Masungi Georeserve Ecapade

Reservations

Masungi Georeserve just opened December 2015 but due to popularity, getting a reservation is quite challenging. They do not entertain walk-ins so you have to secure a schedule before going. As of writing the earliest weekend schedule available is by November 2016. They only had 2 schedules per day when they opened but now they have tours scheduled every 30 minutes from Tuesdays-Sundays. You can make reservations through their website http://www.masungigeoreserve.com. Minimum of 7 and maximum 13 guest per scheduled tour. The tour costs PHP1000-1400 per person. You can pay the required 50% deposit via BPI or via Credit Card. The fee includes the kit you'll be needing for the trip and a light snack.

Getting There
Masungi Georeserve is located at KM47 Baras Rizal. It is so much easier to bring a car which would be about 1.5 hours drive from Manila. But my group decided to rent a jeepney, and since I have an uncle which lives in Cubao and has a jeep, we paid for it for the whole day.

We arrived a bit early in the morning, so we have to wait for our 1pm trekking schedule. We went for a sidetrip first which is Daranak falls. It is a magical place! 

No justice on this photo.. its such a nice place

SILUNGAN

Silungan (shelter), the starting point and briefing area. Once you get here, you can start preparing your gears and make your final bio breaks because there are no shower rooms along the 4-hour trail. So, make sure that you are 100% ready.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

– Wear a casual, lightweight & comfortable clothing, paired with non-slip closed shoes, is the required attire.
– Bring your important stuff: Water, towel, sun protection, camera, and change of clothes.
– Loud noises are not allowed. Wildlife can’t be disturbed and feel harmed, right?
– Strictly no alcohol and smoking. Self-explanatory I guess? 
– Always wear the helmet provided to avoid injuries.
– The trail can take 3 – 4 hours including the time spent for picture-taking and resting.
– Enjoy and have fun! Remember to give respect to one another because we all want instagrammable shots, right?

Next to it is the level 1 challenge of rope climbing. At first, you might be overwhelmed if this is going to be your first time. It was also my first time. If I did it, why can’t you? Trust me, this is just easy. My tip is to take the sideways because the rope is tighter there so you can have a better grip. 

You can't climb to those ropes without washing your shoes first, to maintain its cleanliness

SAPOT

Moving on, the first attraction and probably my favorite because it was really awesome. .This is made of weaved steel and is pretty stable. This is one of the famous attractions in Masungi. According to Kuya Jason, our guide, they were supposed to just build a structure here made of rocks to create a view point where you can see Nanay and Tatay but it will take more time and ruin the already existing rock formations so they just decided to work around it to preserve the natural beauty of the place hence the "Sapot". You can notice that they try to be as non invasive as much as possible to preserve the rock formations.

PATAK

Patak (droplet) is like a tree house but instead of being suspended by a tree, it is hanging by the bridge that’s really high from the ground. It is named patak because of its shape being similar to a water droplet.

Actually, you can rest here for a bit because the next
one will be a tough one. All these hanging bridges
 are nothing at all after all the things you’ve gone
 through the trail.

Ditse

A small peek after Patak, you have to climb a Lambat to reach this.

My knees were shaking seeing how we should go down. It's quite a high fall after all and there were no safety harness. So far there's no fatality... yet.

DUYAN

Duyan (swing) is a giant hammock that stretches from Ditse to the other end where you’ll get to the next attraction. You have to be extremely careful here with your stuff like camera, one single mistake, and your gadget is gone.

It was indeed fun and exciting here. Your legs may get shaky if you are afraid of height. But after some time, you’ll get used to it and you will feel relaxed lying down the hammock while you feel the cold breeze.

NANAY

Nanay (mother) is the second highest peak and has a better resting place and instagrammable view of the area. The bridge that connects the limestones is perfect for doing some moments and photo shoot. Finally, nanay completes the family of highest peaks in Masungi Georeserve.

And I reached the very top of the mountain!

After the trek, they will serve a light meal (sandwich) then go back to the shed to claim your things and freshen up. The trek lasts for 3-4 hours back and forth depending on the pace of the group. We started around 2pm and ended around 5pm and that is with a lot of stops and rests..

Saigon Vietnam

1^st day Vietnam

                 Exactly at 1pm, bus arrived in Saigon. As my host instructed me, I took Vina Sun taxi and gave my hostel address. The place is in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. I booked my room 2weeks before my trip and Ms Yang Homestay immediately responded which is a plus point. Ms Yang Homestay has an astonishing part. MY ROOM. It was far different in the photo I saw though it looks nice. But it was really huge in actual for only one person. Spotless from any dirt and so feminine! If I could have some days to stay, I would love to stay the wholeday in my room. Anyways, the room cost me only $17/night (111,250 Dong).

