Negros Occidental and beyond

Bacolod is a seaside city that is less visited by tourists. But it is a place where an authentic local life can be seen and experienced. It is also the birthplace of the popular inasal or grilled chicken. Walking along the back alleys and seeing kids playing in the open air and local arcade reminded me of those sweet memories in the village where I grew up. 

Cloudy sunset at the esplanade

Local community praying on the street

Kids are creative in their games

A local back alley

Adults and kids enjoying a game

A local  furniture factory shop

San Sebastian Cathedral

Chicken Inasal

  

One of the key attractions in Bacolod in The Ruins, also known as "The Taj Mahal of Negros", an ancestral European architectural mansion built by a sugar baron in the 1900s for his beloved wife who passed away but it was burnt down during Japanese invasion in World War 2, hence the name The Ruins. Instead of taking a tuk tuk out, I walked for nearly 1 hour to the main bus terminal for next destination. But I discovered a local restaurant that serves authentic Bacolod dishes that I enjoyed the most. That is the reward of exploring by walking. 

The Ruins

Yummy local yam dish

Pumpkin

Green bean

Bamboo shoot

After The Ruins, I took a jeepney the popular Silay city, around 30 mins. Silay is famous for its colonial buildings where some are preserved as heritage. One of the heritage buildings to visit is Bernardino Jalandoni Museum, a living memory of the house of a sugar baron Jalandoni. What I enjoyed the most was having 2 rounds of fresh coconut amid the scorching heat in the market and chatting with the local vendor. 

Balay Negrense

Hofilena  Ancestral House

A local life

Maria Ledesma Gomez Heritage Building

This was an ancestral way of ironing by worker

Traditional way of removing coconut husk in the local market

I also had the opportunity to experience a local festival called Bablayan festival in Bago town about 40 mins away. It is held only once a year on 19 Feb in this tiny town to commemorate the pre-colonial shamans who served as custodians of herbal medicine, oral traditions and spiritual ritual. As I arrived in the morning before 9am, the parade by school bands and government officials from different departments was about to begin. It was lively with colorful musical troupes. 

Secondary school band

Primary school band

In the afternoon, the street was filled again with live street dance performances that ended in the coliseum theater with a competition. Unfortunately, I did not manage to watch the competition as I had to rush for a ferry ride to Iloilo to visit a friend.

A traditional charcoal cooked bingka

Mini canyon and ancient temple in Phrae

Phrae is a quiet small town with a public square to chill and enjoy street food at night. Nearby there are few attractions, including a mini canyon and a Buddha park.

Phae Mueang Phi Forest park is a mini canyon that looks like the mini version of grand canyon with yellow towers and rocks that some look like mushrooms. It is a great spot to snap pictures of mini towering and eroded sandstones. We could walk up a tiny hill in a mini loop to enjoy a panoramic view of the amazing rock columns.

Mushroom lookalike sandstone column

Amazing view from viewing platform

After that, we drove to a park called Wat Na Khu Ha. There is a big golden Buddha statue in the middle of the paddy field. It is breathtaking and relaxing to walk on a bamboo bridge over the lush green and brown paddy field. At the end of the bridge, one can climb up the small hill for a better view. It was a wonderful moment to have lunch with the tranquil view in a mini hut inside the park.

The entrance

A tranquil walk 

After that, we headed to the town. There is a popular Burmese style temple made of teak wood called Wat Chom Sawan. Phrae was long time ago a teak wood trade center. Then, there is another temple called Wat Phong Sunan which has a big golden reclining Buddha statue and an image hall adorned with 108 white spires topped with gold cone.

Wat Chom Sawan 

Wooded ceiling

Can you see the teak columns?

Wat Phong Sunan

In Phrae town, there is a also beautiful Thai European architecture museum called Khum Vongburi Museum. 

Khum Vongburi Museum

In the evening, one can sit the public town square, enjoying a live music and street food, besides strolling along the adjacent public park.

A walk in the public park

A public square