Bacolod - Nature Trip at Negros Occidental

Bacolod Trip with my Colleagues -- July 29 - Aug 1, 2011

Bacolod - City of SMILE 

Negros Occidental - Sugar Capital in the Philippines

This is another budget fare via Zest Air - Round-trip Manila-Bacolod-Manila is PHP490

5 of us were ahead of 1 day among the rest - I am with 2 couples

spent our 1st night in Bacolod City at Check Inn

Check Inn is located at the heart of Bacolod City - mins. of walk away from SM Ciy Bacolod, Plaza, Cathedral, and accessible to all traspo 

their rates is very cheap -- but do not expect much

Standard Single = PHP500

Standard Double = PHP800 

I can say that their rooms are decent enough to stay atleast for overnight

Day 2 - City Tour - Mambukal Mountain Resort

We're up so early to roam around Bacolod City. Places that are few walks away from the hotel.





Pope John Paull II Tower

And finally meet the whole gang at The Ruins!

after The Ruins .... 

we pigged out at Bacolod Chicken House to taste their authentic chicken inasal!

  and to our final destination for that day.... Mambukal Mountain Resort

Mambukal Mountain Resort Cottage - we've got 2 big cottage for 16 pax -- 

 PHP1500/Room/Night

Day 3: Mambukal Mountain Resort - Trek to see the 7 falls

the 1st and 2nd falls

the 3rd and 6th falls

We're not able to see the 4th and the 5th falls because it is not passable due to landslide...

so we went ahead to see the 7th falls

And FINALLY!

The 7th Falls

And we enjoyed dipping on the 7th falls...the water is soooo cold!

this is my first time to trek...and first time to get close with nature... I was really overwhelmed by everything I witnessed there.... from the lush green forest...to the fresh spring water....the 7 falls!

I consider this as my best NATURE Trip of all!

From the Moutain of Mambukal.... we went back to the City 

We got our Hotel Room from Kundutel Hotel

 

We've our Room at PHP1400 - Family room good for 3 - not bad - cheap but decent

in total we've got 2 family rooms and 2 deluxe rooms for the couples

see their Room Rates

Kundutel lobby and Front Desk

and we pigged out again to the best chicken inasal in town.at Manokan Country

 

 

 Bacolod's Best Tasting Chicken Inasal @ Manokan Country

After the pigging out at Manokan Country-since we are all tired, we went back to Kundutel to get some rest. 

 We get all get up late a night because we are all starving.... 

we decided to go out and find something to eat!

...and eventually enjoyed few bottles of Tanduay Ice and Beer

at MO2 just right across Kundutel.

DAY 4: FINALE

our last day - I actually booked a new flight to extend my stay - my original flight back to Manila is Sunday July 31st.  But since I would like to extend the FUN - I booked another return flight via Airphil Express for PHP980

We're up for Pasalubong Shopping!

 Bongbongs Pasalubong - where we got our box of goodies

 and the mouth-watering Napoleones of Pendys
(Note: you have to contact Pendy's early morning if you are going to get a box/boxes of Napoleones ....they don't entertain walk-ins specially for bulk orders.)

and I went ahead of them since my flight is 2 hours earlier than the rest....

and sooo I missed their lunch at Pala-Pala where the pigged out on fresh seafood!

Truly this trip is the best one! I would love to have a close encounter to Nature 

and try all the best tasting foods!

Overall - It cost me less than PHP5000 - for this trip - that already includes my airfare, hotel, food, pasalubong and all others. Not bad, right!?

 

Macau - A quick Tour

 I really had a short.... actually a quick trip to Macau --

 From our Guest House it only 10 mins walk going to China Ferry Terminal going to Macau

I'm not sure how much it cost for an hour ferry ride going to Macau -- I guess it was like 160HKD for 1 way fare

These are the only few shots I've captured from Macau 

 We took a shuttle from the Terminal going to The Venetian Macao- for FREE 

(all shuttles are for FREE actually)

We stayed there for a while, but no camera is allowed inside the casino. 

And unfortunately - I had to leave him there since I have a flight to catch going back to Manila that night 

(his flight is in the morning)

 more shots along the way

 

Ferry going back to Hongkong

From Macau - I was suppose to take a ferry going straight to HK Airport for my 9:45PM flight to Manila --- but unfortunately the ferry going to HK Airport was delay that time from 7:30PM it was change to 8:30PM and I will not be able to catch my flight even if I go with 8:30PM ferry.... so I didn't gamble! 

What I did is - I stayed there for a while -- thinking if I'll go back at The Venetian to see him again, but the problem was, our phones is not working there so I thought that going back to him is not a good option  plus I am really T I R E D!

So I made up my mind - I took another ferry going back to HongKong - back to the Guest House

(Yes- because he's going back to HongKong as well - but very late at night)

And when I was in the room... everything sank into my head... 
....that I had to inform my boss
...that I am not coming to work
I am supposed to report to work from the airport that night! Darn!

another thing that hurts me....
is to book a new ticket back to Manila which cost me more that my round-trip ticket! As in OMG! I had NO CHOICE anyways.

When he went back to the Hotel from Macau around 2am -- he was shocked when he found me there in bed sleeping! hahaha

His flight was 9AM in the morning --- and my new flight is 8PM 
via Cebu Pacific = PHP5200 -HK-Manila
so he had no choice but to leave me in the Hotel that morning.

What an experience!? It was FUN but really Memorable one! hahaha

HongKong - Dora goes International

Hongkong with Macau side trip - June 5-9, 2011

This was a long planned trip.  I initially booked my flight April, but something happened so I had to move it to this month.
 DMIA-HK-DMIA via Tiger Airlines = PHP4600+ all in
Philtranco Shutte from Megamall-Clark DMIA = PHP400

HongKong - it's always a dream for me or for everybody I guess to visit HK - 


 main reason is to visit HongKong Disneyland! 

We checked-in at Golden Crown Guest House located along Nathan Rd.




busy street of Nathan Rd.

Golden Crown Guest House - HK$380/night for De Luxe Double

DAY 1 -  Avenue of the Stars
10 minutes walk from the guest house

 


and witnessed the Symphony of Lights along Victoria Harbour


 

Went back there on my last day for another picture taking. :)

Day 2 - HongKong Disneyland

HK$320/head - discounted ticket we bought from the guest house (original cost is HK$350)

We have spent the whole day here - under the bright sunny sky where I got my tan!

One thing I like about HongKong is their Transit, from Buses, Trains, and Ferry's - they are all neat and organized.

  We've got a 35HKD each for a 1 day pass/ticket for their MTR going everywhere.

The black marked circle is few steps away from the guest house

we both enjoyed HongKong Disneyland - we watched several Disney Shows and enjoy the rides all we want....
and our last ride is the MOST memorable and shocking ride of my life --- a
 ride to SPACE Mountain!

(its like an indoor roller coaster ride - but its all dark inside as if you are in the outer space! and we are on the front seat!)

Day 3 - The Peak

My supposed to be FINAL day in Hongkong -- we're up a bit early this day - because there are still several places we would like to see, and our first stop....

 
For us to get there... we experienced riding on the The Peak Tram -- which is really cool! 

We only get the The Peak Tram and Sky pass ticket which cost  65HKD




 view from the elevator going UP 
 
of course a picture of me and The Peak in my background

THE PEAK - view from VICTORIA Harbor using my 30X optical zoom camera - shot before we left for Macau

From The Peak - there is no time for all other places....because he wants to see MACAU!

 China Ferry Terminal - going to Macau

....and so we go! (see on my next post)