Climbing Samal Island's Highest Peak

Realizing that our Ropes Course in Outland Adventure is not feasible (they require 25 persons for this - it's a corporate package), both Grace and I thought of getting into mountain climbing. Since we both dreamed of climbing Mt. Apo one day, we thought that it is the best time to climb. With Zaldy and another friend Shing, we set a day to conquer Samal Island's Highest Peak: Mt. Puting Bato.

the weekend warriors

We board the bus bound for Penaplata at 6:30 am. Reaching Penaplata, we immediately asked the motorcycle drivers around for our starting point for this minor climb. Don't worry if you're a first timer as almost all drivers here know which way to go. But PLEASE, when you decide to climb, be with someone who has been there. Good thing, Zaldy's with us. He has been climbing for years though his last climb in Mt. Puting Bato was like 4 years ago!

That's where the adventure lies, lol.

Days before, our guide (Zaldy) informed us to do a bit of 'training.' I thought it was just like a walk in the park so I didn't take that seriously. The only 'stretching' that I did was done minutes before we start the climb. So, lesson learned: train your body, stretch those rarely used leg muscles. 

on action!

For the first few minutes of the trek, we are still laughing and talking about those 'stretching' exercises. However, as we get deeper into the woods and as we sensed that we are taking the trail less taken, we realized that the climb is way more than just a walk in the park.

There were those moments when I come to ask myself if I still can make it on the top. I was sweating profusely and I'm starting to feel the impact of trekking on my legs. Nevertheless, what keeps me motivated is the thought that we're heading up and in no time, we'll reach the island's highest point. 

take a break and smile :)

Most of the times, we find ourselves clinging closely to the soil, like almost hugging it, just to keep ourselves on foot. I slipped many times and touched a lot of spider webs but it was fun! Of the three of us, it seems that Shing's the only one who didn't get tired with the trek. She still even got the chance to post a Facebook update (amazing!). 

crossing Biak na Bato

One of the challenging parts of the climb is crossing Biak na Bato. It's scary to look at but we got no choice but to cross it. And glad, that we did though it takes a lot of encouragement to convince Grace,hehe.

We were relieved when we finally reached the hiker's camp. We registered and paid a minimal amount. It was purely a laid-back place where we spent minutes doing nothing but admiring the green fields, the mountains around, the birds (and the dogs??). 

When it's almost 1 PM, we went on..

A few more trek and occasional cuts, before this! (drum roll please)..

FINALLY

Reaching the peak is like tasting iced cold water in the desert. It pays off to persevere ;)

A lunch at the peak is incomparable. 

The view from the top makes you feel thankful for being alive, for exactly being there. 

We were laughing that time of our experience on our way up.

At the same time, we keep on talking of having an iced cold Coke! 

I guess that motivated us to head back to the city as fast as we could, haha

heading back 

In times of uncertainties, you hold on to yourself.

And there, you find hope, you find courage.

Reaching a dream is like reaching the peak.

You have to struggle and though unsure whether you can make it or not, 

you keep on moving because you know (and believed) that it'll be all worth it.

Note:

You have the choice to stay there for a day or overnight.

How much you should bring?

P300-P500 is more than enough :)

Bring along your food and water too.

What to wear?

Appropriate hiking gear (wear your most comfortable and trusty shoes), arm protector will be helpful as well as long pants and headware.

What to expect?

Tiring YET fulfilling. 

Don't forget to stretch before you climb!

We were able to head back to Penaplata by around 4PM.

Have you climbed a mountain?

How was your experience?

Nature Tripping at Hagimit Falls

With the postponed Sarangani trip, we couldn't think of any other thing to do than to have a mini day tour in the Island Garden City of Samal. Grace and I agreed to meet at Magsaysay Park around 6 am. From there, we rode the Island City Express bus. We decided to head to Monfort Bat Sanctuary first since it's the nearest one from Babak. After almost an hour of marveling at the sanctuary's huge number of fruit bats, we then went to one of Samal Island's famous tourist spots: the Hagimit Falls.

This is obviously a government-owned property. Unfortunately, getting into Hagimit Falls isn't free. Entrance fee for adults is P40 while for 2 years old and below is P20. Not so long time ago, people can have a quick dip into the water of Hagimit for a minimal fee of P10.  

