The Dingalan Redemption - Day 1: Tanawan Falls

On the summer of 2015, we had our trip to Cagbalete Island in Quezon with our close friends (read about it here).  That vacation, however, was so short (basically just an overnight stay) that all of us felt the need to have another one before the summer ended.  Enter our road trip to Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines on May 2015.  This was our best choice at that time because we already spent a significant amount in our trip to Cagbalete.  One of our close friend’s relatives had recently bought a property there so our accommodation would be free and our expenses would mainly only be for fuel, toll fees and food.

While most people would rather go to Baler back then, our preference for the “road less traveled” also contributed to our choice to visit this quiet and lesser known municipality in Aurora.  The province of Aurora has several other municipalities that has a number of hidden jewels and Dingalan is no exception.  The municipality is South of Baler, around the Aurora National Park, facing Dingalan Bay and the Pacific Ocean.  The Tanawan View Deck and the Tanawan Falls are among the spots that Dingalan boasts of.

This trip was the first time that our kids would be able to see and experience actual waterfalls.  We weren’t sure yet how the kids would react to the cold water (typical to these bodies of water).

Our convoy left Manila at around 12 MN.  We would be traveling overnight (with some rest stops) and hopefully we could reach Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija by daybreak.   Our rest stop at Petron gas station at North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was a bit longer than planned so at the break of dawn, we were still in Cabanatuan.  It was an advantage for us though, because we got to have breakfast at a fast food there before we hit the road again.  After Cabanatuan, the rest of the road was mostly of scenic country side, mountains and rivers.

The countryside along Palayan-Gabaldon-Dingalan Road

Entering Laur, Nueva Ecija

We're headed to those mountains!

Rivers, mountains, fields... 

Entering Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija

Almost at the mountains...

Caution... animals crossing

Last leg of the long drive

We reached Tanawan View Deck at around 7:30 AM.  The spot is famous for its magnificent view of a part of the Sierra Madre mountain range that overlooks Dingalan Bay in the distance.  Later on, during our mingling with the locals, we would find out that they fondly call that place “selfie-han” (a place where people take selfies) for obvious reasons.  Having a photo taken there is a must because this would be the definitive “I was there” shot when visiting Dingalan.  

This is what it's about! The Tanawan View Deck (selfie-han according to locals)

And of course when at the "selfie-han"...

After a few snaps, we drove to the steep, rough and rocky road about in front of the view deck.  The road at that time wasn’t really a proper road for a vehicle so it was a difficult maneuver driving up the path.  The rough road lead to the quiet mountain community of Tanawan.  The barangay lies on the slopes of Sierra Madre and the residents are blessed with a fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean and the neighboring peaks of the long mountain range.  This is the same path that leads also to Tanawan Falls.  The house we would be staying in was located in a more remote area of the village and vehicles wouldn’t be able to pass through.  We left our vehicles at a small area with a clearing and just walked the rest of the way to the house.  At the time of our visit, no one was living in the house yet so we had the whole property to ourselves.

To get to Brgy. Tanawan... (sign said "Road Passable".  It is but.... errr...)

Some streets in the village are just dirt road

 

While some streets are already concrete

Kids here are lucky to have this kind of school!

Sign says...

Some houses in the village can only be accesses by foot paths like this

This is where we're staying!

We rested a bit and then the ladies went to the market to buy food while the men stayed behind with the kids.  Our agenda for the day, after having our lunch, was to go to Tanawan Falls.  We would need to walk up the mountain to get to it so the men (who did the driving) needed to rest more .

There are several other waterfalls in Dingalan but Tanawan Falls was the nearest.  We did not have to bring our vehicles, we just needed to hike the rest of the rocky path up to the mountain.  The word “near” was in the context of the locals who were used to going up and down the mountain on a regular basis.  When they said 15 minutes hike only, it was more than 30 minutes for us !  We were no mountaineers anyway, just regular people looking for adventure, and besides, we had kids with us so we had our excuse!  There were no trees along the path so we had to bring some blankets to protect the kids from the afternoon sun.  The hike to the falls was made easier by the refreshing mountain breeze and the stunning view of the ocean.  We made a quick rest stop when we reached the shelter where we also paid a small fee.  The local who was manning the booth allowed us to drink from the pipeline that was supplying water to the community directly from the spring up the mountain.  The water coming out the pipe was refreshingly cool.

