Is Negros Occidental a Province Worth Revisiting?

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

According to wikipedia.org, “Negros Occidental is a province in the Philippines located in the Negros Island Region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half. It is known to be the "Sugar bowl of the Philippines" because produces more than half the nation’s sugar output”.

So what are we waiting for, let’s start our journey to Negros Occidental! Well, I have visited Negros Occidental last November 20, 2015 right after my Tagaytay – Manila trip and here are the things I did during my 2 days and 2 nights visit in the province…

First Destination – TALISAY CITY
I took the first flight from NAIA to Bacolod –Silay Airport around 4am of November 20, 2015 and reached the Bacolod city proper around 6:30am. Then, I went directly to my classmate’s pension house somewhere along Gonzaga Street to rest for a while before we start our adventure. By the way, even though we stayed in Bacolod City, we chose to visit first those top destinations of the province away from Bacolod –well that’s our style! Around 12pm right after we had our lunch, we visited first The Ruins of Talisay City! From Bacolod Plaza it took us 40-60 minutes to reach the Ruins, 2 rides for just about 25 pesos.

#TheRuins: It is considered as one of the 12 most fascinating ruins in the world. It is an ancestral house of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. He built this in the early 1900’s as a memory of his wife and during that time, this mansion was the largest residential structure in the whole province. 

Review: Well, I must say I was absolutely fascinated and it made me realized that not all ruined things are worthless; some may even become famous around the world. This is a destination that should be on every traveler’s bucket list!

Second Destination – MURCIA TOWN

We left The Ruins around 2:30pm and went back to the city proper to find another cab that will take us to our next destination –the Mambukal Mountain Resort of Murcia Town, some 31 km east of Bacolod City. Supposedly, going to this resort from Bacolod City proper will only take about 45minutes but due to crazy traffic we faced along the way to the terminal from Talisay City, we reached Mambukal around 4:30pm!

Mambukal Mountain Resort is a government owned resort and it is not only a perfect haven for adrenaline junkies but also for those people who want to see the golden-crown flying fox, the world's largest and heaviest species of bats which are endemic or can only be found in the resort!

They also offer hot springs, overnight stay, lagoon, man-made swimming pools and good food!

Review: This is one of a kind resort and a great place for some unwinding. Although because of the limited time we had, still we were very grateful to have visited such kind of resort! I would be glad if I’ll be given another chance to visit this place in the near future.

After 1.5 hours roaming the resort and ate our dinner, we went back to Bacolod City and spent my first night there! BTW, the last trip of the cab from Mambukal to Bacolod is around 6pm, otherwise if one can’t make it –it’ll be huge problem.

Third Destination – BACOLOD CITY

On the second day, we woke up early and started our adventure around 9am. We visited first those public places such as churches and plazas… 

Visited San Sebastian Cathedral

San Sebastian Cathedral is located in the heart of Bacolod City, in front of City Plaza; it was just a walking distance from Gonzaga Street where we stayed. It was originally a chapel and was only declared a cathedral when Bacolod became a diocese in 1933.

I may not be a very flamboyant pious man but yes, I believe in God and I go to church!

Visited Bacolod Public Plaza

Right across San Sebastian Cathedral is the Bacolod Public Plaza constructed way back in 1927 and such a perfect place for recreational activities and a way of knowing the history of Bacolod.

Dropping by at the Capitol Grounds and Lagoon

Actually, it is just a park located along Lacson St. in the heart of Bacolod City but what makes this special is that it serves as the Kilometer Zero Marker or the point of distance reference of the city is located. Personally, this is such a perf place for jogging during early evening or late afternoon or to just hang around.

Visited Pope John Paul II Tower

There's a bronze statue of the Pope (now a saint) in front of the building. Visitors can climb all the way to the top of the building where every floor you can see some memorabilia of the said event. Entrance fee is only 20 pesos.  

This building was constructed to commemorate the event that happened when the late Pope John Paul II visited Bacolod City.

Karting at Bacolod Baywalk

At the top of Pope John Paul II Tower you can view the whole Bacolod Skyline and as well as the Bacolod Baywalk, a very walking distance from the building, that’s why you should not dare to miss this place!

It's more fun #Karting in Bacolod City! Day 2: Bacolod City - Capitol Grounds and Lagoon, malling, San Sebastian Cathedral, Pope John Paul Tower and Bacolod Karting Zone!

Entrance fee is 20 pesos. Here you can go karting for only 250 good for 2 persons. Swear it’s worth a try! Though I made a real mess... haha

Malling, Food trip and Buying Pasalubong

Never leave Negros Occidental without bringing home some pasalubong, roaming around their malls and eating there’s most famous chicken Inasal.

I know there are still so many other places worth visiting in the province of Negros Occidental especially outside Bacolod City but with my 2 days and 2 night’s experience I therefore conclude, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL IS A PROVINCE WORTH REVISITING FOR!

November 20, 2015 – time to leave Bacolod City with happy faces! Thank you Negros Occidental, I’ll be revisiting you very soon…

Note: Going to the airport is only 500 pesos through taxi, so if you are a group of 2 or more, it is advisable to take the taxi going to the airport.

