Side Trip: Lake Apo

About Lake Apo: 

Type: crater lake

Where: Guinoyoran, Valencia City, Bukidnon

Area: 24 hectares (59 acres)

Max Depth: 26 meters (85 ft)

While we were still on top of Musuan Peak, Lake Apo suddenly came to mind. It's probably because of the following reasons: 

• it's only a few kilometers from Maramag 
• it's still too early to go home
• I hate the thought of wasting a beautiful day

Lake Apo is Valencia City's top tourist destination. It was once declared as the cleanest inland body of water in Northern Mindanao.

Luckily, our companions Joy and Richard have been there before so getting there was not a problem. 

The pictures below are on one side of the lake. If you want a more picturesque view of the lake go to the other side (across). It is privately owned so it's well taken care of with some enhancements. Family and friends can spend the night on their cottage or pitch a tent.

I have a confession to make: It's my first time to see a lake. And of course my kid's, too.

This family rented one of the raft cottages and had their lunch in the middle of the lake.

Camera Used: 
Samsung Galaxy Exhibit Smartphone

On Top of an Active Volcano (Mt. Calayo)

What: 1st Family Dayhike
When: November 01, 2014
Where: Mt. Calayo, commonly called Musuan Peak at Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon

About Mt. Calayo
Status: Active; part of the Pacific Ring of Fire
Height:  646 meters above sea level (MASL)
Base Diameter: 3 km

Conquering this volcano came to mind after our 1st Family Roadtrip. I'm so happy that we we're finally able to make it happen. My husband first climb this lava dome when we were still college students (and don't know each other yet). There used to be not much vegetation then so climbing when the sun is out is not something one would probably look forward to. Years of planting trees now made getting to the summit not only a breeze even for kids but also fun. You wouldn't like what you will see when you reach the top because there is now a building and communication towers, so just look down and let your eyes feast on the beauty of God's creations.

Pulangui River

That's my husband and our daughter and our friends, Richard and Joy.

Camera Used: 
Samsung Galaxy Exhibit Smartphone

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Day Hike #3: Two Trees

It's Ninoy Aquino red-letter day.

We were supposed to go to the highest spot of the Provincial Tree Park with Oyec but he couldn't make it so I pleaded to Louis that we would instead go to Two Trees. Thankfully, he said "yes!" Yahoo!!!

It was already past 6:00 in the morning when we started the hike. We met two groups of kids along the way: three grade schoolers in slippers(!) and three high schoolers. Upon reaching the top I felt thankful that we we're the only group there as the spot is too tiny. 

I was so surprised by the beauty that surrounds it. I couldn't believe it's my first time to step on the place to think that it is very near. In fact, one can easily hike there everyday.

Mt. Kiamu is calling

  Rice fields in Can-ayan

Mt. Kitanglad and Malaybalay City

 

The place was named after this tree. 

There used to be two but typhoon Pablo knocked out the other one.

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Shirt by Collective.com 
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Day Hike #2: BFI Tower

How did you spend the Edi'l Ftir holiday? We spent ours going for a quick hike that left me wanting for more, haha!

After the Rafflesia episode (episode gyud, huh? lol), I thought my next hike would be spent with my own family. I told my hubby about my plan for our first family dayhike at Musuan Peak during the kids Sembreak. That's three months away!

With the arrival of the rainy season and the kids busy with school, I thought there would be no rainbows for me for the coming months. But thankfully, that's not what's on Joy, my hiking buddy's mind.

About a week before, I  sent a text message to her to inform her about something and after a few exchanges she suddenly said, "Hiking ta Tuesday!" 

We agreed to go to BFI Tower. Although Joy was able to go there during our high school days (my parent's were too strict to allow me to join those kinds of activities) we decided to ask Oyec to guide us so we will not get lost. 

Typhoon Inday was disturbing Luzon and for two weeks the weather was gloomy but that didn't deter us.

 

With our guide Oyec, Joy, and two of her Red Cross staff Hera and Jocyl, who were also with us during our Rafflesia date.

On the right side you can see the City of  Malaybalay. You can easily spot Gaisano in the middle and Shepherds Meadow, which is right below us.

On the left side is this view.

As we made our way down, the sun was starting to shine brightly. It was only 8:30 am. Just like my first day hike with Joy at Mt. Palaopao, we burned calories but didn't get burned by the sun. It was another wonderful morning at the great outdoors.



OOTD:

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Need a hiking/mountain climbing guide anywhere in Bukidnon? 
Contact Oyec Ching:  09063492585

Photos of the Day

With barely a month to go, many people are already busy preparing for the annual Kaamulan Festival. 

Kaamulan Grounds

When we went down Kaamulan Grounds to do a family afternoon walk, we heard the sound of motorcycles. We looked up on the hill on the right side and saw several bike riders racing to the riverside. Preparation for motorcross? Looks like it. As we made our exit, we looked down under the bridge and this is what we saw.

Capitol Grounds

After taking our walk, we went back to Capitol Grounds to play badminton. 

In addition to giving the provincial government offices a new paint job, the trees in front of the buildings were also cut. Wood cutters dug and then chainsawed the base trunk of this big, old pine tree.

Things That Kept My Kids Busy Last Summer

After over two months of Summer vacation, school is back!

The previous summer was the first time that we did not go to Davao to visit my in-laws. But, it became our busiest Summer yet.  

Kite Flying
It started with the kids and I going to Capitol Grounds to fly kites with some friends.

Early Morning Walk
The following week, my son and I began a three-times weekly early morning walk which we both found enjoyable and exhilarating. Sometimes we even do a fourth walk because my son asks for it.

Worksheets
Every day I let my kids answer worksheets that I get online. The worksheet thing all started since my son was in preschool. When my daughter started learning how to hold a pencil I also began to let her do some tracing and coloring which made my browser bookmark overflow. I decided to make a website to make my collection more organized and hopefully make other moms online search easier.

Origami
When my son was still two years old, I bought the biggest origami book I could find at National Bookstore. I wanted to do something fun and creative for both of us. When he turned 3 years old, I enrolled him in nursery and the book was forgotten. A year later, it was summer and I was very busy with my online writing when I handed him the book to keep him occupied. Using the used worksheet bond papers he started doing origami every thing on his own. Everytime he asks me what something means I would just answer, "I don't know because I don't know origami." So he figured everything on his own.

At first it was the easy ones: paper crane, frog, fish, easy boxes and others.

Fast forward to today, these were some of his latest:

 

Verdis Vase

Mouse

Heart Box

Wentworth Dish

Waterlily

Spanish Box

Twist Box

Lambeosauros

He also made a rabbit and a turtle but both were flattened by his sister before I could take snaps. I don't ask him to make an origami, I just wait until he will show something to me. But sometimes, he forgets that's why it will end up not added to my origami pic collection.

Face to Face with a Giant

Together with two of my high school classmates and some friends, we spent Independence Day 2014 with one of nature's attention-grabbing member: the biggest, weirdest and stinkiest flower.

The trip was extra special as we have with us our Biologist classmate. Not only was I able to meet the humongous flower, she also pointed out to me another weird flower which took me by surprise to know that it can also be found in my country.

Rafflesia schadenbergiana in full bloom with black bud looking like a black cabbage or old coconut half-buried in the ground.

 

Like all flowers, R. schadenbergiana also wilts after a few days, and this is how it looks.

The entrance of the fenced area where the world's biggest flower grows and blooms.

OOTD:

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I also have this in Black and Blue.

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