Tarzan Falls Hiking and Fish Eye Marine Park Snorkeling

The last adventure tour that I booked with travel tours company was doing a bit of hiking for a waterfalls and snorkeling. At first, I booked a different tour in another company but unfortunately they are not able to do the tour that I selected due to minimum numbers were not met to be able to operate the tour. Then I looked for another company until I found Tropical Tours Guam. I wanted to see additional places before I leave Guam and I ended up booking a Waterfalls and Snorkeling Tour. I was hesitant at first since the tour includes swimming but in the end I joined the tour.

It was Good Friday and I thought that the tour will not operate since Guam is also considered a very Catholic Island. And from my guide in the tour, as long as the minimum numbers met, the tour will happen even though its public holiday. The tour guide arrived at the front of my hotel’s lobby. And when I hopped inside the car, another tourist was waiting. Matt, our guide introduced me to him and he is a Filipino too. What a lucky day that I will be with a familiar face in the adventure. And he stayed in the same hotel as mine.

Tarzan Falls

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If you looked-up and saw hanging shoes at the parking area, you are in the right location.

We left the hotel and we drove more than half an hour drive towards the south of the island until we reached the car park which is the same as the start of Tarzan Falls trail. The parking area has sign of Tarzan falls which signifies you are at the start of the trail. Aside from parking sign, in the past years there is another way to know you are at the start of the trail, look for shoes hanging in electrical wires. I asked Matt if it’s becoming a tradition that they let the shoes hang in there, but he mentioned that there’s no really story behind the hanging shoes, it’s just that people just leave theirs shoes and other people are doing the same thing probably for just fun. But Matt mentioned, if you will do that, just make sure you will not be caught.

Because it was a sunny and beautiful Friday, hiking the area towards the falls was not difficult, but they said it is different during wet season or even just after the rain. At the start we passed a wind turbine and followed the Tarzan Falls trail. The trail itself is easy to medium and it is just like walking for miles except for few parts of the trail that you need to go up a bit and descend a bit. Then we reached the trail part where we saw the river (Ylig River) where the water falls of Tarzan Falls coming from. It is a sign that the falls is just nearby. We reached the top of the falls and this means that we need to go down further to see Tarzan Waterfalls from the bottom to appreciate more its beauty.

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At the top of the falls

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Looking down from the top of the water fall

We descended to the bottom of the falls to see what it offers to all visitors. Since it was dry season the volume of the water flows was less, not heavy and not forceful. Once we reached the bottom of the falls, I had a great view of the famous waterfalls. Natural waterfalls can really make people feel good about nature, the way I look at it, there is something in waterfalls that make people feel calm and at peace. The sound of the water flows is a unique way to emphasize that there is a great thing to find in nature.

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I took a lot of photos of the waterfalls and after photo shoot time, we tried our best to reach the waterfalls wall even that its slippery. I slowly crawled towards the wall and since I was wearing leggings, it helped me to reached the wall easily and I was able to surpassed the slimy way to the falls. And I looked for some space to sit properly and enjoyed the waterfalls down through my head and my body. We sit with the waterfalls at least half an hour.

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Fish Eye Marine Park

After spending time with waterfalls, we decided to go down the falls, finished the hike and return to where we started. After reaching the parking area, we just dried ourselves a bit before we hopped on back into the car. Then we drove at least 20 mins to Fish Eye Marine Park.

I love water adventure but I am not really good at it because I have less experience and exposure to such adventure. While Matt (our guide) prepared our stuff for snorkelling activity, we sit not far from the beach and enjoyed the scenery at our front. While looking at the underwater observatory not far from the beach, I was thinking what’s going to happen if I am in the water.

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Our guide called us and he gave our gears for the snorkeling. We started the shoes and he handed the fins that we will wear when we are in the water. I also received the tube and lens mask. When he was ready we walked towards the beach and approach the observatory. I walked slowly in the water, following the bridge walkway path and while walking I saw colorful and small fishes. Then I approached where Matt my tourist buddy were waiting. Then I wore my fins, it was the first time that I wore fins. Then, Matt gave a rope that can be my guide while we were approaching the deeper part of the water. I tried to swim as best as I can based on what I had been doing before, but when I did, I drank a lot of sea water and I panicked. Then I tried one more time and the result was the same. I tried again for the third time and I really got nervous. So I decided to not to try anymore. I felt unease.

