In preparation for this festival I thought to purchase a mask - it looked pretty darn good also.
Landing in Bacolod on Friday evening to meet up with friends at the hotel (L'Fisher) I was really impressed at how friendly and smiley everyone was in Bacolod. You could tell that Masskara was definitely on with the banners, masks decorating the streets or buildings so I was feeling really excited with it all.
As we neared our hotel, you could really hear the festivities had begun in earnest, even though there was a downpour before our arrival.
Checking into our rooms, we headed off to have dinner at Cafe Uma just behind the hotel. The music was so loud and a lot of people everywhere having an awesome time! I love it!
After dinner, we headed up to the Roof Top Party at L'Fisher hotel - HUWOW! They really know how to throw a party. Ushered to our reserved table we began with our free San Mig drinks, a perfect way to cool down since it was extremely humid.
I loved the decor at the hotel, all out and not to mention the entertainment all the way from Boracay the fire dancers. One was definitely attracted to Rom (happy to say it was a girl) and made a bee-line to show case her skills at swirling balls of fired around him. Though Rom thought it better she stayed away fearing he might be set alight :P
As the night went on, obviously the organisers thought it would be a great idea also for those single ladies and gentlemen to mingle so the blue and pink balloons that I was curious about were being distributed...again Rom was given a blue one. Each balloon had a tag which was allocated a number - now the instructions were to find your soulmate you must go seek the same number allocated to you. I thought well that's going to be a problem since this one already has a wife (obvious here that Rom doesn't wear his wedding band...not that I mind). Rom gave it to our friend Abs who happily accepted it.
I did chuckle a little when 2 girls who weren't exactly matching the criteria that Abs had in mind were eagerly seeking their soulmate...so he hid the balloon :P
At around 2am I was turning into a pumpkin already, don't usually stay up beyond the twilight hours so I excused myself to go to bed and left the gang to party on.
Didn't really do any good either as the party could be heard from our room - it seems that we had a direct line to the DJ since our room was conveniently looked under one of the draft tunnels throughout the hotel. I particularly didn't want to hear a conversation with a bunch of girls and boys who were talking about their recent escapade to Boracay so I thought to tell them via the PA system ie the draft tunnel.
Shortly after 3am the music stopped, so you would think I would get some sleep...however, our roommate was sucking out all the air in the room so you could safely confirm that neither Rom or I got any sleep at all that night.
The following morning we had our breakfast and I for one wanted to sample the pool. It was complete bliss just chilling at my sunken lounge chair by the pool bar in the pool where there was ample shade and obviously easy access to drinks :P
I sample their Pina Colada and Rom, well sampled their 'gaytini' (that's what I refered to his Dacquiri drink that came in a cocktail glass) :P
We met up with the rest of gang who were a little worse for wear but still able to walk about the towncentre with us - it was pretty warm - oh I forgot to mention Typhoon Juan (Megi), the super typhoon was also predicted to come this weekend. I was really fascinated by the masks...I loved the craftmanship...I was tempted to buy the biggest one they had, but I thought to buy the smaller ones since with my hyper-active imagination I might scare myself with the bigger ones if I hung it at home.
Our local guide, our friend also, wanted us to go the original Chicken House (we have one at the Fort called Chicken Bacolod Chicken House). We ordered a feast and though one of us was reluctant to eat with their hands, we all did it the Filo way - KAMAYAN just the way it should be. It's the best way to eat I think!
Feeling like I could be rolled out of this restaurant, we thought to take the jeepney back to the hotel which was at the opposite side of the road. After navigating our selves through traffic, we eventually ended up on the otherside to take the jeepney. We had coffee at the Cafe with our flourless chocolate cake it was just so nice to kick back and relax.
Siesta time until Fiesta time later on!
Around 7pm we ate at the local italian restaurant, great food and also great location for the street party where some of the floats would be passing. It was the last day of Masskara festival! By this time I wished I could have been more awake but I fear that the lack of sleep from the night before was catching up.
Both Rom and decided to have a nap before contemplating to come out later.
The group obviously wanted to sample the Lechon from L'Fisher outdoor restaurant...Rom also couldn't keep his mind of it so after a couple of hours resting we decided to meet up with the girls at the rooftop - low and behold there they chomping down on the lechon.
It seems all we did was eat right...well, in truth that is exactly what we did...after all what is a fiesta for?
The following morning we were harder to wake up and when breakfast became lunch at the seafood restaurant.
All I can say is that both Rom and I are now on a vegetarian diet after this weekend. We had grilled sea bass, squid, blue marlin, scallops, prawns and all the rice you can eat. Then our friend mentioned that we should definitely try Napoleones and Half Moon Cake.
Ok this is just pure evil for one who is a diabetic such as myself to be introduced to such mouthwatering delicacies! Half-moon cake is a moist sponge cake topped with I could only best described as condensed milk as the icing, Napoleones is a pastry that crumbles in your mouth along with custard and icing all I can say is that I'm medicating myself and that I was good enough to limit myself to one piece each.
I love Bacolod and imagine I only saw a little bit of it, I really do want to go back and sample the rest of the town's hospitality and surroundings. It reminded me so much of another place, Vanuatu...the town people are always smiling and friendly, the traffic non-existent and not once did I have to worry about my bag being taken away by some person.
Since this was my first fiesta here, I'm addicted and definitely want to sample the Ati-Atihand in Aklan this coming January! I can't wait for that one :)
Thank you Bacolod, you definitely earned your 'smiling town' award :P
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