Dumaguete Escapade (Day 1)

Dumaguete Escapade Day 1 (June 3, 2008)

The Philippines is a country filled with popular destinations, and these are the destinations that are usually seen in postcards and travel books. There are however those destinations that aren't as popular. These are the destinations that only a few people know about, and as such, they're not yet as commercialized. I knew that if I truly wanted to discover everything that the Philippines has to offer, I had to go not only to the popular tourist spots but also to those that are only popular within a certain locality.

I decided to go to Negros not only because of its proximity to Cebu but also because I knew that Negros holds many of the Philippines' best kept secrets when it comes to beautiful nature spots. In fact, I believe that if you're the ultimate nature lover, you should do yourself a favor and go to Negros. I was ready for an adventure trip, so I dragged Adel to go to Dumaguete with me and visit the craziest of us all, Bulay. It was a good thing Bulay’s family was as crazy, adventurous, and nature-hungry as we were. 

G O I N G   T O   N E G R O S

On the boat going to Negros

There are many ways to go to Negros from Cebu, but this being our first time to go on a Negros trip together, we used the easiest way. We left Cebu on board the MV Zamboanga (of the George and Peter Lines). We just had to go to the Cebu port, buy our tickets, and board the ship to go on a 6-hour trip to Dumaguete.

Dumaguete breakfast

Having left Cebu at 10PM, we arrived in Dumaguete at around 4AM. Bulay greeted us with a proper Dumaguete breakfast by taking us to the Dumaguete public market, where we had hot puto and sikwate. We settled in at Bulay's house and slept for a bit, preparing for our trip to Sibulan.

S I B U L A N

Our view of Cebu

At around 8:30AM, we went on a road trip all the way to Sibulan, which is another town in Negros Oriental. We were driving along the coast, and on the way we had a view of the glistening blue (and i mean BLUE) sea. We also saw the southernmost tip of Cebu. When we reached Sibulan from the highway, we had to turn left and drive 4 kilometers inland. We were already on the rocky unpaved roads of a mountain, and it was another adventure altogether. We passed by a few cliffs and the flora that surrounded us was just beautiful. 

B A L I N S A S A Y A O

The trek going down

When we reached the Balinsasayao Lake complex, we found out that it was actually maintained by the local government as an eco-tourism site. To get to the two lakes, we had to park our car in the designated parking space, then go on a long trek going down on manmade stone steps. We arrived at the mouth of the lake and this is where we rented a boat. We needed a boat because the Balinsasayao Lake is huge, and we had to cross over to the other mountain.

Boating in Lake Balinsasayao

As soon as we reached the other side, we got off the boat and walked a long hike up to the "cottage in the sky." The trek was a bit tiring, but it was a challenge that we were very willing to do because we couldn't wait to see the view from the cottage. Once we reached the cottage, we got a spectacular view of the two lakes. This is where our guide told us the story. 

T H E  T A L E  O F  T H E  T W I N  L A K E S

Lake Balinsasayao

The twin lakes of Balinsasayao are separated by a mountain. The bigger lake (where we went boating) is the “good lake,” and is pretty safe. You can swim in it, but only near the shore. The lake is HUGE. And DEEP. No camera can capture it in its entirety. Boating around the perimeter took us about an hour, because there are hidden spots of the lake that can't be seen from the cottage in the sky.

Lake Danao

The lake on the other side of the mountain is the “bad lake.” It’s totally off limits and much more enclosed. for some reason it’s more still, and it has a mysterious (bordering on creepy) aura to it. No one goes to this lake to fish or to go boating or to do whatever. I don’t know why. I don’t wanna know why.

But of course that’s just what the legend says. On the more factual note, the “good lake” is called Lake Balinsasayao and the “bad lake” is called Lake Danao. The lakes are actually separated by a mountain ridge and the hollow can be found between four mountains. To the south is Mount Mahungot, to the north is Mount Kalbasan, to the east is Mount Balinsasayao, and to the west is Mount Guidabon.

