Overnight at Kawasan Waterfalls

We climb up to the waterfalls early morning.  From the resort where we stayed overnight, it was just around 15 minutes walk and we got to the first level of the waterfalls. The water was really cold it was almost impossible to swim when we got there, and there was hardly anyone around so we figured it was really early for us to be there.  The good thing was everything looked really fresh and indeed smelled fresh.  The walk wasn’t tiring at all it was refreshing.

First level waterfalls

There is a restaurant at the first level of the waterfalls, so we decided to have breakfast.  The menu was for lunch but then they can do whatever you request as long as the ingredients are available.  We are not picky eaters so fried rice, eggs, hotdogs and noodles were fine for us.  We enjoyed the early morning scenery at the falls, it was so peaceful, perhaps the most peaceful breakfast we’ve ever had in years.

We chatted with the owner of the place who invited us to stay overnight for a reasonable price, but we couldn’t decide at that time so we just told them we will let them know later in the day.  After breakfast we decided to climb up further, it was mostly climb, some were steep and some were just going up on a footpath.  We thought that if it rains it would be difficult to climb up coz it will be really steep. The second level waterfalls was shorter but it looked safer to swim, but the water is still very cold. Like the first level there are small shops and some cottages for rent at a minimal price and there are also rooms for rent overnight.  By the time we decided to go up to the third level waterfalls we were half way deciding to stay overnight. We were thinking mostly of an evening swim. Although the water was freezing cold but we are excited how it would be like at night.  It would definitely feed my adventurous side that I’d probably mellow for a couple of days. 

Second level waterfalls

The climb to the third level was even steeper than the second but when we got to the source it was amazing.  It was also noon time when we got there that the only thing you can think about was to plunge into the cold water. Although I must say that despite the hot weather, the water was still so very cold that we have to keep swimming so we don’t feel cold.  The third level didn’t have small shops or a place to stay overnight but there were wooden huts one can rent to sit or leave things while swimming. I would have loved to stay there overnight.

rooms we stayed overnight

We swam a bit and then we decided that we should stay overnight but first we have to go back to the resort before sunset so we could get some stuff and inform the hotel our plans. We climb back to the waterfalls and I had to say goodbye to my online activities for a day.  We got back to the second level waterfalls, there are rooms for rent overnight for just P3000 (66USD), so we took two rooms. The people are really nice and friendly, they cooked for our dinner, we had pancit (stir fried noodles) and fried chicken, the whole meal was cheap.

third level waterfalls

Around 8pm, we decided to have a quick swim at the waterfalls, the people that work at the house where we rented were so nice they were standing at the edge with a torch just to ensure we are safely swimming.  We had to get out of water quickly, we didn’t want them to stay there for long.  It was really very thoughtful of them.  We sat on one of the cottages drinking until very late, it was a bit chilly but very peaceful.  The sound of the water was therapeutic that we felt our stress went away.  The only thing was that there were a lot of mosquitos even if you already put on repellant.

I woke up so refreshed that I didn’t want to leave but we had to continue with our road trip, we really enjoyed staying at the waterfalls, I wish we had more days.

And we are in Badian, Cebu

When we arrived the town of Badian we headed to the town market, we know that we can perhaps interact with more locals and get information where to go and what to do.  The market was bigger than most markets we saw in the previous towns and it is a bit modernized compared to the others.  It indicates that the town is more developed.

We bought some fruits and explored the market a bit.  The vegetables and meat looks really fresh. We saw an area with some roasted chicken for sale and we chose the one with many people lining up to buy.  For sure the locals prefer it than others so we thought perhaps it’s the best one in town.

 We got some bread too and we were hoping it is as good as the one we had in Moalboal – fingers crossed.  Then we asked around some of the “trisikad“ drivers that we saw. Trisikad is a 3-wheel bicycle that locals use as public transport within a short distance.

So the trisikad drivers gave us some recommendations where to go.  We love to go where locals go, instead of where tourists go.  It is more fun to mingle with locals and get to know the place better.

When visiting a place, do you go where the locals go or you go where the tourists go? 

Night Diving at Palm Beach, Marigondon

As a child, I remembered Marigondon as a weekend refuge from the city life for me and my big family. This is where we usually spend Saturdays, Sundays and all the public holidays specially when the tide is high. We all love the sea so much that we would stay in the water from the time we arrive til its time to go. I would get prune hands it would hurt all night but as a child, it never mattered then.

nudibranch - looking so fragile

However now that I'm crazy about scuba diving, this is how I spend most of my time in Marigondon lately. I didnt realized until now that it has a very vibrant marine life. No matter how many times I dove in this place, there is always something new to see or discover every time. Recently a friend of mine has been asking me to buddy with him for night diving almost every day. And like day time scuba diving there is always something new that we discover. Only that it is more interesting. Night diving is always a different experience, most creatures that you encounter during night time you may not see them during the day, ie. cuttlefish, brittle star, etc. But most of all, we usually feel more adrenalin as it can be a scary thing diving in darkness. I remember my first night diving experience, I almost peed in my wet suit when I was staring at the wall that feels like there is something that will appear ready to eat me alive anytime.

frogfish - so ugly looking yet so beautiful!!!

In one of our dives, we saw a white nudibranch with yellow highlights, which I havent seen before and a frogfish which I thought doesn't exist in this area but with a stroke of luck we saw it a couple of times now. I wish that the local government would protect this area from boat anchors and dynamite fishing, so we can all enjoy this gift of nature. God I love this place and night diving here makes it my top spot in Cebu and Mactan Island. This has become my favorite diving site in the area now, however you have to watch out for the tides, the current can be nasty when its going low. The best time is when the tide is going high or during high tide.

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