BUKIDNONthewingsoflove: Dahilayan Adventure Park Experience

Hi there. As promised, here is the post about my recent trip to Mindanao. 🙂

This is me waiting for boarding time. Too happy I made it just in time, as I was stuck in a bit of a traffic jam on the way, not to mention I panicked when I thought I forgot my IDs. Good thing, I didn’t! Whew! 😰

You see, I’ve lived 6 years of my life in Mindanao, specifically in Butuan, Agusan del Norte. It was a bit funny when I moved back to Manila at 14, to know that some of my classmates never heard of the place. Well I can’t blame them anyway. It’s just really a small town.

My friends who lived in Butuan organized a mini reunion. Since I haven’t seen all of them in 5 years, I thought it was a perfect chance to catch up. So I decided to go and booked a flight.

It’s my second trip for the year, and the second time I’m flying solo. I feel more comfortable now than my first, because I finally got over the jitters of traveling alone. Haha :)) I kept reminding myself to be hypervigilant just in case there are flight and airport reminders I may fail to hear because I’m too preoccupied about things.

Oh well, so I finally got to Butuan at around 8PM. My friend Mae and her husband JP fetched me at the airport, and we drove to Cagayan de Oro. It was a peaceful 3 hour drive. I was surprised I didn’t fall asleep during the ride. Perhaps I was sooo energetic that I cannot bottle up all the excitement I can feel.

We went to Caressa, who happens to live about some blocks away from my relatives’ house in the same village. And took this much overdue friendship photo. Can you believe it, we’ve been friends for 19 years?! Our dads are also friends since they were 8. Haha :)) Perks of living in a small town: you get to be friends with the children of your parents’ friends – barkada loyalty at its finest!

The next morning though, I didn’t know how much my bravery-meter can go.

I met Zarah at CDO City proper since her flight is most opportune to fit into our itinerary. And together with my friends, we drove to Bukidnon. It was just a 45-minute drive. I didn’t think it would be that near.

It was Zarah and I’s first time in Bukidnon. We were actually in awe of the wonderful pineapple plantation. We can’t imagine how sweet the soil can be to sustain and ensure the saccharine taste of each fruit.

It was humid that morning, so I was hoping against hope thay my adventure outfit would suffice to keep me cool through out the day.

I was enamored with this giant pineapple. It is such a great piece to complement the plantation.

Zarah and I took turns in taking photos with this. This is my bright and happy version.

Zarah on the other hand, chose a more whimsical vibe. 😉

I didn’t know that there are great players of football here in Bukidnon. Let alone this bull statue. Haha 😀

Back here in Mindanao, Bukidnon is known as the ‘Summer Capital of the South’ as it mimics the kind of feel and cold weather Baguio conjures up in the north.

Posing with the whole gang! Caressa is with her boyfriend Rod, while Mae is with her husband JP. Zarah and I, well, walang choice eh. Kami lang talaga. Hehe 😋

While approaching the entrance to the park, you can’t help but notice the hefty throng of trees welcoming you. It’s as if they’re saying “Welcome brave souls! Are you sure about coming up all the way here?” Haha 😃

By this time, I was already thinking about the nerve-wrecking and death-defying activities we are about to experience.

I took the liberty to take a photo of the rides and their corresponding fees.

Just in case you can’t see them properly, here is the list:

ZipXtreme Experience
Mindanao’s Favorite Extreme Playground

Zipall Package – P600
Zipline 840 m – P500
Zipline 320 m and 150 m – P250
Dropzone Single – P500
Dropzone Tandem – P750
Sky Jump – P400
Sky Jump Add-on – P300
Python Roller Zip Ride – P300
Flying Lizard – Not available at the moment 😦
Ropes Course – P200

ZIPXTREME PACKAGE – P1,200
ZIPCHALLENGE PACKAGE – P1,000
Photo with Certificate – P100

I got the Zipxtreme Package. I thought it was really sulit. And boy was I right!

My friends didn’t avail as much. Sawa na raw sila!

Our first ride was the zipline with 320 m and 150 m!

Oh yes, I am sooo ready for this!

Zarah and I poses to remind not everyone, but ourselves that we can do this! G!

Our instructor is giving us her reminders about what to do and what not to. We were so giddy already!

And we’re off! I don’t have a GoPro with me though, so I just used my trusty LG G4 to document this Zipline experience! Haha 😀

I was holding on to my dear phone for dear life. I was scared of dropping it but even more scared of not being able to record everything. Haha Priorities in life! 😝

I am just so mesmerized by the view below. You can see that, can’t you? Haha I’m not sure what I’d like to refer to more – my face or the amazing grounds gaping up at me. Hmmm.

Next we went to Zarah’s add-on park feature: The Rope Course.

This was the same rope course KC Concepcion revelled into in her movie, Forever And a Day, with Sam Concepcion.

When asked if she was feeling KC, Zarah only said “Bakit ko ginagawa ‘to sa buhay ko?”

And my only reply was, “Ginusto mo ‘yan eh!”

But all the same, I was supportive all the way. Haha 😃

I really like this swing. Brings me back good old childhood memories. Haha And oh, just the perfect seat to watch a friend chanelling her way to safety. Go Z!

Peek-a-boo! Reminds me of Wright Park in Baguio City! I didn’t expect I can do this again here!

Knowing myself, I can truly decide not to do this rope course in a heartbeat. So I just posed some more, while my dear friend is enjoying her life (haha of what is left of it). Haha Love you Z! 😀

Next, we went to Python Roller Zipride.

Such a beautiful house locked up in a forest!

Now that we’re perfectly geared up, on to the action now! Well I didn’t take some photos for this ride because it is very jumpy.

