A nomad I will remain for life,
in love with distant and uncharted places.

~ Isabelle Eberhardt

After a hot midday tour at the Grand Palace, we moved on to few more temples. There are a lot of Wats nearby, and visiting all of them can be pretty mind blowing.

Outside the Grand Palace, we asked the security personnel on directions to Wat Pho. Sadly he can’t speak english so he called up this guy from the corner which in turn tricked us to a tuktuk ride. The ride was certainly cheap which will take us to the nearby temples and later on  to Wat Pho. He told us about a current national event held in Wat Pho so its best to go there in the afternoon when it’s less crowded.

Shortly after boarding the tuktuk, I realized that we were off to a scam deal. There has been a lot of writings about the tuktuk ride so I felt hesitant to continue since we were on a very tight schedule and we can’t tolerate and buy time to make a stop to a jewelry shop, a tailoring shop or any exorbitant souvenir shop, that aren’t part of our itinerary.

I immediately told the driver to just drop us to the first temple and then were off to Wat Pho. Oooops, too late.

He refused and beg us to just explore the jewelry shop so  he’ll get a  gas refund ticket. We felt sorry for him so we’ve been nice but it got really annoying when he dropped us to 2 more shops for his gas tickets and asked us to stay for about 10 minutes on each. That killed 2 hours of our precious time?@#$!!

Finally reached Wat Pho, one of the largest and oldest Wat in Bangkok. It is the house of a 46 meters long and 15 meters high gold plated reclining Buddha. The feet and eyes are engraved with mother of pearl and illustrates the passing of Buddha into Nirvana.

The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds. It houses more than 1000 Buddha images in total, most from the ruins of the former capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.

We did a quick round and headed out. Since we swear off to use tuktuk for the rest of our Thailand journey, the mister and I decided to wander by foot and find our way to the Giant Swing in front of Wat Suthat. The 88 feet tall giant swing was formerly used for the swing ceremony, one of the 12 royal ceremonies during King Rama I regime. The ceremony was discontinued after several participants fell to their death. Today,  it is one of the famous tourist attraction in Bangkok.

Further ahead, we saw the Democracy Monument at the center of Bangkok. It was built in 1939 to commemorate the 1932 Siamese coup d’etat. It led to the end of a 150-year old absolute monarchy and Thailand’s constitutional government was born.

Of course we can’t missed Thailand’s Khao San Road, the backpackers and budget travelers haven where the cheapest accommodations and best travel deals are within reach. This is yet the most lively part of Bangkok where you can find everything, from places to stay, variety of dining options and souvenir shops, open 24 hours.

Soi Rambuttri is a bit laid back than Khao San Road but hosts a number of budget options as well.

We sampled the most popular thai dish, pad thai from one of the street stalls. A stir-fried noodles that tasted heavenly!

On to our next destination, Mahakan Fort, one of the two remaining fortresses in Bangkok. It is built to protect the eastern entry point to the island. Behind the fort is a recently converted small park where we rested and killed time for sunset.

A refreshing sight awaits us at the resting area overlooking the river and Rama VIII Bridge.

Just a few steps away is the terminal where we boarded Chao Phraya Express Boat back to the Central Station. We were supposed to wait for night time to catch Wat Arun lightings but we only  have 30 minutes left before the last trip and it’s not even close on getting dark.

Wat Arun or “Temple of the Dawn” is best viewed during sunset and evening where it makes an impressive silhouette against the skyline. Perhaps the most striking riverside landmark in Thailand.

Since we were out the whole day and we wanted some cold treats, we went mall hopping during the night. We window shopped at Siam Paragon and MBK. I’m quite disappointed since I can  buy the same items back home (particularly in Divisoria and Tutuban) at fairly cheaper price.

We discovered something though, street stalls offer better deals, for the same item.

And what better way to cap of the day than a sweet ice cold treats from  Swensen’s!

For him, strawberry stripes and for me, butterscotch brownie  sundae. It’s high time to indulge and were lost for words. Mmmmm.

Alice came to a fork in the road. “Which road do I take?” she asked.
“Where do you want to go?” responded the Cheshire cat.
“I don’t know,” Alice answered.
“Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.”

~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Did I mention we are crazy over Cebu Pacific’s seat sale?

November 2009 was an ordinary month until the Zero fare came out.  Everyone went mad, and booked tickets around Asia, even if the travel date entails almost 10 months of waiting. Everyone including us.

We got our tickets from Clark to Bangkok for only P544 for 4 persons. Wooah, not kidding. It’s the cheapest airfare ever next to our Indonesia flight. We scored Bangkok to Manila tickets at P803.00 per person. Not bad either. I wonder when can I chanced upon sale tickets to Paris, Greece, New Zealand, and the like?

Call me Alice and I am in Wonderland. Sa-wat-dee.

Fast forward to August 2010, 9 months later.We were supposed to go on a foursome adventure. Yay, did that sound so unwholesome? But our couple friend had to back out for family matters. So it’s just Mr. and Mrs. HavenHunter and our Thai Adventure ahead.

With our last minute changes in Backpacking Bangkok itinerary, booking our accommodations and researching the best budget friendly routes to our destinations during the next 3 days, I was surprised I still had an energy to burn on the next days.

We went aboard the Philtranco bus in Pasay bound to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark. It was the last trip for the day at 2:30 PM. It made a stop at the Megamall terminal to picked up more passengers. Aircon Bus Fare is P350.00.

We reached the Airport at 5 PM. We were kind of early for our 8:45 flight, but we do have a plan B, if we could only check in our luggage instantly and leave. Unfortunately the gate opens at 6 PM. We found ourselves killing some time by A. shoot aircrafts and CESSNA planes, B. doing my make-up, C. facebooking, D. Dinner at the Airport.

We paid the terminal fee at P600  each and travel tax at P1,620 each. Cebu Pacific flight was earlier than expected. I’m loving them more and more.

Three hours of smooth flight aboard the budget carrier. We landed safely at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok one hour before midnight. One thing we learned about this trip is to listen closely to the flight attendant when announcing which gate to exit for luggage retrieval, especially if the Airport is as huge as Hong Kong, Dubai and Bangkok.

Me and the Mister heard different thing so we were unsure which way to go. I urge him to go to Gate 14, after a quick sweep at the first gates, and finding out that our fellow passengers weren’t there. Oh dear, so jealous of those westerners who have really long legs that they were out of sight in an instant.

The encounter with the Immigration Officer was unusual. No questions asked. What a breeze.

Suvarnabhumi (pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom”) means “The Golden Land” is located  30 kilometers East of Bangkok at the Samut Prakan Province.

After retrieving our bags, we went one floor down to the taxi area. We made reservations at the Old Charm Guesthouse, a recommendation from Nina of Just Wandering. I have the address down in Thai, so I gave it to the lady and she explained it to our taxi driver. We paid 485 baht including the toll fees and airport fees + tip  for the metered taxi.

I’m dying to have these clays. I promise to take you home next time. Teehee.

