August 18, 2012 The Road Trip to South Cotabato
It was the long weekend of the month and we had planned to visit Sir Ian's hometown. We left Taganito by the arranged company vehicle which took us to Butuan. We left by 430PM trying to catch the 830PM bus bound to Davao. The service bus was full considering most of my colleagues were from Mindanao. When we arrived by Butuan Integrated Bus Terminal, some of us went to their respective bus queue lines. And we Davao bound people went aboard the Bachelor bus immediately since we were told it's leaving. We managed to find seats of the already full bus. We just had to give one seat to a lady and Dexter had to seat at the foot step. Anyway, Dexter was able to transfer seats when people started to descend from the nearby southern towns.
There we were playful before the bus departed to Davao.
There we were playful before the bus departed to Davao.
August 19, 2012 Bus Transfers from Davao-GenSan-Tupi
It was my first long trip in Mindanao having an 7.5hr trip from Butuan to Davao. We had cup of noodles before we boarded the 5AM trip to GenSan. It was another 3hr bus ride. By sun rise when I try to open my eyes from sleep, I saw plantations of bananas by the road. We passed through several cornfields and mountainsides.
From GenSan, we rode a bus bound to Marbel. We told the bus conductor to drop us at Tupi. GenSan to Tupi was another 50minute bus ride. Soon we were passing by the lengths of Dole pineapple plantations at Polomolok, South Cotabato. It reminded me of my recent visit to Bukidnon passing by Camp Phillips where the Del Monte had their pineapple farms. Moving on, we kept on exchanging text messages with Sir Ian who was waiting for us at Tupi. He's supposed to fetch us at GenSan but I guess Dexter had a good sleep during the Davao-GenSan trip. We found our way though.
Then we were at Tupi Bus Terminal with Sir Ian waiting for us with a car. While on the bus, I was thinking how many trips do we still have. The bus transfer seemed to never stop. It's was already our fourth bus since the trip from Surigao. Anyway, we arrived at our destination Tupi, South Cotabato.
We then boarded Sir Ian's car and off we went to their house. Their lovely abode was not too far from the terminal.
Having been re-assigned in Surigao, we had a reunion of sort with our ex-colleagues in Palawan. They were already in South Cotabato for a vacation.
The 7Falls of Lake Sebu
After breakfast and a short rest, we fixed ourselves, got our things and arranged ourselves on Sir Ian's car. He drove the car passing by Koronadal City popularly known as Marbel, passed through Surallah then straight to Lake Sebu. Lake Sebu was actually the name of the town famous of the seven falls and the tilapia.
The scenery driving around South Cotabato was so different. We drove passed by ricefields and mountain sides. Soon Lake Sebu welcome arch was on sight. Fiish farms and more of rice fields were on the scenery. Sir Ian then turned the car to an uphill road upon seeing the road sign leading to the seven falls of Lake Sebu.
The scenery driving around South Cotabato was so different. We drove passed by ricefields and mountain sides. Soon Lake Sebu welcome arch was on sight. Fiish farms and more of rice fields were on the scenery. Sir Ian then turned the car to an uphill road upon seeing the road sign leading to the seven falls of Lake Sebu.
The car was parked near the entrance of the seven falls where we made small hike to a bridge over a river. A curtain of waterfall before us was on sight. It was magical. It was like being in one of the waterfalls of Rivendell from the Lord of the Rings story.
There's a path that leads to the falls for a closer observation. From the bridge, the chirping of birds was silenced by the roaring sound of the cascading water.
That was just the first waterfall. There's a zipline for an affordable fee of PhP250 that will give you an amazing aerial view of a series of waterfalls. The experience was worth it with all the adrenaline rush as you drop off a cliff.
Above the first zipride, the fourth and fifth waterfall can be seen. It wasn't my first zipride though so I went ahead of everyone. I wasn't able to take photos during the ride for fear of dropping the camera down below. Going to waterfall #2 was via a short zipride again.
Above the stopping point of the first zipride was the second zipline station. Previously alike, I took the first ride again among our group. Going to the #2 waterfall has two options from the second zip station. One is by hiking and two by zipline. Fastest way surely is by the zipline.
The short superman zipride.
After all of us were done with the second zip ride, we checked our photos on the souvenir shop nearby. We just asked them to ne stored in the memory card of my camera rather than printing it. WE had it stored, paid the dues, then off we went to a rather descending hike to the #2 waterfall. I believed it was the most photographed waterfall in the area including the #1 waterfall earlier.
One can noticed easily the rock wall on the left of the walls as soon as you get into the area. That wall must have been carved previously by the waterfall. A rainbow forms on the mist surrounding the rocky basin as sunlight beams through it. It was a breath taking view.
It's already past 12 noon so we went back the second zip station. Sir Ian went up to get the car while the rest of us were checking some souvenir items. We ended up having our zipline photos imprinted to a magic mug. Soon Sir Ian arrived then off we went to the next stop. Destination: Punta Isla Lake Resort
Overnight Stay at Punta Isla Lake Resort
Punta Isla Lake Resort is a resort on top of a hill overlooking a lake. They have restaurants facing the vast lake with tilapia fish farms. A floating pavilion was also constructed for more guests accommodation during lunch.
We had our late lunch at cottage beside the lake. For the menu, everything was of tilapia: kinilaw, adobo, paksiw, chicharon, pinaputok and sinugba. I love that chicharon tilapia.
Would you care try laswa na tilapia on the menu?
After lunch we went boating around the lake. Our group shared the boat to another one thus sharing the cost of the trip. We got to see the life of the community on the lake side. There were floating houses built above the fish pens. Other resorts also line up the the other side.
Check out the gallery of photos taken from the boat ride.
Just after boating, we took our things to the dormitory type family room arranged by Sir Ian. We got a separate room from the ladies. Each room has its own TV, fan and bathroom although the shower in room was not so good.
The rest of the afternoon was spent for taking a nap and shower. We had dinner later at the canteen which was a walking distance from our rented rooms.
The rest of the afternoon was spent for taking a nap and shower. We had dinner later at the canteen which was a walking distance from our rented rooms.
August 20, 2012 Leaving Lake Sebu
We woke up early to fix our things and to have breakfast. By 8AM we started loading our bags to the car. We had to travel early back to Tupi since we were still scheduled to send Louie and Carol to the airport. It was their last day of vacation. But for us who traveled all the way from Surigao would still be taken around by Sir Ian.
By 830AM we left Lake Sebu. We had a nice stay at the Summer Capital of Southern Mindanao, Lake Sebu. Having seen the place was so awesome.
More stories on the next blog on this road trip series as we head back to Tupi.
More stories on the next blog on this road trip series as we head back to Tupi.
Note: Some photos credited to Alvin and Homer.
No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. - Lin Yutang