Life's Journey of Lakwatserang Makikay

Our last overseas travel with my friend and my significant other proved to be a new experience. We encountered a lot of situations and moments wherein on some part made us unprepared despite the five months notice upon our departure. Whatever situations we encountered I am glad that our recent trip will make us a more savvy traveler.

Travel in Style!

Here are some of my lessons learned during our overseas travel:

1. Always assume that you need extra baggage allowance after an overseas trip.With all the trips and shopping you encountered while traveling can accumulate extra stuff in your baggage. Always make space for pasalubongs, souvenirs and all the shopping items you bought especially if you are a shopaholic like me :P



2. Always maintain a budget for your travel. Make sure you don't exceed or try to cut down the estimated costs of your trip by getting packaged promos on the Internet or on travel services. Also, set aside an emergency funds in case something happens.

3. Before departing, make sure you bring all necessary documents you need to present to the Phil. Immigration especially if you are going to hot-spot areas like Singapore and Malaysia. They tend to ask you for your company ID and some even their certificate of employment. Also take note of the place where you are going to stay and the hotel confirmation to present during the screening.

Don't forget this when traveling!

4. Check the temperature of the place! This is our biggest lessons learned in Hongkong! We thought that since it was summer here in the Philippines, the climate in Hongkong would be the same. We are soooo wrong! We ended up buying winter stuffs since it was very cold during early morning and late at night. When we got to our place it was bitingly cold even you're wearing an ordinary jacket.



5. Do research the places you are going to visit. Also, be mindful of tourist spots during weekends. Some tourist spots tends to increase their fees during weekends because of tourist demands and some tend to filled up since most tourists are free during weekends. If you can manage to go on tourist spots on weekdays, do it to avoid large crowds and large photo-bummers. :D

6. Take advantage of the free maps and brochures given at the airport lounges and tourist information centers. Most maps and travel brochures found on airport and tourist information centers are free! (Except here in the Philippines :P) Some travel brochures suggests off-beaten tracks that are also worthy of visits. Maps is a huge help when you don't have Android or Iphones with you to navigate.




7. Never scrimp yourself on food. I hear a lot of overseas travelers who cuts down their food budget and living on buying foods at 711 and fastfoods such as Mcdonalds. Always remember that part of your travel is to introduce yourself to gastronomic delights that the country has to offer. Find places where you can avail local foods at reasonable prices. Check maps and brochures for suggestions.

8. Always bring spare cameras, batteries and memory cards. For cam-whores like me, one camera is not enough to capture all great places and moments. Make sure all of you has spare cameras especially if you are going to maximize your day tours. You never know what you're going to see or capture if you run out of batteries.



9. Never TRUST ANYONE! Don't make small talk with strangers you don't know (even if they are Pinoy). Don't tell them your itinerary or where you stay to avoid being followed or harassed. If your original plan is just the three of you to travel, then stick to your plan. If anyone wants to join, don't let them in. You might never know their intentions. Be safe always

10. Never take for granted that since overseas location are safer than the Philippines. Always put a presence of mind. Lock the doors of your hotel and make sure that the hotel receptionists know your whereabouts in case something happen. Also take note of emergency numbers listed in tourist information centers. Keep your passport with you all the time and produce scanned copies of your passport and IDs.

11. Never allow anyone to make "pabilin" with you. Even they are kind-hearted OFWs do not trust anyone who asks favor to put additional stuff in your luggage. Make sure you keep an eye on your luggage and belongings. With these times, you can never be sure who to trust.

12. Check your hotel and its neighboring places. Make sure that the hotel and accommodations you picked is safe and legitimate. You can check out the hotel feedbacks using Agoda.com and Tripadvisor.com for useful comments on the place and location of your stay.

Last year, I recently tried out going out of the Philippines for more travel experience and it was a very fun and an eye-opener for me. The countries I had visited gave me new experience and realizations. I've been introduced to different culture, systems, places and historical information that I used to see only in travel channels such as Discovery Travel and Living and National Geographic. Part of my entries in my travel blog is not only to introduce different beautiful places in the Philippines but also it's neighboring countries and my other memorable travel experience that helped me improve and learn a lot.

