CDO & Bukidnon

Northern Mindanao: DAY 4 & 5 (CDO & Bukidnon)

Great White Water tour texted that they'll pick us up around 6 in the morning, we woke up few minutes past-5. We were supposed to eat breakfast before raging the rafting river, unfortunately, McDonald's and Jollibee was still closed during those wee hours. We just bought snacks from the convenience store across Vine's Pension House.

Vines Pension House
Photo credit: www.golets.com

though our room has the oldschool CRT-TV and matrimonial bed
580Php per night
Photo credit: www.letsbookhotel.com

After waiting at the lobby, kuya from Great White Water greeted us then off we went! We had a stopover at their main office, around 20mins away from our hotel. We left our valuables in a safe bag and we were introduced to the GWW team. There was 9 of us in the group, me, Jok, 3 from Pasig and 4 from Manila. We were accompanied by 6 tour guides (1 photographer, 4 professional rafters, and 1 van driver) and they were all very cheerful and full of sense of humor. Ideally, each raft can accommodate 8pax (6 tourists and 2 tour guides). Since we are 9pax, we were divided into 2 groups. Jok and I, together with the other 3 from Pasig plus 2 GWW tour guides were on the 1st raft boat.

Great White Water Tours Main Office

FB Account: https://www.facebook.com/riverraftingCDO

Website: http://www.riverraftingcdo.com/

Contact #s: (088) 3105415 / (0917) 7060677

We picked the Advance Raft which includes 21 rapids. 

Before we jumped off the boat, we had a Safety and What-to-do lecture. While were preparing our helmets, safety vest and paddles, a jeepney arrived from the jump offpoint, and there we saw Senator Sonny Angara. We were not able to take a picture of him since we were already on the boat. Sayang! Gwapo pa naman ni Senator!

If ever you visit CDO and have plans on rafting, I recommend you to get GWW. Their tour guides are very pleasant and puno ng kwento at korning jokes. Matatawa ka nalang sa sobrang ka-kornihan. They did a great job protecting us and making sure that we enjoyed the whole course. They even thought us tricks and exhibitions for the course to be more exciting. 

Paddlers

Flip the boat

Twerking!

In the middle of the stretch, we had merienda stopover for few minutes, they gave us pastel bread and bottled water. After a quick break we were back for more adrenaline rush.

Before reaching the finish line, kinwentuhan kami ni kuya about the recent accident that happened few months ago where 1 tourist died on the 2nd to the last rapid. YUP!!!!                2^nd TO THE LAST RAPID!!! Konting kembot nalang sana and makakauwi na sila ng matiwasay. They were 4pax (consists of 2 couples) in the group and 1 tour guide on the boat (I forgot the name of the tour agency). The rapids were huge during that time and the boat accidentally hit a big rock formation. All of them got out of the boat and since they only had 1 tour guide, he wasn't able to save the girl from drowning. The CDO rescue team found the dead body 3 days after the incident. I had goosebumps when we approached the said rapid. I just can't imagine myself drowning and hitting my head and body from big waves and rock formations.

After raging the 21 rapids we headed back to the main office and had our lunch and had our clothes changed. We stayed there for almost an hour and a half before Dahilayan Park van arrived to pick us up.

It took almost 2 hours before getting to Dahilayan Adventure Park. It was drizzling when we arrived, the weather was very cold and fog was thicker than Baguio City. It was where KC Concepcion and Sam Milby shot their movie, Forever and a Day. 

Our Dahilayan package included 3 ziplines, a snack and a lunch/dinner meal.

All in all, our GWW+Dahilayan Adventure cost us 1600Php per head only! (The price depends on how many pax are in the group). That includes all transpo transfers (from hotel-river rafting-Dahilayan Park - hotel), 2 merienda (1 during the rafting and 1 in Dahilayan), 1 buffet lunch after rafting and a dinner at Dahilayan Park. Sobrang sulit!!!

Picture is 50Php per copy / 150Php if there's a certificate

Here's the pricelist if you will not be purchasing the package from Great White Water Tour.

We reached Vine's past 7pm, packed our bags and transferred to Rosario's Place Business Hotel. We moved to Rosario's since it's right in the heart of the city town proper and the rooms are cleaner and cozier than Vine's. After settling our things and few minutes rest, we strolled along the streets of the town proper. It was Saturday night, and all bars were jampacked, the streets were full of people drinking and partying. We bought burger and potato balls at Backyard Burger and got ourselves our favorite empi lights from the store near our hotel. Instead of partying with the locals, we choose to stay in our room to be more relaxed while drinking and of course watching our favorite reality singing show, The Voice of the Philippines! :)

I dont have a picture of our room, but it has AC, LCD cabled-TV and 2 single beds.
600Php per night.
Photo credit: www.cdodev.com

We woke up at 6am the following day to get ourselves cleaned, pack our things and leave the hotel around 7am. We went back to Agora Terminal station since it’s the nearest place where we can ride a van going to the airport. It took almost an hour drive to the airport, just in time for our 9am flight going back to Manila.

