Michi Photostory: Bacolod

Showing posts with label Bacolod. Show all posts

February 13, 2018

31 Hours in Bacolod

One feature I like in Facebook is the “memories” because it indeed reminds me the beautiful memories in the past. I’m supposed to continue my Iceland Trip series but I changed my mind because I want to reminisce our Bacolod trip six years ago. We celebrated our wedding anniversary in Bacolod, Guimaras, and Iloilo so we only spent 31 hours in Bacolod.

I’m sharing with you the things that you can do in Bacolod for a short period of time. I hope this post can help you in planning your trip or doing your itinerary.

Day 1

We arrived at Silay Airport 10 minutes before our expected arrival at 5:25AM and our airport transfer was already there. Silay Aiport is 30 minutes away from Bacolod City; you can ride a van for P100/per pax, take a cab for P500 or avail airport transfer from your hotel for P500.

Circle Inn

We arrived at Circle Inn at 6AM, check-in time was 2PM, and unfortunately no early check-in. Circle Inn is one of the budget hotels in Bacolod that you can choose, The room is simple but it has a pool. Room was not available because they are really fully booked so we have no choice but to start our tour though we’re really sleepy.

Read: Circle Inn

Capitol Lagoon

We ate our breakfast in McDonalds and then we visited Capitol Lagoon. It is a park where you can see people from all walks of life, some are playing in the park, some are walking and jogging and some are doing their morning exercise. While we’re busy killing our time, watching people and taking pictures.

The Ruins of Mansion

Then we went to The Ruins of Mansion, (past 7AM) we stayed there for almost two hours. A trip to Bacolod is not complete without visiting The Ruins, though this place is not located in Bacolod but is near Bacolod.

Read: The Ruins of Mansion

There are other interesting sites in Negros Occidental such as Balay Negrense, Ancestral houses & Bernardino Jalandoni Museum, Mambukal Resort, Balay ni Tana Dicang, Negros Museum, San Sebastian Cathedral, and Lakawon Island. We did not visit these places because we were really here for food trip and Ruins of the mansion.

Food Trip in Bacolod

If you are planning your Bacolod trip, don’t forget to include Calea in your “Must Try Restaurant”. I really like their dessert and as of this writing, gusto ko makatikim ulit. Waah! After Ruins, we went straight to Calea for our coffee and cake food trip around 10AM.

Read: Calea Blueberry Cheesecake

We went back to Circle Inn (12NN) for check-in. Thank God, the room was already available, so we ate lunch (room service) and slept.

We ate dinner at 21 Restaurant around 6PM. If you are watching “Ang Pinaka” TV show, this restaurant is part of their “Top 10 Must Try Restaurant in Bacolod City”. Of course, dinner is not complete without dessert so we went back to Calea, just to buy cheesecake again. (take-out).

Read: Food Trip in Bacolod

We only have one night in Bacolod so my hubby and son took advantage of the swimming pool. It is their usual bonding while I’m busy packing our stuff because we have to leave the following day for our next leg.

Day 2

Pasalubong from Bacolod

Our room in Circle Inn is room only so we went to Pendy’s to buy some pasalubong and eat breakfast. (7AM) It is like a one stop shop because they have a lot of pasalubong here. I bought Virgie’s Galletas, Muscuvado Sugar, Meringue, Half-Moon Cake and Napoleones. We loved Napoleones and hindi na ito umabot sa Manila.

Read: Pasalubong from Bacolod

Manokan Country

We went back to the hotel and rested before our check-out. We left Circle Inn at 10:30AM and went straight to Manukan Country (taxi fare is P60). We had an early lunch because our boat scheduled trip is 12NN. From Manukan Country, we took trisikad (P30 and P1 entrance fee/port). Bacolod is famous for Chicken Inasal so don’t forget to include this in your food trip.

That’s it! Goodbye Bacolod and Hello Iloilo.

SuperCat Schedule and Price (Bacolod to Iloilo and v.v.)

Tourist Class (aircon)
Roundtrip Promo P550 all in
One-way P360 all in

Business Class (aircon)
Roundtrip Promo P650 all in
One-way Promo P460 all in

Super Value (non-aircon)
One way P260 all in

Schedule of Trips
6AM, 7:30AM, 9AM, 10:30AM,
12NN, 1:30NN,
1:30PM, 3:15PM and 5PM Klook.com

February 18, 2015

Pasalubong from Bacolod

The first time I went to Bacolod was in 2012, it is where we celebrated our wedding anniversary, it is our “Eat, Pray and Love” version. Bacolod is not really known for tourist spots but famous because of Masskara Festival. I'm not fond of festivals but one thing I like in Bacolod is their food.

