2013. The Year that was...

I know i haven't been a religious blogger as much as i want to but please let me take this one post (among the rare blogs posts.) to let you know how awesome my 2013 is.

1. It was the year i set foot on top of a very active volcano - Bulusan, Sorsogon. And not to mention travel 16 hours to the jump-off. It was one of the most amazing hikes ever. One that you wish you can do as often as possible. 

2. It was the year i climbed up the stairs to heaven, where the stairways are lush green. 

3. It was the year i survived Caramoan. Yes this bastard gave us a hard time but no it's not about that. i am just in awe with this place as much as, well, everyone else in the world. 

4. It was the year i learned to revenge mountains go back to the very same mountains just for the heck of it. i've heard once that you never climb a mountain the same way ever. true enough that every experience gives a very different and equally thrilling perspective.

5. It was the year of cliff dives.

6. It was the year i literally swam an island to another - Ave Maria Island to Turtle Island in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras - I'll never forget those coordinates. It was a bit scary, not to mention exhausting but it's one of those things that i sure will regret should i bailed out. i mean c'mon, it's just swimming in an open water to reach nearest island... how hard could it be. Michael Phelps be like, "yun lang pinagmamalaki mo na? Noobs!"

7. It was the year i finally set foot on Mindanao. Some people actually won't believe me that my trip 3Q this year is actually my first time in Mindanao. And boy, you know what they say the thrills of the first time. 

 

8. It was the year i discovered the amazing world underneath my beloved sea. Though i chose not to pursue certification,  these fun dives and free dives are arguably the best experience of my life.

9. It was the year i visited Palawan. i don't think iv'e to elaborate more on this.

10. It was the year i paddled, then pulled my chest upward, and finally stood up on top of the waves.

So there. Dormancy may have flushed my blog stats down but not the blessings for me this year. I am just immensely thankful for all these opportunity and gusto despite the very hard year that was. 

And oh, happy birthday to me. #Cheers

________________________

Hey i'm on Twitter and IG:

@rome_john

The BIG Itinerary (The Huge Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras Weekend)

September 13-15, 2013

Western Visayas

Oh Yes we did that. 

Bacolod. Iloilo. Guimaras.

First tip to keynote this one: Yes prepare an itinerary, but be sure to anticipate some bends along the way. This isn't your typical tourist's route so thumbs up for the real Hiligaynon culture experience along the way. 

DAY 1 - Friday

My Tiger Airs RT tickets  to Bacolod-Silay are booked not withstanding any itinerary in mind. If in any case you're eyeing for the BIG trip, i'll recommend a Manila-Bacolod and Iloilo-Manila tickets (or vice versa whichever you prefer). Oh well, that's what i have so that's what i'll make the most of. 

6.30 AM

Landing at a very neat and slick Bacolod-Silay Airport very early morning is a delight. Now we have to choose the cheapest transportation to Bacolod City proper, which is roughly more than an hour from the airport. 

Taxi Rates - 300-500 chartered 

Van - 150-200/person

Of course we liked it this dirty:

Tryc - Silay Airport to Silay Highway - P15
Jeep - Silay to Bacolod North Terminal - P10

Jeep - Bacolod North to SM Bacolod/Reclaim Area - P7

Pedicab - Bacolod Highway to BreadCo Port - P10

Taxi whut?

7.30 AM

2Go, SuperCat and Weesam are the famous liners that caters Bacolod-Iloilo ferries. A local told me Weesam has the cheapest and buying RT tickets will save us some more. She even gave me few juicy rambutans since i paid her Pedicab fare OTW to BreadCo. Illongos are the sweetest i tell you. 

Regular One Way Fare (Economy):  P355

Regular One Way Fare (First Class): P450

RT Promo (Economy): P585

RT Promo (First Class): P665

Huge discounts on students and Senior Citizens as well. Weesam departs from Bacolod and Iloilo on these fixed hours with a 30minute boarding time policy: 630AM, 810AM, 950AM, 12NN, 250PM, 445PM. Be there roughly an hour or more for seats availability. Return tickets can also be blank so no need to worry on that as well. 

