Our flight was scheduled at 8:00 in the morning, we have amply time to work our way to the aiport wthouth saying hello to traffic. Nonetheless, coming from Antipolo means travelling an hour early before the allowed 2-hr before the fight check-in. We got there just in time as the check-in counters opened. it is best if you go straight ahead of the online web-check-in kiosk outside the check-in counters. (Do this inside the aiport so you'll get the chance to choose which seat you want)
After checking-in we proceeded to Seattle's Best to kill time and chat about to wake ourselves. 5 minutes upon opening the boarding gaes did we decided to get down and proceed with our trip.
*Tip: The last row of seats is not that comfortable. The fumes of burning oil can be smelled from there.
We made sure to have a van waiting for us in Laguindingan airport to save us time and hassle of haggling with public vehicles outside the airport. You may contact SLT VAN RENTALS @ 09261430614 (Spencer Tan) or 09168651260 (James Tan). Or you may check their FB account here. You may choose to utilize public vehicles outside the airport for 200 per head per way with one baggage per person. Drop offs are at Centrio Mall, Limketkai or Divisoria. Motorella (motor cycle with an extended passenger car) costs about 7.00 per head.
At the back of the shrine was the chapel with great outdoor design and view. Solemnity of the place is practiced so no one is allowed to speak too loud. After lighting candles we proceeded to our next stop Mapawa Nature Park.
Lame as it may sound the trekking is one for those who wants some adrenaline rush. The road going to the park is not that good (some parts are not even paved yet), and was even discouraged to go to before by travel companies. A group needs to pre-book and deposit half of their payment to the Mapawa account. A minimum of 5 pax per group is needed to be able to get the package.
For 1,200/head, you will get ride to and from the fron office, packed lunch (adobong manok-YUMMY!), life vests, helmets and tour guides (minimum of 3 guides per 5 pax). The guides are witty and will make you laugh all throughout the trek.
READY.SET.GO
Consider this trek as an extra challenge. No timeouts. No rests. Just do it.
The whole trek includes 3 water slides, 1 cliff jumping and a water fall rappeling. Most of the time you'll be under water (be careful of mossy stones) so be sure to wear quick dry clothes and bikinis underneath. Also apply a generous amount of sun block :)
Not yet convinced? Check out our pictures below...
*Tip: Let go all of your worries. Don't look down and just do it.
After the trek we rode the 4x4 truck of Mapawa back to the front office to clean up, change clothes and check-in to our inn in CDO.
THE loft inn
The intention of the owner, Nikkah Sy, was very thoughtful but the way she handled it is not cool. We booked for 2 extra large rooms, but when we arrived the front desk told us that the rooms reserved for us us are 2 large rooms. Extra large rooms can accommodate 4 pax, we were 7 by that day. The large room on the other hand can accommodate 3 pax per room. We tried on haggling so that we can have the extra large rooms to no avail. We couldn't afford to look for another place to stay in so we settle for the room smaller than what we booked for.
In short, i have to recompute the amount for our accommodation and divide it to ourselves. Also, one must sleep on the floor that night. What also, maybe, made me irritated that night was that the front desk was charging us for the extra bed that we asked for when in fact it doesn't have to be that way if we were in an extra large room.
But again, I keep it cool. I talked to them smoothly, telling the front dest to tell her boss that we are not payng for the extra mattress because we are not informed of this charges. They agreed right then and there. Aside from that there were no other issues that arose during our 3 night stay there.
As I've mentioned, this is just a minor set back for this inn and service coud be improved so that there would be no more negative feedbacks form customer. Check out their website here or contact 09227173389 and look for Nikka/Nicole.
There goes our first day. Tired bodies we rest, in the bed we go and sleep.
Enjoy!
Anna