I traveled from Butuan, Agusan del Norte to Alegria, Surigao del Norte about 75Km, via Bachelor Express Inc. aircon bus at P122 for two hours. I enjoyed the free bumps road trip with an amazing view from the window.
Seated next to me is Aling Lourdes, a retired teacher who kept me entertained about her stories during the trip.
Lake Mainit view
Closer to Lake Mainit
My friend June came to pick me up when I reached Alegria. I was standing in front of San Isidro Labrador Parish where her father serves.
Here she is umbrella girl , June :-)
I have a two-page list of the beautiful places that can be found in Surigao del Norte alone, which amazed my friend. Good to know that she haven't been to those places as it would be more fun and exciting. We did not waste time, on the same day we drove to Mainit Lake.
Mainit Lake lies in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte, Mindanao - is 17,340 hectares body of freshwater, the fourth largest lake and the second deepest lake in the Philippines. Three larger lakes are Laguna de Bay (Luzon), Taal (Luzon) and Danao (Mindanao) respectively.
Mainit Kasili Lakeside Resort
Only P25.00 entrance :-)
When we reached home, we reviewed the list again. Funny, the more places on the list, the more people we need to ask how to reach those places.
Day 2 in Surigao del Norte
Marajao na buntag Surigaaaaaaaao! (Good morning Surigao).
Tick, tick, tick! An exciting day to begin,
how many places on the list am I going to tick? :-).
We are on our way to our first to tick. The road is rough but the place is really rewarding.
1. Day-Asan Floating Village - is a barangay in Surigao City, the capital of Surigao del Norte.
Daydream Laguna Resort, Day-Asan
Fishing Boat
Future swimmers :-)
Water so clear
2. Mother of Perpetual Help Shrine - Ceniza Heights built by the volunteers of the said Patron in 1976.
Surigao City Hall
San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral, Surigao City
Luneta Park, Surigao City
Sorbetes
San Nicolas College
Lipata Port
The Port
Verano Port
Resort Cottages
3. Songkoy Cold Spring in Tubod, Surigao del Norte
Cottages in Songkoy
5. Lumondo Waterfalls and EcoPark in Barangay Budlingin, Alegria, Surigao del Norte
Mossy
Rocky
The Waterfalls
Way up and out
The airport in Surigao del Norte
...up next is Siargao trip :-)
Thanks to the following:
Ms. June Caumpay, Ate Jo and Family
for keeping me,
sharing your time
family great values
and for the fun shared
:-)
Giovanni Dumpa and Family
for the rides
for the information shared
and time
:-)
Lourdes Morato Delaraso
for the great talk
Davao
Mr. Soleto Catarman
for the Day-Asan boat trip
Alegria, Surigao del Norte
Mindanao, Philippines
May 2011
As always a very nice blog and a good capture of people and places... A travel temptation..;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Wuds for nice comment, it served as my travel booster :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat activities you can do in Lake Mainit? River cruise?
ReplyDeleteHi Ian,
ReplyDeleteLake Mainit does not have river cruise, it is not commercialized. There are few small fishing boats around which we ask the locals to take us around the lake.
Oh I see. Did you you take a cruise on municipality of Mainit or Alegria. We're planning to visit Surigao del Norte. Hope you shed light on my ff queries: Is there a trek going to Songkoy Cold Spring from Tubod plaza or town? How far is Tbod from Alegria, we want to partner the two to visit Lumondo Falls, is there also a trek or fee there and do we need pre-arrange trip or we just go on the spot? Is there also a guide to the falls and how to get on it from Alegria town or highway. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Ian,
ReplyDeleteMy friend who has permanent residency of Surigao but still a dayuhan of her own place. We drove a motor cycle to reached the lake as we wanted to see for a closer look of Lake Mainit.
When we got there, we just arranged with a resident and owner of fishing boat for a short cruise.
Songkoy, I don't remember exactly how far the spring from the plaza, but I recall that it was not an easy trip, many times we have to get off the car because stones and depth blocked the wheels, very secluded area. We went on a private vehicle. I have seen a habal-habal as we drove the area, atleast once, I just don't know where they stop and pick passengers.
There was no fees, haven't met locals doing trek, you just go to the place, no prearrangement needed as it is open place, not being commercialized.
Lumondo Falls in Alegria, again it's not an easy road, tricycle will have a difficulty to reach the place, ask residents or tricycle drivers for recommendation who can take you to the site once you get to barangay. My friend lives near so it was not that hard for us to find a service to take us to the falls. From the high way, take a motorcycle service to the site.
No guide. We just asked residents.
I hope it help you a bit Ian.
Thank you, Therrie! We're just traveling on commute but we have a friend living in Tubod but also a dayhan in his place. The tryicycle you are mentioning are habal-habal? The single motorcycle that can carry a lot of passenger.
ReplyDeleteCan you also shed light about the trek to Lumondo Falls like how far from the base start, time that will consume and how beautiful it is. Salamat.
ReplyDeleteIan,
ReplyDeleteTo Songkoy, I've seen a habal-habal ( single motorcycle with wood placed on the seat behind than can accommodate 5-6 pax).
To the falls, tricycle are parked along the high way, where you guys can ask if they knew a motorcycle driver that would take you to the falls. It's not habal-habal.
Tricycle (typical side car service) may offer to take you, however you may need to walk farther coz of stones.
In Songkoy, is there also a trek going back and forth there? I read some blogs that there's a 30-minute trek going there.
ReplyDeleteIn Lumondo Falls, they say there's no guide and it is abandoned by LGU. Is it true? If you trek it yourself, was it easy to navigate the trail back and forth without guide? Plus how much time consumed from trek and stay. Sorry for many queries becase we're traveling to SUG next week and we still don't have an itin yet for our 2 day stay. Thanks for all the info and 'hope you have time to visit my travel blog too.
I wouldn't consider it as a trekking because of it's proximity. There is a office at the site as you get there, but there was nobody sitting there to ask you for a fee or guide you. Not so far from that office there is the steps down to the falls site.
ReplyDeleteIt did rained just before we went there and so I loved fresh scent and fresh green forest.
Not a place for swimming for its narrow water area, not for a diving coz you will not even get fully submerge into the water, you will not able to get closer to the water falls because of the large stones. However, I have seen local kids bathing but I don't have idea whether there is a shower or place for changing. Again, the place is not a commercial area.
I enjoyed my time there coz i dont have really plan of swimming there, but its beyond my expectation. I love it, very greeny, so much of a nature, untouched. My friend who lives just as far as a motorcycle ride was happy and amazed to see that there is this small secluded forested area lies back there.
Thanks for sharing, I'm enlightened to my queries and expectations especially to Lumondo Falls. I feel sad that the LGU abandoned it as they once promoted it on their web blog. So its just easy to navigate to the falls without guides and we won't be lost or encounter a snake on the trail?
ReplyDeleteSorry for many queries as this will help us a lot for our travel to Surigao City next week. 'Hope you visit my travel blog too.
Hi Therrie! Just been to Surigao last week and it was a great summer trip.... Thanks for all the useful info and tips. 'Hope you visit my travel blog once I publish it soon.
ReplyDelete