                So again, no time to kill, Ms yang gave me a city map and she marked the tourist attraction. And I saw there’s a lane of motorbike in her yard and then asked her if those are for rent and viola! I have bike for $5/wholeday.

 

The Palace

First time in my life to pay 39,000 for 
a piece of cake and a coffee :)

 

It was a pleasure to see inside of the Cathedral

According to wikipedia: 

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon (Vietnamese: Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Bà Sài Gòn or Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn; French: Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saigon), officially Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception (Vietnamese: Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Mẹ Vô nhiễm Nguyên tội; French: Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Immaculée Conception) is a cathedral located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Established by French colonists who initially named it Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet).

2^nd day Vietnam

Cu Chi Tunnel

I booked a half day tour from Remnant War Museum for 556,250 Dong or $25. The van picked me in my hostel at 8:30 am. The journey from Saigon to Cu-Chi Tunnel is 1 ½ hour.

It’s the only destination that I thought I must visit during my stay in Ho Chi Minh. I heard about it before and often saw the photos where people’s head coming out from a small underground hole. I was wondering how small the hole inside the tunnels look like, whether I could fit into it, or whether I dared enough to go through it, etc.

The Cu Chi tunnels were the location of the Vietnam War and the Viet Cong’s base back in 1968. It was about 120km long and as deep as 12 meter underground. The original size was about 60cm width and 80cm height. However, they’ve resized it into 80cm width and 150cm height so that it’s accessible for Western tourist to experience it. They used it as hiding spots, as well as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon storage, and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters to resist from their enemies. Once we entered into the location, we were brought to a place to sit and watch the black and white propaganda movie.

There was a shooting range too where you could have a chance to fire number of assault rifles and light machine gun by paying some additional money (around US$1.20/bullet). Therefore, you could hear some gun shots while you were there, which made the war environment seemed to be alive! :)

Aaaand that was I ended up my day!

i went back to my hostel and waited until night for my flight back to Manila..

My very accommodating host.. Ms.Yang

Cambodia-Siem Reap

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world, with the site measuring 162.6 hectares.

Be ready for your US dollar because Cambodian people prefer to use US dollar. At dito ako namulubi! Lol

Yuan and I, decided to get 1 shared room for $18/night. We arrived in Siemreap around 4pm, the Hotel we got were just besides of Siem reap Night Market. It was a bunos for us. We don’t need to walk farther. I had my dinner in Pub Street. 

I made an arrangement from a tuktuk driver for 1 day private tour around Ankor Wat. Yes, you need a service because the area is very huge like 10times bigger than the city market. 

As I have read blogs too much and a must see sunrise in Ankor, and really a MUST see sunrise.. I set my alarm at 4:30am. Before 5am, me and my tuktuk headed to buy 1day entrance ticket for $20. I bought a coffee and bread as a baon dahil foods inside Ankor vicinity is too expensive. 

My entrance ticket in Ankor Wat

 ANGKOR WAT

 So many tourist kaya dapat magaling kang dumiskarte ng pupwestuhan.

Angkor Wat – built by Suryavarman II (r 1112–52) – is the earthly representation of Mt Meru, the Mt Olympus of the Hindu faith and the abode of ancient gods. The Cambodian god-kings of old each strove to better their ancestors’ structures in size, scale and symmetry, culminating in what is believed to be the world’s largest religious building.
The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of fierce national pride. Unlike the other Angkor monuments, it was never abandoned to the elements and has been in virtually continuous use since it was built.

After Sunrise, tour around of the Ankor temple was the unforgettable experience. Yung nakikita ko lang sa history book noon, ngayun naakyat ko na.

From the top of Ankor Wat

Inside of  Ankor Wat

Inside of  Ankor Wat

Inside of  Ankor Wat

Inside of  Ankor Wat

Stone carving in every wall of the temple

 SOUTH GATE TOWER OF BAYON

BAYON TEMPLE 

Bayon is now known to have been built by Jayavarman VII, though for many years its origins were unknown. Shrouded in dense jungle, it also took researchers some time to realise that it stands in the exact centre of the city of Angkor Thom. There is still much mystery associated with Bayon – such as its exact function and symbolism – and this seems only appropriate for a monument whose signature is an enigmatic smiling face.

 PHIMEANAKAS TEMPLE

Phimeanakas or Vimeanakas at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman, then completed by Suryavarman I in the shape of a three tier pyramid as a Hindu temple.

 

 PREAH KHAN TEMPLE

 

The temple roots seem to be the pillars of the temple

 

 

Wondering how they did all of these sculpting.

 

Wholeday experience in Ankor is worth it! Paid another $20 for the tuktuk service. I never had the chance to eat dinner dahil sa pagod. Hilik agad pagsayad ng likod sa kama lol.