Unplanned adventures are always the best! Do you agree?
What’s up, fellow hivers? This is me once again, @rilyaaan, and today let me share with you our trip to Banyan Cold Spring in Tabogon, Cebu!
Our friend group always planned to go on an adventure but always canceled due to unfortunate events. If I’m not mistaken, we planned three times already, but all of those were canceled because there is always at least one who’s not available on the date scheduled, and we don't want to go on a trip without being complete.
But this summer, the temperature is extremely high, and somehow some of us can’t handle it anymore. So we planned once again to go on a trip to a cold spring near us, and we didn’t wait long because the planned schedule was the day after so that it wouldn’t be canceled once again. We all agreed.
Since I was a kid, I haven’t been to the cold spring, even though it is not that far from us. Maybe it’s because my parents aren't fond of trips and adventures. But it has been my long-term dream to be there to experience the beauty of nature.
So the next day, we started our adventure. First things first, we need to buy food and drinks because it wouldn’t be a happy trip without good food. We always knew that roasted chicken and swimming goes hand in hand, so we bought two, and we also bought soft drinks and rice.
Afterwards, we began our 30-minute motorcycle ride. The open road always called to me, but with my past driving escapades (let's just say there were a few bumps), my parents weren't quite convinced. So, it was back to hitching a ride with my trusty friend, this time on their motorcycle, to explore Banyan Cold Spring.
When we got there, the entrance fee was super reasonable at 150 pesos, plus a 30 peso environmental fee. Not bad! Every penny was worth it because of the beauty and gorgeousness of the cold spring. It feels like we're not in the province.
I really planned to not swim to avoid being tired and just enjoy the view and the people swimming, but I bought extra shirts just in case I changed my mind. But when my friend dived in, I was also tempted to dive because I forgot that it had been a long time since we visited a beach or pool. So I instantly changed my clothes and dove in directly.
When time passed and it was already 1 o'clock, we then gathered around the table to eat. It’s really different to eat outside near the ocean with fresh air and some roasted chicken. I mean, it feels like you're in a different universe because of the vibes and the view, especially with friends.
After eating, we then went back to swim because we wanted to enjoy and relax our minds under the sun with cold water on us. It feels like swimming on ice that just melted.
When it’s time to go home, we then wash up, dress up, and clean up our messes. We hit the road with another 30-minute ride until we reached our home. If you're planning to go there, I would suggest weekdays instead of weekends, as it is crowded on the latter days.
What excites me most is spending time with friends; no one will interfere with whatever you are doing but rather join and support you in it. It dawned on me that I must treasure every moment spent together because, before we know it and it’s already college time, we will not have any more time to bond as we will be going to different schools or universities due to our course selection. As classmates, this year is our final academic year together, and I want to make sure that I spend as much time with them and enjoy what remains of the year, making more lifetime memories for ourselves.
Anyway, if you're looking for a cool spot to hang out with friends, family, or even bring the kiddos, Banyan Cold Spring is definitely worth checking out. The kids will love it. It can take away the stress that you feel, and the cold water will comfort you from any problem you have in mind.
I'll make sure to blog about our future trips and adventures here. That’s it for today. See you on my next blog.
All photos are mine unless stated otherwise.