Day 2: Kingfisher Park Tour (Malbato Church & Peminta Falls)

I define Coron as a one huge Paradise. Upon my first visit last October of 2010, we allotted 4 days to tour the whole place. I must say I already marked almost all of the touristy spots there like Banana Island, Malcapuya Island, Calumboyan island, Banol island, Kayangan, Siete Picados, Culion (and the list goes on. mahihiya ang listahan ng bumbay). However, after my experience at the park, I realized hindi pa pala kumpleto ang pagkahaba habang listahan ko. You'll never ran out of places to visit coz Coron has a lot more to offer. I stumbled upon off the beaten path in Coron on the net just few days before my flight. It's Kingfisher Park located at Malbato which is 45 minutes away from the town proper by land. Pictures on their website and FB page were enough to make me say Yes to Kingfisher. Check these out..

Kingfisher Dock
Click source here

Mt. Lunes Santo View
Click for the source here

 

Who wouldn't want to have a bamboo cooked meals?
Click for the source here

Tempting isn't it? Perfect for my Solo Getaway. I immediately texted the numbers (yes..with the S) posted on their website. Initially, Mae of Coron Galeri, an official agent of KP, replied and said the usual rate is P1,500.00 per person  which includes lunch, park tour (Lunes Santo or Virgin Forest or Kaluluwang falls), mangrove kayaking and service vice versa to and from Coron Town Proper and KP. Upon checking, she said there would be no group joining me that day (define S-O-L-O) so I will be charged P3000.00. That didn't make me feel good. I suddenly backed out since I can't afford to pay that much. Lungkot na lungot ako ate charo. =(


Come next day, I opened my FB and there's this one message from a stranger saying..

Hello Maricar,
Were you the one who send a text to Kingfisher Park. We really couldn't understand what you mean. Are you coordinating with Al from Coron Galeri or he told you to contact us? Please let me know and I can work with you on your trip to KP.

Thanks,

Menchu (Kingfisher Park).

Nabuhayan ako ng dugo talaga. I learned later on that she was one of the owners of the park. If you try to search my name on FB, mahihilo ka talaga kakahanap dahil marami akong kapangalan kaya naman saludo ako sa kanya. Bravo! You found me!

To make the story short, natuloy ang naudlot kong pangarap because of her. She was the one who arranged my trip and gave it to me for 1,500.00 for "trek and kayak till I drop". By the way, she was based in the US so I was not able to meet her personally. Susunduin daw ako ng tricycle. hihihi! (Mas ok siguro kung kabayo no? para hacienderang haciendera mode. lol!)

Upon confirmation of my trip, she included the list of what to expect but this strange paragraph somehow is worth sharing. hihihih!

"..Watch out where you are walking for snakes/wildlife.  More should be out during the rainy season. I hope you don't encounter a snake.  I usually freak out whenever I see one but the guides are good on spotting them. "

Remember Prony? the largest python in Bohol? Ayoko na siyang makita o kahit sinong kalahi niya. hahaha! Scary.. specially those were untouched by humans and are freely roaming around the forest. That's the reason kung bakit tinago ko to from my parents. Medyo delikado. I'm the only girl in the family and I know they won't be allowing me pag nalaman nila. hihihih! Baka sumugod sila sa Coron ng di oras.

And the story goes like this..

Kuya Jason, my boatman friend I was telling from previous post, already replied the next day while I was waiting for my service going to kingfisher park. As a recap, I tried to pull a prank on him by telling him na friend ko ang magiging guest niya the next day kaya ingatan niya at bigyan niya ng discount. To give him a hint, I texted about the fine weather and that he's giving me the wrong info kasi sabi niya maulan daw. Unfortunately hindi siya nagreply nung gabi kaya wala tuloy akong nakaing handa niya sa fiesta. So yun na nga, na-low bat pala siya. To my frustration, mukang hindi niya na-gets. hahah! So nagtext ulit ako "Hi kuya! mukang maganda na nga ang panahon ngayon no? brown-out nga lang e. tsk!". Kung hindi ba naman niya mahulaan yan. Ewan ko na lang. Pinaglololoko ko daw siya. hahaha! We promised to see each other after my park tour. Sabi ko pag sinamang palad ako at hindi nakabalik, hanapin niya lang ako sa Kingfisher. hahaha! Tinakot?! lol! Before you think of anything else, he's not single and my mom knows him ok?

I was picked up at around past 8:00am by Kuya Lorenzo, Enzo for short daw sabi niya (biglang naging sosyal ang dating). He introduced himself na siya daw ang tour guide ko for that whole day. Actually I was supposed to be picked up at 7:30am pero uber late na siya. Someone called while we were on our way, if I'm not mistaken, it was his boss scolding him. hihihi! Nahiya naman ako kasi ako ang nagsumbong (well, if you consider pagsusumbong ang pagsasabi ng 'Sir, wala pa rin po ata yung guide ko. Sabi nyo po kasi padating na siya. Medyo kanina pa ko nag-aantay'. Owkei simulan na natin ang tour...

And the fun started..

