Daranak Falls: Ang tunay na Tourist Spot

I rarely travel within my hometown since I don't know if there is one place I can really be proud of. I'm always telling my friends to "love your own" pero ako mismo hindi. :$

I saw a picture of my mom and my brother in Daranak falls about 10 years ago, which I got envious definitely. It's a company outing then. My mom told me I was either in Baguio or Bulacan during that time that's why she only brought my kuya. (Note: I always spend my summer vacation either in both places. Never in Rizal. hihihi!)

Zac, my baby, will turn 1 at the end of May (OMG! Has it been a year already?) We're planning a road trip to Ilocos or Bicol back then but until now, it remain as a plan pa rin. And I don't think we can make it happen soon. Mother's day came kaya, walang kaabog-abog, we planned the day before. I texted my kuya, who is now residing in Laguna, to come home for a day trip. Anyway, when was the last time since we traveled together as a family.

Barbeque, Spaghetti, Gardenia Bread, Ensaladang Mangga at Mango Juice - everything was prepared by my mom. Kami na ang walang kwentang anak pag mother's day. Hahaha! Then we went... Tara! Ligo tayo!

Refreshing Daranak Falls

I just love chasing the water falls. It has the power to rejuvenate me. I always feel I am one with nature. I feel the serenity within.... 

But not this time. Take a look on what's happening on the surface.

Hala! Anyare?!!?!?!

Outing. It's more fun in the Philippines. Agree?

Tourist spot ba kamo?

Being in different parts of the Philippines searching for pristine beaches, breath-taking underwater world, serene lakes, majestic falls, or just a charming spot to spend a day, this is really way beyond what I'm looking for. However, the experience was something different. Real. If you think I didn't dare join these people, you're wrong. Ako pa! E usisera ako. hihihih!

box office ang platform?

My younger brother is busy looking for life buoy since the shop always ran out of stocks. Everyone wants to go near the falls but like me, not everyone knows how to swim. Fail. hihihi! My kuya can swim so he can tell that the depth is immeasurable. E di siya na. hahaha! It was fun swimming with them (kung swimming bang maituturing ang pagtalon-talon lang sa pwesto. lol!)

Ang classic lang ng feeling. Just like the good old times when my family, together with my other relatives, made a lot of memories in the nearby river sa Province namin. I don't know if you have heard of "Bakas". It was featured in Korina Sanchez' show before. Kinukuha daw ng ilog na yun ang mga dayo. Ang choosy! Scary? Yes, since the usual conversation goes "kinuha na si ____, sino na kaya ang susunod na alay?" Kaloka talaga. hahaha!

Ang sikip ng mundo Ate Charo

Nakakatuwa kasi whenever someone attempts to jump from the platform, the crowd screams "tatalon na yan! tatalon na yan!" just like in showtime. hahaha! I remember may isang bading na gusto rin makitalon kaya lang narealize niyang hindi pala niya kaya.. aatras na sana siya pero huli na ang lahat...ayun tinulak siya. Pagod na kasi siguro ang tao kakasigaw at humahaba na ang pila ng madlang people. hahaha! Mga adik lang.

kuya, mama, me, kevin (kung sino pa ang babae, siya pang ulikba. hmp!)

After ten years of struggling to reach the falls, we managed to climb the rocks para lang mag pose. Babala! Ang mga susunod na larawan ay lubhang nakaka-umay. ^_^ Patnubay ng magulang ay kailangan.

My un-kabogable mama with my younger brother

Walang kwenta ang diet ko!

If you were able to reach this part, salamat. Peace mama. Ginusto mo yan. hahahah! What I didn't like about the place? Marami. Isa isahin natin.

1. Makalat (for obvious reason.. natural, marami ang magkakalat e)
2. Walang Crowd Control. Kahit wala ng lamesa sa loob, pinapapasok pa rin nila ang mga tao.
3. Walang matinong shower area. Ok na sakin yung poso lang, basta may lugar na pwedeng pag shower-an kahit hindi enclosed.
4. May CR pero apat na cubicle lang. San nila balak isisiksik ang nuknukan ng daming tao na yan? Mag-aasin talaga ang wiwi mo.
5. Walang patubig like lababo man lang na may gripo. Ni pang hugas ng kamay, kakailanganin mo pang pumunta sa CR na box office.

Hayz! This place can be as beautiful as it is 10 years ago if only the people took care of it. If I would be asked if I'm going to recommend it? You already know my answer.

Rock Balancing (Rating then and now)

The reason for my sentiments...

Sino bang hindi dudumugin sa ganitong halaga?

Woot! There's a whole lot more

I was surprised to see this poster just in front of the path way to Daranak. I'm missing a lot of great spots which I think rarely visited by tourists. I did a little research and found out you can reach those places by hiking. I'm not fit to try that strenuous activity (or should I say tamad lang.) You knew I cannot carry myself anymore. I had health issues before and I don't want to go back to the times wherein medicines are like candies to me.

If you were able to reach one of those, please feel free to make kwento... I'd love to hear it.

The part I hated the most... How to get there portion. hahaha! May sa pusa ako kaya hindi ko tanda kung pano kami nakarating. But I can google it for you, kaya naman....

Following the Manila East Road, a fork ensues: take the left turn – it is a fast lane to Laguna. From Antipolo, Tanay is a one-hour drive. The turning point is 3 kilometers from the start of Brgy. Plaza Aldea (a sign marks the spot). From there is another 0.5 km of driving; parts of the road are not cemented. Click here for the source.

