Time travel: The Search for FUNGI at Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental, the Philippine’s major sugar producer is not all about sugar canes. Being the one who wanted to travel the world but has the desire to explore her own country first, Negros Island/Bacolod City is on my list. I heard a lot of good stuffs. (The truth is) I simply wanted to see a real land of sugar canes. Unfortunately, the first time I set my foot in that land was not for an adventurous nature trip but it turned out like one. We were there to collect FUNGI. Yes! FUNGI. 

Mycology class (2003-XXXXX)

Division of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines

Looking wasted...Why? because I was so excited that I  had fallen to sleep only an hour before the trip (it was my first time to travel to Negros Island). My friends had a hard time waking me up that morning...so i have to got up from bed, changed clothes, grabbed my bag and ran ourselves to the Ilo-ilo pier to catch a scheduled trip going to Bacolod City (no bathroom rituals) whew!

Who cares about an old man driving an old and worn out non-air-conditioned mini bus on a rough  and uphill road when you got a fascinating scenes along the way. That adds a travel worth remembering…a very usual experience when you travel to provinces where transportation is quite a problem. At first, I doubted if we can reach our destination (we did though). So there goes an adventure from Bacolod City to Negros Occidental—having a trip with a potential danger. 

Scenes along our way to Guintubdan Mountain Resort

Negros Occidental is a very old place—aside from the rough roads are the well-reserved Hispanic and ancestral houses, old churches, old buildings that echo the lifestyle of people century ago. Too bad we never had the chance to visit each place because and again we have a lot of fungi to collect.

A Perfect destination for nature enthusiasts: 

Location: Sitio Guintubdan, Bgy. Ara-al, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

A tropical hideaway beneath a canopy of forest where you can enjoy the cold weather, fresh air, springs, waterfalls, giant trees, ferns, among others.

over night stay at Guintubdan resort with the rest of the class

We also visited The Quiet Place Farm Resort...

The Quiet Place Farm Resort,an agricultural estate in Bago City

For our eyes only:

• Mini gym and covered court
• boating on the lake
• biking through the paved path walks

Because the reasons why we visit Quiet place Farm resort was to collect samples of FUNGI. The place is where Ganoderma Lucidum is cultured owned by one of the UP Alumnus. 

We actually experienced to walk-through in a forest of tropical tree, passed by rice fields, passed through the rows of banana trees, we enjoyed garden filled with tropical blooms while collecting samples.

It was fun...