Negros Adventure: Part 2: Twin Lakes of Sibulao, Casaroro Falls, and Dauin Beach (Day 8)

Day 8:

The day started with Mariel and Rey-An coming in from Bacolod via Ceres Bus and knocking our door at 5:30 AM. And so… The day starts. We arranged for the cheapest room where we could put our things while we wait for our bus back to Bacolod (later on).

Originally, we were supposed to have a day tour in Siquijor, but the ferry schedule didn’t fit our schedule, plus some were already a bit scared and wary of going there (haha Guess who?). Instead, we planned a trip going to the Twin Lakes, Casaroro Falls, and Dauin Beach for Mariel and Rey-An. Actually, we copied Leo's itinerary with his cousins hehe

Breakfast in Dumaguete with (L-R) Cesar, Mariel, Victor, Ray-An, me, Shee

Anyway, we ate breakfast at the inn, and then went to ride a tricycle (PhP 10/head) to ride a jeep bound for Sibulan. Since there were six of us, the driver offered to take us all the way to the lake for PhP 2,000. Knowing that the habal-habal will charge us PhP 150-200, we told the manong that we don’t have the budget. We can only offer PhP 1,400, which eventually we agreed on PhP 1,500. And so we went, all roomy in the jeep and everything. But it was a really bumpy ride with lots of inclines. I really feel it’s safer to take the jeep than to take the habal-habal.

When we got there, there’s a parking fee of PhP 10, and an entrance of PhP 10/Filipino head and entrance of PhP 30/jeep.

Entrance Fees at Twin Lakes

  

Once we’re inside, we had some photo-ops by the hilltop, and then rented a boat to cross the lake (PhP 250/boat) and see its twin on the other side. Photo-ops. Return to the dock. Back to the Jeep to go to Dumaguete Proper. We saw Leo and his cousins on the road, just on their way to the twin lakes.

We dropped Shee off in Harold's Inn because her flight back to Manila will be around 4:30 pm. We told the jeepney driver to drop us in the jeepney stop to Valencia (PhP 12/head). Then learning from our previous mistakes, we really looked at the TODA for the official price of the habal-habal, which was PhP 100/1-way but can have a maximum occupant of 2 (PhP 50/head). At first the drivers were disagreeing, despite the official pricelist and announcement. Eventually, some drivers agreed reluctantly, just to have some work to do. And off we went on 3 habal-habals.

As if yesterday's hike didn't bring my muscle pains back to life, I was peer pressured into coming back! Hehe Okay, and maybe yesterday's muscle pains weren't enough. But I felt a bit nauseous after the jeepney ride from the Twin Lake. When we got to Valencia Town Proper, I wanted to find a pharmacy to buy something for the dizziness. (I left my meds at Harold's.) Unfortunately, they didn't have much pharmacies, or even any kind of medications for dizziness. Instead, I just chose a halo-halo for only PhP 12 haha Anyway, I felt better and less nauseous after eating my lunch and medicine of halo-halo, and we were on our way back to Casaroro Falls.

So... more photo-ops especially for Ray-An and Mariel, who weren't there yesterday. I just really really wanted to sleep so I just told them that I'd wait for them by the rock to "guard" their things while they go up close to the falls. At around 3 pm, we started trekking our way back up to our jump-off point where our habal-habal were waiting. It was perfect timing, because there was a jeep bound for Dumaguete, only waiting for the 6 of us so we could go! Great! And then, we saw Leo and his cousins on the road again, just on their way to Casaroro Falls.

When we get back to Dumaguete Town Proper, it was almost 5 pm, so we were hesistant in going to Dauin because pretty sure, it will be dark by then. Victor was very optimistic, so we went. We rode a tricycle to take us to the jeepney stop bound for Zamboangita, then road a jeep to Zamboangita, and dropped off at Dauin Marine Sanctuary District 1.

Yes, we finally we met with Leo and his cousins. Apparently, they didn't go down anymore to the falls. Anyway, we swam for about 30 min before it went completely dark. They brought some roasted chicken, while Victor brought some liempo (which was meant for Casaroro earlier, if Leo and his cousins were there earlier) which we ate.