Now that's quite convenient eh? 

9.30 AM

Now since i befriended a local, we kinda boarded at the 810AM "flight". We're in Iloilo Port in less than 2 hours. 

And yes, there's a Negros-Guimaras route via Pulupandan, Bago City but i'll bet my hat BIG itinerary is better for quite a few reasons: 1. Pulupandan has very few uncertain ferry schedules, 2. Bago city is an hour from Bacolod or roughly 2 hours from Silay airport, 3. Drop off is San Lorenzo, Guimaras which is around 2hours to Jordan where the usual Guimaras tour starts. 

Iloilo greeted us with the scorching sun and a lot of persistent barkers/fixers. Bacolod Ferry Terminal is walking distance from the highway/Iloilo proper. We didn't know that so we hailed a tricycle to the Guimaras Ferry Terminal (P20/head. yeah i know we got scammed. Should have been just P20 per trip or better yet, we could have just walked. oh well...)

10 AM

I guess we're a bit down about that tricycle ride so we postponed our Iloilo roam and boarded the Huge Pump boat to Guimaras. Fare's P14 for around 15-20 minutes across the beautiful Iloilo straight. 

The beauty of Iloilo Straight viewed from the Balaan Bukid Shrine. 

Our late breakfast feast in Guimaras.

10.20 AM

We did it. Silay-Bacolod-Iloilo-Jordan. Oh wait, what about breakfast? 

11 AM

We wrapped up our sumptuous and exotic breakfast in an eatery near Jordan Wharf and started our land tour c/o Kuya Marvin or Mai (+639236389891). Guimaras Province' standard rates for this tour is P1500/max of 4 people. So sorry, no haggling for us. 

11.30 AM - THE GUIMARAS ROAD TOUR

Rock formations at Ambakan Cave.

Kicking it off is a 20 minute trek to the Balaan Bukid Shrine which gives you a fantastic panorama of the Iloilo Straight and the whole Iloilo City.

Next stop is Ambakan Falls for that cliff dive thrill. But before reaching that, we detoured at the Ambakan Cave for some short but heavy spelunking. Wait whut? But I'm in my beach wear darn it!

The trail to Balaan Bukid Shrine.

Daliran Cave is yet another cave which we decided not to purse further deep into its darkness. One has to be very prepared for Level 3-5 spelunking to pursue safely. Its mouth is a keeper nonetheless. 

Rock formations inside Daliran Cave

We ordered the infamous Mango Pizza in The Pitstop in San Miguel, the municipality where the Guimaras Provincial Capitol lies. To save time,we indulged ourselves to lunch on the way to our last destination  he day - the Guisi Point Light House. There we captured one darn priceless sunset beauty.

We plan to visit few more sites tomorrow with Kuya Mai still. We agreed that it's still  a part of our land tour but the Alubijod, Nueva Valencia to Jordan Wharf fare will be additional P100 per head. 

But that's tomorrow's story. I guess i've too much cliff dives at Amabakan that it ate much of our time. Kuya Mai said most of his guests are good to go after quite a few pictures. Well, that's not me.

The Balaan Bukid Shrine. Mass is every Friday afternoon, of course in Hiligaynon.

The clear waters of Amabakan Falls. 

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Daliran Cave Rock Formations

Daliran Cave's mouth has this magical lure. It's like you're entering a world of enchanted creatures. 

Raymen Beach Front during Sunrise.

 6.30 PM

We checked in at Rayman Beach Resort (09275605107/0918-5207271) in Alubihod, Nueva Valencia for 700/4 pax fan room. Aside from great food and amenities, one can swim at the beach at night. Their Lifeguard tower is manned until 8PM. 

