CDO White Water Rafting (Beginner's Course)

So from Camiguin, our ferry reached Balingoan port at around 5:30 in the afternoon. We tried to look for a van going back to CDO, but minalas kami at wala na daw. There's taxi naman pero we bet it's super mahal na. So we rode a motorella going to the bus terminal na lang. We rode a bus there. Fare was 148php each. There's taxi din offering ride for 150/head. Cheap na sya, pupunuin lang yung taxi. But D didn't want to ride there, takot yata so bus na lang. Around 7:30, we reached Agora Market again. We rode a motorella going to Golden Friendship Park. Bakit dun? Well, unang choice sana namin ang D'Morvie Suites since mura sya. But we chose to stay na lang in Victoria Suites since the group na sasabayan namin ng WWR ay nakacheck-in sa Victoria Suites. Less hassle for us to go to the meeting place kasi susunduin daw sa hotel yung group. 

Speaking of our White Water Rafting arrangements, I was still in the process of arranging it that night. As in last minute na nafinalize. To make it easier for everyone, we stayed at Victoria's Suites na rin. Super dami ko na nacontact na companies dun - Kagay, Red Rafts. Buti may open spot for 2 sa Great White Rafting. They are the one tied-up with Dahilayan Park in Bukidnon. Actually, we wanted to get the complete package sana (WWR+Adventure Park) but since 2 nga lang kami nadecline kami. So DIY ang peg namin. After WWR, commute na lang kami going to Bukidnon. But sinwerte ulit kami, will kwento more in a bit.

We wake up early the next morning. Since 7am ang calltime and the hotel will not serve the free breakfast until 7am, we decided na sa labas na lang magbreakfast. Pagbalik namin sa hotel around 6:50 aba nagseserve na ng breakfast. Aba loko-loko tong mga to ah. Nagsayang pa kami ng pera. By 7am, lumabas na kami to meet the boys of Great White Rafting. Then sabi nagbebreakfast pa daw yung group na sasabayan namin. Ahh sila pala yung nandun. 7:30 na yata sila natapos. Kainis lang! Di daw nila alam na may naghihintay sa kanila. Ooookkk!

We also fetched another group of 3 girls in a coffee shop somewhere. After around 45minutes of ride, we stopped in their office. We dropped our bags there then sign the waiver. By this time, I learned also that the other group (those staying at our hotel) will go to Dahilayan after. I asked the receptionist of Great White if we can join them. We will just pay additional. She said it's exclusive. Oookk again.

Another 10minutes and we finally reached the drop off point. There's so many people!!

So apparently, our groupmates in the raft were the 3 girls. Good!

We were given briefing first. Nakinig ako ng bongga sa gagawin pag nalaglag ka sa raft. Hehe

Game On! By the way, 4 na lang pala ang available na paddle so may isa na di makakapaddle. I volunteered for the job so I stayed in the middle.

Simula pa lang intense na! See? Hindi pa kami nakakalayo nyan!

There's some moments of calmness naman buti na lang maraming baon na joke si kuya guide.

Then pabangga-bangga pader effect -

Higa-higa din -

Then in the safe area, we were allowed to jump in.

Di lang kaaya-aya how they will grabbed you paakyat ng boat. Haha!

Back to action!

Midway through, I decided to switch places with one girl so nagpaddle na ako! Wow! Mas ok pala if magpapaddle. May may balance ka. I was uncomfortable all the time nung wala ako paddle. This time much better na.

Lesson learned. Now I know.

After the very liberating rafting, we went back to the office again. Our groupmates copied the pictures from my underwater camera. Wala kasi sila dala camera and inadvise na lang sila to ask us if they can copy the pictures since same boat lang naman kami. Mejo weird kasi ang setup ng Great White. Other companies have photographers then you will just buy the CD for 300-400php. In Great White, you will rent their camera for 1000php (the cheapest), then they will burn the CD for you. Ang mahal lang! Buti dinala ni D camera namin.

