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. 

Crispy Pata Overload

It has been two years since I've tasted the succulent Crispy Pata of Alejandro's. So when my barkada decided to join the Trivia Night this Wednesday, I couldn't help but get excited --- for the pata.

I didn't know they transferred already. As I've said, it has been two years. After being lost, we finally ordered this dish. And it never fails. Up to now.

It does justice to the word 'crispy' unlike other presumptuous patas in town. But when you put it in your mouth, the meat is so tender. The soy sauce, which I believe is laced with sugar, is a perfect complement. Yum!

All in a Bus Ride

Going solo on a trip can be a liberating experience. You feel like you are a free soul out to conquer the world. Okay, that may be a bit overrated. But those who have the adventurous spirit do agree that it makes us go beyond the confines of our homes and our comfort zones.

Unfortunately, for every joy in travelling, there appears to be every opportunity for life to throw punchlines at me. The bus ride, for example. On this sojourn to Bantayan to meet up with my family, who went ahead on a vacation, I have made up with list of tips for the solo riders like me. Here they are:

1) Scout for the best seat. Taking a bus ride is like choosing a class schedule. You would want to get the best seat which is very comfortable and convenient for you. If you plan on napping while on the trip, do not take the back seats. You'll end up feeling like you've been placed inside a blender. If you like fresh air, the window seat in a non-aircon bus is for you. If you feel like going to the bathroom every bus stop and would not want to inconvenience your seat mates, choose an aisle seat. For those like me who prefer a non-aircon bus, please make sure those in front of you do not have mouths like squirt guns who spew spit. Otherwise, you'd end up closing the window just like what I did.

2) Use your bag as a psychological barrier and pretend you're asleep. You will never know who might share a seat with you. I am definitely not an asocial person but if there are still other seats, then I'd rather that the rest of the passengers take them. There is just something in a bus that makes you meet difficult sorts of people. There's the inconsiderate seat mate who thinks the bus is an extension of his living room and opens his legs apart as wide as possible and then you feel like your stuck in a rut you can't get out of. Or one who thinks you're an armrest or a head cushion and start dozing off on you. Of course, when the bus is packed, be considerate and get your bag unless you want to pay for that other seat.

3) Bring in-ear phones and a music player. This is if you prefer to be autistic like me and exist in your own world. Or when you want to avoid strangling the rooster and its owner who is sitting just behind you. During this trip, I had the misfortune of experiencing this. For the remaining hour or so, all I could do was to decipher an equation that could explain the frequency of the rooster's crows. And it was like every 8.75 wheel rotations! At the rate of 80 kilometers per hour, guess how many times it crows in  a minute! I wanted to up the volume of my iPod and sink the earphones down into my anvils, hammers, and stirrups.

4) Be your own storyteller or scriptwriter. If you feel like you've been riding your entire life and you haven't reached your destination, perk up your mind a bit. Make up your own epic saga using the passengers as your characters in the story. This is a habit I learned when I was still in college where I had to commute three to four hours everyday. The passenger in front of you could be the king and all of you are riding your way to a war to defend your kingdom. In this journey, I am the kingdom's scribe and was tasked to immortalize this quest through a war journal. And then... wait! What's that? A rooster crowing! Then I imagined a shaman sitting behind me ready to slay the sacrificial rooster to ensure victory. I wondered what I could do to be the shaman so I could put the rooster out of its misery.

You see, a bus ride on your own could be a disaster. But it could also be fun. Every now and then, I  smile to myself as I made up these rules and dumb stories. I know I sound quite weird doing these things. But aren't we all. These are just a few tips to make your bus ride more interesting.

As for me, this is the end of my ride. I can't wait to join my family in Bantayan. And wait! What's that again? A rooster crowing. Now, I'm thinking of 101 ways to dress a chicken. When I get to the island, the first thing I'm going to eat is any dish with chicken as the main ingredient!


I bought a ticket then got aboard the boat. Puera Bisita!!!

Bruno Mars Throws a Grenade in Cebu and Manila

With the release of Bruno Mars' new track Grenade, he throws another mind-blowing news for us Filipinos. This  artist of Puerto Rican and Filipino descent is set to blast 2 Philippine stages on the following dates:

• April 7, 2011     Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino
• April 8, 2011     SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds

Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, is nominated for seven Grammys at the 53rd Grammy Awards slated on February 13, 2011. This self-admitted Elvis Presley fan explains that he got his stage name Bruno from the nick name his father called him since he was a chubby little child who looked like a famous chubby wrestler with the same name. He continues that "I felt like I didn't have no pizzazz and a lot of girls say I'm out of this world so I was like 'I guess I'm from Mars'."

I'll post the ticket prices and other developments as soon as they're out. For the meantime, let's listen to his hit song Just the Way You Are.

Cebu Band, Front Act for Gin Blossoms

Sharing the stage with internationally renowned alternative band Gin Blossoms comes once in not just one but two blue moons.

To all school bands from Metro Cebu, you better beat the November 5 deadline. Here are the mechanics for the search of this lucky band.

1. Open to all school bands from Metro Cebu.
2. Bands must submit an endorsement letter from the School Student Affairs/Registrar/Principal to certify school affiliation of band members.
3. Must submit Demo CD with at least two (2) songs on or before the 5th of November 2010 to KILLER BEE STUDIOS (Covers or Original).
4. Must Sing-A-Like Gin Blossoms.
5. KILLER BEE will head the band selection.
6. Ten (10) bands will qualify for the BAND ELIMINATION on November 13, 2010.
7. Only one band will win the front act gig on 11.20.10 plus Php20,000 CASH PRIZE and Php1,000 for non-winning bands.
8. For more details, call 032-2541046 or email taggedevents@yahoo.com.

Deadline of entries is in less than a week. Better start recording your entries now!

Gin Blossoms Live in Cebu

Here's a band that I and my generation can relate to. Talk of 90s music and Gin Blossoms is sure to come up in the list of top bands. Who can't say that songs such as As Long As It Matters, 'Til I Hear It From You, and Hey Jealousy weren't part of their growing up years.

This concert is already confirmed and will happen on November 20, 2010 at the concert destination in town --- Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. The event starts at 8PM. Tickets are sold at Php 2500, 2000, 1350, 1000, and 600. You may call (032) 232 6888 and have yourself connected to the ticketing office.

This is a concert people of my YOUNG age wouldn't want to miss. ;O)  See you guys!

Here's a little something from Gin Blossoms. A trip down memory lane...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZK23sxkpk0&ob=av2e