Rivers, Lakes, and Waterfalls

[Miguel]

MOTORCYLE TREKKING/RAPPELLING/CANYONING

Niludhan Falls is a 40 meters high and 25 meters wide waterfalls. This falls is situated in Barangay Dawis which is 43 kilometers away from the city proper. Aside from its panoramic view, the place is ideal for extreme sports like motorcyle adventure, rock climbing, and rappeling as well as for leisurely activities like trekking, swimming, and picnics.

One had to pass long and winding rough roads to reach to this isolated but majestic looking place. Motorcycles and 4x4 wheel drive vehicles are the only modes of transportation for one to reach the spot that's why it is very ideal for motorbike adventurers. It might be a long and ardous journey but a trekker will forget the agony of the road once arriving there. Niludhan Falls is a sight to behold. A stretch of flat wall about 5-stories high and has 3 falls cascading down to a deep aquamarine body of water. It is surrounded by lush green vegetation watered by the mists from the falls. The long journey is more than enough to bargain for in order just to have the eyes laid, feast, and devour upon the grand view of the Niludhan Falls.











image hosted on flickr









Find the 4 boys
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE






photos by:
princessfroglet, san-shin, wildman_products, zeke33




Click Here to View the Different Tourist Spots of Negros Oriental
Visit and Captivate At The Idyllic Oriental Negros

[Miguel]

CANYONING

Canyoning is traveling in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include other outdoor activities such as walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and/or swimming. Although hiking down a canyon that is non-technical (canyon hiking) is often referred to as canyoneering, the terms canyoning and canyoneering are more often associated with technical descents — those that require abseils (rappels) and ropework, technical climbing or down-climbing, technical jumps, and/or technical swims.

Canyons that are ideal for canyoning are often cut into the bedrock stone, forming narrow gorges with numerous drops, beautifully sculpted walls, and sometimes spectacular waterfalls.

One such waterfall is Pulangbato Falls which is located in the Ocoy Valley in the town of Valencia Negros Oriental. It is aptly named so because of the waterfall’s seemingly red river water which is caused by the presence of natural reddish rocks found in the area. Pula is the native word for red while bato, for rock. Thus, if interpreted, the name would be red rock.

Like many other waterfalls, swimming lagoons and pools in the town of Valencia, Pulangbato Falls is blessed with calm and refreshing waters. This is mainly because of Valencia’s geography – 60% of its land composition being hilly and mountainous – that the climatic temperature is always moderate to cool.

Pulangbato Falls has a wide cascade. The water pours down into a swimming hole that is also deep enough for high dives. Enthusiasts clamber up to a nearby rock that functions as a diving point and free fall into the water basin. The shape of Pulangbato Falls has been considered unique because of its layered structure. At the first tier, the cascade begins narrowly and widens progressively as it moves down the next levels. At a distance, the waterfalls look triangular in shape.

It is also the color of the water in Pulangbato Falls that makes it more special. It appears to be red but quickly turns clear once taken out from the river. It must be only a reflection of the red rock formations that make up most of the landscape. Surrounding the waterfall is thick foliage of wild plants and vegetation coupled with some trees. The ambience is rather calming in an unsophisticated kind of way because of the impression of being far from civilization.











photos by:
dumaguete outdoors





Click Here to View the Different Tourist Spots of Negros Oriental
Visit and Captivate At The Idyllic Oriental Negros

[Miguel]

LAKE BALANAN
The Hidden Natural Beauty


If Magellan didn't sail, it would have not been proven that the world is round. If Jacques Cousteau didn't dive, the mystery of the ocean floor would have not been uncovered. If Columbus quits his voyage, the New World would have not been discovered. It makes me wonder, who could have been the unknown explorer who dared to trek and discovered Lake Balanan?

