Discovering Daraitan and Tinipak River (Photoblog)

 Daraitan is a small sleepy town located in Tanay, Rizal. The tedious 2 hour ride from Tanay market can be unbearable due to the dusty, rough road, but when you get there, place will open you up to a wondrous trip to nature you'll soon thrive for the days to come. 

How to get there:

1. Ride a van going to Tanay, Rizal at the public terminal in Starmall, along Shaw MRT station. The fare costs PHP70 each, but you may choose to ride a jeep for Php53. The ride takes about 2 hours.

2. The van will drop you off at Tanay market. A tricycle ride costs Php300, one way. Be very cautious when haggling, these drivers can be quite pushy because they're too many, it's a Battle of Thermopylae back there when it comes to getting a ride, so it's best that you have a contact already.

3. The tricycle ride takes about 2 hours of butt-numbing ride through rough roads and seemingly endless pavements. There's this stop where you'll need to pay Php30 one way just to cross the bridge.

 The rough road going up to Daraitan.

4. Lastly, the tricycle will drop you off at the jumpoff, Daraitan Barangay Hall where you need to secure a guide before going for a camp at Tinipak River. Registration costs Php20 each, while the guide fee is Php750.

The representation of the tour around Daraitan - Tinipak River. We took turns in explaining our ideas on how can we reach the summit in the shortest time possible. Turns out that we arrived too late so we just decided to camp near the cave instead.

After settling our fees and getting Mang Ed as our guide, we started our trek going to Tinipak River. It was an easy walk at first, we passed by rows of houses until we came to this...

A cemetery!

Yes, it's just near the road. Not too creepy though, because there are still houses beside the cemetery too.

We were basically following the river going to the campsite. A few minutes down the trail we saw this.

You don't need to pay for a boatman to carry you across the river by raft. When we got there, there's this bridge that you can safely cross.

Tinipak River and the white limestones that seem to glow under the scorching sun.

My friends choose the other route so we have to cross the river and go for some little rock climbing to get down the first campsite. I have a poor grip on my toes so I was literally holding on to those boulders for my dear life. I feel really weak when it comes to hiking, but only scenic views can make go on and start walking even more. 

My view from top, one slip, or I'll end up getting washed along the strong river current lol.

The rocks at this part are really interesting because of the colors, which made it appear like a gradient wall

We settled to set camp near the entrance of Tungtong Cave, since the group already decided that we won't push the idea of taking a hike to Mt. Daraitan (due to time constraints as well). The gushing sound of the stream beside our camp seemed to sound like a nature's lullaby, soothing our senses, making us appreciate how wonderful this weekend is.

We set camp just beside the river bed, close to the entrance of Tungtong Cave but not too far from the watersource. 

I didn't know that small bridge was a diving spot, I wanted to try, but I wish I knew how to swim LOL. 

That's us taking turns preparing our dinner for that night. 

..and that's me in my all-pink glory LOL. From hiking shoes, sleeping bag, rashguard even to my socks, I'm all color coordinated! I've been saving up for a pink tent though, and if I do get one, I'd be happiest camper ever. :3

The grand view of Tinipak River at the entrance of Tungtong Cave. 

That's Team Daraitan, all smiles before going inside the cave. A little history here, Tungtong Cave was formerly a Japanese hideout, and it was marked by a huge 400-yr old Balete tree. They used the cave as their mini hospital according to our tour guide.

You need to go down to get inside the cave.

The path inside the cave is really easy compared to what I've experienced at Bayukbok Cave in Manalmon. Going inside isn't as complicated, I don't need to kneel, crawl and squeeze myself into crevices to pass through. I said that would be my last caving adventure, but then I went inside Tungtong Cave, I realized there are easier ways to do spelunking.

This is the last stop inside the cave, a small body of water where you can cool off. It's not too deep, Manong Ed even told us you can go fishing here.

You can't go beyond that way, boys.

We also found crystallized rocks here. You cannot touch them or else they'll lose their luster.

Here's our very friendly and helpful tour guide, Manong Ed. :)

..and that's me and a 400 year old Balete Tree.

Since we failed to follow our given itinerary for this trip, I guess I'll just share this here. You can go on a dayhike at Mt. Daraitan, just be sure to go there as early as usual (around 9am) so you'll have plenty of time to explore the place, or just have an overnight camping like what we did, and do the other activities like caving, river trekking and swimming at the Tinipak River.

ITINERARY

DAY 1

5AM ETD to Tanay Market from Shaw Blvd via Private Transportation

6:30 AM ETA Tanay Market / Buy Supplies

7:00AM Take Tricycle or Jeep rent to Daraitan

7:30AM ETA Daraitan / Boat Ride / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall

7:50AM ETA Brgy. Daraitan / Register and Get Guide / Proceed to jump-off point

8:00AM Start Trek (Main Trail)

8:40AM Tinipak Creek-Cottage-River / continue trekking via main trail

08:50AM ETA Boundary to Bagbagan Trail / continue trekking via main trail

09:00AM ETA Trail head of Lilindigan / continue trekking via main trail

09:45AM ETA Cemented stair 

10:00AM ETA Cablao Elementary School 

12:00PM ETA Trail Fork to Summit (Right Trail for Bato Peak 1) and (Left for Bato Peak 2) / Lunch / 

01:30PM Start descent

3:00PM Back to Main Trail

03:30PM ETA Tinipak Cottage-River / rest / set camp / socials / swimming whatever

