Showing posts with label Alilem. Show all posts

🇵🇭 ALILEM • Balay Anito Falls: of Motorcycle Ride and Trekking Barefoot

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Friday, July 13, 2012 6

Stories of town explorations.

"I was lost for words, I have nothing to say but amazing!"

My trek guide was too fast making me left behind. But he already stopped walking upon seeing a very small waterfall, yet beautiful. I asked myself, is this the result of my 6-hour land trip and 40-minute trek? Yes, he just stopped and I thought this is the end of the trek because for the past minutes, my guide trekked without pausing.

Balay Anito Falls in Alilem, Ilocos Sur was just hiding behind.

Linger, there is a huge rock blocking our way. But I believe there must be something surprising out there... behind that rock.

Great! My guide didn't really stop the trek and it was not yet our final destination. He was just looking for a better way to go to Balay Anito Falls hiding behind.

He walked at the side of the rocks, slippery, wet, no real trail as such. He wasn't calling me, he just continued. I was busy taking photos because I thought the small waterfall I am seeing is already the Balay Anito Falls on which I have to reach riding on a motorcycle and trekking in barefoot.

My guide was gone, so I decided to follow where he is going.

Suddenly, I thought it was raining, but no, I realized it was not.

As I am going closer to the source of that loud sound of gushing water, sprinkles of water kept coming. It was cold, it was refreshing, it feels like rain!

Finally saw the waterfalls! Ahhhh! I shouted joyously... "ang gondohhhh!" I was just standing speechless aside from the fact that I shouted a while back with glee. Wow!!! The waterfalls cascade vertically into one huge rock then drop into another rock below making it so exciting and beautiful!

The pool below remains unrested. It was continuously moving as the waterfalls consistently pour out the blessing of freshwater given by nature... by God.

Now I am confident to say, the trip is "all worth it!"

My eyes bulged wide open. Around the waterfalls is a magnificent view.

The towering verdant mountains were just refreshing.

It looked like to be a natural wall, tall rocks, all wet, continuously pouring fresh highland springs.

For that 40-minute jungle trek, on which I slipped 3 times, almost bumped my head to rocks, almost slipped directly to the cliff and trekked to some parts of the trail barefooted because I really had to, this natural masterpiece made me forget all the efforts and misadventures.

No regrets, I have finally seen Balay Anito Falls in the town of Alilem... and Alilem is my 28th town in Ilocos Sur. It is making me closer to the goal of exploring the 34 towns/cities of Ilocos Sur and I have 6 more left to see after seeing this hidden natural wonder of Alilem town.

With Kuya Royel, my trek guide.

I was lost for words, I have nothing to say but amazing!

Near the waterfalls, I was also able to spot beautiful wild flowers growing. The adventure made the day complete. I can not ask for more, I feel thrilled, amazed, contented. /end

SUMMARY: Total Time Spent: 2 hours, 50 minutes

From Sudipen Public Market in La Union to Start of Trek Site: 30 minutes
Trekking to Falls: 40 minutes (it depends upon your speed, this is for an average speed)
Time spent at the waterfalls: 30 minutes
Trekking back down: 40 minutes
From Trek Site to Sudipen: 30 minutes

Absolutely doable for 1 day!

Travel Tips and Guide | How to go to Balay Anito Falls of Alilem, Ilocos Sur?

1. (a) From Manila, take a northbound bus going to Laoag. (b) From San Fernando City, La Union, take any Vigan-bound PUV or bus. (c) From Vigan or Laoag, take a Manila-bound bus.

2. Drop at Sudipen Public Market in La Union.

3. From Sudipen Public Market, take either a motorcycle or a jeep. Jeep ride is way cheaper but time-consuming because you have to wait for other passengers. Motorcycle ride is more thrilling since you'll have the chance to enjoy the view.

4. Motorcycle ride costs 120 pesos (solo one way) from Sudipen Public Market going to the starting point of the trek, 240 pesos (vice versa). The motorcycle can accommodate up to 3, the more, the cheaper since you have to share for the fare.

5. I advice you to hire a motorcycle driver that knows how to go to the falls and is willing to guide you. Your driver may ask for additional tip as guide so just prepare, but for me, I wasn't given additional charge. Look for Kuya Royel, he was my guide. If you are traveling to Ilocos or La Union, you can make Balay Anito Falls as a side trip.

