Since my son is here with us for his University break and it's the New year, We decided that we take a family road trip to a place called "Bagong Tuklas River" which translates "A Newly Discovered River" found this place on tiktok from local vloggers. The place is an hour drive from our city. It was such a beautiful day, the weather was so perfect for a road trip, sunny but cool, my kind of weather.
But before heading to our desired destination we stopped by the cemetery to pay our respects for our beloved Nanay and Tatay. We took family selfies with them of course not physically but I think their in the background! See them?! Hahaha.
After our pit stop, we then headed to our destination but since the place is far from civilization we have to fill our tummies plus it's almost lunch time so we dropped by the jolliest bee in the world, Jollibee! A Filipino fastfood chain.
They have a huge monitor where you can place your order then pay online. This started during the pandemic, their cashless transaction. I am amazed at how fast my son skims and scans their menu. He knows where to find his order! So fast!😅 Then he said, Mama as a student I know their budget meals! Hahaha.
As we drove farther out from the buzzling city, from the hums of urban traffic, the noise, and the concrete jungles fade away when you step into the open arms of nature. From endless stretches of lush greenery to rolling rice fields that shimmer under the sun, the countryside offers an experience like no other — one that nourishes the soul.
I love rolling down our car window just so I can take in much of its freshness, no worries of pollution.
These lined up trees caught my eye and just gave me utter comfort. Standing tall and proud their canopies providing cool and shade under the heat of the day. The sight of these trees, their trunks sturdy and their leaves whispering in the wind, offers a sense of connection to something greater than yourself.
We really don't know where we're going so we ask for manual directions, from people. Well, we had the Waze and Google but it sent us to the river itself in barangay Cawag, Subic for this is what our son keyed in. We were all laughing because it was not the place we've seen on the internet. Good thing we were saved by the locals but mind you we were in the middle of nowhere and it's a highway. We have to wait for people/commuters to pass by just so we can ask them for directions. Well, that's the beauty of going on road trips, you will get lost but eventually you will still find your desired destination. I then said, Google has to put this newly found river tourist attracion on its Map so people like us won't get lost! Then my son replied, Mama it's just new right so probably that's why it's not in Waze and in Google yet! Hahaha.
We have to drive for thirty minutes following a paved road and when we reached the end it was dirt. There we were greeted with so many vehicles parked and so many people too. After parking our vehicle, paid the entrance fees and the parking fee. We need to hike for ten minutes before reaching the river.
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The view of the mountains behind was really spectacular. Seeing dried up rivers, rocks and I kept on saying is this the place already?; how come it's dry, there's no water?! My son then said you are like Donkey in Shrek Mama, that's why my boys walked ahead of me so they won't hear me whining! Hahaha. Well, because there were trikes and even vehicles passing by so now the dirt road was so dusty. I felt the dust on my face and I coughed!😅😍
I just continued on snapping photos here and there. To occupy my time during the hike. I spoke with one of the local tribe man, an Aeta and asked how come it's dry, he replied because we are approaching the summer or dry season that's why these parts of the river have dried up and there aren't that much water volume. He added during the rainy season these dry parts are filled with water so it's a bit dangerous because of the many rocks.
Upon our arrival at the main river site. The place was lined up with so many cottages and there were so many people too! Well, I forgot that it's the New year and it's the time for families to have their get together. I thought since it's just a recently discovered tourist attraction there won't be many visitors. Word spreads fast and the internet really fuels the fire.
We just came here to check out the place, do some sightseeing. We didn't bring any swimming clothes in fact we were wearing rubber shoes. We don't know what to expect but we were all up to the challenge. There was a part that we needed to cross a wooden bridge to go to the other side and you have to step on paddles of water so our shoes were all wet. But what the heck, it's all part of the adventure, right?!😉😀
This is the deepest part of the river where the daredevils would jump on the rivers end down to the water.
This river is really long, this is just the part where people can easily reach but the upstream part was used to be where the soldiers have their training and if you wish to take the rivers' route it would take three to four hours hike passing by boulders and rocks. But on foot probably two and a half hours but you have to pass by tall shrubberies of wild grasses since it's not frequented with people and you have to expect you will be greeted with snakes and other wild animals. Yikes!! Haha.
Overall, the place is nice, you will really see and feel its authenticity since it's not yet developed, still in its original and wild form. If you wish to escape the city with very minimal to almost no cost at all just the food and transportation and the merriment with you. Then this is a good place. I would love to come back here during the rainy season and see if how high the water level can be.
After our sightseeing, we left around 4pm thinking that it might rain for it has become cloudy, the sun is not that visible already. We dropped by the viewing deck overlooking Subic town and Subic Bay Freeport.
"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time and Save everything as memories!" This is what I always say to my son. Well, I borrowed the first three lines and added mine on the last.☺️😍
Hope you had fun reading, browsing, skimming our photos. See you on my next adventures, I have loads to share this time.
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