Semester Break Escapade Part 1: The Ruins

Ruins - Front View

On October 25, 2014, after months of planning to get away from the city of Iloilo, we finally did it. We scheduled a 2-day trip to the neighboring province Negros Occidental. A trip on some of its famous landmarks. We have The Ruins, Campuestohan Highland Resort and Mambukal Resort on our list.

I had broken this trip into a 3-part series.

First, let’s discuss our reservations. Our sleeping place will be at the Mambukal Resort, we had a room reserved for we thought a month. It turned out, we had been had and no reservations was reserved because the guy we first talk to did not forward our request to the reservations office. Fortunately, the girls at the Office of the Governor pulled through. So, to avoid disasters in your future trips, please call +63 (34) 433-8516. This is the official number for reservations. In the end, instead of paying 3000 pesos for 2 rooms, we paid 4800 pesos for 2 rooms with 200 pesos additional for each person extra. We deposited 3000 pesos in advance for the accommodation to the Negros Occidental provincial account.

Second is our means of transportation. Some of the places we are eyeing to go to are far from the Bacolod City and transportation means may not be easily attained. Good for us, an officemate recommended a shuttle van service. We paid 6000 pesos for the whole trip. If you want his number for your future trips, please email us.

Now that 2 major problems are taken care of, what is left to do is get there.

Port of Iloilo

So early in the morning, 5:00 AM, we ride on a taxi to get to the new Iloilo Port at La Puz, Iloilo City.

There are also jeepneys who pass through the new port. Just ask the driver if he will pass on the new port. The fare will be 7.50 pesos. We rode on the 6:15 AM Ocean Jet ferry bound for Bacolod City. The ferry costs 245 pesos for one person.

While on the ferry, I texted Mr. Raymond, that’s the name of our driver for the trip, that we were on our way. 

Bob’s Cafe, 21st Lacson St. Iloilo City

At 7:45 AM, we arrive at the Port of Bacolod. We met up with Mr. Raymond and proceed with first agenda of the day: BREAKFAST. 

After driving around, we had our breakfast at Café Bobs at 21^st St., Bacolod City. It was an enjoyable meal, the place is cozy and the food is good.

After the meal, we traveled for 30 minutes or so to Talisay City and arrive at The Ruins. It’s actually easy to locate now because every sign post leading to it has sign that reads: This way to The Ruins.

Old Mill Tree

The first indication of the place was a tall ancient tower that looks like a lighthouse beckoning us to come nearer. And at that place, directly in front of it is the gates to The Ruins. It had an entrance fee of 100 pesos per person and a 40 pesos fee for students.

Maria Braga – top right

The Ruins is a mansion built in honor of love for a lovely lady named Maria Braga, much like Taj Mahal in India. Who needs to go to Agra to see a famous dedication for love to a woman when we have one sitting just round the sugar canes.
 
After a fire that destroyed the mansion during World War 2, what remained is a beautiful structure that will stir your heart in its beauty and you can envision how it must have looked like in its heyday. Most people say, that The Ruins is doubly beautiful at night. But during the day, one can still see that it’s a great piece of architecture.



The inside of The Ruins looks sturdy and some of the parts have been repaired or reconstructed to their look during the old days.

Arcs

Walls

Stairs to second floor

Around the ruins now, a fountain has been built and the garden has been landscaped. Some architectural tributes were also constructed.

Architects of the Philippines

Fountain

Fountain with Ruins Side

In front of the mansion, a restaurant is also added where you can eat and cool down. Though we did not stay to eat, so I could not really comment on the food.

And if you go there at around noon, don’t forget to bring an umbrella. 

Ruins – Side View

Now on to the next post.


Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review

On December 13, 2013, the second installment of the The Hobbit Movie was released and on the weekend I witnessed it on 3D.

So here’s the second part of the review as promised.