After this, nag-lunch na kami since the package that we availed comes with lunch for us. Buti na lang! Because we were able to talk to the owner of Great White to ask if pwede nga kami makisabit sa Dahilayan tour ng kabilang grupo after. She said na they can allow that but we have to ask the other group since they paid for the van in full. I asked D to ask them. Baka sakali mahiya yung mga girls since lalaki ang magtatanong. And ang swerte namin because pumayag sila. They are a group of 7, 2 of which are boys.

After lunch, kanya-kanya na kami ligo sa CR ng Great White. Argh! I didn't expect na dederecho kami sa Bukidnon. Di complete ang things ko. Pero keribels na! Ang swerte lang namin.

So will I repeat rafting? Yes! Advanced naman!

Damage - 900php per head for the Beginner's Course.

Bukidnon experience up next,

Yosh

Camiguin Day 2: Camiguin in a day

Initially, our plan was to hire Kuya Poloy's motorcycle sana then DIY tour na lang kami sa Island Born of Fire. But due to the unexpected changes sa plans namin, mukhang di namin kakayanin i-tour lahat ng tourist spots sa Camiguin in half the day. Kuya Rey, our driver from the day before, offered to do our tour for 1300php only. It includes hatid sa port na. It a lot cheaper than those offered by others so we grabbed na. But this does not include White Island tour, we arranged it with Kuya Poloy naman since may bangka sya.

Camiguin, by the way, is called the Island Born of Fire because of the many volcanoes present in the island. Mt.Hibok-hibok is the most famous.

We were up by around 5:30am. Our boatman fetched us around 6am. Buti na lang walking distance lang ang Pabua's cottage sa pantalan. Pabua's nga pala is in front lang of the more pricier Paras Beach Resort. Then we rode a 10-minute bangka ride to the White island. Then iiwan ka na nila dun, ask na lang nila what time papasundo. Since 8am kami susunduin ni Kuya Rey and our things were ready na naman, we asked the boatman to fetch us ng 7:30. An hour in the island is more than enough na pala! It's a large sand bar in the middle of the ocean. No establishment and no shades from the sun. Kayang-kaya mo sya ikutin in 15minutes. Mejo nainip na kami 15minutes after but we chose to enjoy the beach na lang. White sya talaga but mabato.

On time naman dumating si Kuya boatman. Ang nakakaamaze sa dinami-dami ng tao dun, tanda nya kami. While all along, kami nagwowonder pa who among the boatmen na parating ang sa amin. Hehe. Here's the White Island shot from afar -

Boatride was 400php then there's entrance fee of 40php each.

We just had a quick breakfast, then we went back to Kuya Poloy na to settle our bills then get our things. The plan na is to do the tour with our things na. Nakapang-swimming pa rin kami nito since most of the destinations were water activities pa. Then derecho na sa port instead of balik sa cottage to maximize the time. We will change clothes na lang in one of the resorts.

Our first tour stop was the Ardent Hibok-hibok hot spring. I first wanted to go here the day before. At night. Para relaxing. But alam nyo na nga. It's first in our list now kasi eto daw pinakamalapit sa Pabua.

To give you an idea of how relaxing there, let this convince you -

I myself relaxed din. Here's my view naman while floating. Greenery! The spring was covered with net na lang to avoid the leaves from falling sa water.

Entrance: 30php each

Then ahon, then we went to Katibawasan Falls next. Entrance here was 20php each.

The falls was really majestic. That's why when we get down, we were saddened when we saw a plastic bag floating around. Inside were water and beer bottles. D fetched it up. Pa-good samaritan ang asawa ko. Full of care for the environment sya. Akala nya nakatulong sya! Then halfway papunta sa pampang, nafeel nya na mabigat pa yung buhat nya. Yun pala, inilagay talaga dun yung mga bottles para palamigin. May group of Koreans na nag-BBQ sa may gilid then nakatingin sa kanya nung kinuha nya yung bottles. Nagpeace sign na lang sya after nya ibalik. Hehe

Super lamig ng tubig! But di kami nagchicken!

