My first travel for this year – three days diving trip in Dauin, Negros Oriental! To reach Dauin, take a one hour flight from Manila to Dumaguete City. Upon arriving in Dumaguete airport, you can take public transport going to Dauin (which will take about 45 minutes from the airport).
Rounding Up Dumaguete City
Dumaguete City is small urbanized area full of big old trees, old establishments and even old houses made of wood. Upon traveling to Dauin, I noticed that more of the old houses can be found around the area. The locals in the city, and outside the city are friendly and helpful.
Watching the sunset at Rizal Boulevard
Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City
While in the city, I went around looking for the famous Sans Rival Bistro where I can buy silvanas as “pasalubong” or souvenirs for my friends back in Manila. It was not so difficult to find since it was just along the Boulevard. The food is surprisingly cheaper than I expected, and of course, I can buy the best-tasting silvanas in the country. I brought my travel buddy here for dinner before we left the province. 🙂
Welcome to Dauin!
While my travel buddy is enjoying his underwater macro photography, I was traveling around neighboring towns, enjoying my own photo shoots with centuries old colonial churches and other old structures. (if only I could dive again, I might have shared his interest in underwater photography as well)
It’s great to walk around the down very early in the morning. We always have our breakfast at Dauin market and it would only cost 20-50 pesos fr both of us!
Early morning walk around Dauin
Based on my travel research, there are quite a few colonial churches in the province like in Zamboanguita, Bacong and in Dumaguete City. And luckily, these can be found in nearby towns next to Dauin. So I don’t need to travel that far~ And Dauin itself has the oldest church in the province. I am really lucky. 🙂
Centuries old Dauin Church
A peek inside Dauin Church
Bacong Church
Zamboanguita Church … a quaint centuries old church famous for its cobblestone facade
What I really like about the province are the locals. Everyone is just helpful and down-to-earth. In spite of my disable situation, I managed to go around the city and nearly towns because locals are very willing to help you for the directions and what to do around. Even the host family and staff of our diving accommodation are really nice.
I really want to go back. Maybe I can make a blog entry about travel buddy’s macro photography. He has a lot of great underwater shots. Dauin is really famous for muck diving and a haven for macro photographers.
Traveler's Tales 