carmen — Caraga rising paradise

The slogan read ‘WOW Carmen’ along the highway in the farthest town of Agusan del Norte before seizing one of the tallest mountains in Caraga, Marcos Park in the town of Carmen. The ‘WOW Philippines’ slogan of the previous administration to lure visitors coming in from different parts of the country and even foreign visitors beginning to stick the beauty of the Philippines but here comes…It’s More Fun in the Philippines.

Carmen was one of the ten town of Agusan del Norte in which the eleventh town Cabadbaran was newly-installed city in the province.

Carmen was blessed with natures. Aside from scenic jade waters in the coastlines and coral reefs like witnessing Bolihon Beach Resort, it has mountainous landscape that brought the feast sweet mango scattered in the terrain and called as ‘Mango Country’ wherever you are in the province. And here the escape route to the tallest peak called Marcos Park is the boundary between Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental.

Dreaming the highest peak is just a wildest dream craving the heart of an adventurer. Someone cannot resist whatever place in the planet is a witness of the whole world under the feet. The world is the most beautiful place to live. Peoples are getting the vision for the highest peak in the world reaching the coldest and tense pressure of the Himalayan Region the Mt. Everest summit which were conquered now by many Filipinos.

Everyone has a dream of reaching the tallest mountains like the inspiration I have for dying of dreaming the tallest mountain in the Philippines, Mt. Apo in Davao. Remembering the tallest in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu which was the hot item for mountain lovers and climbers visited from different countries of the world located in Sabah, Malaysia.

If there was no mistake in the history, Philippines owns this gift of nature Mount Kinabalu. Since Sabah during the pre-Spanish time owned by Philippines as part of Sultanate of Sulu. But when Spain started colonizing the Philippines from top to bottom it was excluding Sabah which then colonized by British Empire as part of the whole state of Malaysia. I bet legislators should not drop the claim of Sabah. Well, some pieces of history started to explode in one’s mind.

Explore The Top Of Carmen

Picking-up to capture the highest peak in Carmen was just an easy task. Taking bus from Butuan City for one-hour plus and drop in the boundary lane, and you are done. Take a walk from the highway without losing the strength, and even losing a parcel of energy, it will recharge when reaching the top. That is the wonder of nature actually. Many of the mountain climbers are struggling behind but manage to moves forward before embracing the glory of natures that new found feelings started to emerge eternally.

The rest house set the eyes as standing at the highest peak alone and this structure can be seen when the bus started climbing the mountains lair. The route to Marcos Park was just a curve of streets behind a steepest hill while started to emerge a vast ocean underneath. Estimating the entrance of Marcos Park is at the middle of the boundary lane between the two provinces.

Started walking a sand and gravel road in hundred meters distance after dropping the entrance. The moment is deep quiet when taking the steps forward to the top and heard only the cracking of the leaves and the swaying of some branches of trees along the side when winds passes by. The mountains are the end products of the winds blowing from the sea. The whole world makes some commotion when winds strangled trees and grasses likes dancing fields in the terrain.

Not seeing anyone standing in the distance, seems walking slowly in a no man’s land. The path was covered with wall of land and grassy area in the left side putting thrill of the hidden world under as moves forward to the park. There was no ocean in sights, no mountains, no troops of trees in the distance yet, the world under still hiding like thieves. The travels are in the peak of emotion impatient to uncover the beauty that the world has shown at the top.

Sunlight beams in green mountains that reflect the clear blue sky. Going into Marcos Park was a perfect day for first time visits eager to reach those elevated portion of the planet. This mountain I stand was little bit extra ordinary and the windy afternoon started embracing chest and refreshing the lungs from the clogged urban life.

The road seems overruled by growing grasses along the side not yet cut or trimmed. This is how natures measured its creation. The growing grasses added tone the beauty of natures swayed by the wind blows like an army bowing when someone passes their path. This place was a replica of Himalayan Region when monks preserve the natural world surrounds them living most quiet places on earth where trees and flower blooms, and peoples blend with natures.

Mountain shows extra ordinarily as started gaining confidence of eternity when moves closer to the rest house. When making a turn to the right, the hidden world below started to emerge like a boom. Then come the vast ocean which called Butuan Bay emerging in a distance.