Anyway, we eventually cleaned ourselves up back in Harold's Inn and fixed our things, since we were scheduled to take the midnight bus back to Bacolod for the Maskarra Festival. We had dinner in Hous of Sansrival, yes this time it's DINNER plus dessert. Since they were in Top 3 of Trip Advisor, we taught to try their dinner... Which for me was average delicious. Leo and his cousins also came in for dessert. Hence, we really finished the dessert selection hehe

Haus of Sansrival: Our table for the last 3 nights, Deo and his cousins on the other table,
and Brownman Revival on the far left of the picture/restaurant - by Victor Ayson

The manager was really nice. He probably recognized us since the first day we visited them, and the day after that because we sit at the same table! Hehe Anyway, he told us that the band Brownman Revival was coming for dinner prior to their gig at the Buglasan Fesival in front of the Capitol. So we hang out for a while, enjoying our dessert. We eventually got a picture with them hehe

Brownman Revival - Photo by Victor Ayson

We were thinking of where to go because we still have time to kill before the 2 am bus trip back to Bacolod. We tried Whatever for some KTV, but they were full until 1 am. (Yes, even on weekends and Buglasan Festival, they still close at 1 am!) We were thinking of going to the Buglasan Festival, but when we returned our bicycles to Harold's, we got the blues of katamaran and took a nap until about 2 am! Hehe Except for Ray-An, the ultimate party boy who stayed out, went to the Buglasan Festival, and even went to Hayahay Bar.

We took a tricycle back to Ceres, and rode the aircon bus back to Bacolod. The moment I sat, I was already down! Haha I didn't even wake up when the conductor came in, or when we started moving. I just woke up some traffic in Bacolod in the morning! Haha

Ceres 2 AM Airconditioned Bus Back to Bacolod

Expenses:

Trike to Sibulan Jeepney Stop - PhP 10

Twin Lake Jeepney Rental - PhP 1500/group

Entrance to Twin Lakes + Parking - PhP 10/head + PhP 40/jeep

Boat ride in Twin Lakes - PhP 250/boat

Trike to Valencia Jeepney Stop - PhP 10

Jeep to Valencia - PhP 12 x 2 way

Habal-Habal - PhP 50 x 2 way

Entrance to Casaroro Falls - PhP 10

Lunch (Halo-Halo) - PhP 15

Trike to Zamboangita Jeepney Stop - PhP 10

Jeep to Dauin - PhP 12

Dauin Marine Santuary Table Rental - PhP 150

Jeep back to Dumaguete - PhP 20

Trike back to Harold's - PhP 10

Dinner at Hous of Sansrival - PhP 200

Negros Adventure: Part 2: Casaroro Falls (Day 7)

Day 7:

Originally, we wanted to go to Oslob and have a daytour with the whale sharks there. But we weren’t sure of the schedule of the ferry going to Siquijor. We (except for Shee) also wanted to try a dayhike for Mt. Talinis, but we weren’t sure of the route (Yes, we’re addicted to pain and mountains; I wasn’t even sure if I had fully recovered from the Kanlaon experience!). So we had a day tour in Valencia instead, where we saw the Casaroro falls.

Siyempre, we ate our free breakfast. There was butter and coco jam for the toast, but Victor was more creative and put on some Lemon Garlic, Black Pepper, and Pizza seasoning… Yes, buti hindi sumakit ang tiyan sa biyahe. It was actually good that I had 5 slices! Haha Takaw mode

Free Breakfast At Harold's Inn

We took a tricycle to drop us off the jeep going to Valencia. They really cram the jeepneys full, even worse than Manila, because they have benches in the middle where people could sit. Anyway, once we reached the sleeping town of Valencia, habal-habal drivers were there to offer their services.

Initially, they offered to do it PhP 100/2-way. So for safety reasons, we had one habal-habal each. Somewhere in the middle, the driver told me that it’s PhP 200/2-way. So we were flabbergasted, and we refused for them to wait for us. We just gave them the PhP 100 and told them that we will just trek our way down. (I think we’re too proud that we’re mountaineers hehe Plus I don’t like the feeling of being deceived!)

