The L’Fisher Chalet Tower II opened just 3 months before the wedding. We were impressed at its simple and sleek façade, its small but stylish and functional lobby, cozy yet airy interiors, and relaxing roof deck.
We were among the lucky ones who got booked into one of its budget rooms. For PHP 995 (USD 22), we've got a very good deal.
Only when I realized that the pillows were too firm, and that there were only 3 of them on our bed did it feel that we were indeed in a budget room. Apart from that, we were comfortable.
Favorite Things: the hangers that won't get stolen,
and the pretty murals in the elevator area
After the pre-wedding dinner we decided to hang out by the lobby and have a little chat with the friendly desk people.
We also looked around the roof deck and stayed for a while because it was nice up there. The pool looked so tempting, but we'd rather not be the subject of someone's dinner conversation at the cafe right beside it.
So we woke up at 5 am the next day, when the cafe hasn't opened yet, so Noy could take a few laps in peace.
I just dipped in for a while, looked at the rainbow-embellished Bacolod sky while sharing a pretty glass of fresh OJ with my husband. I thought it was a little too cozy for some serious swimming.
But I did swim a little. It's exciting to use the new cam underwater for the first time.
When company went up the roof deck, it was time for breakfast.
Noy checked out the gym, which hasn't really opened yet, but the gym guys let us in.
The hotel also has a neat little salon on the roof deck. Rhona and I had our hair done there before the wedding, but I wasn't able to take very good pictures since we're too pressed for time.
When they said Bacolod is the City of Smiles, they meant it. L'Fisher has helpful and courteous people who don't reserve their smiles to the rich-looking. Would I come back to L'Fisher the next time I'm in Bacolod? Definitely.
The morning after was a big rush, because we had to check out of the hotel before joining the tour. We almost just swallowed our breakfast because as usual,we were running late. Thankfully, we were provided our own ride since the bus was already full.
First stop: First Farmers Sugar Mills.
Yup, we got to see how sugar is made – from the moment the sugarcane plants are harvested, up to refining until the whitest possible grains are made. There showed us an AVP of the company
profile before they brought us to the factory proper. While I wasn’t that interested in their machinery, I enjoyed the snacks they served – piaya and various other sugar-coated things =)
The factory is huge, but it didn’t take long before we got to that part when the machines were churning out what was recognizably sugar. It was quite fun, seeing the sparks from the furnaces, smelling all kinds of smells from musty, woodsy, sour (almost rotten, actually) and of course, sweet.
The storage area was one big coliseum of all kinds of sugar. They piled the sugar sacks so high I was afraid they’d fall on us if one just goofed around mindlessly.
With fresh sugar still sticking to our hands we were whisked off to Balay Negrense, a centuries-old house kept impeccably strong and beautiful so we the unfortunate city dwellers may ogle at it today.
While everybody else joined the tour guide/keeper, I sat at the living area and took it all in, picturing in my mind the people who once lived there – how they gathered to eat dinner, how they prepared for the working day ahead, how children played, how they served their guests, how couples spent their nights together when only a thin piece of wood with vertical holes on top separated their room from the other 11 bedrooms.
I’ve always been fascinated at the mysterious aura of old houses. It’s my little dream to be relishing in one. It pertains to no personal issues of mine, I just find it a simple thrill, like driving a manual in high heels.
The house is huge. There were old house-things everywhere – piano, telephones, vases, couches, framed photos, dressers, personal stuff, kitchen tools, and loads of other interesting things that withstood time.
Looking at the bedrooms in perfect condition gave me the goosebumps, like the owner would just turn up and take his place at the bottom of the bed and tell us stories.
Too bad there were a lot of us, and there was so little time to really get the feel of the house. But I’m happy nevertheless. It’s a magnificent house.
Next stop was The Ruins. This one’s bigger, a little older than Balay Negrense, but as the name implies, the house was ruined and all that remained were the walls and the founding structures. It was awe-inspiring in its own way, but not as enchanting as Balay Negrense, at least in my opinion. I guess the mystery thing is a little downplayed here since the structure looked too modern for me.
It was too clean to be “old”, if I may, and it had lavishly manicured lawns, a mini golf course, and a captivating fountain.
At the ground floor is a semi-fine dining restaurant-bar. The Ruins is a popular events place. It’s perfect for weddings and prenuptial pictorials. It’s also a charming and romantic location for special dates and proposals. Unfortunately again, it was so sunny and hot it was a challenge to take good pictures. Here we are, nevertheless looking great, with the lovely couple in the restobar area. Note the beautifully tiled floor.
We could have stayed to enjoy it some more, but it was just too hot and people were hungry already.
Mel’s parents treated us to lunch at the Chicken House. Back at the sugar mills the events coordinator tool our orders already, so by the time we got to the restaurant we found chicken inasal and rib steaks waiting for us.
Each of us in our group had a wonderful thick slab of juicy firm sweet rib steak that I personally found in no need of dipping. It was a terrific way to end the tour.
So where's that part where I'd tell you about that teasingly yummy cheesecake? Kindly read on to the entry after the next, which I will post in a few days. Thanks to you who always check my blog out! =)
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