Chocolate Falls

My daughter just turned two but she is so precocious that sometimes I tend to have high expectations on her. One time I let her run around our community park thinking that it would help her develop healthy lungs. Gabrielle is strong and nimble but her balancing skills is yet no match for the uneven ground. She fell and scraped her knee raw. It was her first “boo-boo” and the look on her face was someone who was betrayed. I was guilt-stricken while I carry the little thumb sucking angel home. I realized that even though she bosses us around for spite, my daughter is still a baby after all.
I had a similar realization while I was riding my beloved Honda XRM 125 on a roller coaster road going to Tanay, Rizal. I was so excited to put the “dual sport” claim to the test and from what I’ve gathered; the Antipolo-Teresa route would do nicely. I finally found the perfect excuse to take the trip when I was tasked to find a baptism spot for my sis-in-law’s Belgian boyfriend who will be converting to our religion. I was thinking along the lines of “near” and “natural body of water”. Europeans have a reputation that is olfactory in nature but even the Hinulugang Taktak falls in Antipolo would be too much for my soon to be brother in law. Hence, I set out for Daranak falls in Tanay for an ocular inspection. My bike performed well on the twisties (as some forumers call it), but not as well as on the upward slopes. Maybe I was accustomed to my 150cc scooter (which I ride to work daily) or maybe my ass was too heavy for the little iron stallion. I’m allergic to exhaust fumes from ten-wheeler trucks (especially when the truck is going uphill, squish!) so my tendency is to over take even on tight spots. The pick up and acceleration is a bit wanting but enough to get you to places most sedan drivers couldn’t. But be it ever so reliable, my ride is a moped (underbone) after all.
While I was en route the cliché “so near yet so far” came to mind. I was only half an hour away from my humble abode in Cainta but the scenery was a million miles different. Instead of the dilapidated Ever Ortigas mall, I saw the Laguna lake gleaming like a giant silver plate. The shower of leaves on a Morong highway made me think of the warm welcome given to the great biblical character when He came into town riding on a lowly donkey instead of a noble steed. Maybe the donkey was the XRM of that era (anything to glorify my bike). From the main road, a five-minute ride thru a gravel path will take you to the ticket booth of Daranak falls. The old man in the booth was having brunch so he gave me a swim now pay later deal. Other than gushing water and rustling leaves you will hear nothing else. Maybe it was my out-of-the-bed hair do (helmet head) and my tangerine riding jacket, but my reaction when I saw the beauty of the falls probably made me looked like a clueless Korean. It was too cold to take a swim so after taking some pictures I went up stream to see Batlag Falls, which is also within the vicinity. After working up a sweat hiking uphill, the cool waters became more inviting. I left my board shorts in my U-box and modesty forbids skinny-dipping. I have only one option left. Good thing “manong” didn’t mind getting paid with a wet twenty-peso bill.