Good day once again my fellow good friends! Last December, I went back to Dahilayan Mountain hoping to get a new perspective and to check what's going on and what's new. Everything was new! The mountain lodge was done, the rope courses was done, the playground got extended, the flying lizard was introduced, the ATV / buggy trail tracks were improved, new picnic grounds and forest cafe's, Zorbit, Bungee bounce, tree top adventures, new lodges and souvenir shop outside, Forest Luge and the DROP ZONE!


There are more ways to have fun. Dili paigo ang isa ka day kung gusto nimo ma experience ang total package of being in the place itself. I was lucky last December because we had already booked a room at Pine Grove Mountain Lodge. That was the difference sa tanan. Na enjoy nako ang stay tapos na experience nako ang temperature drop to 10 degrees. It's good to have hard liquors to suppress ang ka bugnaw pero dili sya advisable. The room rates were around 3-4k. Gamay ra ang rooms so dili advisable nga on the spot ka mag book. Reservations is a must jud. Ang pagkaun sa Pine Grove mediocre ra jud. Mura ra ug luto kusina sa inyong kusinera sa balay! Hahahaha. Simple lang. Pero dili man sad ang pagkaun ang tuyo dba? Haha.


Ang gabii lang gyud kung mag stay ka sa Pine Grove kai grabe gyud ka tugnaw! Ibilin nimo ang boiling water sa balcony after a few minutes kay Iced Coffee na. Haha. Ing ana ka tugnaw. I wasn't brining in jacket because I was expecting nga makaya ra ang tugnaw. I was wrong. Wala na gud na andar ang aircon and we were freezing haha. Bilib lang ko sa tapad namo nga room. It was less than 10 degrees na and they were still using the Air conditioner! Amazing! Grabe na gyud siguro to sila ug mga panit or grabe siguro ka in heat. Ambot unsay ilang gipang buhat. Anyways, the fun started the next day. We were lining for the Drop Zone Tickets. The tickets were wrapped around your wrists. When we got to the Drop site, guba ang makina! Sus Ginoo! Hadlok na gali kaayo, guba guba pa ang makina.



The reason for the engine failure was that it reached its limit the day before. Nag abot sila ug sobra 1000 ka drop on a single day. Imagine the damage it did to the engine. The technician assured me that pulihan ra nila ang battery. Wait? Guba man kaha ang makina, nganong ang battery may pulihan? Aysa ga libog ko brad! Gi kulit nako ang mekaniko kai na hadlok ko. I was super scared because I lost the  bet on who goes first. There were three of us and I lost on draw lots. Sh*t and F*ck gyud. I was a man and a big man. I don't want anything to scared the sh*t out of me pero this was real. Hadlok jud sya. After 10 minutes, the technicians fixed the Drop!

This time ako na gyud ang gi tauran ug mga safety gears, helmets and all those ropes. There was this special rope. I called it special because this rope is the one you use to pull in order for you to be released from the crane and lets you free fall to whatever Hell you are going! After the straps and all, I was turned horizontal and slowly dragged upwards. It was exciting at first when you are slowly lifted upwards. You will see the beautiful views from above Then, the excitement turned to doubts as you reach 50 feet. It will continue to cloud your judgment when you reach 80 feet and you will want to quit when you are at full 120 feet. Mura na kadako ug kinomo ang mga tao sa ubos. You can't hear them properly even if they are throwing taunts at you. All you hear is the beating of your heart begging to get out of your chest! There is no way down except pulling the rope.

I said to myself, kaya ra ni! Daghan ko safety harnesses ug uban pa nga ga wrap sa akong lawas and nobody died from this! I keep reminding myself that. I got braver until I pulled the rope! Grabe akong pamalikas pag hagbong! I was able to mention all the names and nicknames of Lucifer while free falling down. It was that ugly! The worst part of the fall is that, you can't feel all your safety harnesses! Promise! You can't even feel your helmet As if you were released to free fall all by yourself! It was that scary! The dual zip line was nothing compared to the Drop! You will be swinging a lot of times as you fear eventually subsides. It lasted around 45 seconds to a minute! Pero grabe ka adrenaline pumping! When I finally got out. I almost feel my legs going numb! Bawal gyud ni sa mga Hypertensive nga mga people. I was weak afterwards. Ga lisod na ko ug saka. Grabe bya pud ka subida ang mga pathways dadto. But I think, it was a test of courage! If you ever asked me would I repeat the experience? I would answer, I don't know! Pero kung mag Zip, I would definitely try that one again. I have my doubts if I could do the Drop again. But who knows, maybe I will!


 
The picturesque views fronting the Pine Grove Mountain Lodge. These were the few shots of the improvements of the park since my last visit.


The Christmas Decor of Pine Grove located at the Lobby!



The lower ground area of Pine Grove. You will see an enclosed room which good for meetings and small conferences.


This was taken at the balcony of our room!

The overall experience was very fun specially if you spend it with your cousins and families altogether. The experience was a good get away from all the stresses in life. It is a perfect way to reunite with nature and release your inner child! Wala ko nagmahay nga hadlok ang drop, I was happy nga naka bonding sad naku akong 2nd child up close and personal! Bisag sige sya hilak hilak sa kaadlawun, nga mka cause ug disturbance sa pag tulog, cge na lang! Ahahahah! We had our lunch at the famous Del Monte Clubhouse a few kilometers outside Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The beef stakes and gravy were heaven! Since it's been years na nga na hilabtan ko ni nga blog. But I am glad that I did. This is just my personal way of showing my little escapades in my own little way. Thanks for even bothering to read. Hanggang sa muli! Paalam!