Summer is near and I cannot wait to dip my toes in the cool stream of Lantuyang, and let my woes be flooded away by the current. It has been almost three months since I've had a proper vacation. Always stressed out with the daily grind, I've usually spent a "me time" watching movies or TV shows, or eat out somewhere.
So I always get excited when we spend the summer vacay in my hometown, Calapan City. Like last year, the whole family was able to go to Lantuyang River in Baco, Oriental Mindoro. It's a long winding river surrounded by a lot of smooth rocks. The river is close to the mountains, and the water feels like ice on the first encounter.
There are also small and big huts around that could be rented. On the other side of the river is a man-made pool about six to seven feet, and beneath it is a connecting waterfall to another river.
There is also a hanging bridge over the river, used by the resident Mangyans to cross over from the mountains.
Here is one of the stone houses that a family of Mangyans used to live in.
I have high hopes of coming back to this place soon.