The line wasn’t that long. So it probably took us 10 minutes of waiting before it was our turn.

I just took this photo from the web (credits to the owner who took this); you see that metal line where your harness clings on to? Normally, a zipride or a zipline will just be forming a straight line, but this roller zipride wasn’t named like that for nothing.

The supposed-straight-line is forming curves up and down, side to side with varied altitudes! So it really feels like riding the roller coaster, minus the cart and the upside-down flipping.

It’s exhilirating! OMG. Not to mention, it’s a loooooong and bumpy ride! You can even see people walking under you, and you can say hi! There was a group who even took photos of us while on the ride. Hehe

The ride is wiggly, so make sure your pockets are empty and you secure all loose articles!

Now let’s talk about the Drop Zone. OMG. I can’t even.

This ride is probably the highlight of my whole Dahilayan Adventure Park experience!

We were 6th in the queue, and when it was our turn – haha there’s no turning back of course!

Caressa was taking a video up close, while Rod, was meters away. We were raising our arms and waving them high just to alleviate the tension!

Basically, the Drop Zone is an extreme ride wherein you will be dropped from 120 meters above the ground. Yes. It’s like being dropped from 40 floors high!

**Generally, a vertical clearance from floor to ceiling of a typical condominium unit ranges from 2.4 m to 2.7 m.

OMG. To think I’m teaching real estate to my trainees! So this is how it feels being suspended in mid-air from the topmost floor of a 40-leveled building!

This is the drop, 2 seconds after I pulled the “drop trigger knot” free . Haha 😀 I felt fearless! I had to be the one to control that millisecond, which will measure up and change the way we see our bravery forever!

The lighter the riders’weight, the longer the span and curves of the drop’s swing. I suggest that if you had to do the Tandem Drop, instead of the Single, like this one – one rider can be heavier than the other or both riders are light in weight. This just applies if you want to maximize the drop experience. Hehe Your swing will be much higher and longer! Kaya magdiet bago mag Drop Zone! 😉 😅

Since the initial drop is a free fall, you will really get those butterflies in your stomach.

But the experience is totally worth it! I’m coming back for sure! After this ride, all the extreme rides you see in adventure and theme parks will just be easy-peasy! No more KJ-teasing for youuu!

Okay now for my second to the last ride (well I feel braver than ever, mind you) *breathes* is the Sky Jump.

The Sky Jump is literally jumping to your death the ground from 60 meters high. Well, that’s half of the Drop Zone. But the scary part here is that you will control when to jump.

Like that! Look at me! I am literally deciding to jump or not, for like a whole minute! I have a harness that’s classified, but I will not feel my harness for the first 30 feet! As per instructor, btw. OMG!

But then we make choices. Everyday of our beautiful lives. So in a second of that day, I decided to jump.

During this jump, all I can feel is my stomach cursing me about the crazy things I kept suspending myself into that day! Haha 😀

But there goes the harness, ruining all the fun! Haha Joke! Thank heavens for it! 😀 I am still alive and able to blog about this!

I landed like a queen! (Check how clingy I was to my crown, I mean my helmet!)

And to our final ride – Zip Zone! The loooongest Zip line!

But before that, lemme make an #ootd post! Tadaa!

I was walking in these for like 20 mins waiting for the vehicle that will bring us to the rally point. There were metals at the back, scratching my legs! If you want to be wound-free unlike me, stop moving around and stay in one place and wait for the multicab to fetch you. Hmpf!

So here we are happy and gay and still full of the YOLO spirit. Oh, just Zarah! I look so wasted already! Blame it to the 60 meter high jump!

Weeeee! This feels like flying!

From this view, you can really see everything!

Dahilayan Adventure Park is such a delight! I highly recommend this for family bonding, YOLO-ing activity with friends, team building, and even dates!
I can’t wait to bring my family here as well!

There are still other rides in the other arena like the Luge and the Zorb. But I didn’t try it anymore since I got to experience those in SG and Boracay. Plus it was closing time already. 😦

Nevertheless, I believe they are worth a try as well. Maybe next time when I come back!

This yellow aircraft can be found just outside Dahilayan Adventure Park. It is such a cool artifact, it would be a waste if we didn’t stop and pose for a photo-opp!

Caressa and Vanessa together again!

Together with the pregnant Mae! So excited to meet baby number 2!

Our very turista pose continues!

With the coolest gang of Dahilayan ever! I love you all!

It was freezing already! Bukidnon is very Baguio-ish especially at dusk.

Back in CDO again! Hunting for a dinner place..

Rod and Caressa brought us to Panagatan. It’s a resto nearby the beach. You can really hear and smell the salty breeze of the beach air here. Very summer!

Mae and JP had to go home immediately, so Rod, Caress, Zarah and I were the only ones who shared dinner.

We basically ordered seafood all the way! I ate a lot as I need a ton to replenish all those lost energy in Dahilayan. The place was swarmed by a lot of people, I suspect mostly vacationeers and tourists.

The food was divine! Their dishes were really tasteful, to think that they come in very reasonable prices.

Posing this happy V and peace sign to cap the day off. Because after this, I have to go straight to the terminal to go back to Butuan and meet my relatives.

Details about venue:

Dahilayan Adventure Park

Address:
Barangay Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

Website:
http://www.dahilayanforestpark.com/
http://www.dahilayanadventurepark.com/

Mobile No.:
0922-880-1319 and 0917-622-3204
Email: zipzoneinq@yahoo.com

You may visit their office at Parasat Centrio Ayala Mall, 3rd Floor Building (infront of Centrio Cinema), CM Recto Highway, Cagayan de Oro City
Office Hours for Zipzone’s Booking Office: Monday to Sundays 11:00AM to 8:00PM