Monday, April 30, 2012

CDO-BUKIDNON: Fast, Fearless, Fun


July 2010 via Cebu Pacific Air promo fare – got it on a cheap P2,060 per pax.

The six of us (Ms. Shiela, Cecille, Mira, Soce, Jeanna and I) left shortly before our time-out (which well, was legally permitted by our kind boss) to catch a 2PM flight to Cagayan de Oro. Almost less than 48 hours later, we had to wake up early at 3AM for a 5AM return flight to Manila. In a span of less than two days, it was unimaginable how we’d actually managed to realize whatever was on that itinerary…until it’s marked done. It was all too fast from the booking to the trip itself. So how did it go? 


Day 1-Arrival
Stepped in CDO’s grounds at around past 4 in the afternoon. The hotel which housed us for the next 24 hours and so is a real good one – first it’s cheap, second, it’s within the city.
There was not much time so we had to stay in the hotel real fast, dropped the bags and went directly to the Divine Mercy Shrine in a nearby town in Misamis Oriental (about 30 mins travel by bus from CDO). One thing I realized about commuting is the fun of transferring from a public vehicle to another and being for a while, one with the locals. And this particularly was just more, since they (the locals) did not fail, not even short, in manifesting their city’s slogan – The City of Golden Friendship. 


1.       Shrine of the Divine Mercy
We took a habal-habal (a motorcycle which could accommodate two passengers at 40 each, two-way) to go to the shrine. Entrance is free. Shorts and sleeveless are not allowed. But for most tourists who would still arrive at the shrine not properly dressed, you will simply be provided by wrap-around skirts and shawls for your top.

 2.       Limketkai Mall
This is CDO’s SM. Its surrounding areas are also a great stop for dining. We tried Sunburst and Cusina de Oro.


3.       Xavier University
The Ateneo affiliate is just within the city. Actually passed by the university on the way to Divisoria street.

4.       Divisoria Street Night Party
CDO’s late night “gimikan”. Crowded, like Manila’s Divisoria. Only that, it’s packed with not just dry goodies but a number of “kainans” and “inumans” along the street, made alive by a local band performing at the central plaza. 

 
Day 2-Adventure Like No Other
Our call time was quite early. Since a cheap and budget-friendly breakfast was available at the hotel, we didn’t have to leave for a walk in the city – quite convenient really. We were fetched by our service vehicle as early as 7AM and travelled almost 30 minutes to their office for the a briefing. Thought we were the only ones in the tour but two others were invited by Kuya to join in. We are on separate rafts. That’s a fact. But from orientation to the travel to site, until the rafting and so on…our groups have been together. We’ve met an acquaintance in him who would later be the cute little story for that day’s trip. But let’s leave it at that to save this page.
1.       White Water Rafting in CDO
Great White Water Tours offers a P1,100 tour package for intermediate course (which means there’s flipping of the raft…and it was exactly the exciting part of that 2-3 hrs. course on the raging rapids of CDO’s  river). Aside from the rafting gears and equipment, package includes pick up from hotel, service to and from site, snacks (we were given our first taste of the famous pastel) and lunch (unlimited chicken inasal, barbecue, atsara, toyo-mansi and rice and a bottle of coke). The tour and the people behind them defined SULIT.
2.       Camp Philipps
From the name itself, it is I guess a military camp. We didn’t really take time to go see and explore. It was just one of the extras served to us by Bukidnon as we took our way to Dahilayan.
3.       Pineapple Plantation
Another free serving from Bukidnon... A quick stop for a jump shot would make a good souvenir of that long stretch.
4.       Longest Dual Zipline Ride in Bukidnon
Dahilayan Adventure Park’s rate for all three ziplines (one of which, is tagged as Asia’s Longest Dual Zipline being 850 meters long which, launch tower has to be reached after a short and bumpy ride on a 4x4 jeep) is P600. And because we’ve made friends (from the rafting) with the owner’s nephew, we were treated a free use of one of their newest facility, the “ROPES COURSE”. This park was adventures of sorts – from the meet and greets, to the extended stay for a suspended-on-air activity, to the assuming for something more from the gestures of our then, big fan.


 

 
5.       Pastel
It melts in the mouth. One shouldn’t miss this. Bringing one home would complete the trip.



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