Cagayan De Oro – Camiguin Trip

The long overdue vacation finally happened…I never got a decent getaway since the end of my thesis, and I’m glad that this pushed through… went to Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin for six days with my family and Tita Sally. Here’s a rundown of what happened:

Day 1 (10.28.07)

Landed in CDO airport and checked in Dynasty Hotel, which was luckily in the middle of town…Divisoria pa nga ata tawag sa area nay un, hehehe. So I was glad that all the ATMs and fastfood chains (just in case) are within easy reach. We were walking around looking for a place to eat when I realized how it seems so dark inside the establishments…and then they told us na brownout pala…hahaha. Nagulat ako since bihira na talaga ang brownout ngayon, apparently it’s a common thing (had 3 power outages during our stay there…one happened while I was in the bathroom, thank God for generators). Anyway, kind of lost in translation kami, since few can converse in Tagalog (we can understand a few of the words since my mom’s Negrense, but the communication is still confusing). Naaawa ako sa waiter namin when he’s explaining na wala palang Sprite (since the machine is powered by electricity eh brownout nga) kaya iced tea na lang, trying to do it in Tagalog, hehehe. Major ngiti na lang kami and encouraging para naman kumonti ang kaba niya, hahaha.

Went to the nearby plaza just to soak up the local color, we can see a big fountain in the plaza from our hotel window so we decided to drop by to take some pictures. When we got there, brownout ulit so hindi na gumagana yung fountain, hahaha. Had dinner at Dear Manok, upon recommendation by Kai (thanks Kai for all the tips! It really helped us.), ang sarap, major busog (actually grabe ang lamon ko for this whole trip). Also got to ride the motorella, which is what they call their tricycle/jeep ride.

Dale, Dad, Tita Sally, and I then decided to go to the disco/bar just across the hotel, Pulse, to experience a bit of the nightlife. I wasn’t expecting much, since it’s a Sunday night (although walang pasok the next day due to elections), but grabe, some people (including a bunch of girls that Dale and I assumed to be from high school who are rarely given the chance to go out) really shocked Tita Sally…won’t go to the details, hehe. Super funny miscommunication moment pa yung tatay ko:

Papa (talking to the guard of the hotel): May liquor ban ba diyan sa Pulse? (since election the next day.
Guard (also supported by another guard who got wind of the conversation): Ah yes, sir, may live band po diyan.

Haha.

Day 2 (10.29.07)

It’s rafting day! Super excited kami ni Dale since it’s around this same time last year that we went to Davao and also got to experience the same thing. We met our rafting people and got geared up. Thank you so much to Reynold (our captain, ang galing ng buong course, super smooth) and Tweet-tweet (ang taga-kwento at taga-buhos ng tubig sa min pag mainit) who are our river guides. The ride was exciting, although beginners course pala yun, which was ok since my mom was with us (she’s not an extreme kind of person, sumama lang siya kasi wala siyang gagawin while we go rafting). So Dale and I vowed to go to the advanced course next year! Highlights of the whole run were the parts when we have to stand on the rafts during the rapids (and I was humming Surfin’ USA while I’m doing so), the part na parang sinasadya ata ng guides naming na mahulog kami (instead of going straight, they steered us to this big rock that I estimate that if we go through it, the boat will capsize, but (unfortunately) we got stuck on the rock, hahaha, so we have to all go to one size to concentrate the weight for the raft to go through, it was exciting but we didn’t topple), and the another thrilling part when all of us were asked to sit at the rear of the raft and we were coursed to hitting this big rock head on.

(Unfortunately) no one went overboard unintentionally from the boat, hehehe. There was a time that my mom almost slipped but I grabbed her (better me than her, hehe, wala pa siyang glasses). There were also parts wherein we can swim in the river and get carried away by the running water. Next year ulit, grabe, I have to do this with friends!!! It would be more fun!!! (Ahem, guys, bilis na, punta na tayo) Got home with sun burnt hands and feet.

