A motorcycle is the most common means of transportation when I am traveling with my friends, office mates and co-backpackers.  I have even tried driving a motorcycle, whereas I was the habal-habal driver; I used a Honda Wave with 3 passengers on our way to Balakayo Hills, the most elevated part of General Santos City.  I had also drove in other municipalities like Alabel, Malungon, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, Polomolok, Tupi, Tampakan, Lake Sebu, Tboli and Marbel to experience the adventures and sights the budget friendly way.  The habal-habal ride was also the means of transportation of some of my mountain climbing from the city/municipality proper to the jump-off point.  It's really a super bumpy ride, with your foot hanging on the side of your backpacks or stepping in the backpack. My most beloved motorcycle ride was during our journey to Lake Sebu, I love the curves and as we glide sometimes our shoes get contact on the road. It's best also to use all terrain vehicles in hillside travel. The best thing about driving a motorcycle is that it's cheap and you could stop anytime and anywhere you one.

If I don't have the budget I just grabbed my mountain bike and pedaled to any destination to where my mind and heart desires without having the worries of how much I will spend on the transportation itself.  With mountain biking I have discovered some places which I have never gone trough even in my hometown - General Santos City.  I have tried biking from Gensan-Alabel-Malungon-Glan and enjoyed the pristine white sand beaches with the view of the Sarangani Bay.  In one of the photos you could a sign that shows "GS 45" (45 kilometers), which only mean that I am halfway thru with my mountain biking from Gensan-Maasim-Gensan.  This route was just a newbie route for those professional bikers.  I just enjoyed the trail and the serenity of the place which I visit.  I had even brought my mountain bike in Samal Island and explored the island by biking to the different tourist spots such as the Hagimit Falls and resorts.  I love the downhill and I hate the uphill but no choice the uphill is the fastest way to burn calories.

Mostly of the mountain climbing destinations here in Mindanao we used dump trucks or Sadam to transport the climbers from the meeting place to jump-off point.  The best thing on this kind of transportation is that you have a great 360 view of the environment.  But you have to hold tight on railings, chains or someone beside you to avoid being injured and bumped other person’s head especially when you are between 50-75 persons per truck with the big backpacks on the floor.  The most thrilling part, especially when the driver do not care bout his passenger treating us sands, gravel or sometimes pineapples on rough muddy and uphill terrains.  The transportation itself is already a contributory to the muscle pain.

Another common mode of transportation for the mountaineers / backpackers is the topload especially when you are visiting far flung places.  The ride is very thrilling and sometimes dangerous because you have to observe the electrical wiring, the branches of trees but still being on top of the jeepney is the most preferred way by backpackers especially me because of the great view.

For me this is the most boring type of transportation, you could not stop to any destination unless it's a terminal, checkpoint or pick-up and dropped some passengers.  I had tried riding the fastest bus operators, the most common bombed bus operators and the carefree bus operators.  From new buses with wifi to old buses that looks like ready to be part of the museum.  From mabuhay class, de-luxe and ordinary.  I had even tried riding buses during holy week where the most numbered passengers are present and thus you really have to run your way to the buses and even tried jumping from the window just to get in the fastest way, sounds cool but on the contrary there's no time to take photos on this occasions.  There are also buses bound here in South and North Central Mindanao where it stops anywhere it likes, making it a tiring and long journey and not only that they don’t care for the overloading, sometimes the number of passengers seating has the same count to those standing.  There are times also that buses are not that much occupied, so you are free to use the extra space free of charge.

Hmmmm my not so ideal means of transportation.  Why? Simply because I do not know how to swim, first I thing I check is the presence of a life vest.  If there are, then it's a cool ride for me.  I had tried riding the small boats and big boats used in inter island hopping.  My most beloved part is on the most front’s part where I sometimes stand or played around only on shallow portions, hahahaha :).  I sometimes lie down also, then placing my hands on the sea creating a mini waves.  I had tried paddling boats but unfortunately I really don't have the talent of properly navigating it.  Motorized or paddled, it does not matter as long as it will drop us to the destination safely.

Private vehicles, you have the option to stop anywhere and anytime you like but sometimes expensive especially if it's a 4-6 passenger vehicle only.  The only time I could ride this type of vehicles if it's a sponsored trip or invitational trip.  I had tried riding a private truck then we stopped on the arc which says welcome to Banaue.  I tried also riding an L300 van with 4-6 bikes beside me.  When you are on private vehicles, it is very relaxing as if you are a king or a queen.  But then for me, I preferred less this type of transportation because there's not much sense of adventure.

