visayas backpacking: dumaguete
the bus ride to dumaguete was fairly comfortable, and if it weren’t for the driver from hell, we could’ve enjoyed the trip better. there were 3 stopovers, each enough for you to use the toilet, get some snack and do some stretching. we got off in front of bethel hotel and booked a room for 2.
bethel hotel along rizal boulevard. this is also ceres bus liner’s route going to bacolod.
rizal boulevard, low tide. our grandparents used to have a house just a few minutes away from the shore. my mom used to take us swimming around 6 in the morning until 10.
if you’re going to travel around a lot, i suggest you pack light. backpacks or medium sized stroller-type luggages are best. if porters get a hold of your luggage and carried them for you, they’d expect you to pay them. refuse politely and tell them you’re fine carrying it yourself. avoid check-in baggages unless you have TONS of pasalubongs. waiting spoils the fun hehe.
the boulevard at night.
it wasn’t hard getting a room during the low season, so we had plenty of time and opportunity to check various accomodations before booking. a relative owns OK Pension, but even though we could’ve gotten it for free, we chose bethel because it was near the sea port and a couple of food establishments.
our bethel room
each floor has its own mini reception area, a water fountain and mini convenience store.
bethel lobby
bethel hotel looked and smelled like a hospital because it used to be one. the room was very cozy and clean, we didn’t have any complaints about this one. getting classy accomodation was not a priority during the trip since we wanted to spend money enjoying what’s out there, so having something affordable and cozy as bethel was one of the relaxing experience during the whole trip. i’d say it’s the perfect stopover (or jump-off).
breakfast view
genuine, thick tablia unlike the watery ones we find in manila groceries. tastes pretty much like my mom’s homemade cacao tablias :x
breakfast at bethel’s cafe filomena
we checked out of bethel after having our breakfast and left for the port to take the morning trip to siquijor island. weesam discontinued their dumaguete-siquijor route so the only fastferry available going to siquijor was delta. there were several motorboats and ships going to siquijor as well, but these usually take 4 hours.
floating delta ferry in dumaguete
delta fastcraft
inside delta
OTHER DETAILS
it helps to speak and understand the dialects so you won’t be overcharged with tricycle or motorbike fares. fare at that time was P6 each, doesn’t matter if the tricycle’s full or not.
BETHEL GUEST HOUSE
Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City
http://bethelguesthouse.com/
Tel. +63 (35) 225 2000 / +63 (35) 422 8000
bethel@mozcom.com
OK PENSION HOUSE
Gen. Percides cor. Sta. Rosa, Dumaguete City
Tel. +63 (35) 225-4636 / +63 (35) 225-5702
DELTA FAST FERRIES
Pier 3 Delta Ferries Passenger Terminal
Tel. (035) 420-1111
Fare: Siquijor - Dumaguete & vice versa : P160
Schedule as of July2007 (pls call for updates):
dumaguete to siquijor port, siquijor (daily) 6am, 9am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm
siquijor port, siquijor to dumaguete (daily) 7am, 10am, 3pm, 5:30pm
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Thanks for sharing. My fiancee and I stayed at South Seas, though I knew Bethel was one of the “primo” spots for foreigners to stay. I guess I just wanted something away from the hustle and bustle of the Boulevard.
I wasn’t aware of the Delta ferry. We used SuperCat between Dumaguete and Cebu, but that was a few years ago when they still had that route.