Twin Lakes at Sibulan, Negros

While waiting for our rescheduled boat trip, we decided to drop by Sibulan. We figured that since we were already at Dumaguete with around 5 hours to waste, witnessing the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao would be worth our while.

The one-hour route from Dumaguete was     around 90% paved road. A lot of road construction was going on so future tourists can expect better roads. Halfway through the trip, the steep climb starts. The marker for this ascent are the white lamp posts by the coastal road. There is a signage at the left side indicating that you are 13.5 kilometers away from the Twin Lakes. 

After around 12 kilometers from the highway, you stop at the Visitor's Center where you pay around Php 20 per person.

A habal-habal motorcycle ride from the corner with the signage costs around Php 150-200 one way. Be sure to arrange for a return ride. 

The view of the lake is scenic and expansive. It also evokes a relaxing feel while you sit on one of the rocks or cottages. 

There are row boats and kayaks that can take you around the lake at Php 250. If you need to go to the other lake, Lake Danao, you need to take this boat, get off on the other side, and take a short hike. The boatman said that Lake Danao is smaller but much deeper that the 106-meter depth of Lake Balinsasayao. 

An interesting side trip, also via the row boat is the Olayan Falls. Upon getting off from the boat, you walk 100 meters to a short and small falls. But don't get me wrong. Despite it's height and size it is a beautiful falls with very clear and cool waters. I think the clarity of the water is because the falls is made of very solid igneous-like rocks. Swimming in it makes the experience private and restorative. 

A restaurant is available near the entrance of this tourist spot. Combo Meals, like silogs, are reasonably priced at Php 40-50. There, you enjoy your meal with the cool breeze and a view of the Balinsasayao Lake. 

Summing this travel experience, we were happy to have taken this trip to the Twin Lakes. We were initially hesitant to go to this destination because we read mixed reviews about the place. If you are looking for a commercialized and fully-developed tourist destination, you might come in disappointed as those who wrote negative reviews about the place. But I think a large majority of tourists would definitely find the place a good retreat from the busy life of the city. The caretakers of the place shared that campers are allowed to set up their tent for an overnighter. 

Isla del Fuego: Siquijor

Travel from Mandaue City to Santander on a private car is a 2.5-hour drive. If your driving speed is average, you could probably factor in an additional 30 minutes. We boarded a roll-on roll-off ferry at the Liloan port in Santander. The boat trip docks in 30-45 minutes. 

We then transferred to the Dumaguete City Port to board the Montenegro Line for the 2-hour trip towards the Larena Port of Siquijor. From there, we proceeded to where we were staying. 

The Charisma Beach Resort is a nice place to stay if your pet is tagging along with you since the owner is also a pet lover. This was great news for me since I brought my dog with me. They have three in-house dogs. One of the dogs does not take a liking to my dog, though. Hehe. It has a decent-sized pool adjacent to a small kiddie pool and the rooms are clean. 

After checking in, our first tourist spot was the oldest Balete Tree in Siquijor. An interesting addition are the doctor fish in the spring that nibble on the dead skin cells of your feet. The feel of the fish on the skin was expectedly tickling yet surprisingly relaxing. There was no fee collected but any amount of donation will do.

We then stopped at an old church in Lazi before going to the Cambugahay Falls. A parking space was available. There are around 135 steps going down to the falls. This we knew because a group of local tourist help informed us after they welcomed us. 

The falls is composed of several tiers. We  only went up to the second level, swam for a few minutes, then went to the bottom level to try the tarzan jump. You did the jump by swinging on a branch and then letting go to plunge 5 feet into the cool water. There were no cottages or stools at where we were staying. Refreshments are available by the parking lot. 

Dinner was by the bridge at a place called Lalao (pronounced Lala-o) where the sunset by the beach provided a magnificent backdrop. 

The name of the store is Black Belt Grill. I was unable to ask why the name. Their barbecue tastes good and price is affordable. It's just a very small sari-sari store but, surprisingly, have a fast wifi connection! Way to go for a convenience store! They also attended to us very well. They only grill in the evening but they accommodated our advanced order for barbecue for pickup 9AM the following day for our packed lunch. 

Day 2 started by leaving the resort at 9AM, picking up the barbecue, and going  to Salagdoong Beach Resort. Travel time to the resort is at 45 minutes.  Cottage is at Php100 and guests are allowed to bring their own food without corkage. The beach is clean and the water is really clear. Kayaks are for rent at Php150 per kayak per hour. There is also a restaurant where you can order food at reasonable prices. There is also a slide that drops you to the sea as well as jumping boards that are around 20 feet high. They have a pool but it's currently being repaired as of this writing. This is a recommended beach destination in Siquijor. 

On the way home, we dropped by Capilay's Spring Park. It's not hard to miss because it's right by the side of the road. In the middle part, there's a makeshift stage right across the expanse of the width of the spring. The toilets are dirty and smelly, though. I don't know if it's always the case or it was just that day we visited. There's a karaoke station near the tourist center.  

Right before Capilay Spring, we happened to pass by a Firefly Sanctuary. But because it was still bright and early too see the fireflies, we decided to give it a pass. A short conversation with the owner made us know that the fireflies in her sanctuary is a different species from the others in the Philippines because it thrives near salt water and the larva even lights up at night. The best viewing months, according to her, are from November to January when most fireflies are seen. Entrance fee is Php100. This is much reasonable compared to Php700 in Bohol and Php1,500 in Palawan, again according to the owner. When you enter the sanctuary, a dog will bark but don't worry since it's leashed. :-)

Dinner on Day 2 was again at our 'suking tindahan' Black Belt Grill. Service was consistently great and the sunset was splendid! 

There was a resort that we missed to visit. The name is Infinity Heights and it was recommended by a couple of friends because it offers a great view from the mountain. 

Overall, Siquijor offers great tourist spots just like any other province in the Philippines. The food and accommodation scene could still be improved. If you are a backpacker and do not need the luxury of 3- to 5-star accommodation, you will be at home in Siquijor.