Sunday, February 8

Enchanted




Below me is a natural wonder that could be found only in the Philippines: the Enchanted River. It's certainly not your ordinary swimming and diving spot as it appears to be surrounded by myths and mysteries—its origin being one of them.

True to its name, the Enchanted River boasts virtually clear waters with a shade of blue that needs no photo enhancement.

If you don your goggles and take a peek underwater, you will be awestruck by what you'll see — and I ain't kidding when I say "awestruck" 'cos I seriously jerked my head back up from utter surprise — a mouth of an enormous sinkhole that is about 26 metres deep where large schools of huge, unfamiliar, colourful fish could be found thriving! At the bottom of the abyss, you'll find a fascinating underwater cave system that hasn't been fully explored.

This inviting blue lagoon is truly nothing short of paradise and looks like something straight out of your wanderlust fantasies. So if you're planning to explore the Philippines, I think including the Enchanted River in your itinerary would be a brilliant move. And maybe, just maybe, for a second, it will make you believe in pixies and mermaids and magic once again.



Sunday, February 1

Rockin' Bukilat Cave


2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Captured by my friend Lancer Salva, this is me whilst taking a serious rockstar selfie in the natural spotlight on the pretend rock stage (pun intended) of Bukilat Cave on Camotes Island, Cebu.

Bukilat Cave is one of the three natural caverns I recently explored and definitely the most unforgettable.

This magical nature spot boasts a large underground opening, complete with a skylight, walls of stunning stalagmites and stalactites, a choir of flapping bats, and a pool which fills up with icy cool, crystal clear seawater at every high-tide.

Add to all this breathtaking spectacle (and primarily due to the fact that I'm a sucker for The Goonies, Peter Pan, and other pirate-y stuff) is the overwhelmingly electrifying legend that the cave has hidden treasures scattered about.

Go be wanderin' 'round these parts, matey, if yer lookin' fer some swashbucklin' adventuaaarrr!