One of the reasons why the hike up to Tanawan Falls isn't that tiring

I envy this mountain community, waking up to this view everyday

Because taking only a few photos doesn't do this view justice (haha)!

We're near the top

Almost there...

But first...

The kids were so excited when we finally reached the falls.  We found a spot among the rocks around the plunge pool where we could leave our stuff (mostly just towels and blankets) then got into the water.  As expected, it was so cold!  The kids were giggling while they braved getting into the water.  The part of the basin nearer the shore was of course shallow so the kids just stayed in that area.

Some people bring their vehicles up the path but only up to this clearing

 

And down into the jungle

Errr... that looks scary...

Is it safe?...

What the heck... let's do this!

(no caption)

Clean clear water

Time to brave the icy cold water!

But first!

The falls is actually bigger than what it looks like here (and it's deep there!)

See?!

Only big boulders and rocks around the plunge pool

It's cold!

Having a blast!

Take a picture of us!

When it was time to go back, we didn’t bother to change clothes because we didn’t bring any.  Our place was just a downhill hike away anyway.  Besides, because our bodies adjusted to the cold water, we felt warmer when we got out of the water.  Back at the house was where we finished cleaning ourselves up and changed to night time clothes.

Time to go home...

But first!... (haha!)

And another! (This one's a must)

Can't get enough of this view...

Going back to the village while immersing ourselves to the view

One last shot before reaching the village

Night time was the typical quiet and relaxing night in a remote rural community.  Kids were happily playing around the yard while some of us cooked dinner.  It was good that the house didn’t have TV.  The night was filled instead with stories, food, laughter and a few drinks (for adults of course) with the pleasant sound of nocturnal creatures in the background.  Very late in the evening was when we finally called it a night and recharged for another adventure the following day.

Tanawan Falls may be considered as a beginner waterfalls. The hike required is relatively short and not too difficult.  Also, the falls isn't that high nor is the water very turbulent. This makes it worth the consideration of families with children.  For children in the autism spectrum, this will depend on where in the spectrum a child is.  A good reference for autism families is that the waterfalls may not be suitable for infants and very young tots because of the hike involved, the fragile bridge that needed to be crossed, the icy cold water and that there would not be an even, flat surface around the basin where you could comfortably sit or lay down your little ones.  It is also important to note that the sound of the rushing water can be a little loud for autism kids who might be sensitive to noise.  Aside from these points, a visit to Tanawan Falls can be a great experience.  The hike itself offers a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean.  The whole experience can be a good introduction to nature trips for children and first timers.

(On to our second day...)

Tips:

Travel means: 
Private Vehicle: A full tank before leaving Manila is recommended when traveling to the province of Aurora.  For vehicles with smaller tanks, you may consider topping up at Cabanatuan before driving the final leg to Dingalan, although there are also a few petrol stations along the way.  There are also petrol stations at Brgy. Poblacion (the town proper) of Dingalan.  Plan your travel well.  If traveling overnight (especially with family), as a safety precaution, schedule it so that by the time you reach Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, it would be daylight already. The travel time from Manila to Gabaldon is about 4-5 hours.  The same goes when going back to Manila from Dingalan.  Leave before it gets dark.

Public Transport: We are not that familiar with public transport going to Dingalan but I believe there are buses in Cabanatuan that ply that route. (We're very sorry but although our blog can be a source of information for travelers, our main objective is to help families and those in the autism spectrum be able to enjoy traveling).

Going to Tanawan Falls: There were those who braved bringing their vehicles up the rocky dirt path to the falls.  But for us, a hike up there is the best means to better appreciate the view, the surroundings and the reward that awaits when you finally reach the falls.

Kidsentials and advise for autism families:

• As we mentioned in the last paragraph of the blog post, a visit to Tanawan Falls may not be suitable for everybody.  Assess first at which stage your kids already are.  Remember that this trip could be difficult for them or worse, be an unpleasant experience overall.  Children two years and older (or autism kids whose developmental stage are equivalent to that of a two year older up) are the ones who are more likely to appreciate this trip.

• Our special one is already used to outdoor activities and even camping out (we'll tell you all bout it in another post).  It can be beneficial for both the kids and the parents to expose autistic kids to the great outdoors because a natural environment can be calmer than the busy city life.  A good introduction for children in the autism spectrum is a day trip to the beach, preferably the ones that aren't developed into a crowded, full blown resort or you may schedule the trip on an off peak season.  Another good way to start is a trip to the park with lots of trees and man made bodies of water. 