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Mintugsok Falls : Something You Probably Don’t Know About Cagayan De Oro City

Aside from Kagay-an Festival, numerous shopping malls, delicious sinuglaw and other food delicacies, classy hotels, universal beauties of every Kagay-anons and a world class water rafting adventure, I was not expecting Cagayan De Oro has also a hidden gem for outdoor adventure enthusiasts: The Mintugsok Falls and a series of waterfalls and large river pools which vary in depth in the middle of Indahag and Malasag Mountains (#tsadagyud).

#thexuixuiWay Year Ender adventure: Spent my last day of 2015 river trekking and waterfalls hopping! BTW, this photo is not yet the Mintugsok falls! Tbc…

What makes this more exciting is that, it also offers a great place for mountain hikers and river trekkers with stunning stone formations which is probably one of the best in the island of Mindanao and lastly, believe it or not –it is probably the cheapest adventure you can do here in the city but one of the best for sure!

My Travel Diary

                After almost half a year of planning, finally, I had a chance to visit Mintugsok Falls on a much unexpected date – December 31, 2015, the last day of 2015! And I must say it was a quite memorable year ender adventure, #thexuixuiWay! Aside from being one of the most memorable, it was also the cheapest adventure I ever had in my life…

How to get there via Indahag Trail

A.      Through Private Car

-          Go directly to Indahag Basketball court “Lomboy” via Camaman-an road

-          Ask the locals for directions to the falls until you reach the crossing where you can start your trail

B.      Through Multicab

-          Go to Multicab Terminal to Indahag via Camaman-an Road located in front of Kevin Enterprises, Cogon Market

-          Take the cab for only 12 pesos fare and ask the driver to drop you in the first basketball court (“lomboy”) crossing to Mintugsok Falls

-          From there, you can see a crossing, unpaved street, just walk straight into it for almost 5-10 minutes until you reach the Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel

-          You can ask some locals for the next directions or you can simply go at the back of the chapel where you can see a concrete roads (more like a developing subdivisions)

-          Then, walk straight into it, until you reach the last crossing and there you can find a signage going to the falls, “Mapawa Trail”

-          That means, from Cogon Market this will only cost you 27 pesos the least. Quite unbelievable, right? Ha-H

My Travel Diary Continues…

Mintugsok Falls is a three-layered waterfall that can only be found in the middle of Indahag and Malasag Mountains.

Going to the first waterfall will take you about 25-40 minutes depending on your pacing! 

Do you know that this is still part of Cagayan de Oro City?

The first waterfall: Even if you’re a not so good swimmer or diver, you can still enjoy this very small waterfall that creates a pool which I don’t know how deep it was. Also, take time to enjoy the spectacular rock formations… 

Going to the second waterfall will take you about 10-15minutes from the first waterfall. Actually, the distance between the first two waterfalls is quite near but because of the stone formation, it is advisable to take extra care and walk slowly… 

Hiking, waterfalls hopping and jumping, river trekking in the middle of Indahag and Malasag Mountains - such a perfect way, ‪#‎thexuixuiWay to end 2015! ‪#‎tsadagyudCDO this is my paradise! 

This is at the top of the second waterfall… and yes, this is reason why I got sunburns! Ha-Ha 

Going to the Third waterfall will also take you about 10-15minutes from the second waterfall but before reaching it, you can try dipping on a pool about 3-4ft deep. I swear it’s kinda relaxing!  

Finally reaching the third and last waterfall – the Mintugsok Waterfall!

Indeed, aside from water rafting, CDO has also a hidden gem for outdoor lovers: a series of waterfalls and large pools which vary in depth in the middle of Indahag and Malasag Mountains. ‪#‎tsadagyud

Review: To be honest, Mintugsok Falls itself isn’t that fascinating or not even close to be one of the best in the Island of Mindanao but going there from Indahag will surely make the experience so memorable. Personally, I was more enchanted with the rock formations than those series of waterfalls mentioned…

NOTE:

-          When Going Back to the city or to Cogon Market, you can take motorcycles for only 15 pesos each, located at the crossing near the basketball court.

-          Going to Mintugsok Falls from the crossing near basketball court will take you around 50 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the pacing but going back will take you more time especially hiking the steep slope of the first mountain.

-          It is good to bring sun blocks and insect repellents!

Been there already? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments section or message me on fb!

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There's more to Tagaytay than their Famous Taal Lake ...

Tagaytay City Escapade

November 18, 2015, Wednesday, was supposedly a very normal Wednesday for me – woke up at 8am, prepared for school and attended my classes but it turned out to be one of my most unforgettable day of my life! That was the time I had a chance to visit Tagaytay City for the very first time!

Now, this post isn’t wholly a travel blog but simply a journal. A journal about my personal experiences and thoughts about this certain city… I woke up at 4am of November 18^th and reached Laguindingan International Airport around 5:10am from Cagayan De Oro and immediately checked in for my 6:10am flight. It was not only a very unusual Wednesday for me but as well as for the country because NAIA was declared a No fly Zone between 8am to 8pm that day due to APEC Summit. So, it was quite a huge challenge for me to travel Manila alone that day.

