tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29615618.post9071918284970105788..comments2024-02-25T20:19:27.722-08:00Comments on Gridcrosser: Violence Preventing Education of Many Filipino ChildrenGridcrosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288863483845769900noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29615618.post-84522633424284469882009-04-06T14:21:00.000-07:002009-04-06T14:21:00.000-07:00Dear Mistress,Thank you very much for reading and ...Dear Mistress,<BR/><BR/>Thank you very much for reading and your appreciation. It means a lot.<BR/><BR/>Mabinay, shall we say, is an off-the-beaten-track kind of destination, and thus the usual creature comforts for tourist are wanting. A dose of adventurous spirit and a fascination for the rough and wild are needed to want to explore Mabinay, whose primary attaction is the caves. Many of them. Since the town if off-the-beaten-track, the roads to these caves are unpaved. Most of the times there are no raods at all. Most of the times, one has to hike, sometimes through thickets and forests to get to the caves. <BR/><BR/>So there may be some exertion getting to the caves. Exploring the caves is another. But I think senior citizens can manage the hike, but slowly and patiently. The terrain can be tricky, full of rocks and vines. <BR/><BR/>The Pandalian and the Panligawan caves are two separate cave mouths, which nearby each other. I suspect they are connected. These caves are the easiest to get to. One must negotiate the boulders and rocks that littered the mouth to get into the caves. Persons int heir 40s and 50s can manage it but slowly and with help of an abled bodied guide.<BR/><BR/>Now the Crystal Cave is harder to get to. The ravine is steep. There are much vegetation, which can obscure your steps and at the same time which you can hold on too while climbing down. One has to be physically fit. But it is one of the most beautiful caves here. While in Mabinay, you can go there to see if you will be able to climb down. But don't push it.<BR/><BR/>Safety gears are needed in exploring any cave, especially in Mabinay. Basic is flashlight and helmet. You can wear slippers but hiking boots are recommended. Since you're going to be with companions in their 40s and 50s, yes, safety gears are recommended. <BR/><BR/>Plus, it would be helpful to get a guide. They know the place. They know what part is tricky and what part one has to tread on. <BR/><BR/>I don't where you're coming from but I recommend and easier cave to explore like the Cal-lao Caves in Penablanca, Cagayan, near Tuguegarao. The path is already paved and the cave is spectacular. There are additional attractions like the river and the coming out of the bats.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, should you go to Mabinay, I hope you get to enjoy the place. Have fun. <BR/><BR/>I hope I answered your questions properly. Don't hesitate if there are more. <BR/><BR/>Thanks much.Gridcrosserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06288863483845769900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29615618.post-11972961226244219382009-03-30T20:04:00.000-07:002009-03-30T20:04:00.000-07:00Hi Roel,This comment has nothing to do with your r...Hi Roel,<BR/><BR/>This comment has nothing to do with your recent post (I'm sorry!), but with the article you made about spelunking in Mabinay. My family is interested in experiencing the caves ourselves but we want to be sure that they are easy to access since there are a lot of the older and heavy ones in the family who are very eager to join.<BR/><BR/>First, I want to thank you for the very interesting article you made on your Mabinay experience. But there are a few things that I want to confirm.<BR/><BR/>How steep is the ravine that you had to climb down in to get to the entrance of the Panligawan cave? Is it the same as in Pandalian?<BR/>What about the Crystal Cave? Which do you think is the easiest to access, especially for oldies (40s, 50s)? Do we have to wear rubber shoes or is it ok with sleepers only? Lastly, do we have to put on safety gears? <BR/><BR/>We are still finalizing this trip and your reply would really help out a lot in our scheduling of activities. Hope to hear from you soon, Roel. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>I will wait for your reply here or if it won't be too much to ask, please email me at mariavitarodriguez@gmail.com<BR/><BR/>All the best!blogging mistress on a resthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13108594080313519404noreply@blogger.com