Dolphin watching and everything in between: A ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ itinerary in Negros Oriental

 

Negros Oriental is known for its gentle people, rich seafood resources and world class diving spots. But many tourists find themselves coming back to see the playful sea creatures of this province, the friendly dolphins!

Dolphin watching is one of the most popular tourist activity in Negros Oriental.

If dolphin watching is one of your travel goals, there’s no better place to do that than in Negros Oriental. As your “Biyahe ni Drew” crew didn’t want to miss out on any of the fun, we embarked on our own quest to see these dolphins and found many more fun activities just for you!

What activities to enjoy:

Spelunk your way inside Habhaban Cave

First stop, the Habhaban Cave in Bayawan City. After a 20 to 30 minute walk, tourists must be ready to soak their whole body into the cold water to get inside the mouth of the cave. As hard as entering it already is, this is only the start of the challenge.

While weaving through the cave, you will find yourself switching from crawling in all ways possible to squatting and even jumping from side to side just to fit in.

Drew even ended up on his back just to fit inside the cave.

 You’ll definitely feel as if you’re getting a hard massage. But don’t worry, rest assured that all this spelunking will be worth it as you will be awed by the rock formations and waterfalls that will eventually meet you at the end.

It was obviously a wet and wild activity but definitely fun for our resident biyahero.

Check out their Eco-friendly ‘transportation’

Bamboo bikes

Two hours away from the mainland is where you’ll find Bayawan’s very own bamboo bikes. If you happen to fall in love with this environment friendly wheels and decide to eventually buy one, they range from P8,000 to P60,000 depending on its package or type, usually taking at least a month to make.

These bikes may just be made of bamboos but would last even a decade with proper care.

By purchasing these local product, did you know that you will be making two good deeds? That’s right, Biyaheros! You’ll be contributing to their nature advocacy and at the same time, providing a means to earn school allowance for teenagers who are behind the construction of these bikes.

“Ligoron"

If you want to experience another fun activity, drop by the town of Valencia which is just 30 minutes away from the airport and try their very own form of wheels called ‘ligoron.’

That is one unique coconut helmet you have on, Kuya!

Ligoron is similar to a small bike but one that’s made of wood. Back in the days, it was used to transfer crops around but when modernity came, its popularity started to die down.

“Part siya ng history ng Valencia, part ng culture ng farmers. Sayang kung hindi makikita ng mga bata,” one of the locals told Drew.

The people of Valencia are trying their best to keep ‘ligoron’ unforgettable. So if you happen to pass by Valencia, make sure to get on those wheels and wear their unique coconut helmets!

Try the local delicacies

Make sure to taste Negros Oriental’s own version of espasol, the baye-baye. Instead of just mixing the ingredients like espasol, baye-baye is fried the same way as a ‘bukayo’ in order to prolong its shelf life. It doesn’t spoil easily, making it one of the best choices to bring home as pasalubong.

During family celebrations such as birthdays or anniversaries, the locals are bound to pull out their mortar and pestle to cook baye-baye in groups.

“Para sakin mas hearty siya kaysa sa espasol. Pero siyempre siksik. Pati ‘yung tamis niya, hindi siya gaanong matamis kaya gusto ko siya. Pero mind you, kapag naubos mo siya, buong araw kang busog,” described Drew.

On the other hand, if you like to try something nutritious and unique, the ‘kalabasa spaghetti,’ a popular and locally made merienda, will surely suit your taste! Instead of the usual recipes, the main ingredient of this dish are noodles made of squash, added with a homemade sauce mixed with sausage, mushroom, chorizo and cheese, definitely yummy!

Kalabasa spaghetti is best eaten when freshly cooked because of the squash's stronger taste.

“Ito ‘yung gusto ng mga Pilipino, ‘yung mga klase ng noodles na malambot na, ‘yung it melts in your mouth,” Drew explained.

But wait there’s more! What’s a meal without a drink? Apparently, locals found the best partner to this rendition of spaghetti; a drink called ‘duhat wine’ that is almost comparable to lambanog.

Explore the Manjuyod sand bar

Before checking out the Manjuyod sand bar, make sure that you have a place to stay at while waiting for the low tide. One of the best choices, the Campuyo Aroma Beach Resort that is situated at the nearest shore from the sand bar. Their room price ranges from P1,200 to P2,500.

 

You can have boat transfers to Manjuyod sand bar courtesy of your accommodation.

 

 

Plus, you no longer need to worry about getting to the sand bar as they offer a boat ride including food packages while you’re on the boat that your family or group can choose from. These packages usually include seafood dishes with oysters, sea urchins and tambubo. You will never taste anything fresher than what they offer as it is caught straight from their seas!

Witness the beauty of dolphins

And finally, just around Manjuyod, dolphin watching is waiting for you. Two kinds of dolphins are usually seen in this area, the spinner dolphins and the bottlenose. If you’re lucky, you might catch them playing in groups and even swimming beside the boats. But take note: dolphin watching usually takes so much time and patience as they don’t appear immediately or at the same time.

Dolphins are active in this area from May to August so make sure to take note of this when you decide to come and see them for yourself. Biyaheros, always remember that this activity is solely for watching, do not try to dive into the water and swim with them. Just enjoy the moment and take pictures to remember it.

 

Take a picture, Biyahero or it never happened.

It’s definitely true what they say, that one should enjoy the journey on the way to his destination. Even if dolphin watching is our only travel goal upon reaching Negros, the surprise we got from allour discoveries definitely made this trip sweeter than what we expected! ---Sarah Jean Sarte/BMS, GMA Public Affairs