The art of creation cannot be measured in single phase. This piece of earth and heaven is started to exist not just in dreams but in reality started to occupy one’s soul in pink of health. A moment owning the real treasure in life is within reach. It will be there forever and became part of memory as time goes in the history.

This place was made for soul-searching and pass the world for those who are heavily laden that living in urban life. The image of tranquility conquered the soul like flash of light then started meditating. Visiting Marcos Park was a healing process when human and Mother Nature starts communicating to regain strength and peace of mind.

A glance of the structure at the close distance became a symbol when making a turn in another direction. Reaching the tallest peak where stands a structure of Chinese temple look-a-like design I guess it could be fit for those who want to make peace and meditate, or for those who want to make romantic moments when sunset began to descend the western part of the province.

Stand still and stunned those never ending horizon, bodies of calm blue water, trooping mountain ranges in a distance, big trees became small trees, and the green environment bonus includes the island of Camiguin. And the magical world at the top revitalized oneself as young and healthy dwellers in this planet, and problems seize away like magic.

Wonderful feeling that no one can borrow and steal and change every creature from those wonderful creations. Go back the traditional way of living and eternal happiness somewhat clearing the hearts and minds for those living in stress and pain of life. Living in a society where man-made creations are the majority and influences the whole generations the treats of modern living.

At last the world of Marcos Park came embracing for someone dreaming the highest peak in Carmen. The moment of exploration began and seize before the eyes the beautiful world that surrounds never been before seen the young years of life. The eyes of adventurer truly a window of the soul capturing the beauty of Mother Nature below.

But living in Caraga Region making aid to those man-made activities because the hidden gift started to emerge like a healing process. Here, at the top in Carmen town called Marcos Park is another world making sights and sounds for those adventurers out there who want to make or break, and moves life forward.

Wife stole the show.

Two creatures against sunlight.

I have not been to many beach resorts in Caraga like the Bolihon Beach Resort. But Caraga has its best beach resorts in the making either nature or man-made beach resorts. But I love the way when you are surrounded with natures. Like the one I have never been, the Bolihon Beach Resort.

I did not expect the plan will push through since it is a Father’s Day celebrations. The world knows the importance of fatherhood especially when a family depends on a father handling them. When a family lost him it is something will makes family incomplete. A father used to be the pillar of the house, without the pillar it can be easily manage to fall down as the saying goes.

So much for little children to take care, and sometimes you lost your time having the pleasure of life. You have to take life differently, and as a father of two little daughters fatherhood should be taken lightly when it comes to illnesses and financial status. As one friend says we should be strong for our children to live. If you have taken it seriously, fatherhood makes you unhappy and has no meaning. At the end makes you a sick creature. The only way is to get away from it. Free from the bondage of fatherhood. At least for a while. And jump to Bolihon Beach Resort feels the healing process of natures.

I did not expect coming to Bolihon Beach Resort in the town of Carmen, province of Agusan del Norte alone with my wife. No children at all. Celebrating Father’s Day celebrations without them is as easy as 1-2-3. Nothing can disturb your Caraga travel when visiting best beach resorts. But my wife says celebration is not complete without them. She missed them.

Heading To Bolihon Beach Resort

We got up early morning and heading with my wife in a bus terminal which is closer to our residence. We prepared the medicine kit probably the used of antacids to helps us fight the chilling effects of travelling like vomiting. Going to Bolihon Beach Resort was almost two hours ride from Butuan City. From the town proper in Carmen, we proceeded riding single motor or better known as in the local ‘habal-habal’ for one kilometer distance from the highway in going to Bolihon Beach Resort.

I remember my college days twenty years ago, I have been beach hopping in Carmen together with my classmates. We went as far as going to the north along the coastlines until we reach Kahayagan. When passing different beach resorts, we spotted the content of the sands because it was infested with small fragments of white corals scattered in the beach, almost covered the beach.

The beach turns into a white line as you look in the distance like the white sand beach in the different beaches of General Luna. Carmen coast lines amazed me how it became corals infested beach line. Deposited corals wash up in shorelines maybe for a thousand years to build that has become Carmen the trademark for corals world. Carmen beach is one of the top diving sites in Caraga Region because of beautiful reef underneath the seas. This makes a unique representation of most beaches in Carmen different from other beaches in Caraga Region.

