WET AND WILD IN CAGAYAN DE ORO
A text message I received early this morning from my dive mate Ivy A.:
1:16am - Here’s a sweet truth: Someday…..someone will walk into your life and make you realize why it never worked out with anyone else….. :-D
Siyeeeet, sarap naman!
Anyway, I got to accomplish one of my TO DO list over the long weekend and that is WHITE WATER RAFTING in Cagayan de Oro!!! The threat of Typhoon Reming making a direct hit in Metro Manila became a concern as I already booked the trip and have advised Patrick A. (one of the guys helping out at work who is based in CDO) that I was going ahead with my plan of spending an outdoorsy long weekend in his hometown. Lucky for Metro Manila, Reming changed course and no cancellation of flights were advised by Cebu Pacific except for flights headed to Bicol where the typhoon was at the height of its fury. Later on we were to find out the depth of devastation Reming brought to the province.
Flight out of Manila to CDO was supposed to be at 11:45am but because of the weather disturbance, yada yada yada, it was moved to 3pm. An hour or so later, the sky became downcast as the plane was making its final approach towards CDO airport and soon after the plane touched down, the skies opened pouring down torrential rains. Waaaaah, ang sama ng panahon!!! It took a while to get out of the plane as the airport personnel were handling out umbrellas to each passenger at the bottom of the moveable stairway under the mercy of the rain.
So, although I spent the first day of my vacation lounging in airport terminals, Patrick and the rest of the MCDII gang more than made up for the slight glitch in the vacation plans by treating us to a mucho delicioso dinner at Kagayan-on restaurant near the Limketkai Mall. Tumambling ako sa sarap!!! Sugbang baboy, kinilaw, adobong kangkong, kare-kare, ensalada with bagoong, boullabaise soup (major yumminess!), steamed fish and plain rice. For dessert, we headed to this place called Candy’s which is also situated within the area (parang Ayala Center na ng CDO yung Limketkai mall area) and had 3 kinds of cakes (chocolate with caramel filling, pistachio cake and carrot cake) plus coffee. I was holding my enlarged tummy and begged that we walk back to the hotel.
Next day was WHITE WATER RAFTING DAY (5 hours of paddling in class 4 rapids where we went through 14 rapids which also included a swim in the very cool Cagayan River) plus the 6 stage ZIPLINE in Mapawa Nature Park and the baby CANOPY WALK we did at the Malasag Eco-park. Whew, that was a long tiring day. After another nakaka-tumbling sa sarap na dinner at Dear Manok (super sarap grilled chicken similar to Chicken bacolod, kinilaw, adobong kangkong, pansit and garlic rice) it was back to Candy’s for our dessert. After dessert, Patrick and Zeny were inviting to visit Ateneo de Cagayan, their college alma mater, as there was a School Fair going on and a lot of Patrick’s friends were there, but nah, I was too tired. From Candy’s , we walked again back to the Hotel, had a very nice massage, and immediately fell asleep
Early Sunday morning found ourselves headed this time to Bukidnon to see the Del Monte pineapple plantation. We had breakfast at the Del Monte Lodge before proceeding to the plantation. Sayang, no pineapples yet to be harvested at the sight where we were but we did get to taste some pineapples that were harvested from another area. Refreshingly cool and sweet!!!
Return trip to Manila was on time at 1:45pm. There were still so many things to do like visit the Church of the Transfiguration and the Mahambos Cave and trekking and kayaking/canoeing pero next time nalang ulit when I return. For pasalubong to the people back home, I bought some Aling Cheding’s Peanuts from Iligan City, as well as pineapples and Lanzones from Camiguin.
It was the most activity-filled vacation I’ve ever had in a long time and this is the classic case of wanting to take a vacation from a vacation coz I’m still tired. Hehehe!
