Viva Visayas
Central Visayas Itinerary
May 5
11:55pm-2:10PM Flight Manila to Bacolod Zestair
2:30pm-3:00pm Trike to Bacolod Pension House
May 6
Go Around Bacolod
May 7
8:00 am Bus to Sipalay 5 hours 200p
2:00pm Arrive Sugar Beach
2:30pm Camp at Langub 150p
09185738952 – Mr Demy
09182447637 – Lotlot
09102894393 – Robert
Cottage Sulu Cottage 500p
(63)9197167182
May 8
Kick it at sugar beach all day
2:00 pm check out of takatuka
2:30 pm check in at driftwood
May 9
07:00am check out of driftwood
12:00 pm Bus to Dumaguete
7:00 Pm Arrive in Dumaguete
7:30 pm Check-in at Harold’s mansion.
May 10
5:00am dumagete to Malatapay 100pp
6:00 AM Malatapay to Apo Island 300
7:00am Check-in Liberty Lodge 330p Or local house
09202385704
09209124593
May 11
Apo Island all day snorkel 330p
May 12
8:00 am Boat to Malatapay 300p
9:00am jeep to dumaguete 100p
10:30am Delta ferry to siquijor
9:00am head to tourism office check in at
930am find bike rental 250p das traum
11:00 lunch
12:00 check in at siquijor city college pension or das traum guesthouse 350p bike around the island
May 13
Go around the island all day
May 14
6:00AM-6:45AM Ferry Siquijor to Dumguete
10:00am Check in at Harold’s
11:00am rent bike and tour lagoons
May 15
8:55am -10:10pm Flight Dumaguete to Manila PAL
The 10-day run around
May 5, 2009
At the airport waiting for the flight. Ate my traditional departure cinnabon. The taxi ride from my place was more than interesting. The driver probably not older than 32 was a real estate manager on leave driving his friends cab while on leave from the stresses of his monthly quotas. I forgot to catch his name but he was wearing sunglasses with a white tee and some cargo shorts. He figured I wasn’t from out here so he started probing questions, as did I. After the usually intros we got to talking about the Philippines and how great it is to see other places.
This dude was not the regular kind of taxi driver. He was talking about how he went to Coron, Batanes, Davao, Boracay and a bunch of other places. I was thinking ‘damn this doode been around.” So I told him about my local travels and we shared our favorites. He said Batanes, I said damn was that expensive? He said “nope two of us spent 15gz total including airfare. Man, I envy this doode! Batanes is the destination other than El nido that is on my top 3 list. The two of them also are two of the more expensive destinations mostly due to logistics. Well anyway, I’m at the airport waiting for the flight while the TV”S are hooking the crown up with their daily doses of WOWOWEE. Hahaha. Chicken City here I go!
Flight was delayed an hour. NOT SURPRISED. The only domestic airline that has not had punctuality issues is SEAIR, but I’ve only tried them once. Philippine airlines, cebupacific and zest have had regular issues.
I spent the day getting lost on a jeep today trying to find manokan country ‘chicken country.’ After going around in loops and ending up in familiar places I decided to ask a passenger how to get to SM, since Manokan country is on the street corner before sm. She helped me out and told me where to go, she also said I should have told the driver earlier so he could pass by it. My mind was thinking “damn, I’m having a hard time just trying to say “lugar lang” instead of “para” out here to get them to stop. Man, I didn’t even know how to give the driver the money. I just slowly passed the money forward like I had no voice.
I ate at Aida’s and Damn, chicken inasal in Bacolod is truth. It tender juicy like their hot dogs here and its fresh like buko. It was really good.
I knocked out early check out time is 12
Tips:
-Commute your way around and say “lugar lang’ “bayad nong” in a sweet tone for only 7p
- Stay along Lacson Street since it’s a main point to easily commute or walk anywhere
-eat at manokan country! Best chicken inasal ever! Hands up pants down!
May 6
Another day in chicken city.