Luckily, we reached Manila around 7:40am but due to the airport traffic management we were not able to land immediately instead the plane spent hours roaming the skies of Luzon and Visayas for about 1.5hours until we landed around 8:30am. To be honest, I was not bored while we were at the skies, I even enjoyed the whole experience sight-seeing the islands from above.

After we landed NAIA, the next challenge we faced was on how to get out of the airport considering the fact that due to APEC again, most roads going in and out of the airport were closed. So, I walked from terminal 3 of NAIA to Newport city and then rode a jeep to Baclaran where my cousin was waiting for me.

After reaching Baclaran and met my cousin, ate our breakfast, we then decided to find a cab going to the Bus terminal to Tagaytay but then again roads going there were closed, so we don’t have a choice but to walk from Baclaran to the City of Dreams – Manila to the Bus Terminal. It was really tiring but I enjoyed it, it was very rare to see Manila that way – quiet and most people were just walking for kilometers just to get to their destinations.

We reached Tagaytay City around 2:00pm and then our adventure started….

1. Tagaytay's Famous Bulalo at Bulalo Point

Bulalo Point is located at Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City.

Taste: Such a delish, probably one of the best I have tasted so far!

Place: Not so Good. The view of the Taal Lake is very limited.

Service: I hate to say this –it was extremely poor! They must improve it; otherwise, customers will find a new place with much better services…

Price: Affordable with 300-600 pesos per serving good for 2-3 persons.

At Bulala Point with cousin Junjun... :D

2. Summit Ridge and Malling

At Robinson's Mall Tagaytay - Summit Ridge: There are a lot of classy malls in this city and for me all of them are great places to dine, shop and roam.

Overnight stay, #thexuixuiWay at Tagaytay tonight! \M/ Day 1: Tagaytay - Skyranch, Taal and more…

3. Starbucks Tagaytay

At Starbucks Tagaytay! Actually, it's just a Starbucks like any other in the Philippines except that it also offers a fascinating view of Taal Lake and Volcano! Day1: Tagaytay City. #thexuixuiWay

BTW, Taal Volcano and Lake is not part of Tagaytay but of Batangas! 

4. Skyranch Tagaytay

Inside their so called the Tagaytay Sky Eye - 150 pesos

Inside their so called the Tagaytay Sky Eye - 150 pesos; 100 for super viking and expect lower prices for other rides. BTW, entrance fee is 100 pesos!

#SkyRanch: I personally tried Super Viking and Sky Eye, one of the biggest Ferris wheel in the country that will lift you up to 63 meters above ground but apart from those rides it has nothing else to offer but a plain and expensive amusement park where most of the rides are catered for kids! Ha-Ha

5.     Finding a place for Overnight Stay

If only I had a luxury of time I would have visited more places and explored Tagaytay at its best – 18 hours in Tagaytay isn’t enough to really enjoy the city but still, I was so happy and satisfied with my experiences out there! Thank you Tagaytay, you’re such a worth visiting City!
On the Next day...

Fresh cold air from a placidly unpaved road with tall and slender trees on both sides and a scenic view of the smallest volcano in the world welcomed me beautifully today! 'Til we meet again, Tagaytay! ^-^

Day 2: Revisiting Manila - City of dreams and the Fort! ‪#‎APECtado ‪#‎thexuixuiWay

Revisiting Manila

Travelling back to Manila was also a huge challenge – crazy traffic in Cavite got into my nerves. I was expecting it was only less than 2 hours ride back to Manila but it didn’t happen that I even reached Novaliches around 12pm so I don’t have a choice but to spend the next 3 hours talking with my mother and visiting my aunt somewhere in UP. I even told them how I wanted to visit Manila Ocean Park and the City of Dreams but due to APEC Summit – I can’t!

So instead I went malling at Glorietta and Greenbelt and then went to Bonificio Global City to Visit the first world class science museum in the Philippines – The Mind Museum.

Guys say Hi! To my friend "Skelo", a T-Rex of @themindmuseum, the first world class science museum in the Philippines at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig! Day 2: Revisiting Manila, #thexuixuiWay - LRT, MRT, Foodtrips at Glorieta, GreenBelt, SM Aura and Fort Bonifacio Global City!

Some try to hand me money, they don't understand! Em not broke; I'm just a broken hearted man. I know it makes no sense, what else I can do... How can I move on when I'm still inlove with you, ‪#‎thexuixuiWay! Day 2: Revisiting Manila- LRT, MRT, Foodtrips at Glorieta, GreenBelt, SM Aura and Fort Bonifacio Global City!

Then supposedly, I planned to experience a very awesome night life around Taguig and Makati like visiting the infamous Valkyrie etc. but the APEC ruined it and that I needed to directly go to NAIA for my 4:30am Bacolod flight…

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There’s no way ‪#‎NoFlyZone could stop me from flying to Negros Occidental (New Bacolod-Silay) from Manila today, ‪#‎thexuixuiWay Day 3: Exploring Negros Occidental - The Ruins of Talisay City and Mambulak Mountain Resort of Murcia! Visayas naman!