An Unexpected Adventure

   Our plan to just pick pomelos in our 'bukid' ended up in an adventure packed with surprises. Beauty upon beauty unfolded as we hopped from one baranggay to another and discovered some spots we never thought to have been existing.

   I learned that Timbangan River in Brgy. Bagumbayan was inaugurated when Congressman Gatchalian visited our hometown this September. We decided to visit that place upon accompanying Jireh as he went back that same baranggay  due to semestral break.

   We first visited our residence area in Talangka and had fun in the backyard. What made the place interesting are the fruit-bearing trees and the panoramic rice field view.

Bagumbayan's Attractions

   The neat road, colorful flowers and cool surroundings welcomed us as we approached Bagumbayan's entry. Labeled things caught our attention. Plants such as calamansi, malunggay and corn have labels (sana nilagyan na rin nila ng scientific names :P). Even lightposts and rice fields are named.

   This barangay was awarded as the cleanest place in our hometown during Santa Maria, Laguna's Foundation Day Celebration. They received P30,000 from our local government.

   As we went uphill, we halted for a while to gaze upon the breathtaking scenery which includes the wide shruberries, rolling river and mountains. While taking pictures, an owner-type jeep passed by, so we paused for a moment. A loud voice saying, "Napakalayas mo talaga Rara!" came from one of the vehicle passengers. As I turned I saw my third year high school adviser, Mrs. Josefina Cuento!

   It's not just the landscape which brought wonder in that place but the flowers and the painted rocks too which decorated the roadsides.

 

   We didn't stop right away when we approached Timbangan resort; we planned to go straight to Marilag Ecopark. But series of roadside scenes interrupted us. And there was just one unforgettable small spot where we stayed long. It's allure is similar as the destinations I used to watch in Discovery Travel and Living.

 

 

Who can tell me the color of the water?

    I did not get myself wet but climbed the boulder to have a better view of nature. It was amazing to notice that the right part has a deep, tranquil waters, while the left has a shallow, rocky and flowing one.

   We pushed through the Ecopark in Laurel and this scenario wowed us. What added a little humor was that the people in the cottage invited us to have sopas. We did not know them but we ate anyway because we might get hungry along the way. They told us that it was Mrs. Cuento's thanksgiving blowout for a bountiful fruit harvest. So, that was the reason why we saw them previously.

   After eating, we stayed a little in the 'low-tide' stream and gazed at the crabs playing underwater. We went to Timbangan resort before the sun set to be able to enjoy the place.

   We crossed the stream to have a closer view of the hut located on the other side of the resort. The multicolored flags added the refreshing feel to us, visitors. Thanks, Tourism Department!

   See how crystal-clear the water is: 

Here are some stopover pictures:

Still in Bagumbayan.

We saw a family catching crabs and I asked if they won't mind If I would take a picture of their hunted ulam-to-be.

Stream where the crabs live.

Our batteries got depleted. 'Til we meet again!