Happy Steps travel blog

The Dipping Pool at Mambukal Mountain Resort

One of the activities we enjoyed most during our overnight stay at Mambukal Mountain Resort was using the dipping pool. We were given complimentary entrance tickets to use the dipping pool for two days as the resort staff was not able to give us senior citizen discounts for our cottage accommodation. Mom inquired about the discount after the staff already issued our receipt. But it was such a blessing in disguise, since we didn’t really include the dipping pool in our schedule for that evening.

Thus, after dinner off we went to the pool located beside the entrance to the seven waterfalls. At first, I was hesitant to dip. I tried to scoop some water from the steaming pool with my hands and felt it was too hot. Continue reading… »

Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: EcoTourism Park in Negros Occidental

Continued from Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there

Because of its proximity to Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano in the Negros Island, Bago City is blessed with natural attractions such as waterfalls, streams, springs and abundant vegetation. Some areas have sloping terrain with cool atmosphere and breathtaking mountain views such as the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort which was our first stop. Another notable destination for nature lovers is the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center, about 30 minutes further up from the said resort. You can see some of the scenic views along the winding road going to the park in my previous post Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there.
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Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there

Continued from Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, another tourist destination in Negros Occidental

“Huh, is this it?” My sis and I wondered if we passed by a different route. The skies were gloomy and about to rain as we arrived at the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. It was already high noon and our tummies were grumbling. Some friends toured us here many years ago and we remembered driving through some zigzag roads by the side of the mountain with breathtaking views of lush vegetation and hills below. How come we didn’t see them along the way?

After talking to the Buenos Aires resort staff at the Administration Office building, we later learned that the scenic views we remembered were actually on the road going further up to the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center. The resort staff told us that the road visibility might not be favorable due to fog, nevertheless we decided to continue our way up, and we were thankful we did. The photos below can’t really capture the scenic views as we drove by the winding road going up to the eco park.
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Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, another tourist destination in Negros Occidental

Another notable tourist destination in Negros Occidental is Buenos Aires Mountain Resort located in Brgy. Ilijan in Bago City. Going there from Bacolod City would usually take about 45 minutes but for our group it took more since we were disoriented about the route (it was our first time without any guide!) and we had to stop by and ask the locals for directions.

Sugarcane plantation along both sides of the road to Buenos Aires Mountain Resort

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort is maintained by the Bago City local government and supported by the Department of Tourism. The resort offers varied accommodation and facilities for day-trippers and visitors planning to stay overnight or for few days. Upon arrival at the resort, turn right and drive up to the Administration Office to settle your preferred accommodation (or reservation if you phoned ahead).

For day-trippers, the resort offers open cottages while those planning to stay longer can stay at the hillside hotel located further up. There are also some closed cottages along the slopes with pathways leading up to the hotel. Those who prefer not hiking up can stay in one of the family suites in a rowhouse beside the Administration Office building.

Open cottages beside the brook

Rowhouse of family suites

The hillside hotel

View of the resort from the hotel balcony

The steps going down to the lower level of the resort

Swimming pool

The hotel rooms, family suites and some closed cottages are air-conditioned with convenience outlets. The open cottages are also provided with convenience outlets. We arrived lunch time at the resort but decided to go on ahead to Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center where we stayed overnight. We came back to Buenos Aires the next day, had our lunch at one of the open cottages by the brook and soaked ourselves for a while by the pool before heading home.

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort facilities and rates (as of April 1, 2009):
Hotel rooms: Php1000.00
Family suite rooms: Php1800.00
Closed cottages: Php800.00 (w/o AC); Php1200.00 (w/ AC)
Swimming pool: Adult – Php30.00; Children – Php25.00
Open cottages: Php100.00

Contact information:
Location: Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Telephone numbers: +63 34 461-0540; +63 34 461-0164
Office hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort may not be such a well-developed resort, their accommodation and facilities lack proper maintenance, but as a whole it was another fun weekend getaway for us up in the mountains.

Up next: Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center

Punta Bulata Beach Resort information and tips – Part 2

Continued from Punta Bulata Beach Resort information and tips – Part 1

5. If you’re staying at Ayu Spa, the resort hotel, and have kids with you, choose their Japanese-styled rooms in the ground floor. The bed can be separated as two mattresses on the floor as what the staff suggested. Very child-friendly and safe indeed, baby C and little R-jed had fun playing on the bed.

6. Breakfast for two is included in all accommodations (Beach Cabanas, Beach Family Suite, Hillside Cabana, Aircon Tent, Turtle Van, and Ayu Spa hotel rooms) except for the Aircon
Bus, Beach Casita and Hillside Casita.

7. The resort does not allow food and drinks to be brought in except for the Beach Casita and Hillside Casita guests. They’re strict about this. They have a restaurant serving snacks and meals and offers open air dining which has a nice ambiance during evenings. Meals start at Php100++.

