The Island Explorer

Among all the islands of the Visayas, my most least explored is the island of Negros. Usually, when I'm in Negros, I just devour in Bacolod or passby in Dumaguete. I have been to most cities and towns, but mostly for work, so I haven't gotten enough time to really discover new places. So, after another business trip to Bacolod, I took three days to explore, and my choice was the town of Sipalay and its surroundings.

Bacolod may not trigger as a choice destination for travelers, except say for its famous Maskara Festival and cuisine. I always pass up chances to go to Bacolod, since I always end up pounds heavier. There are several new hotels in Bacolod, but one of my original favorites is the Sugarland Hotel. 

Anybody who has been to Bacolod must have heard about Calea. When I first stepped into its doors four years ago, I immediately fell in love with the White Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake. I even branded it as one of the best cheesecakes in the country. It's now 2011 and because of its inevitable popularity, Calea has grown immensely.

We stayed in Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod. I was surprised to see that it has already been renovated. The hotel has been given a well-deserved remodeling and redesign, making it one of the best hotels in the city. The hotel is brighter and looks more modern with the renovation. I don't now when the renovation took place, but back then, it looked very dated. The rooms here are comfortable and reasonably priced. We got this standard twin room for only P1,100. The pool area looked even better. For the price we paid, I thought that this hotel offered the best value in Bacolod. And to top it all off, there was free breakfast. I wonder that we paid for in this hotel, considering all the amenities it had. So when in Bacolod, I highly recommend Sugarland Hotel. This historic gem is also located near the hippest and most happening place in Bacolod, Goldenfields. And with rates that are no match most 4-star hotels in other parts of the country, this has got to be one of the best value hotels a

It's been 2 months since I last wrote. I apologize for the inactivity for the past months. My schedule and trips didn't permit me to write about the places I have been to. Anyway, I will be picking up from where I left off in my last entry, and that was my 5 day trip around the Visayas and Mindanao areas. It began in the land of smiles, Bacolod in the island of Negros. Bacolod fills me with memories of only one thing: FOOD. Thus, my first stop was of course, Calea. Perhaps everyone who has been to Bacolod has been to Calea, that once quaint bakeshop that has now grown twice its original size. I was glad to see Calea has retained most of the sweet offerings they have been known for. I am a huge fan of their Concorde, as pictured below. The layers of rich chocolate and meringue are so addicting that this small slice is never enough. But there's one thing that I keep craving for. The thought of Bacolod almost relates to this cake, the White Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake. I on