·screaming·with·my·mouth·shut·: davao: day 5 & 6

After that beating we took the day before, here we are again for a second serving.

But before that, here's some inspiration...

OK. Now we can check out breakfast. Hehe

For the past few days I have been the last to wake up and get ready in the morning, but today was no ordinary day... nagtatampo si Rommel. Hahaha. It wasn't till later when TJ realized this at the meeting place at Croc Park while surfer dude was dressing Rommel's wound with... BETADINE. That was it, that was why he didn't feel like coming with us this morning, why he was the last to get up and why we almost had to drag his ass out of the house. Last night Rommel was asking TJ to buy some Betadine but failed to do so.

Anyways, back to today.

Here's my morning dose of flower appreciation.

On our way to Marco Polo

A glimpse of Davao Chinatown and some Langka Taho (thanks Tala) a little further down, we were there...

Did some shots inside and a short while later, we got the call... it was time.

This is my Rommel impersonation. Hahaha

And this was our bass thumpin' ride

Yep, we were going white water rafting... or as they call it here, Wild Water Rafting.

Here's what we need: a ticket and a waiver. Don't you just love waivers. Signing them gives the little adrenaline-junkie in you a quick fix. Like, I'm signing a legal document which states that what I'm about to do next must be dangerous enough that there is a possibility I might die or seriously get injured... also I can't blame anybody if in case this happens... wild!

On to gears.

I am a fan of the life jacket...huge fan! In fact, if and when I get rich, I'll buy loads of stocks from the life jacket industry as a sign of gratitude for all the fun it has brought to my life on the water. But this has got to be the worst looking life jacket I have ever worn (aside from the undoubtedly retireable ones in Galera where the floaters are shooting off from the vest because it's badly torn in several places so you'd have to physically hold on to it). You will see this horror later... and the helmet... arghhh. Is it too much to ask that they keep us safe while looking good at the same time? Anyways, you have been warned.

OK. First up, some briefing about the next briefing to happen on site. Placed our stuff on the provided lockers. Then we hit the road.

And since I'm in a complaining mood. The driver obviously has no idea about gradual acceleration and deceleration (sayang sa gas at di kami makatulog ng maayos sa byahe, dami ko bukol). It was about an hour before we got there.

The guides said that brown waters meant rougher rapids. Yey!

We have JR as our guide. Cool guy, a valiant effort to capsize our raft but we were just too heavy (Mimi kase may karga ng 3 days worth of processed food! hahaha). I asked for the best spot with the most thrill. TJ and I got it, no one wanted to swap with us anyways.

First drill was how to pull someone in. So we all had to take turns getting into the water. When JR signaled for me to go first, I tightened my vest and took the plunge. The water was cold and deep but the worst part was being pulled in by means of grabbing your vest. It had straps going around and under my legs positioning it on both sides of my jewels so TJ's jerk hurt like hell.

Here's a visual (obviously not us). See the massive wedgies this maneuver creates? Now imagine having those straps at the wrong place pulled up as hard as humanly possible. If you're a girl you won't be able to relate.

But after getting comfortable with the water (also it was extremely hot that day) I never passed up a chance to get off the raft and swim around. Also JR taught us how to pull yourself up onto the raft using the ropes on the side so no more nut crushers.

Ok then, on to the 13km course along Davao river. Pictures first then vids after, I coudn't remember the exact order as I was pretty occupied with paddling and screaming with joy.

They had to cut off some bamboo hanging over the river ahead so we parked somewhere and ate lunch... and do some camwhoring

This looks excruciating...

hehe.

OK, back to the course

Shown here is some sort of mini cave with water dripping all over the ceiling. JR said this is potable spring water. There was a bat and some mucous looking thing hanging from the same ceiling. This I notice only after tasting a few drops.

Enough rest...paddle!!!

The guys in Kayaks are our safety nets. They push ahead waiting and catching people downstream or stay back and watch over a known tricky rapid. They scout ahead for unknown obstacles. And they also take our pictures and videos (actually Japs Cuan is tasked with this). We love you guys!!!

Next break was for the waterfalls.

hate the vest. hate the hat.

There..better. Photo by JR.

Here are the other guides. The one on the center is Dax/Daks not sure... but he was kind enough to give us a lift from Croc Park to town (plus some enlightening financial tips along the way) when he saw us waiting for a taxi. Nice guy!

Back to rafting...

That was the last obstacle, the suck 'n drop... but as our guide rocks, he offered a do-over. He dragged the raft back into position and asked us to walk back. And while this might look like manageable waters... the current was really strong. After assisting Ria across I tried to do Bryt next... she got carried into the current and I was too. I was pulling as hard as I could but I had nothing solid to hold on to... good thing Japs Cuan (that's what we called the photographer coz he looks like him) was around and pulled Bryt over.

Pity we didn't have pictures of us drifting. This was where you get off of the raft and just drift/float with the rapids. You become your own raft!

Like so

I love drifting! Even after being sucked in and held underwater for a good 5 secs. by a powerful undercurrent I didn't notice, getting hit hard in the ass by a large rock, and ingesting a lot of this chocolatey water... I still love it!

And nope, we didn't get thrown over by the rapids. Except for Chai and JM, twice. Hahaha. I envy you!!!

This was indeed an awesome experience... HIGH FIVE!!! hahaha

Off to the showers then head home.

Here are the vids

After a quick regroup at the house, we were heading out again.

But first... damage report from peers. Hehe. I ended up having additional scratches on my legs and arms. More souvenirs!!!

We had an intense day so we need an intense meal...(kamay ni Rommel yun, gutom na)

Then wandered around the lovely People's Park. Where security was tighter than our airports (they were going to confiscate our yosi and lighters and I believe them, I saw all the confiscated stuff. Good thing ours were newly purchased and still sealed so they allowed us to deposit them for claiming later).

Then we went durian hunting. Along the way Mimi saw this dog and started petting him... he obviously liked it. you horny dawg you... ahahahah

Instead of cheap durian we were able to find cheap marang, a fruit that tastes like langka but looks like an atis inside. We were wondering what people were doing near the fruit stands converged on tables like they were tambays having a normal ginbulag session. But they were not, instead they were happily chatting while eating durian with a bottle of Coke. Now, that's something you only see in Davao!

On our quest for cheap durian and free wifi for Bryt (work work work), we ended up at Torres. Not to drink this time but for coffee and deserts only (and free wifi, hehe). Plus Mimi got a fix for her days old craving for mango crepe. See her napping in contentment below... along with the boys.