Lights, Camera...ACTION!
first published in Destination Cebu September 2004, click here for photos
We might as well have been in an adventure movie. We had booked one of Planet Action Adventure’s Action Tours in Moalboal, a town about three hours southwest of Cebu City. But the skies warned of rain, and the waves at the beach were banging against the rocks. Still, we were all set for canyoning at Montañeza Falls in Malabuyoc—rapelling down a 30-m waterfall and then taking a dip at the hot spring afterwards. The five of us—a Filipino, a Filipino-Canadian, a Canadian, a Japanese, and our German guide—all climbed into the specially-designed action truck and braced ourselves for the trip.
The rural scenery was relaxing: verdant rice fields, shady trees, huts with children waving from the windows. Matutinao River, where the famous Kawasan Falls drop, was an inviting blue. But our destination was still about an hour away, and in an Action Tour, anything can happen. And it did. When we got to Malabuyoc, the river was a muddy brown. “We have to turn around,” our guide, Jochen, said, “There’s a flood up in the mountain.”
Jochen decided to go for river climbing up Kawasan. “It’s still very exciting, but we don’t need rapelling gear,” he said, “You just have to jump into pools from at least 5m high. Do you all know how to swim?” Everyone nodded, some less vigorously than others. The Japanese girl was a little apprehensive about the jumping. “The pools are deep,” Jochen assured. He started Planet Action Adventure 7 years ago, and river climbing was one of the first tours he offered.
The truck took us up to a mountain village where we would start our hike towards the river. It was raining before we got there. Fortunately, Jochen offered action shoes for walking on mud and rocks. As we went downhill, we stopped to look at farm animals along the way and tall corn stalks ready for harvest. But as we came closer to the rush of water, we were in for another surprise. What had been a blue Matutinao River only some minutes ago was now also a muddy brown. The water swirled past us fast. We could easily be swept downstream and never be seen again. Nature definitely wasn’t cooperating.
“Change of plan again,” said Jochen, “Instead of swimming down the river, we have to trek to the other side because the truck is waiting for us there with our lunch. Is that okay?” Since the weather didn’t leave us much choice, we said yes. To get to the other side, we first had to cross a wooden bridge across a small canyon. It was a several hundred-meter drop to the river below. “That’s where we’re supposed to swim,” Jochen said.
Only much later did we realize that getting to the “other side” meant hiking up and down three steep hills, through corn fields and forest. We wouldn’t even get to see Kawasan Falls because the bridges downstream had just been washed out by the flood. But nearing the end of the hike, we heard the rush of the river again. It was a spring! Fresh, clear water gushed out of a rock on the side of the mountain. It flowed down three small pools before joining the muddy Matutinao River. Relieved and delighted, we eagerly went into the pool for a refreshing dip before continuing our trek.
“We won’t be going up the hill anymore,” Jochen said, “We’re going down to Kawasan.” While we were in the pool, Jochen had talked to some locals about alternative routes and decided this was the best way. It wasn’t as quick, but finally, we could see the famous waterfalls.
Lunch after the hike at a beach near the mouth of Matutinao River was priceless. While we were in the hills, our truck driver had been busy grilling fresh fish, chicken and pork chops. These we ate heartily with beer and raw seaweed. Back in Moalboal, Jochen each gave us a photo CD. Fortunately (or unfortunately), he had brought along a waterproof digital camera to capture us in our bedraggled state. Truly an unexpected way to spend the day. But then again, aren’t adventure movies all about surprises?
===============
Planet Action Adventure is on Panagsama Beach in Moalboal. To book your own Action Tour, contact (032) 4740068 or email planet@action-philippines.com. You can also visit their website at www.action-philippines.com.
We might as well have been in an adventure movie. We had booked one of Planet Action Adventure’s Action Tours in Moalboal, a town about three hours southwest of Cebu City. But the skies warned of rain, and the waves at the beach were banging against the rocks. Still, we were all set for canyoning at Montañeza Falls in Malabuyoc—rapelling down a 30-m waterfall and then taking a dip at the hot spring afterwards. The five of us—a Filipino, a Filipino-Canadian, a Canadian, a Japanese, and our German guide—all climbed into the specially-designed action truck and braced ourselves for the trip.