I had only ride roro (roll on roll off) twice from Davao to Samal and vice versa.  It's very slow and frightening for me knowing that we are floating on a water surface.  In Roro, there are a lot of transport vehicles carried like buses, private vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles.  Sometimes horses, pigs, carabao are also transported beside you.

I had tried riding cabs, pedicab, tricycle, trains, airplane, passenger boat and calesa but I have no photos of it.  I am looking forward for more transportation mode like a carabao pulling the bamboos; to ride on a carabao, horse, elephant or any other animals which allows someone on his protection and care; to ride on battle tanks, helicopters, fighter planes, hot air balloons and other unique transportation modes.

How about you what's your memorable modes of transportation?  How does it feel?  Please share some of your experiences on how you get there?  Please share also other modes of transportation you have tried which is not written here. 

This is my first entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers - Blog Carnival for the month of December year 2011 with the theme 'The Journey is the Destination'. Hosted by the lovely Kara Santos of travelingup.

A hidden paradise well preserved in General Santos City, South Cotabato is located at Barangay Conel.  At first I thought Gensan was only about being the Tuna Capital of the Philippines.  But I was wrong, a beautiful Eco-Tourism Park known as Kalaja Karsts can be found also in Gensan.

Amsikong Falls was the very first outdoor activity I have done in my hometown  way back 2009.  After my first visit to the place, I had learned to love and appreciate more the living wonders of mother nature.  I had visited this place for many times already but still every journey I come to visit this place, gives me a sense of relaxation that I really can't find in the bustling city.

Before starting the trek, make sure you inform the Barangay Officials that you are going to visit the Falls, so as they could share you some insights about the community and the falls itself.  They will also provide you with a short orientation and will help you secure a guide that will asist you with your entire adventure.

As part of "FREELANCER FOR LIFE" training before another major climb this May 2011 at Bukidnon Province, I had organized a day hike at Amsikong Falls at Barangay Conel, General Santos City to warm up the muscles and to invite more people to witness the beauty of Gensan in terms of backpacking.  But sadly two days before the event, there were continuous heavy rain at K'laja which became the reason why Kagawad Maskardo will not allow any visitors to climb the falls, for everybody's safety.  Here's a sample photo of the Amsikong Falls during heavy rains.

So from the original destination Amsikong Falls, I opted to choose Sanchez Peak + Zipline at Fifth Mountain of Balakayo at Purok Balakayo, Barangay Olympog., General Santos City.

The Experience 

Around 6:00am in the morning I left the house and went to shell, national highway to pick up Erma Windelyn Lagustan one of the participants for the said event.  Then I refuel my motorcycle full-tank to ensure that I will never run out of gasoline during the motor trail.  Afterwards we dropped by at Jeffrey Pontejo Playada house, and then bought our packed lunch within the area.  Next to it, I texted Harhiane Hechanova, that we were already on our way to subway bakeshop to fetch her.  Then when Harhiane arrived, a short introduction of each one of us, then Hibalag and Harhiane left to Lagao Minute Burger, to check if there were possible participants willing to join while on the other hand General Arze and Erma picked up Mary Grace Apaitan at her boarding house.

From Lagao Minute Burger, we drove towards Purok Balakayo passing through Barangay Conel. It took us  more than 30 minutes to travel because of the different terrains of the Olympog, which were mostly muddy and rocky terrain with a combination of downhill and uphill.  It was even my first time to bring my motorcycle to Purok Balakayo with 2 passengers, if I'm not mistaken; I think my passengers went down twice because I could not take it anymore to drive uphill because of the big rocks that blocked our trail.

As soon as we had arrived Purok Balakayo, we went to the house of Purok Chairman - Rogelio Paglinawan to ask permission to explore the area and to park our motorcycle at the basketball court.  From the basketball court, instead of choosing the usual route, I decided to try other route [no idea where it would lead us], which was on the right side and there was even a monkey tied on the tree who welcome us.  This trail was more enjoyable because it's under the protective cover of the Mother Nature; we then passed by the area of Manny Pacquiao and Fiscal Jamora.   The trustee of Fiscal Jamora, even mentioned to us that there were plans to put up a zipline and hanging bridge within the area.  After we had a short rest, I asked them if there's a possible route from there area towards the other side of the hill.  They then mentioned that there are two routes, one was longer trek but have an established route while the other one was shorter but it has steep descent.  What else to better enjoy the trail and be challenge, I choose the short trail for our 3 angels.  As a trail guide of the group, I went ahead of them looking for a safe route and then moments later I find myself alone, because they were already having merienda at one of the rest area of the locals their who plants corn.  So I went down looking to them to have a merienda too and what else was a better way to recover the lost energy, the answer is NIPS NIPS.