We initially thought of staying around Khao San Road, known as backpackers area where cheap hotels, inns and hostels are located. But my inner thoughts get the better of me, that I sometime get sick of staying in worn out hostels.

I’m longing for a good, clean, comfortable and peaceful vacation home this time. Even if our itinerary will make it to the Amazing Race cut, I wanted to feel  some laid back moment after our a busy day out.

My kind of Morning in Bangkok

The Old Charm Hostel is located near Ratchatewi BTS Skytrain. It’s  very convenient, especially because we need the train to get around the city for the next 3 days.

Minnie welcomed us at her office. She’s lovely and accommodating and despite our late check in, she showed us around the hostel. Our room is the first one of the three rooms by-the- pond. It is air conditioned with glass doors fronting the lily pond. I am instantly smitten by the giant lily pads, errr… victoria lotus!

Our cozy room. We even have a breakfast nook.

The  restroom is common and that we share with the other guests.There is a bar on the same compound as the guesthouse. The Tree House bar is jam packed with hip young Thais every night. If you want to have a drink or two, there’s no need to go far.

On the Bedside: Bacardi Breezer in Strawberry we bought at 7-eleven store. IMY.

We can’t afford staying in a fancy hotel or a bed and breakfast Inns, if it weren’t off peak season. This is the closest we can get, since we were able to avail the August Promotion: Stay 1 Night, Get another 1 night for Free! and Booking with shock rates : 990 baht for by the pond room. Our total bill is just 2,190 baht for 3 nights! Ah, this really is a relaxing paradise amidst the bustling city of Bangkok.

This quaint hostel truly offers serenity. They have 2 Buddha suites with it’s own bathroom. A swing chair at the front porch is a great addition if one wants to spend an entire day to lounge.  There’s also a prayer room for Buddhist.

One thing we love about our accommodation is  it’s closeness to nature. The frogs croaking at night, the sounds of the crickets and the birds. We were more than happy that we are in the city yet it felt like we were hundred miles away, beyond the mountains, camping.

For our first night, we had mini sausage breads and giant yakults from 7-eleven.

**All photos were taken by Ferdinand Teves. Join us on facebook and get instant updates.

2nd day of our Indonesia – Central Java leg.

We prepared ourselves early and decided to have breakfast at Mc Donalds in Malioboro Street. Seriously, we need to stop eating at this fast food chain. Although, I can’t risk my appetite to any food stalls that day, as I am foreseeing a very long journey ahead of us on the road.

Trishaw or Becaks are a popular transportation in Yogyakarta. Here they lined up along the street and wait for passengers to carry to the nearby destinations. We dropped by at Mulia Exchange to change our last bills for the trip. Oh gosh, you can call me Señora Valeria for the day. Mind you, tourists are one day millionaire here.

Can you tell from the look on my face how overwhelmed I was? That smug look vanished an hour later when we had to pay the balance for the tour. lol.

We went around Malioboro to look for souvenirs as early as 8 in the morning.  But stores are close until 9 or 10. We haven’t bought anything except for the Raissa Batik the other day. =(

Went back and checked out from Rejeki Homestay at 9 in the morning and headed to Sosro Tours for the 9:15 pick-up. Here are some travelers going on a Bromo Tour as well.

We boarded the van with two couples from Germany, one couple from Austria and two girls from Poland. Everyone is raving about the latest football match, and I can’t relate.

Ten of us cramped on a roomy van but the aircon is an epic fail. Either it was too hot outside or it can’t cope up with 11 sweating people. Regardless, I had napped several times during the trip.

They are the usual motorists around Central and East Java. We enjoyed  a sight of Mount Merapi and a lot of rice paddies.

We even caught the train in East Java which got into an accident prior that day. Now, we were worried on how to commute going to Jakarta the next day or is it ever safe to travel this way? The night-sleeper train is our only option  and were hoping there is an alternative trails, than book an expensive flight to the city.

Our super long journey to nowhere finally stopped at a local restaurant.  We had lunch at 2 in the afternoon, I was dizzy and starving. We tried Nasi Goreng and Nasi Campur. It was tasteful and we love it! We ordered Mi Goreng, to-go for our dinner just in case.

We then continued the road trip and had another stop for bathroom break at half past 5 in the afternoon.

It was already 9 in the evening when we reached the town of Probolinggo. We had to go down to register and attend a short briefing for the schedule of Bromo Sunrise Tour and those who will continue their trip to Ijen. Everyone was given another ticket, I didn’t notice that they put the assigned accommodation on the ticket until we reached Cemoro Lawang. Contrary to what our agent told us, we were given a different hotel.

The good thing is that we already paid in for our whole trip which costs IDR 700,000 inclusive of One night stay at hotel, Jeep to Pananjakan  and Mt. Bromo Crater, Breakfast and Van transfer to Surabaya.

Some tourists were not able to book for the 4×4 jeep and paid a lot more at the registration area.

At the briefing, we were told about the pick up time the next day and what we should expect. We’ll go through a 15 minutes trek to the viewing deck or if we’ll choose to go on foot from the hotel, we must get up at least 2 o’clock in the morning to start the trek.

Probolinggo has a number of hotels and inns. If you plan to check in here, most hotels can arrange for Bromo and Ijen tours. It is one and a half hour away from the village of Cemoro Lawang, the closest point to Mt. Bromo.

At Last, we reached our accommodation after 14 hours on the road. The hotel was different from what we have been promised. It was Cemarah Indah Hotel that Ruly showed us if I remember correctly. But I was so dizzy at that moment, I didn’t realized we were dropped off to another hotel. Hotel Sion View.

It was okay, but to quote the other guests, it isn’t a hotel. It’s a backpackers area. The room is basic, with a not so clean toilet. It was good enough that hot water is available.

Here’s me and my memoirs of a lost million.

When we’re settled, we ate our packed dinner, Mi Goreng, then headed out to the Restaurant to have some coffee.

Lights off at half an hour past midnight.

Read our Indonesia Backpacking Itinerary here and how we scored the Bromo Package Tour.

Follow us in Facebook and see more photos.

Exploring strange new lands with just a backpack and a map in hand is beyond exciting and fun.  Here you’ll find the fundamental part of our adventure and what kept us busy for the last few weeks. Expect a lot of road trip stories and budget travel tips coming up.

Indonesia isn’t the world’s most popular route for independent travelers and backpackers, but surprise, we cannot underestimate the beauty of the road less traveled. And who can resist a $12 roundtrip air tickets for 2? Thanks to Cebu Pacific’s Piso fare, we got the most coveted airfare, that’s P544 in peso.

