Passing by a place for the first time makes you excited to see the scenery along the way. You can't close your eyes for a second, or you'll miss something on the left and right of the road. But there are also times when you become less interested in what's on the road before you, like if the place is just a usual scene of trees and houses as you pass by.
This photo collage is made through Canva.
But this unplanned road trip has become extraordinary! We wholeheartedly enjoyed every moment we had on the road. There was something in this place that anyone who passed by could not resist getting out of the car and taking some snaps of the breathtaking scenery along the road. The place is Kalilangan, Bukidnon.
Taking the Cagayan-Talakag road, we travelled an hour, and the scenery changed from the usual houses and trees, and tall grasses into something very magical, as if we had entered another country. The coldness of the wind changed, too, and we had to open our windshields and breathe the very fresh, cold air from outside. It was sunny, yet the wind was cold.
Ranges of small hills afar were visible from the road on both the right and left sides, since there were not many trees that could block the view. The blue clouds touched the hills, making the horizon view more amazing. All you can see is a vast, plain piece of land planted with crops and vegetables.
We seldom see houses and people. And we even asked each other, "Is this place still this unpopulated?", "Do the city people not know that there's a big piece of land here to live instead of living in the overpopulated area?" and "Is there a place like this? Almost no population yet very rich in crops and agriculture?". It is as if we really couldn't believe what we saw.
We found out that this place is a plantation area of pineapple, sugarcane, and banana. These are the major crops that Kalilangan are growing and the source of their daily needs. Some of the locals here let their land be rented by plantation owners just to make use of the land. They cannot cultivate all this vast area on their own, as it is too big to be cultivated by them.
A close-up shot of acres of sugarcane plantation along the road. We happened to ask for sticks of sugarcane from locals as we passed by them harvesting. They gave us 5 long sticks of sugarcane and, surprisingly, their sugarcane is sweeter than the canes grown in our neighbor's backyard when we were kids. The kids had their first try sipping sugarcane sticks and were amazed when they learned that these sticks are made into sugar. The sugar we have on our tables.
A wide plantation of pineapple. It is too wide, as if it is a sea of green pineapple plants. My sister jumped out of the car and had her pose. Our kids had their first look at what pineapple plants look like.
A closer snap of the acres of banana plantation. It is too big and wide that again you like looking at an ocean of green banana plants. The kids not only enjoyed the landscapes but also learned about some of the crops that they are enjoying on their plates. Very educational journey, indeed.
These people are the happiest when we let them hop in with us, wherever we go. They, too, love to explore and see new places and people. Their smiles are priceless.
Before, I was imagining Kalilangan as a place where all you can see are forests, mountains and wild animals, and plants. But this trip changed my mindset. I found a rich land, a beautiful and magical landscape, and a place blessed with so much fertile land. Indeed, the beauty of Kalilangan, Bukidnon, is untamed, waiting for you to see it by yourself. The lens of my camera doesn't show the real magic of these amazing works of nature. I captured it, but my eyes captured it incomparably.
Note: By the way, there's a hot spring somewhere in this place, but we were never able to visit it. If you want to visit the place, check the Google map and ask the locals to know where this hot spring is located.