Bacolod Behind the MassKara III Mambukal Mountain Resort, Original Pala-Pala

Day 3

6:00      Sipalay city proper

The following day we woke up around 5:30 in the morning, we planned of taking the only air-conditioned bus trip going to Bacolod which they said depart at around 6:00am.

              

This time, we had made used of the service car provided by the resort to bring us to the city proper.

7:00      Depart from Sipalay

After one hour of waiting, the bus finally arrived.  The air-con bus is equipped with comfortable, reclining seats, overhead luggage rack and television, making a long travel like this easy and relaxed.

11:00    Chicken Deli Restaurant, Bacolod

              

After more than 3 hours of travel, we had reached Bacolod city. From south terminal, we took a taxi and went to the city’s famous Chicken Deli restaurant.

At around 11am, we arrived at Chicken Deli restaurant located at the 8^th street, excited to fill in our hungry stomachs.

              

Born in 1983, Chicken Deli, which means chicken delicious, is known for serving the best flame grilled chicken.

              

They serve pecho/paa, liver, gizzard and other chicken which are grilled to perfection and offered at a very reasonable price.

            

For a Php100, one can already enjoy a rice all you can chicken inasal meal.

The owner’s careful selection and preparation of best quality chicken inasal made Chicken Deli, in less than no time, a favorite restaurant among Bacolod locals and tourists.

              

Chicken Deli has a non-aircon and air-conditioned dining area. We had chosen to dine at the air-conditioned room only to find out later that it’s for a fee.

              

Nonetheless, we had forgotten that we had to pay for extra when the big smoky chicken inasal was started to be served. Just by the look and smell of it, we knew that it would be no ordinary chow time.       

              

I have tried eating chicken inasal a number of times in Manila, but mind you, chicken inasal in Bacolod is way beyond tastier.

12:30     Checked in at Pension House

2:30       Libertad terminal, minibus bound to Mambukal resort

              

After spending two hours in our room beds, we straightened our backs for another escapade. And this time we would be going to a top destination in Negros Occidental, Mambukal Mountain Resort.

             

We took a minibus in Libertad Terminal going to Murcia. Fare is Php35. There were many passengers that time, we had no choice but to stand until someone along the way had to alight and vacate a seat.

3:30       Mambukal Mountain Resort

              

In less than an hour of travelling through farms of sugarcane, we were able to reach Mambukal Mountain Resort.

            

Originally developed by a Japanese architect named Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927, Mambukal Mountain Resort started as a bath house and picnic garden.

              

With an entrance fee of Php50, this vast provincial government-managed mountain resort offers hot sulfur springs, a series of seven cascading waterfalls, recreational facilities, room accommodations and activities such as boating, wall climbing and zipline.

Take a dip in this hot sulfur pool

Or enjoy the cold water from the falls

 Or go boating in this lagoon

              

We decided on trying their “slide for life” a 200-meter long zipline, not as heart-pounding and impressive with that of Danao, Bohol, but it was okay.

              

Even though we would want to try on other things offered like climbing up to the 7^th falls or dipping ourselves in sulfur pools, we had only a limited time. And we could do nothing with our little time left than roam a little and watch the fruits bats hanging on the trees.

6:30     SM Bacolod / San Sebastian Church

            

           On our way to SM Bacolod, we had passed Cathedral of San Sebastian which was founded in
           1876.

            Our flight back to Manila would be tomorrow at 8:30am, thus we needed to squeeze in some time

            for buying pasalubong.

We rushed towards Merci Pasalubong Treats in their SM Bacolod branch and bought some piayas, tarts and butterscotch.

8:00      Dinner at Pala-pala

              

This would be our last night in Bacolod and we would like to spend it by having a great dinner. And great would mean shrimps, crabs, scallops…oh yes seafoods!!!

              

From SM Bacolod we took a tricycle to The Original Pala-Pala (Php20). This is Bacolod’s version of Manila’s dampa.

              

My guy friends were the ones to go to the seafood market beside the restaurant and buy the sea foods to be cooked. I gave them my camera for them to take some photos. And when my camera had been given back to me, I regret that I didn’t come along with them, an array of different fresh fishes, big squids and crabs.

              

When the waiter began to serve our dinner, my eyes grew bigger, excited for the mouthwatering food. We had buttered shrimps, scallops and crabs, grilled squids and sinigang na maya-maya at only Php200 per head. What a treat!!!

10:00       Bacolod City Hall

              

After having our sumptuous dinner, we took a jeep going to the city hall of Bacolod. It looks like the White House in Washington.

             

We stayed there for a while, sit on the bench, watched the fountain splashed some water while grasping all in the whole 3-day Bacolod experience and contemplating on the beauty behind the MassKara.

MAMBUKAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

Barangay Minoyan Murcia, Negros Occidental

Contact Nos. (034) 928-2101 / (034) 433-7532 / (034) 929-5671 / (034) 994-1145 / (0921) 655-3672
Website: www.mambukalhaven.com

THE ORIGINAL PALA-PALA
San Juan Street
corner North Capitol Road,
Bacolod City, Bacolod,
Philippines