ELEGANT WATERFORMATIONS IN SURIGAO DEL SUR REVISITED

Enchanted river

ENCHANTED RIVER
Surigao, Del Sur





“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt
– it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.” – Hal Boyle








Time and time again, the excitement of going back or visiting a location you already gone before always feels like for the first time especially if the area is a sweet spot to relax and enjoy. Much of a feeling that a first timer set foot on the area, I know they have it as one great experience to enjoy the natures bounty that we should care for. – All these felt when we are at Barobo, Surigao del Sur – Exploring it’s islands beauty , the Cabgan Island and the Turtle Island , Vanishing Islet and Bogac Spring.




Barobo is a 4th class municipality second district in the province of Surigao Del Sur under CARAGA region XIII . It lies in the central part of the province of Surigao Del Sur.


All was set in and our Assembly area was at Bajada along Mc Donald’s. It was already 2 am when we departed from the area. We dropped by on a convenience store for other needed stuff. We are a large group composed of 46 individuals on a 69 seating capacity bus named “Mallen” with a good choice of music and nice sound system. Well, not just the drivers gadget but even the participants gadget can be plug into it for everyone to hear and listen. It was 3:45 in the morning when we stop and drop for 15 minutes at Nabunturan for an early sip of coffee or indulge on their “Kakanin Specialties” like Tupig, Bibingka, Suman, Puto and other delicacies. Common to Philippines, just got different names. Moving on…
We passed by at Mangagoy after two hours and thirty minutes (that would be 6:30 in the morning.. hehehe ) travel. We are head on to our First destination which was the Enchanted River at Barangay Hinatuan. It was located in the southeastern part from the Municipality of Barobo, the road was not bad at all but … (there’s a but hehehe) It was a 1 hour long drive before we reached our first destination.




















ENCHANTED DIVE






It was raining when we arrived at the Enchanted River at around 7:30 in the morning. I noticed that a beautification was done in an effort to promote the spot and they did it right from the modification of stairways to wood inspired railings made of cement and some small round tables. There’s a newly built comfort room (Not near river but much farther) separately for men and women but it is inadequate with water system for flushing or cleaning after using the room. Bet this will be taken cared of soon.

Even if it was raining, that did not stop the participants to change an attire for swimming. The current water flow of the river was strong as it was still raining and it’s like dragging you out into the mouth of the river but that did not took long since the current became normal after the rain stopped. Still the color of the water was so relaxing…somewhat like greenish bluish whitish color… my interpretation of what I saw – Turquoise . You really can’t avoid the temptation to take a plunge and feel the water.


A complimentary breakfast meal was prepared which was a blanched and grilled octopus (am I right? for sure that was not a squid that squirts. hehe) and a fish. A little talk here and there, splash from jump, swim crossing back and forth on the opposite banks and hardworking cameras captured the moments that what was going on.


Fifteen minutes before twelve noon we departed from the enchanted river with much anticipation on what’s ahead for the next destination which was the Island tour can offer.


We dropped by at Lianga Cave Barangay Wakat just along the highway for the participants to see the area. Many locals at the mouth of the cave are washing their clothes as well as bathing on the flowing water out in to the ocean just across the street.


We did not stayed long as others are feeling hungry already, by 1:30 in the afternoon we proceeded to poblacion Barobo and ate our lunch meal on one of the eateries that served chicken lechon and other good tasting food. Agree? Yes or Yes?


Participants took a long stay just outside the eatery to have an opportunity to stroll around the poblacion proper looking for some good things to eat or buy while preparing for the boat to be use to bring the participants to the island.


Again, to all the participants. You saw and felt the nature’s beauty and let’s take our part to protect to fully enjoy it’s bounty. Thank you very much and until next nature escapade. Keep posted.

Island Escapade:Barobo, Surigao Del Sur

Turtle island, Surigao Del Sur

TURTLE ISLAND, Barobo, surigao del sur

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

Don’t let yourself indulge in vain wishes. ” – Rabindranth Tagore

All are set and ready for our destination which was the Cabgan Island. It was 3:45 in the afternoon when we went to the boat docking area located at the back of their public market. We are divided into three boats that brought us to the island for about 30 minutes sail. From the horizon, we can clearly see the islands which on the left is the Cabgan Island this one on the right that look like a turtle. Hence, called Turtle island.

Cabgan Island (Kabgan) is still part of the Municipality of Barobo as well it’s neighboring islands.

CABGAN ISLAND SHORELINE

Once landed, we then clear the flat area from wood debris (gapnod =) ) brought along by the waves of water to the shores and then proceeded to pitch our tent. I first noticed the 1.6++ Kilometers long pristine white powdery sand beach curving along the shores. The water is so clear that you can visibly see what’s below. The island was raw and not even developed to accommodate visitors in terms of comfort like a resort with cottages or comfort rooms and no water and untouched by any man made alterations except for 3 houses I saw and one big patio with no nipa roof.

SUNSET AT CABGAN ISLAND

Good thing the event was organized and when it comes to dinner times, superb seafood’s served on the participants – it’s like a smorgasbord of seafoods. Participants did the sunset shoot with camera’s and some dipped into the beach. Bonding on participants tightened after the dinner as everyone mingled just like an old friend. Some are playing cards, drinking spree – moderately. Hehehe

All we could hear is laughter and chit chats.

Participants stroll along the stretched of the shore later at night with only headlamps, flashlights for us to see what’s ahead. It was really fun!

SUNRISE AT CABGAN ISLAND

Morning came and the participants with camera are the early birds who got up to glimpse and took a sunrise shoot as the Turtle Island and part of the Cabgan island stretch on the horizon.

BACK PORTION OF THE ISLAND WHERE THE WAVES ARE CRASHING

Disappointment is NOT an option here; we then have an island hopping and the participants’ onboard three boats. We took a round on the Cabgan Island with unique stone formations, on the famous Turtle Island, and the vanishing snake island with a skeleton of a house structure were it’s sand appears only when water level becomes very low. Other islands that was visited was the one with a Grotto.

As we are back at the Cabgan Island, we took our breakfast which was a grilled fish ” Isda sa bato : mol-mol” no idea what’s the name of that delicious fish.

BOGAC SPRING

Quarter to 11 in the morning and we departed from Cabgan Island, we then arrived at Barobo specially at Bogac Spring at around 11:40 where we took our bath to cleanse our body from salt water. Although, the spring is still salty but much lesser since the buoyancy is much heavier compared to open sea.

Past almost 1 in the afternoon that all are refreshed and dressed, we stayed in one corner where there’s a store that subscribed to pay per view on Pacquiao – Cotto fight. =) We then took the opportunity and watched the event. Imagine the old days as only one household in a sitio had a television with all the neighbors are clinging into the windows just to watch the event. The house was jumped packed with people outside specially on it’s windows. Typical Philippine scenery on rural and on crowded areas in the city.