Trudging On To Tarangban
I had another 'fun friday' workshop yesterday here in Calbayog City! Yey! And, since I have another marathon of 'early 5Ms' (Monday Morning Meetings in Metro Manila), I decided I'll just fly out of here tomorrow, a Sunday. Sige lang, hataw lang! Better than going back to Tacloban or Cebu then groggily catch Monday's first flight to Manila.
Therefore, today, is a day-off! Yehey! So I asked around for anything worth my time!
Marju Krisel staff suggested, 'why not visit Tarangban'? I asked "ano yan" and they told me its a big nice waterfallS 'with emphasis on the "S"! So, off I went! I just returned actually, and now I am writing this story, back at my room in Marju Krisel!
And the story goes like this...
As advised by the "experts" (the crews of Marju Krisel hehe) I took a tricycle (they hired it for me) to Barangay Tinaplacan (jump-off point to Tarangban Falls), still part of Calbayog City. Yes I did! Masunurin akong bata!
On hindsight, now that I'm back, I should just have taken a van, a jeep or a bus to Tinaplacan. Why? Because from Marju Krisel (already 4 kilometers north of the city), Brgy Tinaplacan is still some 35 kilometers further north! Hindi pang-tricycle ang layo!
And the "Tanod Outpost" where you "register", is right on the side of the national road. Yeah, madaling hanapin, the corner just after Tinaplacan Elementary School! Although, to contradict myself, e sino ba ang nagmamadali? I had the whole day to roam around!
Anyway, this yellow trike transported me along the Pan Philippine Highway (aka Maharlika Highway) for about 2 hours. But inclusive of photo-ops here and there, and a 'refreshment' stop at this store cum lodge which is still some 15kms before Tinaplacan.
BTW, I know it's against the law to ride a trike on national highway - but apparently this is tolerated in Calbayog City. And it was the one offered, so I grabbed it *wink wink*!
When we arrived at the supposed stop, I saw this...
I felt like all the clouds in heaven suddenly dropped on my head I didn't know how to react. Almost angry (almost pa lang) I looked at my driver and said "we are going to Tarangban Falls, not Bangon"! And he explained that this is really the way - you pass by Bangon Falls first before going up to Tarangban. Oh okay... awod ako hehehe!
Here goes the process:
Register at the Tanod Outpost, get a guide, ride a habal-habal from here...
You and the guide ride together on the habal-habal. However, since I dragged my tricycle driver along, it became 3 of us on one motorbike - which they say, is the normal capacity!
I don't know if true, but the other people hanging around in that outpost (I think they were also habal-habal drivers) were telling me that as if I hit the jackpot since my habal-habal driver was also to be my tour guide - which they say, should be separate people therefore separate fees.
Not sure too if true, that only habal-habal are allowed on that road to the falls - reason why they did not allow my "limousine" (yes, the trike) to ferry me, instead of riding a habal-habal. Whatever!
Not sure if also true, they attempted to charge me for a "parking fee" for the trike! Even if there was no real parking area. Duh! When I told my trike driver he should be the one to pay that parking fee since its his vehicle, they had some haggling until it was waived.
What I was bothered about was I have not seen even one person who looked like he/she was in-charge or on-duty. Every one I saw who were charging us this and that, and saying so many comments looked to me like "mga tambay, hornal, bangaw" and the likes (all of them males). Well, they could have been habal-habal drivers themselves, but they behave like dollar hungry crocodiles, some wearing "invisible shirts" and to make my description short... they are just assholes in general! No receipts issued too.
Not even my tour guide was speaking. It was all those criminal-looking tambays who were "in charge". At least they were the ones who hollered for this tour guide to attend to me. And they were the reason I asked my trike driver to go with me - for they might have eaten him alive. At least, if they did something to his trike, it is not 'human life'.
Anyway, off we went. And not even 50 meters into the habal-habal ride, nagbubunok na! Yes it rained. How lucky of me! But good it lasted for just a very short while hehe.
The ride was just something like a little more than 2kms. The rest of the way we had to walk as the road was not anymore good for a motorbike to travel on. The walk was not that far...