From the entrance gate, you still need to walk a few meters through this concrete pathway.

taking a break

Entrance fee doesn't include the use of tables and chairs. We were actually surprised because when we got there, the tables and chairs belong to different 'resorts'. We settled for the one nearest the 'hydro massage'. The cost of using their cottages/tables and chairs range from P70-P250. Because we are penny pinchers, we chose the cheapest one (P70).

the 'hydro massage'

I love being one with nature because it's simply therapeutic. The best part I guess of this experience is finding that perfect spot for prayer and meditation :) I was lucky enough to find that area, far from the noise of other visitors.

I'm happy for the booming tourism industry of this island. However, the place could have been more appreciated if it was left untouched - no cottages, just the trees for the shade. 

Some of the improvements done in the area:

How to Get There:

From Davao City

1. Ride an Island City Express Bus bound for Penaplata and tell the driver to drop you off at Central Warehouse (P40).

2. Ride a motorcycle and tell the driver that you're heading to Hagimit Falls (P60 if you're the only passenger).

Notes: 

• Hagimit Falls is just meters away from Maxima Aqua Fun :)
• Aside from the entrance fee, you also have to pay the environmental fee of P5. 
• Swimming/taking a dip in Hagimit is FREE

Samal Island's Guiness World Record Holder: Monfort Bat Sanctuary

Located at Brgy. Tambo of Island Garden City of Samal, the Monfort Bat Sanctuary is home to now estimated 2.5 million fruit bats. It has been recognized by the Guiness World Record as home to the largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette Fruit Bat in 2006. During that time, the bats were estimated (measured per square meter) to 1.8 million (that's a lot, right?). 

Here's the proof: 

The Monfort Bat Sanctuary is named as such because the land where the bat caves could be found is owned by the Monfort family. According to one of the sanctuary's staff, Emerry, the Monfort bought this land on 1980s but during that time, the number of fruit bats on these caves is not that numerous compared to its present count. 

When Grace and I got there, we were quite surprised with the admission fee (P100). According to their staff, they have to increase the entrance fee because of the increasing needs for maintenance of the sanctuary and also partly because of the poor support from the local government. 

Monfort Bat Sanctuary is comprise of 5 caves with varying number of fruit bats in each of them. It smells different when you've reached the 2 biggest bat caves in the area. 

Visitors are asked to observe silence so as not to disrupt the sleeping fruit bats. Eating and drinking are also prohibited. And oh, you might wonder if you could get into these caves - nope, they won't allow that.  

There are educational materials that you can find in their exhibit area. I believe this specific area was designed mainly to help the public be more aware with the importance of these fruit bats. If you have questions, their friendly staff are more than willing to address your queries. 

How to Get There:

1. Ride the Island City Express bus and tell the driver to drop you off at Babak (Fare: P30)
2. Ride a motorcycle (habal-habal) and simply tell the driver that you're visiting the Monfort Bat Sanctuary (all drivers know where it is). (Fare: P60/motorcycle so if you're traveling solo, you'll shoulder the fare on your own unless you're willing to wait for another passenger to split the fare into two)

From this point, you still have to walk a few meters to reach the caves :)

Take a Plunge at Maxima Aqua Fun Resort

If you're in Davao, you must not miss visiting the Maxima Aqua Fun Resort at Samal Island. It's less than an hour away from the city. But let me tell you this, it's not for the faint of heart. It's actually the go-to resort for those people who are tired of the usual beach bumming and for those who'd like to have a kick-ass getaway.

Famous for its giant slide and other water activities, Maxima Aqua Fun is more than just part of the growing list of resorts in the Island Garden City of Samal. It was in 2010 when my friends and I first visited this place. And I tell you, every cent you pay here is ALL WORTH IT especially if you're the kind of person who wants some adventure.

This is not another beach bumming activity ;p

Here are some of the things you can do here:

• Try their giant slide

a souvenir photo from our Maxima adventure in 2010

This giant slide is free to use. You can try this as much as you can. There are some precautions though with the use of this slide especially for those with certain health conditions (cardiovascular diseases, etc). Last year, the company put up another giant slide which I think is more 'challenging' compared to the original one. 

