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: Dumaguete (Day 5)

Day 5:

We took the 3 am Ceres Deluxe Bus to Dumaguete (PhP 285), where we slept for a while. (Just in case you're wondering, the time schedule of the bus changes a lot so you better call on the day you're leaving to ask for the final schedule.) Nope, I must say that I didn’t get a very good sleep. There were parts where the bus was so hot, then it would be so cool (because of the early morning wind coming in), then it would be bumpy… a lot. That apparently, I don’t care that much, but I hit Shee one time, so she forced my head to rest on her shoulder haha Leo was also holding the window across from Victor, so Victor can stop head banging and sleep too haha Eventually, we woke up around 7 am, a few towns away from Dumaguete, because it was so hot. There were traffic in some towns because of the Buglasan Festival and there were parades.

Inside the Ceres Deluxe Bus (the rows were divided into two and three-seaters) - Photo Credits: Victor

When we arrived in Dumaguete, we hired a tricycle to get us to Harold’s Inn (PhP 10/head), where we left our things while we go to Dauin for a swim. We had brunch in some Bicol carinderia near Harold’s Inn, but the seemingly-in charge person was very rude, so we didn’t came back after that one brunch. Then we hired a tricycle to get us to Ceres Bus Terminal (PhP 10/head), then board a bus going to Bayawan and dropped off at Dauin (PhP 20/head).

A tricycle here can fit 6 people (including our big packs)

Brunch in a nearby Carinderia from Harold's Inn

Unfortunately, Ceres dropped us in Dauin Public Market, so we hired another tricycle to get us to the Dauin Marine Sanctuary District 1 (PhP 10/head). Then we discovered that if only the bus dropped us later than sooner (after the public market), the sanctuary is already walking distance from that part.

Anyway, Dauin Marine Sanctuary charges PhP 10/head or if we’re going to rent a table, there would be no entrance fee. Since there were 6 of us, we need a place for our swim things so we rented a table near the shore for PhP 150. There were also life vests (PhP 50) and snorkeling gear (PhP 100) for rent if needed.  I asked, and actually, we could also do beach camping there. Dauin Municipality also charges a PhP 50 snorkling fee.

Rented a hut fronting the beach with a hammock on the side for only PhP 150 inclusive of our entrance fee

I slept for less than an hour in a hammock, while the rest swam and snorkel. (Grabe, tanghali iyon eh! I eventually swam around 3 pm, but I know that the sun is still high though not as much as before.) The corals were beautiful and there were many fish. Siyempre, photo-ops especially with my new Canon D20, which I really bought for this trip! Hehe

Photo-ops on the beach on a very hot sunny day with Apo Island on the scene

Sarap matulog!

Dami fish!

JM poses with the fish and corals

Fish Fish Fish!

We also found the rare mermaid in the world!

At around 4-5 pm, we fixed and tried to dry ourselves. We walked towards the highway to catch another Ceres Bus to Dumaguete (PhP 20), and hired another tricycle to Harold’s Inn (PhP 10). We rinsed ourselves in our suite (PhP 1350 good for 4 people, 2 double beds, with private hot and cold shower, balcony, TV, and ref), and head on out for dinner.

Actually, by this time, we were very hungry, but we weren’t sure what time the Haus of Sansrival will close, so we ended up eating dessert first. Oh my, I don’t know if we’re just hungry or the cake was good, but the cake was really good. Apparently, I am not the only dessert person in our group J We LOVED the lemon pie. We also tasted the sansrival and the sylvannas, which was deemed specialties, and the Sansrival Spaghetti. We also tasted the Date and Walnut, and well, we basically tasted a lot of desserts. (We actually tasted nearly all of them at the end of this trip.)

Then, we took a walk around the Boulevard. We tasted the Tempurahan there, which tasted like kikiam shaped like a tempura actually. We had dinner in some unknown place, then we went to Whatever for some KTV until 2 am. Whatever was really cheap and fun and new. It only costs PhP 99/hr with a very good sound system and some lights. They also served subzero beer for only PhP 45. Unfortunately, they close at 1 am. So sad!

Afterwards, we took a tricycle back to Harold’s where JM and Sharlene can get their things and take a bus bound back to Bacolod. (Yes, nag day trip lang sila in Dumaguete! Saya!)

The funny thing was we were able to persuade Cesar to extend his stay (originally to go home tomorrow, but well, YOLO nga ang turo sa kanya ni AJ and ni Nino so nag extend? Hehe), and things just fell into place with him. He was able to rebook his flight for free to Monday morning after the Maskarra Festival.

Expenses: (I rounded them off… Especially for the food)

Ceres Deluxe Bus to Dumaguete – PhP 285

Tricycle to Harold’s Inn – PhP 10

Deposit for Harold’s Inn – PhP 1350/4 people

Carinderia Lunch – PhP 60

Tricycle to Ceres – PhP 10

Ceres Bus to Dauin – PhP 20

Tricycle to Dauin Marine Sanctuary – PhP 10

Dauin Marine Sanctuary – PhP 150/table/6 people

Life vest rental – PhP 50

Dauin Snorkling Fee – PhP 50

Ceres Bus to Dumaguete – PhP 20

Tricycle to Harold’s Inn – PhP 10

Tricycle to the Boulevard – PhP 10

Hous of Sansrival – PhP 100

Tempurahan – PhP 40 (PhP 4/tempura + sprite)

Dinner – PhP 60 (tapsilog hehe)

Whatever – birthday treat from JM

Tricycle back to Harold’s Inn – PhP 10