Mindanao: Divine Dakak ( part 2 )

Hello Readers!

Have you ever wonder, what it's like to have your own island ( with all the amenities and luxury of civilization )? For half a day, I had my own island ( not only in the metaphorical sense, but an actual physical island )!

We arrived in Dakak Beach Resort ( 1 hour away from Dipolog City, Mindanao ) around 11 am.  I saw the green-blue waters, and I just wanted to jump in despite of the stark sun reaching its apex.  After checking in our room, we ate picnic food for lunch ( Baon aka BYOF [bring your own food]: cornbeef, hot dogs, rice, dried Guyabano fruit [Sour Sop in English], and potato chips ).  Then I applied sunblock.

I sauntered along the shore with my cousin and collected sea shells.  Later I walked the foot trail ( easier than the Majayjay River Trek ), where I encountered bugs, tree lizards, butterflies, and native birds.  In the end, I found a stone chapel. 

Running along the coast, I felt the warmth of the sun ( not in a burning way ), and the rolling waves would try to trip me.  It felt good running, cartwheeling, and leaping over lapping waves.  Dancing in the sun; dancing because no one is watching ( at least no visible audience anyway ).

I rested on a yellow-netted hammock,  one or two ants would tickle my skin; I looked at the horizon, wondering how people, like Magellan and Christopher Columbus would ever think the earth's flat, how the sea will fall off the earth's edge.  If it weren't for the next island, the illusion would be complete.  Off season traveling rocks!

Mindanao: Guts for Chicken Gut ( part 1 )

Que Pasa Readers,

Right now, I'm in Mindanao, the southernmost group of islands in the PI archipelago, and also infamously known for its terrorists ( Muslim extremists ).  But readers, we always have to be careful about broad generalization.  I'm blogging this, so presently, I'm still free from danger and in such a gutsy place, nothing is more captivating and so Beyonce's Sasha Fierce THAN chicken gut/intestines ( Bituka nang Manok ).

If time slowed down in Manila ( maybe because of traffic and heat intensified by smog ), pacing in the coastal town of Dipolog City is even more chill.  I've yet to try Dipolog City's famous sardines, but I've seen their famous orchids ( at wow ang ganda, c'est hermosa ).

We rode mopeds to the Boulevard ( like Manila's Baywalk ) to get dinner passing by couples sitting in benches listening to the crash of waves and watching the moon's golden smile glimmer and trail on the coast.

Our hungry stomachs convinced us to sample several dishes/ulam, and of course rice.  While Europeans have their wines, it seems that Pinoys have their Coca Cola.  Among the 7 ulams, we had seaweed salad ( fresh off the coast ), and chicken neck ( spicy with broken bones included - I tried it of course but I still spit out the bones; I've been told that others eat it all ).  A band played in the background, singing songs from Journey, Beyonce, Jason Mraz, and more.

For a post dinner appetizer; we ordered chicken gut/intestines ( Bituka nang Manok ).  My dad used to buy chicken gut/intestines during rainy short trips para hindi magutom sa daan ( in order not to get hungry on the way because of traffic ).  And guess what, chicken gut tastes like chicken with a bit of  fillings inside.  I was so full I didn't have the stomach, the gut to try Chicharon Bulaklak ( which I mistranslated as fried flowers, BUT in reality, it's pork intestines that look like blooming flowers ).  The others played puzzle games with sticks ( a favorite game to play while drinking )...

Chicken Gut grilled as a band played songs from Beyonce and Journey.

Laguna: a yoga scenario ( part 5 )

Hey Readers,

After trekking the mountain side, we reached what our leader considered the end.  Beyond this point, the source of the waterfalls is diminished into a trickle.  Before our lunch and our hot chocolate mixed with instant coffee, I had fun doing yoga poses for the camera.

Scene:

She stood there waiting for me.  "Hold on, I have to find my balance." I was on top of the rock, almost flat, but still had its slippery spot.  My knees shook as I looked for my balance doing one pose at a time.