After a few minutes, we went out na rin. We stopped for Kipings lang. Kiping is a cassava chip like crackers. Then they will drizzle it with coco jam or condensed milk. Your choice. 10php lang isa. Yummy!

Then after, we asked Kuya Poloy to take us to Vjandeep so we can buy pastel. We bought 2 pcs din for ourselves so we can taste our pasalubong first. Super yummy! Mainit-init pa. Mas yummy sya when we were there than when we took it home na.

Then we stopped by this viewing point -

Next was the Walkway to the old volcano. But since we were in a time-pressured tour, we skipped this one na. Gusto ko lang ng relaxing na tour at hindi paguran. Picture na lang kami sa entrance.

Then of course the very famous Sunken Cemetery. I wanted to see this sana ng sunset. Aww. Anyway, there's no entrance fee going here. But you can ride a boat para dalhin ka dun sa mismong cross. We chose not to - 1. We didn't have time 2 - Super tirik na tirik ang araw. We just had this photo op with a guide. We gave him tip na lang for the effort.

Next is the Old church ruins. There's not much to see here. So very quick lang kami dito. Picture lang sa very big tree -

Sa field -

At bumili ng kandila sa mga bagets na nagbebenta. A little prayer then we're off.

Next stop: Soda swimming pool. I didn't bother tasting the water if it's really soda because nakapagbasa-basa naman ako na hindi talaga lasang soda. Haha! Swim-swim lang then larga na. Entrance fee was 20php each also.

Our last water activity was Cold Soda Spring. 20php entrance also.

Main attraction? Fish that will eat your dead skin cells. Which I conclude is not for me. Super nakikiliti ako! Hahaha!

Dito na kami nagbihis. We chose not to eat here kasi sabi ng friend ko hindi daw masarap ang food.

Then nagpahatid na kami kay Kuya Rey sa last stop namin before the pier - J&A Fishpen. It's already 2pm by this time. We were aiming to habol na last trip going back to CDO na 4:30 so we have to be at the port ng 3:30. So safe to eat na here. We gave Kuya Rey 100php for his food na lang since he didn't want to join us.

Here's the fishpen. You can catch your own fish then have it cooked. Pero bilang nagmamadali na kami, order na lang.

After this, we arrived just in time for the last trip. Mejo early pa nga actually.

Super recommended ko si Kuya Rey. We made the best decision by getting him. Mejo napamahal kami, yes. But we were able to go to all the places we wanted in a short span of time. So super sulit. Here's his number: Kuya Rey - 0906 143 6284

Girl On fire,

Yosh

Camiguin Day 1: Getting there

Yup! As usual, this is another long overdue post. To when I can keep up with our latest roadtrips, I'm not sure. Hehe. But I'm getting closer! Ok, let's continue with this one from last February..

Early last year, I was so lucky that I got this very low fare from Cebu Pacific going to Cagayan de Oro. Super swerte lang. I got our plane tickets for only 2,600php. Dalawa na kami jan! I almost forgot about this trip. Buti na lang nagemail ang Cebupac regarding schedule change. Then nagdalawang-isip pa kami if we'll proceed pa with the trip since mejo gipit kami that time. But we decided to use it na lang. Minsan lang kami dapuan ng swerte sa pagbook ng murang flights e.

We reached NAIA T3 around 6 in the morning. We have a lot of time to spare since nakapagweb checkin na kami. So we took our time na lang to eat inside the airport. By 8am, we were on board already. Around 9:30, we already landed in the new CDO airport which is Laguindingan Airport. According to my research, mejo madugo ang commuting factor dito. Hindi option for us ang magtaxi because nagtitipid nga kami but we decided against the cheapest way of transport din naman because it will consume a lot of our precious time. We chose to take the van going to Agora Mall. If you want to know the transportation options going to and from the airport, check this SITE.

