CamSur

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

IloIlo and Guimaras

Iloilo and Guimaras
Stay, Stray, Play and Feast

Day 1,
Stay 


We arrived at Smallville 21 Hotel
where we booked a family room.
The hotel was pretty new and still smells new...



...the room was spacious and neat but
we were a little bit disappointed
as it doesn’t look like a family room at all.




There are two beds, a queen sized bed and a single bed-
both to too small for the whole family to squeeze in,
no sofa where we could all cuddle up while watching TV,
the floor was not carpeted but rather tiled
not ideal for kids to laze, and play floor games.


You have to endure stepping on a cold floor
when you wake up in the morning...



The room was not warm enough to be called a family room.

There was no refrigerator where we could keep
the kids' milk and medicines.



It was located near the street
where we would hear the music blasting
until wee hours in the morning
coming from Pirates KTV bar right beside the hotel.



Except for the beds that are good enough for kids to jump-
there was nothing family friendly with that room at all.



I requested for another room,
I was told they were full booked.
The staff was friendly and accommodating though


Feast:  

The Avenue Lifestyle Center just across
the Smallvile 21 Hotel is a culinary treasure.




Two US- themed restaurants
caught our attention: Bourbon St. and Mojave



My family loves American food.


We had to choose between

 good old Creole cooking in Bourbon St.,
and the call of the American West in Mojave...



The temptation of having juicy ribs and burgers
was just too enticing to refuse.
Mojave gives you an ambiance
on being inside an Old American Tavern.



It serves authentic Angus Beef
..and unlimited complimentary popcorn
made by an antique popcorn machine.





The Potato and Cheese Chowder was creamy and chunky
reminiscent of those in SF’s Fisherman’s Wharf ,
without hollowed sour bread where the latter is served.





My daughter ordered

a Beef- Bacon Deluxe…





...while I got myself

a giant 10 oz Angus Sirloin Burger….



My wife and Son

shared the really tasty Ribs and Shrimps
with barbecue flavored sauce..



Everything tasted so great
that I gorged myself with the huge servings
until I was too full and drowsy and ready to sleep.



Now who cares about sleeping

On our first night in the city,
in an uncomfortable hotel?



Mojave is a five- star restaurant
without the five star- price tag.



So far so good on our first day.
We’re beginning to love Iloilo.



Day 2:


 Iloilo and Guimaras
We were pre-booked to a Cabaling Resort in Guimaras for a day visit.
A private boat would take us directly to the resort at 10 AM at the Iloilo port.


Feast:

Ted's La Paz Batchoy

 On our way to the port
we dropped by Ted’s Batchoy along the way
for some authentic Ilonggo la Paz Batchoy.





My daughter and I enjoyed the exotic taste of Batchoy
and gobbled everything up
to the last drop of the slightly bitter broth.



But my wife and my son-

were not impressed

…and their bowls of Batchoy

were left half eaten…



They settled

for a Cheese Muffin



and Almond Pie.

They were so good that we ordered more
to take long the way.


Stray


 From the Iloilo port
(which was surprisingly clean and smell- free
despite being crowded

with people and houses on stilts)





...we were ferried by a private boat
that would take us directly

to the resort in Guimaras.



On the less than

an hour boat trip,
we were treated

to the spectacular sights





of the deep blue sea

and the breathtaking limestone formations
of the island province of Guimaras.





We docked

at the resort’s scenic port ...





...and we had the beautiful beach

all for ourselves….











….they also have a beautiful infinity pool

that offers a spectacular view
of the mountains and the sea…



We returned to Iloilo at dusk …
and we had to drag the kids out of the beach





to the ferry boat waiting for us
that take us back to Iloilo at 5 PM




Feast:
Guimaras:

There was a seafood buffet at the clubhouse
But the kids were too engrossed in swimming.

I got us several plates of what was on the buffet…
the taste was so...so…





…that the food remained untouched

until we left the resort.

The Sweet Guimaras Mango

did not disappoint.



They were so sweet

and left us craving for more.

Feast: 

Iloilo

Bauhinia Restaurant at the Avenue
served the most delicious Filipino fusion
that we have ever tasted.







All their entrees were so good…













Saying delicious is an understatement...
…as we consumed everything up to the last morsel
of food in our in our table.



We were too full to return to the hotel
so we moved the Al fresco section

to enjoy the desserts.





When we visited Ho Chi Minh City few months ago
we were unanimous that

we will return to the city because of the food…

This restaurant made the same impression…
….and one good reason
why it is worth coming back to Iloilo again.
.


Day 3:
Iloilo

Stray:


I had a lecture in a medical convention

and I requested for an early morning slot,
as our third day was dedicated to see
the sights and sounds of Iloilo.



After my lecture, we hailed a taxi 
to take us around the city.











