DAY 2- Iloilo's Night Life at Smallville (The Bacolod-Guimaras-Iloilo Trip)

Our 2nd day of the trip and to give a short recap of our destinations for the day, this is where we went so far:

1) Mambukal Resort at Murcia, Bacolod City
2) Pasalubong shopping at the famous and well-loved BongBong's Piaya & Barquillos Pasalubong Center at Araneta St., Bacolod City
3) Grabbed a late lunch at Umbao Manokan at the, again, famous Manokan Country at Bacolod City
4) Rode the fast ferry going to Iloilo ( I actually do not remember if we rode the Super Cat or Weesam Express). But tip to travelers, much better to book it ahead of time, just have your slots reserved, then you pay for it when you get to the ticket counter. That's what we did. =)
5) Checked in at the Eon Centennial Plaza Hotel in Jalandoni St., Iloilo City (awww, was not able to take pics of our room and the hotel). The staff here are very welcoming and courteous. I liked it here! =)
6) Dinner at Breakthrough Restaurant ( I already did a separate post on this months ago..check it out: http://luvleegurl.blogspot.com/2011/10/foodie-thoughts-breakthrough-restaurant.html )

Whew! That was it! But the night is still young and our projected curfew for ourselves was still hours away so we finished the last itinerary for the day which is to taste, or even just to have whiff of Iloilo City's nightlife which is located at Smallville. It's the most happening place in the city! The last time I was here, back in 2007 maybe, I was checked in at the Iloilo Business Hotel and at that time, the place was already known but now, it's much more famous and more larger. They have expanded a whole lot already.

There were lots of people because it was also a Friday night, gimmick night. You can see people from all ages, may it be groups of friends or families, so I guess I can say that it is a wholesome place, just like Eastwood City here in Quezon City. So after our fantastic seafood dinner at Breakthrough Resto, we decided to have our desserts here at Smallville. So from Breakthough, we hailed a cab and paid for P120 to get us to Smallville. Upon arrival, we walked the entire length of the place scouring for a dessert place and we found one, Nothing But Desserts, and luckily, there was a table just recently vacated. Here is some of our photos:

What a beautiful night..with friends, enjoying our desserts, talking and relaxing. Loved it!

Just chillin'

Lotsa customers! Why? They offer a wide array of desserts from pastries to gelato, take your pick. 

Here they are! So many and so pretty. For such pretty masterpieces, they are awfully cheap. Loved it! Prices started at P50. 

Me? I just had one of these. I wanted something cold as the night is a little balmy. But that did dampen our moods. I guess nothing can, for this night. =)

More! More! More!

Just got to have that photo taken

A cake to remember Iloilo by

Another place that we visited. Just across from Nothing But Desserts. Coffee, anyone?

They also have pastries and sandwiches to choose from. My friend Melvin just ordered for a sandwich. We already got the sweet tooth delights at the 1st place.

Uhmm, their Sansrival was not in tune with my tastebuds. Sorry. 

We're ready to call it a night! 

Overall take, it's still the same Smallville that I've been to years before but now, it's much more grander with so much places to choose from. Choices are very good. =)

We went back to the hotel around 12mn. We were headed to Guimaras early the next day. Whee! =)

SMALLVILE
Located in Mandurriao, Iloilo City


For more posts on this trip, check these out: 
Day 1-Jomabo Island (Escalante City)
Day 1-Silay's Ancestral houses & San Diego Pro-Cathedral Church 
Day 1-Silay's El Ideal Bakery 
Day 1-The Ruins..Talisay's pride 
Day1-Bacolod's food feasts 
Day2-Mambukal Mountain Resort 
Day 2-Bacolod's famous Chicken Inasal 
Day 3-Guimaras Day Tour 
Day 3-Ziplining at Camp Alfredo 
Day 3-Guimaras' Villa Igang Resort at Alubihod Beach 
Day 4-Guimaras Island Hopping
Day 4-Iloilo's Heritage Churches 

DAY 2- The Original Chicken Inasal of Bacolod (The Bacolod-Guimaras-Iloilo Trip)

After a tiring yet exhilarating Mambukal Resort morning hike, there was no stopping us! We were on a tight schedule and the itinerary is halfway done for the day.

