Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Raft it up!
ADVENTURE is increasingly part of what people are looking for these days. With the different kinds of pressure that life brings, I, for one, am convinced that we should unwind sometimes.
For students, "Thank God Its Friday!" is not just an expression but also something they earnestly look forward to. Going places and exploring new things will definitely help people get back in shape and have a sense of direction. For me, a recent invitation from a friend, Neko del Rosario, who happened to be one of the guides of the Davao Wild Water Rafting Adventure, replaced my world-weariness with excitement!
Whitewater rafting is an extreme sport, thus taking extra care is a must. It was a scary but fun-filled 13-kilometer river ride that started from barangay Tamugan to barangay Lacson in Calinan district. After a short briefing, 32 (including myself and the guides) physically fit, eager and adventure-hungry people armed with a yellow bladed paddle, helmet, booties, floating vest and a wide, flashy dog-like smile ready for the cameras hopped on the rafts. Each raft is big enough to accommodate seven riders.
It started off with an easy float, our guide made the seven of us perform various drills to be prepared if the boat would capsize or thrown outside the raft.
Real fun began, as the waves grew bigger. We experienced more rapids and drifts that made the throwing and whacking of the paddlers up front. Screams were louder than the voice of the guides giving instructions. Some paddled forward instead of backward because of confusion. We could not deny the thrill simply because the cameras won't lie! Whew! Such activity demands perfect maneuvering and presence of mind.
I was lucky to be with the Vivar family. Its matriarch, Mrs. Vivar, was as scared as her nine-year-old daughter who would hold my arm instead of her paddle every time we passed between boulders and near whirlpools. Her husband, a doctor whose energy was as dynamic with his two other kids, roared, chanted and raised his paddle with us in delight as the dinghy maneuvered the obstacles.
Our lunch, which was part of the P1,500 package, inclusive of souvenir shirt, was served at the riverbank after the first three hours of our trip. We also got to know other riders who were first-timers, like the Vivar's from Luzon. A group of foreigners and students from various universities in the city was also part of the group.
It was an exciting, thrilling engagement, and may just be one of the nerve-rocking things I've ever experienced. But what I appreciated most was Mother Nature's beauty. The hornbill hawk gliding in the open, the insect striders (which I first saw on Jackie Chan's movie, Tuxedo), the carabaos sunbathing on the riverbanks, and monkeys swaying wildly on the rocky wall. There were also those beautiful caves, waterfalls, trees and a lot lot more.
What scared me during the trip was not the whirlpool (they call it the washing machine, a favorite spot for boats to capsize) or the thought of being thrown out; but it was the two green, one-meter long snakes. Yes! I was afraid of that crawling, slimy thing I saw on the tree branches near where I was supposed to take a nap. Ask Carlos Munda (my ...ohh... dive and fishing enthusiast boss...I love the bonuses ..este! you pala boss!) for he had a good laugh watching me freak out when he put a snake on my table.
To sum it up, wild water rafting is really worth trying. By God's grace, nothing can go wrong as long as you are physically and emotionally prepared for the adventure. Just take heed of your guide's instructions, don't panic, be careful, and with that I am sure you will have an unforgettable experience.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 2, 2006 issue)
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