🍺Live like a templar🍷 | ⚔️Serve like a knight💉.
I would have to say, that with the pandemic going on, traveling has become more of a commodity. As of the moment of writing, rigid quarantine protocols are still at place and it is quite difficult to travel to far off places. While you may be allowed access to travel destinations, you would have difficulties with transportation. Much more, masks and faceshields are a complete necessity coupled with strict social distancing measures. To put it into perspective, it is as if these memories are now more precious than ever. It personally takes me back to better days.
Without further ado, allow me to share with you a getaway I had not so long ago. Today, let us journey to two destinations - a white pristine beach and a breathtaking lake with an interesting story.
LAMBUG BEACH, BADIAN A refreshing overnight getaway by the shore
Let us start off with how we got to the beach in Badian. To get to our destination, we took a bus at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. If you are thinking of going there, you could always ask the dispatchers found inside the terminal for assistance. All you need to do is to tell them where you are headed and they would escort you to the bus you need to take. There is an option between loading on an airconditioned and a non-airconditioned bus, whichever suits you.
Badian is located in the southern part of Cebu City on the other side of it, so the bus ride involved crossing through the coarse mountains of the province. At such a high altitude, you can see a spectacular view of the locality, the spaces filled with indigenous trees and native houses by the road. Much more, we had the chance to witness the sunset - spewing a bright yellow orange ray of light. During bus rides, I always sit near the windows as it allows me to bask in the eternal glory of the day coming to an end, as the sunlight diminishes and glimmers to a halt. Sunsets are simply wonderful.
Thankfully, the bus ride was very smooth. We arrived safely at Badian after nightfall, around 7:30 pm. You can only imagine the joy I felt as we arrived there. I just got off from a tiring shift and this is exactly what I needed. The beach was very quiet and I could only hear a few cicadas chirping. It was very calming. No one was around at that time so we had the beach all to ourselves. Randomly, I picked a spot which I think would be perfect for the sunrise. We immediately set out to pitch our tents and got ready to spend the night. A yoga mat was just outside our tent for us to carelessly sit while the chilly sea breeze kept us cool.
And of course, no camp out would be complete without a bottle of gin which we automatically opened after setting up camp. In fact, it only took several shots to get us chatting as we talked endlessly into the midnight. Since we were all nurses, we exchanged hospital stories and bizarre experiences in the clinical setting. The waves were rather aggressive that night, as if wanting us to pour our hearts out. Our laughter must have echoed into the bareness of the beach but it seemed like nobody minded it at all.
We also played reggae songs and acoustics to complement the mood. I could remember singing to the song "Santoria - by Sublime" just by looking at the photos I took. We danced around like fumbling buffoons and shed away our inhibitions for the night.
It was a very refreshing experience. Imagine spending the night at the shore, pitch-black and barren, the sound of the waves crashing through the sand as it rises with the tide, then you have a few shots of your favorite drink. In short, it was the perfect nightfall getaway - a break from the toxicity of the city life, and a breath of fresh air. After finishing off our drinks, we were tucked into a dreamy sleep only to be awoken by such a wonderful surprise.
Much to our dismay, we had forgotten that Badian is located at the other side of Cebu, on the west. This meant that the sun would have already risen on the opposite side. Ooops. 😂 We let out a boisterous laugh and recalled whose idea it is was to pick the wrong beach. It turns out it was my sister, @maimaimaichan's idea and I had the nerve the agree with her decision without giving it a thought. In my defense, or at least this is just me rationalizing my blunder, any beach would do. She gave me a playful jab and we chuckled at our mistake.
With or without a sunrise, the beach did not disappoint us. It still gave us the satisfaction we needed. Lambug beach truly is a sight to behold, with its long stretches of sand and a warm tropical vibe.
By this time, the water had recessed into the sea. You could clearly see shoreline descend from the tent area in the photo to the point where starfishes, seashells and other marine sand creatures can be seen. It was as if we woke up at the wrong beach. We were surprised that what was a still and tranquile shore was now filled with people and tents. Perhaps, these people set up their camp while we were asleep.
