Up close Bacolod

ITuloy-tuloy ang pamamangka!

Discovering known places, appealing cultures, food tastes, churches are some of driving forces to pack things up and get to known places for its wonders and magnificence even spured by internet travel sites and blogs...

Bacolod, evolving as one of country's tourist destinations, branded "the city of smile", wondering  why they called it,  perhaps it's fancy smile in the mask. Really, people are friendly but not all, just like other cities I've visited (locally). Friendly and melodious (malambing) as used to portray to a native ilonggo since bacoleño is also majority ilonggos. Streets and ports are becoming busy and crowded because of its thriving commerce and trade, also passengers of sea transport going to nearby cities of Cebu and Iloilo flock to its port...

Newbie to a place purposely to privide Marsec to the delegates of 2015 APEC in Bacolod City, customarily quite intrigued on what this place has to offer to its tourists... 

Social blogs and travel sites review speak a lot of it, and to start my own discovery as recommended:

First stop: The baroque church and a bit of the Ruins

Sunday of April 26, weather is great, sunny but not too hot, we had a brief stop at the Bacolod's San Sebastian Cathedral,

 

one of the century old churches found in negros occidental. Accordingly Its century bell was brought down during its centennial cellebration presumably for safety measures.

Infront of church is central plaza and across the street is the central market

(the design and landmarks are closely similar to its neighboring cities) then we started roaming around it, we asked locals where is the famous The Ruins and our feet is on for a walk as some told us that its just a walk-away from our location. 

Passing the public market, a busy down town area and walking away far from the busy streets, we asked another and a lady tells us that we have to ride a jeepney going to libertad for about 30 minutes ride. 

Then we head on, following the instructions, ride a jeepney, then a tricycle we paid 20.00 each that brought us there. 

This is it, The ruins

Before, I was fascinated by this old unfinished elizabethan architecture, thought there is a river on it, a hotel and other establishments on its side but its plain, what you see is really what it is all about... Though some travel blog sites gave a remarkable ratings.

Of course there is an appropriate entrance fees for guests who would want to come in, that's why i opted to took photos outside and just to be prudent...

Night life

Bacolod city also offers bustling and dazzling nightlife to its tourists and locals who would want to chill in a quite rowdy in disco's more popularly the MO2 and other similar hangouts in Goldenfields you can hop with.

Mambukal hotspring and resort

Opportunity comes once, yes its true really... Since you can never be there again.

This time, i miss the time to appreciate more from this place because we came here late. Its quite rainy sunset when we decided to come here.

From Bacolod City, you will go to bus station and ride a bus going to Murcia, Mindoro Occidental, fare is P 35.00 for an hour average trip including the wait and bus stops. Its dead end is the Mambukal Hot Spring and Resort, a state run resort with affordable P 50.00 entrance fee per person. 

Here, welcomes you the breeze, the smell, fresh scent that feels like you are in the middle tropical mountains...

Nature's way of relaxation and adventure in one!

Pay for everything...

The Hot spring entrance of P 100.00 

Hot spring 50.00 per head 

Cooler than the other but still savor the natural heat... Proved that our body adjusts to temperature we are in.

The things we missed!

The beauty of nature's radiance at its best

Until the next dock n ride...

Personal account: aklan antique

Sigabuy Island

WHAT TO DO IN TIBANBAN

TIBANBAN. You might not have heard Tibanban in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental.

Well, this place is so candid for ordinary local inhabitants, occasionally fishermen and copra product dependents, but there is so much things to discover, and lots to do... there is an undiscovered islet that may be developed and become a tourist destination/attraction later on once attention is given to this beautifully crafted god's nature masterpiece. (i dreamed of becoming part of the locals to impart vision and plan of development, if i have lots of money to do such)

The Sigabuy Island, a triangular shaped island, white sand beach, breathtaking scenery, pristine blue waters, big rocks on the other side of the beach.

If you want to relax, enjoy solitude you will surely enjoy this place. if you want a little bit adventure (but not too haggard to the hell) you can climb to the top of the island where you will pass through a virgin forest, very steep landscape, a very exhilarating experience to reach to the top and have a picture taking along the way towards to a light station. a light station manned and maintained by philippine coast guard personnel assigned in tibanban.

You will never regret once you see this little, steep triangular formed islet, beautifully crafted and one of god's great masterpieces. the Tibanban's Sigabuy Island.