Total Expenses: 460 pesos Vigan-Sudipen Bus Ride (non A/C): 110 pesos Motorcycle ride from Sudipen to Balay Anito Falls, vice versa: 240 pesos

Sudipen to Vigan (non A/C): 110 pesos

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Balay Anito Falls sub-series

Part 1 | Part 2 | You are viewing Part 3

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Alilem #TownExploration Series

Map Showing the Location of #Alilem

Click this map to view other posts about ILOCOS SUR

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Alilem] 112 on 2012 Adventure Alilem All Ilocos (Region 1) Ilocos Sur Luzon Philippines Posts by Edmar Serious Post Trekking VIDEO BLOGS

🇵🇭 ALILEM • Trekking the Jungle, Barefooted and Wet

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Saturday, July 07, 2012 19

Stories of town explorations.

"Only the two of us, me as a stranger and a local resident familiar of his lovely mountain town. If trusting a stranger is a crime, then I am guilty."

I don't know how to start this post really. My friends told me "You're traveling alone, that's awkward." But it is a thirst for adventure, and what pushes me is my lifetime goal to visit all those towns before I die. No time frame, I want to make it slowly but surely. Honestly right now, I do not know how to do it but everytime I look at my map, I am seeing those towns and it will be a regret if I will just act later on. Now that I still have the strength, I wanna pursue it. Will I fulfill that goal? Honestly, I don't know, I just want to let it flow naturally.

I preferred to be barefooted, the only way I know to save myself in Alilem

This goal is the reason why I urged to visit . A town that can be accessed mainly with a motorcycle ride. I don't know where this journey will lead me. Sometimes I am thinking it is a waste of money but I just can't resist it because it is the craving of my soul.

Everytime I see a bus, the excitement goes on. If only I have unlimited funds I will spend my whole life traveling and exploring. Riding on a habal-habal, I pursued the journey with the determination that big things come from small things.

It is but another mountain town. Transportation is by chance so I have to make it sure that I will go back home safe and alive. I'm merely a stranger to this town and with the help of another stranger, we trekked the jungles of the town of to see

The trekking started here.

We stopped along the road. Royel is the name of my guide, a stranger that has become an instant friend. I don't know what kind of person was he or what kind of tribe he belonged but I just gave my full trust to him.

Only the two of us, me as a stranger and a local resident familiar of his lovely mountain town. If trusting a stranger is a crime, then I am guilty.

We stopped on an empty road where the things you can just see are the rapids, stream, the towering mountains and one hanging bridge. There are numerous hanging bridges along the way actually but one of them is situated on a place where Kuya Royel parked his motorcycle and where we stopped. Then trekking to the jungles of started in search for a waterfall.

One of the many hanging bridges in Alilem

Making my first step, I don't know if I can finish the trekking. It was an instant wet soil, a mud. But it was ok, I am used to it.

Trekking the jungle of the town of Alilem, I was welcomed by a beautiful woodland. I can not determine if it was rainy that time or the forest was just creating moisture because as I look everywhere, the trees are filled with moss and ferns. The huge woods are moist and the rocks are all wet covered with green algae. It was just the amazing work of the forest.

Ferns and moss growing on tree barks

The good thing was some parts of the trail going to that waterfall were concreted. But because the forest is moist, the concreted trail was wet covered by algae or moss that makes it slippery.

Another challenge I have to take is to cross a stream with a powerful current. I was with my backpack where my valuables are placed. With my hands is my camera and my tripod hanging at my shoulders. There is nowhere I can ask for assistance because my guide was too fast and he has just crossed the angry stream just before I can make it.

Moist rocks with algae in the forest

Of course my valuables are my priority. I can not afford to get wet because crossing that powerfully gushing stream, all you need is a balance.

But of course I am not sure if I can balance that because I am still thinking that there is a possibility that I may not be able to maintain it and the consequence is to fall to that stream and swim as you cross that rapids.

For that matter, my valuables might get wet including my camera, my precious road guide map I bought 5 years ago and my penny.

As I focus my eyes to the rapids, the velocity and turbulence seemed to be getting severe. With my flip flops I bought for 40 pesos, I just handed it. My left hand did the job while I hang my camera with its cage on my neck like a big pendant of a necklace.