It looks like an elephant

When we went boating around the perimeter of Lake Balinsasayao, it was just such a relaxing experience. Lakes are so still and so peaceful, and we had nothing but the cool and fresh mountain air surrounding us. It was just the perfect way to take all of nature’s beauty in. As we were marveling at the beauty of nature, we couldn't help but think of how amazing God is. How can you look at amazing places like this and not know that there’s a God who designed it all so perfectly? Nature is amazing, but even more amazing is the Creator who made everything happen. Pictures truly cannot capture the beauty of this place. You have to go and see it for yourself.

S I L L I M A N   T O U R

Silliman Church

After our little adventure in Lake Balinsasayao, we went on a mini city tour around Dumaguete. Dumaguete City is small enough to explore in just a short period of time. We first went to Silliman University, which is almost synonymous to Dumaguete. The university is so big that the inside joke has always been "Silliman is not in Dumaguete. Dumaguete is in Silliman."

Silliman University was established in 1901 by Dr. Horace B. Silliman. The Americans were the ones who instituted this university in this charming little seaside city, but today it has risen in status as one of the premier universities in the Visayas. We did a walking tour around Silliman but we didn't get to explore the entire vicinity, because soon it was already dusk.

Dessert at Sans Rival

D E S S E R T   B E F O R E   D I N N E R

We were pretty tired from the activities of the day, and we decided to have dessert before dinner. When you think about dessert in Dumaguete, no other name rings louder than Sans Rival. It's a charming little bakery/cafe in the city, and they had such delectable cakes and pastries. We ordered so many desserts because they were all so cheap and too tempting to resist. 

H A Y A H A Y

Walking along Rizal Boulevard

After dessert we walked around Dumaguete a bit, particularly along Rizal Boulevard. We walked the length of the boulevard and just enjoyed the sea breeze, as well as the slow pace of life in Dumaguete. We then took a peddicab to a seaside restaurant called Hayahay, where we had pizza and drinks while an acoustic band was serenading us. It was so relaxing and so laid back, and it was the perfect way to end our first day in Dumaguete.

AUSTRALIA 2011: Medieval Fayre

AUSTRALIA 2011: Medieval Fayre (May 22, 2011)

Lords and ladies. Knights and horses. Castles and princesses. Swordfights. Witchcraft. Chivalry. Need I say that the medieval times have always fascinated me? Not that I would want to live during that time, because all things considered, it was quite a dark period of human history. Regardless, all things “medieval” have always sparked my interest, so imagine how excited I was when we found out that the Blacktown council will be holding a “Medieval Fayre.” As a bonus, it will be held in Nurragingy Reserve, which is very nearby and more importantly, is where my aunt and uncle got married.

Nurragingy Reserve and the colors of autumn

M E D I E V A L  V I L L A G E

Beautiful autumn colors

We arrived at Nurragingy just around lunch time, because we went after Sunday service. The parking lot was packed with cars, so we took some time looking for an empty space to park. As we walked towards the event venue, we could hear the noise from the crowd. We could also see flags and banderitas everywhere, as well as tents amongst the trees with their beautiful autumn colors. It was a beautiful autumn day. The sun was as cooperative as the people who were walking around in their medieval costumes. 

Robin Hood doing his rounds

Costumes. Where do I begin? We saw all the medieval characters you can think of – princesses in their flowy dresses, knights in their full armour, jugglers, fire-throwers, witches, village people – heck, even Robin Hood was present.

Trying out the guillotine

It was like being lost in the middle of a medieval village. There were so many people, and occasionally a person dressed in full medieval garb would pass you by.

Reenacting life during those times

Tents were put up for food, which included everything from chips to sandwiches to fairy floss (cotton candy). Some tents were also put up for other things, like selling medieval artifacts and face-painting. A lot of tents were put up to showcase medieval armour, and we got to try on a few helmets and play with a few swords. We even got to try the guillotine at one point.

Helmets and shields

Also, there were several groups who put up tents to showcase historical displays and interactive demonstrations. They were really acting like they really lived during the medieval times, so all their clothes, equipment, food, and even tent really demonstrated that. All periods were also pretty much represented – Viking, Norman, Saxon, Crusader, Saracen, Byzantine and High Medieval. It was just so fascinating to witness.