28-June { Monday }

18:00 NAIA Terminal 3 Check In at Cebu Pacific
21:25 ETD Flight Mla – Jakarta (delayed flight by 30mins.)
00:15 ETA Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport Terminal 2
Take taxi to Terminal 3 Airport for Domestic Flight (airport shuttle is not available after midnight)

29-June { Tuesday }

04:00 Check in at Terminal 2
06:00 ETD Flight Jakarta to Yogyakarta by Air Asia
07:00 Arrival Yogyakarta
Take taxi from airport to Malioboro/ Jalan Sosrowijayan
07:45 Hunt for Accommodation along Gang I and Gang II backpackers area in Jalan Sosrowijayan
08:15 Check in at Rejeki Homestay
08:30 Breakfast at Superman Restaurant
09:00 Hunt for Bromo Tour and Package tour for Borobudur – Prambanan – City Tour – Ramayana Ballet
Bargain and Settled in with Sosro Tours
10:00 Start of Borobudur Tour
14:00 Drop by at Batik Shop
16:00 Start of Prambanan Tour
18:30 Dinner at Prambanan Garden Restaurant
19:30 Ramayana Ballet Show
21:30 End of Show
22:00 Back in Yogyakarta
Went around Malioboro to scout for souvenirs but stores are closing already and food stalls are being set up.

30-June { Wednesday }

07:00 Breakfast at Mc Donalds
07:30 Scour the market for souvenirs but its still too early and all shops are still closed.
08:10 Check out from Rejeki Homestay
08:15 Pick up at Sosro Tours office for Bromo Package
08:30 Leave for Cemoro Lawang in private van (10 pax including us with Austrians, Germans and Polish)
14:00 Lunch at local restaurant
14:30 Continue long trip to Probolinggo
21:30 Briefing and Registration at Probolinggo
23:00 Arrival Cemoro Lawang. Check In at Hotel Sion View

1-July { Thursday }

04:30 ETD Mt. Penanjakan – Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
05:00 ETA Park. Start trek to Viewing deck.
05:15 Viewing Deck. Wait for Sunrise.
06:00 ETD to Mt. Bromo Crater
06:30 Start trek to the active volcano
08:00 ETD Hotel for Breakfast
08:30 Arrival at Hotel. Free Breakfast
10:00 ETD for Surabaya
15:30 Arrival at Surabaya Bus Station. Take taxi to Pasar Turi Train Station.
16:00 Pasar Turi Train Station. Purchase Tickets for Night trip to Jakarta
18:30 Leave for Jakarta via Sembrani Train

2-July { Friday }

08:30 ETA Jakarta – Gambir Station
Freshen up. Leave luggages at Locker center.
Explore Jakarta
Monas
Mangga Dua
Jalan Surabaya
17:00 Back at Gambir Station to pick up luggages and transfer via Damri Bus to Airport Terminal 2

3-July { Saturday }

00:30 Flight to Manila via Cebu Pacific
05:30 ETA Manila

Don’t missed out on my next posts for our adventures and misadventures in Indonesia and the rest of Java!

Terima Kasih,

Travel is the name of a modern disease which became rampant in the mid-fifties and is still spreading. The disease – its scientific name is travelitis furiosus - is carried by a germ called prosperity.

~George Mikes

We reach the last leg of our journey up North and we still have some places to visit before we head home. It’s an inspiring weekend and fun adventure ’till the very end.

Check out our Vigan – Laoag – Pagudpud – Ilocos Itinerary as well as our First Day Adventures in Vigan & Laoag and 2nd Day Beach Bumming at Blue Lagoon and other tourist spots of Ilocos.

3rd Day : All our bags are packed now and ready to go… but wait… we can’t leave just like that!

After breakfast, we headed off to the local market to check out authentic Ilocano specialties, from bagnet to tupig to Sukang Iloko, to longganisa. Mind you our weight doubled these past days with the yummy dishes prepared by our generous hosts. And we still have a few take outs from them.

Not included in our itinerary was a  visit to the church of Sta. Monica or also known as Sarrat Church in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. It’s only a few minutes away from Vintar where we stayed, so we grab the chance to drop by.

It’s an old Baroque church in a beautifully arranged red bricks. Further reconstructions were made when the former Philippine President Marcos’ daughter, Irene Marcos, choose the church to be a venue of her fairytale wedding to Gregorio Araneta in 1983. Sarrat Church holds the record of the longest  church aisle in the Philippines.

The ruins of a torture chamber can still be seen at the site of the church. In the torture chamber are 2 enormous brick-covered pillars. Filipinos accused of subversion and other major crimes were said to have been hanged from these pillars during the Spanish colonial period.

Our next stop is Batac, Ilocos Norte to visit Marcos Museum and Mausoleum.

Picture taking isn’t allowed at Marcos Mausoleum where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of ousted President Ferdinand Marcos can be found. He died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 but this dictator is well-loved by his hometown.

Beside the Mausoleum is Marcos Museum where the former President’s  military awards, plate number, photos, and his work desk are displayed for viewing.

We found colorful graffiti just outside the museum. Impressive, perfect for a background!

We had the chance to catch the photo exhibit happening  not too far from the Mausoleum. Photo collection and memorabilia are displayed on wall with great pride. The newspaper which announces that former President Marcos topped the bar exams and with a score no one in history has ever beaten yet, we were in awe. The first couple’s photos of their younger years were also displayed. Former first lady, Imelda Marcos exudes elegance even at a young age.

Did I mention we have Ferdinand and Imelda joined our group?

Of course we can’t leave Batac City without sampling the authentic Ilocos Empanada. Ohhh, tastes heavenly.

We continued with the long drive to Juan Luna Shrine. The Shrine is the ancestral home of artist and world-renowned painter, Juan Luna (1857 – 1899). It was close when we went there, but we are lucky enough that the curator seen us surveying the area. He let us in and happily gave us a tour in the two-storey house. The restored house is now open to the public after it was converted into a mini museum which showcases various memorabilia and Luna’s works of art. A reproduction of his greatest masterpiece, the Spolarium, hangs on the wall, won a gold medal in 1884.

Interesting point is the genealogy which connects Imelda Marcos to Juan Luna’s ancestors.

We didn’t stay long for we still have to drop by Vigan before heading to Manila. The long journey gave us a free time for an afternoon nap.

Then there was Viva Vigan Festival. Some of the roads were close for the celebration. It is the grandest cultural activity in the North. Crisologo Museum was closed. We decided to have lunch first at the restaurant in Calle Crisologo then we’re off to Baluarte.

Not just a zoo, Baluarte is an interactive wildlife sanctuary and facility, with the breathtaking view of its dominating scenic boulders amidst trees and greens. Some addition I recognized from my 2006 visit is a camel ride, where you can actually sit on it and take photos. A huge dinosaur by the Baluarte signage and Butterfly Garden. There were colorful parrots on display too.

Baluarte is an 80 hectares of gently rolling terrains, hills and mountain sides, the structures of facilities and amenities, its phases of construction is in its best possible realistic and natural habitat for good and sound animal care. It is open to the public and admission is FREE. It is the home of Governor Chavit Singson.

Our day is coming to an end, we made a stop at Barangay Pagburnayan to witness Pottery Making. Burnay means earthen pot. Too bad, it is holiday in Vigan and there were no one in the jar factory to show us the potter’s tool. We did roam around though to our hearts content and check out some huge and broken jars.

