Journal 2085: Game Face On

Journal 2085: Game Face On
Edited by: Gelai Alera

Instead of Sea of  Clouds, It is the Bluer than Blue that I saw that time. So beautiful! 

The small barangay of Ambasing, sitting below the mountain, behind me. 

Tall pine trees evverywhere. 

I woke up at 4:00 a.m. on my second day for the sight-seeing of the astonishing Sea of clouds at Kiltepan Peak. I incidentally joined two couples who were also going to the same place and luckily, we shared the transportation cost totaling P500.00. It turned out to be an unfortunate moment of waiting since we were not able to see the well-known sea of clouds, so we just decided to go back to the town center. I tried my luck to check whether the destinations were available for tour and the favor was on me since the suspension of tours were lifted on exactly the same time I inquired. So the whole day was really exhausting but unforgettable for all the places I went to (with my tour guide Kuya Duvan). 

Our first stop was the most visited site—the Sumaguing Cave. It was actually my first time to try on a multi-activities adventure. I did spelunking, rock climbing, walking, swimming and sliding, all at one place! I was on my “let’s do this” mode and the challenge was 100% accepted. My favorite part of this first site was when I had to climb a tall rock with strong stream of water rushing against me! And there was this one epic moment when I had to go down from a slippery rock taller than me and after trying to be as careful as possible, I slipped on it, descending like a child in a slide! Thanks to the water that smoothened my drop without my bones getting broken. Since I was alone in this journey, I shouldered the whole cost of the tour that would normally be shared by a group of four persons. But then, one good thing about being alone is my tour guide became my personal second-hand of capturing those beautiful, instagrammable, and epic moments of the experience.

Pause for a while

The Walls inside the Sumaguing Cave

Our only light inside.

-_-

Me: I'm-afraid-to-die-inside-this-cave-because-I-just-carried-away smile 

It is where the Queen and King are hiding behind, according to Kuya Duvan

And if you can't find the light around you, then let yourself be the light. 

When all the stress and problems temporarily fade away.

I felt like I came from the deepest part of Sagada and got back to era of civilization! 

The next sites were totally breathtaking and challenging! So let’s recall it from the beginning. Still with Kuya Duvan, I went, for my second time, to the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and took some photos inside and out. This was followed by a long trek where we crossed the town’s cemetery, with few SAF 44 members buried on it. Kuya Duvan shared to me that instead of using candle as part of their offering to their loved ones, they use Saling, a piece of red wood with different aroma compared to a normal wood. After a series of ups-and-downs of uneven stairs, we reached the Echo Valley! And yes, it really reverberates back when you say something out loud! Since I was already there, I took the chance to shout all those things I wanted to say. My heart was exploding with mixed emotions—both emptiness and serenity. It somehow took a piece of thorn nailed on my chest after saying everything I wanted to say. 

This is the original bell used by the church to call the attention of the people, way back in 1950.

Outside the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin.

How to start your adventure trail? 

Then we continued the trek where my unprepared feet were greeted by a cycle of sticky muds, gushing water, prickly grasses, and spiky rocks. We reached the hanging coffins and it was creepy and at the same time bizarre to see coffins dangling at the side of the gigantic rock formations. It’s kinda awkward when Kuya Duvan took a photo of me and I couldn’t prevent myself from smiling (since it was not exactly the perfect spot for a “say cheese” pose with coffins hanging behind me). 

Close your eyes, make a wish. 

The old way of burying the dead of our ancestors. 

When you are both tired and excited. 

After a couple of minutes, we continued the bloody trekking which I thought would be easy since I already defied a series of challenges until I realized that the real game started only after we passed the hanging coffins. So just to mention a few of it: we crossed a muddy narrow trail of the forest with hanging vines and tall grasses around, followed by a river with water current that can take you away from your position! It was quite exciting and frightening for me because I had to walk with my bare feet against the freezing water. 

Thinking if I can do it.

Crossing this killer river was the best! Challenging, thrilling and amazing!  

Too dark inside

Black and white

Photo taken before I slipped (for the second and third time)

My legs were shaking, which added to the challenge since I was also having a hard time looking out for my feet’s next landing. Thanks to God I safely traversed the river! But it didn’t end there (there’s more)! There’s another river with much stronger current than the former—the river is connected to the underground river where we headed next. It was where we needed to climb on the muddy steps where I accidentally slipped (again). Happily, I managed to reach the top with my hands covered entirely by sticky mud. After we reached the main road with my breath almost running out, we had to sit for a short break at the roadside. I had my Sky Flakes crackers and Kuya Duvan enjoyed his three-piece-chocolate-cookie biscuit.

With Kuya Duvan! 

If I can, you can do it too !

Finally, as we continued our walk, we took the main road and we reached the entrance to the Bokong Waterfalls after 20 minutes. The trek going to the falls was pretty easy, with cemented tramps connected to a small forest where we entered into. Getting a glimpse of the cascading waterfalls and hearing the sound of its splashes from afar got me excited to go as near as possible. It was truly a beautiful, chilly, and wonderful creation of God! But then, since I don’t know how to swim, I just sat a few meters near it and enjoyed the water flowing against my submerged legs. The trek going back up was quite long—we walked past a red bridge where I took a few instagrammable photos. And then we crossed wide rice terraces fields, stepping higher and higher until we reached the end, and finally climbed atop going back to the main road.

Photo from the top! 

The smile caused by this beautiful falls! 

Wala eh. Mag isa lang ako eh. 

Another challenge accepted! 

Thank you Kuya Duvan for making this experience extra amazing! <3