Read: 31 Hours In Bacolod

Food Trip in Bacolod

The famous tourist spots in Negros Occidental are “The Ruins” in Talisay, Ancestral Houses in Silay, and 7 Falls in Mambukal Resort which is far from Bacolod. But whenever you research for Things to do in Bacolod, you will see those places but the truth is they are located outside Bacolod.

Whenever my husband has a business trip in Bacolod, I always asked him to buy a cake for my pasalubong. Since I was young, I dislike blueberry cheesecake but after I tasted the Calea Blueberry Cheesecake, everything changed. Now I love Cheesecake.

Too bad, Calea is located in Bacolod but I was happy that I can taste this from time to time. This cheesecake is not overly sweet, the crust has nuts that give a different texture and taste. You can also taste some chocolate chips. Yummy!

I told my husband to buy half cake only because we’re only three in the house. I remember last time, hirap na hirap kami ubusin yung whole cake.

Aside the cheesecake, I also love Napoleones. It is a puff pastry with cream inside and top with powdered sugar. I bought two boxes of Napoleones when we were in Bacolod but it did not reach Manila anymore. Kinain na namin sa biyahe.

So if ever you visit Bacolod, go to Calea and don’t forget to buy Napoleones.

April 03, 2012

Calea: Blueberry Cheesecake

Hubby came home last Friday from Cebu and Bacolod trip, last stop is Bacolod so I was really happy because I can taste again my favorite Calea blueberry cheesecake. I told you before that Calea is just in front of L’Fisher Hotel and hubby stayed in this hotel so he has no reason for not buying this cake.

One whole cake is good for 12 slices, P715 + P35 (pasalubong box). And as of this writing, I still have one slice left.

Read: 31 Hours in Bacolod

Pasalubong from Bacolod

Food Trip in Bacolod

February 27, 2012

Food Trip in Bacolod

Bacolod is not popular for tourist spots but if you want a food trip, Bacolod is the place to be…The food is not expensive compared to Metro Manila price so you will enjoy eating without splurging much. The downside part of our trip is we gained more pounds. (panira ng diet).

1. McDonalds

My husband suggested this place, he said “malapit lang hon, sa Mcdo na lang tayo” and I trusted him but it is very faaaaaaaar from Circle Inn, I guess 1 km (almost). McDonald is located just in front of Capitol Lagoon, can you imagine that, nilakad lang namin. Actually, we’re not really hungry because we ate lasagna at NAIA 3 just before our flight. But we don’t know where to go so we went to Mcdonald.

2. Calea

I’ve been reading good reviews about their cakes so even I dislike cheesecake, I tried it and you know what, I now love blueberry cheesecake and white cheesecake. I can have this every single day, how I wish we have Calea in Metro Manila. Did you know that Calea is just in front of L’Fisher Hotel and Saltimbocca Inn. That’s the reason why I said that they have the best location. We stayed for almost two hours again, coffee and cake food trip. P85 white choco cheesecake P85 blueberry cheesecake P85 imported chocolate cake

Our vote:

Hubby: 1. White Cheesecake 2. Blueberry Cheesecake 3. Imported Chocolate Cake

Me: 1. Blueberry Cheesecake 2. White Cheesecake 3. Imported Chocolate Cake

If Bacolod is our last stop, I will definitely buy one whole blueberry cheesecake. Writing this post is a torture because I really miss Calea.

Read: Calea

3. Circle Inn

Hubby didn’t like to eat lunch and he just wanted to sleep and sleep so we (me and my son) just called Circle Inn restaurant for room service. We ordered Dinuguan and Crispy Fried Chicken and Rice. Foods were just ok.

Read: Circle Inn

4. 21 Restaurant

The place looks intimidating and we’re really thinking twice if we will eat here or not because we’re just wearing a shirt and jeans. When I saw someone wearing a shirt and shorts we finally entered the restaurant.

Looking at the interior of the restaurant, I assume that the price is not affordable but I was shocked when I saw the price, it is not expensive. In addition to that, there’s no service charge but I’m sure you will give a tip because of the good service. We enjoyed our food; steak is so tender, juicy and flavourful. Great place to have a date. Fish Parmesan P270, Plain Rice P25, Steak with Mashed Potato P295. My son loves mashed potato and fried onion

After dinner, we dropped by at Calea again, do I have to say more. Additional P5 for takeout order (extra plastic daw)

5. Pendy’s

We had breakfast here at the same time, we bought pasalubong. Price is a little bit expensive and the taste is just ok, for me nothing special but my husband said their La Paz batchoy is better than Ted’s in Iloilo. Pansit P120, Batchoy P120, Butter Toast P25, and Half Moon P40.