Here's a summarized video of our 5day Northern Mindanao Backpacking Trip:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1508079849477132&set=vb.100008253930563&type=3&theater

Camiguin Island

Northern Mindanao: DAY 2 & 3 (Camiguin Island)

November 27, 2014
8am

As soon as I woke up, I immediately turned on the TV and watched the local news to get updates on Typhoon Queenie. Unfortunately, Signal #1 is still up and Coast Guard still won't allow any kind of motorboat to cross CDO to Camiguin.

Since we had  nothing to do, we just kept ourselves busy by foodtripping, watching tv, sleeping, walking outside the hotel, chitchatting with the locals and asking them if they have contacts to the port terminal or coast guards or any source where we can get information on the schedule of Roro going to Camiguin.

Photo credit: www.tripadvisor.com

Photo credit: www.booking.com

Photo credit: www.priceline.com

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Note that WinMin Inn is a budget traveller's inn that offers basic amenities. They have a very accommodating staff, they will try their best to help you get updates on what you need such as shuttle services and airport transfers. 780Php for 24hour AC private room, LCD cabled-tv and matrimonial bed. It's location is very convenient since it's right above the bus terminal to any point of Northern Mindanao. Below it are food stalls, Savemore, pasalubong centers, shuttle services going to the Airport and ATMs. The only disadvantage I can see is that you can hear the busy buses going in and out of the terminal, but really, it's not that annoying.

By the time we're supposed to eat lunch, I called the coast guard’s phone number that was given to us by one of the kargadors. Luckily, the girl on the phone informed us that they were back to business.

Instead of eating lunch, we hurriedly packed our things, checked-out from the hotel and went to the nearest shuttle van going to Port Balingoan, the gateway to Camiguin Island. The van needed to be filled with 15 passengers and it was already past 1pm and we're still lacking 4. Thank God there was this couple who bought a 32inch TV set... and paid for all 4 remaining slots.

It was one hell of heart pounding ride.

Don't get me wrong.

The roads were clear and smooth, the van was ok.

Heartpounding because we we're hoping and wishing and praying to get to the port on time for the last trip, which is 4:30pm.

It was past-4 in the afternoon when we arrived Port Balingoan. We could not contain our happiness when the guy handed us our ticket. Plus the bonus dolphins appearance when we were halfway the passage crossing the channel to Camiguin Island.  Nuff said.

It was few minutes after an hour when we reached Port Benoni in Camiguin Island. Jok and I were so happy having our first footstep on the soil of Camiguin Island. After all the hugerstrike from  the 3-hour van ride and mindstress that we may not be able to catch the Roro, DEEEEYM!!!!, it was all worth it.

During the Roro ride, we met Kuya #21. I forgot his name and I can only remember the number on his shirt. He offered us his motorbike. It’s 500pesos for 24hours. This is the most convenient, cheapest and fastest way you can go around Camiguin Island and visit all tourist spots if you're travelling solo or with a partner. But if you're travelling as a group, you can either rent a multicab or a tricycle. I just don't have any idea how much it will cost you.

Getting around Camiguin Island with our rented motorbike

We reached Camiguin Action Geckos Inn, our home in Camiguin Is., around 8pm. The place is really quiet and so relaxing, we can smell the fresh food they're cooking since the restaurant is also their reception or receiving area. We were the only Filipino guest during that night. After settling our bags and some freshing up, we decided to explore the island using our rented motorbike. We first went to this small carinderia and had our first meal in Camiguin. It’s a small ordinary house right in front of the church and park.

900 per day at Camiguin Action Geckos

Beachfront view outside our room

We had Adobong sitaw, fried chicken na tanghalian pa ata niluto, and barbecue. We picked the table that is outside the carinderia since there were group of boys having their inuman session and videoke-ing inside the place.

I don't know if the food is good or we are just hungry. But yeah, Jok and I agreed that the barbecue is the main highlight of our dinner since it’s the only ulam we enjoyed.

After we had dinner, we looked for some place to chill since we still don't want to end this day yet. There, we found this place called "Checkpoint". It's 10mins away from Action Geckos, a 2storey building with stalls on the 1st floor and  a restaurant/bar on the 2nd floor. We stayed there for an hour, had 2 bottles of Redhorse.

Ang dilim ba? hihi. Jok is no photographer, just like me.

We're so haggard na with all the gutom and the byahe... pero all smiles pa din for a #celfie

After which, we decided to head back to the hotel, get rest and sleep since we still have lots of activities for tomorrow. 