F I E L D  O F  H O N O U R

There were several arenas to demonstrate medieval fights, and one of which is the “Field of Honour.” Here we got to witness warriors dressed in full armour battling it out in an authentic combat. They used genuine weapons and combat moves to fight each other. Someone was narrating as well, explaining what we were seeing for us to appreciate it more. It was so cool to cheer along the sidelines as if we were witnessing something that actually happened in the Middle Ages.

Fighting in the "Field o Honour"

S W O R D P L A Y

The next arena was the swordplay arena. Here they demonstrated how they dueled during the Middle Ages. It was so entertaining as well as educational.

Swordplay

After the group swordplay demonstration where everyone had a pair and showed us various dueling moves, it was time for the couple demonstration. This time, a girl and a guy demonstrated how to have a lover’s quarrel during the medieval times, complete with dialogue and acting. It was so funny and entertaining, I felt like I was stuck in the middle of some medieval movie set.

A  K N I G H T ' S  T A L E

The highlight of our afternoon, however, was the jousting tournament. I first heard of jousting when I watched the movie “A Knight’s Tale.” Yes, the one with the late Heath Ledger, who is incidentally Australian. Jousting is basically a competition between two knights mounted on horses, galloping towards each other and armed with lances. The objective is to use the lance to hit the opposing knight’s chest or shield, and if the contact is particularly strong, knock him off his horse.

Let the jousting begin

Jousting up close

Never in my life did I imagine that I’d actually get to witness real jousting, let alone a full jousting tournament. The “knights” who were there really compete in actual jousting tournaments, and they were quite good. The place was packed with people, and the energy was astounding. It was a joy to witness, and I was so giddy with excitement.

Lady Sarah

We even found out that one of the knights was actually a lady (Lady Sarah), and when she took off her armour to show that she really is female, I couldn’t be more proud. I know we’ve come quite a long way from the medieval times. This day made realize that people from the Middle Ages have a lot of important things to remind us of (chivalry, anyone?). However, we also have a lot of things to teach them.

Lady jousters? And just why not?

AUSTRALIA 2011: Autumn in Blue

AUSTRALIA 2011: Autumn in Blue (May 21, 2011)

A beautiful autumn day

When I heard about this beautiful mountain range called the Blue Mountains, the first question I asked was if the mountains really are blue, and if so, why? The best way to answer that question, of course, is to see these mountains for myself. Judging from how chilly and dreary most days are becoming, winter is approaching fast, and a visit to the Blue Mountains wouldn’t be such a good idea in this extremely cold weather. Autumn, however, wanted to exit gracefully and with a beautiful bang, so just before it came to a close, we were blessed with the perfect autumn day for a Blue Mountain visit.

K A T O O M B A

Welcome to Katoomba

The Blue Mountain region, in its entirety, spans several cities and towns. Katoomba is the chief town in the City of Blue Mountains, and is located 110 kilometres west of Sydney. It is also where Scenic World and the Three Sisters are located, so it’s a very popular tourist destination. We arrived at Katoomba main town center just in time for lunch. As we stopped to buy pizza from Domino’s and fish and chips from Greco’s, I looked around and instantly fell in love with the town’s charming architecture.

Some of Katoomba's heritage buildings

Now I’ve been to quite a few towns in Australia, and the one thing that’s common among all of them is the heritage buildings that remain standing. What happens is they retain, not ruin, the architecture from old buildings while still going on with their daily commerce. So you’ll have a functioning grocery store or a pizza parlor in a building that looks like it was lifted right out of the 1900s.

Our lovely picnic area

When you walk down the street, you feel like you’re lost in the middle of a movie set or somehow transported back in time. Most towns I’ve been to in Australia are like this, and Katoomba is no different. With our lunch in tow, we went to one of their public parks and had a picnic.

Scenic railway

S T E E P E S T  R A I L W A Y

Katoomba is of course home to beautiful sceneries, and one of the must-visit places here is Scenic World, which is a tourist complex and features most of what Katoomba has to offer.

