My love of adventure and thrill is unquestionable. As I always emphasize, I love my vagabond spirit which I think leads me to the land of promise - Mindanao. Staying here for half of the year meant that I have adjusted with their culture and their people but no matter how long I have stayed here, I am not even half of my exploration.
October 29, 2019, Tuesday
The day was beautiful and sunny. My friends and I just had breakfast outside our compound then went on with our individual duties. I was checking scripts when I felt strong tremors on the ground. It was a prolonged rocking that ended more than a minute.
I heard everyone outside uttering, "Linog! Linog! (Earthquake! Earthquake!)" Then a friend who was in General Santos Plaza called me to check if I were fine. By far, it was the strongest earthquake I have experienced since I arrived here in South Cotabato. It had a magnitude of 6.4 to 6.6.
Power was out. The room became hotter. My laptop and my phone were running short of battery. Since I had work to do the entire day, I decided to hang-out somewhere safe and with a wi-fi connection so I could finish all impending scripts and reports to my employer. So the group decided to gather at the plaza and finally agreed to ride towards Marbel (another place in South Cotabato).
But the supposed Marbel plan had its detour when we were having our lunch at Nadies Chicken House at Tupi, South Cotabato. Kelvin opened up the idea of driving towards Eden's Flower Farm at Barangay Kablon. Before we knew it, we were riding towards a vast pineapple plantation with Mt. Matutum as its background. The farther we drove, the more we discover how wide the plantation was.
With the uphill and downhill drive, we finally reached Eden's Flower Farm. A huge hectare of flower plantation of different colors and species were in bloom. Local tourists flock largely to take IG-worthy photos of the blossoms as we were also doing the same.
There were flower farmers we met along the way who were harvesting and even carrying bunches of flowers. More than being overwhelmed, I literally held a handful of chrysanthemum while admiring their beauty.
I must say, "What a day it was despite the calamity we experienced earlier!"
By the way, as a side trip, we satiated our palate with Tupi's well-known Halo-Halo. It only cost Php95 served inside the coconut fruit. One can drink up its coconut water which was separately served in a pitcher.
How to Get to Eden's Flower Farm:
1. With General Santos City as your starting point, ride a bus going to Tupi, South Cotabato. Ask the bus attendant/conductor to drop you off the junction going to Brgy. Kablon. Fare from General Santos to Tupi, Koronadal is approximately Php35 to Php50.
2. From the junction, ride a motorbike going to Brgy. Kablon. Tell the driver that you are going to Eden's Flower Farm. The entire ride will cost around Php75-Php100. Be prepared for a bumpy ride.
3. The entrance fee for Eden's Flower Farm is Php80.00. It is best to come early on weekdays since it has become a rising tourists' destination in South Cotabato, it is expected that there plenty of visitors in the area.
4. Prepare extra cash if you want to buy flowers. I was told that a bunch of flowers starts at Php200 but that depends on the flower type. By the way, we were lucky that the flowers are in bloom and we even witnessed farmers who were harvesting.
5. Again, observe LNT Principles.
"Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time."
Personal Insights:
1. With the influx of tourists in Mindanao, it is undeniable that one slowly erases the stigma of generalizing Mindanao as a dangerous place. Mindanao is truly a land of promise. It has everything one wants to experience. From seascapes to landscapes which include different flora and fauna that are endemic only in the province/region.
2. I always feel alive when visiting new places here. Ever since I set foot in General Santos, I couldn't help it but to always utter how beautiful life is. From that, I mean who blessed I am to be working here while having the opportunity to explore the Mindanao as a whole.
3. People are kind. Strangers are willing to help you. This strong Filipino hospitality is a remarkable trait which is evident anywhere one goes in the Philippines.
4. Filipinos have a way to find beauty and joy despite difficulties. The earthquake was strong here in General Santos City. In fact, it was the strongest yet recorded in the city. Even though how scared I was, I reminded myself that I should be vigilant during emergency situations. My family and friends called up even at the moment of the incident. Nonetheless, I assured them that I was fine.
5. Eden's Flower Farm is a new attraction and though there were people who were a bit disappointed about how flowers are not yet in full bloom, I guess they need to look at the bigger picture. That these flowers are a sight and a beauty. They bring happiness to everyone not to mention their contribution to the ecosystem and in the environment as a whole.
6. Finally, life is so beautiful especially when shared with genuine friends. This is what I found in my journey while I am here in Mindanao. I met new people and learned to trust them. I met new people and few of them I considered friends. Just it happens that these new people I am with these days are genuine and real friends. I am keeping them forever!
"Cool attraction to visit here in Tupi, South Cotabato"
October 29, 2019, Tuesday
The day was beautiful and sunny. My friends and I just had breakfast outside our compound then went on with our individual duties. I was checking scripts when I felt strong tremors on the ground. It was a prolonged rocking that ended more than a minute.
