Life is a Joni

Hailed as the Grandfather of Philippine Mountains , Mt. Apo is a favorite destination among hikers around the world. Despite its elevation, the difficulty level of reaching its peak is considered just above average, 7 out of 9. It would only take 2 days to climb and 1 day to descend depending on the trail you follow. We chose the Kapatagan-Kidapawan traverse trail. I highly recommend it because of the diverse ecological communities and terrestrial formations you can experience along the way. Day 1 We started hiking in a grassland or more like a tallgrass prairie . I was a little bit scared because it was high noon and I heard snakes usually spend the hottest time of the day in bushes or tall grasses. But we were travelling in a group so there's no need to be frightened actually. Few hours later, we entered into a forest. Not exactly a forest. It was like a savanna . Trees are everywhere but widely scattered. Eventually, the canopy became thicker. We were several feet h...

Compostella is not only famous for its hot springs. Far from the volcanic vents of the province flows a freezing river of New Bataan . Several resorts were developed in the area offering great amenities for your delight. One of the top destinations is Bamboo Garden Resort . It has a large pool, activity area and an access to the nearby mountain stream. New Bataan can be traveled via bus from Davao City. There is a direct route coming from Ecoland Terminal . Travel time is about 4 hours or more. Upon arriving, you just need to have a short motorcycle ride to the resort. It's uphill but the road is cemented, so there's nothing to worry. I don't know how much the entrance fee was because my trip was sponsored by a good friend whose boyfriend is a local resident. I haven't stayed there for so long. It was just a short visit. Still, the trip was worth remembering. I can't forget how I shivered when I dip into the pool and dive into the river. It was ex...