We went back to Calle Crisologo to do last minute shopping. We have free time to scour for goods, bargains and Vigan’s best souvenirs. Oh, we did drop by at the town’s market too, to buy the most coveted chichacorn in various flavours, sweet and spicy, cheese, garlic, etc.

At half past 6 in the evening, we left Vigan, fortunately not in a calesa. We stop over at Pangasinan for dinner and safely landed in Manila by 3 in the morning.

To wrap it up, it was a long, three days journey, but it was all worth it. We were able to meet new friends, discover new places, experience the North side of the Philippines, been welcomed warmly by our hosts and Ilocanos we met along the way.

For More Photos, visit :

Weekend Haven Album
Group Shots by Charlone Ibanez
Lakbay Nikkitaa  by Ferdinand Teves
Northern Escape by RL Bernardo

Viva Ilocos!

Summer gets warmer with fabulous crew around. More about our adventures as we’ve plunged deeply into our Lakbay Norte Experience.

If you are interested on a budget travel to the North, hop in to read our Ilocos itinerary and check the customized 3 days adventure which covers cultural, historic and nature encounter at its best.

Day 1 covers Historical tour and Cultural exposure to Ilocanos Heritage.

Day 2 offers a different kind of fun. Summer, Sun, Sea and Sand. What more can we ask for?

Day 3 filled our hungry soul with authentic Batac Empanada, blast from the past to Juan Luna Shrine and unleashed the kid within us at Gov. Singson’s Baluarte.

So, what really happened on Day 2?

Day 2 : Sun Kissed!

Our day started early to catch up with the morning sky at Bangui Windmills. The “Wind Farm” is located at the shoreline facing South China Sea. This amazing structure is the biggest in Southeast Asia which consists of 15 wind turbines that generates 40% of power requirement of Ilocos Norte.

Notice the  towering size of each wind turbines.

The giant blades are stationary by the time we arrived. I think the mechanism is on a timer to simulate only in the  afternoon, like we we were able to catch on our previous visits.

Our 2nd destination is Blue Lagoon Cove,  Maira-Ira Beach in Pagudpud. It was once a secret destination, tucked away in the  hamlet of the northernmost tip of Luzon. My vague memory of this virgin beach consist of unspoiled powdery white sands, deep blue waters and soothing sea breeze that fills our mind only with nothingness. It is Boracay of the North, minus the heavy commercialization.

Four years ago, there were no accommodations available except to pitch tent by the beach front. No restrooms for the public and we had to ask permissions from the local to make use of their personal bathroom. No pushy souvenir sellers and only few people stroll the beach even on weekends.

Our visit surprised us with lots of major changes in this hidden paradise. Hotels and Home-stay now mushroomed within the vicinity. The price of everything sky-rocketed too. Oh well, so much for developments.

We settled for the shabby cottage where we  have the best location on hand at the center of the cove, we can either go to the left side of the beach stretch where all the hotel guests frolic under the sun or stroll on the right side, the less-traveled sand. The waves at Blue Lagoon get crazier at noon, so I would much prefer to lounge at the sea bed on the right side where the water is serene.

Rock the beach! Shoot here and there. Nikon and Canon are our new bffs.

Our lunch was heavenly. We have grilled fish and pork and all things luscious. Diet wasn’t on our vocabulary for the last days.

We have 4 hours to celebrate and be merry, swim and get a tan before we head to our next stop.

We were supposed to go to Ilocos – Cagayan Boundary Canopy but dark clouds signal a heavy downpour on that side of town, so we skipped it on our list. We hit the end of the long and winding road of Patapat bridge, and made a stop at Paraiso ni Anton (Anton’s Paradise). The Grotto of Mother Mary and the refreshing water coming from the mountain is said to be miraculous. Tourists and locals alike bring home a bottle or two for its healing power.

The northernmost road of Ilocos Norte is where the breathtaking Patapat Viaduct is located. This elevated concrete highway bridge is the window to Cagayan Valley Region. To it’s right is the lush Cordillera Mountain Range , and to it’s left is the scenic Pasaleng Bay. It’s the fourth longest bridge in the Philippines.

Further ahead to our next stop, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in the town of Burgos. This site is the newest addition to Ilocos tourist spots. Popular for it’s strangely shaped formation that is intricately created by nature through time.

The off-road adventure was quite long. Dusty rough road on summer and muddy on rainy days. I was losing hope that if we encounter flat tire any minute, it wouldn’t be worth it. Then, we reached the end towards the make-shift car park. We have to walk from this point forward. It’s only a few meters away from the coastline, and from an eyesight we can already view the awesome rock.

Check the first  photo on this post and see how massive this structure is. The waves crash against the boulder just a few feet below.

The trail by foot going to Kapurpurawan Rocks can be tricky. It isn’t advisable to go on a rainy season as sharp coral rocks bound the path. One slip and you’ll get yourself in serious emergency.

Finally, for our last stop and saving the best for sunset shoot, we headed  to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, still in Burgos town. The highest lighthouse and the oldest in the Philippines is located in the hill of Vigia de Nagparitan overlooking South China Sea.  It was constructed in 1892 and it is still operational with the addition of solar panels.

We truly enjoyed the weather and the company. As usual we were welcomed with a delicious dinner at home.

A heartwarming thanks to Andres family for adopting us during our Northern Luzon trip.

More Photos :

Weekend Haven Album
Group Shots by Charlone Ibanez
Lakbay Nikkitaa  by Ferdinand Teves
Northern Escape by RL Bernardo

With certified beach babes,

Life is known only by those who have found a way to be comfortable with change and the unknown.
Given the nature of life, there may be no security, but only adventure.

~Rachel Naomi Remen

I have long been waiting to get out of my couch, and do a full swing to beat our lazy summer solstice. Another successful getaway with a new set of weekend travelers, from sampling authentic Ilocano delicacies, to souvenir hunting, Visita Iglesia, R&R at Blue Lagoon, learning more about Ilocos History and Marcos Regime, to our super long, bumpy road trip. Not my first time, but exploring Ilocos still excites me.

Refer to our Vigan – Laoag – Pagudpud – Ilocos Itinerary here.

The late holiday declaration left almost everyone a vague plan for a getaway. I was a bit confident though that it will be another long weekend, so we planned it out early this year. All 13 participants were eager to escape Manila’s hot weather and busy days. We have guests from as far as Zamboanga, to a new Nursing graduate, to professional landscape photographer based in Seoul, quite an interesting mix of personalities.

We left at 10 PM in Manila, hoping to get an early start for our Ilocos Sur to Ilocos Norte Tour the following day.

Day 1

Bong, our super driver cum Sexy Model, transported us safely to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur by 7 in the Morning. We had our first breath of Ilocos air at the shoreline of Paraiso ni Juan Grotto, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

After having breakfast, quick stretching and a photo op, we continued our journey to Vigan City. An hour later and 407 km away from Manila, we invaded Calle Crisologo’s tranquil Saturday morning.

