There was a curious openness about the place that radiated warmth and hospitality, and our brief sojourn there hinted of simple pleasures that whispered to me like a whiff of crisp, fresh air. Going to San Carlos takes approximately a little over two hours from the capital of the province, Bacolod City. The scenery was an almost uninterrupted view of lush countryside on either side of the road, and the silhouette of mountain ranges proudly looming in the distance. Roughly halfway through, we make a stopover at Don Salvador Benedicto, a municipality situated in the town of Escalante. The view deck at the side of the road provides a magnificent view of the Malatanog Falls. It cascades about 120 feet and can be reached only after a rough trek, an elderly resident informed us. It was the only thing that breaks the hushed silence of the place, but for me the falls had a presence akin to majesty: it commands attention. When we arrived at the city, People’s Park was one of the places we visited. The park sums up the different local buildings found in San Carlos, but the structures are all delightfully done in miniature size. It was fun seeing a city hall that only stood up to my waist, and the public market that was just as wide as my outstretched arms. Spending an afternoon there was like peeking thru childhood memories again. People’s Park also features amenities like promenades, gazebos and kiosks, ideal for picnics the whole family can enjoy, or lazy weekends hanging out with friends.

What I like most, however, were the steel locomotive and the boulevard found there. The train sat on an elevated ground amidst grass, as peacefully as a sleeping dragon waiting to be awakened. That model is one of the earliest, perhaps constructed in the early 1900s, and my imagination galloped like a runaway horse thinking of a time when it was used as the main transportation to cover long distances. Now we have commercial airplanes for that, but it must have been nice to share your cabin with a fellow passenger, or to go to the dining cart for meals. The other one that captured my interest was the boulevard that overlooks the sea. On clear weather, like the time we visited, the neighboring island of Sipaway can be clearly seen, and the view was very relaxing. While going around San Carlos, my co-writer Candy spotted a store called Viajerro at almost the exact time we were hoping to find an establishment that sells souvenir t-shirts. We got intrigued about it so we opted to look for the store. But the modest streets all looked the same, and we made a number of wrong turns before finding Viajerro at last. I immediately took a liking to the name from the moment I heard it. For me, the word – which roughly translates to mean ‘traveler’ – effortlessly evokes images of wanderlust and adventure. When we entered, different works of art greeted us. There were colorful murals, local art pieces made of wood, and (drum rolls please rows upon rows of t-shirts neatly hanging in racks or folded on the display tables. The shirts, we found out from an amiable staff, were all designed and hand painted by the local artist who owns the store. He added that his boss only makes a number of designs every month, and each design is limited to no more than a handful of t-shirts. I thought that the concept really added a personal touch on the purchases, in dire contrast to things bought in department stores, where the clothes aremanufactured by the hundreds. We left Viajerro with the shirts we bought; and in turn, the store left me with an impression of a thriving artistic endeavor in the city. Our last morning in San Carlos was spent at La Fortuna Nature and Wildlife Lagoon. It took us close to a quarter of an hour, I think, to reach this sanctuary located at So. Katingal-an in Baranggay Buluangan. To get there we had to get off the main road and follow a rugged and uneven path. Sugarcane plants rising several feet high flanked us on either side of the narrow dirt trail. It looked like a scene from a local action movie, or perhaps something that resembled more the hidden part of an impressive hacienda.

I’m positive that if it were me who navigated the van we would be going around in circles for hours on end, as I’m hopeless with directions. But our driver eased into the confusing turns, and after a few minutes the picturesque beauty of La Fortuna welcomed us. La Fortuna sprawls on a five-hectare property owned by the Ledesma family. It is a flourishing ecosystem of stately pine trees and diverse plants, and a safe habitat for many animals. The calm waters of the man-made lagoon acted like a looking glass and reflected the bright hues of the clear sky, while the chirping birds serenaded us with their morning songs. Apart from a pony tied at the bank of the lagoon, a man with his carabao in tow, a puppy that was playfully mischievous, the caretakers of the place, and our small group, La Fortuna was blissfully isolated that time – and I can’t think of a better way to start my day, or cap off my stay there. Each city has a certain feel and San Carlos City has one distinctly its very own. Its natural wonders and made made attractions weave a magic all their own, and its simple charms are more eloquent than any spoken words. Tucked away on its own little paradise in Negros its simplicity is its charm.