Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Life begins where WIFI is weak
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We drink the buko juice and eat the buko meat in the province

I was invited to drink buko juice and eat the buko meat the traditional way. Buko in the Philippines means young (unripe) coconut. It's all about to collect some coconuts fresh from the backyard, pour out the coconut water and then scrape the inside of the coconut to get the meat. Since the coconuts is unripe the meat is soft little bit like jelly and tastes delicious.
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Wow! Sipalay

Sipalay is really the little pearl of Western Negros Occidental. A sleepy little town with incredible beautiful surroundings. You have an amazing beach just downtown Sipalay with the nicest sunsets you ever seen. In the video I will take you through the wet market and we will visit the Kyla's, the best eatery in Sipalay.
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Mambukal Resort, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines, © www.travelblogonline.com, a bat

If you are lucky you might see one of these

Mambukal Resort, a perfect daytrip for the whole family

Once upon a time, a hill station was established in the area in 1923, through a provincial administrative order, to serve as a weekend getaway for the officials of the Negros Occidental provincial government and its guests. Now many years later it has became a tourist attraction mainly known for its Sulfur pools with a public sulfur pool, the Japanese-constructed rotenburo and the Ishiwata Bath. But there are also waterfalls, picnic spots, butterfly garden which attracts the visitors. 
Mambukal is home to several rare bat species for example the endemic giant golden-crowned flying fox and the Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat can be seen in the area. These, along with other resident bat species, are estimated to number between 7,500 to 8,000.

Facts

From Bacolod, take the bus from Mambucal Bus Terminal 40 PHP person. The trip takes 45 to 60 minutes. The last stop is the Mambukal resort so no worries there. Entrance fee is 50 PHP per adult. There is a foodcourt with several restaurants. So no worries there either if you are hungry and thirsty. The food is fully recommendable. Some of the attractions cost additional, for example the sulfur pools. 50-100 PHP per person. You can hike to the waterfalls and swim and if you are really lucky you might see some of the mythical creatures of the forest as well. When you are done the bus is waiting for you. They are going every 10 minutes (or so, you are in the Philippines after all) back to Bacolod.  
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Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Sunset, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

Yes, there are sunsets here at Punta Ballo Beach

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Main entrance, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

The main entrance to Easy Diving Resort

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Beachfront, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

Down at the beachfront

​Come as guest leave as friend

Come as guest leave as friend, is Easy Diving's motto. And yes, I think so. I made some friends here. Easy Diving and Beach Resort is beautifully located on Punta Ballo Beach around 15 minutes from downtown Sipalay. Expect to pay around 200-250 PHP to the tricycle driver. The Resort has 20 air-conditioned bungalows plus 2 bungalows with fan. 
Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Beachfront, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

It was very quiet here

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

The restaurant comes with sea breeze and ocean view

The bungalow was very fresh

Since I don't like air-condition I booked my bungalow with fan instead, actually there were two fans. Everything was very fresh and clean. The bungalow had a nice little porch with two chairs and a table where you could sit in the evenings and enjoy the quietness and practice stargazing. A so called free WiFi was included as a pocket WiFi. As far as I remember you had 3 GB of load for free. When you had consumed that you had to pay extra to get an additional 3 GB load. I was told this was only temporary until they had fixed a more permanent WiFi solution. I hope they did.
Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, My room, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

I really like the idea of bedside tables with lamps

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, My room, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

The bungalow had no AC instead it had two fans which suited me much better!

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, My room, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

It was very clean everywhere

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Say no to plastic, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

To fight the plastic pollution you could buy an aluminum bottle for 500 PHP with free refill of service water

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

The restaurant where you could enjoy Easy Diving's delicious food. They also accept walk in guests.

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

In the evenings they had mosquito coils so I was spared from mosquito bites

The food heaven 

In the restaurant they served excellent food, both Filipino and European style. The tuna steaks became quickly my favourites. Not to mention the delicious pancake with fresh mango and ice cream which was really addictive! In the evenings the atmosphere was really cozy in the restaurant. I was just sitting there inhaling the sea breeze and watched the sunset and contemplated about how good life was.
Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Tuna Steak, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

Oh my! I could die for this tuna steak with spicy wasabi sauce and garlic rice

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Tuna Steak, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

My second love, tuna steak with creamy yellow curry sauce...

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Pancake, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

My secret lover forever! Pancake filled with fresh mango served with ice cream and chocolate sauce

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Bicol Express, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

Bicol Express, a famous spicy dish from the region of eastern Philippines, Bicol

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Breakfast, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

As delicious as it looks, the crispy bangus (fish) with rice and egg. So so Philippines!

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Breakfast, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

After a night of stargazing you need a real breakfast, so what can be better than hash browns with bacon and egg??

