You know that video where people are climbing nets, crossing a giant duyan, and posing on top of a spiderweb-like platform that's been on Facebook for almost a year now? If not, well, you're definitely missing out! That beautiful place called Masungi Georeserve happens to be close to my hometown - Baras, Rizal. Here's a video to see how our adventure went:
Masungi Georeserve only allows 17 groups 7-14 people each day if I'm not mistaken. They start at 5:30am for those who would like to catch sunrise during the trek. We booked our reservation about a month before and didn't find any weekend availability. There was only one spot left for the weekday we opted to go, so we sent our request form to Masungi via their website. Waited a couple of days to receive a reply from them asking us to send a deposit. It took a while before they got back to us so I suggest give yourself plenty of time to book your reservation ahead especially if you don't live in the Philippines as you can only communicate to them via email.
The trek took about four hours for us to complete but that already included picture taking, breaks, and other stops. The group before us was a large one so we kept stopping and waiting for them to finish in some of the areas. The trek starts at an ascend to the famous spiderweb-like platform seen mostly in pictures and videos. The view was breathtaking! The web can hold about 15 people because it's made of industrial steel wire. It was still scary to walk on though! It moves whenever you step on it. Underneath the web are rock formations similar to the ones in Palawan. They got their shapes through time, wind, and rain.
The trail was not too difficult but at the same time challenging. We had to climb up and down net contraptions. At first, I was so scared to climb down but it ended up being my favorite obstacle there! There's also three suspension bridges there with the last one being the longest. The trek will take you to both Nanay and Tatay so you're able to see the captivating views they offer.
The steps were narrow and steep. We were told by our guide that all the steps/blocks used for the trail were manually carried/brought there by people! That's thousands of steps we're talking about. Aside from the narrow trail, the passageways are the same. There was one that we all had to walk like a duck!
Looking at others' pictures, the giant duyan didn't look that scary at all but being actually on it was kind of a struggle. I'm not one who's good in balancing thy self so you know how that went. Haha. It's situated on treetops. When you get there, try to not focus on being scared of what's underneath but just take a breather and appreciate what's below and around you. You'll be mesmerized!
There's also this cave called Yungib ni Ruben which was named after the person who discovered the place. It's so nice inside. Thank goodness for the helmets they made us wore to protect our heads because I definitely hit mine a couple of times. The last part of the trek is called the Liwasan which serves as a bird bath for the inhabitants there in the georeserve. They also have an area wherein you can relax and eat the snacks they prepared for you. We picked it at the time of the reservation. The options are egg salad, tuna, and chicken spread. They also serve you water, juice, and bananas.
The cost for the trek is Php 1,400.00 each person with a minimum of 7 people so if there's less than 7 people in your group, you still have to pay for the entire cost which is Php 9,800.00. Masungi Georeserve is located at Kilometer 45, Marcos Highway, Rizal, Philippines. Visit them at http://www.masungigeoreserve.com for reservations!
Back in April, a good friend of mine spotted a Groupon deal for Vision Quest Ranch's Bed & Breakfast and she convinced me to purchase the deal with her. Prior to booking the inn, I haven't heard anything about it but knowing her, she has good taste with this kind of things so I clicked the "Buy Now" button. Vision Quest Ranch is located in Monterey County wherein wild animals adopted from different parts of the world can be seen. The ranch offers a variety of tours and activities to get more personal with the animals. Guests can feed the big cats and elephants. They also have a Bed & Breakfast which has unique bungalows themed with different types of wild animals.
Listen to the lions and tigers roaring only yards from your canvas walled hotel suite. Each African tent style bungalow is creatively decorated and equipped with comfortable furniture and complete bathroom facilities. They're basically "chic" canvas walled hotel suites with most of the comforts found in a luxury hotel suite. Wake to a continental breakfast delivered to your tent by the staff and one of our African elephants. In the afternoons, guests will enjoy visiting with the facility trainers on their evening walks with many of our Wild Things (weather and animal(s) permitting). - Vision Quest Ranch
We drove about four hours to reach Salinas and as son as we got there we looked for a place to have lunch. With only a few minutes left to spare, we luckily got in the free tour for the B&B guests at 1300. The tour took about an hour to finish and it was consisted of introducing the wild animals they have in the ranch. They also told us that they are in the progress of turning it into a zoo. Personally, I was thankful that I got to go to this place before it's a zoo.
After the tour, we immediately checked in to our bungalows. We stayed at the Little Big Cat House and the Bear's Den. One of the rooms had two queen beds and the other one had a king bed. The bungalows were very clean. Each bungalow has a refrigerator, coffee/tea maker, shower, and a portable heater for those who easily get cold at night.
The place was so calm and serene. It was very relaxing. Just look at the view when you step out of the bungalow.
The weather was perfect. We slept throughout the night hearing different animal sounds and when we woke up in the morning, we were greeted by an elephant who delivered our continental breakfast.
We also got to feed her with apples and carrots. Oh what an experience! It was very hard to leave this place. We really enjoyed our stay here. Hoping we get to come back!
One of the highlights of my summer is my family coming here for summer. My father and I planned a mini trip to Wyoming to explore two national parks - the Grand Teton and the Yellowstone National Park. This trip is the most outdoor-ish we've gone to! We saw a lot of wildlife and mother nature's treasures. We went on a 10-hour tour of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. To be honest, I wasn't that excited to go because I was expecting it to be boring but it turned out to be a fun experience for the whole family! It was so cold during the tour so we ended up having lunch in the van. Anyway, let me continue my story using these pictures.
With our tour guide, Jacklyn.
The Tetons
Jackson Hole's town square houses a lot of tourist stores. We walked around and did some shopping for our friends before we headed to the airport. It was a short trip but very well spent.
1. Traveling. I love traveling so much. My friends and I are going on a short trip to Seattle on Friday. I'm so excited! I would travel every week/month if I had the money to spend. Here's the video I made from my trip to Hawaii last year.
2. School. I'm almost done with my Bachelor's Degree. Few more weeks! I can't wait. Up next is my Master's Degree.
3. Thank You notes from my previous patients. This is one of the cards I received from my manager stating the comment I received from a patient a few weeks ago.
4. Tax Refund. Thank goodness I didn't have to pay the IRS!
5. Go Pro Hero 3+. Thank you to my best friend, Patty. I love it so much. Can't wait to use it for my future trips.