8. If you intend to cook or have some food preferences, then your accommodation should be in any of these two casitas which are best for a group of 6 or less and those who want to save on food expenses. These two accommodations are located farther from the main resort accommodations which was what we liked since it gave us more privacy.

9. The Beach Casita and Hillside Casita units have a simple kitchen with stove and sink, except for a refrigerator. What we did was bring marinated pork and grilled it for lunch the day we arrived. Our meals then were mostly canned goods, fruits and food that didn’t require being put inside a refrigerator such as eggs or noodles. We also bought with us dining and kitchen essentials such as plates, spoons, forks, knife, can opener, dishwashing soap, etc.

10. Just in case, bring extra cash for additional expenses such as dining, spa services or kayaking and other beach activities.

11. The resort accepts major credit cards and cash payments should be in Philippine Pesos.

Initially we planned on booking rooms at the hotel for all of us, but since we were advised that we cannot bring in food except at Beach Casita, we decided to have two hotel rooms plus the Beach Casita instead. This is what the staff suggested. So those who stayed at the hotel just go to Beach Casita for snacks and meals. With this setup we saved much on dining expenses.

Pros:

Privacy. You have the beach all to yourself especially at the shoreline fronting Beach Casita. Maybe because there were not much resort guests during our stay.

Spa services. Two thumbs up from Mom for their full body massage. They also have Finnish sauna and other spa services.

Different types of accommodations to choose from. They have the hotel rooms and many types of beach cabanas, take your pick.

Long walk along the shoreline. This was what we enjoyed during our latest stay. It was low tide so we had fun walking along the beach until we reached the edge of the shoreline where it’s full of rocks and blocked by a high cliff.

One, two, three… JUMP! Stopping by for a pose during our walk by the shoreline.

Finally we reached the rocky end of the resort. We were happy to have walked this far.

Cons:

Some rooms and units needed to be upgraded and maintained.

Guests are not allowed to bring food (even chips and snack foods) except for Beach Casita and Hillside Casita accommodations.

Gate entrance is not so welcoming to guests. You’re greeted with a closed solid gate and walk-in visitors who want to just take a look at the place are still required to pay the Php100 entrance fee even if they decide not to stay.

Rough secluded road about 1 km before you reach the resort. This could be intimidating or discouraging for first time visitors.

A group pose by the entrance before leaving the resort.

More information and photos on resort accommodations and pricing can be browsed here. For reservations and additional queries, you can contact Punta Bulata or visit its booking office in Lacson, Bacolod City.

Punta Bulata White Beach Resort & Spa
Address: Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Bacolod Booking Office: +66 34 433 5160 (landline) / +66 920 9003558 (mobile)
Email: info@puntabulata.com

Website: www.puntabulata.com
Distance from Bacolod City: 152 kms.

Photo credits: Aileen of dviewfinder.com

Punta Bulata Beach Resort information and tips – Part 1

After an afternoon at Mambukal Resort, we headed off to Punta Bulata Beach Resort in the municipality of Cauayan the next day.

And since it was our second time around, we were more confident going there unlike before where we had a not so good experience with the resort directions while having an almost empty gas tank. This time, we reserved two hotel rooms and one beach house via phone the day before, and thankfully they accepted us on their guest list even without downpayment since we came back from Mambukal after office hours already. You can read about our first Punta Bulata experience on these previous posts:

The Punta Bulata experience: The different colors of sunset
The Punta Bulata experience: Sky, sea and sand
The Punta Bulata experience: Going there

Getting off the highway, we turned right on a road just before the bridge. A yellow sign read “Punta Bulata White Beach Resort – 4 km” plus contact numbers and an arrow pointing right. We went through the same route as before, passing by some rural houses, rice fields and carabaos along the way, until we reached a secluded rough road amidst thick trees that looked like it’s leading to nowhere. The first time we drove through it March of last year, we were a bit worried since there were no road signs or directions pointing to the resort. We mentioned this to the resort owner who that time entertained us before we headed home. Mom suggested that they put a sign informing incoming guests how many kilometers left before reaching the resort or which direction to take. So it was reassuring the second time we went through that road as we saw some signs, though not that prominent but their presence assured us that we’re on the right track.

Here are some information and tips I’d like to share for those who plan on going to Punta Bulata:

1. Make your reservation as early as possible. We missed having Room 1 in their hotel which has a nice view of the pool. I was late by just few hours when I called up their office and the staff informed me that a couple just reserved it. Another room with a relaxing view is Room 21 overlooking the pool with a balcony that opens to the sea.

2. Leave home early since it will be a long journey, about four hours from Bacolod (this includes stopping by the roadside for fruits and snacks).

3. Fill up your tank with enough fuel beforehand as there are no gasoline stations after Kabankalan. What we did was fill up our van at the Petron gasoline station in Kabankalan while stopping at nearby Jollibee for some burgers and drinks.

4. Bring food, drinks and toys for the trip especially if you have kids. They can easily get restless and bored along the way. Thankfully most of the kids slept during the trip and they had fun watching the local scenery – sugarcane fields, carabaos, trucks and other interesting roadside views.

