I mostly learned about Dumaguete through literature - Bobby Villalis' Elegies from Another Book and Ian Casocot's The Hero of the Snore Tango, both are works of fiction that feature the quaint town of Dumaguete as the setting. The boulevard, the university, the old mansions and houses. They're all described as quaint and sleepy and dramatic. And I have a penchant for anything dramatic. So I scheduled my visit on a dramatic time of the year - my birthday.

Celebrating my birthday in a city where I don't know a single soul was a fun and liberating experience, to say the least. The places I saw, the people I met, the food I ate-  all make up for a memorable entry on my travel journal. 

Dumaguete is not only a quaint town, it's also charming and bustling. 

Most of the interesting sights can be found at the neighboring towns, which are a short ride from the city so getting around is perfectly doable. The locals are very friendly so you don't have to worry about getting lost.

What you need is an affordable room with clean bed in a safe guest house because there's so much to do in and outside the city during the day. 

From the airport, take a few steps to the highway where easy rides (multicabs) ply by. There were tricycles inside the airport but they charged tourist rates (Php100.00-Php200.00) so unless you're willing to pay that much for a short ride downtown, best to take a much cheaper option. Easy ride fee is only Php8.00. 

Tell the driver to drop you off at Real Street where you can take a tricycle (Php8.00) to Harold's Mansion, a 4-storey guest house that has dorm-type accommodations at Hibbard Avenue. Settle in, freshen up and head out to Hayahay along Rizal Boulevard for dinner. It's about a few blocks from the hotel. Best to take a trike.

At Hayahay, you can enjoy good food (mostly seafood), listen to good music and feel the refreshing sea breeze. Take a trike back to the guest house and have a good night sleep.

Total Amount Spent for Day 1: Php489.00

Visit a few sights outside Dumaguete such as the Twin Lakes in Sibulan, Forest Camp and Casaroro Falls in Valencia. I originally wanted to go to Sibulan first but the jeepney driver in the terminal dissuaded me from going (because it's quite far and I'd end up spending a lot of money for habal-habal since I was alone). 

Get up early and have a free bread toast and coffee in the cafeteria. Take a trike and tell the driver to take you to the terminal where there are jeepneys bound for Valencia.

Valencia is a small and sleepy town that's a short 10-minute drive from Dumaguete City. Jeepneys continuously ply the Dumaguete-Valencia route all day (fare is Php12.00). At Valencia, you can either rent a habal-habal to get to Forest Camp or Casaroro Falls. Alternatively, you can hire a tricycle for a minimal fee of Php80.00 round-trip. If you intend to do a side trip to Casaroro Falls, you will pay an additional Php220.00. The driver can wait up for you while you enjoy swimming in Forest Camp then he'll take you to Casaroro Falls.

Head back to the town plaza and take a jeepney bound for Dumaguete. Take a rest at the guest house. 

Take an afternoon stroll along Hibbard Avenue where Silliman University is located. It's a popular landmark among photography buffs and tourists. You can get a visitor's pass from the guard at the entrance. You'll probably get hungry after a stroll and a photo-shoot. Take a few steps to Rizal Boulevard and try their street food. You can spend the rest of the afternoon lazying around.

For dinner, you can go to Jo's Chicken Inato or Blue Monkey Grill where they serve cheap beer (Php25.00). You can socialize at the guest house's cafeteria or the rooftop with foreign travelers. 

Get up early and catch the sunrise at the Rizal Boulevard. Take your free breakfast at the cafeteria. If you're not a bread person, you can order heavy meals such as tapsilog and bangsilog (Php110.00). 

Set aside the third day for the exciting day dive/snorkel trip in Apo Island. Harold's Mansion organizes a daily trip to the island - 1,000.00 for snorkeling and 3,800 for diving. Be sure to make an advance reservation as it's usually fully booked. 

Enjoy the rich marine life in Apo sanctuary, where you can see various sea animals - turtles, grouper, barracuda, nemo-like fishes, soft and hard corals and many more. Make sure to bring your underwater camera so you can share the amazing experience to your friends.

If your flight back to Manila is scheduled in the afternoon, you can spend the first half of the day exploring the city. Go to the plaza after having breakfast at the guest house and check out the oldest stone church in Negros and the ancient belfry nearby.

Buy pasalubong at the few local shops along Hibbard Avenue. Try the famous silvanas at Sans Rival. Their pastries and cakes are ideal pasalubong for your friends. 

Pack up, make sure you don't forget anything and check out. To get to the airport, you can take a trike to the jeepney terminal and ride a jeepney bound for Sibulan (Php12.00). Ask the driver to drop you off at the airport. Alternatively, you can hire a trike directly to the airport (Php80.00).

This is the beauty of solo travel - in the absence of a companion, you'll eventually make a few connections,  and in most cases, gain friends.

Travel insurance: simple & flexible