Despite not being the beach there it, I can point out reasons why this beach is so fulfilling. First of all, the beach is formed by long stretches of sand which doesn't seem to end. It would be safe to say that the beach would definitely accommodate plenty of people, which stretches long and wide. It would take you approximately 10 minutes to get to the end of the beach. At that point, the shores are simply blocked by a tall jagged rock with terraform. However, by the looks of it, it would still extend on the other side of the rock.
Second, it has remarkable sand features, being very fine and grainy. If you like getting sand between your toes, then you will enjoy Lambug Beach. I did not notice a lot of small rocks or washed up corals which is a common composition of most beaches. In fact, standing into a pile of dry sand would easily drown your feet with your own weight.
Early in the morning, beach still gave us a cool and refreshing breeze. At times, it could even be strong enough to blow a hat off of your head, if you had one. This encouraged us to stay longer and enjoy what nature had to offer. Me and my friend set out to a farther place away from our tents as my sister and @ninyea prepared a meal for us. Not far, we found an unoccupied hammock attached to a tree. We both took turns chilling at the spot as we gazed into the horizon.
At that exact moment, I felt a sense of clarity and peace of mind. I might have had a lot of things on my plate at that time, but all I could remember was the sight of waves washing away my thoughts. I looked forward and just admired the beauty. For a time, I was completely present. Nothing mattered except the fact that I was breathing and alive, beholding the amazing grace of nature.
We headed back to our tent and had an easy-to-make usual Filipino breakfast - canned tuna, cup noodles and coffee. We recalled about how we failed to see the sunrise and thought maybe we could go some place else. After all, it was still quite early into the morning and we still had a lot of time. We scanned through our itinerary and decided why not take our getaway to another level. We read about a lake in Toledo, on the same side of Badian which gained a lot of hype recently. It wasn't really near but we thought, why not? Adventure awaits. Afterwards, we did an aftercare around our premises and decided to take one last photo before dismantling our tent.
With a little bit of doubt in my mind, we still decided to pursue another destination - to see a mesmerizing lake in mountain areas of Toledo City.
LAKE BENSIS, TOLEDO A visit to a hidden lake with an fascinating backstory
From Badian, we took another bus which would take us straight to Toledo city which would take us approximately 2 hours from Badian. We took any bus that would take us there and headed out. The four of us snoozed a little bit on the way. The noon heat was scorching and unforgiving. It might have been necessary for us to doze off to prepare us for what was coming next.
The bus offloaded us to a small town up in the mountains called Barangay Loay. At this point, we had two methods to get to the Lake; (a) take a motorcycle "habal-habal" ride which would cost us much, or (b) hitch a ride on top of a jeepney "toploading" for a small fare. We never tried toploading before so we were more than interested to give it a go.
We were met with much surprise to see the sight of roughly 10 people already on top of a small jeep ahead of us! If that wasn't enough to make us think twice, the roads were NOT at all made of concrete. To our right, we could see a steep and winding road, which was unexpectedly the path towards the lake. I giggled nervously at what appeared to be a suicide mission. As exciting as it seems, I just couldn't dare to do it 😬
So how did we get to the lake? Well, you guessed it right - we decided to pay a hefty amount to ride safely on a motorcycle. While, the experience of toploading surely would have been fun, I do believe we made the right choice. The sight of the people on top of the jeepney wobbling back and forth, left to right, as they ascended to the mountain was simply nerve-racking! While we were not spared by the rocky terrain of the Barangay Loay, the motorcycles we hired were clearly able to maneuver much reliably.
We reached Lake Bensis area around 2:00 pm safe and sound. Upon getting there, I'm sure I speak for the four of us when I say that the view was just spectacular. We were greeted with a little drizzle when we reached the scenic view of Lake Bensis yet the still waters of the lake allows it to reflect the surrounding mountain range. It seems that Cebu has its own miniature version of the magnificent lakes you only see on movies.
