Thursday, June 30, 2011
Jeom sim mokhaesesoyo
Applying for SSS Card
friendly all the while.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Sugarland D2 Check Inn RM 305
D2 Check Inn RM 305
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
Taxi meter from Villa Monte to Luzuriaga St reads P68. I gave the driver P80 as I only have 4 20s and do not have enough change to cover the exact amount. Neither does he have change, didn't want to demand or argue about it anyway.
We went straight to the Inn's lobby and informed the receptionist about our reservation. She had us checked in Room 305, I gave her P1K bill. She doesn't have enough bills for my change so she asked me if its ok if we'll pick it up later. I just said ok and then she handed me the keys and a receipt with the same amount.
Time Check, 2:10PM. We relieved ourselves of our heavy bags and inspected the room. Tekeng immediately turned on the AC, I checked the shower. Yey, warm water!
tbc..
Sugarland Day 1 Lakawon Island Resort
D2 Lakawon Island
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
For P2,200 a night (room only), we got the Sunrise III room. We didn't avail of the aircon which would've cost an additional P800. Later that night, an industrial fan was delivered to our room. Windows with screen supplied ample ventilation minus the mosquitoes. I still requested for a coil of repellent and was provided accordingly. Pillows are firm and clean enough but the sheets has stains on them. No towels were provided. We used water from the faucet for bathing but we used bottled water for brushing. No water heater. As the island runs on gas generator, availability of electricity depends on the number of guests spending overnight. Normally, power is on at 6PM and out by 10PM. Should you decide to bring your own food, you'd have to pay P50 corkage fee per meal. But you know we like hot of the pan meals so we just ordered in.
Honestly, for the price we paid, I felt we were shortchanged. The massage was well worth the price though as its about 90mins of hilot, deep-tissue kind.
From reviews and forums I've read that there are other better resort south of Negros but it'll take 4hours or so to reach them. Next time I hope we can visit the Coral Reef (?) which I think is also about 1hr drive from Bacolod.
Cost:
P600.00 - Boat Fare Round trip
P2,200.00 - Sunrise III Room Rate No A/C
P370.00 - Dinner
P290.00 - Breakfast
P66.00 - Service Charge
P600.00 - Massage
----------------------
P3,526.00
Sugarland Day 2 Lunch at Lord Byrons Baby Back Ribs
D2 Lunch at Lord Byrons Baby Back Ribs
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
For P150, you get a generous slice of juicy, freshly cooked meat complete with rice and achara. Read about it from PEX Bacolod thread. Ah I did not remember about making reservations though it was mentioned in Mama Cook blog.
Tekeng said it's worth the trip. It made me miss pigging out with O at Sizzler's (Glorietta). I wouldn't really go back to Bacolod for the ribs alone though :p But if you're already there, why not, chocnut?!
Cost:
P300 - 2 Ribs Meal @P150
P45 - 1 Sprite and 2 Coke @P15
---------------
P345
Side kwento: After our meal, we asked their staff who asked another guy about commuting to Luzuriaga St. He may have been Lord Byron himself. In the middle of their exchange I politely butted in so I can ask him and he can directly tell me the way. He smiled and told me, "Mag taxi na lang kayo." Ah ok, I said.
I felt a little bit insulted or ridiculed as to why I haven't thought of that?! I wanted to shout to him, "You see here mister. We are on a strict budget and I wanted to blog about doing this trip ala-cowboy or travel around local-style."
After taking a few steps, with the heat of the sun and heavy luggage taking toll on me, we hailed a cab and head on to Luzuriaga.
Lord Byron, kamsahamnida!
Sign you should resign
Happiness is going back to work with a warm tummy despite having soaking wet feet.
Oh, did I mention my roast pork bam-i and vietnamese coffee are FREE?!
Sugarland Day 2 - In transit to Bacolod
D2 Lakawon Island
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
Time check, 9:55AM. Via Jewel, the same boat as yesterday, we remained dry and set foot back to Viejo Port.
Tricycle are available at the port. I'm not sure who called for him but Tatang was waiting for us. He took us back to Martinez Terminal to ride a bus bound to Bacolod City. I asked him the fare to which he replied, same as yesterday, P150. Hmm.. I think not as I paid P140 before :p I'm feeling the generous tourist vibe here so I gave him what he asked for anyway.
Time check, 10:29AM. Mistake No. 3, we did not ride the Ceres Bus Line. I guess for the budget conscious this is a bonus as we paid half of the bus fare for P35 each. The tradeoff, longer travel time. It took forever before we arrived in Bacolod. I figured it'll be lunch by time we get there. I asked the conductor where to stop and what to ride as we're headed to Monte Villa. It was past twelve already, I caught sight of Robinson's Supermarket from my left. The conductor told us to alight the bus, cross the street and from the corner ride the a trike for P7 each.
