Trek to Tamayong Waterfalls
November 14-15, 2004
The agreed meeting place was at PS Bank. Everyone grew excited when Sharon and Stephen came to join us for the trip. Sharon rarely ever goes with us. Stephen, on the other hand, we had been missing for quite some time. I guess, in view of what the climb is for, everyone wanted to be a part of it. Valery was with us too, with Iris from the Marco Polo. Edoc and Weng-weng and another one from Marco Polo would also be joining us but they would have to come in the fternoon. Edoc still have a soccer game that morning. Paljet, who had nothing planned for that long weekend also joined us. When everyone that were expected that morning was already there, we boarded a jeep boud for Calinan. Since there were enough of us to fil the jeep, we hired it to take us all the way to the jump off area in Tamayong. We made a brief stopover at Mintal to pick Valery up at her place.
Starting the Trek
When we reached the jump off area, we found some mountaineers resting at the nearby store. They had obviously just came from the waterfalls. They informed us that some group came earlier than us who are probably at the campsite already.
We just changed into our trek clothes, put on some sunblock (hehehe) then off we went. It was a long walk ahead of us -- in an open trail. Bolo, who had already been to the place several times in the past, commented as to how the trail had greatly changed. We were actually walking on a paved road. He told us, the road did not exist before. As it was already almost 12 noon, we made a brief stopover to have our lunch. We stopped by where there is a watersource nearby. There was a shed close to a "packing station" (much of Tamayong had been transformed into a Banana plantation. The road was for making transporting the bananas a lot easier. At certain points in the plantatio are "packing stations" very similar to a "Minute Burger" stall where they pack newly harvested bananas) where we stopped and so we settled there.
After a while, we continued with our walking. There's still a long way to go. After some time, the trail led us to a narrower path. At first, the trail led us downwards. But right after that, the trail started to rise. It became quite difficult from then on. We heaved a sigh of relief when we arrived at Lantaw Apo where we would have to stop to register.
Lantaw Apo
Arriving at Lantaw Apo after a long trek. Climb starts to become quite arduous from here...
At the back: Paljet, Bambie, Sharon, Suzette, Iris (partly hidden), Joan, Jay. In front: Myself, Bolo, Stephen, Renee, Valery, Zoe.
Paljet, Sharon, Bambie, Renee, Valery, Suzette, Iris, Jay, Joan, Bolo, Myself, Zoe.
Nice doggy.
Arriving at the campsite
Sharon and Stephen in the rear
Sharon and Stephen
Sharon: Whew!!!
Day 2: Ah! Sunrise! (The best part about it)
On day 2, I woke up to a very wonderful shade being cast on our tent. I immediately grew excited. I knew I'm about to witness the sun rising here in Tamayong and by the looks of the very-red-orangy-shade being cast on the ceiling of our tent, it's going to be one beautiful sunrise. And I was right =) It was indeed beautiful. Actually, what woke me up was the very cool dampness I felt descending upon our tent that very early morning. This is a very normal, very familiar, early morning occurence in the mountains. It's all part of the morning ritual really, which would have us all scrambbling for our sleeping bags or an extra pile of clothing. I'm glad for it just the same. It would mean, having me awake just in time for the sunrise.
I immediately looked for my camera, the batteries, made sure my jacket is securely zipped, put on my cap then made my way out of our tent, headfirst. The cool breeze that immediately struck me in the face did not at all discouraged me from getting completely out of the tent. I woke the others up, informing them of the sunrise. Suzette, Bambie and Renee immediately answered me but also said they still wanted to catch some sleep having slept real late last night. Suzette told me, she would be coming out later. And she did, finishing where I let off when the cold finally got to me. It was really cold outside but I braved it just the same till I was satisfied with the photographs I took.
The beginnings of a sunrise...
And slowly the dark sky lightens...
It lightens the more...
Slowly, the sky begins to clear...
And another day begins...(light)
Nice and crisp...
Really nice...
While I was taking my pictures, I noticed this lone tree that really stood out against the "lightening" sky. And so I took a couple shot at it. It's just about to turn really light, and I've been standing in the cold for a long time already it's starting to get to me and so I decided to go back to sleep. I've been told it's a long trek towards the waterfall so I wanted to be really up to it thus my wanting to go back to sleep. Meanwhile, Suzette got out of the tent she shared with Bambie and borrowed the camera.