The view is nothing of the ordinary. I can now see why this place suddenly got a lot of attention. For those who plan to see this wonder for themselves, there are two points where you can rendezvous. The first drop-off point, which is at the foot of the lake, is a common camping ground for amateur mountaineers. The flat area with a 360 degree view of the lake is an ideal site to hone your outdoor survival skills. With little to no artificial light at night time, most campers rely heavily on the their ability to make a campfire. Staying here overnight would not cost you any camping fee.
The second drop-off point is for those more interested in fishing and diving in the lake. Visitors can be offloaded at a cliff surrounding the lake which is just across the first drop off point. However, to get here you would need to circumvent halfway around the lake which would take you to a much higher altitude. From there, there is a small hut which would ask for an environmental fee of Php 10.00. This would allow you to descend from the cliff and get access to the lake's waters. If you do not intend to swim in the lake, there is also a camping ground which overlooks the entire scenery. Chairs and tables made of bamboo have been constructed for the convenience of campers.
Again, we had this destination all to ourselves. We surely took our time to bask in the glory of the scenery, as we took photos and made a short rest before descending. From the top of the cliff, you are welcomed with a panoramic view of the lake. The mountain ranges which surround it are filled with thriving forests abound. The lush, blooming greens blend perfectly with the vibrant hues of the sky reflected on the lake's calm waters. Aside from that, the fresh air which is totally far from the city is enough to make you want to stay.
After half an hour, we decided it was about time to descend. Although we were tired from our journey, we reached a consensus to dip into the raw waters of the lake. The heat definitely took a toll on us and all we wanted was to dive into the waters.
At the foot of the lake, there lies a floating nipa hut to which a humble fisherman signaled us to proceed. He was very hospitable and welcomed us with a smile. We slowly made our way inside, careful not to fall prematurely into the waters. As soon as we were all settled inside his hut, he offered to tell us a little bit about the lake's history. We were more than interested to listen. Apparently, the area used to a prominent mining site. Decades of excavation has left a deep pit into the land where the lake is now at. I can only imagine how unsightly it must have looked like.
However, a combination of the pressures of environmental concerns and political disputes lead to a complete halt of its operations. For decades, the mining pit was closed off, left unscathed by human interventions.
Through the years, with the help of local authorities and residents, restoration projects began at the site. Over time, nature eventually allowed itself to heal. Now, it is a sight to behold and a wonder whose potential is still untapped. Mountaineers and trekkers who passed by the area were naturally drawn to its beauty. And, it wasn't until recently that the the place allowed walk-in visitors into the area. It's hard to imagine that this picturesque lake used to be such a desolate wasteland.
The fisherman who accommodated us suggested we take a dip into the lake. We did so with a bit of hesitation at first. While the reflection of the surrounding forest makes it look like an algae-laden pool, its waters were in fact crystal clear. The waters were really cool and refreshing. We spent approximately an hour paddling the rowboat he lent to us. Aside from that, I did not miss the chance to freedive. I did not stay for long as it was an eerie feeling not being able to see the bottom of the lake. I was lucky enough to bring my goggles with me which allowed me to view how deep the lake truly was.
Tired from all our antics for the day, we settled ourselves unto the bamboo rafts around the floating nipa hut. I gazed straight up into the sky as the light from the sky gradually dimmed. Surely, I must have dozed off. It wasn't until the night sky was painted with glimmering stars that we decided to head back to the city.
How I wish I could take myself back to those carefree days. For now, I can rely on these photos to accompany me as I daydream for future travels. Anyways, that is the end of my 24-hour getaway. Thank you for reaching up to this point and I hope you enjoyed what I had to offer. You can bet on it that you would be hearing more of my travels. Until next time, see you.
Every writer needs to have his pen name. In that case, welcome to josejirafa's blog.
Aaron is an aspiring travel blogger whose dream is to visit the world's most famous tourist spots. A thinker and frustrated philosopher, Aaron spends his days off learning about the himself, others and the world. He enjoys discourse about philosophy, politics, religion, emotional intelligence and has an aptitude for being vocal about his point of views. Although a registered nurse by profession, Aaron has an inclination for business and finance.