Tumbling at Tumalog

The darkness was overwhelming. It was as if the shadows were feeding on what little light my headlights were giving off. The relentless rain was pouring on my windshield, worsening my view of the road.  My passengers woke up startled because I hit the break all of a sudden, and they stayed awake for the rest of the trip. That was how my week ended. All of us went home intact and unscathed. That weekend was one for the books.

But before the darkness…

Before the rainstorm…

there were four friends in search of an adventure…

and boy were we in for a surprise!

That sunny Sunday morning, me and three of my friends were gearing up for a road trip to the south of Cebu. We were all itching for an adventure and decided to go on a nature trip to Oslob’s Tumalog falls. We did not do any research beforehand and just went along with the trip “old school” style. NO GPS, NO GOOGLE, NO MAP, just four friends and a borrowed car.

It was a three and a half hour drive to Oslob with the obligatory stop at Carcar Market to shop for local delicacies (who wouldn't stop for a bag of chicharon?!). We also had scenic stop at the century-old Boljoon church which was like a jewel hidden between coral stones. A great piece of Cebuano history.

Nuestra Señora de Patrocinio Parish Church of Boljoon

The church is fronting the Bohol Strait

There's a staircase across the church that leads to the crystal clear waters of the Bohol Strait. Locals and even tourists can take a quick dip here to cool off from the Cebu heat.

From Boljoon, it took us about another hour to go to Oslob. Tumalog falls is about 10 minutes away from the town proper by car but motorcycles or "habal'habal" are also available. 

You will see a sign at the right side of the road. The road to the falls is small and a bit steep but it's cemented.

We parked our car at the entrance and we had to walk 500 meters from there to get to the location. But it was no ordinary walk, though. The road going to the falls is so steep you would even hesitate to use your longboard or bikes while going down. Going down is easy, but going back up is a feat. 

However, when you reach the falls, you'll realize that it was all worth it.

The way home was dark. It was so timely that there was a power outage in the south and the rain was pouring nonstop. It was a little terrifying, but hey, I asked for an adventure, didn't I? 

~LOVE LOTS~

Travelling Light

I was always one for spontaneous undertakings, but never one THIS spontaneous. I was already invited to go to Palawan with a bunch of friends but I declined because my budget couldn't stand another out of town trip after my Boracay, Kalanggaman, and Lifedance Soiree. My wallet was practically weeping. However, two days before the scheduled trip to Palawan my friend called me up and told me that there was a vacancy and that they’ll be helping me out with the expenses. Who wouldn't say YES to that?!

I packed my bags not knowing what to wear in Palawan because the weather was like a girl high on hormones. Threw some clothes, travel essentials, and a pair of bikinis in the bag and zipped it up.  I always travel light. Just one carry on and a tote, that’s it. In this trip though, I’m literally travelling light. Light bags, light wallet, and me in all my hundred-five-pound glory. I’m up for an adventure.

My expectations weren't extraordinary, because I didn't have time to research and plan my itinerary. So, when I arrived in Puerto Princesa, I was ecstatic! Nothing beats exploring a new patch of land with your closest friends. Stepping foot on El Nido was like a breath of fresh air. It was poles apart from the hustle and bustle of the metro.  I didn't mind the 5 hours of ass-wrenching drive or the rough road mayhem; this secluded sanctuary is a piece of paradise.

I’ll be blogging about the whole Palawan trip with all the boring details (itineraries and such), hopefully when my creative juices are flowing because I’m kind of having a dry spell (no pun intended).

This unexpected escape was undeniably, the highlight of my summer and if there’s one thing I've learned this season, it’s that you should always be open to new things and experiences.

When travelling, Always keep an open mind.