After a few months of working, I am officially leaving the company in a few days. I wanted to spend more time with my friends before I left, so I impulsively told my workmate that we should go trekking. My trainer, who is a bit of an adventure junkie, suggested that we should go canyoneering instead. A few weeks after, we found ourselves waking up very early in the morning to go to Badian to experience Kawasan Falls. The overall experience was worth it although we had muscle pains for days afterward and we found it really hard to move around. My friend even texted me if I could help hook her bras because it was too painful to do it herself. We went there with no training or exercise, and we went home feeling drained but satisfied.
If you’re ever considering to do this activity yourself, I hope this article helps you to prepare for what’s coming.
Getting to South Bus Terminal
I was still groggy from just four hours of sleep when my alarm went off. I really wanted to go back to bed, but I still haven’t packed for the trip, and my friend was picking us up. I packed my towel, extra clothes, and my money. I grabbed whatever I could and thought I needed and headed to IT Park, where my friend’s dad picked us up. The ride to the bus terminal went smoothly. The traffic was not yet heavy, and the air was not yet saturated with poison. We arrived at the South Bus Terminal around fifteen minutes before six. We waited for our companions and boarded the bus at around six-thirty.
The Ride to Badian
The three-hour ride was not that pleasant for me. I felt dizzy because it’s been quite some time since I last rode on a bus, and I lacked sleep. We also didn’t have breakfast because we were trying to make it to the rendezvous before six. I just had a cup of noodles at the terminal. While looking out the window, I was reminded of my own city in Mindanao because the places we passed by looked more and more provincial as we approached Badian. It was nice to get away from the city for a while. The trip cost us Php160 each.
Preparations
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| We have arrived, ready to sign the waiver that would clear the owners and staff of the resort of any liabilities should anything happen to us. See hoe happy we are? |
We arrived at Badian at half-past nine. I expected to see the falls right away, so I was surprised when we were led to a beach resort instead. It’s called Matutinao Beach Resort, and it was where we signed waivers and put on our gears. Here’s a note to all of you who are going to do this activity. Before you sign the waivers, make sure to read the entire document. It said there that the resort owner and the guides are not liable of any deaths and injuries, and you are also not allowed to take any legal action in case something bad happens. Basically, if waivers are likened to Pontius Pilate washing his hands in front of the people, this is just like that except that he washed his hands with soap twice and used sanitizer afterward.
We paid Php1300 each for the experience.That includes the gears, the snack, and a meal after the trek. We had to pay an additional Php100 for the shoes, but you have the option to bring your own trekking shoes or sandals. The shoes they provided were these thin-soled ones that were tight so that not that much water can get it. They were so thin that you could actually feel the rocks while you’re walking. It takes some getting used to, but it’s really helpful and convenient along the way.
We were provided with life vests and helmets. Inside the vests were our snacks, which was a Fudgee bar and a bottle of water. When everything was in place and everyone had their gears on, we were led to a vehicle that took us to trails where we would start the trek. I don’t remember how long that ride was because I was still dizzy, and the humidity and bulky gear were not helping. The ride was also very nerve-racking at times because we were getting higher and higher, and there weren’t any rails on the road that could prevent our vehicle from falling over the cliff in case the driver makes a wrong turn. We were all thankful he knew what he was doing.
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| On our way to the vehicle that would take us to the trail |
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| Here we are, trying to act cool while bathing in sweat. |
The Trail
When we got to our destination, I was surprised to not see any bodies of water nearby. Instead, we were told to walk on a very long trail while we were still wearing our vests and helmets. The path was rocky, and some places were narrow (only those with pure hearts may pass). Aside from getting tripped by random rocks along the way, the view was magnificent. There were trees all over. Verdant beauty surrounded us while we sweat and occasionally pestered our guide by asking if we were there yet. We passed by a few houses and met some locals, but aside from a not-so-cheerful “good morning,” we didn’t interact with them.
We were finally allowed to rest in a small shelter, where we were briefed for the trip. We were warned about the leaps we were going to take and the nature of the water and what we should and should not do. After a short prayer, we went on our way.
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| Our guides are briefing us about the dangers ahead. |
We descended a very long and slippery trail that resembled a frustrated staircase. There were rails to hold on to, and I was basically using every limb to navigate the way. At some point, I was almost crawling, trying to hold on to any branch or rock nearby. Along the way, my workmates were starting to blame me for bringing them there. At that time, I thought of two things: (1) Don’t be afraid to get dirty. It’s better than being injured or dead and (2) I am neverbringing my siblings here.
We weren’t able to take many pictures of the trail because we only have two hands each, and both were needed for survival. We got to the point where we heard the distant screams of other brave souls who made the choice to risk their lives that day for a bit of fun. They were already making the first leap. A few moments after, it was our turn.
Our First Fall
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| Talk about taking the leap |
You know that feeling when you’ve been holding your breath for so long then you finally get to breathe freely again? We felt that for a while when we ascended into solid, not-so-slippery ground, but we had to hold our breaths again when we saw what we were going to do next.