Went around town again trying to get lost. Woke up pretty earlier around 600 in the morning. After packing my things out of the Bacolod Pension house I left it with the guards to deposit so I wouldn’t have to carry it around all day while looking around. I initially thought they would try to charge me for depositing my bag, but they didn’t. I was set on leaving for Sipalay in the evening around 7-11pm so I wouldn’t have to spend money again for the night’s accommodation. With the bus ride being around 5 hours I figured I can just sleep the whole way to Sipalay.
Had Breakfast at Business Inn at around 7 am. Got my buffet fix even though the price was okay the selection was mediocre. I couldn’t really complain a buffet is a buffet to me, meaning ALL I CAN EAT. Me being the savage that I am made sure I had all I can eat. The selection was pretty much like Something Fishy in Eastwood City; corned beef, waffles, toast, juice, eggs, chorizos, rice and cereal. At 225p I found it over priced since I was in the province and in manila you can get the same for under 100p.
After the hardy breakfast I headed the opposite way on Lacson St. heading toward the upper streets coming from 1st street headed past 21st. I walked till I got to 18th street than headed up to 18th street Pala Pala. Had lunch here for around 200p. It was okay priced considering I ordered shrimp. I was told to go here by the receptionist but after trying it I find it over priced since at Taboo in Naga you can get the same for under 150p. Pala Pala is their version of dampa “fresh seafood then cooked on the spot.” I was later told from some bacoleneos I met while in Sipalay that there is a cheaper and better one by the capitol building.
After having my lunch probably 2 hours right after eating a buffet I walked back down to Lacson st. and hoped on another jeep Libertad-Bata the same jeep I used to get to SM just the opposite way. I got off at Robinsons curious to find other food places. I found the cake joint that I’ve heard about through others but I just ate and was not craving any sweets so I had to pass up on some ice cream cake. Yeah now I can believe I slept on ice cream cake. Damn.
After hitting up the local Robinsons Bacolod I smashed it up over to the Negros Museum for hot 50p. Looked at the photos of all the former governors and saw some weird toys from all over the world. The toys where pretty old and I guess they where traded amongst the different people during the sweet sugar era. The toys where freaky zeeky looking from Barbie like figures to fat dolls with big breastesest. It was weird.
The lobby had paintings of local battles of tribes in the past and also had pictures of current problems with militant groups and the military in North Cotabato. Upstairs had clothes of the old rich haciendas while showcases the equipment used to make sugar during the provinces heydays. Walked to their “divisoria mall” Chinese mall named “888” sold a bunch of the same stuff as other places in Manila located everywhere basically accessories and stuff that you can waste your money on. I went to Mercy’s and bought Piaya and napoleons ate them both. Hahah.
Took the bus to SM but decided to see where it stops. I wanted to see where Libertad was. Hahah. Got off and got lost walking for maybe 2 hours around downtown and elsewhere. Didn’t really find anything I was walking like a maniac and it was dead heat Kevin bacon outside. Finally hoped on a jeep to SM. I don’t know why I went there but I didn’t buy anything or find any hot Bacolod shirts. Thought about eating at manokan country right by SM but decided to try somewhere else. Walked around more downtown looking for things that I did not know and couldn’t find. At around 4pm I dipped out of the area for the same jeep I been riding “libertad-Bata’ since I knew where exactly it was going I hopped on it and headed towards Robinsons on Lacson.
After getting of right after Robinsons I took another “bacolod-talisay” Trying to head to the ruins. Giving the driver 10 pesos and a hot “bayad nong’ I rode it down hoping I can find my way. After asking one lady where “ruins” was and getting a reply with a bitter beer face I decided to ask again a hot minute later. That hot minute ended up getting me lost and passing the ruins by like 10 minutes. I was supposed to get off where the Honda dealership was but I went about 10 minutes passed that. I walked around after getting off late thinking maybe I can walk to the ruins but I gave up after remembering how far the Honda dealership was. I decided to head back into town and look for some diner.
