White water rafting adventures

Getting Ready!

The day is October 23, 2004. im so tired, but its nothing compared to how much i have enjoyed and the adventure i have encountered in the water rapids. i think the term white water rafting refers to the color of the waves of the cagayan de oro river; wherein due to its enormous current the water is seen just like a ladder going downwards and forms white bubbles going up just like when you are boiling tap water.

How Much?

Not bad for the money i have spent, i really enjoyed it. There were 41 persons in all, divided to 6 water rafts, typically 6 to 7 persons in each raft. im so glad that i am living in cagayan de oro to enjoy this such a nice activity, i am thankful to our organizers for this. We paid 1200 per person, that covers everything except the pack lunch and the camera. Our gear: Paddle, life jacket, sandals and the helmet.

Location

we have travelled 12.5 kms total from mambuaya to kabula, of this 12.5 kms there are 14 water rapids we have encontered with one river crossing obstacle. the course is about 6 hours total, that is enough to turn you into an indian if you havent brought your sunblock. and by the way be prepared to jump on a 30 feet high footbridge.

The story

i woke up 6 o'clock and prepared my things, i brought a packbag, inside is a t shirt, a brief, a pair of short pants, a cap, water in a plastic bottle, and my lunch-mcdonalds a quarter-pounder. i was wearing short pants, a shirt, a cap, and a pair of sandals with straps to my feet. i arrived at the meeting place, at DV Soria, in front of mcdonalds at 745am. we were then given a waiver thats in case we die during the course. then we boarded on a jeepney towards mambuaya but while on the way, we stopped at the macahambus cave for some sight seeing.

At the cave

i live in cagayan de oro but ive never been to the macahambus cave. watching over those stalaclitites, it so tiring having to go down over to such very long stairs. below are two caves with spring water gushing out from its floor and from its wall opening. i didnt get any nearer for there might be a caveman down there. what i really hate is that there were no elevators to carry us back above, we have to climb back to the stairs. when i got up i felt my legs to be in great pain ang my tongue to be seen outside my mouth.

The site

we arrived at the site at about 9am. our headguide debrief us on paddling techniques and on some safety precautions including splashing us with water. after that we boarded on the raft and headed on my first water rapid adventure. They say the water was so low that the course will be easier. i sit on the first seat of the raft on my side is alex. the key yo surviving is to listen to the guide for his instructions and to keep on paddling while in the rapids. now as a result for not listening, our raft was got stuck on a wood and we have to get our of the raft just to remove the wood. one technique i learned was to synchronize with the person in front in paddling.