Before worrying about what’s to come, however, we took some pictures using the stalactites as background. We really had to because there was little to no chance of us coming back there voluntarily after walking and sliding down a mountain and bracing ourselves all the way. The sound of the water was like music to our ears, accompanied by the very loud beating of our frightened hearts. Together, they made the song that was to be part the OST of what we were about to accomplish.
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| Background: Stalactites Foreground: |
We knew we were going to jump into the water. That was the only thing I was expecting that day, but still, I was not emotionally prepared. When I looked down and realized how high the jump was, I had second thoughts. There was a way to escape the jump—I could go back. But thinking about that wretched trail made me decide I’ll just do it.
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| This is where we had to jump. |
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| Smiling for the camera before jumping |
We were egging each other on. Being afraid of heights, I took it as an opportunity to conquer my fear. I shouted encouragements to my friends only to find that there are not enough words to make me want to jump while it was my turn to stand on the edge. A lot of our companions were already on the big rock in the middle, waiting for us to join them. When it was finally my turn (It was my second, actually. I gave up on the first.), I held my nose and hoped for the best. When I finally jumped, I was so nervous because I kept on turning underwater. The life vest finally decided to take me to the top, and I was able to feel and appreciate the coolness of the water as well as the joy of having achieved such a feat. The next leaps after that were more fun. After you brave the first fall and discover that you could survive, you’ll be looking forward for the next challenge.
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| After jumping off, we tried to make a circle (you know, for social media), but we couldn’t manage because of the strong current. |
More Beauty Along the Way
My favorite part of the activity was definitely the moments after every jump. You are asked to swim to certain areas while you’re on your back. The beauty that greeted me during those moments was mesmerizing. I could see the blue clouds amidst the foliage, and I was surrounded by rocks and was completely one with nature. That is until someone says “Picture!” then I’d stop thinking about nature and concentrate all my energy on my smile and pose. But seriously though. If you’re ever going on this trip, make sure to look up, and if possible, jump first so you could enjoy the view longer.
We went through a lot of interesting rock formations. We had to climb in some and crawl into others. There were moments when we had to step on the guides’ legs to get to the other side. We were lucky to have such amazing guides. They were very friendly and accommodating. They made lots of jokes and made sure to take lots of pictures and videos while we were crossing the obstacles. They were also very careful with us and made sure to make us feel safe. There were a couple of accidents along the way, but everything was fine in the end. We even had a guide who’s mute. I admired his spirit because he was so cheery, and he made lots of jokes through gestures.
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| Hi, kuya! |
BBQ
Believe it or not, in the middle of the trek, there were barbecue stalls on top of one of the rocks. I got the opportunity to eat a deliciously hot isaw(barbecued chicken intestines) while admiring the water below and the trees above. It was a nice break that enlivened us. We were ready and eager to continue the trail and were already talking about whether or not we should jump from the highest point of Kawasan Falls. That liveliness was instantly killed, however, when we were told we were only halfway through the trek. It was too late to go back. There was no other choice but to continue.
More Beauty Still
Throughout the journey, we had to occasionally use ropes to avoid being caught by the current. We also had to kneel on a makeshift bamboo bridge while crossing to the other side. Because there were no toilets along the way, I had to take bathroom breaks while in the water. *aherm*
It was all fun, but halfway through, we were all exhausted, and people rarely talked. We were going through the obstacles silently. We finally reached the point of the highest jump. There were people waiting for their turn. I wanted to do it, but the chicken inside me was screaming no. So what we did instead was enjoy the kiddie pool, a term here which means a small bounded part of a larger body of water where you could massage your back and pretend you’re in a Jacuzzi.
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| We children are having fun at the kiddie pool. |
We crossed the other side to a part where they had a swing. Since seeing one of those from Grown Ups, I wanted to try it. I paid Php10 to use the swing for as much as I want, but I only went twice. It was rather embarrassing. Exhibit A, Your Honor, is shown below:
From there, we went to this dam-like portion, where I almost slipped into, and there was more walking. The pathway at this point was not that rocky anymore. We were slowly going back to civilization, and we passed a couple of resorts along the way. I felt like an alien walking amidst families having a good time while I was still in my gear.
We finally reached Kawasan Falls. It was my first time to be that close to really powerful water that has the potential to kill you. There were a lot of people there, including Miss Gay contestants having their photoshoot.
From there, we walked a little more until we reached the resort where we started from. We were so tired and were happy to finally taste food after so long. That cup of noodles wasn’t enough for the day’s activities, but I miraculously managed. We were served delicious chicken and pancit. It was one of the most delicious food I have ever tasted partly because the cook was amazing and partly because I was just really hungry.
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| Food! |
We took a dip at the beach after eating. (This is wrong. I know.) I then observed that the water was really salty. After spending a whole day in freshwater, you get used to the kind without flavor. While in the sea, our scratches from the trek were burning in the saltwater, but we tried to be cool about it.
We finally ended the activity when we got on that bus, away from the peace and fresh air and back to the more chaotic life in the city. We were very tired and had muscle pains all over, but it was worth the time and the money. I’m glad I went, and most importantly, I’m glad to find that the next day, I was still able to hook my bra.
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| The sea was very clean . . . and salty. |
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It's a Ping Thing 