Little did I know that we are travelling uphill on a steep mountain. Probably, that’s the reason why I felt some discomfort in my ears due to higher altitudes. We then see some fogs forming when we are about to reach our destination. The ambiance is a little bit different because there are a lot of trees, beautiful plants and flowers by the road. When we reached our destination, we were greeted by our friend and her husband. Their house is situated along the road which also served as a store catering basic needs, prepaid loads and what not for the neighborhood. We stayed and rested at the store for about an hour. Because their house was already converted into a store and its almost dark, we headed to a resort where we slept. Our friend anticipated that there is a need for an extra room to accommodate us, so she decided to rent out of her own pocket. She said that God has blessed them so much and she is just returning the favor.
In the morning, while the sun is shining brightly, I was stunned to a forest-like scenery which I didn’t notice when we got there. A lot of big trees and fruit bearing trees. Plants with beautiful flowers and orchids and roses. So beautiful and captivating, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take pictures, I don’t know why? Before breakfast, I decided to dip in the pool though the water was so cold. After a few laps, I can’t withstand the cold water anymore, I decided to get out of the pool and prepared to have a breakfast. After we took our breakfast, we head back to our friend’s residence and prepared our lunch then went downhill to “Nakatagong Paraiso or The Hidden Paradise”.
On our way to the Hidden Paradise was not really that challenging, though along the way we encountered slippery road, the experience we had was so memorable. We did not really struggle that much because it was a downhill slope towards the river. We saw different types of plants, frogs, horses, fish ponds, cows and a hanging bridge. The only struggle we experienced was a little bit pain in our legs because we are walking downhill. It also adds stress to your knees and ankles which can give a lot of pain and potential joint injuries. However, when we got to the place, we were mesmerized by its beauty and enchanting surroundings.
We were welcomed by the owners of the cottages near the river. We rested on our rented cottages and prepared our lunch. I really love the experience while we ate our lunch together. My friend prepared seafood, vegetable, pork barbeques, grilled fish, soda and last but not the least, the most important one-- rice. We can’t live without rice LOLS.
After devouring our luscious feast, we can’t help but to take a swim in the pristine waters of the river. It was very clear we can even see some small fish swimming. The surroundings are so neat and clean. Residents are obligated to clean their surroundings, pick-up some trashes and even cultivating a variety of plants near their houses for beautification. They also have a program that each household should contribute and take turns to clean their surroundings and rivers. Everybody is participating because it’s for their own good and for the tourists as well so that they keep on coming back. We swam like there is no tomorrow and enjoyed every moment in the river. I know now the reason why it was called “Nakatagong Paraiso or The Hidden Paradise because you really need to go downhill to reach there and in the end a euphoria of picturesque nature awaits.
The only struggle we had was going all the way back up. It was literally an uphill battle. I almost fainted on my way up and I was the one who’s left behind LOLS. I was catching my breath and from time to time will rest to regain strength. I guess I need some exercising to do. Eventually, I was able to pull it off and reach the top and get a good rest before travelling back home. Overall, the experience was amazing and memorable. I should be getting back there once this pandemic is over and done. Thank you and have a good one. Too-da-loo!
