Kadiliman (Darkness)

And I am back from my short vacation. Four days of nothing but roaming around, but I could say it was well worth it, and I was so happy with the things I have done last week.

{At ako'y nagbalik mula sa aking maiksing bakasyon sa probinsiya ng aking ama. Apat na araw na puno ng lakaran ngunit masasabi kong ganap ang aking kasiyahan na magawa ang mga bagay na nagawa ko noong isang linggo.}

This week's theme is "darkness," and because my siblings and I plan our LP entries ahead of time (to prevent same entries), I was a bit confused what to share for "light" and "darkness," since both themes are pretty much the same in some ways. Since my brother decided to post the brown-out picture he had for this week's theme, I decided to use my brown-out picture last week and just find other pictures for this week.

{Ang tema ngayong linggo ay "kadiliman," at dahil kami ng aking mga kapatid ay pina-plano na ang aming mga lahok ilang araw pa bago ang takdang tema (para walang gayahan - ngunit hindi rin maiwasan), bahagya akong naguluhan kung ano nga ba ang aking ilalahok para sa "liwanag" at "kadiliman." Medyo pareho ang tema, kaya noong sinabi ni kuya na gagamitin niya ang "brown-out" na litrato para sa linggong ito, ginamit ko na lang ang aking "brown-out" na litrato noong nakaraang linggo at humanap na lang ng iba para sa linggong ito.}

These pictures were taken in Callao Caves, in Penablanca, Cagayan. Last May, I went on a road trip with my aunt and her high school friends and because we will be sleeping in the house of their another friend in Tuao, Cagayan, we went to the caves first.

{Ang mga litratong ito ay kuha sa loob ng Callao Caves sa Penablanca, Cagayan. Noong Mayo, sumama ako sa "road trip" ng aking tiyahin at ng kanyang mga kaibigan noong high school, at dahil kami ay matutulog sa bahay ng isa nilang kaibigan sa Tuao, Cagayan, kami ay dumaan muna sa Callao Caves.}

From Banaue, Ifugao, we traveled all day and getting in the caves was a very difficult task because one must climb a 194-step stairs before reaching the caves. Honestly speaking, I really thought I wouldn't be able to make it. When we reached the caves, I was so tired, sweaty, and I felt as if my heart would come out of my chest! But truly, one must endure first before sowing seeds of triumph, and when I reached the top, I was ecstatic!

{Mula Banaue, Ifugao ay nagbiyahe kami ng pagkatagal-tagal, at ang pagpunta sa loob ng caves ay talaga namang napakahirap. Una sa lahat, kinakailangan mong akyatin ang 194 steps ng hagdanan, at sa totoo lang, akala ko nung una ay hindi ko talaga kakayanin. Pagdating sa caves, sobrang pagod na ako at ang aking puso ay gusto ng lumabas sa dibdib ko! Pero, talaga namang kinailangan munang maghirap bago maranasan ang kasarapan, at nang marating ko ang loob ng caves, "super fulfilled" na ako!}

It was very dark inside, and if you won't be using your camera's flash, you'll really have a hard time photographing the place. I had problems with my camera's settings at first because all pictures came out blurred. Good thing I was able to get the right settings. The cave is spacious as well, and if you're someone who's not afraid of the dark, you can really explore the place good. I wanted to do just that, but my aunt didn't allow me to go far because the soil might be damp, or I might not be able to see the path I was walking and I might have an accident.

{Madilim sa loob, at kung hindi ka gagamit ng flash ay mahihirapan kang kunan ng litrato ang loob. Noong una nga ay nahihirapan ako sa settings ng aking camera dahil laging blurred ang mga litrato, ngunit naayos ko naman bandang huli. Malawak ang loob ang caves, at kung hindi ka talaga takot sa kadiliman ay mae-explore mo ng mabuti ang lugar, ngunit ang aking tiyahin ay binilinan akong huwag masyadong lumayo dahil baka malambot ang lupa o di kaya naman ay hindi ko makita ang aking hinahakbangan at baka ako ay madisgrasya pa.}

The first picture was taken at the top part of the caves (my aunt scolded me for being so far from her eyesight). That's her high school friend and her niece and nephew on the picture. A not-so-good shot, but I was really proud of this picture, and I consider it as my favorite among all the pictures taken in this place. The second picture was the "underground church," which can be seen by the entrance. The altar has a stalactite or stalagmite formation that looked like Virgin Mary, so maybe that's the reason for having a church inside.

{Ang unang litrato ay kuha ko sa parteng taas ng caves (ako ay medyo napagalitan ng aking tiyahin dahil sobrang layo ko na raw). Ang mga nasa litrato ay ang kaibigan nga aking tiyahin at ang kanyang mga pamangkin. Hindi gaanong malinaw, pero ito ang pinakapaborito kong litrato mula sa lugar na ito. Ang pangalawang litrato naman ay ang "underground church" na makikita sa bungad lamang ng caves. Sa altar nito ay may mga stalactite or stalagmite formation na kamukha ng Birheng Maria, kaya siguro ginawan ng maliit na simbahan dito.}

For more information (and pictures) from this place, please check out JennWasHere, my travel blog.

{Sa dagdag kaalaman, puntahan niyo na lang ang JennWasHere, ang aking travel blog.}

*** Jenn ***