The following day, November 28, 2014,  we woke up 6am to start our White Island tour >>>>

Things to do in White Island:

1. Relax.... Listen to the calming waves... Feel the soft-white sand...

2. Sea Urchin eating challenge

first time ko 'to!

3. Frisbee-ing

4.take lots of PICTURES! Need I say more???

Mt. Hibuk Hibuk as our scenic background

Our rented bangka. 600Php for a roundtrip

Jumpshot

and more Jumpshots!!!

After White Island... We had lunch at,,,,, hmmmm... I forgot the name of the restaurant,

 then we tour the rest of the island.

1. Ardent Hot Spring - 30Php/head Entrance

2. Katibawasan Falls - 30Php/head Entrance

View from the top

Sobrang uhaw sya

3. The famous Sunken Cemetery - No Entrance Fee

There are still more tousrist spots in the Island (Church Ruins, Station of the Cross, Soda Pool, Cold Spring, etc.) but we don't have enough time since we had to go back to CDO the next day for our water rafting sesh. Sayang lang kasi nakapag deposit na kami sa water rafting kaya kinailangan na talaga naming bumalik. Nevertheless, Camiguin is surely a place worth visiting again. 

EXPENSES:

186 Breakfast

120*2 = 240 Van to camiguin

175*2 = 350 Ferry

20 = Chicharon sa ferry

500 = Motor

100 = Gas

125 = Dinner

75 = Yosi

180 = Redhorse

15 = Piatos

92 = Pharmary/Grocery
Coffee 40
Sea Urchin 3pcs for 50
Rented Mat 50
Noodles 70
Hard-boiled egg
Ardent Entrance 30/head = 60
Shirt and magnet 260
Katibawasan Falls Entrance - 30/head = 60
Gas 50
Parking 10
Geckos 1030
Pizza 180
White Island bangka 600
Van going back to Agora CDO 110/head = 220

Tinago Falls, Lanao del Norte

Northern Mindanao:
November 26, 2014
DAY 1 (CDO - Iligan City - Tinago Falls, Lanao Del Norte)

Surprisingly, the plane took off exactly the time of departure  and we safely landed in CDO 5mins earlier. Before we left Manila, we heard the news about Typhoon Queenie who's eyeing most part of Northern Mindanao. It was drizzling when we arrived but the sun is still out. So as soon as we got out of Laguindingan Airport, we immediately bought a bus ticket to Super Five booth going to Iligan City, our Jump off point to Tinago falls.

Departure @ Terminal 3

195pesos fare going to Iligan City

We rode a van from the airport going to the intersection (that took less than 5mins) and from there, we transferred to a bus going to Iligan City.

It was a smooth 3-hour bus ride and during that timeframe, Jok was already asleep while I am planning for a Plan B itinerary since the weather is getting crazy and the rain wont stop.

From the bus stop, we catched 2 jeepneys before getting to Brgy. Buru-un, where Maria Cristina Falls is. There we met this one habal-habal driver who offered to transfer us from Maria Cristina Falls and Tinago Falls. Unfortunately, since the weather is not good, we are unable to get in to Maria Cristina falls because there's a landslide near the viewing deck.

Nevertheless, Tinago Falls did not disappoint us at all. It was just majestic.
It was just a bit of Paradise.
Bliss.
Calming.
Totally a breath of fresh air.

Kami yung nasa ilalim ng falls

THINGS TO DO IN TINAGO FALLS:
1. Foodtrip! before you reach Tinago Falls, you'll passby a street full of LECHON vendor. YES!!! ohgahd!!! this is just sinfully delicious!!! DON"T MISS IT!

2. Have a massage under the falls

3. Go Balsa-sailing with the locales.

4. Drink..... MODERATELY!!! You don't want to get hurt going up the 200+ winding staircase.

5. RELAX.

6. Take a plunge into the cold refreshing water.


We left Tinago falls around 4 in the afternoon.and reached WinMin Hotel in CDO past-9pm since we also had our dinner at Gaisano Mall for an hour and a half.


EXPENSES:
195*2 = 390 - Shuttle/Bus to Tinago Falls
200- habal-habal ride
15 Jeep to Terminal
24 Jeep to Brgy. Buru-un
160 - 1/4k. Lechon with 4 suman Rice and 1 liter of Mineral water
200 - tip para sa dalawang tour guide
100 - habal habal ride
40 - Jeep
260 - Dinner at Gaisano Mall
20 - Multicab
360 - Bus going to CDO
780 - WinMin Hotel
190 - Empi lights, Nova, C2
120 - Dunkin Donut

DO NOT be satisfied on the stories of hearsay.... GO OUT! And see for yourself.