Our first stop is Vigan Cathedral or also known as St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. This church is a testament to Vigan’s strong Chinese heritage.

Behind the Church is Calle Crisologo. A leisure walk at this exceptionally intact and well-preserved cobblestone street takes us back to yesteryear. Vigan is declared as Unesco World Heritage Site for its fusion of Asian and European architecture and cultural elements. This makes it unique to the rest of the world.

Further ahead, we reached Bantay Church and Bell Tower. A popular tourist destination, where guests can climb the tower on top of the hill. No one from our group dared to take the stairs, as everyone seemed already exhausted with the hot weather.

There is an ongoing fair at Marcos Museum, so we skipped that part and rescheduled it for our 3rd day. We then headed to Paoay Church or also known as St. Augustine Church in Paoay. It is another Unesco World Heritage Site. The church architecture is a blend of Baroque, Gothic and Oriental designs.

By the time we finished wandering around Paoay Church, we were already craving for lunch. Ah, we savored the best bulalo in town, enough to energize us for the rest of the day.

We paid a short visit at Museo Ilocos Norte. This museum is a tribute to the cultural heritage of Ilocano people.

Our next stop is Malacanang Ti Amianan, or Malacanang of the North. It is the residence of former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte. It’s quite bizarre how similar it looks like from the Malacanang Palace along the North bank of Pasig River in Manila.

The palace is uninhabited now and restored as museum to let visitors take a glimpse of this Marcos property. From the veranda, it overlooks the scenic Paoay Lake.

We can’t miss Fort Ilocandia Resort of course and lust over it’s first class interior. Apart from being the only 5-star deluxe resort hotel in Northern Philippines, a showcase of Spanish colonial inspired villas, an addition of mini zoo kept the guests entertained.

Nearing the end of our 1st day journey, we visited St. William Cathedral in Laoag City. The church is built by Augustinian Friars and is unique for its Italian Renaissance architecture. The Sinking Bell Tower across the street is popular for sinking to the ground an inch every year.

Our day ended with a feast prepared by Mr. Haven Hunter’s relatives. We settled in at Vintar and called it an early night.

More Photos :

Weekend Haven Album
Group Shots by Charlone Ibanez
Lakbay Nikkitaa  by Ferdinand Teves
Northern Escape by RL Bernardo

Our 2nd day Ilocos Invasion soon!

Ilocos Photowalk ~

Our stressed out soul longed for visual thrills and weekend frenzy. You can tell our inner nature seeker selves just got happy from this befitting adventure.

Day 2 of Bulacan Ultimate Weekend Challenge

Our morning started out late. I guess the only one who made it to the peak at the crack of dawn was Rob who missed out our socials the previous night.

I got up at 7 and noticed that the other group was already preparing breakfast while most on my troupe were still dreaming. Bong and Rob decided to go down and fetch some water.

We all crammed up for Pork Adobo, Salted Egg with chopped tomatoes and Scrambled Egg with Mushroom for breakfast. To top it all, a warm coffee to start our day.

Someone’s missing and catching up some more zzz’s. Can you guess who?

After the delightful feast, we busy ourselves with cleaning up and preparing to break camp. Our Mt. Manalmon assault isn’t complete without a hike to the peak. We got crazy over group photos and jump shots taken with the amazing bird’s eye view of Bulacan province as backdrop.

We were more thrilled when Super Bong aka Guide Extremist, did jump and climb to the other rock summit.

As much as we want to stay longer for more photo session, we were running out of time. We did a last group photo and offered a prayer for safety before vacating the campsite. Time check: 11 AM.

Descending requires less effort. We made a few stop and rest. Everyone seemed excited with the next activity. We headed down to Madlum Training Center to drop our bags.

We while away the time by resting and getting ready for another challenge. Then, we’re off to the monkey bridge. The challenge seemed easy from the looks of those little kids jumping over and over again off those cable wires down to the deep river. You can’t see fear on their faces, yet they were full of excitement and happiness. On my second try, the nerve-racking feel won’t go away. I bet the rest were haunted by fear too. Then again, peer pressure was more powerful. It’s still worth another million try though, with much zest every time.

We then proceed to trek the steep trail up to Bayukbok Caves. The sizzling weather can’t take our spirits down and we’re ready to conquer our fears. Our spelunking was a test of endurance and brave heart. Climbing up a ladder, bouldering, striding from one cliff to another, and most of the time struggling, crawling and stretching out to fit ourselves through the chambers.

Bayukbok Caves showcase beautiful limestone formation dating hundred years. Awesome Stalactites and stalagmites at the Men’s Room aka Sensational Room kept Toni and the girls giddy.

Ada may have faced her greatest fear, but conquered it with much motivation from everyone. Bong did caught our attention when he jumped out of the cliff and back. It was a dangerous act that only our super guide can do.

Back at the training center, we had a super late lunch. Pork Sinigang and Fried Tilapia for Lunch ala Dinner.

We had a quick dip at the river before packing up for home.

Photo Credits:

Ferdie Teves
Jeneth Gile
Valerie Teves

For Contact Details of our Jeepney Service, you can email me or leave your message here.

Muchas Gracias to everyone!

For me, a place unvisited is like an unrequited love. A dull ache that – try as you might to think it away, to convince yourself that she wasn’t the right country for you – it just won’t leave you in peace.

–Eric Weiner, The Geography of Bliss

Our journey to Negros Island left us more energized. Our trip was not about to end though, as we cross another island in Visayas, the Queen of the South, Cebu.

This is a reunion to once my hometown during  my toddler years and a comeback after more than 20 years. It felt good to be back home again.

We left Sibulan Port via Santander Express Fastcraft at 12:30 PM going to Liloan, Cebu. Its a quick 30 minutes boat ride in a panoramic seascape backdrop. Liloan is the Southernmost part of Cebu. From my last blog entry, you can view the breakdown of our travel expenses upon leaving Negros Oriental. We made it to Liloan and took a parked Ceres Bus that goes to Cebu South Terminal.

The bus ride is more impressive as we crossed the crooked road going to Central Cebu. Uphill, downhill and for most part, a cliff view of the breathtaking seascape of the island. We were lucky to grab a seat at the right side of the bus.

Our ride lasted for 3.5 hours in a smooth flowing traffic. We steal a good nap while at it. Arriving in Cebu City South Terminal, we faced our dilemma in finding a cheap accommodation. We hailed a taxi and ended up in Robinson’s Mall. Along its proximity are a number of hotels, inns and budget accommodations.

We hunt along Fuente Osmena and nearby street for the best last minute hotel deals. Elegant Circle Inn, Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu Midtown and Sampaguita Suites are just some of the options.

Alas we found Fuente Pension House located at the street behind Elegant Circle Inn. Twin Room isn’t available though so we opted for Suite Room at a discounted rate of P1,600 for a 24-hours stay. It was just minutes before 6 PM and the time covered is just perfect for our check out the next day.

