a bit weird at first but was fine when they all melted.  I maybe just could not associate my salad with ice.

The servings here are generous.  An order of salad is already a full meal.  It can definitely compete with the serving size of Bigby's.  Only that Bigby's offer lots of meat for not much difference on the price.

Where to find it?

It is along Araneta St.  It is directly across Metrodome and beside Bong-bongs Pasalubong Center before Gaisono City.

Where else to find salad in Bacolod?  Here!

Mr. Ube gives you the news

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Big Salad

Where to get a good bowl of salad in Bacolod?  This is one of the FAQs for Bacolod, from locals to tourists.

So today, I had a good salad for lunch - well, a third of the size that I prefer.  I got it at the Museum Cafe. Too bad that they don't offer a full plate/bowl of salad in their menu but only for the full meal as one of the side dishes.  Museum Cafe's rate is a bit high.  Prices ranges from around 100Php to 250Php.  And I really hope they have a full plate/bowl of salad on the menu.  Museum Cafe is by the Negros Museum which is near the Provincial Capitol.

Another place I usually go to for a good salad is Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant.  You can find it in SM (North Wing) or in Gaisano Mall.  A serving of salad at Bigby's is around 200Php and you can consider it a meal already.

There is another place where you can get good salad - Nature's Village Resort.  It is however outside of Bacolod but the food and the ambiance is worth the effort.  I just hope that their salad with crispy lobo-lobo is already on the menu.

If you are desperate enough, Shakey's serve like half a serving of salad for around 150Php.

I still have to try the salad bar of Kuppa.

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Newly found: Alice's recipes

Capizeños... since 1973

The famous La Corona Cafe has closed down last year.  It was around July when a friend and I passed by the once place of La Corona which is now turned into something like a computer shop.  It was a sad day.

I looked for an alternative place where to have my coffee in Burgos and stumbled at Capizeños.

Coffee here is good.  Ambiance is not like La Corona but it is still nice.  It has this feeling of being at home.

You can get your coffee for only 10Php (Plain) and 11Php (with milk or what the locals will say "laban").  Little food stuff are also available like puto (rice cake), instant noodles, etc.

It is also in a good location if you want to do some shopping for vegetables and fruits as it is directly at the Burgos Market.

Here is the map for those who wants to check it out:

Looking for more information where to get good coffee in Bacolod, click here.

Bohol Towards Eco-Friendliness

I was twice in Bohol last year.  Yes, it is one of my favorite places in the Philippines.  Mainly because I find it easier to travel there and it seems that it is a very traveler-friendly place.  One can always find his/her own way easily around the island.

Here are the things that I have noticed to change last year:

Simply Butterflies Conservation Center

I've known this place when I first visited Bohol in 2006.  They were newly established that time but I already find it as a good place to visit.  You get to know basic information about the butterflies.

Last year, I visited it again with my niece and nephew.  It was around July.  That time, they let visitors touch the butterflies.  You can even hold the larvae.  They also catch some butterflies and let them sit on your head or hang on your ear.  Which was pretty interactive and enjoyable especially for kids.  I am one of those who were touching the butterflies.

When I came back in December, it was not allowed anymore to touch the butterflies and all the other insects there.

The center has received some comments that it is not good to let everyone touch the butterflies as it is one of the reasons that they live shorter than their already short life span.  This is a good development.  This really shows that eco-tourism is one of the main thrusts of the province of Bohol and they are showing a proof of it.  It might have took some time but at least they deliver.

If you want more information on Simply Butterflies, click here.

Tarsier Sanctuary

There is now a Tarsier Sanctuary!!! There maybe is one but the one I am talking about now are those places along the highway where you can see the tarsiers.  These places are like owned by families that own tarsiers.

They also let you touch them and shake the tree where they are sleeping.  People shake them to see how big their eyes are BUT come on, tarsiers are nocturnal.

So when I was in Bohol in December, the big change was that these tarsier owners decided to establish a Tarsier Sanctuary and create something like a cooperative.

They have dedicated a bigger area for the tarsiers to live freely and left just some tarsiers for the tourists to see.  There are trained guides that will tour you around the facility and give you important information about the tarsiers.  But before the start of the tour, these guides will give you the DOs and DON'Ts in the sanctuary.

This move was also brought by their observation that tarsiers in captivity die much younger than their average life span.  The oldest tarsier they have in the sanctuary is 15 or 16 years old and they can live up to 25.


My Hope


My hope is that they can sustain this good practice which helps nature a great deal... and in return helps them to also sustain their livelihood.

I also hope that there can be changes in the way boat operators practice in dolphin watching.

It is really heart-breaking to see 50 noisy motorized boats go after some dolphins early in the morning.  It appeals to me as hunting and not watching.  I would always appeal to people I am with to skip this activity... unless there will be changes.