By the time I got into town after stopping by Robinsons again to get a drink it was dinner time. I holla’d at a homie about where the eggplant lasagna was and she said it was at this placed called “green something” I cant remember the exact name but they changed it. I was looking for Negros Café. I couldn’t find it and I trusted here since she was from the city. It ended up not having the eggplant lasagna and I still couldn’t find the original restaurant I opted for chicken inasal and it was not that great. It was bbq’d than fried. WHY WOULD YOU DOTHAT?
The price was okay but compared to manoakan country this was like picking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan. I found a souvenir shop after looking all day for one everywhere from uptown to downtown. The shop was right next to where I was staying, I think it was on 9th street while I was on 11th. The place was called Negros souvenirs or something. Well my homie from the area help me find it and that was a good call considering I been looking all day for a hot touristy shirt. After getting my fix of local tees , I headed back to Bacolod Pension at around 7pm. I woke up at 6 something so I was already sleepy. I asked the receptionist who was really helpful to call and see what time the buses where to Sipalay. I called first but the person who answered did not understand a word I said and just ended conversation saying 11pm 400 pesos. I think he thought I was going to Cebu. Hahah
So after she called and me thinking the bus was at 11pm I was gonna go backpacking status and take that ride so I wont have to pay for a place to sleep. Hot plan! Too bad the miscommunication ended up being 7pm was the last trip and the next trip was in the morning around 230am or 330am. I had more than 7 hours to wait and I was sleepy. I took the sunk cost and banked on a cheap room after 1 hour of contemplating since the place tends to fill up fast. The cheapest room wasn’t available but they had one at 250p a night so I told the receptionist ill take it than after saying the budget rooms weren’t available she said one was and I got one for 185p a night at the same price as the night before but the room was bigger with two beds even though it shared the same bathrooms. I have a feeling they ripped me off the first night.
Tips:
-Walk, the city is small and it’s a good way to get lost and find your way around.
-Get a map for free at the tourism office
-do not eat chicken inasal at green, they fry it!
-Ask help if your trying to get to “ruins” or you’ll get lost
– Buses out of Bacolod do not run late so plan accordingly they stop around 7pm and start at around 2am from what I am told.
May 7
Left the Bacolod Pension house after eating beefsteak there for 45p at around 730am. Took the pedicab for 10P to the street where the jeepneys where. I hopped on the jeep saying “shopping-via sn Augustine-libertad” I think and headed for the south terminal. Gave him the “bayad nong’ and waited a while till I decided to do my best to asked the driver where the south station was. With my struggles of Tagalog the driver pointed out the station and stop there. No need for the “lugar lang” on this one. Hahah Waited for a minute than I asked what bus to take. The conductor said the ones headed to “hinoba-an” but just as I asked that one left. So me being the hot hesitant tourist that I am took a minute and had water and siopao while waiting for the next bus.
Finally hopped on the bus and sat in the front riding shotgun on the non-aircon bus all the way to sipalay. I’m glad there wasn’t a late night bus because this ride had views for days. It was costal and even had elevated areas with better views. Worth the ride at 145p and it took about 5 hours. I got into town at around 2pm.
The driver dropped me off after my struggling “tag” tagalog trying to ask where should I get off. He dropped me off with the vultures of tricycle drivers. They charged me 150p to get passed montilla to get to where the boat takes you across the small river. This could have been cheaper if I told the bus driver ahead of time to drop me off at montilla but I didn’t know. It was north of sipalay town proper and I came north so we passed the area already. The fair could have been 50p if dropped of at the highway and montilla.
The skeezy tricycle driver dropped me off here and asked the boat guy to take me to Langub or sugar beach. I asked them before the ride how much the boat was and they said they’ll asked when we get there. The guy “Danny” or “blackie’ known to ones at Takatuka juiced me. I knew the fare was around 5p or a lil more according to lonely planet. I thought maybe this was a different drop off point. But it wasn’t it was the same and it should have been 5p. I could have walked it during low tide. Man I was pissed that this weak doode would rip me off. I asked him why was it so expensive and is he trying not to promote tourism here. I didn’t understand what he said but he gave his number and asked if I wanted to hire him for snorkeling later.