Near the Casaroro Falls was also the jump-off point for Mt. Talinis. Apparently, we can climb it in 4 hours to reach the twin peaks. (So we can do a dayhike, which we wanted haha) We tried climbing it on our own for about 30 minutes. But after the initial 10 minutes, Shee wanted to go down plus Shee seems to having an asthma attack as well! Anyway, we weren’t sure of the route, because there were dead ends, thorny branches along the way. So after an hour, and some photo-ops at the foot of Mt. Talinis, we proceeded to Casaroro Falls.

To get to Casaroro Falls, you have to pay an entrance fee of PhP 10. You have to go down about 90 meters in altitude. It may take a 30-45 minute hike to the falls, depending on your physical level, degree of avoidance of getting wet at the time, and time for taking pictures hehe It starts out with concrete stairs going down and down and down, followed initially by a cemented pathway to the falls. (Unfortunately, recent typhoons and habagat rains destroyed this pathway, so instead of a 10-minute walk, it became 30-45 minutes.) Then you have to trek through the rocks and boulders of the river.

But the falls was marvelous. It was a sight to behold. (That or I'm just biased because I'm a waterfall person more than a beach one.) The water was very cold. Yes, we just have to swim and take a dip because we're there! The temperature reached around 23 C but that also counted my body temperature. (I didn't remove my watch, which was what I did at the Kanlaon crater.)

Casaroro Falls

 After a series of photo-ops, and oh my, what photo I had! (I couldn't recognize myself!) We went back up to civilization, and went to a Forest Camp-wannabe named 374 steps. There was also an entrance fee of PhP 10, and up we went to see the view of the Mt. Talinis Twin Summits, Bacolod City, and well, we didn't recognize the Japanese Grotto which can be viewed from there, as well.

We were running late, since the last jeep for Dumaguete was around 6 pm... And we were going to trek downwards! (Stubborn mountain egos, I guess.) We passed by this small hut, who were selling flowers, and saw that they have two motorcycles. We asked the lady if they offer habal-habal services back to the town proper for a price of PhP 50/head. And they agreed, so we were able to make it to the town proper around 5:30 pm but there was no jeep bound for Valencia anymore.

We just ate some street ice cream (c/o Victor) and some isaw (PhP 3.50/stick which we bargained to be 3 sticks for PhP 10). Then we rode a tricycle from Valencia to the next town (PhP 10/head), switched tricycle to get to Dumaguete town proper (PhP 10/head), and another tricycle to get to Harold's (PhP 10/head), where we cleaned ourselves up and get ready for dinner.

We met up with Leo, who was working at a coffee shop nearby. While waiting for him, we ate some pasta and got some shake in its partner cafeteria, also known as food stop 1. Then we moved to the coffee house part, and ordered some dessert and cookies, also known as food stop 2. Still, we want some real dinner (and Leo was still working), so we decided to try Hayahay Seafood Restaurant, rumored to offer the best seafood. We already tried the top 1 restaurant according to Trip Advisor (KRI, which we all agreed to serve great food). The restaurant was actually a bar, and there were bands playing, people hanging out and drinking beer. We want to be able to talk, so we went to Lab-As where they served Japanese food. Since the owner was the same, we were also able to eat seafoods from Hayahay. The food was ok, usual delicious-ness.

Food Stop 3: Lab-As (Japanese) Restaurant

Food Stop 4: Shrimp and Mushroom Pizza at Hayahay

As we were going out, we passed their tarp showing some weird seafood pizza combinations such as mushroom and oyster... Hence, we stopped and ordered a round! Hehe It was delicious (And sa lagay na yan, kakakain lang nmn ng dinner hehe) 

By that time, it was around midnight, and we were really tired, so we opted to get some sleep.

Expenses:

Trike to Valencia Jeepney Stop - PhP 10

Valencia Jeep - PhP 12

Habal-Habal to the falls - PhP 100

Entrance fee of Casaroro Falls - PhP 10

Entrance fee of 370 steps - PhP 10

Halab-Habal to Valencia Town Proper - PhP 50

Isaw - PhP 10

3 trikes back to Harold's - PhP 30/head
Food trip 1: Pasta and shake - PhP 80
Food trip 2: Cookies - PhP 30

Food trip 3 & 4: Lab-As and Hayahay - PhP 140 (I think)