For the first part of the trail, the 3 girls shared their experience.  One of them throw her bag down the trail so that she could grabbed more twigs and grasses that could helped her more during steep descent.  While others have received their early reward of having bruises and found their selves sliding down the mud.

Minutes later, we had fully recovered a portion of our strength and so we ascent the hills and found ourselves in front of the gate of Salangsang fighting cock farm; which only means that it was the start of the open trail.  Mr. James Betonio - owner of the Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Adventure Park had passed by also our group as he was very busing transporting his new collection of bonsai.

It was almost 9:30am when we arrived at the zipline and same as usual Mr. James was very accommodating and he even offered us the new sets of equipments for our group to be used during our ride.  He even showed me his newly bought equipments, which he was planning to, used one of these days to rappel down within the park's wall.  We had also seen a bird on the cage that eats raw fish.  I don't have any idea what specie of bird it was.  We had our merienda and some short photo sessions within the park, then moments later we haven't recognize that it was already lunch time as we were very busy enjoying the place and so we partake our packed meals.  By 1:00pm we started again to ascent the hills for the 3 ladies to experience the zipline of Fifth Mountain.  Harhiane and Erma enjoyed the sitting position while Mary Grace tried the superman position; she even had difficulty on her first ride in controlling the flow of air to have a straight view and landing.

By 2:00pm in the afternoon we said our goodbye to the park owner and crew as we were bracing ourselves again for the descent towards the falls, which could be found on the lush forest just below the zipline area.  The falls was not that big compared to Amsikong Falls, but I think the water here was more crystal clear than Amsikong.  The water flow was not that strong because the Fifth Mountain and some breeders depends their water source from the falls and thus you could see a black hose running throughout the falls.  The trail was more fun and challenging compared to trekking open trail.  Nonetheless the falls has an enticing dropped making the trail also rewarding.  As a guide of the group I tried to check the area if there could be a possible route that will lead us directly to the usual trail of the Sanchez Peak, but after more than 45 minutes trekking, I can't find a way out and so we went back trail.  But if we have longer time, most likely I would continue exploring the area.

Getting There: You may rent a single motor at Lagao Minute Burger or at P.Acharon Boulevard, near shell gasoline station.  During travel period, just follow the Conel road and check for the Fifth Mountain of Balakayo signboard located for every fork that you may encounter.  You can check also my BIKE MAP on facebook.

Contacts:   Please see the details below.

Expenses: Guide/Porter - We did not get our own guide, but if you'll get one, at least pay them in full of their service.  Let's say 300-500php per day. Entrance Fee/Permit -  No Entrance Fee as of this moment. Single Motor @150php per motor.

Network Signals:

Where to Stay: Lautengco Little Baguio Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Fiscal Jamora Farm Sanchez Peak

Other Places of Interest: Lautengco Little Baguio Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Fiscal Jamora Farm Sanchez Peak Amsikong Falls Bunga Spring Malakong Wall Twin Cave Japanese Hospital   

Special Thanks Thanks to ate Inday the caretaker of the Fiscal Jamora Farm for showing us the way back to the original trail.  James Betonio and it's crew for the accommodation.  Dan2 and Joy of the Sanchez Peak, for allowing us to visit their place and have a peek of the sunset and city lights of General Santos City and it's nearby cities and municipalities.  Lastly to Purok Chairman Paglinawan, for the warmth welcome, vital information he had shared and ensuring our motorcycles safety.

TRIP DETAILS

ROUTE DETAILS

Departure Route and Return Route

The photo above shows an artificial coral reef created by an American.  During my visit within the place I was very lucky to see them unloading some of this artificial coral reefs within the area.  With his efforts I am certain that more and more species of fishes will breed in the Sarangani Bay.  While staying in the area another tourist visited the place and tries to drop their anchor within the area, and the American shouted "Get your bloody anchor away from my corals".