Wandering Me ^___^: May 2013

Tam-awan Village

It was 7:35 AM when we reached Baguio. We immediately took a taxi to Tam-awan Village. We asked the driver if he knows Tam-awan Village and he said yes. I am soooooo looking forward to coming to Tam-awan. We’ll be having our breakfast there, and since our trip from Manila to Baguio via Genesis had no stop over, I was really starving even before we reach Baguio.

We didn’t know that Tam-awan is actually a town in Baguio. We thought that it was just the name of the site. So, when we said to the driver that we’re bound to Tam-awan, he thought we have a specific house to go to. That explains why we passed by the colorful wall of Tam-awan Village at first. When we were at the boundary of Tam-awan – Long-long towns, the driver finally asked us where are we really headed. We said TAM-AWAN VILLAGE. He took a U-turn and brought us back to the colorful wall which we already skipped earlier.

OK… This is just the start of the trip… so GOOD VIBES lang muna.

We paid 50.00 for the entrance. A map was given to us and we immediately looked for the way to the restaurant. When we got to the resto, there were already people dining in. Some are still on the buffet table.

We took a table on the corner near the cashier corner which was empty at the moment. I called someone from the kitchen and told him that we would like to order food.

ME : Kuya, order po kami.

KUYA: Ma’am ayaw nyo po ba nung buffet?

ME : (looked at the table with tuyo, longganisa, scrambled egg, pandesal and fried rice) Magkano po ba ung buffet?

KUYA: Free po Ma’am. Open buffet po kami ngaun kasi festival.

AYSUS! Hindi mo naman agad cnabi kuya. Sana knina q pa cnunggaban ung mesa :D

Inside Tam-Awan Village

Outside Tam-Awan Village

I was supposed to have my very first traverse on this day! But our concerned guide texted Juvie and told her that the mountain trail is surely slippery since it rained the whole day yesterday. So we decided to think of Biglaang Plan B.

I was really thinking of Antipolo and a text from Juvie said the same thing. So I browsed the net for some posts regarding Antipolo Trip including Hinulugang Taktak Trek and I’ve found negative reviews that made me change my mind about going to the place. And then I stumbled upon a post regarding Calinawan Cave in Tanay Rizal. I sooooo lve caving! Whenever I go to Sagada, I see to it that caving is on my itinerary… kahit ilang beses q ng napuntahan ung cave na un!

Thanks to biyaherongbarat.com/‎. One post brought me to 6 destinations! Awesome! :D

My friend and I met at LRT2 Cubao at around 8:00AM. We thought terminal bound to Antipolo is just near the Mercury Drug Store but the barker said that there's no FX bound to Tanay on that terminal. OK… think of other way…. And the only way I know is to go to Rosario… and from there, ride a jeep bound to Tanay. And that’s what we did. By 8:20AM, we reached Rosario and transferred to jeepney bound to Tanay. Fare for the trip is 45.00.

I haven’t had breakfast yet, and it was raining when we got to Tanay so we decided to eat first. Guess where we had our tbreakfast… JOLLIBEE!!!! Haha!

Pancake and Spaghetti for Breakfast ^_^

The rain suddenly turned to drizzle then finally stopped. We decided to get out of the food chain. There were tricycles parked just right outside Jollibee. We asked the driver to bring us to Daranak Falls. Original price they asked us was 200.00. We kinda haggle and the driver agreed for 150.00 (pwede na since dalawa naman kami). At 10:45AM, where on our way to Daranak Falls from Jollibee Tanay.

On our way, Kuya Richie (the driver) asked us if we’ re going to swim. It wasn't really on my plan. I just wanted to see the falls. But I brought clothes just in case… He told us that entrance fee for the Daranak Falls is 20.00 and 100.00 for Batlag Falls, which is now under private management of TANAY JEST CAMP.

It took us 20 minutes to reach the jump-off to Daranak Falls. We walked for 3 minutes to the entrance and paid 20.00.

We crossed the hanging bridge.

View from the Hanging Bridge

Haha! wish this sign was a little higher. We felt so stupid asking for the way to the falls when in fact, this sign was just right behind us!!! Good thing the ice cream vendor was kind ;)

The sign we missed :D

Waiting for their turn to jump

Daranak Falls

After 5 minutes of taking pictures and watching those people swim, we decided to proceed to Batlag Falls. I saw the ice cream vendor again. I wanted to ask him for the direction but then I changed my mind. Nakakahiya din naman aba! I asked someone else instead, hehe. And the direction was clear, from where we were standing, he said that we just have to “diretso lang. baba kau jan (pointing on few flight of stairs) kanan. Me tulay. Un na un”. OK…

Bridge Connecting Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls

Batlag Falls / Tanay Jest Camp

Another wooden bridge needs to be crossed to go to the falls. With the 100.00 entrance, I think this should be improved… Or if they’ll have this bridge as part of the activites in camping, this should somehow be furnished.

Less people in this area. But more LAMOK! We paid 100 for this? I know, it’s hard to eliminate these insects but they should be doing something about this.

At 12:30PM, I told Juvie that we should leave. Well, the things I saw didn’t exactly meet my expectations. But I am still planning to come back though. On rainy season perhaps… para malakas ang tubig :)

Off to our next activity then... my favorite… CAVING!!! Kuya Richie warned us the road to the cave is kinda rough and rocky. He told us that we might walk on some area if his tricycle won’t be able to handle us. ok... part of the adventure :)

By 12:50 PM, we’re at the registration area. We were told that we have to pay 20.00 for the entrance, and 100.00 will be given to the guide plus tip if you want to give some. The guide given to us was Tebs…

Cave Entrance

YOU”RE THE REASON WHY THE STONES DIED!!!!

Vandalism :(

After 40 minutes of staying underground (half of the time were spent taking pictures), we exited from the cave.

Near the cave is a chapel. We actually passed by this chapel when we were underground.

By 1:40PM, we're on our way back to Tanay. Kuya Richie asked us if we want to make a stop on the grotto which is along the road going back to the town proper. We agreed. Once again, the rain poured when we reached the grotto at 2:15PM. But that didn’t stop us from walking on the 200 flight of stairs leading to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It took us 5 minutes to reach the top.

At 2:35PM, The rain suddenly stopped. We then headed to the Lakeshore Parola. On our way, I asked Kuya Richie if we can go climb at the top of the parola. He said that there’s a lock but we can squeeze our body on the railings if we really want to. OK! Will I fit?! YES I DID! :D