It really was quite steep

We first went on the Katoomba Scenic Railway, the steepest funicular railway in the world. We got on something that strangely resembles a roller coaster, and was tilted 52 degrees (I swear it felt like it was almost vertical).

The coaster then goes down a 415-metre track, and at first you can’t see anything but this tiny light at the very far end of the tunnel. Then as it courses down the rainforest you realize that you really are going down a mountain, and while the initial go is quite novel and a bit scary, once you get that hang of it, it’s actually quite fun. We soon arrived at our destination, which is in the floor of the Jamison Valley. 

R A I N F O R E S T

A boardwalk in the middle of the forest

We were already deep down in the floor of the Jamison Valley, and from here we were free to explore the “Scenic Walkway” by ourselves.

Deep into the rainforest

The “walkway” is a boardwalk built deep into the heart of the World-heritage-listed rainforest, and was actually quite an experience. The first part showed some exhibitions about coal mines, but it was mostly just a beautiful rainforest. The flora and fauna we saw along the way were amazing, and there were occasional placards that showed information which made us appreciate what we were seeing even more.

Scenic Cable Way

We took our time walking, until we reached the platform for the Scenic Cable Way, which is basically a cable car that will take us back up. It’s probably tilted in the same degree as the railway was, and it sure looked scary from down there, but once we were inside we couldn’t really feel that we were climbing steeply back to the top of the mountain. The sights going up were beautiful as well.

S C E N I C  S K Y W A Y

View from the Scenic Skyway

Katoomba Falls

When we reached the top of the mountain, I went on to ride the Scenic Skyway while the rest of them just waited for me at the cafeteria in Mary’s Lookout.

The Scenic Skyway is basically another cable car that takes people from one mountain to another, as if gliding in the sky. This 720-metre ride gives people a 360-degree view of the Three Sisters, Mount Solitary, the Katoomba Falls, and of course the vast rainforest in the Jamison Valley below.

When I got to the other side, I went on to explore the Cliff View Lookout, which offered some of the most breathtaking views I’ve seen in my life.

The Blue Mountains as seen from the Cliff View Lookout

T H R E E  S I S T E R S

When I got back to the other mountain, it was approaching sunset so we left Scenic World to drive to Echo Point. Echo Point is where tourists flock to see The Three Sisters in all their glory.

The Three Sisters at sunset

“The Three Sisters” is one of the most famous rock formations in The Blue Mountains, and was formed as the forces of nature eroded the sandstone through time. If Aboriginal legends are to be believed, The Three Sisters’ names, from left to right, are Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo.

Legend or not, The Three Sisters are truly beautiful, and as we stood at Echo Point viewing the scenery before us the sun starting setting, which cast an orange tinge of light on the Three Sisters and valley below. The sunset also produced beautiful hues of orange and purple in the sky, and I’m beginning to think Australia truly has the most beautiful sunsets. It just took my breath away.

Gorgeous sunset

B L U E

As to the question whether the mountains really are blue, the answer is yes and no. No, of course they aren’t actually blue, but yes, they produce a blue haze that makes them appear blue from afar. The blue haze is caused by the blanket of eucalyptus trees. The trees release aromatic oils, and when sunlight comes into contact with these oils, a bluish haze is produced. The mountains did appear blue, especially as the sun began to set.

Blue or not, it was one of those beautiful autumn days, and while Winter is coming fast and soon, this Blue Mountains trip was Autumn’s perfect curtain call.

NEGROS '09: Sunny, Sandy, Splendid Halloween (2)

NEGROS '09: Sunny, Sandy, Splendid Halloween 2 (November 1, 2009)

We had a long and full day yesterday, so we slept in for a bit. After getting all the rest that we needed, we decided to just take it easy and stay in the vicinity of Dumaguete City and its surrounding areas.

F O R E S T   C A M P

One with nature

The first place we went to was Forest Camp. Every time we go on a trip to Negros Oriental, we somehow always manage to squeeze Forest Camp into the itinerary. This is because of its proximity to Dumaguete, which makes it very easy to go to. I've been to Forest Camp (Valencia, Negros Oriental) so many times, but every time I go there I always end up enjoying it.

