On our third day, we saw the hidden jewel
of South Cotabato ,that magnificent work of nature named Lake Sebu. My eyes
feasted on the majestic mountains,the
calm but mysterious lake, and the seven waterfalls which one rarely finds in
just one place . Moreso, the countless activities that one can do in every part
of the province adds to its charm.
I will share with you later, the most
exciting things I did for the first time in my life, which all happened in
South Cotabato.
But first, let me give you some details
leading up to those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
We all woke up on time to eat a delicious
breakfast consisting of fried tilapia served with fresh veggies and tomatoes.
We seldom have fresh fish in Manila and we relished every last bit of that
fresh seafood. No wonder,our breakfast took longer than usual. Besides,we
discussed the activities for the day, including the zipline, which scared some
and excited some. (Guess as to which group i belong). Encouraging words were
put out to the ones who were obviously afraid to try it, heheh..
After breakfast, our first activity was a
boat ride around the wondrous Lake Sebu which was facilitated by Ms. Sarah, a
native of Lake Sebu (T'Boli). The culture and arts of the town, especially
their famous dreamweaving is thankfully intact. Ms Sarah pointed out that the lake is the one that provides the
people with all their needs.
Then, we headed over to the Lake Sebu Seven
Falls which is located at Barangay lake Seloton. We first saw the waterfalls
called Hikong Alo, which stands almost 35ft. The other waterfalls to complete
the list include Hikong Bente (70ft), Hikong B'Lebel(Coil/ZigZag), Hikong Lowig
(Booth), Hikong Ukol (Wild Flower), Hikong K'Fo-I (Short) and Hikong Tonok
(Soil).
We watched the waterfalls in all their
magnificence by riding the Lake Sebu Zipline. This zipline is said to be the
highest zipline of Southeast Asia at 600ft high and 700 meters long for the
first ride and 400 meters long for the second ride.
We saw a rainbow from each waterfall and
each ride, can you believe that? Hayz, that was really a breathtaking scene
that would stick to my memory, come hell or highwater. Haha! It felt like I was
not only flying but I was given a new pair of eyes to appreciate the world from
a new perspective.
God must have been truly inspired when he
crafted Lake Sebu. And though I wanted to stay longer and be totally one with
nature then and there, I had no choice but to leave for another adventure.
So, I left Lake Sebu with a heavy heart but
with a rejuvenated soul. Nature gave me a reboot and I was ready to take on the
world again.
Arriba, arriba! Andale, andale! Off we go
to the next location, and that is - Koronadal.
First, we had our sumptuous lunch at the
Benlyn Cafe of FB Hotel, which happens to be the newest hotel in Alunan Avenue,
Koronadal City, South Cotabato. You must try their desserts particularly
their version of Ube Halaya, it is super yummy!
We also had a chance to roam around and see
the facilities of FB Hotel from its room accommodations with comfortable bed
and linens to its Italian furniture and fixtures and exquisite chandeliers. The
hotel has a ballroom and several
functions rooms for events like weddings, conventions, and seminars.
Though we only spent a couple of hours at
FB Hotel, our experience in that elegant hotel exceeded my expectations. On my
next trip to Koronadal (with my hubby, next time), FB Hotel would definitely be
the place to stay.
Almost an hour's drive from Koronadal City,
lies the province of Sarangani. I can not believe at that moment that I was
about to set foot on the southernmost tip of Mindanao.
We had a courtesy call at Glan Municipal
Hall, Province of Sarangani and got a warm welcome from the municipality's
councilor and tourism personnel. They offered us a snack that happens to be one
of my favorites, a combination of Suman (sticky rice) + Mango + Tablea drink.
Isn'that a perfect combination?
Glan will celebrate their centennial
anniversary from September 23 to October 9, 2014. A lot of activities are
scheduled for the anniversary including street dancing competitions, and
parades. There are also exhibit booths that showcase the products of the
province. So if you are planning a trip sometime near these dates, Glan is the best place.
We never expected that there were
delectable dishes waiting for us on dinner at our home for the night at Isla Jardin Del Mar, courtesy
of our major sponsor of the SoCCSKSarGen Experience Tour 2014. The SMART Team
was waiting at Isla Jardin Delmar, Glan Sarangani, with a backdrop of mouth-watering,
delicious food on the table.
Over dinner we shared each others' story
about our activities for the day, especially the Lake Sebu Falls Zipline. Also how
That's when I realized too, that I ventured
into a totally new thing here in Mindanao without my husband. We usually try
new things or experiences for the first time as a team, but this one is an
exemption, hehe...
Thank you so much Smart Communications Inc.
for a day full of wholesome fun and experience!
There is another interesting thing I want
to share with you because, while I'm finishing this blog post, I am in this
cozy cottage of Isla Jardin Del Mar. I can hear the sounds of the beach because
it's just right in front of us. This bamboo house smells so sweet and the
lighting is enticing me...to sleep.
So, good night for now guys! I will share
another adventure here in Mindanao for the SoCCSKSarGen Experience Tour 2014
soon.
