Happy Tuesday Hivers!
What? You went there alone?
That was the shocking reply of my 75-year-old landlady as she knew that I went to Balanan Lake alone. Although we're not relatives but she treated me like her own daughter and she scolded me everytime she knew that I went to creepy places like the one I'd visited on the other day.
Before I'm gonna take you virtually to Balanan Lake let me tell you first on....
How to Get There
From Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental you may take a Ceres bus in Ceres Terminal going to Siaton or Bayawan. Just inform the collector to drop you off at the terminal going to Balanan Lake.
I opted to took an air-conditioned bus since it was too hot on the other day. The fare is php112 (around 2$). The travel time takes around 1.5 hours.
It's not difficult to locate the street going to Balanan Lake as the signage is visible on the main road. You're on the right track if you see this signage.
The only mode of public transportation to Balanan Lake is a motorbike. But if you have your own car it is much safer to take a car going there.
The road is quite challenging as some road is not paved. There are some unpaved portions and it is quite long. Therefore, it is not safe to travel here when it rains since it is muddy and slippery. Some portions have rocks on the unpaved road.
Finally after 30 minutes of struggling we were able to arrive safe. This is the entrance area where the entrance fee is collected.
After I had paid my entrance fee, the cashier gave me the official receipt and instructed me to present the receipt to the restaurant crew and swimming pool attendant.
The rooms and services that the Balanan Lake has offered is posted in the entrance area and they included the prices.
Welcome to Balanan Lake
The water in the lake is placid. Although the lake looks stunning because of the lush forest that added to its beauty but I can't deny that I felt a little bit scared.
I directly went first to the restaurant and had my lunch since it was already 12:00noon. I don't have a proper breakfast that morning and that made me a little bit dizzy and weak.
While I was having my lunch, I asked a few questions to the attendant about the Balanan Lake. At first I can sense that she was reluctant to tell me the real incidents happened. She maybe felt my eagerness to know about the incidents in the place so she told me the real stories.
It was a few years back when there were drowning incidents here. The victims were came from the distant places. The reason maybe was they were unfamiliar of the lake. The lake is deep and it is difficult to swim compared to the sea water. That maybe the reasons why a few guests were found dead.
After hearing that story, I found myself a little bit scared to try boating and toured around the lake. But since my curiosity prevailed, I tried.
Even it was too hot but I pushed myself to do the boating activity. Hmmm the anxious feeling was slowly subsided after I knew that I am with 2 tour guides atleast we were 3 on the boat. Well, the boat size is big so I don't have any reasons to feel anxious.
I was in awe by the beauty of the mountains as we started to navigate. The serenity and the beauty of nature helps me to forget about the bad story of this lake. I temporarily forgot that this lake was once a traitor. It really looks beautiful but behind its beauty there were few lives lost.
The view of the lush forest and the water were truly stunning and jaw dropping.
One of my tour guides suggested that we will visit the falls. Of course, I didn't decline. After we had crossed the lake, we walked around 15 minutes going to the waterfalls.
Finally we were not exposed directly to the heat of the sun as we had crossed on the shady road. I was grateful as there were many big trees around that help block the sunray.
After a few minutes, we were almost arrived to the waterfalls and suddenly the tour guide asked me if I wanted to see the root of the huge tree which has similar shape to the snake's head. The photo is not clear so I don't really think if you could see it.
We continued hiking until I noticed that there's a huge tree where the big roots were almost blocked the pathway.
Honestly, I was greatly disappointed as we arrived in front of the waterfalls. It was not appealing. It was far different to the waterfalls that I'd visited in the southern part of Cebu and in Valencia, Negros Oriental. But I didn't show how I feel that time.
We returned back to the restaurant after the water falls visit. My tour guides did a quick paddle after I remember the agreed time that the motorbike driver will pick me up.
I hurriedly got up and jumped so I would not be late but as I arrived to the restaurant the staffs informed me that the motorbike driver will just wait to the entrance, he gave me a little extension to explore the area without additional fee.
So I took that opportunity to explore the area. I headed to the elevated part where the hotel is situated. It is just one building erected in front of the lake.
After a while, I headed to the pool area.
