I find it hard to think of a place to go to during rainy season. One thing to worry about is the transportation. Cancelled flights, closed roads, muddy tracks and wet shoes are some of the concerns.
So at this time of the year, one thing to consider on traveling is the distance and ease of travel. Not to mention the activities that you can do even in a bad weather.
And that's how Tanay, Rizal crossed my mind. A town near Manila which has a lot of exciting places to offer. I want to try climbing some of the mountains in Tanay but like I said, the weather is not in the mood today (maybe next time). So I decided to visit Daranak and Batlag Falls. But before taking a plunge into their cold fresh water, a good spelunking activity might be a good way to start the adventure. So we head on to Calinawan Cave first.
So at this time of the year, one thing to consider on traveling is the distance and ease of travel. Not to mention the activities that you can do even in a bad weather.
And that's how Tanay, Rizal crossed my mind. A town near Manila which has a lot of exciting places to offer. I want to try climbing some of the mountains in Tanay but like I said, the weather is not in the mood today (maybe next time). So I decided to visit Daranak and Batlag Falls. But before taking a plunge into their cold fresh water, a good spelunking activity might be a good way to start the adventure. So we head on to Calinawan Cave first.
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| Calinawan Cave |
We first went to Chowking located at downtown Tanay to buy ourselves some food, then from there, we ask a tricycle driver to take us to Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls. The tricycle fare depends on your haggling skills though. Going to Daranak alone, the tricycle driver asked us for 50 pesos per head (one-way). And since we also want to go to Calinawan Cave, which road is apparently bumpy, we paid 100 pesos per head as a courtesy to our good driver. The road to Daranak Falls and Calinawan Cave is remote and it would be hard to get a ride back to the highway if you don't have your own, so we made arrangement to the tricycle driver to fetch us at around 5pm, which is additional 50 pesos per head.
We had to pass through a rough and rocky road to reach Calinawan Cave. Along the way, a small chapel caught our eyes, we stopped for awhile and took a couple of pictures with this fascinating site with peculiar rock formations on the inside. It seems like the chapel is built along the huge rocks.
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| the Calinawan Chapel |
Upon arriving at the entrance, we have to pay 20 pesos per head for the registration. We also paid additional 100 for our tour guide. The tour guide lend us their flashlights which will be our only source of light inside the cave. After a few small talks and introductions, we started to go inside.
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| The cave entrance |
Our friendly and cheerful tour guide told us that the name Calinawan came from the word nagkalinawan, a Filipino word which means "agreement". It is because in this cave is where two opposing sides during the war settled their disputes (I'm not sure if they were the Spaniards, the Americans or the Japanese). This cave also served as a hideout for the Filipinos during the war. The Japanese also used this cave as a hospital.
Walking through this 30 feet deep cave, imagining silly things such as restless Japanese souls and scary giant man-eating bats just added to the thrill. But as we walk further down the cave, all those creepy feelings changed into excitement and awe.
Some part of the cave has openings at the ceiling so light still managed to illuminate the place. It is amazing how these rays of light served as spotlights for the rock exhibits inside the cave. The natural glitters as well as the artificial ones added some highlights on each rock formations. The artificial glitters that we've seen were once used by a number of TV shows and movies which had their shootings inside.
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| The awesome face-shaped rock |
One particular rock formation really amazed me. It looked like a head (in side view) staring up towards the light.
Stalactites, stalagmites and rock columns in different sizes are also abundant. Some of them still have water dripping from their tip, meaning, it is still alive and can extend its length as time goes by.
Stalactites, stalagmites and rock columns in different sizes are also abundant. Some of them still have water dripping from their tip, meaning, it is still alive and can extend its length as time goes by.
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| A rock column |
There are parts where the walls of the walkway are so narrow that I can't even stretch my arm sideways. Our guide called this "the sexy way". Then after several steps, I noticed that we have to bend our knees just to pass through because the ceiling of the walkway is getting low. They called this part "the rayuma way" (rayuma means rheumatism in Filipino).
As we continue our caving adventure, we arrived at an intersection. The way on the right leads to the bottom of the Calinawan chapel and on the left is the exit. Just as we were about to go to the right, we noticed a dried snake skin along the way. It is a good thing that animals still live in this place, but for safety reasons, we decided not to proceed and take the way on the left instead.
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| Snake skin! |
On our way out, there is this part were the ceiling has holes on it. Our tour guide told us that they were naturally formed that way and sometimes fruit bats used those holes as their nest. It is an instant bat condominium as I may say.
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| Naturally formed holes on the ceiling |
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| Fruit bats inside the cave |
During our whole spelunking, fruit bats occasionally fly by. We also found a group of bats nesting on the cave ceiling as we walk towards the exit.
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| The awesome rocks at the exit |
The exit of the cave is located between two gigantic rock formations. The beauty of these awesome rocks will make you want to take pictures of it.
All in all, I enjoyed the whole caving activity. I think the 20 peso entrance is way too cheap for the beauty that I witnessed and the stories that I learned behind those rocks and tunnels. Although I saw a number of vandalism inside, I think it is now well maintained by the cave administration. And so, just like what the friendly locals say: It's more fun in Tanay Hane!
All in all, I enjoyed the whole caving activity. I think the 20 peso entrance is way too cheap for the beauty that I witnessed and the stories that I learned behind those rocks and tunnels. Although I saw a number of vandalism inside, I think it is now well maintained by the cave administration. And so, just like what the friendly locals say: It's more fun in Tanay Hane!
Killed Bills
These expenses covered my whole Tanay adventure
(Calinawan Cave, Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls).
45.00 - Jeepney fare from Pasig to Tanay
133.00 - Chowking lunch (399 for 3 persons)
100.00 - Tricycle fare from Tanay Town Proper to Calinawan & Daranak
20.00 - Calinawan Cave Entrance
33.00 - Tour Guide (100 for 3 persons)
20.00 - Daranak Falls Entrance
50.00 - Picnic Table (150 for 3 persons)
30.00 - 1 bottle of Mineral Water
5.00 - Comfort Room Fee
100.00 - Batlag Falls Entrance
50.00 - Tricycle fare from Daranak to Tanay Town Proper
45.00 - Jeepney fare from Tanay to Pasig
100.00 - Batlag Falls Entrance
50.00 - Tricycle fare from Daranak to Tanay Town Proper
45.00 - Jeepney fare from Tanay to Pasig
Php 631.00 - TOTAL
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