I got up at around 5:00 to catch my 1-hour flight to Bacolod on Negros. While waiting for the hotel staff to check my room I called my Grab. He arrived quickly, and I had to apologize because it took a while until they gave me the ‘all clear’. But then I was off to Terminal 3 of NAIA Manila Airport. It is Easter Sunday. Almost empty streets. Lots of bicyclists and joggers, but it was a peaceful morning.

I managed to check in online the night before after some confusion. I’d booked with AirAsia, but the flight was a Cebu Pacific flight. I was provided with a special mailadress. After I got the right Check-in details all went through. I like to get a printed boarding pass in addition to the digital one, “just in case”.

Most Asian airlines allow 7 kg of carry-on luggage which is way too low. I am habitually over the weight limit with my backpack and my Aldi bag full of overflow. So I usually try to print the boarding pass at one of those self-service kiosks. It worked this time. At the gate they asked for volunteers to check in some bigger backpacks and I happily put up my backpack, getting free check-in bags at that point. Now, I don’t mind paying for my overweight bags but the airlines webapps or mobile apps make it horrendously difficult to do so. Especially if you book via a 3rd party. So often times the only way is to just ‘risk it’ and try to get on board with my overweight bags.

Anyway, after getting my printed boarding pass I walk through the light domestic security and splurge on a pack of peanuts. 3 hours of waiting, but at least the view is nice.

View from inside Terminal 3, Airside

Finally, we boarded the plane and had a pretty uneventful flight which I used to watch downloaded YouTube videos and read my instapaper articles.

Bacolod’s airport was tiny and had one belt for bags. My bag was the second to last to come out, and it seemed like they were shutting down the airport for the day after me. Outside I had trouble finding a Taxi as all had been taken. I waited a while and tried to find a Grab. Worst case, I’d have to take one of the PUJ (what they call minivans here). But as I was walking to the PUJ Terminal I heard my phone ding. A pleasant and talkative driver brought me in about 25 minutes to my hotel in downtown Bacolod.

Arriving in the province, Bacolod Airport

It was around noon that I arrived. Hotel check in here in the Philippines is around 14:00. They were kind to let me Check In early without any fees. And I could throw my bags into the room and go exploring. The sun beating down on me, I quickly explored the neighborhood of Lacson Street. The driver had recommended me a place to eat the famous local dish of Inasal which was in walking distance of my hotel. Less than two hours of landing I was enjoying skewered grilled chicken with chicken oil and rice on a banana leaf in the middle of Bacolod city.

After a quick nap at the hotel and I went to a Pharmacy. I paid roughly 300PHP for unbranded sunscreen and hope it protects. Took a stroll around the Capitol Park and then set my target to the Bacolod Baywalk. I decided to walk there. I love walking through the streets like these here in the Philippines. People are friendly and say ‘Hello’ or ‘Hey Joe’ with a big smile. My heart feels light, I enjoy being here in Bacolod.

I meet more and more young people going in the same direction as me and join them walking to the Baywalk Park. Just in time for the sunset. Since it’s close to the equator the sun sets pretty early around 06:00-06:30 each day with not a lot of changes years round.

People in Bacolod Baywalk Recreational Park

Half of the Baywalk is closed due to a hip-hop concert which I listen to from outside the entrance for a while. After exploring the open part of the Baywalk I sit down and enjoy a cold bottle of Tubig(water) while watching the sun go down. What a great day.