Another day of adventure awaits the Travel Mindanao team in Bukidnon. It was time to leave Valencia and we’re then headed north to Impasug-ong. The team regrouped again at the town market in Malaybalay with Lai of PinayTravelista rejoining us after she left us at Lake Sebu. And this time to guide us is another Bukidnon local travel blogger and runner Earl of SuroyPilipinas. He had already arranged our transportation going to CEDAR in Impalutao, Impasug-ong. I don’t know what to expect of the place except for some nature hikes and a few waterfalls.
Tag: Hikes
Tanay | Mt Batolusong Climb and Kay-Ibon Falls Sidetrip
While my first few travels revolved around the mountains, I must admit that I haven’t climbed a lot lately. When a good ol balikbayan (back to the country) climb buddy invited for a day-climb for the weekend at Mt Batolusong, I got curious. Where the heck is that mountain? I haven’t heard that before. A quick google search brought out some interesting photos of grasslands and a waterfall in the vicinity. Hey! Why not? It’s only in nearby Tanay and I get to catch up with a fellow alumni from my university. Saturday. 3am. I’m up for the climb.
Maligcong | Mt Kofafey: Sunrise and a Sea of Clouds
It was the turn of the year and I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to be in a place where people don’t know me. I wanted to greet the first sunrise of the year in a new landscape. The past year was filled with mixed emotions, I was hoping that being away would bring things in a positive light and hopefully bring me back to the right direction. The first morning of 2014, I found myself already climbing the mountain slopes of Maligcong for Mt Kofafey under a starry night with my two companions who used to be just strangers a few days ago and now I’m entrusting my life to them.
Buscalan Kalinga | The Journey to the Village of Long Life
Have I discovered the secret to long life? It seems the people living in this highland village of Buscalan in Kalinga have. It amazes me to see how elders living in the age bracket of 80-90 and above are still nimble, skillful and can still manage to contribute to work. I’m not just talking about the legendary mambatok (traditional tattoo artist) Whang Od (Fang Od), whom we wanted to meet when we went to Buscalan. While I was dumbfounded to find her working under the sun drying out some beans, then carefully carrying those in a small sack at the age of 93-yo, her peers in the village could still run around circles to any sedentary couch-potato in the metro.
Chasing Sunset at Mt Tapyas Coron
It seems I’ve been going back to a lot of places lately. At least 6 years after, and more air traffic lately in NAIA (our flight was delayed for more than an hour) I found myself bound for Francisco Reyes Airport in Busuanga. A new airport, wide paved road (and watch our for passing cattle) and a more bustling little Coron Town were some of the notable changes. We checked in at Coron Eco Lodge found at the quiet side of Calle Real (check my review here). With our time cut short because of the flight delay, we chose to forego the regular “City Tour” and head directly Mt Tapyas for the sunset I was looking forward to shoot again.
Whisking Through the Jumog Waterfalls Twin Falls
I still feel nervous when I hopped back on Wazit’s motorbike after that motorbike accident to Suku Temple but I really have no choice but to go with him. I did notice he’s more cautious now as I told him to be very careful after showing my nasty wounds to him. We were on our way to Jumog Waterfalls which is just 1.5km in the vicinity. I really wanted to squeeze this in despite the short afternoon we have here. I think I needed something like this to refresh my senses after all that happened.
The Big and Small Bulalacao Falls in El Nido
It’s funny how naming conventions of tourist sites go as far as El Nido is concerned. When island hopping its amusing when people would say they’ll be going to a “Secret Beach” (which I won’t tell where because it’s supposed to be a secret) or the “Big and Small Lagoon” in Miniloc Island to name the sites based on size description. Now my new favorite waterfalls in El Nido, the less-visted Bulalacao Falls in Pasadeña, will also get the same treatment as the Miniloc Lagoon. Welcome to the Big and Small Bulalacao Falls, personally the most beautiful waterfalls in El Nido.