Sunset tree upclose
(Photo credit: Suzette)
Our Tents (Photo credit: Suzette)
Day 2: Trekking Towards the Falls (Nice trail we've got: winding, and sloping and logs and some drops)
balancing act everyone
Balancing act Val, Bambie, Iris, Jay
Last on the log: Sharon and Edoc
Stream we passed by on our way to the waterfall (Photo credit: Jay)
We passed by a very interesting stream on our way to the waterfalls. It looked real nice but eerie. Jay took a picture of it. He told us later on he could almost picture some mythical faries playing in the water. Hmm... could have been! =)
Then down, down we go...
Val, Suzette, Bambie
The Waterfall
It had started to rain even before we got to the waterfall. But it did not stop us from enjoying the water just the same. Even if it meant us, practically shivering in the cold...
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Tamayong Waterfalls (Photo credit: Jay)
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The fall at another angle
Everyone crouching in water, fall in the background
Suzette is due to leave for Cebu in a few days at that time. The move came so suddenly it surprised even her. She did not anticipate that the management of the hotel in Cebu she sent an application to would call her up for an interview, interview her, then accept her immediately after the interview. The position she had applied for had to be filled real soon thus the urgency in her having to move there. It really came as a shock to the group. Suzette? Ever nice, fun-to-be-with, easy-to-get-along-with-and-be-fond-of Suzette is leaving us just like that?!! I knew I cried when I learned of the news hehe.
But I guess, Suzette's leaving really meant more than just missing her. It meant, our idea of "permanence" was being shaken to its very core. It drove home the point that while we are at the moment, really enjoying our being together, being "kids" and pursuing our "games and adventures" with such passion -- at one point we all really have to "grow up" and move on. In some distant future, we all would have to turn our back or at least lessen our time spent on our "adventures" to pursue the more serious aspects of our lives. (At the moment, my head is arguing. It is saying, who says we aren't pursuing serious aspects in our lives now? Aren't we all working now too? Are we not pursuing service to others too? Are we not making room for it in our present lives? But, yeah, I know exactly what I mean about "lessening" our time on play for more mature priorities soon.) In fact, during one of our conversations, Suzette and I agreed that yeah, what were we thinking? That we would all remain like this forever? It's really just that we are having the time of our lives at the moment. We seem to be at the very peak of our existence -- enjoying our youth, our energy, exploring our strengths and limitations with all the things we are getting ourselves into. And sharing all of these with one another is like forging a very strong bond. Our shared experiences, uncannily, brought about some attachments of sorts. Thus the difficulty in accepting Suzette's leaving.
But I guess, Suzette's leaving really meant more than just missing her. It meant, our idea of "permanence" was being shaken to its very core. It drove home the point that while we are at the moment, really enjoying our being together, being "kids" and pursuing our "games and adventures" with such passion -- at one point we all really have to "grow up" and move on. In some distant future, we all would have to turn our back or at least lessen our time spent on our "adventures" to pursue the more serious aspects of our lives. (At the moment, my head is arguing. It is saying, who says we aren't pursuing serious aspects in our lives now? Aren't we all working now too? Are we not pursuing service to others too? Are we not making room for it in our present lives? But, yeah, I know exactly what I mean about "lessening" our time on play for more mature priorities soon.) In fact, during one of our conversations, Suzette and I agreed that yeah, what were we thinking? That we would all remain like this forever? It's really just that we are having the time of our lives at the moment. We seem to be at the very peak of our existence -- enjoying our youth, our energy, exploring our strengths and limitations with all the things we are getting ourselves into. And sharing all of these with one another is like forging a very strong bond. Our shared experiences, uncannily, brought about some attachments of sorts. Thus the difficulty in accepting Suzette's leaving.
So in view of all those things, we planned a weekend "outdoor" trip for the group. It just might be our last with Suzette around. We had just been to Cateel which was a major activity for the group. That, and the short notice ruled out going into some major climb. There were also some close friends from Marco Polo that are coming with us so it meant it has to be just a weekend thing. We then opted for Tamayong. We had just been to Tudaya. We had been thinking of going to Tamayong next. Thus the decision. It was a good thing that November 15, which is a Monday, is a holiday. So off we went to Tamayong on November 14 to 15.
Day 1: Meeting at PS Bank
The agreed meeting place was at PS Bank. Everyone grew excited when Sharon and Stephen came to join us for the trip. Sharon rarely ever goes with us. Stephen, on the other hand, we had been missing for quite some time. I guess, in view of what the climb is for, everyone wanted to be a part of it. Valery was with us too, with Iris from the Marco Polo. Edoc and Weng-weng and another one from Marco Polo would also be joining us but they would have to come in the fternoon. Edoc still have a soccer game that morning. Paljet, who had nothing planned for that long weekend also joined us. When everyone that were expected that morning was already there, we boarded a jeep boud for Calinan. Since there were enough of us to fil the jeep, we hired it to take us all the way to the jump off area in Tamayong. We made a brief stopover at Mintal to pick Valery up at her place.