===========================

DAY 2

06:00 AM Wake up call / Eat breakfast

08:00 AM Start taking rock boulders to cross the river to get to Tinipak Cave

9:30 AM ETA Tinipak cave / swimming and cave exploration

03:00 PM Go back to cottage /camp

04:30 PM Break camp

05:00PM head back to Jump off

06:00PM Jump-off / Rest and wash / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall / Log out / Proceed for boat ride

07:00PM ETD to Tanay Market

08:30PM ETD to Shaw Blvd

10:30PM ETA Shaw Blvd

EXPENSES:

70 - van going to Tanay, Rizal

100 - tricycle fare going to Daraitan

30 - tricycle tollgate (this is per tricycle, not by head fee)

20 - registration fee at Daraitan Brgy. Hall

750 - tourguide fee (overnight, you can divide this within your group)

Contacts:

Manong Ed (tour guide): 0905-2397186

Exploring Merloquet Falls in Zamboanga City

I thought I've seen enough waterfalls this year, I'm happy that I capped it off by seeing the beautiful Merloquet Falls, located in Brgy. Sibulao at Vitali, Zamboanga City. I'm super thrilled! :D

See how captivating it is?

We were tired from our last trip at the Pink Beach, so we woke up a bit late and started our day an hour close to lunchtime. We went to the tourism office again at the Paseo del Mar to ask for a guide on how to go to Merloquet Falls. You see, going there is quite far, you need to take a bus for an hour and trek for about 15-30 minutes depending on your pace. The bus ride is about an hour so they suggested that we should've left early. However, we still pushed through and from the tourism office, we walked back downtown and rode a jeepney going to the bus station.

Buses going to Pagadian (photo by ezzydangerous)

To get to the Merloquet Falls, you must ride a bus going to Pagadian and alight Brgy. Vitali, which is marked by a small shrine accross a PNP station. When we got there, we registered our names first and unlike Santa Cruz Island, this place doesn't need an armed escort to guide you around. It's safe, the locals there will be the ones who will guide and take you to the falls.

After registering, we took a habal-habal going to the dropoff area where the trek is gonna start. My first habal-habal experience happened in Bacolod when we went to Mambukal Resort. I knew this was no different from that so I already expected the thrilling speed of our rider's motorcycle through bumpy roads and all. We haggled for the price of a roundtrip fare and settled with 50 per head/one way. It took us about 15 minutes to reach the dropoff and upon seeing the muddy trail and knowing how wobbly my knees are when it comes to trekking in mud, I knew I'd be walking barefoot to get through this trail.

The muddy trek starts here. (photo by ezzydangerous)

That's Anne, Neil and I walking on mud LOL (photo by ezzydangerous)

It was raining slightly when we got there so that's the cause of all of this mud. (photo by jepepips)

What are you doing there? (photo by ezzydangerous)

Anne and I walked barefoot, while the others just carried on with their trusty slippers, Jep seemed prepared coz he brought his trekking shoes. After the muddy trail, you need to go down 300 steps to get to the falls. It's pretty easy now at this point then on the last step, I could already hear and see the beauty that's gonna unravel before me.

The beautiful Merloquet Falls in Sibulao, Zamboanga City.

We had the place again for ourselves because we were the only people there. There is an entrance fee of 10 pesos and there are also cottages and grilling stations if you wanna cook something. Camping/staying overnight is allowed in the cottages too. The area is clean and well maintained by the locals there.

Team Zamboanga at Merloquet Falls!

There's just something about waterfalls that really catches my interest. I've seen many this year and I always feel relieved and happy at the same time when I finally get to dip into that cold water and feel the gush of water. You see, some waterfalls are not too accessible, compared to going to a beach. (well, for the ones I saw at least) I have to endure trekking and climb up/down big boulders of rocks and if I may add the possibility of falling/slipping/weakness my knees while doing so. So when I see one, I feel like, all the pain are so worth it. I began to humbly appreciate the hardship I went through just to see a hidden beauty.  

My love for waterfalls has just deepened when I saw the place and I was amazed at that rock formation that made the water seemed like a white curtain flowing on a laddered wall of rocks. I stared at that rock wall in front of me and marveled at how nature could carve such a beauty. It's such a beautiful sight to see.

The shallow stream beneath the falls is great for a quick dip if you want to rest your feet after enduring a muddy trek and descending from that flight of stairs. Or, better yet, pretend to float like what Jay and Je did. What a bunch of happy kids.

Someone just can't get enough of Merloquet Falls.

Big falls. Tiny me.

When I went up the falls I stayed on this flat rockbed and enjoyed the strong gush of water above me. That's another thing I love about it, you get a back massage!

Hydrotherapy, yeah!

Jay, Je and Anne went up on top of the waterfalls while Jep, Neil and I stayed behind. To get there, you need to go up that wall, guided by a thick rope as you make your way to the top. It's steep and the rain just made the rocks too slippery to walk on. I'm too weak to take an assault by now so I'd rather pass and enjoy the scene.

Hello Merloquet Falls, were on top of ya!

We took our late lunch there and just stayed for an hour before going home. We left at around 4PM, and the rider (who became the tour guide lol) told us that the steps counts up to 300 and the construction of the paved road above is on going for the convenience of tourists going to the falls.

I was also feeling lucky that day because I saw a beautiful sunset while on the bus way home. Thanks to @jepepips for the photo.

Ohhh so pretty!

I feel so happy that I was able to see Zamboanga's treasured Merloquet Falls this year. It's beautiful. It's enchanting and it's special because I get to see it with my friends who also share the same passion for traveling like I do. :) Zamboanga City has suffered enough negativity from all that war and chaos it went through, but knowing the beauty the place brings would be enough for the curious to still explore and take an adventure just like what we did. :)