Best Adventure So Far This Year: CdeO White Water Rafting and Asia’s Longest Dual Zipine

Archives

Written by Haifa Carina S. Baluyos

Saturday, 13 March 2010 00:00

I was born and raised in the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro. The place is also known as the City of White Water Rafting deeming the said recreational activity as one of its major tourist attractions. Here’s a fact: Kagayanons (the city’s inhabitants) are proud of this tourist attraction but most of them haven’t tried it. And I belonged in that category until the IT folks from RAMCAR came over to try it. Kim and I agreed and requested to join them in their adventure.

1st Rafting Adventure Office

On an early Saturday morning (13th March 2010), Kim and I went to UCCP (rendezvous point). We dropped by the 1st Rafting Adventure office before setting off to the starting point of the white water rafting. Kim and I sat at the front seat of the jeepney, as usual, and had a little chitchat with the driver (also a rafting staff). He advised us to really put on sunblock. Thanks to Kuya driver for the advice!

At the starting point, there were vendors selling souvenir items, warmer (the ones usually worn for the arms by bike riders), sunblocks, junk foods and many others. We purchased sunblock worth PhP 60.00. The price tag with Watson’s label says the price is at PhP 34.00. Ate was overpricing! Haha!

Kim and Haifa

We wore our rafting gears (helmet and life vest), listen in the orientation, then off we go! In three hours, we encountered a total of 14 rapids. The rafting experience was great despite the rapids being not so challenging (low water level because of El Niño). I had fun with our quirky guide (Kuya Alan, was it?) and rafting mates (Ate Salve, Ate Mau, Kuya Eric and Kim). We had swimming sessions every time the next rapid is long minutes away. During rapids, we take turns in being in the front end of the raft.

I could tell our guide was having fun pulling out jokes at us. First time he told us to swim, while soaked in the water, be careful because anytime crocodiles will come out. The next swimming session he told us to be careful because of the leeches. We had the same reactions, swam back to the raft to find him laughing and realize it was joke. We passed by a huge wall/rock/cave said to be snake’s lair, and yes, we saw a sleeping brown snake. The guide when we arrived there told us to find a yellow and black snake; we were so quiet and serious looking for the thing. Moments later, he (situated at the back of the raft) threw at us a yellow ang black rope! We all panicked and about to jump off the raft only to see him laughing again. What a crazy guide!

Rafting

After three hours, we arrived at the end point. There was a grill house, I forgot the name. For our lunch, a set of puso (cooked rice packed in a coconut leaf), lechon manok, fishes and pineapple slices were spread in one raft. We gathered around the raft and ate.

We drove back to the city main, UCCP, that is, and tranfered to another vehicle for the next adventure, the 840m ziplining at Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon a.k.a the Asia’s Longest Dual Zipline!

For some reason, I find that ride to Dahilayan Adventure Park really long. But the long ride was worth it! Nothing beats the feeling of being conquered with adrenaline rush! During the orientation, we were told that if we want to slow down the speed on flight, we spread our arms and to speed up is to put our arms on the side of our body. The first few milliseconds were the best! The fear of falling was immeasurable but was easily overpowered by excitement the next second. On flight, I wanted a super fast speed (The Flash wannabe. haha) so I didn’t spread my arms. I love the feeling! I love the feeling! I love the feeling! The view o f the place is most beautiful watching them from above. When the arrival station was on sight, I told myself, that was fast, and I still didn’t want to reach the end! So I spread my arms to slow down but I’m not sure I really did slow down. I didn’t feel it at all.

Haifa On Flight

While still hung at the arrival station, all I could think of was that I wanted a longer one. Bitin!!!!

After the ziplining, the guys went over the ATVs to try them. I wanted to ride one but the price is PhP 400.00 per ATV and only one person per ATV. Too expensive for me. So I just took pictures of them.

I was entertained with Kuya Levy’s jokes on our way home. But I fell asleep so I didn’t hear the rest of his stories.

That was one hell of a Saturday! The best adventure so far this year!

with RAMCAR IT Folks

All thanks to Labe a.k.a. Ridvan, for being so kind to include us (Kim and I) in the adventure, for having me take his place in the water rafting because he was injured and for being so caring and loving always. Yay! haha

P.S.

These people will be our (Kim and I) companion for 6 weeks this summer since we'll be taking our OJT at RAMCAR.

Comments

Add New