Looking for some thrill and adventure while in Caramoan took me and my friends to Culapnit Cave on Good Friday. We walked for more than an hour (it felt like 3 hours) before reaching the cave at Sitio Bariw in Tabgon. Culapnit Cave got its name from "kulapnit" which means bat in the local dialect. Thousands of bats live inside the cave, good thing they were all asleep when we visited. I've always wanted to see thousands of bats flying out of the cave at dusk--unfortunately, it was in the middle of afternoon when we came out.
Various rock formations, stalagmites and stalactites are found inside the cave, marbleized patterns on the walls; a dried up cascading waterfall left a terraces-like formation. There was fresh, cool water from an underground stream. The cave is well-maintained---it's clean, no musky, damp odor and there were no graffiti on the walls. Some passages were too narrow we had to crawl on our stomachs to get to the other side.
that's me, crawling--my CAT instructor would be proud!:p
the mysterious cave-keeper
our guide/lightman
stalactites
a croc's mouth?
a croc's mouth?
knee-deep in cold water
climbing to the exit
almost there!
Great post for the day and I love your photos!! We have a similar cave here in the states that is home for thousands of bats that fly out at night. It is an awesome sight! Looks as though you had a wonderful time! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Love this post. I too went caving once, similar to this, and I haven't posted that yet, tsk.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if its hot inside?
i almost forgot about this part of my Caramoan vacation. i thought i already posted it, sa Facebook pala.:p
ReplyDeleteit was cold inside the cave. i've been to a couple of caves and it's always cooler inside. in sumaguing cave in sagada, i saw smoke coming out of our shirts...our guide said our body temperature was warmer than the temperature inside the cave kaya umuusok kami. parang winter.:p
Wow, that looks like a great adventure.
ReplyDeleteWow cool adventure. Looks like the stalagmite are quite old.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! I've been caving too, but never did like crawling through all those dark tunnels.
ReplyDeletereminded me of the Mulu caves in Borneo I went last July. After crawling that cave, you must feel invincible.
ReplyDeletethat is amazing!
ReplyDeleteHats off to your adventurous spirits!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics.
Wonderful shots. Beautiful rock formations in the cave.
ReplyDeleteWow the caves looked so beautiful and mysterious.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics - caves are wonderful with their stalactites and stalagmites. Although I usually get the two confused.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Melbourne Daily Photo
Ooh, you're very brave. Wild horses couldn't drag me into a cave full of bats. Wonderful photos, however.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great adventure. Yeah, very brave too.
ReplyDeleteI love these caves, they are so interesting. We have one here in Belgium too and you gave me the idea to visit it again, last time was certainly 25 years ago !
ReplyDeletethis looks like fun. reminds me of a trip I took to see Howe Caverns here in the U.S. I remember it being cool inside too.
ReplyDeletewow! not bad for spelunking. in our dialect, we call bats as kulaknit. first to see this cave featured.
ReplyDeleteIn Bisaya, culaknit means bats. These are awesome caves, and I would have mixed emotions crawling inside. It would be fun to go caving for once!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place to explore, although a few of the tunnels look mighty tiny to squeeze through. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't really like spelunking all that much but through my adventures, I'd come across caves (since there are a lot in the Philippines). This cave especially he one where you have to crawl reminds me Sierra cave in Callao. But I left the crawling to my companions (too claustrophobic for me) so bravo to you for crawling inside. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating cave and I loved the photographs.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like spelunking all that much but through my adventures, I'd come across caves (since there are a lot in the Philippines). This cave especially he one where you have to crawl reminds me Sierra cave in Callao. But I left the crawling to my companions (too claustrophobic for me) so bravo to you for crawling inside. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteYou had quite an adventure on your cave trip and saw some fantastic sights. Thanks for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteBloody hell you are brave!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the pictures, I assumed at first you had paid for a guided tour!
Crawling on hands and knees to get to a place totally enclosed by thousands of tonnes of solid rock and no daylight!!!!
That would never be allowed here in Britain. In fact the caves would be shut off with huge signs. Only official guided tours would be allowed, unless you were members of a caving club. They would concrete the floor over in case anyone tripped. No tourist would ever go crawling through 6-inch gaps, perish the thought!
This is an amazing post.
When I was younger I so much wanted to do micorlight or ultralight flying... and caving... As well as scuba diving. These were what I considered by far the most exciting sports. I had hardly any idea they were also the most dangerous. Until my step mum, who sensed just a little too much enthusiasm told me what might happen if I fell in a cave. The image stuck with me, and when something came on TV about some anti-roads protesters who actually dug a tunnel to live in, about 100ft long and who knows how many feet deep, which eventually began to collapse with protesters still down there... I practically had a panic attack just listening to it. No no no! Get me out!!!
This is such an amazing post I put your link from mine ~ hope you dont't mind ;-}
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure! It's a beautiful cave. Great photos. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletethis must be quite exciting adventure.
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing to find such a prized treasure in our country. I am so proud of this post.
ReplyDeleteI went to one of those places right here in Australia in the northwest from we used to live before.
Unfortunately, no photos allowed and besides I did not bring any camera.
That cave I went to is maintained by the local council for tourism. It was a self-guided tour with proper instructions posted on the board to be read prior to the underground adventure.
Yours however has more actions to undergo - with those crawlings and creeping and climbing because here, we were not allowed to do so - as the place is treated "sacred".
Kudos to the keeper and to your guide. And of course, your experience is far most laudable.
ahh, i've done this... really hardcore caving!
ReplyDelete