Cagayan de Oro, Canopy Walk!

	Philippine Travel Articles (courtesy of )


								ELEMENTAL SURPRISE. A wild ride on white water tubing along Cagayan River's rapids. (OPPOSITE) An exhilarating walk over treetops in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.
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						magine yourself 12 stories up in the air, and the only thing supporting you is a metal bar two inches wide that's shaking in the wind. You move to step on the next little bar but you are distracted by the view below you... a 120-foot drop to the forest floor. That's what the first moments on the Canopy Walk in Claveria, Misamis Oriental feels like.
							The city of Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao is a perfect jumping
						point for adventure trips that combine both an adrenaline rush and an
						immersion in unspoiled nature. An hour's drive from the city will bring you to
						the jump-off point to the Canopy Walk. An uphill, 1.5-kilometer hike through
						the lush rainforest of Magbais will bring you to the first platform. There you

		will receive a thorough briefing about safety as harnesses are strapped securely onto you. "We guarantee you will get back in one piece, even if we need the help of a little duct tape", kids Gerome Garcia, the manager of the Detour Adventure Company, which organizes these tours.
		There are five platforms built around trees 100 to 120 feet tall. To get from one to another, you have to walk on hanging bridges made out of steel cables and those two-inch stepping bars. Even if you are double harnessed to a safety cable overhead, the first moments are terrifying! The bridge sways with the wind and shifts with your every movement. When you get to the next platform, you will likely fight the urge to hug the tree and hang on for dear life!
		But for city slickers like myself, it was difficult not to succumb to the extraordinary views of the forest. I couldn't help but be amazed that I was standing on a gigantic tree, surrounded by trees and looking at thousands more in front of me! My fear quickly turned to exhilaration when I took the time to savor this view of nature that I had never experienced before. Plus it was raining when the Mabuhay team went, so while we were freezing we were also delighted at the awesome sight of mist rolling across the treetops, dramatically hiding and then revealing the different vegetation on all sides of us. Truly it was facing down fear and Mother Nature all at the same time!



	All these Cagayan adventure tours can be done in a three-day stay. And don't think you have to be the Lara Croft-type to do it.

Built under the Department of Tourism's Eco-Tourism Program, the Canopy Walk was inaugurated in December 1997. It was built by the DOME or De Oro Mountain Explorers, which continues to maintain it. Keeping to an "all environmental" policy, no nails were used to construct it and the design was based on how much the trees could carry without getting stressed. The design was based on the first canopy walk built in nearby Bukidnon by John Kelson, a Canadian representative of Conservation International who went to the Philippines to study its indigenous birds. In tribute to the man who first brought the idea to the country, it is officially called Noslek Canopy Walk, Noslek being an anagram of Kelson's name.			energy trying to get good footholds on the wet cave wall. Once at the bottom however, you can look up and appreciate the great height that you rappelled down from. It will feel like another great achievement to tell your friends back home.
			Vandals do not abuse the cave as the only entrance is the mouth that you have to rappel down from and the exit is a submerged opening on the other side. The stalactites and stalagmites are preserved and are a wonder to see. Claustrophobic people beware however, there are moments when you are walking in shoulder-level water and the cave ceiling is just a few inches above your head. But if you can get over that, the sensation actually feels quite peaceful and relaxing. As Johanna de Larrazabal, caving first-timer so aptly put it, "it feels like you are in a womb."
But you need not leave the boundaries of Cagayan de Oro for more adrenaline-inducing nature trips. A short drive from the city's center brings you to the jump-off point for Cueba de Oro, a cave open to exploration by more adventurous tourists. Named by TV host Miriam Quaimbao who was one of the first tourists to go through it, Cueba de Oro is no ordinary cave. To enter it, one must rappel 120 feet down to its entrance. While the guides do give you a clear briefing on all the rappelling techniques, it does not prepare you for the slipperiness of the cave walls. It is a tiring vertical walk down as you spend a lot of
			There are moments when you are submerged up the neck, but mostly you are splashing in ankle- to knee-deep water. The whole underground journey takes about an hour, just the right amount of time to make you feel like you've really gone "spelunking" without getting too tired of the darkness.
			Exiting the cave is as exciting as entering it because you have to walk submerged through a passage to get to the outside. While you only stay immersed for a short while, the thought of it is daunting. It helps to be in the company of



