Home is where the heart is

Monday, June 30, 2008
The Guintubdan Adventures

... Before I tell you what inked tuesday is all about let me tell you first about my Guintubdan Adventures...

June 29, 2008 - Daister, John, Jenny, Joyce, and I together with Sir Bhadz went to Guintubdan.
It is situated at the western part at the foot of Mt. Kan-laon. The name guintubdan was coined after the word “tubod” which means ‘flowing water’. Guintubdan has an abundant flow of water from its many springs and falls.

Guintubdan is a couple of thousand feet high above sea level, is practically accessible by local public land transport connecting it to the City of La Carlota. It has now a cemented road going here and is only a 30 minute ride from the city proper.

FACT: Half of the village belongs to the local government of the City of La Carlota, while the other half is part of the City of Bago.

"Serenity in father's arms"

bouncy baby just woke up

welcome to La Carlota City

Foodstop at Jollibee La Carlota

Before we dwell ourselves to an unfamiliar spot, we decided to buy some food and bond with Jollibee. We bought Chickenjoy, Sundae and Frostblends.

one of the oldest church in La Carlota

Welcome to Guintubdan Nature Park
Brgy. Ara-al, La Carlota City

Beautiful old tree

Welcome to Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center

The Park, ensconced at the bosom of Mt. Kanlaon is surrounded by wooded area of paper trees where the sun's rays filter into warm streaks of light. Underfoot is a carpet of green and orange leaves and as the sun descends the temperature drops even lower, bringing with it a chill, scented with a foggy aura of mountain air.

This park is dedicated in memory of Rafael Montinola Salas. Rafael Montinola Salas or Toto Cay as he is fondly known is the Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and officially held the rank of Undersecretary General, the highest administative post ever attained by a Filipino in United Nation Body.

"million flowers"

cool, clear Spring!

John loves spring

overlooking Negros

fascinated with that old, tall tree

This tree is a mystery to me. And because of this my creative juices started to flow again. My imagination created a story about the strongest man who used to exist before but nobody believed his capacity. So he asked the Gods to help him prove to the people that he is strong. And because of this the Gods turned him into a strong, old, tall tree...

yeah, i know.. i have a weird imagination.. :)

isnt HE strong?

This tree looks like the tree in some horror flicks. With foggy aura and sort of things like that..

Snaps! finally i could have some pics
(l-r) John, Daister, Jenny, Me and Joyce

Lost in the scene

We were having a hard time with the reservation because the caretaker told us that the spring is not a part of the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center, that it belong already to the La Carlota City. In short, walking 5 meters from the park is already La Carlota City. Confusing, isnt it?

I named this dog Sony (my camera brand)
He really posed for the cam. Cute isnt it?

park cottages

supply-packed store

my dream house!
living on top of the mountain with this bamboo house

Sir Bhadz having heart-to-heart talk with Manang
(Thank you Manang for the coffee)

stranded!
its just 2 pm and no jeepney to bring us back to Bacolod

We were having difficult time when it comes to transportation. Last trip is only at 3pm and the first trip the next day is at 6am. I learned alot of lesson at this very moment and those lessons are:

Use private vehicle for ocular visits

You'll never know if you're going to be stranded

Money makes (some) people move

Its sad that people nowadays are being blinded by money. Why I said such? It is because that our tricycle driver ask us to pay him double that the usual. Well we can't really blame him for being such man. The economy is poor.

Be glad and contented.

I should stop complaining about rowdy drivers in the city where I live. Gee, people there is surely deprived of transportation access.

hmmmm.. could this water buffalo be our last hope?

nah... we opt to ride the tricycle

Dawn?

nah.... this is how what 4pm looks like in La Carlota

final shot before we unload

5:30 pm and its the only time we saw the sun

It was my first time to visit Guintubdan and I'm glad i have landed my little foot on that place. It is a magical and splendid place and it made me appreciate more our planet. It awakened my soul to start doing something as a payment to what Mother Earth is giving me. And surely, my amazement incresed by 101% and I dearly salute HIM more for HIS creativity in showing HIS LOVE through nature.

Well from here, I am inviting you to come visit and be astonished (as i was) with the beauty of Guintubdan.

Of Love and Other Demons,

Cathie

P.S.

I promise to jot down my Inked Tuesday experience but unfortunately, due to time contraint and sleepiness i'll just post it first thing tomorrow.

*hugs*

Labels: EI, guintubdan, journey, la carlota, nature tripping, negros island

Chocoholic Cathie is finally at home on 6/30/2008 05:39:00 PM.

Monday, June 30, 2008 The Guintubdan Adventures

Monday, June 30, 2008
The Guintubdan Adventures