The room is nothing fancy but it is spacious and clean with one king size bed and 1 single bed. Facilities include Aircon, cable TV, PABX telephone and hot & cold shower. Bathroom is roomy and water supply is good too. They took the fridge in exchange of our discounted rate. Looking through the glass panels, our eyes are set for a nice 90 degrees view of Cebu Skyline.

We freshened up a bit before exploring more of Cebu. Decided to have dinner at a fast food restaurant in Robinson’s Mall and window shop around. Nothing spectacular to see so we agreed to go to Ayala Mall.

Ayala Mall Cebu reminded me of Alabang Town Center. The landscape is almost the same. It’s an upscale shopping and party hub for Cebuanos. I remember what Harold told me about downtown and uptown district of Cebu. Ayala Mall is located at the uptown district. Older district around Colon St. is referred to as downtown. Most tourists prefer to stay uptown considering the quiet, fancy environment and best business amenities within the area. While Downtown district has gained bad reputation over the years for its impoverished state.

After traipsing around Ayala Mall, we then headed to Asiatown IT Park in Lahug where we are set to meet hubby’s officemates assigned at the nearby Waterfront Casino. We opted to settle ourselves at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I was wondering if it was just the frappuccino or the weather is getting colder?

After the brief chitchat we head back to our accommodation and call it a night.

Day 6 – Exploring Cebu City

Yay, we are early risers now. It’s unimaginable, but yeah, on the 6th day we still survived getting up early. My husband teased me for being nocturnal, yet on this trip, I evolved. lol.

We were up at 6 am to prepare for our hectic Cebu Itinerary. We were able to cram up everything for the whole day before our flight at past 9 in the evening.

Hubby suggested that we’ll have breakfast at Orange Brutus at the nearby street. So off we went for a power meal.

Later, we hailed a taxi going to Fort San Pedro, where our journey to downtown will begin. Unfortunately, we were too early as the gate opens at 8 AM. Plaza Independencia which is just across the street is under renovation. We then agreed to just walked back and checked out the church we passed through from the taxi ride earlier.

We were greeted by the impressive architecture of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. There is an ongoing mass yet we can’t help ourselves to be overwhelmed with this church baroque interior.

After paying respects, we went ahead to another church, Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño. If I remembered correctly, it’s just two blocks away and can easily be reached by foot. It is the oldest church in the Philippines dating back to 16th century. The grand interior showcase a history of old carvings. The main altar boasts a display of carved pillars with statues of Augustinian Saints. Being at this place brought about strange feelings on me. Don’t ask me what, but is it miraculous?

The mass is just about to end when we discovered a queue at the left side of the church. Apparently, it lead to Santo Niño Chapel where an altar of the miraculous statue of the Holy Child of Cebu is stationed. We did joined the line before it gets longer.

Cebuanos are known to be religious as the island is recognized as the seat of Christianity in the Philippines. It is evident in the number of people attending the mass on a weekday.

After offering our intentions to the Holy Child, we head back to the church facade for some photo ops. Later, we found our way to Magellan’s Cross, Cebu’s top tourist destination. An octagonal kiosk enshrines the famous cross that Magellan brought to instill Christianity on Filipinos. This historical landmark is a homage to Catholic Churches in the Philippines. Miraculous claims include that Magellan’s Cross grows taller over the years. On the other side of the road is where the City Hall is located.

Avid patrons of Sto. Niño bound the area to offer their services in lighting candles as they danced to chant your petitions and prayers. The sacred dance in honor of Santo Niño is called “sinulog“. Sinulog Festival is a big event in Cebu celebrated during the third Sunday of January.

After visiting Magellan’s Cross, we headed to La Fortuna Bakery to grab some refreshments. We went back to Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño grounds where a Museum is located. We paid P20 each for the entrance.

The museum features a rich collection of Santo Niños, vestments, jewelries, rosaries, toys and gifts collected over the years from devotees. Taking pictures are not allowed inside.

After our trip to the Museum, we decided to get back to Fort San Pedro. Time Check: 10:00 AM.

Fort San Pedro is located at the Pier area. It was built by the Spaniards for Military defense in 1738. It is the oldest and smallest triangular bastion fort in the country. There were few tourists wandering around when we got in. We paid an entrance fee of P30 each.

The place is pretty much the same as Fort Santiago in Intramuros except that it is noticeably smaller. We didn’t stay long enough as the scorching sun pulls down our remaining energy. A little photo shoot here and there… and we are off to grab some lunch.

We decided to take a jeepney going to JY Mall which is the jump off to our next destination. Upon reaching there, we agreed to have some lunch first at a fast food restaurant.

Later on we hailed a cab to take us to our next stop, Cebu Taoist Temple. It is located at Beverly Hills Subdivision and the only way to get in is via private vehicle, cab or rent a motorcycle (habal-habal). The temple is open to the public, worshippers and non-worshippers alike. It is a multi-tiered tower standing at 300 meters above sea level.The hike up the 81 steps is pretty exhausting especially on a sweltering weather.

There are students and Indian Nationals on a field trip when we arrived. I’d like to try the ritual of praying and determining the answer through the crescent-shaped divining blocks, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to anyone if it is allowed to a non-devotee.

We realized there is another entrance door after passing through the replica of Great Wall of China. This is pretty convenient if one is not comfortable with using the stairs. There is a giant dragon statue which provides a nice backdrop to the Great Wall.

A little more hike and we were rewarded with the panoramic sight of Downtown Cebu. Taking picture on the place of worship even as a backdrop is strictly prohibited.

We decided to go down after a while and wait for a cab to take us back to JY Mall. Reaching there, we stock up on bottled waters at a nearby grocery before negotiating to a young man who offered his motorcycle to us.

As we are going to , Cebu’s premier viewing deck located at 2,000 feet above sea level in the hills of Busay, we realized that our best option is to hire a habal-habal or local motorcycle. The distance and uphill terrain is not for a usual taxi ride.

It cost us P200 per motorcycle for a two-way ride. So off we go, we hired two motorcycles for us. The trip  on the main road and off to uphill route lasted for about 20 minutes.

At the TOPS, an entrance fee of P100 each is required for an unlimited hours of stay. Tops is open 24 hours. Cottages are lined up on the covered area, just perfect for family and friends picnic party.

I would suggest to go there in late afternoon to night time to enjoy the breathtaking and spectacular view overlooking Metro Cebu.

At 2:00 PM, we went down still undecided where to head next. We asked for directions to Carbon Market, supposedly to buy some dried fish and goods but we were advice to stay out of the area or be wary of snatchers.

Hmmm, not to keen on risking our gadgets though, we just agreed to go back to our hotel and rest for the remaining hours before our flight. On our way back, we dropped by at Shamrock Pension House to buy the famous Shamrock Otap for pasalubong. It is located at Fuente Osmena Circle and just few minutes away from our hotel.

We used our time to freshen up and re-pack our things. We don’t want to go over the hassle of unpacking goods at the airport, so we were ready with our packaging tape.