Just to have shared this pics to appreciate...

Hope you see this island too...

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Underground River Challenge

Are you claustrophobic? Then the challenge is yours...!

Commonly known as the Underground river or Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, branded as one of the world's seven wonders of nature, a Unesco world heritage site, and worlds center for biodiversity...  An 8.2 kilometers navigable river and is said to be the worlds largest underground river. Accordingly, the journey through the cave system alone is 24 kilometers  (there are areas which are undescovered) and you would probably go out to western sea board or south china sea. 

But before getting there, you must first go to city coliseum, and head to puerto princessa subterranean river booking office, 

... There you can have your registration permit amounting P175.00 each for 1.5 kilometer tour and 1000+++ special permit for longer underground tour depending on your choice, you can get also souvineer id card for 20.00.

Remember, heading directly to brgay sabang without getting permit from city coliseum would delay your travel for 1 day especially during its season.

After getting your tour permit, then you'll travel by land from puerto princessa city to brgy sabang for 2 to 3 hours ride by land. 

Ooops, you might be hungry for sure, there are buffet restaurants around to satisfy your delicate tummy... To give you one Gusto Grill and Resto

@P 200.00 each for all you can eat discount is also given if you have astounding charisma... 

And try their tamiluk... For 100.00 per servings... Yummy, Taste like seaweed!

After your lunch, proceed to their ticketing counter and pay for environmental fee of P 40.00. Then they will assist you to passenger bangka maximum of 8 person on board for P 700.00 (anyway the philippine coast guard is there ready to assist you) that will take you to the calm, clean river, the entrance of the cave.

Before you enter the cave hiding in tropical rain forest, savor first the view of vast white sand, pristine blue waters curled in green mountains and rock formations... 

At least for once our life, we've been here...

One of the world's best.

See you again on the next dock 'n ride...

City of the Living God, the Puerto Princesa City Experience

Puerto Princesa City.

With much excitement a midst deployment to an uncertain working millieu and without thinking for the next areas of concerns, at hand is discovering new place, culture and tastes here in the place known for the country's natural wonder, the Underground River Natinal Park in Palawan. I have much said on this in my earlier posts...

Geographically, Puerto Princesa is the country's second largest city next to Davao. a popular tourist destination for its beaches, resorts, and seafood restaurants, and has been acclaimed several times as the country's greenest and cleanest city. Did you know that historically, Puerto Princesa was named after Princess Asuncion? Trivia... She was born in 1864 to Queen Elizabeth II and her consort Francisco de Cadiz. when the princess suffered an untimely death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto dela Princesa, and eventually the name was reduced to Puerto Princesa as it is known today (source: wikipedia). 

Mark by thriving economy, puerto princesa city becomes the center of trade and commerce even fortified after the declaration of underground river as one of worlds new seven natural wonders. In fact, malls and other establishments are on the rise...

Robinson's Place Palawan

NCCC Mall 

And SM City Puerto Princesa is coming its way... 

Dining Experience

To give you some must try and what's not...

Balinsasayaw Grilled Chicken and Resto... They offer chicken inasal for P75.00 unli rice...

Buko ube icecream for P80.00... I thought its like nickerbucker popular desert in zamboanga, a notch higher compared to this one...

Ka inato Restaurant

Highly recommended... Foods are nice 

Top their menu is kare-kare, insaladang talong, pork barbeque... Must try.

Noel Plaza Bulalo... Wow, coincidentally, "tukayo", I love yummy "bulalo" especially if its unli soup, plus sili and calamansi and patis wow! But this bulalo house is worst... Far from what I thought, no chili, no drinks, and above all to refilable soup (unless for an additional charge) contrary to what we commonly experienced in any bulalo house in the country...  Well, i may be harsh but, its a fact... We are their costumer during our visit and no wonder...!

Their bulalo for P120.00 with one cup rice (pricey)...

Thriving Night life... 

One of popular destinations, tiki bar, why tiki? That you should visit. 

E republic is nice, just a block away from tiki... I have not discovered more of it since we had a brief stay... But a lot more to unwind...

Ukay ukay shopping. 

Walking along streets. As earlier said, this city is known for cleanest and greenest city, and i agree. You would be intimidated to throw your garbage, put it in your pocket instead... 

Littering is prohibited...

The immaculate conception cathedral.

The provincial capitol

That for now... See you in the next dock n ride...