ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE

It's the fourth day of our trip.  And the most important question then, was, should we go to the tree or not?  Actually, the night when we were in Siquijor, I already had this resolve not to visit the tree anymore because of the fear that we would missed our flight back to Manila if we insisted.  That means, no matter how much I desire to see the tree, we simply don't have the time.  It was just sad that my desire to visit it the first time I went to Dumaguete and the second time now, would still not be a disappointment.

The following day, we were already back to Dumaguete by 7 am.  We took a camera shot again of ourselves with the Siliman University as the background.  

Suddenly, a bus going to Canlaon City passed by.  And my resolved not to go to Canlaon city was overpowered  my long desire to see the Oldest Balete Tree in Asia.  We took the passing of the bus as a sign to us that we are definitely going to the said tree.

We just bought something for a pasalubong in Dumaguete and then rushed to the bus station.  I think it was around 8:30 am when we left Dumaguete.  We rode on a non-aircon bus.  I am not aware if there is an airconditioned bus going there.  We were told that it will be a four hour trip.

While on our way to Canlaon City, I had this feeling that we practically covered the whole of Negros province in our trip.  Going to Dumaguete we passed by the cities and towns of Negros Occidental and going to Canlaon City via Negros Oriental towns and cities.  This fact gave me a feeling of happiness and fulfillment even if the trip was pretty tedious especially to first timers like us.   The  trip felt like an eternity.  But once we spotted these scenery, we   became preoccupied with the breathtaking view.

There was this point in our trip
were you would likened going
to Baguio because of the zigzag
road.  Just by seeing the mountain
ranges is enough to call your trip
a heavenly experience

Past 12 pm when we finally reached Canlaon City. I thought that the Balete Tree can be seen along the way but we were wrong.  At the bus station were motorcycle driver awaiting for tourists who would like to visit the Balete Tree.  We were asked by the  drivers of P200 each for the ride.  I realized how expensive this trip to that tree was.  But we would not braved the long trip to Canlaon City and the possibility of missing our flight back to Manila if we would just missed this sight.

It took us 25 minutes more or less to reach the hidden tree.  Sulit naman ang layo at presyo ng travel the moment we saw the balete tree.

Why am I so eager to see this tree?  Because it not just an ordinary tree.  It is 1,350+ years old.  It is the oldest in Asia.  Before the Philippines was discovered, this tree was already standing still and strong.  And perhaps this tree will still outlive most of us.  Naalala ko tuloy ang tula ni Joyce Kilmer na The Tree na may last line na, "Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree.  And to give you an idea that Kilmer was really right that a tree can be a manifestation of God's majesty and power, look at the picture below.

That's how small  I am compared to
the giant tree

The two drivers encouraged us to climb higher but we were afraid that it would be difficult going down.  They said that there are tables and chairs waiting for us on top of the tree.  But we are pressed by time so we dismissed the idea of climbing higher.

The other side of the tree has a whole
were we looked like dwarfs inside

Around the tree are rice fields and Mt. Kanlaon

The little time we spent experiencing the tree was no matched to the long hours of trip.  But the feeling was surreal.  I was really in awe before the tree ... the magnificent tree.

Because of this experience we missed our other itinerary in Bacolod City.  But I had no regrets because all that we missed were just man made attractions but the tree that we saw "only God can do."

By the way, we did not miss our flight.

THE CITY OF THE GENTLE PEOPLE AND THE MYSTIC ISLAND

Di ba panalo ang title ng post na ito mga friends? Ang lakas lang maka-Indiana Jones. Hahahaha!

This post is about the third day of our Bacolod Trip and Beyond.  Early morning, we packed our things up and prepared to leave.

In front of our gracious host place

Past 7 am when we headed to the bus station.  Doon namin aabangan ang mga Ceres bus papuntang City of the Gentle People, Dumaguete.  Merong dalawang route  to Dumaguete.  We chose the faster one, via Mabinay.  The trip was generally smooth and the scenery were mostly plain.  What do you expect to see in the sugar capital of the Philippines kundi malawak na taniman ng tubo?  Hahahahahahaha!