Summing it up, we were able to cover most of Cebu City’s top tourist destinations within a day. I guess this itinerary is more useful as a filler to any exciting explorations in the neighboring islands of Cebu. We shall return to check out the best beaches in Cebu like Bantayan, Camotes, Mactan & Malapascua Island.

By 6:00 PM we had a sumptuous dinner at Fuente Pension House Restaurant. The food is appetizing in a generous amount of serving. We were able to admire Cebu Crown Regency’s Sky Ride, Edge Coaster from our backdrop. Hubby is egging me to try it but I’m too chicken to do so. Who knows, maybe next time.

We checked out before 7 in the evening and left the hotel for our flight at 9:25 PM via Zest Air. Got the best deal on airfare at P1,976 for both of us on Cebu – Manila flight. Mactan International Airport is quite far from our hotel, good thing traffic wasn’t that bad and we boarded on time.

Our trip back home is hassle free and thank God for our safe flight.

Can’t get enough of danggit,

If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.

- John D Rockefeller

While our trip to Negros Occidental is mostly of historical and cultural experience, a journey further down South of the island to Negros Oriental is an exquisite date with nature.

Our Negros Oriental itinerary is as much hectic with our Negros Occidental adventure.

We experienced first hand how friendly & helpful Negrenses are, yet we were more impressed about how warm and hospitable our host can be. We arrived in Tanjay a little late as expected. I lost count on how many rough roads on maintenance and one-way route we passed through after Mabinay. Little did we know that the construction extends until Dumaguete. A dilemma we learned later.

We didn’t mind that our regular bus is non-ac as we got the best view of hectares & hectares of sugarcane plantations and the fresh October breeze is billowing against our skin.

We met Ging & her family in Tanjay & had dinner at Jo’s Chicken Inato by the sea. They brought us to Buglasan Festival in Dumaguete. You can read our first night in Negros Oriental in this link and scroll down to our Day 3 adventure.

Day 4 – Island Adventure & Mystic Lake

The day I’ve long been waiting for has arrived and  we were blessed with a beautiful weather.

A little over 5 hours of sleep were our only comfort to start another exciting day. At 6 am, we prepared our things and got ready for breakfast. Nelia’s Place has a restaurant, videoke and gaming area. We were surprised that there were few bird’s nest hanging by the high ceiling. Having encountered hundreds of them at Mambukal Resort, it appeal to us that the breed might be indigenous to Negros Island.

Ging, accompanied by one of their employees arrived around 7 am. She offered to drop us off to Bais City and help us  look for boatmen that will take us to Manjuyod Sandbar. We were really thankful and embarrass on how she goes out of her way to help us.

Around 7:30 AM we reached Bais City. At the town plaza they asked a group of men where we can rent out a boat and we negotiated the price. The small boat that can fit 15 persons is worth P2,500 while the big one is P5,000 which can fit up to 60 persons. The big boat is usually rented for birthday and family celebrations because it includes a videoke on it. The package includes a whole day rental of the boat to Manjuyod Sandbar and a tour to Bais City Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Park. An additional of P1,000 is needed if we wish to go dolphin & whale watching.

Ging has to attend to some work, so off we go and savor the day. The small boat is roomy enough for just the two of us. We skip on doing dolphin and whale watching as we already experienced it during our trip to Bohol.

We went to the nearby market to get some snacks and cooked meal. We then followed the man who arranged our trip to the port. Here’s the contact person of the boat owner where you can make reservations:

Jun Cabanag – 09068787888

8:40 AM - Off we go sailing. It was the first time I sailed on a calm water. We are cruising Tańon Strait which connects Bohol Sea and Visayan Sea and is located in between the islands of Cebu and Negros.

The soothing smell of the sea kissed my lips  and eased  my tired soul. It’s like the world suddenly moved gently. I wish for the moment to last longer.

Our boatmen, 3 of them decided to take us to Manjuyod Sandbar first. A 25 -30 minutes ride from the port. Just in time to see the white sand beach stretch before the water rises.

It is paradise found, all 7 km white sand beach stretch! It is completely submerged during high tide and no trees and residents live here. There are 4 cottages though that can be rented for overnight stay through the government of Manjuyod.

We wasted no time to explore and take photos. Evidently, the water is fast approaching which left us to a limited dry sands here and there. In less than 30 minutes the island seemed nowhere amidst the calm sea. There were cute starfishes, impressive shell bed and small crabs, apparently because Tańon Strait is a sanctuary to rich marine life.

We just stayed for an hour, enough to enjoy the view, soak a little and feel the sun against our skin.

Next stop, Bais City Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Park.

We sailed again for about an hour to get to this place. It is a 400 hectare protected mangrove forest started by local government and a nesting ground to many bird species and other wildlife. Certainly, I’m amazed and pleased about this project.

There is a long stretch of cemented bridge going to the  BCBSM Park. While at it, I looked down through the waters and saw spikes everywhere, most commonly known as sea urchins, a lot of them, and humongous at that. There were small fishes too. Approaching the mangroves, the sound of mosquitoes is echoing. Yep, we were ready and applied our trusty Citronella Mosquito Repellant from Sonya’s Garden. :>

More old and new mangroves, and seedlings can be found at the end of the bridge, which only shows that it is a successful continuing project. Kudos to the support of local government and here’s hoping that the other coastal cities in the Philippines will also start the same endeavor.

After 30 minutes, we were back at the boat enjoying our lunch. We are headed to the port for our next adventure.

At the port, the man who arranged our boat ride was already waiting. We asked him if he knew where we can buy some dried fish & squids for pasalubong. We heard that it is cheaper in Negros than in Cebu. Fortunately, he knew someone who is into selling packed goods. We dropped by and bought some before boarding a bus going to San Jose Junction.

One and a half hour later, after the despairing bus ride due to road maintenance, we finally reached San Jose/Twin Lakes Junction at 2 in the afternoon. This is a jump-off for our ascend to Lake Balinsasayao. Ging’s uncle is waiting for us among the many motorcycle drivers that is up for rent when scaling Twin Lakes. We met his nephew beside the two motorcycles available for us. We negotiated with the price and got a deal at P350/ person /  two way. From Dumaguete, certain tour groups also arrange trip to twin lakes via 4 wheel drive vehicles.

There are dark clouds approaching our area, and I felt hesitant that the road may get rough and dangerous. With that I learned that is an essential matter that  our driver is skilled and knew his track well. And did I mention it is my first motorcycle ride? Ging’s uncle did an excellent job on maneuvering his vehicle while I am being a clueless backrider.

The ascend took about 30 minutes passing through cemented roads and occassional dry, dusty and rough terrain. The view is amazing as we pass by some huge volcanic rocks. I learned that we are actually scaling Mt. Kabalin-an and it sits in the town of Sibulan and San Jose. There are few residents that inhabit the mountains. Ging’s uncle also pointed out a military camp where he is at service. He mentioned that it is vital in keeping the peace and order in the area. I noticed that everyone, young and old are adept to the main transportation in the area, motorcycle also known locally as habal-habal.

