The day started when my alarm clock buzz at 5:00am. It was dark and chilly. I scheduled a 5K run today so I have to up and ready by 5:15am. After about an hour of running (and some snapshots) around the resort, I found a way outside going up to the nearby Don Bosco Retreat House. I realized that it was also another route going up to the 7th waterfalls of Mambukal Resort so I just continued trail running up until I reached the waterfalls. Time check: 8:15am
Note: For my new readers, I’m recounting my recent 14-Day Solo Backpacking Challenge with P250 budget per day, all-in (transpo, food, accommodation, gimik, etc.). So far I’m done with DAY 1 & Day 2.
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| Lake for Kayaking |
The waterfalls was refreshing and invigorating, a perfect treat after running for more than an hour without hydration. Some lessons I learned from mountaineering: you can drink water from the mountain stream/waterfalls/river as long as the water path hasn’t crossed anything that would contaminate it like households or poultry house/piggery or the likes. So I drank from the falls until quenched! But then I had this motto that “all waters must be tested.” Figuratively and literally, I have to take a dip on that tempting icy-cold water.
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Bridge, Extreme Sports, Sulfur Spring, Swimming pool,
Bat watching and Butterfly keychains
Click Image to enlarge |
Looking around the area I found no one. It’s time to do one from my Bucket List– skinny dipping. So for more thrill and excitement I went into the water naked. Everyone should try it once in their lifetime- to feel unashamed and free (parang si Oble sa YuPi na nagswimming). Anyway, I think that is the highlight of my 3rd day. Sorry guys, I don’t have pictures of that or even the falls (didn’t bring my cam). And even if I have those, its not for everyone’s consumption.
From the 7th waterfalls you can just take the established foot trail along the river going back to the resort (30-45minutes trek). Then after breakfast I roamed around the resort and had some shots- the flora being sold inside the resort, the lake, hotspring, trees, etc.
Had my breakfast then a relaxing dip in the hot pool. It was very relaxing that I forgot to check on the time, I hurriedly fixed my stuff, had my late lunch and off I went to Libertad terminal to catch the next trip to La Carlota City. I arrived pass 6:00pm at La Carlota City then I met my friend K who is very very gracious and hospitable for the rest of my stay in her hometown. More stories of K and La Carlota on Day 4.
ACTIVITIES I DID
7 Waterfalls of Mambukal. I haven’t seen all of them, I think I saw only 4 and swam on the 7th. The trek was also great. Don’t forget to bring your camera and capture the beauty and mystery of the waterfalls.
Dipping at the Hotspring. The entrance to the hotspring would mean that I would surpass my P250 budget. I have no choice but to stare at those who are enjoying the hot water bath. I wasted no time and just had some chit-chat with Mike and the caretaker in-charge of the entrance fee. After some 15 minutes of conversation, I was allowed to enter- for FREE. I still don’t know why.
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| Click Image to Enlarge |
Flowers Photoshoot. Just wanted to capture the beauty of the various flowers being sold inside the resort.
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| not for the faint-hearted- the joys of toploading |
TopLoad. One way to enjoy your commute is to try going up to the roof of the bus and enjoy the cheap thrill risk it gives you. Travelling topload-style gives you a different perspective of the route, the scenic backgrounds that you pass by. It also gives you a panoramic view Mt.Kanlaon and an unlimited burst of shutter as you like to capture every angle from your lenses.
FOODS I ATE
Pancit, Bread, Quail eggs & Coffee for breakfast; Nilagang Bangus for lunch;
and Fish, Pochero & Leche flan for dinner
PEOPLE I MET
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| Clockwise: Stanley, Benji & Mike, Rex & me, Cyril & Juan Miguel |
Benji Romo. He is one of the tour guides to the 7 falls. Although you really don’t need a guide leading you to the 7 falls, Mike (the American that I met from Day 2) asked for Benji’s help to carry his bag. Benji is also one of the tour guides to Mt.Kanlaon, very nice and friendly guy. his contact number will be posted as a comment on this post.
Stanley. The kid from the eatery.
Juan Miguel & Cyril. High school students from Lopez Jaena National HS whom I met on my way back to Libertad, Bacolod City. We are on the same bus- topload style.
Rex. A nurse working in Bacolod city. He was my seatmate on my way to La Carlota City. He suggested that I take the pumpoat from Valladolid rather than Pulupandan going to Guimaras; which I found out to be cheaper. Thanks Rex! Hope to meet you again.
K. Friendship pays off. K is a friend of my sister. I know her because she studied at UPLB. She offered me a big room in La Carlota and was gracious enough to feed me while I stayed their for 2 nights. A big hug and thanks K!