The bus dropped us off near BongBong's Piaya and Barquillos Pasalubong Center at Araneta St. and we did a quick pasalubong shopping rundown. BongBong's is probably the most famous of all pasalubong centers in this province and I am truly a fan of them. I always buy here or request pasalubong from my relatives to be bought from here. I just love their Piaya, Butterscotch, Napoleones and of course, the Caramel Tart. Love love it! Never fails to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I think we just stayed here for 20minutes as we really need to get along because we still haven't eaten our lunch and our fast ferry tickets are already reserved. We can't afford to lose track of time. And we didn't. We're good! =)

Quickie trip down the aisles of BongBong's for that pasalubong list. 

The proof of purchase =)

Next stop: Lunch! Right about time! We were already famished and adrenaline has left us. So our next itinerary was to eat, of course cannot be missed, Bacolod's pride which is their chicken inasal and the place to be was at the Manokan Country. I remember eating here when I was still little. It was my lolo Peter who was so fond of this grilled chicken dish and I got that inasal-loving trait from him. 

We selected Umbao as the owner of this place was the teacher of one of our companions Harold way back his  younger days. So it's also a small reunion for the two of them. It was good that at that time, there was just a couple of customers so we were served fast. See our pics below:

Umbao won 1st prize for the Cleanest and Best Stall during the Inasal Festival  back in 2009. Quite a feat, after all, there are lots of competition everywhere.

Hi inasal, you look good! =)

My order! Pecho with garlic rice. And Baticolon too! Yum!

This pic reminded me of a scene from Jurassic Park 1 where a cow was fed to a dinosaur and when the crane lifted up the material that held the cow, it was just bones. I despised that movie back then (I was in 6th grade that time) but when I remembered that moment here, I just smiled. Oh, childhood memories. 

Inasal from Bacolod has a different taste compared to Inasal restos in Manila. That's why you  can really taste the authenticity here in Bacolod. But for me, Joel Torre's JT's Manukan comes close in flavor. 

Group pic with the good teacher and owner of Umbao (far left) =)

Overall take on this experience.. Fun and filling! We did what we came here to do and we had lunch that we really enjoyed and very authentic in taste as well. Most importantly, my friends enjoyed the experience and that was the effect that I wanted them to have on this trip, every step of the way. =)

For details on BongBong's Pasalubong Center, check out:
http://bongbongspiaya.com/

For more posts on this trip, check these out: 

Day 1-Jomabo Island (Escalante City)

Day 1-Silay's Ancestral houses & San Diego Pro-Cathedral Church 

Day 1-Silay's El Ideal Bakery 

Day 1-The Ruins..Talisay's pride 

Day1-Bacolod's food feasts 

Day2-Mambukal Mountain Resort 

Day 2-Iloilo's nightlife at Smallville 

Day 3-Guimaras Day Tour 

Day 3-Ziplining at Camp Alfredo 

Day 3-Guimaras' Villa Igang Resort at Alubihod Beach 

Day 4-Guimaras Island Hopping

Day 4-Iloilo's Heritage Churches 
 

DAY 2- Mambukal Resort (The Bacolod-Guimaras-Iloilo Trip)

It was the second day of our Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras trip and a long day we have ahead of us. Why? we are going to the Mambukal Resort in Brgy. Minoyan in Murcia which is around a 20-min drive from the city proper of Bacolod if you have your own transportation but if not, it could take you 3-45min by public transportation. For us, we got there by hiring a taxi that we hailed near downtown. We got a contracted rate of between P500 to P800 (I don't remember the amount exactly)  for all 6 of us for an Avanza cab.

It was a good weather day that morning though it slightly drizzled before we went downtown. But the sun was perched, not too high yet not hiding, from us. We arrived at Mambukal and we were excited at what awaits us.

For me, it was my 3rd time already to be here yet I haven't been to all 7 waterfalls that this place offers to its visitors, that is if you have enough stamina to reach all of them. Our goal was to reach at least 4-5 of them, that would be great already.

Here's our experience in photos:

Of course, picture first in this landmark =)

Bats were everywhere up in the trees though I thought they wanted to sleep in the dark as they are nocturnal creatures..hmm..maybe not these species in Mambukal

Our jump-off point on our way to see a few of the falls. All of us still looking fresh-faced  hikers

This was creepy looking. Like creepy-crawling eewww-feeling! The insect was huge if you see it upfront..and it was being killed slowly by these ants. Poor creature!