Read: Pasalubong from Bacolod

6. Aida’s Manokan Country

This is the reason why I have to extend our stay in Bacolod. Of course, I won’t leave Bacolod without tasting the authentic Bacolod Inasal. Here in Metro Manila, I’m not a big fan of Inasal because I find them dry but in Bacolod, their chicken is juicy and flavourful. P70 Pechopak P16 rice

Read: 31 Hours in Bacolod
Pasalubong from Bacolod, Iloilo and Guimaras

February 24, 2012

Circle Inn

A month before our flight I emailed one hotel in Bacolod to inquire if they still offer the promo rate on their website and she said yes. I replied to her email to reserve one room for us. Then a week before our flight I confirm my reservation with them but to my disappointment, the room was not reserved and she said they no longer offer promo rate and if we want to reserve the room please reply immediately because Feb 15-19 is their peak season.

I did not answer back because I was really disappointed so, I searched the internet for possible accommodation; Circle Inn immediately responded to my inquiry and they told me the same thing.

“Please note that we are on peak season on Feb 15-19, 2012. We are requiring 50% non-refundable and non-rebookable confirmation deposit for the reservations we received within those dates.”

I reserved a room immediately because I only have few days left before our flight. I also availed the airport pick-up for P500, actually, we can take a van from the airport for P100/pax but my husband wants to avail the airport pick-up because our arrival time is 5:25AM (yes, ganyan kaaga, yan ang natira sa promo fare.)

Fast forward to our trip, we arrived at the hotel as early as 6AM, no early check-in so we just left our things and off we went to Capitol Lagoon to start our Bacolod Adventure. We went back at lunchtime and I was glad that they allowed us to check-in already. Circle Inn is a budget hotel so this is the room, twin beds, and bathroom.

It was time for lunch but my husband wanted to sleep so my son and I just ordered at the hotel for our lunch. I ordered dinuguan, fried chicken, and rice.

They have a pool too, my husband and son had night swimming while I was busy packing our stuff.

I have no problem with our stay in Circle Inn; my only concern is the location. I did not check on their location, Circle Inn is two to three jeepneys away from tourist spots and restaurant so we’re having a hard time in commuting. We have to walk two to three blocks away from the hotel just to look for trisikad or tricycle going to Lacson Street. We could save more if we stay at L’ Fisher or Saltimbocca Inn because most of our food trip is located in Lacson Street.

Read: 31 Hours in Bacolod
Food Trip in Bacolod

Circle Inn
Lopez Jaena – Malaspina Streets, Capitol Shopping Center
Bacolod City 6100 Philippines
Telephone: 63-34-709-9111 OR 63-34-709-9009
Telefax: 63-34-433-2538
Mobile/Text Messaging: 63-917-445-9972
E-Mail: bacolod@circleinnph.com

February 23, 2012

Pasalubong from Bacolod, Iloilo and Guimaras

I’ve watched Eat, Pray, Love movie of Julia Roberts last year and this inspires me to create our own version of Eat. Pray, Love since we can’t afford to go to Italy, India and Indonesia. Last Friday we had another trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary, so we Eat in Bacolod, we Pray in Iloilo and we celebrate Love in Guimaras.

These are some pasalubong that we bought from each places though our Bacolod pasalubong did not reach Manila, it was gone in 24 hours. (except for muscuvado sugar)

BACOLOD PASALUBONG

Virgie's galletas
Muscuvado sugar,
Pendy's meringue,
Pendy's Napoleones
Pendy's half moon cake

Bacolod is known for sugar plantations so it is not surprising if they love sweet foods. We went to Pendy’s for our breakfast and to buy some pasalubong. I will not leave Bacolod without tasting their famous Napoleones. We all love their Napoleones and too bad I only bought 2 boxes, I should buy at least 3 boxes, one for each of us. We also love half-moon, a simple cake with leche flan on top. So if you will visit Bacolod, don’t forget to buy Napoleones and half-moon at Pendy’s.

Read: 31 Hours in Bacolod

GUIMARAS PASALUBONG

Guimaras mango
Trappistine chocolate cookies
Mango yema
Mango cookies
Mango biscocho
Mango otap

They say that Guimaras Island is the home of the sweetest mango in the world so I make sure that we can taste this and now I understand why it is called the sweetest mango because it is really sweet. (no doubt na pang-export) I only bought 3 kilos, P70 per kilo for the unripe mango and P75 per kilo for the ripe mango.

If you plan to visit Guimaras, try to attend their Manggahan Festival on April 15 – 22, 2012. Our driver/tour guide told us that during the festival there is “eat all you can mango” for P50.

I also bought some mango products in Trappist Monastery but I find it weird when the package says mango yema, mango cookies and mango biscocho but we can’t taste any mango flavour. My husband said, “baka mango color lang”. =) I haven’t tried the mango otap yet.

ILOILO PASALUBONG

I’ve tried Biscocho Haus butterscotch last year so this time I bought butterscotch at JD Bakeshop (P150 per box), some says that JD butterscotch is better than Biscocho Haus but to tell you honestly, I can’t tell the difference except for the size and packaging. For me, they both taste good.