8 PM

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Sinigang na Yellow Fin Tuna for dinner. And the lifetime experience of eating the Guimaras mangoes. Oops. I think i forgot t take pictures of those. Sorry, i was just too hungry then. 

Day 2  - Saturday

Another group of three touring the island agreed to be with us today for the island hopping slicing our cost to half: 400/per boat for 6 people for 2hrs. Boats are readily available for charter anywhere in the beach or in Raymen. 

6.30 AM - GUIMARAS ISLAND TOUR

We started our island hop after a light breakfast. First stop is oneof the most beautiful islets i've ever been - Ave Maria Island. We snorkeled our way to the next one - the Turtle Island. 

The next stop, is a no swimming distance.The Baras Beach. The Cave isn't passable at that time due to the tide. Bummer. So we sailed along heavy Guimaras waves to see the the Natago Island and all the way back to Alubihod cove.

9.30 AM - THE GUIMARAS ROAD TOUR

We're ready to check out after rinsing off seawater from our tans. Again we are squeezing in a couple more stops  for our travel from Nueva Valencia to Jordan Wharf. 

We had a chance to see the vast Mango Plantation and the Trappist Monastery for some pasalubongs. 

11.30 AM
Now we're ready for Iloilo. Iloilo-Jordan pump boats i believe won't be a pain. But if it helps, first trip is at 7.30AM and last trip  is at 5.30PM.

12 NN

Arriving in Iloilo City is easier this time. No nagging fixers so we easily found our way to Jolo Cathedral. Jeepneys are available in Plaza Libertad (again this is walking distance from ALL seaports) near the City hall Jaro-Wharf for P10.

Before checking out the infamous detached Bell tower, of course we had to check out the even more famous - La Paz Bachoy. Now that's a sweaty lunch. 

2 PM 

I think it's the lure of the sea ports on us. We're Bacolod bound already. 

4.30 PM

We walked from BreadCo (Weesam Terminal) to our next destination, SM Bacolod and the Pope John Paul Tower. 

5.30 PM

After scouting for a place to spend the night,we decided to take the 200/head air-con room of Sweet City Captel just across the Negros Museum and Lagoon. The room's for 8 and for a crowd of 4, it's a pretty decent deal. 

The vast mango Plantation in San Miguel Guimaras

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The Lone Bell Tower of Jaro Cathedral

7 PM

Though i'm not a fan of man-made structures, i agreed that we check out the Ruins. Any jeeps (P7) from Lacson Street bound to the North Bacolod Terminal will lead you to the corner of Carlos Hidalgo Highway (Pepsi Bottling Plant will be your Landmark) and from there, tricycles can take you directly to the Ruins. Tricycles costs a whopping P25 each and entrance fee to the Ruins is P80. 

Best thing that happened in our cost slasher Ruins trip is that we get to meet the funny tour guide Kuya Roger. He told us he'll be in GGV the next day and he really did. 

8.30 PM

One of my most awaited part of our tour finally is happening - the authentic Bacolod Inasal experience in Manokan Country. Aida's Place deserved it's high reviews i tell you.

9.30 PM

I can't believe that at 20 something we are capping off the night with sweets instead of booze. But i would prefer indulging in Calea's Cakes than being the handsome Manilenyo in pubs of Bacolod that Saturday night. These cakes are heavenly. Like a round of applause with a 15 minute standing ovation as we wrap up our BIG trip. 

DAY 3 - Sunday

Tiger flies to Bacolod only once a day. So an early flight to means an early flight home.

5.30 AM

I don't want to end our BIG trip on a bad note but North Bacolod Terminal doesn't have jeepneys yet that early to Silay. We have to charter a tricycle for P50/head to the airport. 

6.30 AM

And no, this airport is not done slicing my money off - that's P200 terminal fee. Oh well. I've had too may great memories about this trip and i'm not letting this little airport ruin it. 

How about piyaya and biscocho for breakfast before heading home.   

________________________
Hey i'm on Twitter and IG:
@rome_john