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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Breathtaking Casaroro Falls

the lush Casaroro Falls
The last leg of our wilderness adventure in Dumaguete was a trek to Casaroro Falls. At Forest Camp, we were told that Casaroro Falls is less than 3 kilometers away. Energized by the natural beauty of Forest Camp, we decided to walk to the waterfalls. The cool mountain air was refreshing but the steep mountain road made us breathless (yayabang kasi!). After about a half kilometer hike, I started yelling, taxiiiiiiiiii! We found a hut along the road and we sat there to catch our breath, then started eating our baon of puto and beef empanada. A habal-habal (again!) stopped by and offered to take us to the waterfalls (the driver was psychic!)…we didn’t argue, we didn’t think…we mounted the motorbike and yelled---yeeeehaaaaa!

Parts of the road were so bad I begged the driver to stop so I can walk! I was singing John Mellencamp's “Hurts So Good” while walking in the middle of a rocky road---the driver silently laughing behind my back, I'm sure! Then, back to the saddle once again until we reached the “entrance” to Casaroro Falls. Entrance fee is 10 pesos each.

The gate-keeper warned us of the 325 steps descent, and we were all excited at the sign "We burn fats...let's do the trek!". But I squirmed at the prospect of 325 steps on our way up. Oh well, I wanted to escape the urban jungle…so there I was, ready to discover the charming surprises of Casaroro.

not a threat but a warning

Going down the concrete steps to the river, we were surrounded by unspoiled tropical foliage, towering trees, an occasional wild flower, a clatter of wildlife and sound of rushing water. The flowing stream greeted us at the base of the 325-step crevasse as we walked through the dense jungle. There were a few huts, a couple of restrooms, and a suspension bridge along the way. Finally, secluded at the end of the rock crevices is the natural beauty of Casaroro Falls…the water plunges down from a narrow opening 100 meters above a swirling pool. Natural boulders surround the basin and the cool sprays were enough to revitalize my cramped leg muscles.

325 steps = how many burned calories?

walking down was a breeze
a walk in the park?
from 20 feet above
waiting for the weakest link
rollin', rollin' on the river

meditation at the waterfall
the majestic, breathtaking Casaroro

Our adventure trek to Casaroro Falls was a physically challenging experience, not to mention literally breathtaking. As expected, I was the weakest link going up the 325 steps but I made it without fainting! Surely, I burned a lot of calories that day (hehe).

16 comments:

  1. Bonjour Miranda !
    Encore de très jolies photos...
    Si Les dames de Vienne (en Autriche) viennent Te voir, elles sauront que la cascade ressemble à une grande de chez elles...
    A bientôt !

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  2. this is a fantastic trip. thanks for sharing.

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  3. That looks physically challenging!

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  4. YOOHOO!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Another Falls Conquered by Miranda. My heart beat faster upon seeing this post. Parang nag-aanyaya ang mga pics. After Batad, wala ako masyado mahabang trek kaya parang gusto ko puntahan ito.

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  5. merci, andre. désolé, je ne comprends pas ce que les dames de Vienne ont en commun avec la chute d'eau.

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  6. thank you for stopping by, photo cache.

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  7. it was indeed, jayashkal. i needed a day to recover after the trek. thanks for visiting.

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  8. hi, lawstude! if you're looking for some challenge, visit Negros Oriental via Dumaguete. Mount Talinis offers an interesting and challenging climb. for people in shape, walang binatbat itong nilakad ko...check out my earlier Dumaguete posts. baka type mong maglakad to the twin lakes instead of the bone-jarring habal-habal ride.:D

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  9. but Luna the place going to Casaroro Falls is so developed because it has cemented steps! Here, the paths going to the most pristine part of the rainforest is there just because the illegal loggers made them! They never thought of making those very helpful cemented steps for us ;-(!

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  10. be careful with what you wish for, Bernadette! baka biglang mag-construct ng flyover ang illegal loggers to make their lives easier din (haha)! i'd like to kiss that person who thought of concrete steps going to Casaroro Falls...kung walang steps yon, malamang, gumapang ako or nag-baging paakyat!:D

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  11. luna,
    Just in case you really want to know how many calories you burned - you may refer to an article in "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise"
    (April 2002).


    Basically as per the article - calorie expenditure would be about 0.11 calories per stair going up ... and then 0.05 calories per step going down

    dagul

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  12. I must go to Negros Oriental when I go back to the Philippines for a visit.

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  13. this is a good info, dagul...thank you. now i'm thinking of using the stairs from the office to the basement, 18 floors din yon.:D it's not as difficult as aerobics or tai-bo.

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  14. you should, ces. you won't regret it.:)

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  15. You sure have a delightful way of physically "punishing" yourself LOL.

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  16. just a mild form of masochism, bertn! hahaha i believe in the adage "no pain, no gain".:D

    thanks for stopping by.

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