These boats are all after some dolphins. (Click to zoom)

Balicasag is also a sad story.  I've heard a lot about Balicasag from my friends before I've even been to Bohol.  July of last year, I've got a chance to go there for the first time.  What I think is that it is exploited.

The "guides" to the sanctuary are the ones who encourage the visitors to feed the fish.  They also let the visitors who can't swim step in everything.

How can then the corals grow?  And with the fishes, yes, it is nice to have lots of them around but I still prefer to be swimming after them and not them following me around and waiting for me to feed them.

I am no marine biologists or anybody in authority to tell anyone what is the right or wrong practice BUT these things that they let people do are some things I don't agree with.

I hope that the next time I am back in Bohol, I'll also see that there is something happening on these areas.

Vacation with Sendong

I have planned my Christmas and New Year vacation almost to the last detail.  I have coordinated with my European friends regarding their arrival in the Philippines so that I can all meet them up on the same day.  I also have borrowed a house from a friend in Batangas and reserved some rooms in my cousins place in Mindoro where we planned to celebrate Christmas.  Then I have got all my flights booked.

It was supposed to be an exciting trip.  I will fly to Davao City from Iloilo to be at my friends' -  Bobong and May - wedding.  Then from Davao, I will fly to Manila to meet my European friends at the airport.  Two are coming from Germany and the other one from Belgium.  From Manila, we planned to head to Mindoro for Christmas and there we will be meeting the other Germans who are doing volunteer work in the Philippines.

What a plan, eh?

Oh well, none from the above plans were realized.

I started my trip by not being able to cross the strait from Bacolod to Iloilo... making me miss my flight to Davao.  All the boat and ferry trips had been cancelled by the Coast Guard for the reason that there is a storm coming.  It was quite weird while in the weather report, it was only a storm signal no. 1.  Living in the Philippines, signal no. 1 is quite usual.

Next thing I know, I am on the bus to Dumaguete.  There are daily trips to Mindanao from Dumaguete so I thought of taking my chances there for me to be able to attend the wedding.  HOWEVER, all the boat and ferry trips from Dumaguete were also cancelled.  And the cancellation will be effective for at least 3 days.  Very much after the wedding.

The good thing in Dumaguete is that I have my friends there.  So Pancho picked me up from the bus station and I stayed at Cyd's place for the night... and I stayed there until January 2012.

I started my trip on December 16.  The storm hit Philippines the next day.

That day, Cyd and I were woken up by her Mom asking us to help in saving the hens and roosters in their backyard.  There were around 100 chickens or more.  It was still raining and the water level was rising so fast.  From my ankle, it rose up to my waist in maybe less than 30 minutes.

Some of the chickens almost drowned especially when the water rose to a height half of their pens.  BUT we managed to save all of them.  Zero casualty.

Cyd and I then decided to check what happened in their neighborhood and maybe take some photos. We found out that some of the houses were flushed with the flood.  It was the first time for me to see four lifeless bodies.

That night, we could not sleep.  We even asked Cyd's parents to pack a bag in case there will be a flash flood again.  It was still raining and every time I close my eyes all I can see is the flood.

Most of us have underestimated the typhoon.

It is the worst typhoon I know.  I almost erased Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City from the map.  It has displaced so many people... and fishes.  And it has claimed the lives of around 1,500 people.

Even though my plans were never realized, I am glad that I was there when my friends needed me.

The driver of the taxi I rode to the bus terminal to Dumaguete said, "maybe there is really a reason why you were not able to cross to Iloilo."  And he is right.

Hinoba-an, I LIKE!

Since I caught flu from cutting my trip short to be back to Bacolod for work, I'll first post this photos I got from Hinoba-an.

Sunset 30.April

Ubung Cave

Sunset 01.May

Mangrove Forest

*Story to follow*

Bacolod - Beyond the Smiles... Desserts and Snacks and all that is SWEET

Where to get that sugar-fix in the land of sugar? Easy, here's my source of the good stuff:

