Ok, so Bacolod is the "Big Smoke" on Negros but Silay is after dinner cigar.
What a gem ! This town of a few thousand called the "Paris of Negros" is full of old houses, symbols of the days when sugar plantations ruled the island and The Quality ruled the plantations from their timber mansions. No building over two storeys, lots of little plaques denoting places of historical interest and lots of O L D places in all sorts of states of repair. Silay is also the birthplace of another monument, Rose Hancock Porteus, kinda fitting really
Sadly I took few pix only.I was too busy enjoying.
Originally established by a Monsieur Gaston, this little number features the timber, the high ceilings, the windows to capture the breeze and the ornate wrought iron bars to keep out the locals.
This monoculture of sugar farming pretty well meant that the few controlled the many and the feel in these mansions is very much like that of a Southern US cotton estate but I am no Rhett Butler and the days of Silay being a major centre a long gone.
This place is on the main drag...one of many.
Ok...now see the detail.
Go on ! Click on the photo and check out the fine work under the eaves.....just ignore the missing bits.
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This next Silay Mansion photo is NOT one of mine...God, I wish it was ! Again, are we in Tara ?
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So this is the big end of town with the fire tanker+ petrol station but there's still enough room for a kid and his water buffalo.
Lonely Planet is really good on Silay and here's a link to a li'l guest house there that might interest ;
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