Mambukal Resort Rates
Entrance
Adult – P30
11 yrs old & below – P10
Light vehicles – P15
Trucks/Buses – P30
Swimming Pools
Adult – P50
11 yrs old & below – P20
Picnic Huts
Big – P600
Small – P300
Wall Climbing – P25
Slide for Life – P100 (2 slides)
Canopy Walk – P50
Boating – P30/person
Butterfly Garden – P20
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| Coffee Shop near Butterfly garden |
Accommodation (Check in 2:00pm, Check out 12:00nn)
LGU Cottage – P900 (2 single beds/matrimonial)
– P1,200 (4 single beds)
– P1,500 (2 single beds & 2 double decks)
Family Cottage – P6,000 (2 bedrooms w/living room, dining room and kitchen)
Tourist Lodge – P600 (Ordinary); P750 (Deluxe); P1,000 (Executive use)
Camping Fee – P30/person (you can pitch your own tent)
Contact Infos: Mambukal reservation Office (034) 709-0990 0r (034)433-8516; Mambukal Resort (034 710-0801)
Transportation Info:
Libertad – Mambukal (6:00am)1st trip (7:00pm)last trip
Mambukal – Libertad (5:00am)1st trip (6:00pm)last trip
The minibus (double-tire) leaves after every 20minutes, fare is PhP30-35.
Day 3 Expenses (in Philippine peso)
P30 Entrance Fee to Mambukal Resort
P30 Camping Fee (so I can set up my hammock)
P20 Tropicana
P15 Pancit (breakfast)
P2 Hot water (I brought my own coffee)
P13 Bread
P10 Quail eggs
P35 Sinigang na Bangus with 1 1/2 cups of rice
P8 Coke Sakto
P30 Minibus (Mambukal-Libertad terminal)
P30 Minibus (Libertad-La Carlota City)
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P223 (US$4.90), see I think P250 is still big for me…hahaha
I met some beautiful ladies during Day 4, one looks like Taylor Swift. Be sure to visit back to see them.
Libertad – Mambukal (6:00am)1st trip (7:00pm)last trip
Benji Romo's contact number: 0928-4900763. just tell him i gave you his number.
Wowww again James… I think the enjoyment and fun you had on your travel/solo backpacking cannot be fully expressed by word alone.(Heyy, got a number of one of the ladies you've met on Day 4? hahaha)
yes pedz! it was a blast, its hard to share everything and words are not enough to describe everything i have gone through. thanks for following the story.about the number, yes, i do.haha
Very inspiring. So this is the place I will be visiting next year. I got my vacation time approved. Thanks for sharing your trip, your journey with the rest of us man. It was nice of him to let you in and take a dip. The rice looks very good. Those flowers are breathtaking! Look forward to seeing the rest of your journey! Take care.
thanks kenley! it takes me longer to write everything about it. the journey is breath-taking and unexplainable at times. hope you are enjoying the stories. see you in PH then.
may day3 na pala.. really, must try ba yung take a dip with no clothes at all? baka hulihin ako ng pulis..way to go! Ü
asteeg ng feeling! try it soon, haha! and thanks for following the journey.
DAY 3 done!..title pa lang interesting na "NAKED", hehe. ganda ng mga kuha, can i have the flowers, i really love flowers and i easilly fall in love on a man giving me flowers,haha ♣♣♣. in your 3rd picture, your eyes telling me "tara ligo tayo", hehehe..dami ko na iimagine…super nice! ¶
naks, talagang sinubaybayan mo ha. sure, get the flower!
oo nga, sayang di ko dala yung camera when i swam naked. meron sana akong remembrance for my eyes only.hahaha
seriously, thanks!
Pjames Astig! ganda naman nito!.. Astig ka sa mga trip, pasabit naman! ..miz u poh! ganda ng mga shotz mo..
hi anamae! astig noh? natutunan ko yan sa mga trek natin sa palawan. na-miss ko tuloy yung irawan falls. miss you guys. hike tayo ulit kapag naka balik ng ng puerto
hi anamae! astig noh? natutunan ko yan sa mga trek natin sa palawan. na-miss ko tuloy yung irawan falls. miss you guys. hike tayo ulit kapag naka balik ng ng puerto
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Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too excellent. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
thanks james.. im glad and proud that im one of those person who contributed in just a simple way to make your journey your in Negros Occidental more meaningful:-)hehehe…
hi rex! thank you so much for the tip, i learned a lot from you. i even wrote something about you: https://journeyingjames.com/2010/09/travel-tip-thursday-3-talk-to-your-seatmate/
toploading, pangkaraniwan na yan sa amin sa Quirino at mga karatig probinsia. I just don’t know now na binabawal na pati pagsabit sa jeep at marami na rin ang means of transportation plus the fact na sementado na ang daan kaya pati mga tricycle kaya na umakyat sa bulubunduking lugar sa amin.
Hi!
how much yung rates ng room sa mambukal? pano ka nakapunta dun from bacolod airport?
nasa blog po, please read carefully
Hi James,
i’ve been following ur blog and updates on ur travel.. we’re planning for Bacolod this Sep.11 and this article is one great help for a newbie to Bacolod..very interesting..thanks.. God bless always 🙂
Nice to know, you have visited my workplace Mambucal (Tourist Lodge, 1975). The trees surrounding Don Bosco Retreat House were remnants of the trees planted by Student Volunteers of Negros, 1986-87,(My project with Italian priest Fr. Uras. It was barren then). Nice blog, P250 was a great idea. Tnx JJB.
Hi James, We are having a bacolod trip on nov 11-14 and we want to stay at Mambukal. I have tried calling all their landlines and even Benji Romo, but can’t reach them. Do you have other contact from the resort? We really wanna stay there because we were amazed of what you showed us. Thank you James!