Balanan Lake, Siaton, Negros Oriental
11 February 07. Just so the kids would get a chance to see some trees and birds and be free of their cages for awhile, we had a non-compulsory field trip for the zoology students to this lake I had never been to, either. In my class, only one student signed up (let’s hope that’s not a reflection of my teaching abilities =P).
So ok, lakes are nice; I’ve had good experiences with them lately, especially in Lake Danao in Camotes and Lake Danao in Ormoc. This one wasn’t particularly spectacular. In fact, it looked more like a river than a lake, with its big boulders and narrow shape. But oh, right at the end of it there was this curious piece of dry land that looked like something out of an African savannah. And right behind that, a waterfall! Next to the sea, I think I can say that waterfalls are my second favorite body of water.
So I didn’t mind having to hike all that way (and good thing my student and I had the sense to take the raft across part of the way, instead of climbing the 552 steps up the hill and back down again to the other side, like the others did).
Because I was running late and wasn’t really sure what kind of lake it was, I didn’t bother to bring anything for swimming. But of course, when has that ever kept me from the water? Had to borrow my (male) co-teacher’s shorts, but it was still ok, even if I had to wear a belt to keep it from falling off. And it didn’t when I dove from the falls (hehe, unlike those other times…). Good thing my student was cool about it, too. Life’s too short to hesitate from getting into the water.
wow! i wanna go there!
ReplyDeletemy officemate told me about siaton's falls...
but due to the landslide i was not able to go there...
i didn't know they have this lake...
Oh how I envy you, this is so pretty!
ReplyDeletehow to get to this place??
ReplyDeletenanghalungkat nako sa ako maps hehehehe...
ReplyDeletei'll go there then visit balinsasayao in the near future...
kung di ba bZ ... magamit nsad ako backpack yipee!
*swoons and falls in love*
ReplyDeleteI wanna go there!
hey, you should have taken this shot wider so we could all see the cheetah!
ReplyDeleteLovely! I love trees!!!
ReplyDeletecamouflage = )
ReplyDeleteyup, very much like the real thing. =)
ReplyDeleteand trust you to borrow someone else's shorts!
what is it with you and waterfalls?!!!
as for your students, they were probably just too lazy to get out of bed for something non-compulsory. =)
their loss.
HUGS,
jemi
neen, naay daghan sakyanan going there? plannin to go there march if budget and time pemits... u have IT or at fare rates?
ReplyDeleteAaaaaaah =D Very nice indeed!
ReplyDeleteok, first of all there's a caveat: the photos are much nicer than the real thing hehe. but then again, you might have a different experience. and lakes always cast their own special spell ;-)
ReplyDeleteabout going there, we rented a jeep, so i don't know how much. but i think you can go to siaton and then take a habal-habal to the lake. lots of people go there for picnics as an alternative to the beach, it seems. there's a pool, too. but if you're bringing your own transpo, road going up is rough, narrow and steep, so better bring a motorycle or something equally tough and handy. entrance fee is P10.
i have yet to see the more famous twin lakes of balinsasayaw =)
why waterfalls? because it's like having a giant shower in the outdoors ;-)
ReplyDeletelearned the next day that my students had a REQUIRED activity that sunday at their department. probably a blessing, since i would have needed to be more "responsible" if there were more of them there hehe.
tnx!
ReplyDeletethey told me bus going there is 70 and the habal² i still don't know Ãœ
waterfalls are so so so relaxin' di lang ko kamao mulangoy ehehehehe... the twin lakes has a waterfall too but i was not able to go look for it, got tired sa trek Ü
wow, YOU got tired?? unsa na lang kaha kung ako =P
ReplyDeletemas laagan man ka nako Ü
ReplyDeletei didn't know there was one and wala ko nag-explore kaayo.
if i did, wala unta to ang kakapoy hehehehe
makisabat lang ko... unsa man imong camera? Nindot imong kuha....
ReplyDeleteoh sorry. i think i missed this question =P canon powershot A540, sir =)
ReplyDeletewow you have lots of pics in balanan lake.. hope i can go back there.. i only have few pics in balanan coz, wen i brought my cam i forgot to charge my battery.. haha lolzz..
ReplyDeletethe lesson is, always bring a spare set of batteries ;)
ReplyDeleteat last............mapu2ntahan n rin kita
ReplyDeletehi, thanks for posting these photos of balanan lake. wanted to ask if i could use some of them for my blogs: and . would really appreciate it.
ReplyDeletesiaton is my father's hometown but i grew up in dumaguete. looking forward to visiting negros soon -- after more than 30 years! btw, the land on which the lake is located is owned by a cousin of mine -- one reason for my sudden great interest in this natural beauty.
there are some issues i would like to write about balanan lake that i hope will benefit siatonons as well as negrenses, in general. thanks.
ooops! the URLs vanished. anyway, please check out: www.vinceragay.blogspot.com and www.tahaksaparaiso.com. thanks.
ReplyDeletehi vince! sure! nice blog you have :) sorry i don't check my Multiply that often anymore as i have so many things to sort out in the real world :P thanks for dropping by!
ReplyDelete