Resorts Negrense

               Swimming is one activity which people of all ages can enjoy doing together. In pursuit of going somewhere new without exhausting everyone, we celebrated sis' birthday at Resorts Negrense in Punta Taytay.

          The Resort is a kids' paradise. It has a pool and a playground (with seesaw, merry-go-round, animal rides, slides, swings, a wall for climbing). 

              For the adults, they have a lagoon for kayaking, pool slides, pool table which we haven't had the chance of using except for picture-taking and a bonsai garden to die for.

       

   We checked in after lunch and lost no time in getting wet (even before we got our wrist bands to use the pool). Testing period lasted an hour when the 'titas of  La Carlota' had no other choice but to play in the kiddie pool. Summer and Rain's gurgling laughter filled the air and the huge grins that were plastered their faces were priceless.

         When Rain retired for his afternoon milk, Summer took courage venturing into the adult pool in her "floatee". We played pirate-made-up-games going around the pool until the light waned, stopping only to refuel with mommy's spaghetti and buko salad.

          It was a day to remember despite lola's finding only 50% enjoyment in the whole event.

       

Little Farmers Coffee

Yesterday, JM provided a welcome interruption to my rather tedious morning of reproducing duplicate and triplicate copies of the program registration papers that I busied myself with. It was to report that he and Peter discovered a kiosk at East where I could finally source out my coffee beans while both AusAid and USAid are out of stock. It's called Little Farmers Coffee.

Tonight, after the vesper service, I walked from Maranatha towards Lopues with every intention to look up the coffee kiosk. It was located behind Cafe Bob's. At 7 pm, I chanced upon the owner who was busy refilling the labeled bean boxes. He was tall and fair with deep engaging voice that encourages conversation. I asked about the varieties the shop has on display. He asked me back on what I want with my brew. Automatically I said, strong but sans the bitter taste. He recommended the medium roast Arabica for that jolting strength and chocolatey taste. I bought 50 grams each of Kalinga and Benguet Arabica and the House Blend made of Arabica and Robusta with undisclosed ratio. My blend of choice will be decided in two weeks' time when I have sampled all of the stores beans.

Yes, the store sells with a minimum amount of 50g which varies from P29 - P44. One can buy whole beans or have them ground to suit brewing preferences. 

I had mine coarse enough for my french press.

BUS(ted)

Business activities in the cities of Silay and Talisay have been a part of my usual week activity of late and taking the bus is the most convenient way to go. The seats are comfortable and the schedule, reliable. 

It's a wonder that the north bus terminal's ticketing system could be so efficient and organized while that going down south is so horrific.  

Friday nights are a nightmare, with having to compete for space with students who go home to their respective cities for the weekend. With everyone wanting to get on the bus first, passengers scrambling for a seat on a running bus is commonplace. I am not a stranger to an exchange of heated words about who got to the seat first. 

When I am in a hurry and pressed for cash, I usually take the already packed bus and sit on the platform beside the driver right above where the engine is located. The heat emanating from it was naturally comfortable and the drivers would usually loan their bamboo backrest for me to sit on. 

In cases when I have money to spare, I find myself taking two trips aboard Hinigaran or Kabankalan and alighting at San Enrique for another bus or puj that head for La Carlota. At times, a passing Canlaon or La Castellana bus has become a natural option for me too.  

Others may have been as patient and ingenious as I am but who has the time for such trivialities. Why can't the Vallacar people sit together and share best practices in the business.  A consistent and organized system will benefit both their company and the people they serve (or the people that give them their business in the first place).

Spontaneity on a Roll

To hop on the bus on a whim, leaving everything behind for a few carefree hours, is just what I deserve after a very long week at work.

And to find one self in a situation in which PATIENCE is the basic currency makes the experience more difficult to dismiss.

It being Friday might have caused the unusual volume of night travelers but boy, the wait that I had to endure on getting a bus was something that I have only been subjected to when coming from the big city. An hour has passed before the bus left the terminal and I was not seated, having elected not to join the surge of passengers determined to go home on time.

The objective was to catch the last full show while waiting for Omil to get off from work, which of course, didn't happen. By the time we got to the terminal, Omil has left the office already. It was some time past 10 pm already. As an alternative, we went back from whence he came and grabbed a late meal (as if we haven't indulged already earlier in the day).

I had dessert which we metabolized later walking around the New Government Center. We ended our madness at the break of a new day, catching the first trip to Hinigaran.

The Ideal Destination

Today was all about giving Marlo as much as we could in terms of cultural, geographical and gastronomical experience that is distinctly Negrense.

