Saturday, July 16, 2011

My first time in Pagsanjan!


I never thought I would be able to see the Pagsanjan Falls. I always dreamt of going there but I don't know how to and I was always preoccupied with other more important things.

The artists and copywriters in our department have decided to unwind one weekend, so we thought of going somewhere all of us haven't gone to before. Rowel, an officemate who hails from Cavinti, Laguna where the famous falls is located, finally agreed when we asked if he could take us there and be our tour guide. (Yehey! After a year of prodding. Hehe.)

For a group of seven on a just-enough-budget, the easiest way to go there is to take the Greenstar Bus in Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue corner Taft Avenue. We left Manila past 6:30 am and we were already in Sta. Cruz at 8:30am. We took a jeepney ride going to Cavinti and left our things in Rowel's house, went to the resort where we paid P1,350 for the boat (and lifevests and insurance) and off we headed to the falls. The boat can carry three passengers, aside from the two boatmen. So if you want to save, better ride in threes.
Tourists may opt to ride the raft and go under and behind the falls.
I highly recommend this! The experience was so unforgettable.
Note: The rafters didn't require us to pay. We voluntarily tipped them.

Two boatmen were assigned on each boat. I noticed that they wore shirts with numbers (and some others, even their last name) printed at the back. This maybe so tourists can easily remember who their boatmen were, should something went wrong. Or maybe, so that those in-charge of organizing the boatmen's schedules will have an easier time.

Prior to going there, I read from blogs that there were boatmen who would ask for tips after the ride. We thought of giving them tip, really. But when we saw how strenuous shooting the rapids was, we were more than willing to give them more than what me and my officemate agreed about. It was real, hard labor. Maneuvering the boat against the current was difficult enough. What more when we passed by curves and huge rocks. They literally carried our boats! I was very impressed with their strength. You would really feel that you were in good hands...and arms!

View from the Picnic Station

I really had a great time on my first visit to Pagsanjan Falls. I wish I would be able to bring my family there. It was really an unforgettable experience! :)

5 comments:

Betchay said...

I went to pagsanjan falls before,thats was a long time ago when I was only 17 part of our school field trip,I had a lot of fun...Since then I never able to go back there again.

How I wish I had my own camera that time so I could take some memorable photos if just knew I could never go back for a very long time!

Sweet Lily said...

Wow! Fantastic!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post, Beth! I truly enjoyed the visit.

Tita Beng said...

Wow, I wish we could go there too one of these days. Haven't been there yet. Only in pagsanjan lodge and in the tabing ilog site, watching those bancas going to and fro the falls when I was much younger. hehe.. btw, how much do they charge for the banca ride. Is it per head or per banca.

Enjoy your day Beth!

Vic said...

gusto ko din pumunta dito beth! hehe... namiss ko tong blog mo. hope you can visit mine too. back to start ako eh.

-vic


here it is:
http://vicebora.blogspot.com/

escape said...

buti at napupuntahan pa rin yan. best time din na tag ulan para exciting yung bangka ride.

nga pala. laki na ng utang ko sayo.