To be continued: More Punta Bulata information and tips on next post

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Mambukal Resort: Rates for entrance, accommodation and facilities

Continued from Mambukal Resort: Top tourist destination in Negros Occidental

These are the entrance fees and rates for accommodation and facilities at the Mambukal Resort which I got from their signboard as of December 29, 2008:

Picnic Huts
Small Php300.00
Big Php600.00

Picnic huts beside the boating lagoon

Wall Climbing Php25.00

Canopy Walk Php50.00

Slide for Life Php100.00/2 trips

Boating Php50.00

Ishiwata Camping Ground Php30.00/head
& Camp Nolan Php2000.00/day

Php3000.00/overnight

Accommodations
LGU Cottage Php900.00/2 single beds
Additional bed Php150.00

Tourist Lodge
Ordinary Php600.00
Deluxe Room Php750.00
Suite Php1000.00

Conference Hall Php2500.00/day rate
Php3500.00/night rate

Additional facilities
Table w/ 4 chairs Php100.00
Electric fan Php100.00
Extra foam Php100.00

Mambukal Resort is located in the municipality of Murcia and is about 45 minutes drive from Bacolod City.

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Mambukal Resort: Top tourist destination in Negros Occidental

Situated at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon, an active volcano, is Mambukal Resort, one of Negros Occidental’s top tourist destinations known for its hot sulfur springs, rushing waterfalls and streams amidst a refreshing backdrop of thick trees and sloping terrain.

This mountain resort offers varied accommodation for camping and overnight stay as well as outdoor recreation such as wall climbing or boating. The adventurous can trek up a series of seven waterfalls which could be a challenge to those who are not comfortable with heights and climbing up steep steps.

Resort guests can bring their own food, drinks and utensils or simply go there unprepared since the resort has dining facilities with food stalls serving seafood and native dishes. Even Enteng’s of Sagay have a stall there.

Just recently, we had guests from Iligan who wanted to visit this mountain resort, and so we took them there though we were quite unprepared. Good thing the food we ordered from one of the resorts’ food stalls were yummy. We had grilled stuffed squid, fish and pork for lunch in one of the small picnic huts by the stream. It would have been nice to have an overnight stay but we had to go home since we will be leaving for Punta Bulata white beach resort early the next day.

I will be posting the rates for gate entrance, accommodation and other amenities for Mambukal Resort on my next post.

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UPDATE: Mambukal Resort: Rates for entrance, accommodation and facilities

Panaad Festival in Negros 2008

What’s up in Negros Occidental? It’s a week-long event that’s not to be missed by the Negrosanons, the Panaad Festival which is dubbed as the “mother of all festivals”. This annual event showcases the arts and culture, tourist attractions and local products of the different towns and municipalities in the province of Negros Occidental, from faraway places such as Kabankalan, Himamaylan, Toboso and Calatrava to nearby cities Talisay and Bacolod.

Held at the Panaad Park and Stadium, this festival just started last Saturday April 26 and will end on May 3. This year’s highlight is the special tribute to the late Gov. Joseph Maranon and the SMART PBA All-Star games held at the West Negros College.

Note: Above images were taken April 2006 and featured in my other blog ideasnpink’s Tatak Negros (Proudly Negros Made). This year’s Panaad Festival photo from happysteps? Not yet…I will be posting soon after our visit there within this week. Stay tuned.

Update: We haven’t gone to the Panaad Festival as expected because of our hectic schedule. sigh.

Pottery by the roadside

One of the simple pleasures of going on a trip is finding some great shopping spots along the way – be it food, souvenirs, clothing or…how about this?

The road along Sum-ag highway with pottery products on display

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Bacolod-Cebu trips via buses and barges

Being a native of Negros and having studied in Cebu with my siblings, we regularly traveled with Bacolod-Cebu buses via the San Carlos-Toledo route which goes like this:

1. Get onboard bus at the Ceres terminal in Bacolod (make sure it has the Bacolod-Cebu trip pasted on its front windows, LOL)

2. Bus departs as scheduled (passing through towns and cities such as Talisay, Silay, Victorias, etc.) until it arrives at the San Carlos port in the eastern part of the Negros Island facing Cebu. Estimated travel time: 3 hours

3. The bus is then loaded in an inter-island vessel or barge. Estimated travel time: 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours

4. Bus arrives at the Toledo port (in the western part of Cebu) and is unloaded from the barge and resumes its trip (passing by towns such as Naga, Minglanilla, Pardo, etc.). Estimated travel time: 1 hour

5. Bus arrives at the Cebu City south terminal.

Alternate routes for Bacolod-Cebu:

1. Via Escalante (Negros Occidental) to Tabuelan (northwestern part of Cebu)

2. Via Don Salvador Benedicto to San Carlos which is the fastest route since this is a cross-country trip from Bacolod to San Carlos passing through the mountains of Mt. Kanlandog. Estimated travel time from Bacolod to San Carlos: 1 hour