Thank you BIG !

Simply Bacolod - Ilo-ilo - Guimaras...

TRAVEL

We, the YL Club, booked our ticket to Bacolod roughly August last year via Cebu Pacific Air (www.cebupacificair.com). With less preparations and lots of prayers, we managed to enjoy our three days three nights vacation in Western Visayas.

The Schedule was:
June 12 night - arrival at Bacolod
June 13 - Mambukal Resort
June 14 - Guimaras, via Ilo-ilo
June 15 afternoon - Arrival at Manila

Luckily, we were so safe and blessed all through out our travel. Praise the Lord! (PTL!) Filipinos are hospitable at any parts of the country. We do not have any contact person, or any reservations to any hotel, but we were able to enjoy everything - find a good place to stay, nice weather to go around, kind people to ask, and yummy food to eat.

I never expected that there was a LPA affecting Manila during weekend. And so, apologies to our parents who almost stop us from going to Bacolod! But we're back and I'm blogging now so I think they don't have to worry anymore. hihi!

FOOD



Bacolod was known for its Inasal (inihaw in tagalog). Unlike here in Manila, they use native chicken, which are marinated for hours before grilling. They serve not only the usual chicken part (pecho, paa, pakpak), they also have inasal na liog (neck),  baticolon (gizzard), and others. Near SM Bacolod, there you can find a food strip of inasal vendors. Alam mong malapit ka na kasi maaamoy mo yung Inasal. (Hmm.... still can't get over it!) Amazing that at Aida's Inasal, they placed sinks at the center of the dining area, so you can wash your hands and eat nagkakamay. Sa sobrang sarap, naka 1.5 garlic rice ako!! No doubt, Inasal was at best when you are in Bacolod!


When it comes to pasalubong, there are many famous stores around the city like Bongbong's and Merci. Most of the delicacies are butterscotch, barquillos, piaya, tarts, muscovado sugar, and barqueron. Merci offers 10% dicount on their pasalubong products for foreign and local visitors. Just show them your plane ticket! (wink!)

Presenting, the Orginal La Paz Batchoy! Before we proceed to Guimaras, we headed first to Ilo-ilo. There's no way to miss the original batchoy. It's the same as Pares in Manila because of the little sweet taste. Nonetheless, it was way too good. One thing more, the food here is affordable! Di sila matipid sa chicharon at lamangloob! haha.

Guimaras is known for its sweet mangoes. The rule says, you can bring home as many mangoes as you like, but you cannot bring mangoes INTO Guimaras. (Tama naman.) We saw hectares of mango trees on our way to Alubihod Beach. Sadly, I don't have pictures of mangoes in Guimaras. Ironic huh!?

ACTIVITY

Bacolod

1. Relax and enjoy the steaming hot sulfur springs and cool wide swimming pool at Mambukal Resort. You can also enjoy other amenities like camping, butterfly garden viewing, kayaking, wall climbing, and zip line riding.

2. Food tripping - Bacolod is rich with food establishments to fill your apetite  from chicken inasal to cakes and sweets!

3. Visit tour at their museum, city hall, and churches.

4. Jog around the park near the City Hall, they have free aerobics music playing around the Park.

Guimaras

1. Love their white sand beaches and dip into their bluegreen ocean

2. Island hopping includes educational tour to marine preservation, pawikan viewing, circling around caves, and visit to Virgin Mary Grotto in the middle of the sea.

3. Humbly pray on the Trappist Monastery.

4. Mango rush! Dried mangoes, fresh mangoes, mango shake, mango tart - name it Guimaras have it!

TRANSPORTATION

From Silay Airport, you have the option to ride taxi (P450) or Shuttle Service (P150/ea) going to Bacolod City. From there, you can simply ride jeepneys, pedicabs, taxis to take you to your hotel or around the City.

To Mambukal Resort, you have to go first to Libertad Public Market, ride a mini bus going to Mambukal (p35/ea). The travel usually takes 1 to 2 hours.

The port of Ilo-ilo bound fast craft ferries is located near SM Bacolod. You may simply take a taxi ride to get there. Ferry fare costs Php500+ to and from Iloilo. (cheaper than what we thought)

Guimaras is only 40 mins away from Ilo-ilo port. Php14 fare for the boat going to Jordan Wharf. From there, you can choose between Mini Cab (like jeepneys in Bacolod) for Php450 or Tricycle for Php250 going to Raymen Beach Resort. Island hopping costs Php500 for the first hour and Php150 for the succeeding hours. The island hopping takes 3 hours maximum.
For references, please see contact numbers of friendly and accomodating Pinoys who contributed to our happy stay in Visayas:

Kuya Lowell
Cell no.: 0906 7793166
Bacolod City Taxi Driver

Kuya Vic
Cell no.: 0930 4503263
Iloilo City Taxi Driver

Vian              
Tel no. (034) 4333377
Pension Bacolod Inn

Kuya Domeng
Cell No. 0919 9289302
Guimaras Multi-cab

Ate Maria Fe
Cell. No. 0927 5605107
www.raymenresort.com
Raymen Beach Resort
Alubihod, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
That's all for now. And all is offered to Him. PTL!

Your travel buddy, now signing off!

xoxo,
arabella