Watery Wednesday: stream at Casaroro

A stream coming from Casaroro Falls in Valencia near Dumaguete City.

"Take almost any path you please, and ten to one it carries you down in a dale, and leaves you there by a pool in the stream. There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded of men be plunged in his deepest reveries---stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water...Yes, as every one knows, meditation and water are wedded forever."

~ Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Posted for Watery Wednesday

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).

Our Deepest Fear

Banica River, Valencia, Negros Oriental

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

~ Marianne Williamson