I’m not gonna hire him but I should tell him to come and then till him no. and he ripped me off. Watch out for this guy because I was told he just stays by the river all day trying to rip people off and if you’re a woman he will try to get at you like white on rice. After asking around driftwood and Takatuka how much it should have been I was pissed but ill just charge it to experience so all of you know the fare is 5P not 150 so watch out and don’t make the same mistake.
I checked in at the colorful Takatuka resort after checking out all the resorts here. The Negritos room was booked so the cheapest room wasn’t available so I got the superstar room for 1050p the price without aircon and heated water. You can pay like 200 more if you want to use them though. I’m on a tight budget and tough this was over my budget I couldn’t come here with out staying at lonely planets authors’ choice.
The room I wanted was 850p a night the negritos cave. All rooms are double occupancy. I could have saved money and stayed at another resort or shared the cost with someone. That’s the downfall of solo traveling. All their rooms are colorful with a different theme. If you have time and money maybe staying a night at each room would be a fun way to spend a vacation.
I ate a chicken snitzel with rice for 275p. Pretty expensive but it was homemade and extra tasty. I would recommend it and it was well worth the price. With food ill pay for the quality. I was sad that I was going over my budget but the food and the resort is just too nice to pass up.
Sugar beach or Langub tricks you and treats you like its Halloween. The pictures are not the same as the place. The sand is not white, it’s more light brown so that was disappointing. The beach has no rocks so it’s a really good swimming beach but not snorkeling. You have to hire a boat to go to the snorkeling sites. I was out of budget so I decided to swim and just wait till I go to Apo Island to snorkel.
I went up the little cliff at the end of the beach where a failed resort is rotting. They owner of Langub resort owns this partially built resort that didn’t plan on having to pump water to the resort so the expense of building became to high so it was stopped. At least it has a cement and rock walkway to reach a higher elevation for some great views.
The only resort owned by a sipalay local is Langub. They are also the only ones that let you cook at the resort. All the other resorts force you to eat at their restaurant or the other resorts restaurants. Meals are over 200p.
There is a resort that looks like a hotel that’s 1000p a night or 1500p if you use the aircon. It looks pretty nice like a resort or personal rest house but it had no occupants and it seemed like they gave up on the resort already. Supposedly the owner lives in the metro and is giving up on the resort. It is pretty nice though but only the rooms itself, they really did no landscaping. From what I hear it’s for sale.
After climbing the rock end of the beach I met a group of government employees of Bacolod out here for work. There seminar ended and they where the organizers and they stayed an expense free extra day for all their hard work. They invited me over to there place and gave me some fresh “Buko” coconut. I gladly drank it and we started talking about the Philippines and Alaska.
I don’t know why lonely planet sweats this place so hard calling “Gilligan’s island” a dream come true, a rival to Boracay and “the Philippines best-kept secret.” Sugar beach is okay but there are far better places in the country. The main draw is probably takatuka as a resort not really the beach itself but it is great for swimming though not as visually pleasing as other beaches.
That being said I spent another day there to spread out my spending since I was already there. I didn’t want to have to pay the transportation twice in the same day so I decided to stretch it out and Yao Ming the stay.
Met an English fellow pilot from the Britain air force doing some backpacking on a shoestring for 500p a day. Very informative and helpful with my questions on my next destination. He bussed in from dumaguete. Met a nice Bosnian lady from Sweden also backpacking on 500p a day. These two have been to more places then I have and have been spending less so of course I will listen to them. The problem for me would be food. As the Pete the English pilot spends around 40p a meal and Ennis eats only once a day. I eat too much.
Tips:
-Pay only 5 pesos to get to sugar beach from the tricycle drop off point.
Watch out for the guy named Danny or blackie
- Say Langub not sugar beach -Eat in town before you go so you save yourself the cash from buying in expensive meal at the resort.
- Bring water the resorts charge 60p a liter.
May 8, 2009
Woke up this morning as a superstar in the superstar room at takatuka. Had breakfast for 130p at Driftwood Village and was very disappointed. I ordered the homemade bread with omelet. The omelet was mediocre but the bread came with Margarine come on I’m not trying to eat edible plastic here I need some sweet dairy cream aka butter. After breakfast I swam in the water while the waves were waking. I borrowed a low budget body board free from takatuka and started bodying up the tiny swells. I was the only one on the beach. Sand got into my hair and my shorts so I decided to get out and take a shower.