If you are traveling by commute, here's how. You can a ride a Jeep or Passenger Van going to Tanay in Edsa Central or Star Mall Shaw, and the last stop of it is in Tanay Town Market. From Tanay Market, you can ride a Trike (a three wheel jeepney) or a tricycle going to Daranak Falls, you have also to negotiate with the trike driver to pick-up you on the time that you want to leave the Daranak Falls since there was no transport available coming back to the Tanay Town Market. I suggest to you to ride a Trike rather that a Tricycle because the tricycle cannot bring you at the Gate of the Daranak falls, and you will have to take a 6-10 minutes walk before you can be at the Entrance Gate. Click here ulit for the source.

Lake Sebu and Zipline above 7 falls

Ever been to the Summer Capital of the South? It was then I only knew that we have a summer capital on the other part of the Philippines. Ayaw magpa-kabog sa Baguio? hihihi! Anyway, before I forget all the details, let me tell you this story. I believe Marx, my travel buddy, already did his part (gusto ko na ngang kopyahin na lang e. hahaha!) Batugan lang. This is the last part of our SOCSARGEN series na uber long overdue. (Busy ako sa lablayp e. Charot..)

Again, salamat sa mapang-akit na pictures ni Angel at sa tili ni Mica sa mga entries nila. Naki-tili din ako but I'd rather not share it with you. Sisirain ko lang ang dangal at puri ko. hahahah!

I already kwento sa previous entries na nilula na namin ang mga sarili namin sa 5th Mountain Adventure park at nagpaka-butanding na rin kami sa Saranggani Water Tubing and here we are again. Sadista lang. hahaha! Whenever I have the chance to try these activities, naiisip ko yung father ko. Kahit daw bayaran siya ng milyon, he would never do what I did. Sabi ko, "Hello! E ferris wheel lang takot ka na e. Yan pa kaya.." Hindi ako nagmana sa kanya. hahaha!

Hala nawawala na ko sa kwento. hihihi! We alloted a day here in Lake Sebu since, like the other spots we've been, the travel time took much of our time. We decided to have lunch in the most popular resort in the area - Punta Isla.



Lake Sebu (at ang mga kapatid na tilapya)



The resort is surrounded by trees. I love the feel of summer breeze. Ang sarap kumanta ng "♫Paraiso.. take my by the hand♫" (tapos maaalala ko ang sarat na ilong ni Geneva noon. La lang. May maisingit lang na kasiraan. lol!)

While we're still waiting for our food we just strolled for a bit and explored the place. There were only a handful of guests. Most of them stayed in the floating kubo.



Floating kubo

Traveling with the Original Kuracha - My Mom (Authentic yan! hihi!)

Most of my friends already know how close we are since we've been traveling a lot together (at bida bidahan din siya sa blog ko.) I guess it's safe to say she's the coolest mom ever. Well just to give you an idea, she can wear a two-piece at the age of 55. I swear. How as that? ^_^ In fairness naman sa kanya, hindi siya mukang nagmumurang kamatis unlike "D" ever famous mom. Pero ang masaklap dun, hindi ko kaya ang pinaggagagawa niya. hahaha! I can still remember, while we were in Malcapuya Island, Coron way back 2009, I saw her removing her cover up..

Me: "Mama, nakakahiya! Wag ka ngang maghubad dito."
Mama: "Ay pakealam ba nila no. Hindi naman nila ako kilala e. Dali picturan mo na ko."

Wala daw paki pero pinagmamadali ako. hahah! Ito na yun...

She's sexy and I know it (sana lang tinanggal ang salamin. Fail. hihihi!)

Nang magdilim ang langit.. hahaha!

Ayan binagyo tuloy kami. lol! Joke. I can't deny the fact that the camera loves her. She seems to enjoy every click. Wala talagang pilitan. If I tell her "Dapa!", "Higa!", "Gulong sa sand!", she'll do it effortlessly. I'm happy to see her that way. My mom never experienced this when she was still at a young age. And fulfilling her dream is a pleasure for me. hehehe! Actually, these trips opened up her mind on the idea of me doing solo backpacking. Asking permission was a breeze.

Whenever we're together, we talk endlessly. We never ran out of topic to share. And because of that,  I got used to questions like.. 

Usisero: "Mommy mo?" 

Me: "Ay hindi po.... Anak ko!"

Oo na. Maganda na siya kesa sakin (Bitter? hahaha!)

Join us as I share our mother-and-daughter affair..

• Baguio - It was the first time my mom enjoyed the Panagbenga Parade. She asked me to go with her as she got envious of my pictures way back 2007 (not a blogger then), because I showcased the uncrowded-yet-charming places of Baguio. Actually, even without a car (because we don't know how to drive), she chose to left my father behind (Ang KJ daw kasi. hihihi!) That's the reason why we haven't had a trip together. He's not into it.
  

Panagbenga 2011

• Guimaras and Bacolod - Last year, I celebrated my 26th birthday with my mom exploring western Visayas. We really had a great time eating their famous delicacies. And if pounds can talk, it'll shout out for "MORE!" We plan to go back for a weekend just to take home Calea Cakes. Kami ng matakaw!

Kabog ang off-shoulders ko

Anong sinabi ng Golden Statwa...