Because I was not comfortable swimming using the snorkeling gear, I just swam as I can while Matt was guiding the rope. We reached where the observatory stands and there were few people near on it. At that location I tried to lookdown few times to see under the water. I saw turtles but I just stayed where I was and let them (Matt and my tourist buddy) enjoy the water, they swam both together as I don’t want to spoil their enjoyment. At that time, I was a bit sad because I wanted to swim but I was scared. But I knew that I can swim because I was wearing life vest, but I wasn’t able to do it because I was not comfortable with fins in my feet, not sure why.

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Tepungan Beach

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We spent more time under the observatory. And before we decided to return, I looked down under the water again to see one more time the colorful fishes and turtles that just live normally under the water even there are people enjoying diving and swimming in the area.

After the adventure, we had our lunch not far from the hotel that we were staying before Matt dropped us in our hotel.

Picture Frame : Russell Falls

Picture Frame (Post#4) : Russell Falls

The tour that I joined involves nature adventure, it includes a bit of walking and trekking. When the tour started, our first stop after reaching Mount Field National Park was Russell Falls which said to be Tasmania’s prettiest waterfall. The water flows in layer which makes it really a fascinating falls.  These photos are part of Tasmania Adventure Photo Collection June 2013.

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Home : Mataas Na Talon

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Home (Post#18) : Mataas Na Talon

I will not forget this falls as I experienced tremendous adventure before we reach this one as we took the falls stream trail just to reach this falls, where we walked mostly where half of our body were soaked in the water and I was lucky because my camera is waterproof and can go under the  water. I understand that this kind of beauty of nature such as falls is not easily to be found and most of them are inside or within the vicinity of mountains. The falls above is called “Mataas na Talon” (or High Falls). At the time we reached this one, I keep on asking of its name but because of its remote, rare and treacherous location, no one bothers to name this fall that is why the locals who live in the area just call it “Mataas na Talon”. This falls is located in Tanay in the province of Rizal. The adventure took place last May 2011.

Home : Katibawasan Falls

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Home (Post#7) : Katibawasan Falls

One of the side trip that we had after climbing Mount Hibuk Hibok in Camiguin Island province in Bohol Sea Philippines was to visit Katibawasan Falls. The falls is located at the foot of Mount Timpoong. When we visited the falls, some of my mountaineering group did tried to swim at the ice-cold pool which really good for tropical heat. Photo captured last October 2012.

Brackendale Forest and Shannon Falls

We went back in the bus after spending sometime viewing Tantalus mountain ranges at Tantalus Lookout along Sea to Sky Highway road. We hit the road again and after few minutes we stopped at Brackendale, which still part of Squamish.

We went out for a nature walk which is actually a forest walk. The forest we went in are actually part of a unique school in British Columbia, it is North Vancouver Outdoor School. Based from our tourist guide, the school introduces and teaches all about nature to young kids where the child experience outdoor fun activities. After hearing that from the guide, I wished that I was able to do the same thing when I was young since I love activities with nature.

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North Vancouver Outdoor School

Inside the forest, we saw mostly of sequoia trees, some were at the ground, some are standing tall. We also found some flora and fauna along our trail while walking under tall trees. We also saw a narrow stream of water which looks canal and swamp like.

I enjoyed the walk in the forest, walking in the forest is one of the things that I really love to do. The forest is one of the place that you can get yourself technically inside or between natures. Every time I am inside the forest I feel relax, calm and serene which rejuvenate my mind. The ambiance of the nature felt so refreshing and the green surrounding made me felt so alive.

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Views near Stawamus Chief on our way back to Vancouver along Sea To Sky Highway

After walking tour in Brackendale, the next stop was at Shannon Falls. I consider this stop as similar to Tantalus Lookout, wherein a great scenery was really amazing. I can’t believe what my eyes saw. The falls was really beautiful and the water flows were quite extraordinary and I can imagine the great force on it that looks like the streams of water tried to race to each other to go down to the ground.

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Shannon Falls

Remembering Banff – Part 1

One of the astonishing and surprising place that I had a chance to visit in Canada is Banff. Banff is one of the municipality in Alberta which located within National Park. From my previous blog, I described my first day in Banff and introduced all the places that I had been. Right now, I am remembering my second day in Banff together with all the places I had a chance to see.While traveling around Banff National Park, I cannot deny that I love mountains around this park. Names of the mountain has its own reasons while they call them as that. For example, Castle Mountain, anyone will immediately understand after seeing this mountain and heard its name why it was called as Castle Mountain, the reason is, mountain looks like a castle.

Castle Mountain

There is Cascade Mountain which can be easily found along Banff Avenue. I thought at first that this mountain is located at the end of Banff Avenue but it is not. Its peak is really fantastic. Seeing this mountain and some snow on its top overwhelm me. The picture I have for Cascade mountain also portrayed that Banff Avenue seems to be busy during spring season and there were lots of tourist coming by to visit Banff.