After the whole swimming alone thing I started getting my things ready to go. Brought all my things to the restaurant and had myself the same lunch I had the day before the chicken snitezel with rice. Yeah it was so good I had to double up.
Checked in at the driftwood inn and copped the place for 400p. Not bad considering it was on the same beach but it was a native style hut really small and nothing exciting.
Finally thoughts on Sugar beach, or Langub beach which the locals use and would be best to call it by that name. The name sugar beach was coined by a foreigner I forgot the name of the guy but he was a visitor from Europe and said that the sand changes colors from white to brown like sugar thus calling it sugar beach.
Final thoughts Pretty isolated Very out of the way Most the tourist here are foreigners The resorts are nicely developed Food is expensive Most of the resorts are friendly.
Tips:
Remember to pay only 5 pesos for the paddle boat crossing the small river. You may also walk it. Langub Resort
-Caters for locals meaning not Tagalog but ilongo speakers and has the cheapest food.
– The owner seemed ok but he flat out said they cater the locals. They are also the only place that allows you to cook. This place is best if your going with a group bigger than 4. Driftwood inn – Food is expensive and mediocre, best place to stay if you’re a solo traveler with a room starting at 350p. Takatuka
- One of the most creative resorts ever, a must see, food is great but very expensive, only 8 rooms all different, prices start at 850p a room but they are always booked, book in advance, way in advance, best if your staying with a couple or up to 4 people.
- Talk to other travelers to help split expenses.
May 9
Woke up early to leave Langub”Sugar beach” to head to Dumaguete. Shared a boat with some fellow travelers to split the cost. The boat from Langub to Sipalay town was 300p one way fits 6 I think but we split it among 4 of us. I took the bus to Bacolod and got of at kabangkalan to transfer to another bus headed to dumaguete. The bus was so full I had to stand up. During the transfer to the bus to dumaguete I saw something I wish I took a picture of, a live goat tied on top of the bus standing, Yes standing.
I left Langub at around 8 and hopped on a bus at maybe 9am then transferred. I got into dumaguete at around 2. Spent the day walking around the small city and it is pretty small. I found a place on Mabini St that serves chicken for 12p apiece and rice wrapped in leaves for 5p. I saw the locals walking towards this area at night so as always I followed the crowd to see where to eat. The chicken was mostly bone and breading though.
Before the chicken I had my late lunch at La Caviteru as it was the recommendation of Harold of Harold;s mansion. The lunch was great had a plate of chicken inasal and fresh clams. The clams where tight tasting but the chicken had nothing on Manokan country in Bacolod.
Harold’s mansion was great at 380p I found it a bit pricey for a dorm but I had the dorm to myself and this place has free internet and wifi. The dorm had wifi and an aircon that seemed to not work so I just used a fan instead. The shower was not heated but the bathroom was decent.
Harold is a friendly guy and the staff really helped me with my plans and helped me with information on times and prices of all sorts of transportation. I highly recommend Harold’s mansion. Great service! The room was kinda dirty, I read on their house rules that they only clean the rooms at the request of the customer. I guess they don’t clean the rooms?
For dinner I decided to stroll around the Boulevard, the costal strip where everyone seems to congregate at night. I took my chicken and 5p rice and walked along finding a spot across from coco mangas to listen to their band and eat my food. The boulevard is nice and the city is nice but small, very small. I would have to say that Dumaguete feels like a port town with a college and no malls.
Lonely Planet raves about this place also which I don’t understand why. Once again, they hyped another places in Negros. I have a feeling they have some personal interest in this area by the way the describe it.
Tips:
Stay at Harold’s mansion
Save money and buy cooked fish and rice by Mabini St.
