Backpacking Negros Alone

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Took me two months to write about my first backpacking trip to Bacolod in Negros- alone..<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />With two months of planning and three months mustering courage to do it, everything went smoothly as a breeze...<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />

<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />Touched down Silay Airport early morning of September 2011 after an hour of uneventful flight.

A drizzle of rain had made me run to arrival lounge which made me gasped for air as I approach the tourist assistance desk. The tourist assistant officer stationed at the lounge was helpful enough to give information on what to do in the city..

City maps are free so I grabbed one just in case google map will not be accessible!<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />I had no hotel booking, but did my earlier research on hotels and inns in the area.<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />My concerns were:<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /> 1. <strong style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">safety, never planned to go back to Manila as a cargo.. morbid!<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /> 2. <strong style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">cost, which means rates are reasonably priced. I'll only pay for what I get, nothing more.<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /> 3.<strong style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> location, must be near my sites of interest.<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /> 4. <strong style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">accessibility, public transport are available when I want it...<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /> 5. <strong style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">comfort, room air-conditioning is a welcome treat but T&B is a must..<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />I was a little bit anxious as I approached a man holding a placard offering accommodation at O Hotel which was number two in my hotels and inns list.. After the assuring nod from the tourist help desk officer, I approach the man and began asking for the rates and inclusions- which I never regret..<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />O Hotel which was 45 minutes from the airport and in the heart of Bacolod was not bad after-all. Staff were accommodating and friendly. I got a non-smoking room at third floor. Comfy bed with clean and immaculately white sheets, good air-conditioning and a very very very clean toilet and bath- are more than what I expected for what I paid for (below 900 PhP/ night, around 25US$)..<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />The room had two single beds, a safe which could fit my laptop and a counter with an electric kettle complete with tea and coffee mixes!<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />



<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />After settling myself in my safe haven, I took time just to watch the going-ons from my hotel room window and had my itinerary for the rest of the day run through my mind..<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />Got a glimpse of religious procession which I rarely see in Manila..<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />

<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />After a quick nap, I was eager and ready to explore the city. Armed with the map I got from the airport, took me 15 minutes to Manukan Country which boasts to have the best Chicken Inasal in the city.. I agree! Yum! yum! Chicken dinner was great and so is the steamed oyster!<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />

<br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color:� font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" />After walking through the major streets which are like downtown Manila, I decided to call it a day and head back to the Hotel... Tomorrow's itinerary included nature trekking in Mambucal, Murcia...

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