The pool is also situated in the middle of the lush forest. If you're not familiar of the place you might get lost because the pathway is quite and it seems you could not find amenities further but when the tour guide brought me there, I was amazed.
The small size and native cottages greeted us as we arrived in the pool area.
As I saw the stairs, I immediately went down to the pool area.
There were only few people enjoying in the pool. If only I had enough time, I will surely plunge in the water.
However, my time was just limited so I just stayed there for a while and afterwards I went to the entrance area where the motorbike driver was waiting.
Although I already heard and read online about the story of the Balanan Lake and few people told me not to go there but I didn't listen to them. The road is quite challenging; the place is indeed creepy but still I enjoyed my short adventure. My landlady won't understand me because she only loves to stay at home that was maybe the reason why she reacted that way.
Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!
Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Discord: kellyane#0924
Namaste! I am fond of reading books, watching korean, american and filipino series/movies and I am also fond of gardening. I love listening to different life stories and I am always captivated with the beauty of nature so travel is my escape when life turns into blue. But hey, how could I forget my photography hobby? It is one of the best, so follow me as I will be featuring my experiences of the stuff that I am passionate with.
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Kaisog jud this girl uyyy ☺️. Pero murag dili man sya creepy jack, ganahan kos lugar gani nice kaayo 😍😍
Amping pirmi aron di kasab-an sa imung landlady 😁. It's good to know nga buotan kaayo sya nimu jack♥️. Maong pag behave diha, ayaw ug pasiaw 😅
Alingog ngog usahay day uy, kanang molakaw ko nig gabie mogukod na nako nya moana unsa kang oras mouli moana ko dli ko kabalo ana sya alas dose sa kadlawn? 🤣🤣🤣
Wahaha, alegre. Kasiaw ba. Over protective si landlady 😁
Kadaghan jud nindot dha sa negros noh. Ako pod mahadlok ug lake. Mingaw man kaaju gud. 😁
Lain kaau ren uy murag naay mobira 🤣🤣🤣
That lake is amazing! Ang sarap siguro mag-swimming dyan kabayan.
Di na nila ina allow na magswimming ang mga guests kabayan dahil sa mga pangit na incidents.
Ay sayamg, parang ang sarap pa naman lumangoy dyan.
I really like seeing the view of the This place and hut
Thanks @waliphoto.
thanks again
Oh Gosh that is so brave of you. I mean, I can't blame you. Even if the way to the beauty is kinda hard and despite those scary stories circulating - you will really forget it all if this is the kind of sceneries that will greet you. Ang gandaaa. And if it's me din if I'm with someone naman I can still get in the boat and roam around that lake. But seriously, traveling alone? Gosh you're really somethinf.
Ang ganda magtravel alone, you will be able to explore kahit saan mo gusto. Have you tried it?
Not yet, I want to pero plano pa rin till now huehue.
Try kahit sa neighboring towns lang at first
Wow, what a great adventure. The view of lake Balanan is beautiful, but a bit scary to think about the incidents happened there before.
It was indeed a great adventure. Thanks for dropping by.
Wow ang ganda naman jan😍
Pero di ko ka yata kaya mag isa mamasyal😄😁.
Kaya mo yan, nakakatakot lang sa una especially if you will travel far but masanay ka rin.
K anice diha girl 🤩🤩kay wala kaayu tawo.mag overnight ta then hiking sa morning! dli rata maligo sa lake kay birahon tas shokoy nga ma crush nato🤣🤣🤣. magdala ta books then gama u sa imong ehhheeemm, u know😀😀
Kung mag overnyt guro ta gurl noh kay dli nako motan aw sa gawas nig gabie 🤣🤣🤣
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Wow how cool, I loved the lake, it conveys too many things to look at. On the other hand, you were very brave to go alone, but I think adventures involve this and the best thing is to be able to enjoy all this with splendor. Too spectacular, taking the boat, and then going to the falls. An unquestionable beauty.
Thanks @neruel. I love to travel alone. Have u tried?
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Wow! Ka nice... USa ni sa akong adtuon puhon bason dalhon ko ni manang dinhi.hehe
@diding pabaktason kas imung manang sa makadaghan nga higayon basta moadto mo kay daghan part nga lubak2x ang dalan🤣🤣🤣
🤣 d nlang mabalintong nya me.