Geckos & Roosters & Dogs, Oh My!

Regardless of where you decide to stay in Dumaguete you can expect to see plenty of geckos, roosters and dogs roaming freely. While dogs are pretty much confined to the more residential areas you should expect your hotel’s grounds to be frequented by roosters and geckos (i.e. lizards). The latter tend to be the most invasive, often taking a stroll around the walls in your room. I was understandably alarmed at first when a few of them decided to share my room at South Seas Resort, but my friend Marilyn assured me they do not bite. Their occasional chirping was unnerving for the first few days, but I later pretended this was simply their way of welcoming me to Dumaguete City. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes and countless other biting insects went with the more direct method of eating me alive.