I've learned of Lake Apo from Lisa Marie of Pinay Travelista, Alex of Iligan Inquisitor and Arlene of Joys in Life who went there last October 2011. In one of the meetings of the Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc., they told us of their experience and how nice the place is. I have also seen their photos of the Lake Apo. It really looked so nice, so calm.
From their stories, we also wanted to go there and see for ourselves. As the Bible says, when two or more people ask for something, God will grant it. Well, we sure had our wishes come true.
When we have finalized our trip to General Santos to attend the Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0, I suggested we stay overnight at Lake Apo on our way back home to Iligan from Gensan. When the group agreed, we made our itinerary and arrangements to Dr. Almer Alfonso, the owner of a resort in Lake Apo. And we were glad the place was vacant on November 28-29, so we will be accommodated. :-D
We arrived at the place on November 28 right before sunset. So we got to see the sunset at Lake Apo.
Sunset with the floating cottage
Sunset Reflections
Picture of me taken by Pat
At the dawn of November 29, Pat woke me up so we can watch the sunrise together. It was still dark outside, but they were already all awake and started taking pictures outside the house. I was the only one missing, hehehe..
Sunrise with the sun still partly covered by the mountain
Sunrise with the sun fully visible
After taking pictures of the sunrise, the group had fun taking pictures of our shadows. :-)
After eating breakfast, we went kayaking, swimming, modeling. These will be in another post, hehehe... :-)
After many years of wanting to ride a kayak, I have finally done it!
Yes! It was on November 29, 2011. When me and some members of the Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. decided to stop by Lake Apo in Valencia City, Bukidnon for an overnight stay after our trip to General Santos.
I always have imagined the kayak ride to be difficult. I don't know if I could balance. I don't know if I could row. I was imagining the kayak might capsize.
In spite of the fear I have, I gathered all my guts. The kayak is already in front of me. Waiting for me to ride it. I told myself, it's now or never. Hmm... not really Never, but I'd definitely ride it Now!
Alex and Lai was there to instruct me how to get into the kayak (without capsizing it, hehehe). At first I was having difficulty maneuvering the kayak. How to move it to the left or to the right. How to turn it around. And stuff like that. But eventually, after a few tries, I got the hang of it.
I really had fun riding the kayak. If only my arms didn't get tired from the rowing, I would have really wanted to do it longer. But after Pat has already recorded a video of me riding the kayak, I docked the kayak. And would you believe it? I was able to dock it effortlessly. And I was able to get off the kayak easily. And I was glad, the kayak didn't capsize. :-) Below is a video recorded by Pat. I was already kayaking for about 10 minutes, on the other side of the lake, before Pat was able to record this. He was busy tinkering with his DSLR camera. I told him to already take a video of me before I dock as my arms were already starting to ache. :-)
It definitely, for me, was one of the highlights of the trip. :-)
My fourth zipline ride was in NPC Nature's Park again on January 10, 2010. The NPC zipline crew has already finished setting up the zipline ride. It has a total of 4 spans and 2 of the spans would cross the Agus River.
First take off. With AJ, Pat's niece.
Breathtaking view from the 2nd platform of the zipline. Maria Cristina Falls looks really grand from this viewpoint. Wow.
Pat with me. A souvenir photo while waiting our my turn.
The second span of the zipline. I stopped three-fourths of the way and slid back halfway the line. I didn't know why I slid back and stopped. Probably my weight is too light or maybe the start/launch was not that strong. This was sure a new experience for me. :-)
The guide to the rescue.
A video I took of Pat zipping the 1st and 2nd span of the zip line
Here is a video I took when I stopped and was waiting for the rescuer to fetch me. hehe...
I do not anymore have photos of the 3rd and 4th platform because it was already really getting dark then so Pat was having difficulty in adjusting his camera. That's what happens when you fall in line at the last minute. As there were many who wanted to try the zipline, it took us about an hour to be the next in line. I had taken a video for my ride on the 3rd and 4th span, but it was not good. Hmm... maybe I should zip again in the future and take a good video of my ride. That would be a good idea since it has been more than a year already, maybe they now have some improvements. And I'd make sure it is still daylight! hehehe
My latest zipline ride was in Dahilayan, Bukidnon on March 3, 2011. At last, after hearing stories from friends who have been there, I finally had the chance to do it and try for myself the Dahilayan zipline. The Dahilayan zip zone have two types of zipline ride. One is a 2-span zip line with the sitting position harness and the other is an 840-meter zipline with the "superman" position harness. This was claimed to be the longest dual zipline in Asia.
The first span of the sitting position zipline. Photo taken by Pat
I had a kind of dizzying experience here. I think the cable of my harness was twisted before launch at the top where it is attached to the cable. A few seconds after the launch, the cable twisted again so my body turned around and my back was facing the destination platform. I had to turn my body around again doing the walk in the air so I would be facing the destination. Still, the cable would twist by itself. I tried turning maybe three times but still the cables would twist to its original position. Then I stopped turning as I was afraid the cable might snap with my twisting, hehe. I also tried to turn and face the direction of my destination because I want to see where I was going. And I was afraid I might bump into something at the platform. :-)
Photo by Rene Pernia, Pat's officemate.
The 2nd span of the zip line. There is not much thrill here as it is very short and the height is low.
Photo by Rene Pernia.
Photo by Mam Agnes, Pat's boss. :-)
All dressed-up with the "superman" harness. Waiting for my turn to zip. Yahooo! Excited and a bit nervous at the same time. As it would be a first position for me. I don't know how it would be. This photo was taken by Mam Agnes.
