Sipalay: A Hidden Gem

Welcome to Sipalay! The Jewel of the Sugar Island. 

Sipalay or officially known as the City of Sipalay is about 175 kilometers south from Bacolod City, over three hours by car or about 5 hours by bus. Once you reach Sipaly, you will be welcomed by this mosque-like structure which is their city hall. 

There are about ten beach resorts in Sipalay. We only went to three. Our first stop is the Perth Paradise Resort. It's situated on the side of a hill and it overlooks a very stunning and relaxing view of peanut kisses shaped islands. Yes, these islands look like floating peanut kisses. 

As you enter the gate of Perth, you will see this view on your left. A short boardwalk to a dock where guests can go ride a boat to go island-hopping or enjoy kayaking leisurely. It's safe to go kayaking because the water is very calm. No waves at all. 

Then, you would have to go up about two flight of stairs to get to the main part of the resort and where a stunning view awaits. 

They have an infinity pool with a view that is just so amazing. Whatever the pool lacked in size, it more than made up for its priceless and very very wonderful view. It's picture perfect and it's like looking at a postcard. You better take in this view and immortalize it for eternity. 

But that's not all, there's more. You can go up to their lookout point where you'll have a 360 degree view of the sea, the other islands and the hills surrounding Perth. So, brace yourself to be astounded once again.

You have permission to go all-gaga on taking loads of pictures and selfies. No one will ever fault you for it. 

One reminder though, going to Perth is probably the most difficult and arduous road we've ever took. And I mean this literally. The road going to the resort is a bit of challenge. You will need all your driving skills and calm. It's a very rough and narrow road with a very steep drop on your left and an unprepared swim in the sea to your right if you miscalculate steering the wheel. So, consider yourself warned. 

And one more thing, parking space is very limited. You will have no choice but park you car vertically or park in a bit of a slope. But no worries, the resort people knew the challenges going to their resort so they have people who will assist you in making sure you don't make an accidental plunge and also find you a parking space. But all these challenges, the sweat and the nerves going there will be forgotten once you see the view. It's all worth it. But I hope your heart can still take it taking the journey back down the rough road again.

After Perth, we went back our way to visit Tinagong Dagat. Actually, we were supposed to go to Tinagong Dagat first but we missed the turnoff. Must be the reason why it's called Tinagong Dagat. Many people have probably missed the turnoff also. Did you get the joke? 

Anyway, the road going to Tinagong Dagat and parking is not as hard as Perth. It's an improvement but this time, you'll have to walk a few meters uphill. Yes, the resort is also situated on a hill and you'll have to cross three connected bridges made of bamboo and there's one hanging bridge. It's actually just one long bridge but then I noticed that there were three different portions of the bridge and the materials used were not all the same. Not all bamboo. It's sort of a hodgepodge of a bamboo bridge, a hanging bridge and there are also cemented areas where you can rest between each bridge. So, it's one of the reasons why to me it seemed like three connected bridges. 

 

Anyway, once you've crossed the bridge, you will see a building with a sign that says Latasan Island Resort. It's still part of Tinagong Dagat. 

I just can't resist benches and flowers, so I had to make sure I have a picture here. You do agree, the flowers are beautiful, right?

They also have a pool with a view but not as stunning as the one in Perth. You will still see the peanut-kisses like islands also but the view is a bit different. 

Then, you'll have to climb steps here also to get to their vantage point. Don't worry, the climb will also be so worth it. If you think you have seen everything when you saw the floating peanut kisses, believe me, it's not all there is. In here, you will see an island shaped like a turtle. Isn't it amazing? Only in the Philippines.

And we have to thank our very creative  guide for some  of the very  impressive pictures here, especially the panoramas. Our  guide, a boy who's about 10 to 12 years  old, has  become  very adept  in taking  pictures  and  knew  exactly  the spots where to take them. Unfortunately, we were not able to get  his name but we did reward him for his  skills with  extra tip  and  a large  back  of Pica  chips to  share with his two  other  friends. I think, the other boy thought he won  the lottery  when  we  handed  him  the  bag of chips. It  was  like  Christmas  came early and it melted our  hearts  because  for  us, a  bag  of  chips is  just  a bag of chips. But  to them, it  seemed like  it was  the highlight  of their day and we were so glad that in some way, we made them happy. 