The twin lakes namely Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao, are protected natural park. At the Visitors Center and entrance of Lake Balinsasayao, a small lake captivated us. The scenic and placid Lake Kabalin-an.

There is something mystic about Lake Kabalin-an. I don’t know what it is but all the photos and words may not justify well about it. The calm lake is located just at the right side of the road. It is the forefront of the lush green forest.  Full bloom trees perched amidst the still water. An impressive display of reflection rest beyond.

We registered and paid the entrance fee of P10 each. From the Visitor’s Center, Lake Balinsasayao is only about 1 km. away. We decided to go by foot and hike through the paved way. We never realized it can be exhausting and had to take rest for nth times.

Nearing the passage to Lake Balinsasayao, our motorcycle heroes came to the rescue. They gave us a ride up to the restaurant at the gate.

From the parking, an endangered tarictic hornbill just landed. It is so friendly that it never budge while we were trying to get closer photos. We later  learned that it has a thing for candies. Sweet.

We walked down the pathway crossing the gate to Lake Balinsasayao. With occassional tweeting of birds and sounds of nature, it felt like we’re lost in the middle of the forest. Further down, we saw the vast calm waters of Lake Balinsasayao. There is a small dock where boats can be rented to cross to the other side where Lake Danao is best viewed.

They say that on a low tide, we can just trek from the pathway and not use the boat going there. We wouldn’t want to risk though and decided to just enjoy the view from the dock and back to the restaurant. I wanted to go boating but the weather is getting gloomy and cold.

The nipa restaurant has a nice overlooking view of both lakes. Lake Danao is smaller than Lake Balinsasayao. Lake Kabalin-an is smallest of the three.

At 4:45, we started our descend. It kinda look scary at first because of all the steep slopes but I was assured by Ging’s uncle that he & his nephew are cautious about their driving and that they wouldn’t want us to get traumatized on our habal habal ride in Negros.

We reached the junction safely and waited for the bus to take us back to Tanjay. Our things were unloaded at Ging & Bang’s house earlier, and we need to gather it first before heading to Dumaguete where we plan to spend the night.

We didn’t get the chance to see the couple again as both of them were at work when we dropped by. To Ging & Bang, we deeply appreciate all your help. Thank you and we’ll meet again soon. You guys are the best. xoxo

After collecting our things, we headed to Dumaguete. Traffic was terrible. The usual 30 minutes ride, hit us with a dreadful 2.5 hours bus ride. Imagine how we felt after soaking from the sea, basking in the sand, our clothes wet & dried from sweat and an encounter with dusty road for the whole day. My feet were itching for a cold shower and a hotel blanket, but we can’t do much but wait for the bus’ turn in a one way road. Arrggh.

Gazillion years later, we reached Dumaguete. We missed our street and just hired a local tricycle to take us to Harolds Mansion. My research on Dumaguete accommodation led me to Harolds Mansion as budget friendly and backpackers haven.

Fortunately, there are still rooms available. We didn’t made any reservation and  just walked in. We noticed most of their clients are foreigners. Which led to another observation that I think 30% of the population in Dumaguete are made up of foreigners. An increasing number since Dumaguete is known for being a University Town and a city with low crime rate.

We settled in a Matrimonial AC Room that costs P665.50/night. It comes with free continental breakfast and unlimited coffee/tea/water all day.

We freshened up and decided to have dinner at the nearby Mc Donalds. We wanted to sample some Dumaguete’s best delicacies but we’re too tired and hungry to do so. A fast food resto like Mc Do is our haven in situations like this. Going back we decided to walk. We passed through Silliman University where I was eager to see any signs of ghost in the darkness. lol. I heard too much stories that would explain why.

We encountered and asked a security guard where the Anthropology Museum is located. Ahhh… getting ready for our early itinerary the next day. Too early, that the guard thought we would brave the night to go to the museum at that minute (was 10 pm, I think).

We also decided to avail an express laundry service for some of our used clothes. Harolds Mansion washing machines are out of service that day, so we opt to go to the laundry shop across the street. It was our first trip that we ran out of clothes to wear, or we didn’t pack well or we foresee that we will be using laundry service. Whatever, but my turquoise shirt got lost. I didn’t made a big fuss about it as it was hopeless that they will find it in piles clothings.

Finally off to bed. It was a looooooooooooooong marvelous day.

Day 5 – Dumaguete City & Cebu City

At 7:00 AM we set ourselves for our itinerary. We had breakfast at the hotel’s caffeteria where group of foreigners planned their schedule.

An hour later, we made our way to Silliman University Anthropology Museum. They require an ID to enter the campus. It was still close when we got in and waited until 9AM. Enough to tour the small campus. All over Dumaguete, cluster of SU campuses were built.

Silliman University is established in 1901 by American Missionaries and named after Dr. Horace Silliman, who gave the initial $10,000 budget to start the school. It is the oldest American-established University in Asia.

The Museum boasts interesting pieces, including a voodoo doll that a police confiscated from Siquijor, materials for local witchcraft, old jar coffins, and a lot more. We can’t take pictures inside, they only allow it at the balcony and third floor.

We finished the tour in less than 30 minutes. We headed to St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral and take some photos. Beside is the Belfry Tower or Campanario de Dumaguete. Both has been built during the Spanish period.

The sun is unforgiving and it is scorching hot. At 10:30 AM, we decided to have an early lunch at Lab-as Restaurant. On our way, I saw the Sisters of St. Paul Monument, a boat carrying the founders of St. Paul University.

The food at Lab-as restaurant is appetizing. They should improve more on customer service though.

After the sumptous lunch, we headed back to the hotel and prepared to check out.

The owner of Harolds Mansion was kind enough to direct us the way going to Sibulan Port where we will take a fastcraft to Cebu. He even gave us a contact person of a newly opened accommodation in Cebu where we can stay.

We hailed a tricycle and asked to be dropped off at the nearest multicab station to Sibulan. 30 minutes later, we arrived at Sibulan Port. Santander Express fastcraft leaves at 12:30 PM going to Liloan, the southernmost part of Cebu Island. The fare is P62 including the terminal fee of P10.

We cruised for 30 minutes that gave us 360 degrees scenic ocean & island views. A little tip though, if there are many passengers, you may want to sit near the exit door. This will give you a passage, if you’re quick enough, to get your choice of seat on the Ceres bus in Liloan.

Upon disembarking in Liloan, Ceres bus is already waiting for passengers going to Cebu South Terminal. Try to get the best window seat at the right side of the bus (from the driver’s viewpoint). You definitely wouldn’t want to miss the panoramic seaside & cliff view of Cebu Island.

For the most part of the 3.5 hours ride, our eyes feast at the breathtaking Cebu landscape. Bus fee is P155.

Traffic was good and the winding road is awesome. We reached Cebu South Terminal safely.

Cebu Adventure will continue on my next post.

I’m definitely coming back to Negros Oriental!