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Sunday, October 28, 2007

Samar & Northern Samar: Chasing waterfalls in Samar

Day 4 of my Eastern Visayas trip was around Calbayog, known as the City of Waterfalls. So it's a shame if I didn't visit at least one. After going around the city's historic core, I proceeded to the terminal to take the jeep to Allen. The jump off point in Brgy. Tinaplacan is an hour away, halfway between downtown Calbayog and the port town of Allen in Northern Samar. Looking at the map, Calbayog is almost twice as big as Biliran Province!

I ended up in Brgy. Bugtong, a few meters from Tinaplacan. The waterfall is in the territory of Bugtong but you need to pass through Tinaplacan. It's 3 kilometers from the road. And the locals suggested I hire a habal-habal so I have a guide to the falls which turned out to be a good idea since the path was very muddy. The motorbike actually slipped and we fell off on the way there. Luckily, I escaped with minor scratches.

To get to the main falls, you had to walk on several cascades. There were some slippery parts so I had to take off my shoes. I injured my toe when I slipped on one of the rocks which left me limping for several days. Good thing I had the guide with me since it was really difficult to walk on the rocks.

I asked around if there was another falls nearby and the driver brought me to the next town (the next province too) San Isidro, Northern Samar. Veritao Falls, is in Brgy. Veriato, one of the boundary barangays.

I was planning to stay over in Allen so that I could visit Capul and Biri Islands. But since the weather wasn't cooperating, I decided to abort that plan since I didn't want to ride a pump boat for over an hour with strong waves. I took a jeep back to downtown Calbayog and since I was wet from the rain, I decided to ride on top. That was a great experience and it was fine until it started to rain again just when my clothes where getting dry. What the heck! So I just stayed up the jeep while it was raining cats and dogs.

From Calbayog, I took a bus back to Tacloban City. For dinner, we went to Calle Zaragoza Cafe owned by my brod Gerry Ruiz. The meals were very cheap. The bulalo and ribs were under P100 each. We also checked out the ihawan that are set-up along Rizal Street in the evenings. Reminds me of Larsian in Cebu City. I'll definitely get a bite there when I arrive Cebu next week.

2 comments:

  1. i went to ALLEN, Capul Island a couple of years ago for work as a travel observer, photog and to make fun of what there is in Northern Samar. I fell in love instantly!

    It's nice having to read such post about the pristine northern samar district. The waterfalls are superb! Have you seen a rainbow in one of those waterfalls stable? the end of the rainbow? I forgot which waterfall it is, but there is! ;)

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  2. Anonymous8.2.08

    hi,evan.komosta kana.jiremie.or just call me jie for short.is been a while cince.i been on holiday to samar just last month.i went the the plases you plog on on the webb.i wint to samar for almost 3 weeks.i am very surprise the way the city changes.has jollibe,chowking.and itc,is nise to be back there.alam ayoko kopa nga sana bumalik but work come along.but i am planing to go back next year.if good will.so thank you sa lahat ng tepp.sa webb mo.by the way this is my yahoo add.cathy.domdom
    @yahoo.com thank again

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