Walk around the city its small but nice
May 10, 2009
Woke up at Harold’s mansion and headed out to the jeepney port for Malatapay market. I forgot my undies out on the door and headed down to catch the tricycle for the Malatapay terminal. The tricycle was 7p I think but I just gave him 10p since I was the only one on the tricycle. The tricycles within the city downtown area are 7p a ride. I caught the jeep to Zamboangita and asked them to drop me off at the Malatapay Market for 20P. The ride took less than an hour and from the main road I walked towards the market all the way to the pier.
At the pier I had me some halo halo for 20p and a local hot cake for 5p for my breakfast after my breakfast at Harold’s mansion. Harold’s mansion gives free bread in the morning and jam so I supplanted it with oatmeal.
The boat from Malatapay was 300p per head as I arranged it a day before at Harold’s mansion. The boat ride was through liberty’s lodge where I decided to stay at the dorms for 330p a night. They have some nice rooms but since I’m ballin’ on a budget I had to find the cheapest room available. I wanted to camp but before I came I was told their was no camping on the island. I found out there is camping as long as you can find a spot for 20p or 50p a night. The problem is the coastline is rocky so camping would not be ideal.
Arriving at Apo Island I was glad to see the water clearer then a septic tank. You can see the rocks from over 30 ft deep. The water was really clear like glasses. I headed to the viewpoint where it took maybe 30 minutes of getting lost and finding the trail back up to the mountain. It was very nice and would be a nice place for a picnic since it has tables and a shelter.
After the viewpoint I went to the register for arriving 100p and paying for snorkeling at the sanctuary for 50p. They hounded me right when I came but I told them ill check in first. A foreigner told me that lots of people don’t pay the fees. She didn’t pay the fee and just told them she was staying at liberty’s. I paid the fees hoping that they would use it to preserving the place.
After paying I picked up a 5 gallon tank of drinking water for 50p since I did not want to pay for each litter at jacked up resort prices. I put it in the dorm and it started to disappear fast. I guess my dorm mate thought it came with the room but he was there a night before and it wasn’t there. I think he was refilling his bottles.
Snorkeled at the fish sanctuary. It was nice and colorful with lots of fish. The starfish here are purple and the fish are everywhere like an aquarium. I slipped on the way to the sanctuary though since the rocks where extra slippery. Chopped up my feet like Houston had to tape it up.
After snorkeling I decided to order expensive food at 245p a pizza at Liberty’s. Lonely planet also sweats the pizza here so I decided to try it. The pizza took 1 hour to make so I trekked my way up to the lighthouse and got there in maybe 15 minutes. Once again I ended up extra sweaty. The view from the top of the lighthouse was extra nice with birds doing stunts next to me while watching the sun go down.
After the lighthouse I headed back for my pizza as lonely planet recommends. Damn the pizza was weak sauce! Canned ham, quick melt cheese, canned pineapples and sweet tomato sauce. This is the same type of pizza you get from street vendors for like 40p with the soft undercooked type of dough. It was terrible like Tuesdays man.
Walked around the village and the local dreadhead holla’d at me and we kicked it. He owns a shop out here doing henna’s and sells souvenirs. He’s a cool cat, we talked about how things are out here and about dreads.
Walked, hiked and snorkeled all day so I went to bed early.
May 11, 2009
Slept early and work up after 12 hours. Yeah I had to have a re-up from sleeping just a little to make it to where I was going. Put some sun block on after eating some oatmeal and local sweet mangoes. The mangos where green but extra sweet inside 30p a bag than the next time 10p a bag at another joint.
Headed to the end of the main beach where the basketball court is. The local Rasta told me to go here for the turtles. He saw me headed out there and hopped in the water also. After snorkeling a while a local boy “dodong’ found a turtle and point us to it. I swam toward it and watched it go. It was decent sized but it was nice to swim with the turtle but it swam faster than I could. Snorkeling a while the Rasta started to post and I chilled and talked with him in the water.