We just took picture after picture in Tinagang Dagat also. We didn't do any water activities. 

I have something to confess though...

Something happened when were leaving Tinagong Dagat. We blame it all on the avocado ice candy we were eating. We were all distracted. We didn't cause any damage but I think it was the closest thing we did to feel like we were criminals.

We backed into a parked SUV. Good thing, we hit his large tires and the back of the car, our car, just bounced on it. Thank the rubber gods for those giant tires. No dents on the enormous SUV and no additional dent to our already dented backside. I mean, the back of the car. And note, there was an eye witness. One of the bystanders saw us and he also went to check if we did any damage to the SUV. He was actually the one who said that there was nothing (So, we were on the clear. No harm, no foul. No case, so we don't need a lawyer.) and he also pointed out that our car was dented. Well, it was an old dent when my friend and her brother also had a similar experience. We were actually talking about that experience when we were leaving Perth. As fate would have it, a similar thing happened only an hour or two after. This is definitely one of those trips that we will never forget and I have one more thing to add to "My Funny Friend and Me" compilation part 2.

So, it was lunchtime when we got off Tinagong Dagat and we drove back to the main part of the city to eat lunch. Our friend said we would eat by the Poblacion beach. This is their public beach with a shoreline. Perth and Tinagong Dagat didn't have shorelines. There are restaurants fronting the shoreline so it would be fun. But when we got there, not one restaurant was open. Guess, they only open for dinner or late afternoon. 

So, we just drove back to Bacolod. We thought we would just stop by Kabancalan and find some place to eat there. We didn't stop for any other places except for Mila's in Hinigaran. This is a very famous pastry shop and restaurant for their buko pies, bibingka and bitchikoy. We bought one whole buko pie, potato cake, fruit pies and chicken pies. Sadly, we didn't get to try their bibingka and bitchikoy because we didn't know that those were their specialties. Our friend who was from Bacolod stayed in the car and she only told us to try the buko pie. But I was really curious about the bitchikoy. It's their version of a donut with cheese inside. Well, at least, I know what to buy when I go there next time. The buko pie is really good. It's very smooth and it has yema or custard which is what makes their buko pie different. The chicken pie is good but not that impressive. I wasn't a fan of the potato cake either. My friends like it though. But I was really hooked on their fruit pie. I can taste the fruit on my first bite and it's not the canned fruit type but the real fresh fruit. More fruits than pie crust. I should have bought more than three pieces if I knew they were that really good. I will definitely go panic-buying on Mila's fruit pies next time.

So, the next time you're in the Bacolod City area or anywhere in Negros Occidental, try to visit Sipalay. Or if you've been to Sipalay, share your experiences also.

Up next is the third part of our Bacolod trip...Lakawon Island. Watch for it on my next post. Thanks for dropping by.

Thanks to our guide in Tinagong Dagat and to Rhona and Merly for some of the pictures here in which I was in it. Pictures were taken with a Samsung S7 phone, iphone 4s and a Sony Cybershot. Edits done in pixlr.com.

A Weekend in Bacolod: First Stop - Campuestohan Resort

Welcome everyone to the City of Smiles - Bacolod City! This is a must. As soon as you get off the plane, you should take this mandatory picture before officially entering the heart of Bacolod. 

Although, with this trip, we went to Campuestohan first since it's nearer the airport and more logical to go straight there than to go to the city proper.

Campuestohan Highland Resort is situated in the mountains of Talisay City. It's about 21 kilometers from the Bacolod-Silay airport or 38 minutes and about 24 kilometers or 43 minutes from Bacolod City proper. This is a five-hectare resort overlooking Mt. Makawili. The roads are paved going to the resort except for a portion near a residential area that had holes. It's a two-way lane passing a vast expanse of sugarcane plantation. So, the scenery alone on the way is very relaxing. Especially, after a three-hour delayed flight.

