Life is never fun without traveling,
they said that you won’t experience living unless if you travel different hot
spots in the world. I consider myself lucky because I live in an Island with
diverse places and complex rainforest. It’s not hard for me to look for
stunning places because I already have it here in my home town.
Camiguin Island is my home province,
it is considered as an island burn of fire and an island of your
imagination. It has been known as a
volcanic island since it has seven volcanoes unmatched anywhere else in
Southeast Asia and one of the volcanoes there has been unpredictably active
which is the Mt. Hibok-hibok. Volcanic eruptions and land movements have
created this spectacular island full of natural wonders and historical riches.
SUNKEN CEMETERY
A huge cross
marker at Bonbon, Catarman has been mounted by the Provincial government to
mark the community cemetery that sunk during the 1871 volcanic tragedy. Years
ago, gravestones were visible during low tide.
Since I was a
child I thought that sunken cemetery is a place where people bury their dead
relatives underwater, which I find it hard to imagine. I was wondering on how
they dig the sea floor 6 feet deep underground and how they place the coffin on
a suitable spot. Sooner I know that the cemetery was not a cemetery that I
imagined. It was a public cemetery which sank and drowned by the sea during the
volcanic holocaust in 1871. I was impressed about the history of the sunken cemetery;
it’s a tourist destination which has to be proud of by my fellow Camiguingnons.
It was late
afternoon since I first visited the cemetery. I was mesmerized by the
astonishing scenery which the utter iridescent color of the sunset perfectly
reflected to the peaceful sea with a huge cross marker standing with stillness.
Seeing the cross with the pink horizon presents serenity which seems like the
cross reminds people about the sad memory in the past.
ARDENT HOT SPRING
The local hot
spa is a natural pool of about 40 degrees centigrade springing from depths of
Mount Hibok-Hibok. The Municipality of Mambajao has provided cottages,
restaurant and dormitory facilities that cater to local and foreign tourists.
It has picnic huts, cookout facilities and restrooms for visitors. It is ideal
for night swimming, a place to rejuvenate both mind and body.
I use to
visit the hot spring with friends and family every month since it is the nearest
tourist spot in our branggay . It’s a place where you can put yourself at ease
from the stress and doubts you have encountered in your daily life. The
ambiance of the place gives you refreshment and hearing the natural voices of
the ecological environment makes you want to sleep all day long.
My friends
told me that the hot spring is a habitat of minor deities where accidents and
elusive tragedy happened. They said that there are territorial nymphs who drown
people to death and shape shifters who pretend to be foreigners. Whatever the
myths that I’ve heard from different people, it never bothered people to keep visiting
the pleasurable hot spring.
WHITE ISLAND
Two kilometers off the coast of
Agoho, Mambajao is the Camiguin's popular sand bar. At times it is in the shape
of the letter C, sometimes the letter I, depending on the ocean tide. It has
the picturesque Mount Hibok-Hibok and Old Vulcan as its backdrop. It is ideal
for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling.
I can consider this place as a white
island that can turn people into black. My experience of White Island was great
for I spent my whole time playing on the sand and swimming in a crystal clear
water. For the extensive fun with the excessive sun I didn’t recognize that my
skin tone was getting darker every minute. I was having a painful sun burnt
skin later that day, but I didn’t regret it because it is worth the fun. For me
it’s a perfect place for white people who want to tan their skin with extensive
fun on the sun.
KATIBAWASAN FALLS
The 250-feet majestic beauty cascades
to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. Its
ice-cold waters provide an ideal summer splash to locals and tourists alike.
Rock picnic tables, seats and cookout facilities are available for use.
Katibawasan
falls got its name from the tagalong word “kati” which means itchy and “bawasan”
which means “decrease”. I’ve heard rumors that it is a falls which can cure
allergies and skin diseases, yet not scientifically proven that it has a
mystical function of curing diseases. My perspective of the falls was magical
for I can compare it to the enchanted places I have seen in the movies. I felt
like I was in a protected paradise for it is bounded by cliff adhesive with
diverse plants and trees. The falls was like an invincible sword lying in a
giant canopy.
STO. NIÑO COLD SPRING
Located in Catarman, the Sto. Niño
Cold Spring has a pool measuring 25 meters by 40 meters. It is 2 meters deep of
cold spring water sprouting from the sandy bottom. The area has a restaurant,
native cottages, picnic huts, cookout facilities and restrooms for visitors.
During
summer season the tourist destination is crowded by people from other places.
It is a perfect tourist spot to cool themselves from the excessive heat of the
sun. It’s very cold that you can cool your beverages without needing
refrigerator. I felt like I’m bathing cold water from the Polar Regions that I
can spend my whole summer cooling myself off in a pleasurable cold spring.
It is such a
great gratitude that God has given me a home town that can make my life much
memorable and meaningful. I’m sure that there are still places that are more
surprising and adventurous which are waiting for me to be uncovered. My dream
is to travel the different spots of the world before my death. The green
fields, golden sunset, mountain ranges, and great moments that I have perceived
in my town will always be remembered and will be shared to my grand children.
It’s a great life to see the world before your death, so what you waiting for?
Start building your dreams to travel the mystique spots of the world! And make
your time much valuable and memorable that you can write down in your notes or
place it in your photo albums.
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