Caves and Waterfalls

This trip was one of those random impulses that I just had to give in to, and it was such fun! :) Recently, I have been wanting to get the chance to go on adventure and explore and get lost and get the chance to admire beautiful things and be creative and... just be spontaneous. These experiences make life much more interesting. I'm just glad to be slowly going back to my normal self (I know this because I just struck off Boracay from my travel list - which I added it cos I got inggit to everyone else.). Going back to this trip, I've realized that Rizal is quite a big province and there are tons of wonderful places to discover. 

We were blessed with splendid weather and a gorgeous sky. Guided by an online post that I've read recently, my friend and I went to Tanay Rizal. We took a jeepney from Cainta and and hour later arrived in the Tanay the town proper. We then commissioned a tricycle to bring us around for P500. 

Not wanting to waste time, our first stop was Calinawan Cave, 30 meters underground. Unlike the Sagada and Palawan caves, this one is the first cave I've been to that's actually dry. It's a different experience and I felt a bit claustrophobic because of the small passageways. It's the first time I've seen live stones (literal translation) up close. Live stones glitter, and they're just so puhretty!

 It was about a 20-minute tour around the cave, we then headed to Daranak and Batlag Falls. 

live stones

inside the cave

The road less traveled. 

Before going to the falls, we stopped by a grotto. However, you'd need to climb 500 steps to reach it and Ces was not up for it so I just walked around the small river there and took photos, the water is so clear and cold, it felt good on my skin.

Daranak Falls, I must say, is SO BEAUTIFUL. There were a lot of people though (and by being present in my nature photos, people always ruin them. haha) It was lovely nonetheless. The pool at the bottom of Daranak has a very nice bluish-green color. 

A short distance away is Batlag. There are less people (probably because of the P100 entrance fee). Beautiful as well. I desperately wanted to swim! I have never swam in a pool under a waterfall before and I couldn't at that time since I did not have any extra clothes, I went as far into the water as my shorts let me though!

There is one waterfall in Batlag that I like best. The pool below it is blue green, there aren't a lot of people and the waterfall is just magical. :)

After taking photos, we headed back and came across this black dog. To our surprise, he starts jumping from rock to rock until he found a spot and lied down. That was just adorable and I wish my dogs weren't too spoiled and clumsy to do that :)

After the waterfalls, we went to another grotto (which is only 200+ steps! woot!) We went up and man, was. it. tiring. But the view from the top is well worth the leg pain and sweat. It was simply breath-taking.

Dandelion!

View from the top! Ces made it to the first landing! 

 Before heading back home, our driver brought us to the Parola. Tanay residents usually go here in the morning since this serves as their "park". It's that small town charm that makes this place interesting. Working for commercial malls (and being in different ones so often), I rarely encounter these types of things. And I find it very refreshing.

Our tour took about 3 hours and ended around lunch. I was home by 1pm and I was beat! It was such a fun trip perfect for a Sunday adventure. Next time I go there, I'll be sure to swim though! :)