The story:
It started with a back story of How the Expedition came to be, when Gandalf(Ian McKellen) met Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on the bar of The Prancing Pony some years past.

My chosen quotation from the movie was uttered by Bilbo on the edge of Mirkwood.

I found my courage

• The first adventure happened when the eagles bore down the Dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo(Martin Freeman) from the Woods into Carrock where a great bear resides. As the Wargs and Goblins are coming after them, they run for the house they found on the forest end. The house belongs to Beorn, a skin-changer. He was the same bear who chased the Dwarves into the house. When he met with them the next morning, he offered them help even though he does not like Dwarves because he hated Goblins more and Gandalf had killed the Goblin King. He let them borrow his ponies until the edge of Mirkwood Forest and here the Dwarves and the Hobbit are on their own. as Gandalf has other business to take care of.
• Gandalf’s adventure with Radagast was searching the Necromancer’s lair. He sent Radagast to inform the Lady Galadriel of their theory whilst he continued to explore and unveil the evil within that place. He was walking into a trap, of course, prepared by the Goblins themselves and almost escaped but then The Eye of Sauron appeared and Gandalf was kept as a prisoner. As Sauron said, There is no light to confront my darkness or something like that.
• The second adventure was within Mirkwood when the Spiders has caught the Dwarves and were hanging them to stay before they eat them. If not for Bilbo Baggins cunning, the dwarves would have all been eaten even before the Elves came to the rescue led by our favorite Elf, Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil – Lord of Mirkwood.
• The third adventure is at the house of the Elves when the Dwarves were imprisoned. Bilbo, wearing his new ring, also followed because he doesn’t know the way out. He also came up with the idea of rescuing the Dwarves from the Elves by sending them down the river by using the Barrels. On their escape, the Goblins attacked them and they would have died if it weren’t for Legolas and Tauriel who fought off the Goblins.
• The fourth adventure is at Lake Town. At the end of the river, they came across Bard and he agreed to smuggle them into the town for a price. He provided them with weapons, also but they were not agreeable, so they decided to steal some from the Master of the town. Unfortunately, they were caught. Thorin then declared who he was and promised them Gold beyond their dreams. So they were fitted and provided for the trip to Erebor. 10 set off, 9 dwarves and a hobbit, while 4 remained because Kili needs medicine.
• The fifth adventure was finding the Secret Door. Bilbo found it of course and then they entered Erebor.
• The others who remained went back to Bard to heal Kili. There the goblins attacked, but Legolas and Tauriel were there to fought them. But some escaped to warn Azog that Thorin has reached Erebor. Legolas followed them while Tauriel heals Kili.
• The sixth adventure was with Smaug the Magnificent. Bilbo was sent in to do some 'burglaring' and he was successful at that. He got the Arkenstone after running around from Smaug who has quite excited to met a new creature, a Barrel-rider, that he hasn’t smelled before. Because of Bilbo’s riddling, he was able to escape Smaug unscathed and then the Dwarves came to the rescue. With Thorin’s guidance, they lured the Dragon into the Throne Hall and covered him with melted gold. Smaug was angry. The movie ends with Smaug flying out to attack Lake Town and Bilbo horrified of it.

As you may notice, I never really detailed the feeling, my feelings, when watching the movie.
As a fan, who had read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings even before all movies were finished shooting. I want you, who have never read or watched the films, to feel them yourself.

That’s the summary of the movie. A great spoiler for some but I never really detailed anything.
So enjoy the movie for yourself.

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Another reason to watch the movie (Lee Pace) ==> 

Also, even though Legolas and Tauriel were not part of the book, they were a great addition to the movie. Especially, the third party theme between them and Kili who in the movie is enamored with Tauriel.

At least it showed a side of Legolas Greenleaf that we have never seen before.

Hehe… Kilig to the bones.

• Movie Review for the Unexpected Journey Here
• Movie Review for the Desolation of Smaug Here
• There and Back Again: coming soon

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!