I heard everyone outside uttering, "Linog! Linog! (Earthquake! Earthquake!)" Then a friend who was in General Santos Plaza called me to check if I were fine. By far, it was the strongest earthquake I have experienced since I arrived here in South Cotabato. It had a magnitude of 6.4 to 6.6.
Power was out. The room became hotter. My laptop and my phone were running short of battery. Since I had work to do the entire day, I decided to hang-out somewhere safe and with a wi-fi connection so I could finish all impending scripts and reports to my employer. So the group decided to gather at the plaza and finally agreed to ride towards Marbel (another place in South Cotabato).
"The group ordered each set of Chicken Inasal at Nadie's Chicken House - Tupi Branch"
"Enjoying my own nibbles of Fish Fillet for only Php99"
"Here is another watery order of Fish Kinilaw"
But the supposed Marbel plan had its detour when we were having our lunch at Nadies Chicken House at Tupi, South Cotabato. Kelvin opened up the idea of driving towards Eden's Flower Farm at Barangay Kablon. Before we knew it, we were riding towards a vast pineapple plantation with Mt. Matutum as its background. The farther we drove, the more we discover how wide the plantation was.
"A plantation of pineapples in Tupi, South Cotabato"
"Sunny and wonderful day on the road to Eden's Flower Farm"
With the uphill and downhill drive, we finally reached Eden's Flower Farm. A huge hectare of flower plantation of different colors and species were in bloom. Local tourists flock largely to take IG-worthy photos of the blossoms as we were also doing the same.
"Arrays of violets, yellows and whites at the Eden's Flower Farm, Tupi, South Cotabato"
There were flower farmers we met along the way who were harvesting and even carrying bunches of flowers. More than being overwhelmed, I literally held a handful of chrysanthemum while admiring their beauty.
"A flower farm with so many flowers"
"I had my chance to hold these natural blooms"
"About to bloom"
"Of different colors - how beautiful!"
"So overwhelmingly beautiful place"
I must say, "What a day it was despite the calamity we experienced earlier!"
By the way, as a side trip, we satiated our palate with Tupi's well-known Halo-Halo. It only cost Php95 served inside the coconut fruit. One can drink up its coconut water which was separately served in a pitcher.
"Halo-halo: The Queen of the Filipio Desserts!"
1. With General Santos City as your starting point, ride a bus going to Tupi, South Cotabato. Ask the bus attendant/conductor to drop you off the junction going to Brgy. Kablon. Fare from General Santos to Tupi, Koronadal is approximately Php35 to Php50.
2. From the junction, ride a motorbike going to Brgy. Kablon. Tell the driver that you are going to Eden's Flower Farm. The entire ride will cost around Php75-Php100. Be prepared for a bumpy ride.
3. The entrance fee for Eden's Flower Farm is Php80.00. It is best to come early on weekdays since it has become a rising tourists' destination in South Cotabato, it is expected that there plenty of visitors in the area.
4. Prepare extra cash if you want to buy flowers. I was told that a bunch of flowers starts at Php200 but that depends on the flower type. By the way, we were lucky that the flowers are in bloom and we even witnessed farmers who were harvesting.
5. Again, observe LNT Principles.
"Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time."
Personal Insights:
1. With the influx of tourists in Mindanao, it is undeniable that one slowly erases the stigma of generalizing Mindanao as a dangerous place. Mindanao is truly a land of promise. It has everything one wants to experience. From seascapes to landscapes which include different flora and fauna that are endemic only in the province/region.
2. I always feel alive when visiting new places here. Ever since I set foot in General Santos, I couldn't help it but to always utter how beautiful life is. From that, I mean who blessed I am to be working here while having the opportunity to explore the Mindanao as a whole.
3. People are kind. Strangers are willing to help you. This strong Filipino hospitality is a remarkable trait which is evident anywhere one goes in the Philippines.
4. Filipinos have a way to find beauty and joy despite difficulties. The earthquake was strong here in General Santos City. In fact, it was the strongest yet recorded in the city. Even though how scared I was, I reminded myself that I should be vigilant during emergency situations. My family and friends called up even at the moment of the incident. Nonetheless, I assured them that I was fine.
5. Eden's Flower Farm is a new attraction and though there were people who were a bit disappointed about how flowers are not yet in full bloom, I guess they need to look at the bigger picture. That these flowers are a sight and a beauty. They bring happiness to everyone not to mention their contribution to the ecosystem and in the environment as a whole.
6. Finally, life is so beautiful especially when shared with genuine friends. This is what I found in my journey while I am here in Mindanao. I met new people and learned to trust them. I met new people and few of them I considered friends. Just it happens that these new people I am with these days are genuine and real friends. I am keeping them forever!
0 comments:
Post a Comment