Kookoo's Nest

There is a hidden treasure in the Tambobo Bay area of Siaton, Negros Oriental, approximately one and a half hours away from the provincial capital of Dumaguete. It's called Kookoo's Nest. I've heard of this place long before, but I never got to check it out until last Friday. It was a holiday in the Philippines because of Eid'l Fit'r, the end of Ramadan (our population is 20% Muslim, after all), so a couple of friends and I decided to go on a road trip to make the most of the no-work day.

Kookoo's Nest is a beach resort tucked away beside a cliff. It is adjacent to the more posh and popular Antulang Beach Resort. It is a little out of the way, and one might consider it to be in the middle of nowhere, but it is such a charming and relaxing place that I would recommend it to anyone.

The resort has a white sand beach, clear waters, a quaint restaurant right by the water and bamboo cottages. It's perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway because it's quiet and private. You can sit by the beach admiring the view, or read a book or magazine from their ample collection.

Kookoo's Nest is also a place you can come to if you want to dive. If you want to go kayaking, you can do that there as well. But since my friends and I do not dive (yet!), and we didn't bring extra clothes so we couldn't swim, we contented ourselves with taking pictures and enjoying what I think is the best of Kookoo's Nest: the food!

Food at Kookoo's Nest is truly to die for! We had Pork Schnitzel, Filipino Coconut Chicken Curry, and Pork Kebab with Sate. All were amazingly delicious! They were pretty affordable, too, ranging from P150 to 200. For the food alone, I would go back there. If you plan to check it out, though, make sure you order the food immediately upon arriving, as it can take some time for them to prepare it. 

Needless to say, I'm quite happy to have made the trip to Kookoo's Nest. It's definitely a good road trip destination in this part of the Philippines. 

This entry is also posted at Everything Dumaguete.

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The Lalimar (or La Limar) Experience

I spent a night in Lalimar (or La Limar, as some spell it) with friends over the weekend. For those who have not yet visited or heard of this place, it's a government-owned resort in La Libertad, Negros Oriental; a project spearheaded by Congresswoman Josy Limkaichong. La Libertad is a municipality approximately two hours north of Dumaguete. It's a town close to my heart because it is the birth place of my mother. One reason why I wanted to visit Lalimar was so that I could also visit my grandparents as a side trip.

An overnight stay in Lalimar perfectly fits the budget. Their room rates start at P1,400--good for two, and you only have to add P200 per extra person, up to a maximum of six. The cottages are spacious, with a porch outside where you can dine. Food is not a problem because you can either bring from outside, or you can order room service. Their food is not bad, and the prices are reasonable. Since the resort is fairly new, the facilities are still very good. The cottage walls are covered with banig, which adds personality to the room. The bathroom is huge, and hot and cold shower is available. There is no tv or telephone in the rooms, though.

The cottage entrance

The beds

The bathroom

Dinner

Calamares - P180, Breaded Chicken - P180, Potato Salad - P60

Tuna Sandwich - P55

Baconsilog - P80

One thing I noticed about staying at Lalimar is that you cannot sleep in. As early as 5:30 in the morning, when the sun starts to shine, the brightness already wakes you up. The cottage windows are made of frosted glass, and there are no curtains, so nothing blocks out the sun's glory. This is a good thing perhaps, because during sunrise is the best time to enjoy Lalimar's beach and swimming pool. Later in the day, as we witnessed, so many people will be in the not-so-big pool, and they'll be there until late in the evening. So if you want peace and quiet or a private swim, it's probably not a good idea to go there during a weekend in the summer. 

The pool

The water at twilight

Lalimar is fast becoming a popular tourist attraction north of Dumaguete. I'm extremely proud of it because it puts the sleepy town of La Libertad on the map. Even if it's not as posh as the other resorts in Negros Oriental found in Dauin or Siaton, it has a charm of its own. But as I always say, "it's not the place but the company." And while a lot of factors make Lalimar the perfect stopover for a road trip, what really makes an outing unforgettable is the people you're with.

For more information about Lalimar, you can contact them at (035) 409-4020 or 0908-212-7683. You can also check out another blog post by my friend Lorselle.

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Siaton's Treasures

It's the middle of summer and I'm looking forward to a beach get-away this weekend. But before that, I'm reminiscing a day trip friends and I took around the same time last year that I have always wanted to blog about but was unable to.

Siaton, a town about an hour's drive south of Dumaguete, is always a favorite roadtrip destination of mine. It's got a lot of beautiful nature spots that people can enjoy. Last year, we spent a day in Tambobo Bay, one of the town's popular attractions.

Tambobo Bay (also known as Bonbonon Bay) is a natural harbor that is protected from storms, which makes it a good spot for boats to take shelter in. As a result, a lot of private yachts can always be seen there. The bay also has a number of resorts and restaurants. One of these resorts is Tongo Sail Inn, which we were able to visit. Tongo is located on a white sand beach, and it has cottages where people can stay. The food at this resort is amazing and affordable, so it's definitely worth visiting.

Here are some pictures I took during our trip to Tambobo:

Tongo Sail Inn

A huge plate of yummy spaghetti at Tongo

The beach at Tambobo

Yachts in the bay

If you are in the Tambobo area, it's also wise to check out Antulang, one of the best beach resorts in Negros Oriental. It's basically a resort atop a beach-side cliff. It boasts of an infinity pool (saltwater), a white pebble beach, and private villas with your own pool and jacuzzi! It's definitely top-notch, but some of the rooms are a little expensive for an overnight stay. Anyone can stop by for a day trip, though, for a minimal entrance fee (last I know, it was P200 per person, consumable).

A view at Antulang

Tambobo and Antulang are like two birds that you can hit with one stone--you can enjoy both in one day. To get there, take the south national highway from Dumaguete, and make a left turn right before the marker for kilometer 32 (in the town of Zamboanguita), where they've got a sign for Antulang. Take that road, and once you get to a Y, go left for Antulang, or go right for Tambobo, and follow the signs along the way. Both locations are approximately 30 minutes from the highway.

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Summer Heat

When it's summer time, there's no other great thing to do but hit the pool or beach! Last week, I went with my parents and cousins to a resort named Bahura. They have the biggest pool area in my province and an over-all great ambience, so I had fun!

Bahura is located in Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines. For 500 pesos (around $10), you can enter the resort for the day, get a free lunch, and swim in the pool as much as you want. They have awesome rooms as well, although I have never personally stayed there overnight. A visit for the day, however, is totally worth it.

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The Personification of the Sea

The title above is the Greek meaning of Thalatta, the name of the resort I visited today together with my mom and a couple of family friends for lunch.

The quaint city where I am located in the Philippines, Dumaguete, is surrounded by a number of beach resorts within its 30-minute vicinity. Thalatta is one that I only recently discovered, and so far, it has become my favorite. The resort is located in the town of Zamboanguita, the third town south of the city. It is owned by a French-Filipino couple. I have been there a number of times but I keep going back--the resort is beautiful, private, and they have a restaurant right by the beach that serves wonderful food! The owner and staff are also very friendly.

I love the beach, and I'm so thankful that I can go to nice beach spots anytime I want to. A resort like Thalatta is truly a place where you can relax and forget about all the stresses in the world. If you want to know more about them, you can visit their website at http://www.thalatta-beach.com.

Apo Island - a small volcanic island off the southeastern tip of Negros Island in the Philippines which is a popular dive site and snorkeling destination

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