And we reached this...
That is the lower end of Bangon Falls. Those rocks are smooth but slippery. In fact, you see that middle portion of the white cascading water? When we passed here on our way back, a number of people were having fun sliding on that very crevice where the water flows. It looked like fun, I even tried once! Shh, nagbalik-bata lang ng konti hehe!
The "main" Bangon Falls is still in there going right (not too far), and it is composed of 2 levels (those that I saw anyway). Not very high to climb too. The lower portion is wide, while the upper part is a bit narrower but with lots of cascading water. Shh, I slipped on some of those smooth slippery rocks they call 'palanas'! No pics here, buti na lang! My camera and phone are not water resistant, and it rained again while we were there.
We did not spend much time at Bangon Falls, and we trudged on to a trickier climb, this time going to Tarangban Falls. The way there is an ascent. Yes, a trek, if if you might call it that. But there is a path, and the tourguide has a "sundang" to hack all those little branches and grass getting in the way. Not difficult, but tiring hehe!
I noticed, and it was confirmed by the guide, that Tarangban Falls is actually the upstream of Bangon Falls. All the water from Tarangban therefore flows down to Bangon. So wag kang iihi dun ha?! In fact, the ascent towards Tarangban can be via Bangon - but definitely longer and challenging as there are cliffs, boulders, and who knows how many other mini-waterfalls! So the hike path is a shorter way to Tarangban..
Which starts to fascinate you with this...
From this point you can already see it, but the path passes behind and under the trees to the right, winding until you are in front of the main cascade down there.
Your initial feeling will be... "nakakainis I can't get a good photo vantage"!
Ganun hehehe! Why so? Because the multitudes of cascades are scattered in so wide and tall an area. And you will be standing at a narrow canyon. You can't step back any further as it is already a tall steep cliff-wall behind you hahaha!
If you are a serious photographer or videographer though, there may be a way...
You can clamber up the cliff-wall opposite this (behind the camera) for a wider vantage. Or put up (erect) your own scaffolding just for the shoot hehe. Or probably even fly a drone to be sure! Because, for a nicer shot, kelangan umatras eh wala namang aatrasan!
But for us the mere curious mortals who are not gadget experts, it would be enough to stand below and jaw-droppingly marvel at this interesting wonder of nature. Nganga ba!
Here is my attempt to shoot a video of the waterfalls...
By the way, its not fun standing here when talking to each other - you tend to raise your voices or even shout - because the cascading water is loud (but pleasing to the ears). I think its because this is a narrow canyon - sound cannot easily escape the area.
By the way, you might be interested to know that there is another interesting waterfall above this! My guide tells me it's called Burubaloto Falls and just a short walk from the top of this Tarangban Falls. When he suggested we go up there now, I said "hagii kamo na la"! FYI too, while standing down here, I saw at least 2 brave visitors clambering up those cascades. And all I could think of was "God Bless You"!
Ayan, my tricycle driver on the left, and tour guide on the right...
I needed them to stand there for a point of reference. How did I shoot this pic? I had to crouch very low on the ground - aw cascading waters pala haha! I can't see, but the 2 clambering tourists were supposed to be somewhere up there.
I did not stay very long here either. When I thought I have seen enough, and took pics of what I think I can - believe it or not, just about 6 or 7 shots, I said "let's go"! Reluctant I guess, but those two obliged. so we happily headed down and back to Tinaplacan. I'm sure they were thinkin... bakit uuwi na, wala nang film ang camera? Hahaha!
It's like this... I learned during some of my travels, that when it rains, waterfalls rivers creeks and brooks would usually be inundated mostly by what is called a "flash-flood". That is when a high volume of rain water suddenly cascades down where people (even animals) are caught unaware, and trapped or washed down by the sheer force.
This happened to me in Kawasan how many summers ago. I also experienced the same while at work in Villa Aurora, Burauen Leyte. I had to stay overnight at an elementary school (under construction) because we could not cross a river that suddenly became flooded due to rains, not even in the area but somewhere up the mountains. Ganun!