Huge stones at the rapids

It was not easy to cross this stream you know :)

At first look, the stream could be nice and cool, yes, it was really nice. But once you step and cross it, especially that I am handling my valuables, taking the risk was not a good idea but I took that risk to fulfill a travel goal.

I went barefooted to cross the rapids. It was the only way I know to survive the trek. After crossing that part of the stream, going barefooted was not a good idea because I noticed it was more slippery to take the mossy trail in bare foot. So I put my slippers back.

Kuya Royel, my trek guide

He just crossed while I am still on doubt if I can make it
because of the valuables I carry

We were near the waterfalls already but going close to it required me to take the huge rocks, so I went barefooted again to my surprise, I slipped with one of the slippery rocks. Good thing my head was not bumped but my backpack got wet as I slip at the wet rocks.

The back of my clothes were wet too. But I didn't mind about it because the waterfalls I was seeing was just overwhelming that I almost forgot my name, lol!

After the 40-minute trek, I was welcomed by an amazing view. All I was hearing was the sound of the falling waters of the falls and the stream.

The photo above is just the welcoming stream, the grand welcome is hiding behind. I tell you, the hiding waterfalls is greater, higher and is more legendary. /To be continued...

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Balay Anito Falls sub-series
Part 1 | You are reading Part 2 | Part 3
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Alilem #TownExploration Series

Map Showing the Location of #Alilem

Click this map to view other posts about ILOCOS SUR

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Ilocos] Adventure Alilem Experiences Ilocos (Region 1) Ilocos Sur Luzon Philippines Sudipen

🇵🇭 ILOCOS • My First Habal-Habal Ride in Search for the House of the Gods

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Thursday, July 05, 2012 2

Stories of town explorations.

"The ride was full of adventure. I spotted a lot of waterfalls, hanging bridges, and the endless charm of the towering mountains with the Amburayan River flowing in between them."

Motorbike rides have always been a part of this blog but this time, I was riding on a habal-habal motorbike because it is the easiest way to reach my destination this day. The funny thing here is, I thought habal-habal is only present in Visayas and Mindanao. And oh yeah, this is in Luzon.

But the term "habal-habal" is not known in this part of Luzon. They simply call it "motor." I was in fact exploring the 34 towns/cities of located from the coastline up to the mountains and I wanted to complete the list before the year ends. I only learned about this scenario when I started to plan my 34-town explorations in . It was more than fulfilling to discover things I have never known before.

For my first habal-habal ride, I am going to my 28th town in Ilocos Sur -- the town of Yes, it is 6 more towns to go before I can say "I have explored, Ilocos Sur"

The experience was again, unplanned. I always tell this line, "I have no idea" how to go to the town of . My original plan is to explore the northern towns of but it was 2:30 pm and I was standing in front of , La Union's Public Market while browsing my maps where to go next for the remaining time until I saw a jeepney with marks of Alilem-Sudipen-Bacnotan.

Sudipen, La Union Public Market, where I browsed my map, "where shall I go next?"

I approached the jeepney driver but getting a jeepney ride going to is by chance so he suggested me to ride on a motorbike (habal-habal) because it is the only remaining way in reaching the town (since it's about 3:00 pm).

And looking at their "parking area," I thought they were just private motorbike riders but I learned later that they drive for passengers who ride on their motorcycles. Wow! This was something new for me and never have I thought that transportation mode like this is present in this part of the country!

After negotiations for the "fare," I picked one of the drivers who will drive me to , my 38th town in .

One of the numerous hanging bridges I spotted along the way

The ride was full of adventure. I spotted a lot of waterfalls, hanging bridges, and the endless charm of the towering mountains with the Amburayan River flowing in between them.

So where did this on-the-spot habal-habal ride to lead me? The photo and video below will give you an idea.

Together with Kuya Royel (the driver), we trekked the jungles of Alilem and crossed its wild river and rapids to find the Balay Anito (house of gods and goddesses). /To be continued...

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Balay Anito Falls sub-series:
You are viewing Part 1 | |
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Alilem #TownExploration Series

Map Showing the Location of #Alilem

Click this map to view articles about ILOCOS SUR

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

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