• Floaters and lifevests is a must for kids because there are deep parts in the plunge pool.  Keep your eyes on the kids at all times.  There should also be at least one among your group who knows how to swim because the water falls isn't a resort and there aren't any lifeguards.

• First aid kit (this is of course an essential in any adventure) with some insect repelent. 

Other general tips:

• Tanawan Falls isn't a resort so obviously there weren't any facilities, cottages, tables, shower rooms or change rooms when we went there (and we hope that it would stay that way, as natural as it's supposed to be).

• You might want to bring a bottle of water during the hike up the falls.  A small bottle (about 300 ml) will do.

• It is better to bring prepared food rather than cook at the falls because it can be difficult to find a place to set up your cooking area.

• As with any adventure trip, always respect nature.  It is sad that there are some people who still forget this core rule: "Take nothing but memories/photos, leave nothing but footprints".

Getting A Quick Fix at Splash Island

A few days before my vacation ended last 2016 while we were on our way home, I told the kids to pick one more place where we could go that weekend.  I gave them three choices: Star City (a theme park), the beach or Splash Island (a water park).  Fortunately for me, they chose Splash Island.  It’s the closest and most convenient place we could go (won’t take 30 minutes of driving from where we live).  I guess we were a bit tired from all the traveling we did during my month long vacation so the family had a unanimous decision to choose Splash Island.  When we got home, my wife and I searched for and purchased discounted vouchers right away.

The first time we went to Splash Island (website and Facebook official page), our son with autism was too young for most of the slides.  Our daughter too was just a toddler then.  Now that they’ve grown a bit, we thought that they could now enjoy the water park more.

Feel like frolicking in the waves?

Just like when we first visited the water park, we just got the air conditioned cabin.  It did not have beds or anything else inside.  It was just a bare, simple wooden cabin with A/C.  It didn’t matter to us because we just needed a place where we could change clothes and also leave our bags.  Most of the time we would be going around the park anyway.  The cabin also had 4 plastic chairs and a table.

Our first agenda, just to get us warmed up for the more exciting attractions, was at the wave pool, the Agos Grandes.  Our kids, most especially our son with autism, love the waves whenever we go to the beach.  This wave pool was no exception, they loved how the waters splash to their bodies and faces.

Getting warmed up in the wave pool

They love the waves!

At Splash Island, the attractions have their own schedule on what time during the day they will be open.  The more exciting attractions are usually open twice a day (one before noon and the other around 2-3 PM).  So while we were waiting for the big slides to open, we tried the Balsa River.  It’s just a manmade river where you can lie down lazily on the floating inflatables while being carried around by the light current.

Relaxing at the Balsa River while waiting for the big slides to open

When the big slides opened, my wife and I had to queue one at a time because most of the slides allowed only up to two people to ride together.  There were five of us so that meant that one of us had to stay behind with two kids while the other one went to the slide with one kid.  It wasn’t a hassle though as the queues were generally fast moving.

This was the first time that our special one could get on one of those big slides.  As we mentioned in our previous posts, he already had many experiences with roller coasters.  He was also so excited to see the other people having fun on the slides.  These were indications that he was ready to try these attractions.  This was confirmed when it was already our turn to pick up the inflatable where we would sit, he was so eager to help carry it up the stairs.  For autism families, it is important that your special ones are already in the stage where they can understand and follow orders when getting on these kind of attractions because the most you could do is to hold them down onto the inflatable with your legs.  Never risk getting on these rides if they can’t follow instructions yet.

Here they come!

Yeah! Rock n' roll!

It's our turn!

That was fun!

He was all giggles and big wide smiles on the slides.  Our other two kids had a blast as well.  At lunch, we ordered from one of the concessionaires in the park.  We bought the bilao meal (a group meal) which is more than enough for us.  The kids were only interested in the BBQ skewers anyway.  Splash Island does not allow food and drinks to be brought inside the park but there are a number of concessionaires in there that sell food at fairly reasonable prices.  Some, though, are priced on the higher side so it's best to scout the area for the cheapest food stall.  Some guests bring food and drinks but they leave them in their vehicles parked outside the water park, then they just have their tickets stamped for re-entry when they go to their vehicles to eat.

This is the Bilao Meal, but the kids are just interested in the BBQ anyway

Because we had an early lunch, by the time we finished eating, there was less than an hour remaining until the major attractions would close.  By that time, the queue to the Rio Montañosa, the only slide that allowed a group of five to ride together, was already short.  We rested a little then off we went to the queue.  Our daughter was a little scared because the slide was quite high.  But the descent wasn’t that rough and fast so kids still enjoyed.