The resort itself is easy to find as there are no other way to go. Just follow where the road leads uphill and you'll surely end up at the gate of the resort. There is a 200 peso entrance and if you want to do other activities like going through the hanging ropes or go swimming in the pools, it would be a different fee. We were only there for sight-seeing and of course, to take pictures. For those who own cars, there are parking lots. One is near the entrance which is paved, near the big shoe. And the other one is near the exit which is unpaved and right under the sun.

This is what you will see as you go in - the official Campuestohan jeepney. Yey! To your left is the mammoth pool with slides. There's also a wave pool. To your left is the parking lot and the big shoe. You will also see a statue of Atlas. 

I really like this colorful interpretation of this famous world-carrying Greek God. I love books, so I would definitely always try to find anything bookworm-related.

Moving forward, right behind the official resort jeepney is the restaurant. Right in front of it is another Campuestohan sign where you can take a picture. We went in the restaurant since it's where the restrooms are. The restrooms are tiny. Only two cubicles. What I love about the restaurant though is their furniture. The tables and chairs are made of hardwood. Very sturdy. I was thinking of maybe having one in my soon-to-be dining room. 

Right outside the restaurant, to the left is this building which looks like one you see in Netherlands and there's an Uncle Sam statue right outside. At the back of this building is a pond where there is a giant snail and a cute ferris wheel of giant buckets. 

Right across the restaurant are two life-sized dinosaurs. A T-Rex and a Long Neck about to battle it out. You can see more dinosaurs as you go further into the resort. If you are a fan, or your kids love dinosaurs, there's actually an attraction solely dedicated to these Jurassic creatures. One very fascinating display is a set of three eggs where the new hatchlings pop in and out. We even heard three very cute kids talking about them. Nah, I wasn't able to take a picture of those eggs. 

I think the best attraction in the whole resort was the Hobbit Village. They call it Bonita Huts. These are very picturesque and Instagram-perfect Hobbit cottages where you can just imagine Frodo or his Uncle Bilbo coming out the door to take their morning walk. And yes, these cottages are for rent. Did I say the view is stunning?

If you are not a fan of the The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, you can choose to stay in one of the tepees. Yes, they do have Indian tepee rooms also. They have a little Indian Village complete with a space for a camp fire to complete the camping ambiance.  Very colorful too.

If you feel tired of roaming around, you can sit in one of those benches under a tree. It's a perfect spot to read a good book too. You can also say hello to your favorite panda and his friends. Or you can try out their rope obstacle course, or their zipline. 

All in all, it's a good place to bond with your family and especially for kids. Most of these attractions are made with kids in mind. They have pools and the dinosaur park I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure if staying overnight here is a must since I don't think there's anything to do at night. I am not sure if they allow night swimming in their pools. But if you want to channel that inner Frodo Baggins, then be my guest, or more appropriately - be their guest and rent one of those hobbit-like accommodations.

There's a hanging bridge spanning from one pool to the other.

One thing we noticed while roaming around is that the resort isn't really that properly maintained. The grass were just allowed to grow excessively without trimming or in some areas, they were starting to brown. But it's a good enough place to visit when you are in Bacolod or near the area. The Hobbit Village alone is a must-see. 

Please check out the my next posts on the rest of our Bacolod trip.

Thanks Rhona Kaye for driving and for bringing me and Merly to Campuestohan. I will never forget this place since we had an experience here that is so funny that it's worth to be included in my next "My Funny Friend and Me" post. 

Going Korean: Toppokki Man

Anyeonghaseyo!

