This summer adventure actually happened a year ago, so, this is definitely a backlog entry, I could have post it earlier but I just don't have the stamina to do so and I just segregated the pics in my photo warehouse two days ago *grins*.
So, let me begin... Our visit of Oriental Mindoro were full of delightful twists and turns, yes there were a few roadblocks and emotional dilemmas but heck, it was an adventure of a lifetime. And one of the most memorable experience for me was our San Rafael Cave jaunt. The family where we stayed at recommended the place as it is one of the pride of Roxas, you can find its name listed in most travel tours and sites, so, without hesitation and any question I agreed on going, sealing my sister-in-law's fate with me *lol*.
So on the day of our baptism as adventuters, we came as casual as we can be - think of shorts and shirts, blouse and jeans, flip flops and sandals - as in we were so ignorant, we didn't know what to expect and nobody in our troop bothered to tell us to change into something more appropriate (aha, now I found others to blame *lol*).
A few minutes before we hit our destination, we felt some trickles of water from the sky, not a good sign, huh? And then, as we were getting down from the motorcycles, the downpour begun...
Photo above was a shot of two teenage boys playing in the rain, I took this while we were waiting for the rain to stop which we thought will never happen, we were on the verge of turning back but pure will kept us there *grins*.
Another shot of children at play, taken as we were about to ascend on the cave trail. We waited for at least half an hour before the rain stopped but all that our guides told us was that it was just a short climb up, it will be a little messy because of the rain but it is conceivable and mighty easy. And we believed him!
Photo above is the sign at the beginning of the trail wherein a few rules about proper cave entries, visitations and actions are enumerated as signed by the Municipal Tourism Council.
And the journey begun, I took this a few meters away from the road (where we parked the motorcycles) and a few meters closer to where we're going *grins*. Highlighted in the pic is sis-in-law with her cane and my backpack and an ex-friend with his red cap (don't ask me for details *lol*). At this point of our trek, we were still jovial and appreciative of all the wonders of Mother Nature, and who wouldn't, look at all those greens. Aside from the trees, plants and flowers of all names and sizes, you can also see and hear birds, butterflies and dragonflies in assortment of colors. It was beautiful!
Photo above is the summit and the entry-point of the San Rafael Cave, commonly known as Mag-asawang Bundok (couple mountain) ng San Rafael. Can you ever imagine me hiking all the way up there?
We were at least 1/3 through the trail, panting and grouchily demanding how far away is the darn cave when one of the guides pointed on those two summits, and hell almost broke loose *lol*. Imagine us walking barefooted (because flip flops and sandals just won't do) in muddy, rocky, slimy and slippery beaten tracks with parts littered with broken seashells and sharp stones, ugh. And we're not just walking, we're hiking...
Taken, atleast, half-way to the trail, we were kinda having a semi-conscious rest and as we were lagging behind the others in more than a couple of meters already, we decided to do it all the way, we looked around and breathed, we knew that our guides will wait and look for us if we weren't behind them, so no worries *grins*. Beautiful sceneries can really calm and uplift anyone's spirit, and so we continue our ascend with rekindled spirit and strength.
After an hour and a half of strenous trek, we finally reached the first half of our destination - the mountain summit. It was a grand feat both for me and my sis-in-law, not much for the rest of our company as most of them had been there once or twice already. I was tired and dirty, I was even panting like a dog, but it was the most fun I've had in years (bonding moments with my family not included), I felt triumphant and proud and ready to conquer the world *grins*.
See that highway behind the mountain? That was where we came from, that was where we parked the motorcycles and that was where we went back to after our San Rafael cave exploration.
To be continued...