When the major attractions closed for lunch, we went to the kiddie part of the park.  There was a shallow pool with lots of fountains and a small slide.  This is where adults could just sit in one corner of the shallow pool and just watch the kids run around and play.  There was also a small, twisting slide for small kids who aren’t allowed in the big slides yet.  Small tots got to get on the slide over and over again to their hearts' content.  Our daughter enjoyed this slide because it was gentle and she was a little scared of the big slides.  There was an age/height limitation to this slide however and our son with autism wasn’t allowed there anymore so only our daughter got to ride the slide over and over.

At the top of Rio Montañosa

She was a little scared

But he's having a blast!

Time for some kiddie fun at Water Wahoo

Just run around and play!

Just be careful with those buckets

Kid friendly water slide...

...it also has some twists and turns

When the major attractions re-opened in the afternoon, we went for a few more rides before getting ready to go home.  We rested a bit and had some snacks in our cabin before we went home.  The park was already closing for the day when we got out but we still managed to purchase some of our photos in the park.

Our photo at Rio Montañosa

Another park photo

He loved the slide so much!

Splash Island is one of the good options for families looking for a quick getaway.  The location is convenient because it’s only a few kilometers from Metro Manila (less than 30 minutes from Alabang) and only about a kilometer or two from the Southwoods exit of South Luzon Expressway.  The price has also become more affordable compared to few years ago, thanks to online discount voucher stores like Metrodeal.  Although not all attractions are for everybody, people, including kids in the autism spectrum, can find park attractions that are best suited for them.  So if you’re looking for a weekend of family fun without having to travel far and not breaking the budget too much, you can give Splash Island a try.  We’re pretty sure that it won’t disappoint.

Tips:

Travel means: 
Car or private vehicle: It's just a short drive st South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), very accessible. Southwoods Exit isn't a heavily congested area at the time of this writing so traffic jam is unlikely there (I can't say the same for SLEX though because there are times that parts of the highway are being repaired).  There is a parking fee at the parking lot in front of the area (PHP 50 for light vehicles) and the parking lot isn't concreted.

Public Transport:  Though we haven't tried this one but I believe there are tricycles that can take you there from Pacita Complex.  Take a bus or jeepney with "Pacita" sign board and alight at Pacita Complex.  From there you can ask the tricycles to take you to Splash Island.  The disadvantage of public transport is that you won't be able to bring food and drinks (if you have private or rented vehicles, you can leave these inside the vehicles and just come back at lunch time).  Also, it would be best to tell the tricycle driver to pick you up in the afternoon because there aren't any public transport that ply that route.

Kidsentials and advise for autism families:

• Your sensory overload kit won't be needed much here, maybe just during the short travel or while resting.

• Lifevests or lifesavers aren't really needed.  Most of the attractions are only knee deep or up to the hips of an average adult (with the exception of Agos Grandes.  If you really need one, there are lifevests in the park available for free (at the lifeguard station near Agos Grandes) but there is only one size available.

• Toddlers and very young children (3 ft. in height and below) will not be allowed in more extreme attractions.  They can enjoy the kids' play area, Water Wahoo and the kiddie slides.  The pool areas for these younger ones are shallow.  Just be careful with the buckets at Water Wahoo because the pouring water from these elevated buckets might be too much for infants, small tots and other very young kids.

• This is basically a theme park (albeit a water park), so I think our advise for autism kids on roller coasters (See Disneyland post here) is applicable.  You can judge for yourself if your special one is ready for these kind of attractions.  Make sure that he can understand and obey instructions already.

Other general tips:

• It is recommended to purchase discount vouchers at online sellers like Metrodeal before you go there.  You can buy them at about PHP200 to PHP250 per person (at the time of this writing).  Just check the period when they can be used and any excluded dates.

• Come in the morning, most preferably at the first hour of park operation so that you can enjoy as much attractions as you can.  Cottages can also get fully booked during peak season so being early can be an advantage.

• There are banners around the park that display the operating hours of the attractions.  Take note of these timings and plan accordingly so you can maximize your time (the park closes around 4-5PM). 

• Queues can be long during peak season.

• When you get there in the morning and you're planning to eat inside the park, survey the available concessionaires where you can buy food.  Sometimes, most especially during peak season, you might need to order in advance to avoid waiting for your food.