Cascade Mountain

First destination – the Bow Falls and the Bow River which located at the bottom of Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel. I both admired the Bow Falls and Bow River after we drove and stopped over at the River Avenue.

Bow Falls

Bow River

Then, we ascended to Tunnel Mountain and stopped at lookout view-point in Buffalo Street, from there, we were able to glimpsed the famous Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel that looks like a castle in the middle of the valley.

Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel

Next, we turned around and followed the path of Tunnel Mountain Road where we found Hoodoos at the bottom of the road and above the Bow River. We had also got a chance to view Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain on a different angle from Tunnel Mountain Road and I cannot deny to myself that I am still surprised on the scenery that I saw. I also found out that Tunnel Mountain near in Banff town site is a mountain in the middle of the Bow Valley.

Mount Rundle

Sulphur Mountain

We paid visit to Cave and Basin, a historic place that is being preserve and now a tourist spot. Cave and Basin are famous of its stinky hot spring which located inside the cave. The reason it is stinky, because of the stinky smell of sulphur within the hot spring. Right now, no one is using the hot spring because there is an endangered species living in the hot spring, they call it as Banff Spring Snail, a snail that can be only found in Cave and Basin. Cave and Basin also displays historic stuff in a museum and it has a movie house that shows history or documentary films. We also found an empty pool – based on history, it was a swimming pool to heal sick people.

Cave and Basin Historic Site

The Cave


Inside the Museum


Old Pool

After Cave and Basin, we went to Lake Minnewanka. I had to admit that the panoramic view of this lake really astounded me. I never expected a lake with its beautiful color. The water is so clear at the side of the lake and has a light blue color in the middle. My heart is really fulfilled with happiness after I saw this lake.

Lake Minnewanka

We also tried to visit another two lakes: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. While on our way to Moraine Lake, we thought that the lake was still closed but we were lucky that it was open and we were able to see Moraine Lake. Next, we stop over in Lake Louise. There were many people in the lake. Lake Louise is bigger than Lake Moraine and I cannot compare its beauty to Moraine Lake because the two lakes are well-known of its fascinating lake views. And I think whatever the season, they are both stunning. When I paid visit to the two lakes, both of them has still icy water due to winter just recently over but, I still found them as wonderful as it can be. Another note, Lake Louise was named after Princess Louise, one of the daughter of Queen Victoria.

Lake Louise

Moraine Lake

Last destination in my second day tour, we went up to Mount Norquay, one of the famous mountain that is popular in skiing activities. From Mount Norquay, we were able to see the Bow Valley as a whole. We saw Banff town site in another perspective, same with Tunnel Mountain, Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain.

Banff View from Mount Norquay

I really feel like the nature is very close to me while I am at Banff.

Birthday At Banff

For the past years, I celebrated my birthday usually with my family and close friends. Previous celebration was held with simple party. What am I trying to say here? The fact is, my birthday is being celebrated with people. I commonly received birthday greetings and gifts from dear friends. But this year, it was different.

Why I said it was different? First, I am out of the country. It means that those people who used to know my birthday was not with me this time. Second, most of them will not be able to contact me because I never gave my number to them (except to my family, my boss and some colleagues). Third, I never mentioned or probably the right word is “reminded” them that my birthday is almost coming or happening in Canada.

But, even this is the case, I have plans. My birthday will be happening in a different country which is totally a different place from what I used to be, I just thought that I have to celebrate it in an extraordinary way.

I was in Canada that time for training purposes and since I have this eagerness to see some places in this country, I planned to go out and see it. I went to Banff, Alberta (I am not sure who might reading this might say, you wanted to see “Canadian Rockies”). But to be honest, I just have this little idea what will I expected to see in that place. All I am expecting is to see beautiful places that are totally different of what I used to see.

Friday – May 16 (I went to work that day – because I have to), but I went home early because my bus schedule to Banff was 6:30 PM. I rode Greyhound bus (and I am very lucky because the bus station was just near the place where I stayed in Edmonton). Total travel time was five hours and there will be two station where the bus will stop: Red Deer and Calgary.

Since I am traveling to Banff alone and no one was with me and I am not familiar with the place, there was incident that I thought that Red Deer was Calgary. I am not listening to the bus driver when he mentioned that we were in Red Deer. One of the passenger just told me we were at Red Deer. From time to time I have been sleeping during my travel from Edmonton to Calgary. I arrived in Calgary around 10:30 PM. The next bus to Banff was 11:30 PM. The Calgary station was in Calgary downtown, I went outside the bus station and looked around the place. I saw the Calgary Downtown that night. It was pretty much similar with Edmonton Downtown. I never able to capture pictures because I am quite shy to the people passing on me. What I did was I remember as much as I can what Calgary Downtown look like that night.