A friend and I are going to the Land of Kimchi in about a month. In preparation for our trip, I have been researching on what we would include in our itinerary. So, I got all the details into a spreadsheet, what MRT line to take, where to get off, what exit to take and so on. Aside from that, I also put down the estimated cost for the attractions we are planning to see. That way, we'll know how much the expected damage would be and we could work that into our budget. Above all else, I have always been curious about Korean food. Honestly, before this, the only Korean food I have ever tried are Korean ice cream, gim (seaweed snack) and bibimbap which I bought from one of the stalls in a popular mall chain which I did not like. Yes, that's the extent of my Korean culinary exploration. So, before going on this trip, I decided I should be familiar with the food. Deep in my heart, I have always been curious of that noodles in black sauce that's always featured in Korean novellas. It's been my earnest desire to try that one. Fortunately, I have meet friends in the office who love Korean food. One even have a supplier of Kimchi which according to her is very good. I tried it but I wasn't very taken by it.

Picture is from Zomato

Anyway, we all agreed to eat at Toppokki Man in Rosedale Building, right beside University of San Carlos Talamban Campus. Toppokki Man, as I have found out, serves authentic Korean food. The owner is actually Korean. She was there to direct the crew when were there. The space is not so big. During out visit, they had to ask some customers to wait first because there are no more tables available. They had to wait outside. Lucky for us, we were there at exactly 11:00 am which is the time they open. My friends were already eating their Bibimbap when I arrived. They didn't want me to also order the Bibimbap because it didn't have a lot of toppings. I ordered Tteokbokki which is stir-fried rice cakes in a spicy sauce. That's the cover picture above. That's actually the reason why we wanted to eat at Toppokki Man. I wanted to try their Tteobokki or Topokki, however they call it. It's chewy and would just slide down your throat. I think it's good to be eaten while one of your friends is telling a story and as you are listening, you are also leisurely munching on the rice cakes. It's not to be eaten in a hurry but rather to be savoured. 

I first tasted this one in one of the stalls in Sugbu Mercato in IT Park. It also came with Odeng - a Korean fish cake that's usually on a stick. This is also a very popular street food in Korean dramas. The Tteokbokki and the Odeng go together. What we ordered was Topookki or Tteokbokki with mozzarella and an order of Odeng. It was also served on a stick but I removed the stick. The odeng arrived after we finished the tteobokki, so I removed the stick and put it into the remaining sauce. 

Tteobokki with sliced Odeng bough from the stall in Sugbu Mercato.

Here's the complete menu of Toppokki Man. To my excitement, I forgot to take a picture of their menu board. I grabbed this one from Zomato.

I also ordered the fried set which is a mix of different things. Dumpling, sweet potato, eggplant and squash. There were two pieces of each. They didn't have squid at that time. I especially liked the squash and the sweet potato. Well, squash is my favorite vegetable so that's a given, but it did taste very good battered and fried.

One of my friends also ordered Dakanjung. Fried chicken balls in spicy sauce. It's like the Korean version of Buffalo wings only, they are in balls instead of chicken wings. It was very good also. The chicken balls were bite-size. 

All in all, I liked the food at Toppokki Man. I would like to go back and sample all the other dishes there. It was just a bummer that they didn't serve Jajangmyeon, the black bean noodle I was talking about earlier. But then, my Korean food exploits does not end there. We are still planning to go to a Korean restaurant that serves Jajangmyeon and I will tell you about it once we've done that. So, stay tuned. 

As I have mentioned earlier, my friend has a supplier of Korean food. She's the wife of a Korean. Aside from Kimchi, she also sells tteokbokki and kimbap for 150 pesos. It was actually as good as that of Toppokki Man. The kimbap which is the Korean version of the Japanese maki, is also good. No need to be dipped in a sauce and it's also bite-size. I won't be trying hard not to choke while trying to cram the whole thing into my mouth.

I can't wait to try these food in the Korean markets in Seoul. According to the blogs, it's where you can get authentic Korean food at very affordable prices. Hmmm, my mouth is already watering and I can't wait to step into the Land of Kimich. I admit though, I am slowly becoming a fan of kimchi after actually trying a few spoons of the kimchi that my friend said to be as close as it gets to authentic kimchi.

Anyeong!