The ever prepared me did not print the comments in my guide sheet where I put the address. I confidently told the tricycle driver, "Lord Byron's po, Monte Vista." For a second there he seemed confused but proceeded anyways. We saw a sign that says "TAKEOUT Lord Byron's Famous Baby Back Ribs" beside a car wash. Manong said there's another Lord Byron's inside the village at the back of the court blah blah. So we trusted him and he did bring us there. I asked him to wait for us and for how much. He said, "kayo na po ang bahala".
There were a lot of seats available, two groups are currently enjoying themselves with their lunch. The staff approaced us and asked us our orders. So we told him two baby back ribs to which he replied, "Ubos na po. By reservation po kasi pag baby back ribs." or something like that. In the end we had to leave. A little pissed off (as I have a big hole in my tummy already, not to mention the heat), I asked him about the takeout counter we saw earlier. He confirmed that ribs are indeed available there. So off we went back to the takeout stall.
I gave the tricycle driver P40 (remember he didn't wait long) when normally it would have been P28. He said, "P50 po". Sheesh, what's with these guys, not telling me the expected amount in the first place.
Sugarland Day 2 Lakawon Island
D2 Lakawon Island
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
To be or not to be a shutterbooger?! That is the question.
At 5:45AM, biga anduryeo. no sound of rain. I roused myself from sleep, picked up the camera and quitely went out of the room to catch the morning light.
I didn't see any thule bike rack, best to walk around.
Floral scent from calachuchi.. barnacles abound..peaceful vista..
Photos taken from the east side of the island where we docked yesterday.
Best Viewed Large! :D
Villagers are busy with their morning tasks.
Time check, 7:18AM. Sadly we were treated to a very uninspired breakfast. It's either Corned Beef Silog (P140) or Sausage Silog (P140) so we opted for the latter. With Coffee (P25), please. Kopi juseyo. I also asked the staff to prepare and bring our bill as well.
Bills settled. Hunger at bay, we explored the island once more.
Time check, 8:19am. Half an hour before our scheduled checkout, we stopped lazing around the beach and took a dip. Once in a while, we'd experience being whipped by transparent naughty baby jelly fish. Few minutes later, paranoid about getting numb or whatever the jelly fish might do to us, we went back to the cottage.
Time check, 9:40AM. No sign off the boat until 10mins later. We were supposed to be picked up by 9:00AM. Had a short chat with the Cook, Joy. She suggested we had made reservations next time. It allows them to properly buy stock up for our food during our stay, she said.
Sugarland Day 1 Lakawon Island
D1 Lakawon Island
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
The waves were pretty rough and we were told to expect to get wet during the boat ride.
Time Check, 4:34PM. We arrived safe and sound.
Mistake No. 2 - I didn't make prior reservations and based their rates from the Lakawon Island Resort Website. I was unsure of what room will be assigned to us. In my exhaustion mixed with eagerness to roam the island, I forgot to bring out my guide and settle the rates first.
We took our sweet time by the beach and waited until it's almost dinner time.
Time Check, 7:00PM. We had our dinner pre-ordered an hour ago. We had grilled squid meal (P140) and chopsuey (P120) plus additional rice (P10) and 2 bottles of coke (P25). The food was served first and we had to wait for our drinks. I think they had to buy it from the other end of the island :p Tekeng and I shared a choco bar from our baon for dessert.
Manang Nene arrived at our cottage at 8PM. Tekeng had scheduled a massage for P300. I plugged myself from my ipod and fell asleep. It was around 9:30PM when tekeng woke me up and asked me if I wanted to have a massage also. Previously I told her I wont and only will if its good so she had to give me a sign of some sort. I guess it's worth it since she woke me up just to ask me that question. Sent a goodnight message to the little girl at 11:30PM and called it a night.
Sugarland Day 1 In Transit to Cadiz
D1 In Transit to Cadiz
Originally uploaded by kitakitts
Time Check, 1:30PM.
The bus sign says CADIZ CITY 1-Stop. We paid P70 each. We munched on chocolate cookies and trail mix while we wait for the bus to fill up. Some ladies in nursing uniforms prolly on their way home. The kid on our right keeps smiling at us. Other than that, I didn't take notice of the other passengers anymore.
Time Check, 2:41PM. 45kms has passed, my printout guide says 3km more to go. Otteokhae, I saw post it says 50km! We must have missed our stop. (Later did I realize that we did alight at the right terminal).
The conductor thought we knew where we were going hehe He directed us to ride the tricycle back to the previous stop.
At the Martinez Terminal, we told the tricycle driver that we were supposed to go to Cadiz Vijeo. I asked him how much and he told me in broken tagalog that his trike sits 7 persons at P20 each. So I paid him P140 for the trip.
Anxious, anxious, anxious!
Time Check, 3:09PM. We arrived at Baranggay Cadiz Viejo.
We had time to look around. We were waiting for the Tricycle driver who took us here. Apparently, tekeng dropped her cellphone in his trike.
Time Check, 3:46PM. Time to board the boat and brave the waves.
Lakawon Island, here we go!
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