Having Fun in Maragusan

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.