Day 3: Naked at Mambukal

The day started when my alarm clock buzz at 5:00am. It was dark and chilly. I scheduled a 5K run today so I have to up and ready by 5:15am. After about an hour of running (and some snapshots) around the resort, I found a way outside going up to the nearby Don Bosco Retreat House. I realized that it was also another route going up to the 7th waterfalls of Mambukal Resort so I just continued trail running up until I reached the waterfalls. Time check: 8:15am

Note: For my new readers, I'm recounting my recent 14-Day Solo Backpacking Challenge with P250 budget per day, all-in (transpo, food, accommodation, gimik, etc.). So far I'm done with DAY 1 & Day 2.

Lake for Kayaking

The waterfalls was refreshing and invigorating, a perfect treat after running for more than an hour without hydration. Some lessons I learned from mountaineering: you can drink water from the mountain stream/waterfalls/river as long as the water path hasn't crossed anything that would contaminate it like households or poultry house/piggery or the likes. So I drank from the falls until quenched! But then I had this motto that "all waters must be tested." Figuratively and literally, I have to take a dip on that tempting icy-cold water.

Bridge, Extreme Sports, Sulfur Spring, Swimming pool,
Bat watching and Butterfly keychains
Click Image to enlarge

Looking around the area I found no one. It's time to do one from my Bucket List- skinny dipping. So for more thrill and excitement I went into the water naked. Everyone should try it once in their lifetime- to feel unashamed and free (parang si Oble sa YuPi na nagswimming). Anyway, I think that is the highlight of my 3rd day. Sorry guys, I don't have pictures of that or even the falls (didn't bring my cam). And even if I have those, its not for everyone's consumption.

From the 7th waterfalls you can just take the established foot trail along the river going back to the resort (30-45minutes trek). Then after breakfast I roamed around the resort and had some shots- the flora being sold inside the resort, the lake, hotspring, trees, etc.

Had my breakfast then a relaxing dip in the hot pool. It was very relaxing that I forgot to check on the time, I hurriedly fixed my stuff, had my late lunch and off I went to Libertad terminal to catch the next trip to La Carlota City. I arrived pass 6:00pm at La Carlota City then I met my friend K who is very very gracious and hospitable for the rest of my stay in her hometown. More stories of K and La Carlota on Day 4.

ACTIVITIES I DID

7 Waterfalls of Mambukal. I haven't seen all of them, I think I saw only 4 and swam on the 7th. The trek was also great. Don't forget to bring your camera and capture the beauty and mystery of the waterfalls. 

Dipping at the Hotspring. The entrance to the hotspring would mean that I would surpass my P250 budget. I have no choice but to stare at those who are enjoying the hot water bath. I wasted no time and just had some chit-chat with Mike and the caretaker in-charge of the entrance fee. After some 15 minutes of conversation, I was allowed to enter- for FREE. I still don't know why.

Click Image to Enlarge

Flowers Photoshoot. Just wanted to capture the beauty of the various flowers being sold inside the resort.

not for the faint-hearted- the joys of toploading

TopLoad. One way to enjoy your commute is to try going up to the roof of the bus and enjoy the cheap thrill risk it gives you. Travelling topload-style gives you a different perspective of the route, the scenic backgrounds that you pass by. It also gives you a panoramic view Mt.Kanlaon and an unlimited burst of shutter as you like to capture every angle from your lenses.

FOODS I ATE

Pancit, Bread, Quail eggs & Coffee for breakfast; Nilagang Bangus for lunch; 

and Fish, Pochero & Leche flan for dinner

PEOPLE I MET

Clockwise: Stanley, Benji & Mike, Rex & me, Cyril & Juan Miguel

Benji Romo. He is one of the tour guides to the 7 falls. Although you really don't need a guide leading you to the 7 falls, Mike (the American that I met from Day 2) asked for Benji's help to carry his bag. Benji is also one of the tour guides to Mt.Kanlaon, very nice and friendly guy. his contact number will be posted as a comment on this post.

Stanley. The kid from the eatery.

Juan Miguel & Cyril. High school students from Lopez Jaena National HS whom I met on my way back to Libertad, Bacolod City. We are on the same bus- topload style.

Rex. A nurse working in Bacolod city. He was my seatmate on my way to La Carlota City. He suggested that I take the pumpoat from Valladolid rather than Pulupandan going to Guimaras; which I found out to be cheaper. Thanks Rex! Hope to meet you again.

K. Friendship pays off. K is a friend of my sister. I know her because she studied at UPLB. She offered me a big room in La Carlota and was gracious enough to feed me while I stayed their for 2 nights. A big hug and thanks K!

Mambukal Resort Rates
Entrance
  Adult - P30
  11 yrs old & below - P10
  Light vehicles - P15
  Trucks/Buses - P30
Swimming Pools
  Adult - P50
  11 yrs old & below - P20
Picnic Huts
  Big - P600
  Small - P300
Wall Climbing - P25
Slide for Life - P100 (2 slides)
Canopy Walk - P50
Boating - P30/person
Butterfly Garden - P20

Coffee Shop near Butterfly garden

Accommodation (Check in 2:00pm, Check out 12:00nn)
  LGU Cottage - P900 (2 single beds/matrimonial)
                          - P1,200 (4 single beds)
                          - P1,500 (2 single beds & 2 double decks)
  Family Cottage - P6,000 (2 bedrooms w/living room, dining room and kitchen)
  Tourist Lodge - P600 (Ordinary); P750 (Deluxe); P1,000 (Executive use)
  Camping Fee - P30/person (you can pitch your own tent)


Contact Infos: Mambukal reservation Office (034) 709-0990 0r (034)433-8516; Mambukal Resort (034 710-0801)

Transportation Info:

Libertad - Mambukal  (6:00am)1st trip   (7:00pm)last trip

Mambukal - Libertad  (5:00am)1st trip   (6:00pm)last trip

The minibus (double-tire) leaves after every 20minutes, fare is PhP30-35.

Day 3 Expenses (in Philippine peso)

P30 Entrance Fee to Mambukal Resort

P30 Camping Fee (so I can set up my hammock)

P20 Tropicana

P15 Pancit (breakfast)

P2   Hot water (I brought my own coffee)

P13 Bread

P10 Quail eggs

P35 Sinigang na Bangus with 1 1/2 cups of rice

P8   Coke Sakto

P30 Minibus (Mambukal-Libertad terminal)

P30 Minibus (Libertad-La Carlota City)

-------------------

P223 (US$4.90), see I think P250 is still big for me...hahaha

I met some beautiful ladies during Day 4, one looks like Taylor Swift. Be sure to visit back to see them.

--------------------------------------------------

thanks for reading journeyingjames- my running stories and travel discoveries-- 

let's walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly. 

You can find me at Facebook and follow me on Twitter.