Mark my Words: 2015

That amazing acrobatic water moment.

It was weeks before when I was browsing my Facebook news feed when my eyes caught the attention of several pictures of my Facebook friends jumping off a cliff, sliding through big rocks, swimming and climbing steeply wall rocks and doing some adrenaline pumping activities. I then searched for it and then I found out that they were canyoneering or canyoning at the southern part of Cebu (from Alegria to Badian). Canyoneering or canyoning recently became a popular attraction in Cebu after it was featured on a local tv show of GMA 7 Byahe ni Drew where extreme adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies can satisfy there urge. The most common route is the downstream canyoning from Kanlaob, Alegria to Kawasan falls in Badian.

The Planning

Just like the adventures that we did before, we never planned for this. After I saw this on facebook and searched for it through google, I then texted my high school buddy Ikuo Jane about this one and then without any hesitation she said she's in (well no problem for a rich kid like her hahaha). We then invited our friends about this activity (her college friends and my workmate Bart). I then searched for a guide who can accompany us through out the adventure and luckily my nurse friend recommend me there guide Mr. Niño Motus that accompany them during their visit there.

"Never leave yourself behind"

Getting there

Sleeping machines

Best way and I guess cheapest way to get there is by commuting. You can ride a bus going to Bato via Barili route either airconditioned or regular at the Cebu South Bus Terminal and just notify the bus driver or the conductor to drop you at Sangi eskina para Canyoneering in Alegria (well that is what our contact guide instructed us). When you arrived at the bus drop point there are several habal-habal drivers that can bring you to the starting point of canyoneering but for us we were fetch by our guide namely Jo-jo which is a friend of our contact Niño and we had already reserved habal-habal that will bring us to the guide's house so that we can change clothes and leave our valuable things.

At Mr. Niño's house

What to wear and to bring:

Sample recommended outfit during canyoneering

Wear comfortable clothing or if possible wear a full body rash guard to avoid accidental cuts as you go along the way. Wear also cross-fit or training shoes. It is not advisable to wear slippers for it will not give a good grip.

You can bring your mobile devices inside a dry bag which the guide will provide. Bring snacks or lunch and most importantly bring underwater cameras for documentation purposes.

Note: You have to bring your own shoes, rash guard, and underwater camera but if not then you can rent to them with a bargainable price.

Extreme Adventure

Minutes before jump-off. orayt!

Adventure starts now. Don't mind the body language haha

The starting point of our canyoneering adventure was like a suicide, our muscles and nerves were not yet warmed up but yet we have no choice but to jump since I think it is the only way to start the adventure. Well then it took us minutes before one of my mate, Ian Joseph started to jump and then the rest of the gang followed. We always have to be very careful and to look for each other's safety.We swam through cold, blue and very clean waters. Amazed by the beautiful rock wall formations. Slides down through inclined stones. Go with the flow with the current. Jump through high cliffs around 15 to 20 feet or more and then trek towards the enchanted Kawasan Falls. After almost 3 and a half hours of fun and nerve rushing activities we had a refreshing and chilling view at the Kawasan Falls. You can buy foods and beverages there if you want (alcoholic drinks is also available).

Let us pause for a moment and have a picture hahaha

After we slided down

Picture perfect :D

The rock formations up above

Insert manong guide "Tisoy" see rightmost side

One of the scenery going to kawasan

Peace brah..hubog or duka?

Dont mind the smile. basta pangprofile picture na

yehey! atlast we survived.

At the dam before the Kawasan Falls

That cold blue background

Trekking

BERI COLD WATER

My idol: ang babaeng walang alam sa salitang tulog.hahaha peace

Before departing. Group picture first hahaha walay kapoy-kapoy

Departing Dinner

All in all, it was fun and worth remembering adventure specially when you meet new awesome pips.

Itinerary

4:00 AM – Meet up at Cebu South Bus Terminal
5:00 AM – ETD Cebu South Bus Terminal, going to Sitio Sangi, Alegria
8:00 AM – ETA, Sangi Alegria/Registration/ride habal-habal to Nino Motus house.
8:30 AM – Gear preparations/briefing/last-minute checks
9:00 AM – start canyoneering adventure
12:00 PM – lunch at beside the rock wall cathedral formation.
12:30 PM – resume canyoneering adventure
2:30 PM – finish canyoneering adventure,
3:00 PM - chilling and relaxing at Kwasan falls
3:45 PM – packing things up/ride bus going back to Cebu City

For more inquiries contact Mr. Niño Motus 09367035683.

Shout outs to to my mates: Ikuo Jane, Bart Salise, Ian, Karlz, Christian, Joana Dindin, Joana Marie and Niña(girl walay tugpa haha). See video below.

For more pictures, click this link: https://www.flickr.com/gp/128374097@N02/Z30k6G

"Don't just be a tourist, be a traveler" - the back packer guy

One of the best ways to spend this summer is either by swimming into the beach or by dipping into refreshing waterfalls. But what if you enjoy those two options just in one place? Isn’t it exciting? Well if you are thinking for that perfect spot then Biliran Island should be place that you should be going. You should try visit Sambawan Island in Maripipi, Biliran and the Tinago Falls in Caibiran, Biliran. :D

The Crew

Souvenir picture for the group at the Biliran Bridge

It is adventurous if you travel with your friends, but what is more adventurous if you travel with your new friends whom you just meet on that day. isn't it amazing? :D:D:D This trip was really fun and an interesting one because aside that i enjoyed the scenic beauty of the Sambawan Island and the Tinago falls I meet new friends which are very friendly and interesting bunch of people.

Meet my new friends. see picture below (from left: Kintoy, Rey, Weng, Imman, Kris, Sian, Gie Anne, Sam and Billy) well at least I remember all there names...clap clap clap :P .

Sambawan Island

Unique and simply amazing, those two words could describe this tiny island but very pleasing to the eyes. It is unique because of its island shape and the big rocks that can be found there. The sands there are not the typical one which is fine but it is mostly consist of small grained corals. You can easily appreciate the beauty of this island especially when you go at the top of its hill where there is a watch tower built there which is just a minute away of trekking from the beach. At the watch tower you can see the top view of the whole island, the volcanic form of Maripipi Island, parts of Western Samar and even the province of Masbate.

At the watch tower with Imman, Rey and Kint

Group Picture before late lunch :D

At the stairway to heaven hahaha

Pre-nup?

The rock formations

Touch down Sambawan Island

Love team (Imman and Kris)

The beach of Sambawan Island

At the Kawayan Port

Top View of Sambawan Island

At the Watch Tower

Things you can do in Sambawan Island:

Of course swimming at the beach
Snorkeling
Scuba Diving
Trekking towards the watch tower
Camping
Play Lucky 7 (new discovery)

Tinago Falls

It is already my second time to be here in this place but I'm still loving it. Here you can enjoy the refreshing water falling from above the mountain plus you can try mini cliff jumping (that's what we did). This place is perfect if you just want to feel the nature because it is surrounded by big trees. Its a must visit place especially this summer.

Budol Fight

To wrap things out, I really enjoyed this trip and yeah hope to travel more with you guys soon. Thank you for this amazing experience. Hope we can play Lucky 7 again.