We started talking about the protection of the land and tourist. He was telling me how now there isn’t enough fish for the locals and they have to buy at other markets sometimes just to get buy. He said it may be the divers fault for scaring the fish. We talked about how the fish sanctuary may degrade after awhile from all the snorkelers stepping on the corals. He really wanted to protect the land. And save it for his children. I then asked him what was the main tourist problem and he said the Korean’s. He said the touch everything, disrespect the land and water and make a mess. Left the spot with the turtles after homeboy got called out by his wife. They had to eat lunch since they where headed to Dumaguete for surgery for his 8 year old daughter to remove a hernia. I headed to the other village Cogon and after trekking two hills got there. I was sweating heavy but hopped in the water after giving the local kids the wassup and snorkeled.
There was more fish than the sanctuary it was like swimming in an aquarium. The waves where a lil bit more out here to the point that water would get in my snorkel but it was worth it. Colorful and full of fish. This place was great snorkeling. Went back up the second mountain and climb up till I reached a tree. I went up the tree and sat on the tree watching the waves and feeling the wind. Really nice. When I went back down from the second hill I stopped by turtle point and went on the first hill back in to the main town.
Snorkeled at rock point and swam with more fishies. I got sun burnt so I went back to the resort for a hot minute. Trekked out to turtle point. It was low tide so I couldn’t swim with the fishies so I headed back to town for dinner. Had the fish soup for 110p Expensive but okay.
Tips:
Stay at liberty’s for 330p a night at the dorm or camp for 20/50p Call liberty’s ahead of time to arrange a boat for 300p from malatapay
Go to Cogon and snorkel.
Don’t eat the pizza Food is expensive There are no local food spots so your options are really the resorts or your own food.
Explore the whole island, trek to the viewpoint and the lighthouse
Talk to the locals, they are friendly Say hi!
Buy a 5gallon container of water in the town for 50p, you will need the water.
Snorkel everywhere!
Bring fins or shoes for the water lots of corals or rocks to poke your feet
May 12
Left Apo Island at 8am Filipino time. From Malatapay market I walked to the main road and hopped on a minibus to dumaguete for 20p. From the dumaguete I took a tricycle for 20p should have been 7p but I didn’t want to argue since I was headed to the pier to catch the delta ferry to Siquijor at 10:30am. The driver dropped me off to the pier and I walked to the ticket booth.
I was in line trying to buy tickets when some girl did a hot stick and move and cut me on the spot and bought her ticket in front of me. I wasn’t mad I just wanted my ticket so it was cool. After paying 160p for the ferry I had to pay the terminal tax of 15p. Went in to the waiting boat while and then headed to the ferry after the line shrunk.
The ferry was air con’d so it was comfortable but the chairs were more like the chairs from an old dc-10. Either way the ride was cheap and fast at 45 mins to siquijor not l.arena.
Arriving in Siquijor I headed to Das Traum’s restaurant by the pier to ask them about a room they rent. The owner sent an employee to take me on her motorcycle to their guesthouse. At 250p a night for a room that is huge with no ac and a shared bath it was worth it. Their guesthouse is huge and reminds me of the interior of a house made in the burbs of the Pacific Northwest, it even had the wooden smell that the new houses in the Pacific Northwest.
So after droppin my junk off I headed back to the Das Traum restaurant by the pier to eat lunch. The food was okay priced at under 100p but it was basic caranderia food. I had chicken and extra rice. After eating I rented a bike from the owner of Das Traum, Joy at 250 a day. So I took myself on a motorcycle tour of the island getting lost and finding my way with out a map through the costal and mountainous roads of Siquijor. At one point I ended up at the falls around the mountains so I parked the bike for a hot 5p and got mauled by drink vendors on my way down to the falls. The falls where okay but it was a nice break in the middle of doing my motorcycle tour de siquijor.
Had dinner at the local market at one of the caranderias for 54p for some chicken curry. It was good enough. I been looking for some cooked fish but seems these costal towns love them they meats.
May 13
Woke up and hopped on the bike I rented at 300p for 24 hours and 25p each excess hour. Headed north on the costal route to Maria and around the island back to siquijor. Went around and stop at the Mangrove resort. It seemed like a nice place to stay with a cottage for 400p a night. It’s located between Siquijor and Larena.