It was so hot that

we did not want to get out of the car
except on three destinations…







First was

at  the Museo Iloilo...







second was

at the Jaro Cathedral...



….and third at SM City Iloilo

that served as an oasis
for the sweltering heat.





Iloilo is very rich

in history, culture and heritage
but as tourists we are not aware of then
unless someone tells us about it...



...and there is a need for the city to create
guided group tours to take tourists around
heritage sites in a more organized way.


Feast:
Tatoy’s Manokan


The last time I was in Iloilo was in the early 90’s
and I remember Tatoy’s Manokan well…



I told my family that it’s a must visit
as it is a classic Ilonggo fare.

We ordered Lechon Baboy and Lechon Manok
vegetables and grilled fish…







…except for the grilled fish that was so delicious,
everything was left almost untouched on the table…



A trip to Tatoy’s

was worth the nostalgia

The food?
Well, at least the fish was okay…


Feast:
Terra Mediterranean Resto


We wanted something light and healthy
for our last night in Iloilo

So we tried the Terra at the Avenue…





The beautiful restaurant
was a feast for the senses…







The menu was superb…





...and so was the food,
....from the Pasta…



…to the salmon…



…to the Mango Crepe as dessert…



It was a light but satisfying meal.
A perfect way to cap a rather busy day
Before heading back to the dreaded hotel room.


Play:

On our fourth and last day
with our flight still in the afternoon
we decided to take the kids to the nearby water park…



While my older daughter who’s wake boarder
said she was bored…



… my seven year old son says otherwise….



The water park was very photogenic
with a Latin American theme
and a good way to entertain the kids while waiting
for our flight back home at noontime.


We enjoyed everything in Iloilo.
The province is a cultural and culinary paradise.

The only drawback was the hotel.
If I were traveling alone seeking for an adventure-
I would have reviewed the hotel differently.

But for a family of four looking for a comfortable accommodation?
The hotel was not meant to be for that purpose.

Indeed, it's fun to travel in the Philippines
and it's more fun if you travel to Iloilo.

7 comments:

  1. sa bacolod go hotel hotel mas maganda l fisher,marami din place na ma pntahan tulad ng mga malalaking malls sm city, ayala mall,robinsons etc new government center,capitol lagoon park napakaganda ,ubong cave,negros museum,bacolod chicken inasal mas masarap siya kaya mas maganda sa bacolod

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My family has been to Bacolod a year before I started blogging and we tremendously enjoyed the place. We stayed in a really nice hotel called Planta located infront of Gaisao Mall.

      It is also a very progressive city and I wish to be back in few years.

      Delete
    2. hay naku... masal-ot gid ang mga tikalon nga taga bacolod.

      Delete
  2. Hello there! ;) I really enjoyed reading your view of Iloilo City and thank you for pointing out those aspects that need some inprovement. Ted's might have disappointed you when it came to Batchoy and, I think that is fair enough. Maybe next time you can try Deco's. I personally prefer the latter. Also, try Breakthrough as an alternative to Tatoy's. Also, Camina Balay nga Bato for Tsokolate Batirol and Kapitan's infamous Pancit Molo.

    The next time you visit Iloilo you might be surprised with the new structures such as the Richmonde Hotel by Megaworld, Injap Tower Condotel, the newly refurbished Robinsons Mall, and the ongoing restoration of the historically significant Calle Real District. If your family enjoyed Guimaras, then the Northern Isles of Concepcion and Carles would be awe-inspiring ;)

    I will not put myself in the position to say that Iloilo is better or what because you just have to see it for yourself and it all depends on your experience. I am proud of my city and I courteously invite you to experience a second time around the Ilonggo hospitality, gastronomy and culture.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes. Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is on the top of my list. It is also a testament that it had joined the big league.

    No, I wasn't disappointed with Ted's, I liked their Batchoy. It was my wife and my son that found the broth bitter and I ended eating their leftovers.

    I'd sure love to try Deco next time.

    Yes, a lot of people recommended Breakthrough, even the taxi driver recommended it when we passed by on the way to Tatoy's. We fined there for the nostalgia as I remember the place in the late mid 90's when I traveled to Iloilo. I was very young and still single at tat time. I wanted to see the place again.

    Iloilo is one of the places that we enjoyed in the Philippines. I wrote this blog almost a year ago, and the city was the one that inspired me to blog.

    We would surely be coming back.

    Thank you for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What month did you travel to Iloilo and Guimaras? Was the sea travel to and from Guimaras smooth or wavy? Is it safe for kids? I am traveling to the region with small kids, and I'm worried the weather and sea travel will expose us all to great risk... thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. We traveled on April. The weather was great. The travel by boat was smooth, the sea was calm a peaceful.

    The kids enjoyed the trip tremendously.

    ReplyDelete