Burnt out, stressed out, pressured out. Yeah. Teachers
sometimes feel that way. So, I and my friend Mercelee decided to go out of
Davao City. It was a long weekend, so we had at least two days to waste.
Camiguin was out of question. It was too far. Bukidnon Adventure was not her
cup of tea, so we opted for the unchartered (at least by me) country-side
Maragusan. It was my first time this part of the region, but I have heard many
good things about her. So, off we went with full anticipation of the nice
things in the next couple of days.
Based in Tagum we headed off to the overland transport
terminal and waited for the bus going to our destination. Ten minutes. Fifteen.
Twenty. No bus. So we walked a few meters to the van station, and lo and
behold. There was one van waiting for passengers.
The travel lasted two hours traversing the rough road. As we
progressed, the wind became cooler. I guess it was a blessing in disguise that
the bus didn’t arrive on time, because it would have been a dusty ride.
Arriving in Maragusan, we hailed a ‘habal-habal’ to take us
to Haven’s Peak. It was a peak, alright. After a feet-numbing, tongue-dangling,
literally breath-taking climb, we finally reached the information counter. But,
whoaah. The view up there—really worth it. Breathing through my mouth and my
nose, and practically every opening in my body, I tried to prompt my lungs to
pump oxygen back into my bloodstream while savoring the view. Okay, I know my
metaphors are mixed up, but, hey, after that climb, metaphors are the last
thing on my mind.
We checked in, and knowing that there were no other stay-in
guests for the weekend was an added bonus. We had the resort all to ourselves!
We felt like A-list celebrities renting the whole place for the weekend.
Feeling multi-millionaires! Anyway, our tummies told us it was almost
lunchtime, so we arranged for a very satisfying meal.
Two o’clock, we went down the hill (our contact did not
respond, so we had to make use of our cadilacad). Reaching the market below, we
saw a tricycle which cute driver was looking at us, willing us to hire him and
his tricycle. I was secretly worried that the driver might not agree once he
knew where we were going. After all, it was already outside the town proper,
and the road going there was not very smooth either. But, to my surprise and
relief, he agreed. Of course, my friend quoted to him a hefty fare. (Darn! She was
so easy!)
We reached Kanlawig Hot Spring Resort and Restaurant. Since
my friend forgot her bathing suit, and there weren’t any to rent at the resort,
I enjoyed the hot spring alone while she meditated somewhere in the corner. But
I hardly had the pool all to myself since more and more customers arrived as
the evening approached. Out of the pool, it got cooler, but the water in the
pool was really warm, so it was okay.
Come five o’clock, our hired tricycle picked us up, and took
us to the other side of the barangay to the Aguakan Cold Spring Resort. We were
told these two springs of opposite temperature springs were owned by one
entity. Anyway, the cold spring was really cold so I didn’t bathe there
anymore. We just played the tourist part and took pictures.
And off we went back to the peak. This time, the climb wasn’t
as gruesome as the first time. I guess my feet and lungs had gotten the hang of
it. (There’s a pun there somewhere.)
Our dinner was that of a native recipe called chicken Lot-lot.
It was a chicken cooked in a bamboo stem. Which really tasted good. Well it
tasted like chicken, but it was a great-tasting chicken.
And then, apparently, my body could not get enough of
swimming, I invited Mercelee to dip into the ice-cold pool at the resort. We
got the pool all to ourselves, until some walk in visitors envied us, and dove
in as well.
I had a really good night sleep that night.
I woke up early in the morning expecting to catch a glimpse
of the sunrise. But I waited and waited, but I didn’t see the sun. Even when it was so bright already. There
were clouds and fog everywhere. Jayson,
the very accommodating receptionist told me later that the sun would be usually
seen at 8:30.
Nine o’clock, we prepared to go to our last—Tagbibinta Falls.
After a twenty-minute gut wrenching habal-habal ride, Wow! Falls have their own
charm to me. I hadn’t planned on taking a dip there since we were traveling
back home that day. But when I got there, whooah! Enchanting. I saw children
having fun bathing there, and I wanted to join them. I went to the first level
of the falls. (I was told there were 11 or twelve of them, but only 6 or 7 have
been explored, the rest being too far away into the wild.) I would like to see
the rest of this body of water one day. (Putting it in my bucket list).
Maragusan—it was more than fun.