When the pictures were taken, I went down to preview the pics.  I explained how difficult it was to find balance.  Mistranslation could be funny.  One responded with a giggle: "Ang hirap naman ng buhay mo kung kaylangan mo pa hanapin ang balance ( your life is so difficult that you have to find balance/ your life is so difficult that you can't stand on your feet because you constantly have to find balance )!"

We laughed.  Finding balance became the on-going joke on the way back...

I like doing the middle pose a lot.  The side plank to the far right is the easiest.

Laguna: an impression of enchanted ( part 4 )

Wat's up Readers,

Last night's drinking didn't give us any hangover.  Our breakfast consisted of instant noodles, and 3-in-1 coffee.  While the rest prepared materials for the next hike, I had time to lounge in the hammock behind our tent and take in the enchantment of it all.

Roar of Taytay Falls in the background. Soft breeze, laughing brook, splashing from nearby water-fights or little children canonballing... Dragonflies would zip through the stream, and water bugs gliding through glass waters... leaves and butterflies would fall intermittently from the sky or leaves turning into butterflies. 

Ferns everywhere, its spores drifting... once in a while the sun's ray would break through the overcast revealing silky spiderwebs.  Smoke from campfires, and roasted chicken or fish filled the air.

Red flowers dotted the mossy boulders of all shapes and sizes, red-leafed plant rooted along the path.  Daddy Longleg spiders and flourescent orange centipedes tip toed behind rocks.

At night lightning flashes illuminated the sky.  Every now and then, thunder grumbled.  A cloud would pass by, bringing a light rain, a trickle here, a drip there at one's shoulder.  One bright star shone against the misty veil.  Crickets and forest birds chirped and holler.  Fireflies sparsely sprinkled their light like the faint glow of a hiker's flashlight.

After the 2nd hike, we bathe and packed our belongings in pitch darkness with only our flashlight as aides.  The view from the tricycle ride included a silhouette of the Banahaw Mt. Ranges with clouds circling the top, rice fields in the forefront, and stars spilling to the right.  The motor humming and buzzing, and the seat gently vibrating....

Taytay Falls in Majayjay, Laguna in the Banahaw Mt. Ranges

Laguna: vodka, mountaineer's code, and magic ( part 3 )

Hi Readers.

So the day's adventure made us extra hungry.  The others started preparing dinner.  Tilapia ( fish ) was cleaned, and salted before being smoked/grilled over a charcoal and wood fire. Rice was boiled.  Cucumbers and tomatoes sliced.  While waiting, I roasted mango-flavored marshmallows.

Dinner was served; I even tried a grilled frog, recently caught from a nearby stream.  The frog to me tasted like chicken and squid combined together.  We drank water from the fresh water spring.  The conversation was mild; topics ranged from a recap of the day's event to other climbing expeditions to dreaming of Mt. Everest.

Then the Vodka was released.  I was weary because I puked last time I drank so much.  According to the Mountaineer's code, it was better to throw up than to give up ( the alcohol ).  We used iced tea as a chaser to make the Vodka last longer.  Battery-powered music blasted current hits such as Lady Gaga's "Pokerface" and "Bad Romance".

A magic show began, led by our leader, who was also an on-the-call seaman.  I was giddy enough to follow along.  I watched spoons disappearing in the brain, straws blooming into flowers, thumbs stretching out of the socket, torn napkins unfolding into one piece, and more; we even toyed with a strength-giving amulet.

Light rain started sprinkling so we moved the drinking inside the tent.  Another code stated that nobody sleeps because this moment can be the last moment ( very carpe diem ).  What are the chances that these group of people will ever be together again? Right? The talk drifted to family surnames, which led to Philippine history and World War II about traitors, shifting perspectives, loyalty to family or the Catholic Church of Spain ( both following God's commandments ).

We finished 3 bottles of Vodka and started on the Brandy.  My shots where diluted with enough chasers that I didn't puke ( repeat history ).  Although we gave in and didn't finish the Brandy, we still abode by the Mountaineer's #1 rule, which our comical friend bluntly stated: "Puck the rules!"