The Forest Camp was first opened to the public in 1990, and today it's one of Dumaguete's favorite weekend destinations. The entire place is around 2.2 hectares, and it's dotted with cottages and picnic tables that people can rent. When you go to Forest Camp you get to swim in the natural spring water coming from the nearby Casaroro Falls, and the temperature of the water is always so cold so it was the perfect way to cool down our stress. Aside from the natural river there are also pools of spring water that people can swim in. We even got free back massages c/o the teeny tiny "waterfalls."

Cold spring water

Aside from the river and the spring water, the camp site also has a lot of other attractions that nature lovers will enjoy. The camp also features a hanging bridge, a pond, as well as beautiful trees and flowers.  We spent most of our day in Forest Camp, and we even had our lunch in one of their cottages.

D U M A G U E T E

Italia

After our time in Forest Camp, we wanted to try out one of the many restaurants that Dumaguete is known for. This time we had dinner at Italia, where we sampled authentic Italian food that was so cheap it was unbelievable. We were supposed to go to Hayahay for some after-dinner drinks but unfortunately, it was closed. Instead, we just had a karaoke night at "The House of Bulay" c/o their trusty Magic Sing.

B A C K   T O   C E B U

Boat ride back to Cebu

Our boat ride back to Cebu was at around 11PM that night, and we opted to ride a boat this time because we had no more energy for another land trip. At least with a boat ride, we'll just sleep the whole time and when we wake up, we'll be in Cebu already.

Good morning, sunrise!

Having lived in Cebu for most of my life, I'm so used to riding in boats. That's one of the advantages that you get when you live in the Visayas. Boats are a part of life. So this boat ride was something that we were very used to. When we woke up, our view consisted of nothing but the sunrise and the vast ocean. It was quite breathtaking. 

When we finally reached Cebu, it was bittersweet. Goodbye Negros, and thank you for a weekend of utter fun. I will surely miss you, but I will surely be back.

View from the boat

NEGROS '09: Sunny, Sandy, Splendid Halloween (1)

NEGROS '09: Sunny, Sandy, Splendid Halloween 1 (October 31, 2009)

When I was in Negros a year ago, I declared that while the Philippines is a beautiful place, the Visayas islands are the best. I also declared that if you're a nature lover, you should do yourself a favor and go to NEGROS. Opportunity (a.k.a long Halloween weekend) came knocking, and instead of going to Halloween parties and thinking about work-related stress, I decided to island-hop to Negros and embrace the sun, sand, and sea. As expected, we had a SPLENDID time. :)

Thanks to Ayen and Mags who allowed themselves to be dragged by me (when Gia drags you to an adventure somewhere, the last thing you should say is NO :P), and a million thanks to the Bulaybulay family for being our gracious hosts and for loving adventure as much as we do.

T H E   R O A D   T O   N E G R O S

Our bus tickets

We wanted to be in Dumaguete by October 31, so to do that we had to be at the South bus terminal by dawn. We were anticipating that a lot of people would be going home because of the long weekend, so we were at the South bus terminal as early as 10PM. I was surprised to see the newly-renovated terminal, which is a far cry from the terminal I remember from a few years back. It's very clean and it's a lot more organized. It's even tiled and air-conditioned, so it actually looks like an airport, complete with a PA system.

We managed to get tickets to the first trip to Lilo-an, Santander. Santander is the southernmost tip of Cebu and this is where we needed to go in order to cross the narrow channel to Negros. We rode in a Ceres bus and the ticket cost us Php162 each.

Catching the ferry to Sibulan

The bus ride lasted from 12:30AM to around 3AM. We weren't really able to sleep because the seats weren't the most comfortable seats in the world, but that's all part of the adventure. When we finally reached Santander, we had to wait for about 30 minutes for the fast ferry ticketing office to open. 

Finally, at 4:30AM, we were on our way to Sibulan, Negros Oriental via a fast ferry. The ticket cost us Php62 each, and by 5AM our feet finally touched Negros soil. From the Sibulan terminal we had to hail a peddicab to go to Dumaguete. We paid Php80 for the roughly 30-minute ride.