Lake Balanan is situated on the secluded forested mountain of Siaton and it is 10 kms. away from the National Highway. The lake is surrounded by mountain ranges and it would take a 4 wheel drive vehicle to reach in this high altitude place. To imagine, before this tourism hotspot got developed, it would have been an ardous task to navigate to this far flung forested area with no clear path to thread upon. To the one brave soul who discovered this place years ago, thanks to you as this beautiful scenic place would not have been enjoyed by lots of people

Last week, we went to Lake Balanan to discover the place by ourselves. On board a van, we trek 10 kms. through rocky, and then cemented, and then rocky, and then cemented roads. Though it is not really as difficult it may seems. Lake Balanan is located 10 kms away from the main highway and while Siaton is about 39 kms away from Dumaguete and so all in all it would be a long journey. That would make one feel the thrill of adventure as the travel goes by.

Lake Balanan is a lake set Siaton, Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is a freshwater lake in the forested mountains of the southern portion of the island of Negros, with a shape resembling a figure of eight, the narrowest point between the two main parts of the lake being only 90 metres wide. The lake's area is 24 hectares and it is 285 meters above sea level. The lake is surrounded by mountain ranges, and is fed by 3 tributaries, all placed in the northern end. These are the Lamarao Creek at the northeastern corner with 2 waterfalls, the Balanan Creek at the middle of the northern end with another waterfall, and the Nasig-id Creek at the northwestern end.



While trekking up the moutain of Siaton, you can view the green sceneries down below. It is just so beautiful.




You would know that you have already arrived in Balanan by stating the obvious, seeing the sign "Balanan".




The roads within Lake Balanan are already developed with a cement pavement. Upon arriving, there's a portion of the road where the water overflows. It's not a flood as it is intentionally designed to be that way. A stream passes by the road.







The place is surrounded with trees and you can hear the birds chirping, it really is a commune with nature. Near the parking area, you can see old giant balete trees just like the ones below. It would take more than a dozen to hug this giant tee.






Walking along the path you will soon arrive at the picinic area where you can cook and eat your meals. You can bring your own food in Lake Balanan without any fees.

Just below the picnic area are the swimming pools. There are 3 swimming pools but at that time only 2 are used. The water is so cool, clean, and refreshing as it is naturally fed by the waters from the creek.




Kids and adults really do enjoy swimming here. This is the only area where one is allowed to swim as it is prohibited to swim in the lake or river. This is for the safety of everyone. If one really wanted to swim in the lake, he/she needs to sign a waiver.




Just beside the swimming pools is a man-made waterfalls and its waters flow down the slope. The picnic area and swimming pools are elevated. I'm not sure though if the swimming pools are designed to be infinity pools as it looks like one. There's a real waterfalls by the way, and not just only one.




The Lake.




Just by looking at the lake, the calm waters, the green backdrop, the cool air, the singing of the birds, the momentary silence, you can really feel at peace.




The management had created a bridge/pathway and this is best vantage point to view the lake.




There's also a tree house on top of a giant balete tree where one can have a commanding view of the lake.


The highlight of being in Lake Balanan are the water adventures. One can rent kayaks, pedal boats, bancas, and floating cottages. Kayaks and pedal boats are Php 150.00 per hour while bancas which are good for 8 persons are Php 100.00 per hour.



It is always fun to ride a kayak but the adventure doesn't end there as another one awaits at the other side of the lake.


Docking at the other side of the lake. The water is so calm. With a sight to behold, it would not be far fetch to reflect life, but it is not yet time for reflection with another adventure ahead, although you can do so if you want to with a scenery like this.




Crossing a small brook.




There's a saying that "It is always greener at the other side of the fence." Though the meaning might not be the same and too literal but perhaps it so. If I have a high-end camera, I could make a postcard from this site.




You will need to walk about 200 meters on a dirt path. As you are getting nearer to your destination, you will hear a rumbling sound, and it is getting louder and louder. You will then climb a bamboo bridge to get a good view. The rumbling is getting louder and louder as you are getting closer and closer. The water is gushing and you can feel some sprinkles. Finally, you have already arrived.




The waterfalls.



But wait, there's more! Just above from this waterfalls is another waterfalls.



