⌛ Returning to Dumaguete

Hi folks, I shall get to Dumaguete in the next couple of days for a couple of weeks and after a two years gap.....what's happening downtown?
I'm planning a few trips snorkelling in Dauin, possibly returning to Sandbar off Bais and relaxing the time away.....good to be back!
Cheers,
Marco.

 

Welcome back!

 

Hi to all, great to be back!
Been to Pulang Bato to check on the waterfalls and the following day been to trek around Balanan Lake to check on its waterfall.....wow, those ancient trees are truly impressive, I can only imagine how the Philippines might have looked when the first Spanish landed on its shores.
Might try out the zip line ride at Tierra Alta and next definitively get back to Dauin for a dip and check out the volcanic activity nearby. Planning also a day trip to Bais and Sandbar on my birthday.....
Wild Philippines.....just LOVE IT.
Cheers,
Marco.

 

Just got back to "fresh" London.........temperature -1C with the wind chill factor, after spending just over two weeks in Duma. Last visit being in 2009, I did not yet see the much talked about Robinson' Mall till now. Yeah it was quiet nice and perhaps a little blip that may indicates that thing are on the up in Duma. The locals' opinion is that where there is a Robinson' Mall, a SM Mall will sooner or later follow, we shall see. Apart from that it's pretty much the same, roads have got a little better, stray dogs have multiplied, Mac Donald's and KFC are now in town alongside with a few new shops and small hotels.....that's it!
As far as I'm concerned, I loved dining at Jo's Chicken Inato, the best chicken ever, been to Don Atilano, Sunburst and Bethel but the food was pretty lame in comparison.
Been snorkeling at Dauin, returned to SandBar, travelled to Baslai, Siaton and Valencia/ Tierra Alta Zipline.
At SandBar got snorkeling by the cottages and got a very close encounter with a small sea krait which bloody kept following me. Saw a large number of dead puffer fish sunk at the bottom, probably dumped by local fishermen....really a pitiful state of affairs.
At Baslai got to walk about one km. in the forest, following the small river. Got a little taste of the jungle and all its creepy crawlies, worst of all were the ants...this little buggers never stopped biting!!
It was nice to get back and meet again my pinoy friends and relatives.
To live in Duma.....not so sure, but it's a great holiday's destination still.
Cheers, Marco.