But we three merrily trudged back the path goin to where the habal-habal was parked. The Tarangban Falls experience somehow erased "SOME" of my disappointment at their tanod outpost. Some lang, not all hehe! I think the falls had a soothing calming effect, nakakawala ng badtrip! Yes, even if it was intermittently raining heavily.
We were back at the national road in no time...
Ayan, tour guide on the left, tricycle driver at right, magkaibigan na sila! They were here talking about some final checks before I could be brought back to Marju Krisel via a 35km or so ride in that yellow thing, on a national highway where the biggest buses and trucks also speed thru. Nakabalik naman ng bu-o at mahinahon in time for lunch hehe!
A good enough experience! But not yet, NEVER, to be repeated.
I hope the road and path will be upgraded soon. Pati nala liwat adto nga mga tambay ha tanod outpost nga magpaka-ngingirhat it mga nawong baga hin mga holdaper! How to upgrade them? Start with their values of fairness and hygiene. Kahit wala nang courtesy kay bagan di naman mababag-o it mga batasan hit nga ka-animalan!
300 pesos daw parking ng tricycle. Birat!
Therefore, today, is a day-off! Yehey! So I asked around for anything worth my time!
Marju Krisel staff suggested, 'why not visit Tarangban'? I asked "ano yan" and they told me its a big nice waterfallS 'with emphasis on the "S"! So, off I went! I just returned actually, and now I am writing this story, back at my room in Marju Krisel!
And the story goes like this...
As advised by the "experts" (the crews of Marju Krisel hehe) I took a tricycle (they hired it for me) to Barangay Tinaplacan (jump-off point to Tarangban Falls), still part of Calbayog City. Yes I did! Masunurin akong bata!
On hindsight, now that I'm back, I should just have taken a van, a jeep or a bus to Tinaplacan. Why? Because from Marju Krisel (already 4 kilometers north of the city), Brgy Tinaplacan is still some 35 kilometers further north! Hindi pang-tricycle ang layo!
And the "Tanod Outpost" where you "register", is right on the side of the national road. Yeah, madaling hanapin, the corner just after Tinaplacan Elementary School! Although, to contradict myself, e sino ba ang nagmamadali? I had the whole day to roam around!
 |
| Nice sea view along the highway on your way to Tinaplacan. Fantastic at early morning or sunset! |
Anyway, this yellow trike transported me along the Pan Philippine Highway (aka Maharlika Highway) for about 2 hours. But inclusive of photo-ops here and there, and a 'refreshment' stop at this store cum lodge which is still some 15kms before Tinaplacan.
BTW, I know it's against the law to ride a trike on national highway - but apparently this is tolerated in Calbayog City. And it was the one offered, so I grabbed it *wink wink*!
When we arrived at the supposed stop, I saw this...
Here goes the process:
Register at the Tanod Outpost, get a guide, ride a habal-habal from here...
I don't know if true, but the other people hanging around in that outpost (I think they were also habal-habal drivers) were telling me that as if I hit the jackpot since my habal-habal driver was also to be my tour guide - which they say, should be separate people therefore separate fees.
Not sure too if true, that only habal-habal are allowed on that road to the falls - reason why they did not allow my "limousine" (yes, the trike) to ferry me, instead of riding a habal-habal. Whatever!
Not sure if also true, they attempted to charge me for a "parking fee" for the trike! Even if there was no real parking area. Duh! When I told my trike driver he should be the one to pay that parking fee since its his vehicle, they had some haggling until it was waived.
What I was bothered about was I have not seen even one person who looked like he/she was in-charge or on-duty. Every one I saw who were charging us this and that, and saying so many comments looked to me like "mga tambay, hornal, bangaw" and the likes (all of them males). Well, they could have been habal-habal drivers themselves, but they behave like dollar hungry crocodiles, some wearing "invisible shirts" and to make my description short... they are just assholes in general! No receipts issued too.
Not even my tour guide was speaking. It was all those criminal-looking tambays who were "in charge". At least they were the ones who hollered for this tour guide to attend to me. And they were the reason I asked my trike driver to go with me - for they might have eaten him alive. At least, if they did something to his trike, it is not 'human life'.