Laguna: the crunch ( part 2 )

Hello Readers,

"You should do what's best for you, Mickey," my cousin admonished. "You don't have to follow every step I take." However being a visual and kinesthetic learner, I still followed her every move.  Trailing behind her was intimidating.  She moved like Yoda, with hands on her back, almost skipping stone by stone OR magically finding the right root or crevice to step/hold on to."

She continued sharing her climbing knowledge: "Get your nails dirty... move sideways never crossing your legs into a tangle... make sure you grip firmly onto a secure bastion before moving forward... don't just rely on your legs, use your arms, your whole body.  I took everything in one step at a time like a AA participant taking one day at a time; I saw the forest one tree, one dirt step, one rocky nook at a time.

Then we reached a spot where we saw the other waterfall next to a cave.  This was referred to as the "Grotto" because a statue of the Virgin Mary was placed inside, where bats lived ( hence holy shit ).  In the shade, the water below remained clear and cerulean, disturbed only by undulating rings of the falls.

There was no way but down ( unless one would back track alone ).  My cousin's words shortly rang in my head: How adventurous are you Mickey? She wasn't kidding when she mentioned the jumping part.  Our leader jumped the 2-story high cliff, and he survived the 1-story deep watery landing.  We tossed our flip flops and other supplies to him.  Then my cousin jumped.  Waiting I wasn't nervous or shaking like the 2 young women behind me.  Then my turn came.

It’s true; it’s a mind over matter situation.  The more one thought about it the more one psyched one’s self.  I didn’t do any fancy dive, and my life didn’t flash before me; nothing was in slow motion, however I did notice a dry yellow leaf tumbling down the rock in real time.  I briefly thought about my cubicle-existence 3 months ago and thanked the Lord for this moment then I jumped.  I didn't know if I closed my eyes or maybe I landed in the water sooner than expected.

Once everybody was on the safe rocky surface, our leader tore open a bag of crunchy baked green peas ( like corn bits ) and passed it around.  I grabbed a handful and devoured them.

Laguna: the climb ( part 1 )

Howdy Readers!

Enjoy part 1 in a 4 parts series:

"How adventurous are you Mickey?" my cousin asked.  I guess pretty adventurous, I did wake up at 2:30 am to get ready and meet her and her friends at the bus stop at 4 am.  In this case, the early risers avoided the heat and traffic ( a common Filipino method of traveling ).  30 minutes had passed since we arrived at the campsite at Majayjay, Laguna's Taytay Falls.  I thought we were just  meandering towards the roaring Taytay Falls where other campers converged.  Boy was I wrong.

After lunch, we started walking.  The pristine and clear blue water was visible and tempting.  "Save your energy, that's not where we're going," my cousin interrupted my daydreaming.  We passed by a sign.  My cousin reassured me, "We're not diving at that waterfall, and we're just following a path."

Because I was such an expert mountaineer ( with a record of 2 climbs, this being the 2nd ), I wore an absorbent cotton sleeveless shirt, and in-house white flip flops.  I followed the rest; I was in a group with 3 experts- what's there to worry about.

We pulled ourselves up 4-5 ft high boulders.  We crossed shallow streams with deceptive rapids.  It was light and fun, until one of the beginner hikers, who was climbing a slanted and smooth rock wall with tiny crevices, slipped causing my expert cousin behind her to slip as well.  Our leader decided to change our route, and trudge through the rapids instead ( closer to the ground ).

The shallow streams had deep middles, and when I lost my footing ( several times ), the current carried me and I actually felt being twirled ( even if slightly ) BUT there was always somebody there to pull me up.  I placed my fingers on tiny crevices ( although tiny, can still save one from falling ).  We got off the rapids and switched to the mountain side filled with moist earth, mud, decaying logs, protruding roots embedded in the ground, and whatever insect/creature happened to be there.

What a surprise when my flip flops became brown, and my fingernails and arms were masked with mud.  I reached a point when I was slipping inside my flip flops, and I had no choice but to take them off and walk barefoot.  My cousin's motto: anything treatable ( such as cuts and foot pain ) is 10,000x better than death ( slipping off the mountain because of tractionless flip flops). I agree...