I don't know if there's another adventure just ahead of the 2nd waterfalls but it's getting dark and it's time to head home.





Lake Balanan. One last look.




Perhaps it is now the right time to reflect life. How beautiful and wonderful this world is. God is so good. Really. Praise be to Him.




Click Here to View the Different Tourist Spots of Negros Oriental
Visit and Captivate At The Idyllic Oriental Negros

[Miguel]

The Shire
Land of the Hobbits







image hosted on flickr


Smeagol (aka Gollum) and Deagol fishing on a boat

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr




image hosted on flickr






image hosted on flickr



Lake Kabalin-an
The Mystical Lake
Sibulan, Negros Oriental





photos by:
purple passione, khonie baloney, luis alejandro 44, deyv, romuelasrueda, storm crypt, jeric valle




Click Here to View the Different Tourist Spots of Negros Oriental
Visit and Captivate At The Idyllic Oriental Negros

[skyion]

Cibolan (Sibulan) River, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur




A Bagobo Folk Tale:

ORIGIN
Bagobo (Mindanao)

In the beginning there lived one man and one woman, Toglai and Toglibon. Their first children were a boy and a girl. When they were old enough, the boy and the girl went far away across the waters seeking a good place to live in. Nothing more was heard of them until their children, the Spaniards and Americans, came back. After the first boy and girl left, other children were born to the couple, but they all remained at Cibolan on Mt. Apo with their parents, until Toglai and Toglibon died and became spirits.

Soon after that there came a great drought which lasted for three years. All the waters dried up, so that there were no rivers, and no plants could live.

"Surely," said the people, "Manama is punishing us and we must go elsewhere to find food and a place to dwell in."

So they started out. Two went in the direction of the sunset, carrying with them stones from Cibolan River. After a long journey they reached a place where were broad fields of cogon grass and an abundance of water, and there they made their home. Their children still live in that place and are called Magindanau, because of the stones which the couple carried when they left Cibolan.

Two children of Toglai and Toglibon went to the south, seeking a home, and they carried with them women's baskets (baraan). When they found a good spot, they settled down. Their descendants, still dwelling at that place, are called Baraan or Bilaan, because of the women's baskets.

So two by two the children of the first couple left the land of their birth. In the place where each settled a new people developed, and thus it came about that all the tribes in the world received their names from things that the people carried out of Cibolan, or from the places where they settled.

All the children left Mt. Apo save two (a boy and a girl), whom hunger and thirst had made too weak to travel. One day when they were about to die the boy crawled out to the field to see if there was one living thing, and to his surprise he found a stalk of sugar-cane growing lustily. He eagerly cut it, and enough water came out to refresh him and his sister until the rains came. Because of this, their children are called Bagobo.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/creation-phil.html#origin







I conducted a personal research (borne from frustration because the mainstream educational system in this country lacked its expected role in giving importance to mythological wealth indigenous to the land) from the seemingly unbelievable Bagobo claim that all tribes in the world supposedly originated from Cibolan (River), and discovered some insights and evidences that may vindicate it.

it is also interesting that the Bagobo myth predicted the arrival of people from far continents, like Spaniards and Americans and considered them like long lost brethrens, which may partly explain the ease of assimilation of foreign influence in the country's olden history.

Another interesting thing was how, just as the Bagobos narrated, other places named theirs from the word Cibolan, from Negros to as far as the America's (which by the way the word Cibolan originated not from native American tongue but from India's Dravidians).

[Christendom]

MAG-ASO FALLS
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental
(courtesy from My Opera)

[regjeex]

The Rio Grande de Agusan-Butuan

From Butuan Thread
posted by JSL-BXU

The Ramon Magsaysay Bridge

The Diosdado Macapagal Bridge


source

[regjeex]

majestic mt.mayapay and navigable river in the country...

photo:bob tan
posted from BXU thread by Netpal..

[william :D]

Tagong Paraiso Falls
San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro

all credits to the owner.

