The city of Bacolod, from the air, looks like Maui with its sugar cane fields. The city is shaped like a boot they said and the main town with its main road, Lacson Street, looks like a fish's skeleton.

You can find everything here in this booming town. The traffic is much bearable that Manila and Cebu but they say the drivers here are much worse. So far I haven't seen too many cars cutting in front, swerving, or stopping anywhere and any way. Not too many people crossing the street anywhere they want - well, maybe the rains have helped lessen this. They have the biggest McDonald's restaurant here with its own McCafe that boasts of a relaxing ambience that can compare to Starbucks or Seattle's Best. They say a lot of groups or people come to the McCafe just to drink their coffee and talk shop or do meetings. I haven't gone inside yet but if the weather proves to be better tomorrow morning Aunty and I might just have our breakfast at the McCafe.

I haven't seen what the specialty of Bacolod is but from what I know now is that sugar is their main industry. This Sunday, for the entire month, the Maskarra Festival begins. It is like the Sinulog in Cebu or the Kadayawan in Davao or the parade in New Orleans. Unfortunately, we will be leaving on Sunday and will not be able to check out this yearly festival. They have begun putting up kiosks and decorations for this month-long celebration all over the town. We might be able to get some souvenirs at least.

Anyway, I'll post more about Bacolod later.