Some of the things I observed while being out of the country are:

1. Pinoys tend to do follow rules and policies abroad. But when it comes on our own country, we go back to our undisciplined selves

2. I still love the Philippine beaches. Nothing beats it!

3. There is a different kind of exhilarating experience when you get to the other side of the world.

4. You always wish Philippines would be just like the countries you visited. Clean, safe and full of disciplined people

5. Each country has its own distinction. Enjoy and savor the moment of your stay and make most out of it.

Last January 2012, as part of our itinerary for our Travel the Panay Island trip, me and my friends decided to have a day tour in Bacolod city and visit some of the neighboring towns like Silay and Talisay City. Visiting the province on a day trip proved to be very short and very bitin. We haven't even tried all famous restaurants and cafes within the province (which I promise we will be visiting Bacolod again). I think we still need one more day to savor and squeeze in all activities. This won't be my last visit in Bacolod. ;)

Our quickie itinerary to Bacolod:

1. We left Iloilo city around 6:00am and catch the 7:30am schedule for Supercat Fastcraft. The traveling time from Iloilo City to Bacolod city is one hour and fifteen minutes. Also, there is a promo for fastcraft ferries. You can avail the return fares and can be used within the year. It can save you almost thirty to forty percent of your fare when you avail the promo return tickets

SuperCat!

Pre-Departure Area while boarding for Bacolod

2. Arrived at Bacolod around 9:00am. Rode the "traysikad" from the port up to SM City Bacolod and then catch a jeep going to Silay City.

SM City Bacolod

Sugar cane trucks are common sites in Negros highways

Old houses in Silay

Old vs. Modern infrastructure in Silay

3. First stop: Silay City. Known for its famous Spanish architectures and arts across the town. There are different old museum houses across the town. Some of the places we visited:

The Town Plaza

Silay City Hall

     3.1. San Diego Parish Church
 

The beautiful church

Inside the church

The way to the altar

The Dome

 
     3.2. Balay Negrense - an old houses that belongs to sugar baron during the Spanish era houses old artifacts, photographs and furnitures. You need to pay a forty pesos entrance fee to visit the house.


















     3.3. Hofilena Heritage House - owned by Manuel Hofilena, this house is a guided tour. According to our tour guide, Gilbert during peak times, you need to book / schedule your visit to the house. Since we went there on Monday we were accomodated and guided in the house. It houses different expensive artworks from known Filipino artists such as Amorsolo, Luna, Malang and even Rizal. There are also artworks from famous Spanish artist Goya.

The Hofilena Heritage House

The Sala

Receiving Area

The antique grand staircase

Antique Religious Icons

Antique Religious Icons of the Poor

Carved saint in antique wood

First comics

Tektite stones

The kitchen

The Grand dining area

Sinaunang Banga and the toy horse

Antique china ware

The front

4. Visit Talisay City. From Silay City, we rode a jeep going to Talisay. Once we were at the terminal, we hired a taxi that would take us to the Ruins. It was a good decision since there are no tricycles around the Ruins and it was located at the middle of sugar plantation in Talisay. The structure resembles Italian architecture and it was built for the wife of owner as a symbol of their love. It was razed to the ground by USAFE during World War 2 fearing that the house will be used by Japanese as a storage for ammunition and other supplies.













5. Going back from Talisay to Bacolod City. Quick sight seeing of Bacolod provincial capitol and wait for our boarding time back to Iloilo City.



Additonal detours: While in Silay, we were looking for an affordable lunch before heading to Talisay City. It was recommended to us to visit Golden Food park. The food was delicious and very affordable :) 




When I return to Negros, I will try these:

1. Visit the Bacolod Capitol. Due to time constraint we weren't able to drop by at the provincial capitol since we are catching the last trip of fastcraft at around 5:00pm in the afternoon.

2. Try cheesecakes and coffee at Calea. A friend of mine from Bacolod recommend me to try their affordable and yummy cheesecakes and coffee :)

3. Go to Mambukal Spring Resort. Visit their hotspring and have and overnight stay here.

4. Try going to Bacolod via plane. I will do this after squeezing this in my schedule and the next piso fare promo

5. Go to other towns in Negros Occidental such as Victorias and Pontevedra.