Day 3 (10.30.07)

Went to Mapawa Nature Park to undergo the zip line course. It consists of six stages: zip lines, monkey bridge, and rappel. This day was supposedly reserved for the river trek, but sadly we weren’t able to do it since we have to reserve two days before the actual date, at minimum pa of five people, eh I don’t think my parents are equipped to do such a strenuous trek.

Anyway, it was nonetheless fun, the park was actually the site of an Extra Challenge episode before. So shempre may pic din kami with the banners and a life-size replica of Paolo Bediones, hehehe. 

I also vow to do the river trek next year…water slide and rock dive pa yun! Waaahhhh. Also got to lunch at Kagay-anon at Limketkhai…sarap ng ostrich salpicao! Stuffed myself once again.

Day 4 (10.31.07)

Woke up early in order to get ready for the trip to Camiguin…took a taxi to the Balingoan port to take the boat to Camiguin. Mang Eugene (taxi driver) is the craziest driver ever! Haha, grabe mag-overtake! It was pouring by the time we got on the boat, then drizzling by the time we got to Benoni port in Camiguin. Tito Tony (who is the brother of my mother’s ninang) picked us up and we grabbed lunch in what they call the lagoon. It’s a restaurant alongside the crater of the volcano (Camiguin is a volcanic island), stuffed myself again, got to eat inihaw na kitong, which we always see in the menu in CDO but never got to try it.

Got a tour of the island from Tito Tony (who was the retired chief of police in Mambajao, Camiguin’s capital). Dropped by the local church then checked in the resort we’re going to rent for three days. We then went to Katibawasan Falls…which is my favorite part of the whole island. It was drizzling by the time we got there and we were the only ones in the place. Super awe-struck…it was one giant wall of green with the falls in the middle of it. I didn’t know that it was developed, so I was surprised that there’s a pool that’s built so that people can swim comfortably. I was the only one who swam there…since ayaw nila dahil umuulan (duh!)…pero grabe, I felt that I own the freaking place…amazing.

Then we went to Arden Hot Springs…it wasn’t that hot, more of lukewarm yung water. More people are there since it’s raining so people want a change in temperature, I guess. Very good place for just relaxing and chatting with people.

Day 5 (11.01.07)
Started the day early to go to white island…which is more of a sand bar. The water’s great and clear, I didn’t get to swim since I forgot my suit in the car, hehehe. So I just strolled around the island (took me 10 minutes to do so) then we went back, got to go at the walkway (which has all the Stations of the Cross where everyone goes to during holy week), then to the church ruins. We then went to sunken cemetery, which was closer to shore than I’d have imagined, we didn’t cross the cemetery itself though since we have more spots to cover.

We then went to this big swimming pool…soda can ata tawag, hehehe. Ang lamig din ng tubig, they told me it also came from Katibawasan falls. Then we went to Sto. Nino cold springs…which was really freaking cold, hehe.

Went back to the resort, Dale and I went to the beach…mabato so tampisaw lang kami. We then went to the sister of Tito Tony and Ninang Lina…dami na naming food grabe. Thanks for the hospitality, from the food to all the information about Camiguin itself…as in tempted na kami ni Dale na bumili ng lupa doon, haha.

Spent the night texting Daene and Mazie…and they both know why! Kayo talaga ha! Mga biglaan na lakad na yan…

Day 6 (11.02.07)

Last day of the vacation, we packed everything up and Tito Tony drove us to parts in the town to buy pasalubong. Siyempre ako, madaming pastel ang binili hehehe. Mom bought a lot of lansones and chocolate, hehehe. Went back to CDO, grabbed lunch at Bigby’s (GRABE ang laki ng servings nila! Meron na ba ditong branch sa Manila? Super sulit yung food). Then went to the airport to go back to Manila…btw, nanalo na naman kami ni Dale sa laro sa Cebu Pacific, hahahha. Nanalo ako doon sa papuntang CDO tapos si Dale naman pabalik, hehehe.

Ayun, great week for my vacation…I wish I could go back with my friends naman this time (ang masaya lang this time is libre almost lahat, hahaha)… nangolekta na ko ng mga brochure para set na for next year!!! Will definitely go back to CDO, and especially Camiguin…

more pictures here