Weeeee! Almost at the end of the line. Photo taken by Rene Pernia.
I was already wearing goggles because before my launch it already started to drizzle. Good thing it didn't rain hard. And Pat was right in insisting I wear his sweatshirt because the wind was already a bit cold. If I hadn't worn the sweatshirt, I would probably have been shivering.
I like the ride because it was longer than the ones I've ridden in the other ziplines. But, I don't like the position much. It is not so comfortable for me. My body became a bit stiff. And I had a slight pain in the neck after the ride. I wouldn't have gotten the pain in the neck if I just had my face down all throughout the ride. But no! I didn't do that. Instead I had my face looking in the direction I was going. It seems to me that the ride would be a bore if all I do is look down. I prefer looking forward and see where I'm going as well as the other sights that I would pass by. And I have no regrets. :-)
The Finish Line. Photo by Mam Agnes.
So excited and concentrating on the sights and recording a video, I almost forgot the instruction of the guide before launch - "ibutang imong duha ka kamot sa kilid og iduko imong ulo sa di pa moabot sa stopper" (put both hands at your sides and face down right before you reach the stopper). And I wondered why. So when I finally reached the end of the line, I knew why. The impact of the stopper would be strong so that the body would sway. And if your head was high up, it could break your neck. Or if your arms are stretched on the side, it could dislocate your arms. Whew. Thank God He gave me time to follow the instructions.
That was the latest zipline ride I had. Hmm.. where would I zip next? Somewhere more challenging? Maybe... the Great Wall of China? It look scary in the Youtube videos. I don't know yet if i'll have the guts to really zip there, when I get the chance to be in the Great Wall. Well, that remains to be seen. :-)
A video of the first span of the zipline at Dahilayan Zip Zone. Pardon me if in most parts I'd make you a bit dizzy. It was caused by the twisted cable of my harness. :-)
Zipping the "superman" style
PS. Once again, I had both zip line rides for free. Yes! Thanks to my ever loving husband, Pat, who spoils me with free adventures. :-) (Ma-out-of-budget if dili libre, hehehe....)
With the wedding anniversary fever still on me (it is still May), I would like to share with you a Disney movie that really struck me after watching it (with Pat of course) and has immediately became on top of "my favorites" list. The movie is called "UP".
It is the story of an old man (Carl) who is to be evicted from his home because of some neighborhood developments. When the time comes that he already has to go to the home-for-the-aged, an idea struck him. He tied his whole house with lots and lots of balloons which eventually made the house go up. The photo below says what I mean. His adventure started from there, with the company of an 8-year old Wilderness Explorer (Russell).
However, what I really love about the movie is not the adventure of Carl and Russell, but the life of Carl and his wife, Ellie.
Ellie and Carl
First of all, Carl and Ellie reminded me of Pat... and me. Carl and Pat are both big compared to Ellie and me. Pat and Carl wear eyeglasses. Ellie and me doesn't, except only when Ellie was already old, which also is probably what will happen to me when I get old, hehe.
Revilla and Pat
(Picture taken at Tangub City during Christmas time)
Carl is the quiet type who loves listening to Ellie. Ellie is the more jack-of-all-trade type, and Carl assists her. Carl and Ellie don't have a child. Pat and I don't also have a child yet. But, as with Carl and Ellie, Pat and I enjoy each others company, very much. We like to do things together like planning our trips, designing our dream house, doing service to the less fortunate, and even doing household chores :-).
My adventures in life in which Pat was with me included my first time to ride a zipline at Macahambus, Cagayan de Oro City. And all my other zipline rides in Iligan City and Bukidnon. My first time to whitewater raft in Cagayan de Oro and so many other first times in my life that happened, courtesy of Pat.
Below are some photos of the trips/adventures Pat and I had done together.
A trip to Cebu in 2005. We visited the Noel Ancestral House in Carcar, the Lapu-Lapu Shrine and stayed the whole day at Plantation Bay Resort courtesy of Pat's uncle. In 2004, during our honeymoon, we also visited Cebu and went to Taoist Temple and The Top.
My very first time to go to Marawi City (I cannot anymore remember when). It was a weekend and Pat had some visitors from Davao City who visited Maria Cristina Falls and wanted to see MSU Campus in Marawi City. He asked me to join them so I could see Marawi. At first I was hesitant because of the stories I grew up with regarding Marawi. And I told Pat that my father wouldn't probably let me go. He said we won't tell him. Just after we've been there already. :-)
Well, of course, Pat is my husband and I always like going somewhere with him.
Our very first trip outside the country - Hongkong - in June 2009. We went there with Pat's niece and her family. We visited the Giant Buddha at Ngong Ping, the Ocean Park and Disneyland, Avenue of the Stars and Victoria Peak.
Ozamis City in December 2010. We went to Tangub with Pat's officemates to visit the Christmas Capital of the Philippines and stayed overnight in Ozamis City where we toured a little the following morning before returning to Iligan.
Bukidnon in March 2011. Again, I went with Pat together with some of his officemates to watch the Kaamulan festival. We also visited the Dahilayan Adventure Park and the Monastery.
Bohol in April-May 2011. The latest trip we did. We were with his sister, Ate Leah, a nephew and nieces. We visited Tagbilaran, Panglao Island, Balicasag Island, Chocolate Hills and other tourists attractions.
Other places we've been to are Davao City, Samal Island, Camiguin and Boracay. I will share the other trips in another posts. :-)
