Friday, May 4, 2018

Experience | Mt. Daraitan and Tinipak River Caving/Swimming

I'd be direct, this was my very first trekking experience and the trail is not beginner friendly!!!

You can put anything on my knees that need to be mixed and expect it to be done with how my legs were shaking! (Of course, this is an exaggeration, but you get the point.)

It was Clarisse's idea to do this and it's her expense as well (her convincing technique).



The Php 850/person fee included the van transfer, environmental fee, tour guide and uhm, hmmmm, what else did I miss? You can check out their Facebook page here to see the full list of inclusions. Oh, plus  personalized bag tag like this:

[photo]

The things they repeatedly advised us to bring were:
  • 2L Water
  • Trail Food
  • Sun Protection (Arm Sleeves, Leg Sleeves, HeadBuffs, Cap, Sunblock)
  • Gloves
  • Personal Medicine (First Aid Kit)
  • Headlamp / Flashlight
  • Swimwear
  • Extra Money
  • Poncho, Raincoat, Umbrella (in case it rains)
  • "At bawal kalimutan ang pulbo at lip tint (pang-makeover)"

But 1L of water was enough for me plus a bottle of Gatorade, especially kung maihiin ka, nako 3 hours ang trek bes, tama lang ang pamatid uhaw at pang-hydrate, huwag nang masyadong mabigat ang dalhin dahil makukuba ka. Lol

The food that we brought were mostly boiled eggs and saging na saba and some light snacks on the side. Plus ang ipinaglaban ni Diane na lutuing adobo. 😜

We met up with the group at McDonald's Buendia. Call time was until 12:30 AM and we departed at the exact time.

After the registration and orientation, we started the trek at around 4:00 AM.

Umpisa pa lang bes challenge na agad sa mga hindi nakapag-warm up tulad ko at may nagback out na rin agad.

Para kang naglalakad sa kawalan dahil sa kadiliman ng paligid pero dahil masaya ang grupong nasalihan namin, usap-usap lang kahit hindi nagkakakitaan ng mukha (sa nilalakaran ang tingin siyempre).




Picture muna sa Station 2 since maliwanag na at kita na kami.
There are a total of 3 stations.
Our group was supportive enough to halt the trek and rest once in a while if someone needs it.




Although it prolonged the hours, it created a bond between us too when chatting while resting.



There was this part of the mountain that really used my strength sa sobrang steep niya.

Like every step forward was really a struggle and the rocks that we step on are really huge that I need to really stretch my legs up to reach it (pasensiya na, maikli ang biyas).

Iyon ang nagpanginig sa lower part ng body ko.

Hindi ito yung part na yun ha. Abot pa naman ito ng mga biyas ko. Haha
Plus taking a rest every-I-don't-know-how-many-minutes really disrupts my momentum and it makes it harder to push forward.

I realized, mas okay sa akin yung tuluy-tuloy hangga't kaya.

But we're a group and we only have two (2) tour guides left since the other one accompanied the others who backed out so we need to trek as one (naks!).

We finally reached the summit past 7:00 AM and the sun was already up (we missed the sunrise, my friends).



Don't expect it to be a wide peak. We were crammed there waiting for our turns to take photos.






And after that, we started to descend, with ice-buko-eating on the side.

Descend with caution pa rin dahil may mga madudulas at matataas na part pa rin although this is a different route heading to the Camping ground where we are to eat our lunch.




May madadaanan ding ganitong mala-Encantadia na scenery pababa.




And we finally reached the Tinipak Camping Ground.
Side note lang: nakakanginig din mag-C.R. dito dahil sa baba ng kanilang toilet bowl.


Then lamon na~
After having our fill, we headed to Tinipak river for our next activity: Caving and Swimming!







We had to wait for our turn to enter the cave.


It was really dark inside and very slippery. Doble ingat talaga.


But the reward was worth it!

The water was cold at first dip but it was really refreshing~

Yes, this is our "refreshing" surprised look. Hahahaha


We continued our dip in the river where the water is warm and relaxing.


Pwede ka pang maghilod. Charot!

Nauna na kaming apat na bumalik sa wash-up area around 3:15 PM para maiwasan ang pila.

By the time our group arrived, tapos na kami.

Another walk papuntang sakayan ng tricycle para ihatid kami kung saan naghihintay ang aming van.


Pero groufie muna bago umalis.

And by 4:30 PM, we departed from Daraitan.

Payong kaibigan, tularan ang ginawa ni Clarisse na nagtapal na agad ng salonpas habang nasa biyahe pa lang pauwi para makagalaw galaw agad kinabukasan.

Payong kaibigan #2, huwag akong tularan na first timer na nga't walang warm up na sumabak tapos nagpalambitin lambitin pa sa mga sangang kinapitan. Resulta? Matandang hukluban kinabukasan.


~~~~
(As usual, kung magpost man ito sa nakagawiang schedule ng wala pa ang mga photos, huwag mag-alala, mag-a-upload din iyan sa tamang panahon. Haha)

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