From Cebu. How?

Mambukal, Murcia

Let me count the ways. One, two three. Or as my Math professor would say, there are a hundred ways to kill a cat. We’re not killing a cat here though, we’re trying to get to Mambukal from Cebu, so on with the post.

By Bus

At the South bus terminal, ride a Ceres labeled Bacolod via Toledo-San Carlos. There are several other routes like via Bogo-Dumaguete, but you’ll be spending more time warming your seat. But first, before you enter the terminal you would have to pay for a terminal fee of five pesos. Ridiculous right? Trust the government to earn money by taxing their people to death. Why would you pay a terminal fee if you didn’t get any services as you go directly to the bus?

Anyhow, take the first bus which is around five in the morning. It is better to take the first bus because the trip is for seven hours. When you arrive at Bacolod, it will be around 12 noon.

That bus will then travel from Cebu to Toledo, and somewhere along the way the bus will stop as the driver would take his breakfast. Better take one too, or you would starve along the way. The stop would be about 20 minutes so if you’re a slowpoke you’d rather not be. Else you’ll be left in the middle of nowhere and still at one-third of your trip.

The Ceres bus will embark on a ro-ro for it to get to the other island, Negros. As part of the Central Nautical Highway, the barge will ferry both you and the bus to San Carlos city, a very drowsy town. Imagine, eight in the evening and you could only count the people in their plaza with your five fingers. I chanced upon getting stranded here and all I could do was to stay in an Inn and watch cable. No night clubs to go to, no cafés or resto bars to hang out.

By the way, your bus fare which is around 400 pesos is exclusive of the barge. You would have to pay around a hundred fifty, if I recall right. On top of that, you would have to pay a terminal fee of ten pesos at Toledo, despite you just sitting in the bus. Curiouser and curiouser, Alice would say.

It travels the Negros island from San Carlos city to Bacolod via Don Salvador Benedicto, passing by Murcia where Mambukal is. You’ll pass by scenic views as these are mountain ranges. The bus will snake its way in the cordilleras up and down, sideways and whatever-ways so don’t expect that you could sleep during the trip.

You can stop at Murcia and ride a bus that goes to Mambukal Resort. You can setup camp there as it’s a woodland – very apt for camping activities. Or if you want a room accommodation, the resort also have one. When we went there aircon rooms were under construction.

If you choose to proceed to Bacolod and base there for other trips like Lakawon Island, you can ride a bus to Murcia which may take about  thirty minutes.

By Plane or By Ship

These are lame ways to travel to Bacolod from Cebu. Or rather, I haven’t tried these so I have nothing to say. Lol.

Using post-modern narration.