Went through the favorite town of Maria where it’s said to be siquijor’s center of “healers.” The beaches in the area were really nice and the costal drive was visually arousing.
Set off to off to Lazi and stopped by the church and posted for about 10 mins in the area walking around. After Lazi I headed to San Juan where in hopped in the water on the beach next to the town proper where the other locals where resting and swimming in the clear glassy water. After swimming in the ocean I hopped in to the spring that was walking distance from the beach. The locals where swimming in the extra cold water so I swam in it as well and it removed all the nasty salt on me from the ocean.
Heading back to Siquijor town from San Juan going 80kph I busted the back tire. The motorcycle was shaking and hydroplaning in zigzags while I tried to stop. I thought I was gonna slide and crash since the back while was hydroplaning and swaying left and right. Lucky I stopped with no scratches and injuries. Damn, I was lucky. Going that fast on a two-wheeled vehicle could have ended worse.
I walked the bike about a kilometer with the help of an Old lady who I asked in broken Tagalog where the closest vulcanizing shop was. She pointed me to the direction I came from and started to talk to me. She walked with me all the way to the shop and even talked to the shop to help me. They replaced the inner tube since it was a running flat and couldn’t be repaired for a total of 100p. Got into siquijor town and biked around a bit then dipped to the airport to see how fast I could go on the runway. After dipping out I returned the bike after paying 275p after the 100p deduction for the tire repair I paid for.
Tips:
- Take delta ferry from Dumaguete for 160p
- Rent a bike and stop at all the resorts and swim where ever you want
- Food is mediocre on the island - Swim in the San Juan Springs - Take pictures along the coastline
May 14
Rented a bike from a place by the shell gas station and went around north and south of Dumaguete. Stopped by Dauin, Zamboangita and Valencia to see the falls in the south. Went up north up the mountains on the bike on a costal route up the mountain to head to twin lakes. The lakes where nice but it was pretty far from the main road almost an hour from the highway driving on the mountain.
Tips:
- Rent a bike around the shell gas station
- Stay at Harold’s Mansion
- Eat, lots of restaurants and pastries
- Go to Twin Lakes
Item Cost
Airfare mnl to Bacolod Zestair 1469
Airfare DGT to MNL PAL 1705
taxi 120
terminal fee 200
cinnabon 140
airport shuttle 150
pension bacolod budget a 185
water 20
jeep 7
inasal breast 55
2 rice 32
tip 13
adapter 50
mango shake 5
jeep 7
breakfast buffet business inn 225
water 20
pala pala shrimp gambas 2 rice 200
tip 10
museum 50
tape 40
piaya 40
jeep 17
c2 24
jeep 7
chicken inasal 2 rice 106
tip 14
shirt 289
pensione house 185
beef steak 50
jeep shopping- libertad 7
pedicab 10
siopao 20
water 22
bus 145
water 22
tricycle 150
boat 150
bread n omolete 130
iced tea 35
takatuka supertstar room 1050
kikeritzel 250
rice x2 70
kikeritzel 250
rice x2 70
c2 45
buko 15
water 20
sprite 25
royal 20
driftwood village 400
boat 75
pandesal 10
bus to kabankalan 80
bus to dgt 152
tricycle 8
harolds mansion 280
buko 10
chicken inasal 60
rice x2 20
clams 100
tip 10
ice cream 5
shampoo n oatmeat 66
chicken 12
drank 2
rice 5
boat 300
jeep 20
trike 10
halohalo 20
entrance to apo 100
snorkeling 50
chips 7
mangoes 30
water 50
magoes 20
jeep 20
trike 20
ferry 160
term fee 15
room 500
bike 450
gas 85
gas 85
food 106
caranderia 52
snacks 49
mangrove entrance 10
chicken 52
tube 100
bike rental 275
gas 85
shake 25
fish n chips 105
ferry 160
term fee 14
trike 7
harolds mansion 280
chin loong 160
tip 20
sansrival 25
bike rental 100
gas 164
chicken 100
snacks 30
lake entrance fee 10
lake parking 12
strudel at why not 45
trike to apt 40
term fee 30
Trip Total 13234p