Bolihon Beach Resort And The Corals

My first step in getting inside of Bolihon Beach Resort was to find a cottage. And we rested there for a while. The cottage we rented worth 100 pesos and it’s wide for the two of us. The travel was somewhat exhausted, and when I saw the beach and the sea breeze, its magic! Totally cools you off and don’t underestimate the natures surrounds while in front of the blue sea, kissing horizon and mountains against from the tirade of stress travel.

I notice the corals infested sands, and they are white cute stone-alike that come into different shapes and sizes invading the shoreline. Walking along the beach, scattered anywhere added milking white the whole beach scene. I could not stop myself to investigate. Going into the streamline how they have come and pulling one by one straight into my finger. I remember them collected and mixed into the floor in the aquarium of my parent’s home where colourful fishes joined them in a natural ecosystem.

If you ask how they came and how old each one. I’m guessing that they simply washed out to shore through time as environment change by force or through erosion process or maybe a large quake that devastated the earth that drawn tsunami to the world. If that’s the case, these groups of corals are thousand years of age. They came in this place before Magellan discovered Butuan and the Philippines.

I am lucky enough touching them in my bare hands. If I have time collecting them one by one it’s an entertaining thing to do. But that could be an immoral thing to do. Touching them and putting them in a place where they came from. You have done what nature should suppose to do. Corals live in the sea, and they are there putting harmony in the sands and the sea.

Little Bay of Caraga

Bolihon Beach Resort was a hidden beach actually. We have climbed the mountain and turned right we go down to a still ongoing constructed muddy road dissecting the mountain to give way for beachgoers. Without this road, the path to Bolihon Beach Resort could be difficult to reach. But someone has the spirit to find real treasure in life you have to move on and see how God created masterfully in His hand the art of nature by crossing the hardships and difficulties. Imagine the mountain at top and below the white curve line seeing the little bay of Caraga. If you witness the giant bays like Butuan and Bislig, well you can picture the cute little curve in a distance. Walking from the tip to other tip of a curve and you are done.

Standing at the center of the curve or at the center of the beach, the right end was actually mountain of rocks while the other ends were group of mangroves floating in the sea. Mangroves and rock mountains opposite each other in a white shoreline are good combination of paradise resort.

In my entire life I have not seen group of natures created in one setting unless the sunrise and sunset in a distance drops from the rooster of beautiful spots. It will make the whole setting vague. I mean in the world of beautiful beach resorts, factors affecting the beauty you have to include the shining sun that adds radiant to the beach.

Walking the shoreline with your bare feet was smooth but you can feel some corals are sharp. But corals could be tolerable when pressed against while walking because they are there seasoned to become smooth like the sands. It’s a fun thing to do. You will never regret doing this in the beach but not in your home.

Rock Formations

In the far end of the beach along the right is a mountain of rocks. It looks like the steepest hill calling the eye of adventurers. I remember the website I visited many times when I looked the blog post of Palawan Underground River. The mountains en route to underground river resembles the mountain of rocks. Wow! We have our own Palawan adventure in Caraga Region minus the underground river.

Those mountains of rocks added attractions. Most visitors want to explore the far end where rock formations and cave exists. But sad to say when high tide began our extra ordinary visits cut shorts because the sea level started to gobble up the ground. All you have to do is go back to the beach line and witness how nature changes in time.

Trees Live In The Water

One thing amazes me when visited Bolihon Beach Resort is the presence of trees that live in the salt seas. I live in Butuan City of my entire life since at birth and witness how trees grown in the urban communities and in the remote barangays. I love trees in the mountainous terrain in Agusan Valley or in the deepest forest in Caraga. The trees in the city help me cool off from too much heat of the sun and trees are part of ecosystem. But I did not imagine trees live in water much more in the salty world of Butuan Bay. I was shocked witnessing them in another world adapting to that level of environment.

Here in the left end of the curve was an army of trees. But if you want to explore the beach far from it even the boundary of Caraga Region and Northern Mindanao Region witness them scattered along Carmen beach and even the coastlines towards Nasipit like what I discover in Amontay Beach Resort.

Adventure will never end here. I am fortunate because I live in Caraga.

Marcos Park, Carmen, Agusan del Norte