Starting the Trek
When we reached the jump off area, we found some mountaineers resting at the nearby store. They had obviously just came from the waterfalls. They informed us that some group came earlier than us who are probably at the campsite already.
We just changed into our trek clothes, put on some sunblock (hehehe) then off we went. It was a long walk ahead of us -- in an open trail. Bolo, who had already been to the place several times in the past, commented as to how the trail had greatly changed. We were actually walking on a paved road. He told us, the road did not exist before. As it was already almost 12 noon, we made a brief stopover to have our lunch. We stopped by where there is a watersource nearby. There was a shed close to a "packing station" (much of Tamayong had been transformed into a Banana plantation. The road was for making transporting the bananas a lot easier. At certain points in the plantatio are "packing stations" very similar to a "Minute Burger" stall where they pack newly harvested bananas) where we stopped and so we settled there.
After a while, we continued with our walking. There's still a long way to go. After some time, the trail led us to a narrower path. At first, the trail led us downwards. But right after that, the trail started to rise. It became quite difficult from then on. We heaved a sigh of relief when we arrived at Lantaw Apo where we would have to stop to register.
Lantaw Apo
Arriving at Lantaw Apo after a long trek. Climb starts to become quite arduous from here...
At the back: Paljet, Bambie, Sharon, Suzette, Iris (partly hidden), Joan, Jay. In front: Myself, Bolo, Stephen, Renee, Valery, Zoe.
Paljet, Sharon, Bambie, Renee, Valery, Suzette, Iris, Jay, Joan, Bolo, Myself, Zoe.
Nice doggy.
Arriving at the campsite
Sharon and Stephen in the rear
Sharon and Stephen
Sharon: Whew!!!
Day 2: Ah! Sunrise! (The best part about it)
On day 2, I woke up to a very wonderful shade being cast on our tent. I immediately grew excited. I knew I'm about to witness the sun rising here in Tamayong and by the looks of the very-red-orangy-shade being cast on the ceiling of our tent, it's going to be one beautiful sunrise. And I was right =) It was indeed beautiful. Actually, what woke me up was the very cool dampness I felt descending upon our tent that very early morning. This is a very normal, very familiar, early morning occurence in the mountains. It's all part of the morning ritual really, which would have us all scrambbling for our sleeping bags or an extra pile of clothing. I'm glad for it just the same. It would mean, having me awake just in time for the sunrise.
I immediately looked for my camera, the batteries, made sure my jacket is securely zipped, put on my cap then made my way out of our tent, headfirst. The cool breeze that immediately struck me in the face did not at all discouraged me from getting completely out of the tent. I woke the others up, informing them of the sunrise. Suzette, Bambie and Renee immediately answered me but also said they still wanted to catch some sleep having slept real late last night. Suzette told me, she would be coming out later. And she did, finishing where I let off when the cold finally got to me. It was really cold outside but I braved it just the same till I was satisfied with the photographs I took.
The beginnings of a sunrise...
And slowly the dark sky lightens...
It lightens the more...
Slowly, the sky begins to clear...
And another day begins...(light)
Nice and crisp...
Really nice...
While I was taking my pictures, I noticed this lone tree that really stood out against the "lightening" sky. And so I took a couple shot at it. It's just about to turn really light, and I've been standing in the cold for a long time already it's starting to get to me and so I decided to go back to sleep. I've been told it's a long trek towards the waterfall so I wanted to be really up to it thus my wanting to go back to sleep. Meanwhile, Suzette got out of the tent she shared with Bambie and borrowed the camera.
Sunset tree upclose
(Photo credit: Suzette)
Our Tents (Photo credit: Suzette)
Day 2: Trekking Towards the Falls (Nice trail we've got: winding, and sloping and logs and some drops)
balancing act everyone
Balancing act Val, Bambie, Iris, Jay
Last on the log: Sharon and Edoc
Stream we passed by on our way to the waterfall (Photo credit: Jay)
We passed by a very interesting stream on our way to the waterfalls. It looked real nice but eerie. Jay took a picture of it. He told us later on he could almost picture some mythical faries playing in the water. Hmm... could have been! =)
Then down, down we go...
Val, Suzette, Bambie
The Waterfall
It had started to rain even before we got to the waterfall. But it did not stop us from enjoying the water just the same. Even if it meant us, practically shivering in the cold...
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Tamayong Waterfalls (Photo credit: Jay)
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The fall at another angle
Everyone crouching in water, fall in the background
Comments
- David