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, The restaurant, Shrimps, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

A delicasy for the most demanding taste, spicy shrimps fried with chilli and garlic

Easy Diving has lots to offer

Easy Diving offers a lot, specially for those who are divers and I was told there are some really good diving spots just near. But even snorkelling was good if you swam enough out from the shore line. All the staff, from the owner to the room service were all very friendly and helpful. My highlights were the food, the quietness and beautiful location by the sea and not to mention my stargazing moments from my porch. 
Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Stairs, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

One of the many stairs at Easy Diving

Easy Diving and Beach Resort, Sipalay, Reception, Philippines © travelblogonline.com

The friendly hotel dog taking a nap in the reception

Video clip

The video shows a bit of what to expect from the stairs and the snorkeling near the beach.

Conclusions about Easy Diving Resort

I paid 2300 PHP per night for the bungalow with fan and breakfast included. That was competitive when I compared with other resorts in the same area at Punta Ballo Beach. The location of Easy Diving is more convenient than those resorts at the famous Sugar Beach which is only accessible by boat. But be aware of the stairs, if you can't or don't like to walk in stairs then Easy Diving might not be for you. There are many stairs to walk when moving around in the resort. Aside from that, the food, the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness in the bungalow were excellent. 
Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location
5 Sleep Quality
5 Rooms
5 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness 
Easy Diving and Beach Resort
Punta Ballo
6113 Sipalay-City
Philippines
(0063) 91 730 003 81
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Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Sipalay is famous for beach resorts with astonishing views and the mythical Sugar Beach.

Going by scooter to Sipalay

We decided to make a road trip on the scooter to Sipalay. The distance is roughly 180 km from Dumaguete to Sipalay one way. Either you can go along the coast which is a little bit longer and with more traffic or you can take the way through the mountains and Pamplona. We decided for traversing the mountains. The road was in very good condition, incredible beautiful and not much traffic. 
Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Well equipped with shades, helmets and face masks we were ready to go.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

We traversed the mountains and passed Pamplona.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The mirror is the girls best friend.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Sometimes we needed to ask for directions.

The video shows the first stretch going from Dumaguete to Bayawan. We ended up having a huge barbecue dinner at Maricel's place.

We stayed in Bayawan, coming halfway

On our way we were surprised by heavy rainfall so we decided to stay overnight in Bayawan. We arrived like drenched cats at the sleepy little C & L Top View Inn centrally located. It was a nice budget hotel with a simple filipino breakfast included.
Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Quick stop for a quick bite!

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Yes I never eat ice cream... Huh?

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The way to a woman's heart goes through her stomach...

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Hey! Noo picture now... I haven't had my breakfast yet!!!

The video shows glimpses on our way to Sipalay and from the Jamont hotel. We also tried to get to the Sugar Beach but instead we ended up in the beach next to it. 

Sipalay

We stayed at Jamont hotel downtown. It was near to the market and near to the beach. We had a nice spacious room and they served good coffee in the restaurant. Later we went out to look for the Sugar Beach that we heard so much about. The road going there was a little bit tricky so eventually we ended up at the beach next to the Sugar Beach. It turned out we had to take a boat the last bit to get there. But time was late and it was beginning to be dark so we skipped it, for this time.
Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

We stayed at the very nice Jamont hotel.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

You could buy all basic ingredients for Filipino cooking of this lady.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Sniffing on shrimp paste, smells bad but tastes good in cooking!

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

New Sipalay Government Center, the building was impressive but they had forgot to asphalt the road going there...

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Sunsets are for free in Sipalay.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Small smiling faces

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Someone is eager to have her dinner...

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Our search for the Sugar Beach ended here...

Tinagong Dagat Island Resort and Perth Beach Resort

The next day we went on beach resorts safari. First we visited Tinagong Dagat Island Resort and then Perth Beach Resort. Both are located south of Sipalay, easy accessible if you have a scooter. Perth Beach Resort is famous for its pool with an incredible beautiful view overlooking the archipelago of islands. Both of these resort offer nice and simple accommodation to very reasonable rates.
Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The hanging bridge going to Tinagong Dagat Island Resort.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

View from the observation deck at Tinagong Dagat Island Resort.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Nice views everywhere

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

We met the smiling beer man on the bridge.

Travel to Sipalay, Negros, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The breathtaking view from the pool at Perth Beach Resort

The video shows our beach resorts safari with clips from the beautiful Tinagong Dagat Island Resort and from the pool of Perth Beach Resort with the totally astonishing view (!) overlooking the whole archipelago of islands.
Downtown Sipalay. The Sugar Beach is located north and the resorts we visited are located south of downtown.