11:00 PM, I went back to the bus station and waited until 11:30 PM (I am surprised because the bus that will be going to Banff will go to Vancouver too (during that time I wish I can go to Vancouver). Another thing, our bus driver was a woman who was surprising for me.

Few minutes after we left Calgary station, the bus got some technical problems and the driver decided that we need to go back to the station where we came from. It was the best decision she can made, and she told us that her most important responsibility was her passengers safety (which was great but I am kind of bit worried because I am supposed to be at my hotel in Banff at 1 AM – May 17, my birthday), we went back to the station and transferred to another bus.

I arrived at Banff station at 2:30 AM and no one was around. I am thankful that my boss in Canada gave me a mobile phone temporarily. I able to call a cab in Banff and the cab picked me up in the Banff station. I am at the front of hotel where I made my reservation and to my surprise they are telling me to go to another hotel, this made me confused and made me worried because it was almost 3AM in the middle of the morning and I am still outside of hotel in a place which I visited first time in my life and I am alone. I went to Ptarmigann Inn and talked to the hotel clerk, and told them that I had been instructed to go there. The friendly old men accommodated me and explained to me that I will check-in in Ptarmigann because the hotel that I made my reservation was full. I did not object anymore and I am thankful that I can go to my room and rest before my day will start.

3:30 AM, I went to bed and slept for four hours.

I woke up at 7:30 AM and prepared myself. The tourist bus picked me up at the hotel at 9 AM. I met Kevin, the tourist guide. Since I never had my dinner before I went to Banff, I am really hungry and requested Kevin if I can still order my breakfast. He agreed to me and he will be back to me after picking up the other tourist.



Around 9:30 AM, we were on our way to Banff National Park. First stop Johnston Canyon. I wondered that time, what we were suppose to be doing in a canyon. Kevin told us that we were going to hike in a canyon.







During the hike, I found out that Johnston Canyon has a very amiable trail. And I like Johnston Creek too because there were still ice at the side of the creek. There were three falls that we found while hiking the canyon. They called it the Lower Falls, first falls that we saw, then unnamed falls, but I call it Middle Falls since it’s between Lower and Upper Falls. The last falls was simply the Upper Falls. During the hike, Kevin talked about the Canyon (and I cannot remember it now). I prepared the hiking activities that was why I brought lots of bottled water and because of this my bag was heavy. During the hike I was accidentally fall while trekking the trail with solid ice at the ground and I was glad that not so much people around that time when it happened to me, even Kevin did not notice it. I enjoyed watching the creek and listening to the sounds of the water flowing into the creek. I like the mist of cold weather in the canyon. I also went to the small passage which similar to a cave passage so that I will be able to see up close and personal the Lower Falls. Then, we continued our hike. We saw the unnamed falls and for me its perfect too. Then we walked upward until we found the Upper Falls. The surrounding of Upper Falls were still ice. And I am thinking that this fall is more beautiful during summer season. After taking pictures around that falls, we descended the canyon. We were at the ground again past 12 PM.

Next, we move to Pilot Mountain lookout which just near the canyon since it was along the Bow Valley Parkway. We drove to the place and had a short walk up to the lookout view-point, I was really amazed in the view of Pilot Pond just near the Pilot Mountain ground. It has dark green color at the middle and light green color at the side. Pilot Mountain is one of the mountain that can be easily recognize due to its shape. Its distinct compare with other Mountains in Banff National Park. This was the mountain that I been looking after when we went out the Banff town site while on our way to Johnston Canyon.





After the tour in the morning till afternoon, I went home and had a short rest at the hotel. Then, at night I went for wildlife safari, I am somewhat curious what animals looks like in Canada. First, we went to Mount Norquay (for what I know this mountain is famous for skiing and other winter related activities). We went there hoping we could see some animals around the place. While on our way to the top, we found Mountain Goad Kid and while moving around we found deer. We stop in a lookout view-point in Mount Norquay wherein we can see the whole Banff town site and the valley itself.

















Next, we move to the Vermilion Lake hoping we can find some animals and we were lucky to find some birds near in the lake. Even though we never saw a lots of animals, I enjoy looking around the Banff National Park. I saw Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain while we were enjoying the awesome view of Vermilion Lake. I really enjoyed all the places we visited, I never regret that I decided to visit Banff during my birthday.

I hope I can comeback in Banff in the future.