By the way, here's our IT para di tayo magkagulo sa kwentuhan. This is after so much revision na.
Day 1: From CDO Airport, go straight to Camiguin. Rest.
Day 2: Halfday Camiguin Tour. Take the last ferry going back to CDO
Day 3: White Water Rafting in the morning. Dahilayan in the afternoon
Day 4: Free time

If you'll notice, we went straight to Camiguin. Hindi naman sa adik kami sa byahe nyan. Hehe. It's our only option e. Since we are only 2 sa trip, our choices were very limited. Of course, our priority is to be able to experience White Water Rafting. Eto ang ipinunta naman dito. Most of the companies, can only accomodate us during weekends. Bilang 2 lang kami, we cannot do WWR na kami lang. Need namin makisabay sa ibang grupo. According to them, we have to be at least 5 in a group. So in our IT, since we arrived ng Thursday, we went straight to Camiguin to maximize our stay there.

Ok, going back. Based on our research, the point of entry to Camiguin is thru Benoni port. Benoni Port can be reached via Balingoan port which is the most popular point of entry.Though may isa pang port (I cannot remember na the name sorry), but the ferry trip schedule there is very unpredictable. Then may airport din.

As I've mentioned, from the CDO Airport we took a van going to Agora Mall. There's a lot of van companies that can take you to CDO proper there. You just have to choose which one can take you to where you're headed. We chose CDOTranspo because they can drop us off Agora Market. The van ride damage was 199php each. We rode the van at around 9:30 in the morning. It took off around 10am. By 11am, we were already at Agora market. We walked around to find the van that will take us to Balingoan Port. Prepare to get pestered by a lot of men offering tours! We grabbed a quick lunch muna sa Jollibee para makatakas sa kanila. Then went back to scouting for rides. There's one van that can take you straight to Benoni airport. It is priced at 450php per head. A bit steep considering that the normal commute will only cost us 320php. Then si kuya sabi nya alam daw nya san ang sakayan ng van so we followed him. 150php ang siningil nya sa amin. Then nung umaandar na si van, chinika kami ni mother na katabi ko sa van. How much daw binayad namin. Sabi namin 150php. Aba nagulat si muther! 100php lang daw. So kinausap nya yung driver na mahal ang singil sa amin. Pinuntahan ni kuya driver si kuya barker but sawing bumalik si manong driver. Bayad daw yun sa barker dahil hinatid kami sa pila. Haayy ang gulang! Hayaan na nga lang.

We rode the van 12nn, we arrived at Balingoan Port a little past 2pm. Mejo sad ang port na ito, walang masyadong movement then halos walang open na bilihan ng tickets. The scheduled 3:30pm ferry will not sail daw dahil sira, so we have to wait for the 4:30pm boat which is the last trip. Mejo nagpipile na ang mga tao so we were a bit afraid na di kami makasama sa last boat. What I did was binantayan ko yung ticket booth, e di isa ako sa mga unang nakabili ng ticket. Yey! The ticket was priced at 170php each. Then may bayarin na 2php at 2.25php for the environmental fees. By around 4 in the afternoon, pinasakay na kami sa ferry. Umalis sya ng almost 5pm na. So nakarating na kami sa Benoni port around 7pm. I have made reservations kay Kuya Poloy of Pabua's cottage but yung transpo that will take us from the pier to the cottage yun ang wala. Kaya I was a bit worried kasi it's getting dark na. Then brownout pa! Got thing madami nagaabang sa labas. We hired Kuya Rey's multicab to take us sa Pabua's for 300php. It's 200php cheaper than sa in house service ng Pabua. He dropped us at this resto because wala na daw malapit na kainan sa cottage namin. It was dark and drizzling na by this time. Our plan to catch the sunset at the Sunken Cemetery failed. So we have no choice but to compressed our tours the next day. We just slept early that night since wala naman magagawa.

Here's our 700php room by the way -

Tired and sleepy,

Yosh