Stopover ni Teh sa Callao Cave ~ The First Chamber

Callao Cave, one of the most famous attractions in Cagayan Valley... Napadaan lang kami  rito one time galing ng Ballesteros, after dropping by Tuguegarao to visit our granny. That time, very much delighted ako na mapupuntahan ko na ang Callao Cave dahil first time ko siyang makikita in person. (Parang artista lang...) :)

Located at the humble municipality of Peñablanca, it takes around 30 to 45 minutes by land to reach the Callao Cave from Tuguegarao City.

We went there during a summer of 2008, so I'm not sure kung same pa rin ang contents ng signboard sa entrance sa may paanan ng cave. 

Information board as of 2008. :) (Click photo for a better viewing experience...)

Hindi ko na in-enlarge. You know why. :|

Rheumatism alert: After the entrance at the foot of the cave, aakyat ka pa ng N number of steps bago mo marating ang mismong cave. 

Before the cave's main entrance, nakasulat sa dingding ang quick facts about the cave. Muhkang naroon na ang information since nineteen kopong kopong dahil sa kalumaan ng itsura nito. At siyempre pa, hindi mawawala ang mga pangalan ng mga friendships natin sa gobyerno. Nakakalungkot lang na may mga vandals na ang printed information na ito. :(

Stolen shot ni Teh by the cave... X_X
(Hindi rin in-enlarge. You know why din.)

Nakakalungkot lang din na noong nagpunta kami, medyo maulan (madulas sa loob ng cave) at malapit na ang closing time kaya doon lang kami sa first chamber nakapag-explore. Kumusta naman ang 6 other chambers na hindi napuntahan ni Teh??? :( 

Common na mag-expect ka ng bizarre rock formations kahit sa loob pa lang ng first chamber. Photos did not turn out that good (since low tech camera ko), pero in person, maganda tignan ang mga rock formations na ito. :)

Ground rock formations

Ceiling rock formations. (Stalactites and stalagmites hardly seen on this pic)

The first chamber's light source from above...

Ang rock formations, common 'yan sa lahat ng cave systems. Pero this one, when visiting Callao Cave, definitely this is something that you should not miss - ang mag-picture sa Cave Chapel! ^_^ Luckily, this is located sa first chamber kaya nakapag-picture ako. :D 

Taking advantage of the rock formations, nagtayo ang local government noon ng chapel sa loob ng chamber. Tinanong ko ang kasama kong taga-South Cagayan kung may nagmimisa ba rito at ang sabi niya, meron daw. Quite eligible din siyang maging pilgrimage site. :)

WALANG... HIMALAAAAAAAAA!!! (Chos.)

Sa labas ng first chamber, may akyatan doon papunta sa isang viewing site. Pagtuntong sa viewing site, tumambad kay Teh ang majestic views ng Sierra Madre, rice fields ng Peñablanca and Pinacanauan River. So far, Teh's favorite portion of Callao Cave sidetrip. :)

Ricefields of Peñablanca hidden by the epal tree. (Joke lang, tree! ^_^)

A glimpse of the clear Pinacanauan River.

The Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges from afar... :)

The staircase connecting the cave and the entrance at the cave's foot is supported by a steel bar (I think) and it kinda rusts a lot already. :( I hope na maayos ito ng DOT in line with the new theme of "It's more fun in the Philippines". Looking forward for its slight makeover. ;)

Stairway to and from the first chamber.

Dahil marami pang Unfinished Business[1] si Teh, hindi lang sa Callao Cave pero sa Cagayan Valley as a whole, siguradong babalik-balikan ko ang mga tourist spots ng province na ito, may they be known or still remaining undiscovered. Sana lang pagbalik ko, makita ko ang positive impact ng bagong slogan ng ating turismo. :)

Till we meet again, my beloved land... :)

~ Vocabulary ni Teh ~

[1] Unfinished Business - mga hindi napuntahan ni Teh sa isang place.