The Great Visayan Road Trip: 1st day

Arrived in Cebu. Traveled to Dumaguete. Catch a ferry to Siquijor. Back to Dumaguete as a transit. Swim with the whale sharks in Oslob, Cebu. Back to Cebu City for the Sinulog festival. Rode a ferry to Ormoc, Leyte. City day tour in Tacloban with Jom. Hiked with Fernz for 7 hrs to a waterfall. Joined a local birthday celebration in Catbalogan, Samar. Bus to Legazpi. Back to Manila. The gist of my first roadtrip for the year 2013.

7 days. 6 provinces. 5 islands. 4 days with my sisters and climb friends. Another 3 days of roadtrip with my best friend. 10 kg of clothes and baggage.

Day 1:
Matel, Macy, Kat, Ralph and I went to Cebu, taking the first flight via cebupac and arriving at 5:30 am. We were greeted by our second cousin and we went to their house for a while. We were to rent their van to take us to Oslob but because of a long story, we just borrowed 2 of their cars to take us to Liloan port in Santander, Cebu.

We visited Mary's Castle on the way to the port where we had some photo ops. I didn't think our second-cousin Cory expected that we would take so long hehe


Anyway, we arrived in Liloan at around 130pm. We took the ferry for 30 min, it was a very very bumpy ride, causing most of the passengers to be seasick. I was a bit seasick myself so I went to the upper deck for some air.

When we got to dumaguete, we filled up a multicab to take us to Hous of Sansrival where we await the schedule of the ferry to Siquijor.

We had a good lunch with good desserts, that most of us wanted to walk for a while and digest our food. As macy mentioned, we've been traveling the whole day! We just took the 7pm ferry to siquijor and arrived at 9pm.

In siquijor, we rented a multicab to take us to the resort at Php 500, which I believe to be expensive.

Anyway, that ends our first day :)

Expenses:
Breakfast at Mcdo
Gas going to the port - est 1300/12 ppl
Ferry to Dumaguete - 60 per pax
Multicab to Hous of Sansrival - 25 per pax
Late lunch at Haus of Sansrival
Fast Ferry to Siquijor - 200 per pax
Multicab to Island Rendevoo - 500/12 ppl
Takeout food from Scooby's Dumaguete

Pictures to follow

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)

Negros Adventure: Part 2: Dumaguete (Day 6)

Day 6:

This is a Wednesday, we planned to go to Apo Island to swim with the Pawikans! Yehey!

We woke up around 6:30 am, prodded by Victor to get up regardless of the very long night. Realizing that there was free breakfast consisting of toast and coffee or tea, we grabbed the free breakfast. There was someone that was supposed to stay in our room, so we were forced to move to a smaller room, which also costs cheaper, PhP 800 + 350 for the extra double bed. It didn’t have a balcony or ref anymore, but it still has the TV and the private shower. So, we moved our things and were able to leave at around 8 am.

I forgot my camera at Dauin Marine Sanctuary, so we passed that way first before going to Apo Island. Yes, thank you so much to those um, matured lovely couple owning the sanctuary who kept my camera, knowing that I will return to get it! Such a nice couple indeed J

Afterwards, we boarded a jeep going to Zamboangita. It was a really big jeep, as in wide, only costs PhP 12. It was a Wednesday so we were able to witness market day. We brought some snacks, bread if we’re going to feed the fish, etc.

Usually the boat costs PhP 2000 for 4 people, and the big boat costs PhP 3000 to fit 6 people. There was a foreigner there who was waiting for passengers, and we were able to get a boatman to agree to take the 5 of us to Apo Reef for PhP 2000.

Grabe, ang init na naman at tanghaling tapat! Aside from that, the beach was rocky and hard, full of corals. There was an entrance fee of PhP 100 then we could rent a life vest for PhP 100. Since it was lunch time, we had lunch in the Apo Resort Restaurant where I had chopseuy after many days of eating meat. (Yes, I know we should have just went to a local, ask to cook something for us, or whatever, right? According to Shee, one of the locals asked.) I was interested in scuba diving, intro dive costs a little less than PhP 3,000 for 2-3 hours. But unfortunately, we have to leave around 3 to 4 pm, so there wasn’t much time. Sayang! (Actually, it was a good deal according to Victor, because the PhP 1,900 intro dive that he knows of consists of 1 hour only. That plus it was really hot and the sun was so high really made me interested in scuba! Hehe)

Then, we swam with the turtles! They were so cool and so big upclose. I could touch them, but we weren’t supposed to! Hehe After about an hour or so, we got up and had some photo ops with the rocks. (I almost had a wardrobe malfunction!) We weren’t able to do the trek to the light tower anymore, because of the lack of time. Sad…

Shee swimming with the turtles

An example of something we weren't supposed to do: Touch the Pawikan

Rocky, pebbly, coral-ly beach of Apo Island

Anyway, we went back to Dauin. We rode another bus bound for Dumaguete, caught another tricycle to Harold’s where we washed ourselves. For tonight, since there were only 4 of us, we took the bicycle and rode around the city, replenishing money, and had dinner at KRI, which was blogged to be the number 1 restaurant in the area.

KRI was really good or we were hungry and it was already 9pm. We ordered the top 4 specialties of the restaurant: Tuna wrapped in something, Tenderloin tips, Pork ribs, and Sashimi something, I think. Anyway, mine was yummy, which was the Tuna! Hehe Afterwards, we went to Haus of Sansrival to try the other cakes. (Sabi sa inyo, nasubukan na namin almost lahat doon.) Anyway, we went back to Harold’s to get some sleep.

At KRI with their marshmallow shake and chocolate shake

Expenses:

Tricycle to Ceres – PhP 10

Ceres Bus to Dauin – PhP 20

Jeep from Dauin to Zamboangita – PhP 12

Market – PhP 40

Apo Island Boat – PhP 2000/5 people

Apo Island Resort Lunch – PhP 90

Apo Island Entrance and Snorkline – PhP 100

Life Vest Rental – PhP 100

Zamboangita to Dumaguete – PhP 20

Tricycle to Harold’s Inn – PhP 10

KRI dinner – PhP 140

Hous of Sansrival – PhP 100 (group meal)

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