Day
1 – Mag-Aso Falls is my 7th falls that I encountered in my life. One of my goals
in life is to visit and see many water falls around the country, whenever I see
one, I just want to sit and stare the water falls all day and enjoy the
beautiful product of mother nature. I didn’t expected that we will visit a falls
that day when we went to Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, all I know is that
we were there to cover the Sinulog de Kabankalan and tour around, the city is
rich of beautiful nature scenery and also a good spot for eco tourism, Alfredo
our guide that day told us that there are more eco tourism park in their city
and he will take us there to check it out and also get a chance to promote it
here in my blog.
If ever I knew that our next agenda is to go Mag Aso
falls, I should have brought with me my swimming gear and my water proof case
for my iPhone. The road from the town proper going to Mag Aso falls will take
you around 30-45 minute or 1 hour, it depends if your driver knows the
direction, you will reach the falls at around 30 minutes only. You can check
the map here via Foursquare at
https://foursquare.com/v/magaso-falls/4e633dc51850e238d6c61db3 Mag
Aso falls is located in Barangay Oringao, you can ride a motorcycle or a
tricycle going to the falls area, which is on top of a mountain. We went there
via van and accdg to our guide, you can rent a motorcycle and driver going there
for PHP200. Mag Aso falls got its name from the Visayan word “mag aso” that
means “smoke. I think the town locals named it after the falls can produce water
mist when water falls into the stream like a smoke.
There’s an entrance
fee of PHP 20 for visitors, you can sped the time here enjoying the nature
scenes at the Mag Aso falls, there’s also a room accommodation for rent at a
price of PHP 1000, good for an overnight stay. There’s a sari sari store in
front of the sign of the Mag Aso falls, they sell some soft drinks, bottled
water and some snacks, but there’s no rice meal or viands for your lunch, so I
suggest that you bring your own food supplies if you plan to visit the falls for
a short time or overnight stay.
The beauty of Mag Aso falls can be seen
here in my photos, the limestone under the river glows in blue color as the sun
ray’s shine over it, the illumination of the water adds more beauty to the color
and you’ll mistaken that the Mag Aso falls’ water is color blue or greenish
blue.
I can say that this is the most beautiful water falls that I have
seen because of its colorful water streams and greenish surroundings, its like a
paradise!
Mag Aso Falls signage
You have to take the stairs and go down the mountain in order
to see the Mag Aso falls, but before you enter the falls area, you’ll see this
swimming pool as a basin of water that comes from the top of the mountain, its
fresh water from nature!
They created a man made stream on top of the mountain and
maybe they created a water canal that distribute water to this pool.
Bathroom area
more shower area
Below
the pool…more man made stream
Cottages that you can rent for PHP 200 if you want a day tour
here in Mag Aso falls
Man made mini falls below the pool, the water comes from the
pool and it flows down to the stream where the Mag Aso falls is
located
Cottage house that you can rent for an overnight stay at a
price of PHP 1000
I
was surprised to see a long stairs leading to the bottom of the mountain
hahahaah. I’m excited to see the falls below, and also I accepted the reality
that going up from where we came from will be a tough obstacle for me hahahaha.
I have encountered this before and I know that visiting a water falls site will
require more leg and foot power.
I spotted some visitors who are resting at the balcony of the
water falls viewing area
My view after a few steps from the end of the stairs… I can
hear the noisy water falls and the cold breeze of air with mist. I’m happy that
this site is well maintained and taken care of.
I just want to jump into the water and swim! the colorful
stream is very inviting, it channels a good positive energy to us and I’m glad
that the weather cooperates in that day, it was cloudy in Visayas due to a
typhoon in Mindanao.
Its
like a paradise!
Selfie time!!
Actually I’m not satisfied yet with my view,
so I went down the viewing area and went near the falls.
I
climbed up a big rock that sits infront of the falls, I’m the only guy in our
group who went there and stay for a few minutes, climbing up to the big rock is
so hard, I climbed using my two feet and two hands and a big reward is this
awesome view of the Mag Aso falls. its so beautiful!
Its nice to know you Mag Aso falls!!
My next challenge
is to go down the big rock hahhahah.
I was lucky that I didn’t slip over the
muddy and wet rock, I calculated my landing because I need to jumped after
sliding down the rock…its dangerous…but I got lucky that I landed on two
foot.
We went up back to the starting line of the trail and we
took a rest infront of the sari sari store, while I enjoy my nice cold drinks, I
watched a group of kids playing “piko” , they scratch the ground and then they
played barefoot. I remember that time that I used to play “piko” during my
elementary years, I’m happy to see that these kids are enjoying the game.
I want to join the piko game..but I’m so super lowbatt and I
need to rest my legs after the trail climb
There’s a pond here in Mag Aso falls site
A big koi fish lives here
hahahaha! I was surprised that
this big koi went to the surface of the pond.
ahahahah!
Thanks Mag
Aso falls!!! its nice to meet you! I hope I can go back here again and take a
nice dip in to your colorful water streams.
MAG ASO FALLS FACEBOOK
PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/kabankalanmagasofalls
KABANKALAN CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTALKabankalan City
provincial government website :
http://www.negros-occ.gov.ph/about-negros-occidental/cities-and-municipalities/cities/kabankalan-city.htmlKabankalan
City tourism page:
http://tourism.negros-occ.gov.ph/places-to-go/cities/kabankalan-city/Sinulog
de Kabankalan Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/sinulogdekabankalan
Thanks
and credits*** Many thanks to Mr. Tootsie and Pie Zayco for
inviting us here in Kabankalan City. Thanks also to Mr. Alfredo Otea, Kabankalan
City tourism officer, for touring us around the city, you may contact him at
+63 946 2832510 if you want some info or
tour around the city.
Thanks also to my travel blogger mates Raffy of
www.pinoytravelblog.com and Ron of
www.wahpinas.com for being the best company
in every travel and gimmicks…and also nice to meet and thanks to Belle and Renz
of
www.choosephilippines.com and
Nikka of
www.loqal.ph . and last.. thanks to
Mika, our PR contact for arranging and coordinating with us for this trip.
I
ts nice to meet you Kabankalan City!!! see you in our next visit.
Visit my travel blog post under “travel” tag -
http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/search/label/travelFor
more Kabankalan City trave blog post, just click “kabankalan” tag in my blog -
http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/search/label/kabankalanand
for Sinulog 2014 -
http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/search/label/sinulog%202014I
f
you love my photos and want to save a copy…or if you need a copy to be published
in print, tv or online, don’t hesitate to ask me and email me at
azrael@gmail.com