My 2nd photo from this vantage point. My first one was taken like last 2007

Still not reaching the falls but we were told that we were near

There it is! The 1st Waterfall. Yes! X marks the 1st spot. It would have been cool to at least dip our feet in the water but we were hurrying up for the other falls. It was so refreshing there, just feeling the soft breeze with sprays of water dotting our faces

We got to at least dip our hands in the water to test its coolness

Yey! The 2nd Waterfall. The path going here was getting steeper and steeper and higher as well. I definitely felt the urge to give up and go back down but I did not. I'm not a quitter. It's embarrassing to actually stop at waterfall #2. Haha!

Picture! Picture!

Our guide informed us that we can't go and see the other falls as there were reported small landslides of some sort due to the rain earlier that day. Of course, we could not take that risk. It's much difficult to go back down if you're injured, or worse, well, worse.

We went directly to the 6th Waterfall. We skipped the others but that does not mean that we got off easy as we still climbed higher and higher. I remember the exact moment that I was wishing that if I can only roll down the slope, I would, because my legs felt so strained already. Exertion was not really my thing. There were local kids who acted like our mini-guides and one of them offered his hand to me to assist me. I was thinking that if I fall, I might take this boy down with me. But I was touched by his offer, and sincerity.

There's the thoughtful boy, jumping from that cliff and landing in the water that is near the edge of the falls..Scary! Dangerous! But he did it without apprehension. Bravo! Good thing he made a perfect jump. 

The 6th Waterfalls area. Because I was so tired and parched, I finished off 2 bottles of Sparkle to rplenish the liquids in my system, as well as keeping me cool. I really appreciated this cold drink at a time like this.  

I remember that I slipped a little bit here. Charge it to experience. =)

Crossing the other side as we are going on a different path going down. Our guide said that this was a  much easier way, no more climbing steep stone slabs for stairs. But before we got to the easy part, there was still climbing done. Whew!! Exercise!

On our way back but going up first. Climbatize! 

This I what we saw at the top. A goat resting. Lucky him/her! 

Mickey Mouse plant/flower. 

We were up high above sea-level. The 360 degree view has a calming effect on our pent-up nerves and muscles.  

I wished that there was a zipline or cable car to take us back to base. Hehe!

Don't fall. Falling not allowed. =)

The tracks were a bit muddy and slippery. I slipped again like several times, so did  my  friends, I think. 

As we began our trip down, it was drizzling again. Good thing we were boy & girl scouts coz we were ready with our umbrellas

Simple countryside life of simple folks. 

Back down, back to normal. The trip took us around 20-30 mins, I think. Better wear sturdy sandals when you take this trip. I'm relieved my lola gave me a pair of sandals (not necessarily the type for this trip but it gave me a lot of security and comfort rather than wearing my trusty Havs. Whew! I survived the hike! 

Boiling mud?? Does not look like it but I'm not willing to prove it =)

See the steam at our back? Hot!

Smelled really bad like rotten eggs!

Happy to have conquered Mambukal's waterfalls. Or just plainly goofing around. 

Our kind tour guide who also carried my bag. We gave him a tip that, we think, made him happy. We sure hoped so. 

It's the bus for us on our way back to the city. We were again in a rush as we have reservations for the  fast ferry going to Iloilo so we paid for more than half of the passenger capacity of this mini-bus so we can start the travel back. I think we paid for like P700, I think. The wind blowing in our faces was so refreshing. And the sight was a stress-buster! 

Yup, this is Murcia! =)

Though we did not make it to the 7th Waterfall, we still came out victorious. And the guide said that the view of the 7th waterfall was not that fabulous as it was more of a flat area already since this is the mother of all 7 falls. So alright, we're convinced. Plus we were so tired already. To get there, that would be a 30-min more hike. No more! 

Overall take on this experience..It was a physical thing and once you start to climb, be sure that you can finish. Ready your body and mind. Haha!

For details on Mambukal Resort, check out: 
http://www.mambukalhaven.com/


For more posts on this trip, check these out: 

Day 1-Jomabo Island (Escalante City)

Day 1-Silay's Ancestral houses & San Diego Pro-Cathedral Church 

Day 1-Silay's El Ideal Bakery 

Day 1-The Ruins..Talisay's pride 

Day1-Bacolod's food feasts 

Day 2-Bacolod's famous Chicken Inasal 

Day 2-Iloilo's nightlife at Smallville 

Day 3-Guimaras Day Tour 

Day 3-Ziplining at Camp Alfredo 

Day 3-Guimaras' Villa Igang Resort at Alubihod Beach 

Day 4-Guimaras Island Hopping

Day 4-Iloilo's Heritage Churches