Moving from Metro Manila to Puerto Galera

[DrWilly]

Seconded.

[TizMe]

I pulled this video from my dash cam.
Unbelievable.

[katie23]

^that guy's crazy, drunk or both!

Though I've ridden on the top/ roof of a jeepney. They call it "top loading". It was for a hike in Mt Pigingan, somewhere in Benguet (northern Luzon Highlands, for those who don't know). I was with 7 or 8 more ppl - we were all hikers. It was windy and exhilarating but I probably won't do it again.

[TizMe]

We did the trek up to Talipanan Falls yesterday.

It's just about an 8 klm drive from home, and then only 30-40 minutes hike.

It is a very easy hike, if you're not a 63 year old with shit knees, but I just took it slowly and made it there and back without having to send in the helicopter ambulance to winch me out.

We parked the car just past the Talipanan Mangyan School, collected the compulsory guide (300 pesos) and passed through their village, then headed up the track.

Here the ladies are offering to sell their hand made crafts.

I think we bought a Hot Pot Coaster for php 100.

[TizMe]

Obviously the added income from tourists gives them a much better standard of living than a lot of the other Mangyan villages that we've visited before

[TizMe]

This is our guide for the day.

He was very friendly, and gave a lot of information as we hiked up and back. ( Interpreted to me by Ms TizMe )

Notice that he is bare-foot, he broke his slippers/thongs only about 5 minutes into the hike so went the rest of the way bare-foot.

We bought him a new pair when we came back down.

[TizMe]

Just a few minutes out of the village, we passed a small water-hole where a few of the kids were playing and cooling-off.

[TizMe]

[TizMe]

to be continued later:

[Topper]

Looking forward to it!

[katie23]

to be continued later:

Curious to see if the falls has a lot of water at the moment. When I last went there, it was April and the falls was a mere trickle. Still, it was a nice little hike.

Re: the Mangyan handicraft, we bought a 6-coaster set for P500, I think. Our guide also sold fresh young coconuts. We (plus other tourists/ hikers who just arrived) bought coconuts, so he had extra income. Good for him.

[TizMe]

[TizMe]

Stopped for a chat

[TizMe]

This is some sort of creature, maybe a type of mollusc.
The guide found it clinging to a rock, he said that they collect them and boil them to make soup.

[TizMe]

Arrived at the waterfall.

[TizMe]

Time to cool off with a quick dip.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e-l0yD_k-tw

[katie23]

^^the water in the falls is roughly the same as when I visited there.

Btw, if you decide to go to Aninuan Falls, I think your truck can enter the side road but only up to a certain point. Then you'll have to park it somewhere and go on foot.

I went there by habal-habal (motorbike taxi) and my driver also served as my guide. The walk was ~1 hr, passing through streams, some houses and a coconut plantation, mostly flat & no elevation gain. There's an entrance fee (P20 at that time) and you can take a dip there, for another fee (I think P20 also). I didn't take a dip; just took pics.

At the place where you park your car, you can prolly get one of the locals as your guide. The road going to the falls is near Aninuan Beach Resort.

For Tukuran falls, it's also ~1 hr walk from the parking area, I think. We didn't walk but hired a buffalo cart (for the experience). I think it cost P1000 or P1200 at the time. Also, we had a late start; got there around 10 or 11 am and we didn't want to walk in the heat of the summer sun. We took a dip in that falls. The water was plentiful even though it was April. Cheers!

[helge]

I went there by habal-habal

What's the deal with the Phillipines and these "repeater-words" ?

My little sari-sari store

Is it an Ilo Ilo thing ?

[katie23]

^Lol. Yup, there are many repeating names for things, people and adjectives. I don't know the historical roots but when adjectives are repeated, it's to emphasise the word (instead of saying "very" or "really")

Example: magandang maganda = very beautiful
Matalinong matalino = very smart
The " - ng" is a conjugation.

There are repeating names of people too, usually nicknames. Ex: Ningning, Junjun, Jonjon, Tingting, Dindin, etc. A guy with nickname of Junjun is usually a "junior". Ex: legal name is Ernesto Reyes, Jr. Nickname is Junjun.

[TizMe]

Filipinos would be happy to live in the Australian towns of Curl Curl, Wagga Wagga, Woy Woy or Mooney Mooney.

[TizMe]

The Puerto Galera Yacht Club is holding its Easter Regatta this weekend.

We were invited out yesterday by the commodore to spend the day on his catamaran as he was marking the start and finish lines.

[TizMe]

A very pleasant day, relaxing, chatting and having a few beers while watching the yachts.

[TizMe]

Weather was perfect.

This was the largest entrant on the day, a 68 foot Nautor Swan.
They were 2nd in line honours.

[TizMe]

Line honours went to Slipstream.

[katie23]

@tiz - looks good. Did a lot of boats participate?

And yeah, Filipinos would love those repeating town names!