Past 12 pm na nang makarating kami ng Dumaguete.  Since it's lunch time, binalak naming kumain sa Highway 10.  It is a famous burger house in Dumaguete.  But we found out that the store was transferred

to Robinson's Mall kaya hindi na lang kami nagtuloy doon.  Habang naghahanap kami ng makakainan, nagpicture taking muna kami sa Belfry ng Dumaguete.

Second time ko nang magpakuha rito,
As if may nabago malibang tumanda na
ako at ang belfry na ito

and the famous Rizal Boulevard

From Rizal Boulevard, one can see the islands of Siquijor and Cebu.  Upon learning that we can reach Siquijor in an hour, tumaas ang level ng interes namin na puntahan nga siya.

Ticket Window to Siquijor

I already forgot how much were our tickets

The last trip from Siquijor to Dumaguete is 3 pm.  Kaya, we have no choice kundi mag-overnight na lang sa Siquijor. At dahil we are in a rush and in hunger, eto ang pinaka descent na lunch namin that time.

Eatery near the entrance gate of the port
going to Siquijor

After an hour, we reached Siquijor.  Contrary to the impression of many people on Siquijor, we did not see and feel anything creepy at all.  It is just like any places that we've been too.

We intended to go back to Dumaguete the earliest time possible the next morning kaya we made reservation first for our trip back.  The next thing that we did was to look for a place to stay.  One tricycle driver guided us to their tourism office that is just right at the end of the port.  There we were informed of all the  places that we can visit in Siquijor.  We were told that in one day one can tour around the island.  But the tricycle driver was charging us P800 for the ride excluding the entrances on the tourists spots.  We decide not to go anymore since it was almost mid afternoon and our priority was to look for a place to stay and rest.

I think that the tourism authority should make the tour affordable.  Don't they know about the ill reputation of the island?  Dagdagan pa ba naman iyon ng pagmahal mahal na transportation fee at entrance fee sa mga tourist spots.

We have chosen a place called, "Diamond" something.  Nakalimutan ko na ang exact na pangalan.  For P50 the tricycle driver took us there.  But we asked him to stop first in St. Francis of Asisi Church  for  some picture taking.

So this is the antidote in case you are still afraid
to go to Siquijor, the church.

Another shot, another belfry

The High School across the church.

After a quick picture taking, we went to the place we intended to stay.  For 1k+, a couple can stay in this airconditioned room.  Another P200 for the use of television.  We did not avail of the TV anymore since we don't have enough time to  spare watching TV.  

Inside the room were we stayed overnight

The back of our room

We spent some more time for taking shots

Napagdiskitahan namin itong puno '
na gawing studio. Hehehehe

The sea across our room

The coastline

After the photoshoot, we prepared ourselves for a quick swim but ended up with another photoshoot.  Hahahahaha!

The sand is whiter on the other side of the beach but we were too lazy to go.  Kaya, tinuloy na lang namin ang swimming sa bathroom.  Hahahaha!

Then, we went to the reception and dining area for some chat with the personnel.  We found out that one can hire a motorcycle to explore the island for P350 a day.  But again, we didn't have much time to do it.  Besides, it is getting dark that time.  We were not that adventurous that time.  Hahahaha!

Our chat with the two ladies there went to the mystical reputation of the island.  But they refuted the idea.  We do not believe it too.  Sabi nga nila wala namang masyadong mayamang tao sa Siquijor para mangayuma ang mga tao.  May sense nga naman.

There is no Jollibee or any commercial fastfood in the island.  Lugi lang ang negosyo dahil the people cannot afford to eat in fastfood regularly.

Kaya, we have no option but to have our dinner prepared by them which a little bit pricey compared to ordinary fastfood.

I ordered a beefsteak.
it should be yummy for its price

My wife ordered a porkchop
She requestd for a calamansi but the lady
did not get it at first.  Only to find out that
calamansi in Siquijor is called "suha."
Hahahaha!  That is what the mystery in Siquijor.
The language!No more, no less

It was too dark in the place where we were kaya the only option was to get inside the room and spend time inside.

I just had a cup of coffee and spent a little time surfing.  Good thing, Globe has a strong signal where we were kaya nakapag surfing pa ako. Hehehehe!

Sayang at hindi namin nagawang maexplore ang isla.  Ganito ang nangyayari kapag wala sa plano ang lakad.  But we are happy nonetheless.  At least we have proven the impression on Siquijor wrong.  Who knows, we might come back to this island?