 After a very long first day, I left the house with him still sleeping on the couch while I went about marketing and preparing breakfast. When I got back two hours later, he was already up and about we walked to mother's to eat and walked back to prepare for yet another long day.

The road construction along Valladolid got us held up for a good thirty minutes, it was already lunchtime when we reached Bacolod. We alit in front of the old City Hall so we could walk downtown, crossing the city plaza stopping by at the Cathedral for the angelus before heading to the Capitol. There, we checked out the contents of the museum which is not that much from what I can remember then strolled at the capitol lagoon before walking the rest of the way to Pepe's for lunch and meet Annie as well (who elected to join us for the night at the house). I ordered him Salpicao while I had my usual Lamb Stew which he sampled sparingly.

Annie had the rest of the afternoon mapped out for us. She was able to get two girlfriends of her drive us to Silay and Talisay for the must visit Balay Negrense, El Ideal and the Ruins.

The search for Balay Negrense (which we called Balay ni Gretchen in reference to Annie's anecdote of it having been called as such by some tourists) was over after our novice driver got over her confusion over going straight ahead or turning left or right. We were the last to arrive and the staff were starting to call it a day. Having been there before, I was good after getting a good shot a sitting at the porch bench.

There are two ways (I learned during this trip) in which to reach the Ruins. One was through a private subdivision (which we used when I went there with Lira) passing through Rose Lawn which offered a refreshing look at memorial gardens with their amazing lights that cast soft gold glow, it makes you think of an outdoor party. We took the easier but longer route which passes through the airport access road bu turning left on the second stoplight (where we had to wait about two to three cycles as the green light was out of order...it was a funny one).

After many wrong turns and liters of fuel and bouts of belly-aching laughter, yes we did all what we had set to do and see. That included eating dinner at Ading's where I had JD join us. Suprises for the night include JD graduating in the same school and year as Annie's :)

An Unexpected Journey

There is no wealth of experience that I could tap from with this idea of entertaining a person whom I came to know yet seldom interact with from almost a decade ago.

Slow nights and free data are definitely ingredients for a silly recipe. I picked Marlo up from a bunch of guys I know to chat with one night. After a brief exchange, I found myself inviting him over to spend the Holy Week. He sounded unsure most of the time I checked him on his preparation that I didn't mind until one day before he was due to arrive, I suddenly realized I know very little about him and so began worrying about how to make his stay with me worth his spending hours on the road to get here.

He arrived four-ish and I picked him up from the terminal. He seemed to have not changed, it didn't take me long to find him in the crowd. He sat at the back most part of the terminal. At 31, he still looks youthful (just like me...hahaha).

His coming was welcomed by a torrential rain which came during dessert at Calea (after coffee at Kuppa ans dinner at Manokan Country). Taxi was scarce I did the impossible like calling the Maits (Jing2 and Manong) to get us one, to no avail. It didn't help that after getting wet, we stood on the bus for almost half the time that it took for us to reach LC.

I don't know how to label our partnership. Back home, were like an old couple retiring for the night with him busy on his manga and me in front of the computer while we chat about what happened in the intervening years. Our exchange was a quiet one, maybe because he was tired. He has been traveling since 7am.

A Day After New Year's Day

Last  night I was occupied with chatting among other things. Volts asked about rephrasing the letter he composed for their supplier regarding a new equipment.    What he came up with sounded good already so I  only did some minor tweaking. 

Besides that, it took me a lot of time to upload today's pictures online. Since the native FB app doesn't work yet, I had to share them first to A500 (which battery was in critically low level already and I left the charger at mother's) or HP (which do not have editing apps like photogrid). 

Earlier in the day, as planned   KZ and I went out. She was scheduled to claim her new ATM card and buy some spray paint for her room while I 'needed' to buy casing for my windows phone, claim planner from Starbucks and pick up camera (I left at Pats' in Cebu two months ago when I attended Maddie's wedding) from Mama Sen at the clinic. Sis also had me enquire about flying ticket rates for next week. 

Since its just along the way to Robinson's, Ordonez Clinic was our first stop. It was some time past 1pm and they were closed for siesta. Peeking throughout the tinted walls, I caught the attention of a girl lounging on the couch mouthing that it was mamasen I went there for. After a few exchanges through closed doors, we finally understood each other and out  came mamasen with the camera. Flattering that she mistook me for a much younger sister exclaiming that I looked like a teenage girl. That went on for a spell with her recalling us with her frequent mistaken age as well. She turned down my invite for coffee at Bisogno (just a few paces away from their building). Instead she advised me to take mucoangin for my persistent cough and cold.

I had an espresso that I know tasted good. Even with my non-functional taste buds, I could feel that distinct coffee taste in my mouth. I promised myself to have the same bevy the next time I happen by.