•  Feel the rush of using their diving boards

I can still remember how it feels like to be standing on this diving board. I was anxious but the thrill is there. And when you take the plunge, it feels like you've been suspended on air for more than a minute, where in fact, it's just a matter of seconds ;p

•  Try their water activities

Boredom seems not to exist in this resort. If you're tired of using their giant slide or their diving boards, then you still have other options. You can go water rafting (2010 rate: P300 for 1 hour), scuba diving (2011 rate: less than P1,000) or snorkeling. 

•  Face your fear of heights

I'm not really afraid of heights but for those of you who are, then this canopy walk is one of the best ways to face it. It won't cost you a fortune (2011 rate: less than P200) but the experience would definitely make you want to revisit Davao :)

There are 2 ways on how you can get to Maxima Aqua Fun Resort:

1. Ride a boat

You can ride the Maxima IV Shuttle from Sta. Ana Wharf. This option is available from Wednesday to Sunday. It departs from Sta. Ana Wharf at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM from Maxima Aqua Fun. 

How much is the fare?

It's P150 per head (round trip). 

2. Ride a bus

on our way to Maxima via bus

The other option that you have is riding a bus at Sasa Wharf (other places where you can ride the bus: Magsaysay Avenue and R. Castillo St.). You should take the bus bound for Penaplata. If you're riding from Sasa Wharf, you would only be paying P30. It's around P60 if you're riding from R.Castillo and Magsaysay Avenue. 

From Penaplata Public Market, you'll have to ride a motorcycle (habal-habal). Just tell the driver that you're going to Maxima. If you're traveling solo, you'll have to pay P60 but if you're riding with another passenger, then you can split the fare among yourselves. 

Tip: Save yourself from the hassle by getting the driver's contact number. In that way, your ride back in Penaplata Public Market would just a text away :)

If you have more queries, you can check out their website.

Have you been to Maxima Resort?
How was the experience?

Scuba Diving at Coral Garden, IGACOS

I'm one of those people who are fond of movies and TV shows with mermaids and/or a whole community under the sea. It's not just because I love the sea but also because it tickles my fancy of what life under it. While it may not be that feasible for the next few years or so to live underwater for a long period of time, I try scuba diving just to have the glimpse of it.

The word SCUBA in scuba diving stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Thus, scuba diving is simply an activity that involves a special kind of breathing apparatus. It's one of the many activities offered by Carabao Dive Center located at D1 F.Hermanos Building, Sta. Ana Wharf, Monteverde Street, Davao City. If you're in Davao, simply ride a jeepney that would pass by the Magsaysay Park. Their office is just a few meters away from the park.

The Coral Garden

Assembly time is around 7am at Carabao Dive Center's office. It was Saturday and there were more than 10 people in the office when we got there. It was a bit crowded because that time, people who took up their diving certification program joined us. 

The diving site is at the Coral Garden of Island Garden City of Samal, a town under Davao del Norte. It took us more than an hour to reach the place. When we got there, we were briefed on what to do and what to expect. We were taught on the basic scuba diving hand signals which will be the form of communication between you and the dive master. 

Don't worry if you don't know how to swim (like me) since this activity won't require you to have that skill. You simply just to have the presence of mind and of course, the element of having fun :)

me and the dive master

Each pair with one dive master/person is given 15-20 minutes underneath. I was having a hard time at first because the suit is too tight and the tank is too heavy (it becomes lighter once you've submerged in the water). My ears were also hurting as we were going deeper because of the pressure (solution: equalize the pressure - discussed during the orientation). 

When I saw the corals and the fish, I keep on exclaiming on myself of how beautiful the life is under the sea. It's so calm yet it overflows with mind-blowing beauty. 

Under the sea!

Fifteen-twenty minutes pass like a minute. It's not enough to content yourself. Aside from taking pictures, I spent my precious minutes getting awed with the corals, the fish, and other indescribable sea creatures. It's definitely one of the best moments of my life (from a standpoint of a nature-lover). 

Here are my scuba diving buddies:

Grace

Jason

Jason and me

Interested in scuba diving? 

You can try reaching the Carabao Dive Center here. 

We paid P750 ($18) that time. I'm not just so sure whether they still offer that in the same rate. 

The fee includes the boat ride, mini resort hopping, and a CD of your photos.