• Calea is on top of my list. They've got the best cheesecake I've ever tasted. I will for sure bet my taste bud on this. My faves are: White-Chocolate Cheesecake, Oreo Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Fruity Cheesecake. There are also other cakes like Moist Chocolate Cake and pies like Pecan Pie. You can get a piece of these heavenly cakes at Lourdes-C Building, 14th Lacson St. (the building that is somehow connected to L' Fisher) and also at the East Block.
• Quan is one of the first native food shop I know of (in Bacolod). Name might sound Chinese but yes, they serve native Filipino snacks and dishes. They've got Cuchinta, Puto, Choco Crinkles (not native), Ube Pudding, and lots more. Dinuguan, Palabok, Pangat can also be ordered here. The biggest shop they got is along B.S. Aquino Drive (near La Salle). There is also one along La Salle Avenue and in Lopue's East Center.
• L'Treats is a stall in Lopue's East Center where I usually get my Chocolate Brownies. I am not sure if it is related to the "L'" Family (L' Fisher, L'Sea) but maybe. They do have one of the best brownies for a very good price. The stall is near the main entrance for the grocery.
• Roli's is my number one choice for Napoleones. If you have not tried it, you are missing something. There is Roli's in Lopue's East and maybe another along La Salle Avenue.
• Margie's Pasalubong Center offers different biscuits, cookies, pastries... yum! I always fall for their Mango Tart and Spritz Cookies. It is on the corners of Lopez-Jaena and Burgos Streets near the Bacolod Public Cemetery and West Negros University.
• And for all that native stuff craving, nothing really beats the original - you can find lots of these native food in the local markets. I go for Libertad Market... and you got to be there early in the morning to get them.

Bacolod - Beyond the Smiles... Coffee

Bacolod City has been my home for about half of my existence. So I should know many things about this city before I claim to be an expert of other places.

As many would agree, Bacolod City got less to offer for the eyes but lots for the tummy. Yeah, food is something that you shouldn't miss to experience here.

You can literally eat your way through Bacolod. Start with a freshly brewed Mabuhay blend of Kape Mabuhay in Libertad Market, get your snacks from the Piaya stalls found in Central Market, grab your lunch from Saning's where they serve one of the best Nilaga (stew) in town, another cup of coffee after lunch from La Corona (a post-war coffee shop near Burgos Market), and dinner maybe at Pala-Pala (the original one near the Provincial Capitol) or at the Manukan Country for that famous Chicken Inasal.

If you would trust me your taste buds, here are the places where I go for:

COFFEE

Kape Mabuhay

Hernaez St., Libertad Market

Coffee prices: 9Php - 11Php

You can buy your beans here. They have their own blend which is worth a try.

Take Bata, Mandalagan, Shopping-San Agustin Jeepneys

J&G

Same row as Kape Mabuhay

Coffee prices: 10Php - 12Php

La Corona

Hilado St., near Burgos Market

Coffee: 22Php

Jeepneys: Homesite, Villamonte, Shopping-San Agustin (if you are from Downtown area)

Fortune Towne, Sta. Fe, even Talisay passes by from the east or the north

La Corona closed down last year.  I've asked some people why and they said the owner couldn't cover the overhead cost anymore.  Sad! :-(

Cafe Excellente

Luzuriaga Street (Central Market)

Coffee: 10Php - 12Php

Coffee beans or powder can be bought here too.

Jeepneys: Shopping-La Salle, Fortune Towne, Mansilingan, Alijis

Start your coffee tour of Bacolod City. These are just 4 coffee places but would be enough for a day or two. And you can notice that these coffee shops are along the main markets of Bacolod City, you might want to do some shopping before or after your coffee. Some souvenirs can be bought in Central Market.

Schedule of RORO between Bacolod and Iloilo

This might help travelers on a budget or those who wants to experience all the routes from one island to the next.

I got these just last month (January 2011).

These are really cheap. It cost only Php60.00 for the ferry plus Php10.00 Terminal Fee (if you are coming from Bacolod). Then from the post of Dumangas to Iloilo is only roughly Php50.00. That is Php20.00 for the tricycle to the jeepney/van station in Dumangas and another Php25.00 to Tagbak, Iloilo. Then it will only be Php7.00 to the City Proper.

Happy island hopping!!!

Refuge found in San Lorenzo

Drama comes and goes in a person's life and one way to make it go away fast is to go away for sometime and leave things behind.

I went away for the weekend and found myself a refuge on a hill of Guimaras Island. It was San Lorenzo, a small town that welcomed me and my friends for the night. We've got our bags filled with what we might need for the night - a simple shelter in a form of a tent, some food, some drinks, and a free mind to be able to enjoy the weekend.

There we are under the only mango tree on that hill. We trusted it to protect us from anything though it is not that big but it is the only strong tree that cannot be rooted up by the strong wind coming from the Guimaras Strait.

Sunset was great though we never saw the sun but it radiated beautiful colors on the horizon.

Red

Slanted Horizon

Strength

The afternoon was spent just talking about whatever. Making fun of each other but not in a mean way (just sometimes). Talking about issues that matters and sometimes doesn't.

The evening was just lovely. Sea breeze that traveled quite a lot to reach us, crickets singing, occasional mooing of the cows, laughter and laughing ("latting" as my German friend would say), and the sound of clinking glasses as we toast for life.

Oh yes, what I wrote was also dramatic BUT that is how I remember the weekend to be.

Now I am back and full of life... and sunburned!