	F ROM TRYING OUT an Ostrich steak to eating freshly caught seafood, from playing a round of golf at a world-class course to wall climbing in an ultramodern facility, from shooting the rapids to shooting the breeze at the Night Cafe... the city of Cagayan de Oro offers a surprising array of recreational activities for everybody.
	Known as the City of Golden Friendship because of the extraordinarily friendly disposition of its local people, CDO is a great place to have all kinds of fun. For the foodies, there are many restaurants that offer an array of gastronomic possibilities. For local fare and the newly popularized ostrich dishes, the best stop is the upscale Cagay-anon in Limketkai Mall. The Barn is the place to go for the best Lechon Manok (charbroiled whole chicken). Their version of this popular dish is unlike that of other provinces as it is specially marinated and cooked with all kinds of local herbs and spices. It is delicious! Bigby's and P. Joe's serve classic

							And if you aren't yet tired from your golfing and adventure tours, you can do some wall climbing, play badminton and tennis, swim in a heated pool, or shoot a couple rounds of billiards at Sports Avenue. This converted warehouse at the Marco Hotel grounds is a modern, one-stop sports destination under one roof!
	western fare like baby back ribs and burgers. For those craving for Chinese, Dynasty Restaurant in Dynasty Hotel offers the best Chinese food in town. For vegetarians, the food in Green Haven is so superb even the usually carnivorous stop for a bite. For a good cup of coffee, visit Blueberry, a coffee shop built into a charming old house. You can also get a caffeine fix at Bo's Coffee and Taza at The Site.
							No visit to Cagayan de Oro is complete without shopping for the popular Oro Ham, Bulua Pottery and the famously delicious Camiguin Pastel, so don't forget to pick these up before you go home!
	Night owls will not be bored in CDO. For a round of drinks, there is Ghana and Mac umba at The Site and Fizz at the Marco Hotel. If you feel like dancing, you can always groove with the talented local bands playing in Picasso and X-cite.
							The island of Mindanao has been unfairly portrayed for many years. When an armed conflict breaks out in one area, media reports make sweeping statements that involve the entire island chain. A complaint from a local goes, "if there is trouble in Bicol, they don't say that 'Luzon is a war zone' as they do with Mindanao!" The city of Cagayan de Oro has been peaceful and is definitely worth visiting!
	On Friday and Saturday nights, it's a must to check out the Night Cafe. Held in the city center, two main streets around a plaza are closed and set up with different food stalls. The whole town, including the mayor and the city council comes to eat, drink or just hang out. On Saturdays there is usually a band playing, so expect to dance under the stars!


guides who are experienced and trustworthy outdoorsmen. In neck-deep water, a guide will help you maneuver through the underwater passage, while another guide awaiting you on the other side, will help pull you up to where there is air space to breathe. When you open your eyes, you will see sunlight and after just a few steps you will find yourself in a pool by the cave's exit.							was the site of the only battle won by the Filipinos during the early days of the American occupation in the early 1900s.
							When you're done exploring the land and what's under it, it's time to give tribute to the sky and the water. Pinoy Rafting, otherwise known as White Water Tubing, can make you do just that. This variation of white water rafting can be done on the Cagayan River, again just a few minutes away from the city. The jump-off point is literally a jump! It is an enrollment jump as they call it, off the 25-foot-high Carlos Fortich Bridge. With a life vest strapped on, you stand on the ledge and, at a count of three, jump into the water below. While the bridge may not look that high, it feels like ages before you hit the water! I actually had time to think thoughts like, "It's cold up here... hey, why am I not hitting the water yet?" before I splashed down. As a safety measure, a guide will jump with you so that, once in the water, he can immediately pull you to the waiting rafts.
The guides from Detour tell of the time they first explored the cave and discovered this underwater exit. The pool beyond was then being used by women to wash their clothes. When the long-haired mountaineers appeared from this unknown passage, the surprised women ran away screaming. They thought swamp creatures had suddenly come up from the depths of the earth! In a way, you sort of feel that way when you emerge into the sunlight.
After caving, you can take a side trip to nearby Macahambus Gorge, a 130-foot circular ravine. The steep staircase is an adventure in itself. It is worth the trip however to explore this hole in the earth replete with various species of plants and huge trees. While it is a dead cave, the Macahambus Cave is also worth paying a visit for its historical significance. It
							Another product of Filipino ingenuity, Pinoy rafts are made of seven inner tubes securely strapped together. The tubes are reinforced with a second rubber covering to avoid puncturing. Unlike western-style white water rafting, only the