Malbato Church

The trip took about 5 minutes from the signage of KP. You need to take a few steps to get there. Sorry I forgot to count. hihihi! Kuya Enzo said "Whew! hindi pa man tayo nakakarating, penetensiya na inaabot ng mga tao dahil sa hagdan na to!" lol! Ang kulit niya grabe.

Medyo parusa nga siya.. but you'll be rewarded by a great view at the top

 

A closer look... Isa isang dinikit yan. Ang galing diba?

Altar (and there's no one inside)

It's worth the climb isn't it?

Breath-taking view welcomed me

After saying a little prayer, I decided to move on to our next destination.. I was wearing a sneakers and jogging pants that day since I thought we're going to trek and trek and trek. I was surprised when Enzo said "Ma'am paki-tanggal na yung shoes mo. May tsinelas ka ba? Mababasa kasi tayo mamaya e." So I thought Mangrove Kayaking na kami... I was wrong..


Peminta Falls

After less than 10 minutes kuya driver stopped. Definitely there's no kayaks nor Mangroves around, at shempre hindi rin siya sea side. Naloka ako.. tatawid daw kasi kami ng mga ilang sapa. OMG! Huhulihin ako ng fashion police sa suot ko. hahaha! Akala ko napaghandaan ko na to. Hindi pala. hahah! By the way, snacks, bottled water and insect repellant are necessities.

Maya maya nakakarinig na ko ng lagaslas ng tubig..

Sh*t ito na yun. hahaha!

Panic mode ako sa pagtupi ng jogging pants. Enzo passed through first. Para alam ko kung hanggang san dapat ang tupi.. Buti naman at walang linta sa sapa nila. Isusumpa ko talaga ang mga kutong tubig na yun pag dumikit sila sakin. Bwahahha!

Peminta Falls (high pitch) ♫

Ang liit. hahah! Sabi ko kay kuya "Yan na yun?! Bat ang liit niya ata? hahah!" He replied "Oo ma'am. Playground namin yan nung bata pa ko. Wag mo yang ismolin, lagpas tao yan pag bumaba ka." Na-offend ko ata siya. Stupid mouth. The falls had some trace that it was indeed an attraction before. We saw a few benches that are close to deterioration and the ladders that used to be a way for those who wants to go down and swim are slowly detaching from its support. Sayang kasi I'm sure there are a lot of memories for locals like Enzo in this place. Seeing your playground being worn out is not a good scene to look at.

We sat at one of the benches there to rest for a while. Just want to share one of our makulit na conversations.

Enzo: "Mag-isa ka lang talaga ma'am? Ang tapang mo naman."
Me: "Ay hindi kuya.. Ang dami ko nga e o! Hindi mo ba sila nakikita?"
Enzo: (Laughed) "Ay naku ma'am. Umamin ka! Major mo ang Philosophy nung nag-aaral ka no? hahaha!"

Enzo: "Ilan taon ka na ba?"
Me: "Hmmm.. sige nga hulaan mo?" 

He was just looking at me.. wearing a devil smile. Pang-asar! hahah!

Me: "Kuya.. nakasalalay ang tinapay na ibibigay ko sayo kaya umayos ka ng sagot ha! hahaha!" 

Hay tawa lang kami ng tawa. Magugulo ang mga lamang-lupa sa bundok sa kaingayan namin.

Me: "25 lang ako no. Ano ba akala mo?"
Enzo: "Talaga ma'am? Hindi po halata."
Me: "Bakit? Ano ba sa tingin mo? 28?!?!"
Enzo: "Hindi..... 30! wahahaha!"

Sasaktan ko na sana e. hahah! Sabay bawi..

Enzo: "Hindi ma'am joke lang, Kala ko ka-edad lang kita. 23 lang ako e."

Hayan... Kundi sasamain siya sakin. lol! Peace tayo bata! Ayun, binigyan ko na ng tinapay. hahah! Kain naman siya. Natutuwa ako sa batang yun. Jive agad kami.

Oo kasama talaga ang patpat sa outfit. lol! pambugaw sa masasamang elemento.

Walang pakundangan at nag-pose nga ang bata. hahah! Tinalo pa ko. lol!

As promised Enzo, hahanapan kita ng girlfriend sa abot ng aking makakaya. hahaha! Nananawagan po ako, mawalang-galang na, pagbigyan nyo na po ang kahilingan ng batang ito. He desperately needs one. lol! I just got a text from him right after I left Coron. "Ma'am wag mo masyadong ikalat ha... Baka sumikat ako e. Konti lang ha.. Tapos dapat mabait tapos medyo suplada. - Enzo (09497415714)" Choosy pa ang lolo mo. Ang kulit talaga. More of our conversations on the succeeding entries.. tatambling kayo kakatawa.

Virgin Forest & Mangrove Kayaking is up next..

If you want to arrange a tour, you may check out http://www.kingfisherpark.com/  to know the activities that suits you (Kayaking, Bird Watching, Trekking, Stary Night). Contact Ms. Menchu by sending her an email at kingfisherbiodiversitypark@yahoo.com or you may text Mr. Ambe at 09173298542 or Borge 09399172133. They belong to Reyes Clan by the way. Mayor of Coron is Mario T. Reyes which is a cousin of Mr. Ambe if I'm not mistaken. Hongyoyomon!