[william :D]

Tamarraw Falls
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro







all credits to the owner.

[william :D]

Alpaparay Spring River and Waterfalls
Baco Oriental Mindoro









all credits to the owner.

[bacolodchamp]

MALATAN-OG FALLS
in Don Salvador Benedicto - Negros Occ's Summer Capital

the highest falls this side of the country...

Photo by Kartaps

[The Vow]

http://youtu.be/6I8ER-Px3EQ

Don't know if it's already posted here. It's an amazing waterfalls

[wakeuptoreality]

Tinuy-an Falls, Surigao del Sur

image hosted on flickr

tinuy-an falls by anjoelicios_fhil, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

DSC_9809 by anjoelicios_fhil, on Flickr

Enchanted River, Surigao del Sur

image hosted on flickr

enchented river by anjoelicios_fhil, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

enchanted 2 by anjoelicios_fhil, on Flickr

[KulasKusgan]

Crater Lake


Tudaya


Lake Venado

[KulasKusgan]

Tinuy-an Falls during rainy season

[koreanboy]

[ritche]

So remote the source of power is through solar cells, and can be reached only by habal habal and 4-wheel drive vehicles...

[habagatcentral1]

Maria Cristina Falls. The waking up of Crisitna.

[skyion]

The ancient knowledge of Mindanao's Bagobo Peoples shall be vindicated:


Ancient Tribe Narrates Identity of All Tribes in the World Originated from Cibolan in Davao, Philippines

Originally Posted by skyion

Cibolan (Sibulan) River, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur




A Bagobo Folk Tale:

ORIGIN
Bagobo (Mindanao)

In the beginning there lived one man and one woman, Toglai and Toglibon. Their first children were a boy and a girl. When they were old enough, the boy and the girl went far away across the waters seeking a good place to live in. Nothing more was heard of them until their children, the Spaniards and Americans, came back. After the first boy and girl left, other children were born to the couple, but they all remained at Cibolan on Mt. Apo with their parents, until Toglai and Toglibon died and became spirits.

Soon after that there came a great drought which lasted for three years. All the waters dried up, so that there were no rivers, and no plants could live.

"Surely," said the people, "Manama is punishing us and we must go elsewhere to find food and a place to dwell in."

So they started out. Two went in the direction of the sunset, carrying with them stones from Cibolan River. After a long journey they reached a place where were broad fields of cogon grass and an abundance of water, and there they made their home. Their children still live in that place and are called Magindanau, because of the stones which the couple carried when they left Cibolan.

Two children of Toglai and Toglibon went to the south, seeking a home, and they carried with them women's baskets (baraan). When they found a good spot, they settled down. Their descendants, still dwelling at that place, are called Baraan or Bilaan, because of the women's baskets.

So two by two the children of the first couple left the land of their birth. In the place where each settled a new people developed, and thus it came about that all the tribes in the world received their names from things that the people carried out of Cibolan, or from the places where they settled.

All the children left Mt. Apo save two (a boy and a girl), whom hunger and thirst had made too weak to travel. One day when they were about to die the boy crawled out to the field to see if there was one living thing, and to his surprise he found a stalk of sugar-cane growing lustily. He eagerly cut it, and enough water came out to refresh him and his sister until the rains came. Because of this, their children are called Bagobo.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/creation-phil.html#origin







I conducted a personal research (borne from frustration because the mainstream educational system in this country lacked its expected role in giving importance to mythological wealth indigenous to the land) from the seemingly unbelievable Bagobo claim that all tribes in the world supposedly originated from Cibolan (River), and discovered some insights and evidences that may vindicate it.

it is also interesting that the Bagobo myth predicted the arrival of people from far continents, like Spaniards and Americans and considered them like long lost brethrens, which may partly explain the ease of assimilation of foreign influence in the country's olden history.

Another interesting thing was how, just as the Bagobos narrated, other places named theirs from the word Cibolan, from Negros to as far as the America's (which by the way the word Cibolan originated not from native American tongue but from India's Dravidians).