				WHETHER YOU ARE traveling to Cagayan de Oro for business or pleasure, it is important to stay on top of things. And there is no better place to do that than in Pryce Plaza (Tel [6388] 858-4536; Fax [638822] 726-687 / E-mail: reservation@pryceplaza.com) located atop Carmen Hill. From this vantage point, you can enjoy views of Cagayan de Oro, Macajalar Bay and the dramatic mountain ranges beyond. On a clear day, even the enchanting "Island Paradise" of Camiguin is visible.
				Pryce Plaza is a convenient 15-minute drive from Lumbia Airport and only 10 minutes away from the city proper. From most of the 81 guestrooms and suites, you overlook the bay and the city. Retiring from a tiring day of golf or adventure touring becomes more special as you enjoy the lights of the city below. The rooms are spacious and allow you to relax with their comfortable decor and furnishings. Equipped with air-conditioning, refrigerator and mini-bar, bathroom telephone, NDD/IDD, cable television and other conveniences, they have been designed for guests' utmost comfort and enjoyment.
				You can enjoy delicious food in Pryce Plaza's two restaurants. Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the Café Cagayan. With its trademark cathedral windows opening up to a splendid view of the city, you can enjoy morning sunlight while eating your meal. Offering an array of breakfast choices, from the classic American combination of pancakes and bacon to Filipino breakfast staples, you will certainly start your day right at the Cafe Cagayan.
				For lunch or dinner, an interesting dish to start your meal at the Café Cagayan is the Sinuglao, a local specialty of fresh tanguigue and charbroiled pork liempo and coconut cream seasoned with tangy herbs and chili. After that you again have a choice of local or continental specialties.
				Starlit dinners are set against the backdrop of a thousand night lights at Josefina's Seafood and Grill, a poolside restaurant on a veranda nesting on the slopes of Carmen Hill. You can choose from an array of fresh seafood like prawns, clams, squid and a variety of fish and have them prepared just the way you like it.
				To cap off the day, you can relax and unwind at Compadres Bar. Enjoy light refreshments and exotic cocktails while listening to the soothing sounds of live piano music. For a workout, there are tennis and basketball courts, and a fully equipped gym with sauna and massage facilities. There is also a well-maintained swimming pool to do your laps in.

	guides do the paddling. Guests basically just have to hang on and scream! (You're bound to swallow a couple of liters of the Cagayan River!) While the rapids aren't as big as the ones up river where there is white water rafting, it is rough enough to give quite a thrill. In between the 13 rapids, there is calm water where you can just lay back on your tube and enjoy the lush scenery in the riverbanks and the cliffs above. You can even get off and allow yourself to drift with the current, a remarkably relaxing experience. "Unlike white water rafting, you have a closer relationship with the water," says Gerome of Detour.



	All these Cagayan adventure tours can be done in a three-day stay. And don't think you have to be the Lara Croft-type to do it. People from six years old to 65 have gone through these nature adventure trips. Detour's logbook, which everyone signs at the end of each tour, is filled with many exuberant testimonials and thank your followed by many exclamation points. If you join the tour, you too won't be able to help but write the same.

	Contact Gerome Garcia of Detour (Dome Expedition Tours)/ Tel (6388) 350-9538, Mobile (63919) 4043930 / E-mail: a_detour97@yahoo.com; or the Department of Tourism Region 10 / Tel (638822) 723696, 726394.

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