Anyway, off we went. And not even 50 meters into the habal-habal ride, nagbubunok na! Yes it rained. How lucky of me! But good it lasted for just a very short while hehe.
The ride was just something like a little more than 2kms. The rest of the way we had to walk as the road was not anymore good for a motorbike to travel on. The walk was not that far...
And we reached this...
The "main" Bangon Falls is still in there going right (not too far), and it is composed of 2 levels (those that I saw anyway). Not very high to climb too. The lower portion is wide, while the upper part is a bit narrower but with lots of cascading water. Shh, I slipped on some of those smooth slippery rocks they call 'palanas'! No pics here, buti na lang! My camera and phone are not water resistant, and it rained again while we were there.
We did not spend much time at Bangon Falls, and we trudged on to a trickier climb, this time going to Tarangban Falls. The way there is an ascent. Yes, a trek, if if you might call it that. But there is a path, and the tourguide has a "sundang" to hack all those little branches and grass getting in the way. Not difficult, but tiring hehe!
I noticed, and it was confirmed by the guide, that Tarangban Falls is actually the upstream of Bangon Falls. All the water from Tarangban therefore flows down to Bangon. So wag kang iihi dun ha?! In fact, the ascent towards Tarangban can be via Bangon - but definitely longer and challenging as there are cliffs, boulders, and who knows how many other mini-waterfalls! So the hike path is a shorter way to Tarangban..
Which starts to fascinate you with this...
Your initial feeling will be... "nakakainis I can't get a good photo vantage"!
If you are a serious photographer or videographer though, there may be a way...
But for us the mere curious mortals who are not gadget experts, it would be enough to stand below and jaw-droppingly marvel at this interesting wonder of nature. Nganga ba!
Here is my attempt to shoot a video of the waterfalls...
By the way, its not fun standing here when talking to each other - you tend to raise your voices or even shout - because the cascading water is loud (but pleasing to the ears). I think its because this is a narrow canyon - sound cannot easily escape the area.
By the way, you might be interested to know that there is another interesting waterfall above this! My guide tells me it's called Burubaloto Falls and just a short walk from the top of this Tarangban Falls. When he suggested we go up there now, I said "hagii kamo na la"! FYI too, while standing down here, I saw at least 2 brave visitors clambering up those cascades. And all I could think of was "God Bless You"!
Ayan, my tricycle driver on the left, and tour guide on the right...
I did not stay very long here either. When I thought I have seen enough, and took pics of what I think I can - believe it or not, just about 6 or 7 shots, I said "let's go"! Reluctant I guess, but those two obliged. so we happily headed down and back to Tinaplacan. I'm sure they were thinkin... bakit uuwi na, wala nang film ang camera? Hahaha!
It's like this... I learned during some of my travels, that when it rains, waterfalls rivers creeks and brooks would usually be inundated mostly by what is called a "flash-flood". That is when a high volume of rain water suddenly cascades down where people (even animals) are caught unaware, and trapped or washed down by the sheer force.
This happened to me in Kawasan how many summers ago. I also experienced the same while at work in Villa Aurora, Burauen Leyte. I had to stay overnight at an elementary school (under construction) because we could not cross a river that suddenly became flooded due to rains, not even in the area but somewhere up the mountains. Ganun!
But we three merrily trudged back the path goin to where the habal-habal was parked. The Tarangban Falls experience somehow erased "SOME" of my disappointment at their tanod outpost. Some lang, not all hehe! I think the falls had a soothing calming effect, nakakawala ng badtrip! Yes, even if it was intermittently raining heavily.
We were back at the national road in no time...
A good enough experience! But not yet, NEVER, to be repeated.
I hope the road and path will be upgraded soon. Pati nala liwat adto nga mga tambay ha tanod outpost nga magpaka-ngingirhat it mga nawong baga hin mga holdaper! How to upgrade them? Start with their values of fairness and hygiene. Kahit wala nang courtesy kay bagan di naman mababag-o it mga batasan hit nga ka-animalan!
300 pesos daw parking ng tricycle. Birat!
Comments
Post a Comment