The rural scenery was relaxing: verdant rice fields, shady trees, huts with children waving from the windows. Matutinao River, where the famous Kawasan Falls drop, was an inviting blue. But our destination was still about an hour away, and in an Action Tour, anything can happen. And it did. When we got to Malabuyoc, the river was a muddy brown. “We have to turn around,” our guide, Jochen, said, “There’s a flood up in the mountain.”
Jochen decided to go for river climbing up Kawasan. “It’s still very exciting, but we don’t need rapelling gear,” he said, “You just have to jump into pools from at least 5m high. Do you all know how to swim?” Everyone nodded, some less vigorously than others. The Japanese girl was a little apprehensive about the jumping. “The pools are deep,” Jochen assured. He started Planet Action Adventure 7 years ago, and river climbing was one of the first tours he offered.
The truck took us up to a mountain village where we would start our hike towards the river. It was raining before we got there. Fortunately, Jochen offered action shoes for walking on mud and rocks. As we went downhill, we stopped to look at farm animals along the way and tall corn stalks ready for harvest. But as we came closer to the rush of water, we were in for another surprise. What had been a blue Matutinao River only some minutes ago was now also a muddy brown. The water swirled past us fast. We could easily be swept downstream and never be seen again. Nature definitely wasn’t cooperating.
“Change of plan again,” said Jochen, “Instead of swimming down the river, we have to trek to the other side because the truck is waiting for us there with our lunch. Is that okay?” Since the weather didn’t leave us much choice, we said yes. To get to the other side, we first had to cross a wooden bridge across a small canyon. It was a several hundred-meter drop to the river below. “That’s where we’re supposed to swim,” Jochen said.
Only much later did we realize that getting to the “other side” meant hiking up and down three steep hills, through corn fields and forest. We wouldn’t even get to see Kawasan Falls because the bridges downstream had just been washed out by the flood. But nearing the end of the hike, we heard the rush of the river again. It was a spring! Fresh, clear water gushed out of a rock on the side of the mountain. It flowed down three small pools before joining the muddy Matutinao River. Relieved and delighted, we eagerly went into the pool for a refreshing dip before continuing our trek.
“We won’t be going up the hill anymore,” Jochen said, “We’re going down to Kawasan.” While we were in the pool, Jochen had talked to some locals about alternative routes and decided this was the best way. It wasn’t as quick, but finally, we could see the famous waterfalls.
Lunch after the hike at a beach near the mouth of Matutinao River was priceless. While we were in the hills, our truck driver had been busy grilling fresh fish, chicken and pork chops. These we ate heartily with beer and raw seaweed. Back in Moalboal, Jochen each gave us a photo CD. Fortunately (or unfortunately), he had brought along a waterproof digital camera to capture us in our bedraggled state. Truly an unexpected way to spend the day. But then again, aren’t adventure movies all about surprises?
===============
Planet Action Adventure is on Panagsama Beach in Moalboal. To book your own Action Tour, contact (032) 4740068 or email planet@action-philippines.com. You can also visit their website at www.action-philippines.com.
I am sooooooo green with envy!
ReplyDeleteThis article was so riveting and fast-paced, full of sounds and action, that it is going to be a "READ-ALOUD" for my special ed students on Monday. THey would LOVE it!! Specially since they know the author personally....I am starting a writer's workshop for them this week, with the goal of having them write at least two good, paragraphs at the end of the unit (probably in a month). They are such poor spellers, and don't have the motivation to put thoughts into paper. I believe that your article with the great photos will give them inspiration. You might even write one and mentioning their names, like e.g. when you came to teach them art,the importance of mangroves. I bet it would give them such a thrill specially if I tell them that your articles are published world wide, (tongue in cheek, of course!)
ReplyDeleteTruly, this article was so refreshing, still with the usual love for nature coming through BUT nothing really explicit on "save the world"...hehe, I couldn't resist that..
It did get the message through - I had a great adventure ride with all of you guys!