Travels enriches one’s soul and mind. It is one of the activities done by few people but like and wanted by many because of the positive effects it could give to the travelers. It is a way of escaping the city life in order to recharge the positivities of life being affected by all the negative factors all around us.
So for those who wanted to travel but due to time constraints wasn’t able to do it, let me bring you to a place where you can find yourself being at ease with the chaotic world you used to live in to a place where nature is for keeps. Dearest Steemians, let me bring you to the Southern Cebu specifically in the province of Barili.
It was way back semestral break, when I and my friends decided to unwind and distress the obstacles and circumstances that we have encountered in our “teaching life”. It was our first travel together so we decided to take an early trip in the South Bus Terminal, near EMall Cebu City, Philippines. The trip going to Barili took us 2 hours including the traffic jam in the city. Nevertheless, the trip alone inside the bus was already a distressing activity due to the fresh air kissing your hair and face accompanied by the nice green view of nature.
We stopped at Brgy. Nangka, Barili Cebu to have our first stopover in one of my colleague’s hometown. The road going to their house was not a joke. We rode a motorcycle, where locals termed as “habal-habal” and took a long walked barefooted since the road was slippery due to bad weather that time. The moment we reached their house , we felt in awe because the environment was mesmerizing! Green leaves, colorful flowers, and tall coconut trees all around us. We took pictures before we moved to our next destination which is the “Tilapiahan Station”.
Tilapiahian Station was also a nice place to distress and to have a good time together with friends and family. Cottages are available to make the customers feel at home and feel relaxed to get away the city problems. In the station, you can rent a fishing rod to catch some “tilapia”- a kind of fish very popular to the province. The fish caught is already yours and it is up to you if you are going to bring it at home or grill it outside the cottages and have it as one of the menu for lunch or dinner. In addition, the station also offers horse back riding so as kids and adult swimming pool with fresh water in it which comes from the nearby waterfalls.
Since I already give you a hint of the nearby waterfalls, let me introduce you the breathtaking scenery, energy-recharging, ounce of water dropping to the ground producing a very natural hypnotizing sound of waterfalls- The Mantayupan Falls. This falls is a few steps away from the “Tilapiahan Station” and is composed to of two waterfalls paralleled to each other and one major waterfalls few steps from the hanging bridge. It takes a lot of courage in crossing the hanging bridge. Thus extra care is a must on holding the rope but in our case we face the challenge happily so we took our nice pose.
After crossing the hanging bridge you can now witness the beauty of the continuous huge amount of water falling down the ground accompanied by the birds’ chirping and the green leaves flying together with the cool and fresh breeze of the province wind. Unlike other falls, which I have visited already, this is one of a kind due to it towering height and rocky surface that is why diving is prohibited. Small and big rocks covered beneath the waterfalls’ ground makes the swimming experience more challenging and enjoying. Inspite of the rocky surface, the water falling to the ground with its enchanting sound took away our stress and we were able to recharge the negative ions that we have encountered in the profession we are into where in time and effort is really needed. So if you wanted to recharge and regain the positive energy back into one’s body system, then this place must be one in your bucket-list.
God bless everyone.
