Descent to depths is always a pleasure but combine it with heights, is I would say pure indulgence and what a joy! 😊There are places close to my heart that have this perfect combination but obviously not within my reach, distant travel and careful arrangements are necessary. Truly, it’s pure bliss having this combination in a trip, like shooting two birds with just one stone!
Recently, I did one just close home. I was grateful to my buddy for arranging the hike when I suggested to go somewhere else aside from the dives. Though I was always cautious not to have an arduous one to have enough strength for the rigors in diving. Well, trek needs to be done ahead since heights must be avoided after descents.
Trek, Falls, Dive
The trek in Baungon was something new, it’s one of the remaining towns in Bukidnon that I wanted to visit which I kept putting off as it’s just near my base. I was in for a surprise, what I thought as pretty relaxing walk to some elevated slope for horizon view was not the way it was. It started with down trek, into narrow ridge with cliff both sides with surrounding hills as backdrop! Crossing to the next hilltop with a hut and view deck that serve as base camp, we spotted falls afar, not just one but two! I thought that was it, had sumptuous lunch there while enjoying the panorama. 😊
Surprisingly, the walk continued down the stiff trail to the river, slippery and unforgiving but we need to go near Balangikog Falls and we did it. So fierce and wild, yet the sound of raging waters felt so refreshing, the water person in me is rejoicing! It had been raining past days thus the turbulence, the river rise up with its murky waters. The other falls much farther seems beckoning, at first, I hesitated it was way off and with no clear trails it won’t be easy. In the end, we all agreed to go as no one must be left behind. Tall grasses, mud, big boulders were all we had as we trod carefully our way to Niya Falls. It was well worth it, subdued and calm – it was more relaxing being there. It has wide clearing with boulders to sit upon, the wide expanse of the hills and valleys with the placid falls was all consuming. After awhile, we did the arduous trek back each in our own pace. I did stops not to pressure my legs, scrambling up was no joke with the slippery trails! Back at the base camp, our sumptuous lunch was waiting. It was just right as we are all famished and it was almost 1pm already.
The trek, two falls, new friends, satisfying lunch and stunning vista was more than enough for the day. A wonderful prelude for the morrow, I guess but honestly the long hike wasn’t I expected! 😊
The dives in my go-to diveshop the next day was all we needed, dried up gills and itching fins that longed for the waters immensely. The Mantangale Sojourn revived my spirit once more, two dives that transported me to another dimension. The privilege of exploring the underwater world hit me deeply, that same eagerness still caught me every time I have a dive trip coming.
Now I knew, my dives in Balingoan if ever I got can always be combined from choice of peaks in Bukidnon mountain ranges, it needs prudent planning though. Recalling our Panimahawa Ridge trek few years back after our dives was marvellous, yet technically it was an oversight. For safety, heights are not allowed after dives within 24 hours but thanks God, there were no issues then. Still, this combination is perfect for my adventurous heart, both are closest to nature.
Yes, climbing a peak or searching the depths is a real show of grandeur in all schemes of things!
Life in the Great Beyond 
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