Day 5 Pongas Falls, Twin Falls, Tap-ew’s Seven Falls, Sagada Lemon Pie House
Our day5 was solely scheduled for a whole day extreme adventure of exploring the relatively unexplored Tap-ew’s Seven Falls. This Tap-ew’s trail to Seven Falls was opened about three years ago in the southern part of Sagada. I did not make any research or visit any reviews about this activity beforehand, maybe because I am thrilled to actually witness and execute this activity or just that I do not at all done my researches for this whole trip. 🙂 Nevertheless, let me just share what we have experienced regardless of these trail and waterfalls researches and reviews have been told.
The first two cascades of Pongas Falls
Early about 10 in the morning, we started the river-trek going up to the Pongas Falls and took us about an hour to get there. Captivated by the triple cascades of Pongas Falls, we took our pictures in this very stunning three separate falls in one spot.
It really felt fantastic to see waters to go closer, navigate through the rocks and create majestic layers of falls.
How it really fascinates me to be with falls
Majestic layers of falls
To give justice to the title of the activity – which is Pongas Extreme, we satisfied it by being the extremist rappelling upward the Pongas Falls. This is necessary in order to get us and start the trail to the main Tap-ew’s Seven Falls.
Considering that rappelling is not within our normal day-to-day activities, we consumed a great quality time to ascend. Choi followed by Jheng effortlessly surpassed the climb. It is a good thing that this couple has emerged to be adventurous that really contribute to boost my confidence to also carry out whatever drills this vacation would ask for.
Chad’s (with Choi and Jheng) version of Michaelangelo’s “The Creation of Man”
Next to Jheng, I crawled up, tightly holding a no-grip rope and without any body support in case I slipped down. To narrate my experience up there, with the only rope as my hope, I felt alive! I can feel the rush of my blood and breath for every drag I make. I felt the excitement on reaching the top. The fear was only triggered when I reached the slippery cluster of rocks – with no other grasp to anchor your core upward aside from pulling yourself with the use of the no-grip rope. My fear rooted from the mere thought of not trusting the rope! But since I cannot surface any grip along the rocks, it left me with no choice to put all my weight on the rope supported by my knees crawling up.
View of third cascade of Pongas Falls
I am already on the top, when our very adventurous pal conquered the rappelling via rescue of our both guides. In a way, I felt relief that I got to climb first before him, because seeing him being rescued might only add agony for me to take the climb. Arnel deserved a salute for conquering his fear and being renowned as the true extremist of this whole activity.
It’s almost lunch when we all finished the rappelling. After that, we shared a boodle packed-lunch and the very primitive prepared lunch by our guides. I’ve lost track of count with these seven falls. I believe the falls we have stopped over for our lunch and to rest was the second of the seven falls.
One of the seven falls
Our boodle lunch
As we continue, we get nearer to the next falls and the view gets better and better.
Since this Tap-ew’s trail is starting to be explored, we ourselves can testify the wilderness of the trail being it remained unclean, tricky-narrow paths. These are all evidence by several bruises we obtained along the trek.
Of course, here is to Chad’s catch of the third, fourth and fifth (which is also known as the Twin Falls) falls of Tap-ew.
The Third, Fourth and Fifth (which is also known as the Twin Falls) falls of Tap-ew
We finally get closer to the Twin Falls. Being that we (I, Jheng, Joriel and Arnel) do not crossed down to the other trail where you can completely see the pouring of this Twin Falls, my experience of getting closer would meant being on the tip of this pouring twin falls.
Our perfect group shot on Twin Falls
Being on the cliff
It is only on the pictures that Chad and Choi have taken that I came to appreciate the remarkable meeting of these two falls upon touching their basin.
Twin Falls with its dramatic pour almost converging before it reaches it basin – Ironwolf
Due to its late afternoon already and bad weather condition, we were not able to reach the 6th and 7th waterfalls. We made our way back with different trail this time – not passing through the Pongas Falls. We also needed to get back in the village as early as before 7pm, for we had our dinner reservation in the Sagada Lemon Pie house.
At Sagada Lemon Pie House
Enough time for cleansing and dress-up, we feast our dinner trying the must-try “Pinikpikan” dish in Sagada. As I have told, I can’t be a foodie critic. With this regard, I will just share that this dish was famous and made special because of its main ingredient which is the chicken, that is being beaten by stick until it dies. The dish worth Phpo650 is good for 3-4 person. But six of us were well-served of this dish. We also tried the best of the house – the Sagada Lemon Pie.
The made special Pinikpikan dish of Sagada
Lemon Pie of the House
I can’t remember how this day really ends. What I can remember is that, there was a typhoon that day in Mountain Province, and the hard rain falls right after we ate our dinner.
I have mentioned early the feeling of being alive. This is not only a matter of YOLO or YODO! It’s a realization about nature – mountains, waterfalls, climbing, trekking that urges my human body to explore. The felt of burning body under the near rays of sun at the top of mountains or cliffs; the touch of water-dust and cold breeze coming from waterfalls; the rush of blood for every breathtaking climb, trek or walk; the fulfillment of every conquered fears and of completing bucket lists; the awakening sore of every muscles as an aftermath – these are all magnified thoughts of knowing your alive.
Side shot of Pongas Falls – the view of Pongas Extreme!
Soon, who knows, I might be conquering the fear of death! – I’m not referring to the death that it may cause having these kinds of activities, but as not to waste time fearing death for it is everything to cherish every chances of feeling alive.
avisomeness 