Short stories: Traveling in the jungle
September 1, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Hotels
It was 1986 and I was serving in the Philippines at Subic Bay. My buddy had invited me to go to Mindanao providence to see some crocodiles. We were young and stupid and even though we were told that part of the country was a haven for Muslim extremists we went anyway.
There was a huge river about 40 miles from the village of San Carbon that was virgin territory and beaming with huge crocodiles. The rumor was that several villagers who had went there to harvest coconuts had been attacked and eaten.
As I said we were young and not to bright. We took a two day boat trip from Manila to Cagayan De Oro City and from there we met up with our supposed tour guide Manuel. We rode in his jeepney, which is a stainless steel looking vehicle that is suppose to resemble a jeep wrangler but without any windows, heater, or air conditioning. We traveled about 20 miles to a small village, but I can’t remember the name.
We spent the night in a small, stifling, windowless hut and had a small bowl of white rice for dinner. We hadn’t thought to bring much of anything with us, a mistake I sincerely regretted many times.
The next morning we started off toward the river with Manuel. The road could only be called a goat trail at best and was so rough that we both got sick from the constant thrashing around. The potholes were so deep and we had to get out several times and help Manuel clear the road of obstructions. We were just beginning to realize how ignorant this excursion really was.
The foliage was so thick that you could only see about 50 yards in any direction. And the insects were making our life a living hell. My face and arms were covered by mosquito bites and I was so miserable from the humidity.
That bumpy drive was the longest and most miserable of my entire life and I was regretting the stupidity that had taken us here to this god forsaken place. After what seemed an eternity we arrived at the banks of the river and set up camp.
That small primitive hut that we had stayed in the previous night almost seemed like the Hilton compared to the hard rocky ground that was to be our accommodations for this night. Needless to say after the sun went down the heat dissipated and it became very cold. Manuel had thought to bring one blanket a piece and a few bottles of water, although definitely not enough.
We were feasted upon that night by the mosquitoes once again and slept very little. The next morning our guide found us some huge crocodiles, some on the shore and some swimming in the river. I felt lucky that the crocs had not found us, as we laid upon the cold ground that night.
Sadly because of all the discomforts and dehydration the sight of the stupid crocodiles had lost much of it’s luster. We had come ill prepared for the weather, and terrain and because of our unpreparedness we suffered greatly. When we arrived back in Manila three days later we were both sick.
We were severely dehydrated and both had rashes from the insect bites and all the scratching we had been doing. My left arm got infected and I actual had to spend a few days in the hospital. So the moral of the story is be aware of your surroundings and be smart and prepare for this kind of journey.
We were very lucky. We found out a few days later that a rebel band of Muslim had kidnapped two Canadian missionaries about 15 miles up the river from our location, and later learned that one of them had been killed. I feel very fortunate to have made it back to the base safely and from that day forward I learned more respect for mother nature and the Asian jungle in particular.
Cagayan De Oro City: My Home
April 28, 2009 by LostinManila
Filed under Tourist Attractions
Cagayan de Oro City Philippines is the “City of Golden Friendship.”
In my younger years, I often found myself wondering why my city was called such. Back in the 1970s, people in Cagayan de Oro City Philippines knew each other. Well, almost. In my young and seemingly innocent mind, that was the reason I had. Every time I walked the streets of Divisoria, I would meet people I knew. Someone would always stop by to chat with me. A few would even call out my name. I enjoyed those walks.
When my family moved to Manila, I had to adjust to almost everything; the people, the places, the culture. Suddenly, I was in an entirely new environment. There were no more afternoon walks in Divisoria. In short, I missed my home: Cagayan de Oro City Philippines.
We lived in Manila for 12 years. I don’t know how I would have survived if I didn’t spend my summers here in Cagayan de Oro. At the end of every school year, my sister and I would always try to find a way to come home. Even when we started working, we always found a way to spend our summers in Cagayan de Oro City Philippines.
Manila was not bad. In fact, I learned a lot there. I formed lasting friendships. I have endless memories and a thousand and one meaningful experiences. But it isn’t quite like my hometown. There’s nothing like Cagayan de Oro City Philippines where the people smile at you in the streets, no matter what time of day.
Although traffic in Cagayan de Oro City is not really free flowing, it is nothing compared to the terrible chaos in Manila roads and highways. If I leave home 30 or 45 minutes before a meeting, I can still get to the venue on time. In Manila, you’ll have to leave at least an hour and a half or two before an appointment.
There’s no fresh air in Manila. Cagayan de Oro City Philippines, though not entirely pollution-free, is way, way cleaner.
More than the sights and attractions; more than the excitement of the weekly night cafes; more than the thrill and adventure of White Water Rafting, Cagayan de Oro City Philippines is proud of the friendly Cagay-anon. The simple charm of the Cagay-anon is the secret behind the city’s golden glow.
My young and innocent mind was right all along, Cagayan de Oro City Philippines is really the “City of Golden Friendship” because its people are simply friendly.
