Tuesday, September 4, 2018

BAYBAYKI FALLS



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"After an almost one month of rains last August, this September,
 I went to revisit a waterfall up in the mountains of Alilem"
-pagnapagna
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Please, let us practice the "LEAVE NO TRACE" (LNT) outdoor ethics.
Let us not vandalize, etch or write on its natural surfaces such as rocks and bark of trees.
Manage our waste products properly. Do not leave your garbage behind, bring it with you
when there is no proper disposal in the area. Do not litter!
Respect wildlife, "nature" and the local culture.
Minimize our impact!
Safety should be our priority!



-my pagnapagna-
(September 2, 2018 a Sunday)

At Sudipen, La Union, I rode a passenger motorbike (7:42 am) going to the drop-off point going to Barangay proper of Batbato with 120 pesos fare.
The drop-off point is an all uphill road that branches from a main road that is almost 2 kilometers after downtown Alilem.
Although one can ride a passenger motorbike going up, this time I prefer walking. Less the cost and it adds up to my hiking distance.
I started walking from the welcome arch of barangay Batbato which was just at the intersection (8:10 am). Enjoying the view along the way - looking at distant mountains while some motorbikes passed-by once in a while.

A view along the way (slightly zoomed)
Looking at Poblacion, Bakun in the province of Benguet

After around 6 kilometers of all uphill winding road walk, I was finally at Batbato barangay proper. I went to a sari-sari store to buy some snack (10:36 am).
There were two men sitting in front of the sari-sari store. While buying a soft drink, I asked one of them, "kasatnu metten mapan dita nay waterfalls? Anya pagilasinan dyay pagsirrekan? (How to get to the waterfalls? What is the marker to its entry point?)".
One of them answered, "Ay adda ti karatula nan idyay nakakabil metlang dita igid kalsada (Oh, there is already a signage there installed by the roadside)".
In our conversation, I came to know that one of them was the one I met when I came to visit the place back in the year 2014 who was Barangay Councilor Noel Ngeta-a.
Excited to see the waterfalls during this rainy season, I thanked them and went on my way to the waterfalls.
Few minutes along the way, I realized that I forgot to pay the soft drink that I drunk, heeha!
Further on my walking, I saw the signage by the roadside. But wait! Looking beyond the signage, farther along the road, there was a boulder with a pink fence on top of it.
Curious, I went to look at it.
Painted on one side of the rock was, "Baybayki Stone Hill View Deck".
It was a viewing deck. I went up through the stairs provided. On that day, nothing to see much above it so I went back to where the signage to the waterfalls.

The roadside "Baybayki Stone Hill View Deck"

The steps were now concreted that lead down to the waterfalls.
While having a selfie at the signage, a passing farmer asked me if I was with Amburayan raiders/riders. At first I did not quite get/understood what he meant, later on I have known that there was a riders' group who passed by their barangay. He also told me to pray when I get down to the waterfalls which I just nodded back and went down to the waterfalls.

Baybayki Falls
It is a waterfall just few steps from the road at barangay Batbato with around 30 to 40 feet in height. It is best viewed during a sunny day of the rainy season when the ground is saturated with rain water. During summer, its dwindling waters are diverted for irrigating farms.



I did pray.
I lingered there for a while, looking around and taking some photographs and videos.

That's where one come down after the concreted steps from the road above.

Soon rain cloud began to form at a far distance and it was time to leave (12:32 pm).
At the road above, I happen to walked with another farmer and we talked.
He said, "Nalawlawa a diay ban-aw na didiay ada idiay baba (the one farther down has a wider pool area/basin)".
That got me excited. He also told me where to find the trail at barangay proper at the residential area. Few minutes later, we parted ways as he went off-road going maybe to his garden/farm.

-to be continued pagnapagna-



For the continuation:
"Gawed" Falls

For my previous visit to the place:






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Subject: Baybayki Falls
Location: Barangay of Batbato
Municipality of Alilem
Province of Ilocos Sur

How to get there:

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Copyright 2018 (c)
All Rights Reserved
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