Perfect Dumaguete sunrise

P E R F E C T   S U N R I S E

We reached Dumaguete in time for the sunrise. I've seen the sun rise a couple of times, but nothing compares to the way the sun rises in Rizal Boulevard. The perfect combination of pink, orange, and purple hues scattered in the sky was just too breathtaking to forget.

After watching the sunrise, we headed to Bulay's house, where we were served an authentic Dumaguete breakfast of puto and sikwate. We spent the rest of the morning settling in, catching on some sleep, and changing into our beach outfits. 

T H E  M A N J U Y O D  W H I T E  S A N D  B A R

Capiñahan Wharf

At 9:30AM we drove all the way to Capiñahan Wharf in the South Bais Bay. Normally this wouldn't have taken that long a drive, but it took us twice as long because of all the road constructions and the traffic. Once we were at the wharf, we then boarded a 15-minute boat ride to paradise.  A gazillion thanks to Bulay and her awesome connections because we got this for free. :)

Our boat has arrived

White sand beaches, with their pristine powdery white sand and their crystal-clear blue waters that glisten in the sun, are most sought after because of the tranquility they give you. In these beaches, the view is so picturesque that the world stops and you leave everything behind. So just imagine what it's like to be not on a shoreline but on a 7-km stretch of pure white sand in the middle of the sea. 

Our "floating" cottage

We arrived at around lunch time. Normally, people spend more time on the sea to watch the dolphins and the whales in the Bais area. But to do that you have to be really early, so we just skipped it and left them in peace. Our pump boat left us on one of the four cottages on stilts. They're on stilts because when the tide is high, the water reaches the floor, giving the cottages the illusion of floating on water.

After settling down and eating lunch, we made the most of the waist-deep water and dipped ourselves in. The sun was smiling down on us, the water was glistening and clear, and the sand felt like velvet. It was wonderful. For a time it got too hot, so we transferred to the shaded area below the cottage.

Waiting for the water to disappear

We had to wait for some time for the water to disappear, so we spent some of the afternoon napping in our little bamboo cottage with the sound of the waves crashing silently and steadily nearby. Occasionally a bird or two would break the blueness of the afternoon sky, but otherwise, the breeze was warm and the noise of the city was nowhere to be found. It was the perfect place to sunbathe, laze around, and just forget the world for a moment.

Pockets of sand started to appear

Hello there, sand!

And then it happened. Slowly, small pockets of sand appeared. By this time there were only a few inches of water left. And as the rest of the sand peeked hello, that’s when our jaws dropped in awe. A long stretch of white sand in the middle of the sea. Perfection.

The water's completely gone

By the time we left, there were still some submerged parts. For the entire 7-km stretch to appear we would’ve had to wait until evening, which we couldn’t do because we had other plans. Nonetheless, we still had a wonderful time. Pictures and words do no justice to the place. You really have to go experience it for yourself.

S I A T O N

We reluctantly left the Manjuyod sand bar before it got dark because Bulay had a gig to catch. This gig was in Siaton, which is another town south of Dumaguete City. We left Dumaguete at around quarter to 8, and I was behind the wheel for the 45-minute drive to Siaton. And boy was the drive scary.

Oktoberfest at Siaton

We didn't really aim to have a Halloween experience, but that 45-minute drive was an authentic Halloween experience right there. The roads were narrow, there were no streetlamps or reflectors to speak of, there were little to no houses in sight, and there were random people walking on the eerily dark streets. It was like ghost town on the way to Siaton. I could barely see the road due to the lack of light. Jeepers creepers indeed.

Scary drive aside, we made it to Oktoberfest at Siaton to cap off the day. Bulay and Freelance band did a set of around 30 party songs (including requests). It was a very good night. Of course, I had to drive all the way to Dumaguete again. The drive was creepier this time because there was a point when I was the only one awake. Nevertheless, it was such a fun-filled day and when we finally got home, we were more than happy to get some much-needed rest.

Best Halloween ever. :)