Zipline at Dahilayan Park, Bukidnon

Since my friend Tina and I share the same birthday on January 15, we decided to celebrate it together. Upon learning about our plan, our friend Lot invited us to spend our birthday at her hometown, in the "city of golden friendship", Cagayan de Oro City.

I arrived at CDO on the early morning of January 15 (Tina flew there a day earlier), Lot picked me up from the airport and we went straight to their house (which is huge, as in you can go missing inside). We spent Friday relaxing in a clubhouse pool in a subdivision called Xavier, played "Rock Band" and had a delicious dinner at "Candy's Restaurant" at Limketkai center courtesy of Lot's lovely mother.

The next day we went river rafting (Saturday), then went to Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon on a Sunday.

Dahilayan park is located at Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and is about an hour drive from Cagayan de Oro City. Along the way you will pass by what seems like miles and miles of pineapple plantation farm. It stretches as far as your eyes can see against the picturesque backdrop of the Bukidnon mountains. That stretch of field is called the "Pineapple Country" and those pineapples are the source of Del Monte products in the Philippines.

We arrived there at 7:30 AM, bunch of early birds as the place opens up for operation at 8:30 AM. It's a good thing however, because we got the number '1' and we soon found out that by lunch time many people are lining up for the zipline rides.

The zipline at Dahilayan is composed of a 320 meter and 150 meter vertical ride and the "longest dual zipline in Asia"–the 840 meter zipline–which gets you flying like Superman.

This was my second time to ride a zipline. The first being the one at Camp Sabros, Digos City in Davao which also boast an 800 meter zipline and a zip-ride to a tall treetop. Both offers marvelous sights along the way and the thrilling sensation of flying at a high speed.

Dahilayan is surrounded by pine trees which screams of a "Twiling: New Moon" vibe. It was nature at its best and the place is well maintained by its staff with nary a piece of trash on sight.

The highlight of course was the 840 meter zipline. On average it takes a person about 50 seconds of flight time to complete the whole 840 meter distance, enough speed to bring a rush of excitement as you pass by tall trees, deep ravine, the forests, the clearing and unto the landing path on the other side of the hill.

We first took the 380 meter + 150 meter zipride then we saved the best for last, the 840 meter zipride.

By lunch time we were done with the ziplines and chalked up this place as another memory to my nomadic experiencesm. This time with the company of great friends in a wonderful place somewhere in Mindanao.

Being able to travel to Davao and Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon the past year has totally changed my perception of Mindanao. Growing up I thought it was one giant land mass caught in a maelstrom of war zone, I am now finding out that it's the complete opposite.

Going back to Lot's place we again passed by the pineapple country and feasted on gigantic steaks at the Del Monte Country Club (again with Lot's mom footing the bill - can't thank them enough)