Thanks CE '87! Day 3: Dahilayan Forest Park/Zipline

The suite 9 sleepyheads miraculously woke up before sunrise to catch the early worms at the ZipZone. 

I heard that the lines could get crazy there, especially during the weekends, and you could spend two hours just queueing. Hah, we were the first ones there at 7:30 a.m. The cashier opened at 8:00.

The Zipline at the Dahilayan Park is claimed to be the longest in Asia at 840 meters. From a launch point at 4,700 feet above sea level, and at a possible speed of 90 kph, zooming through the lush greenery and the river below, this would be an adventure of a lifetime for any one.

We had three options: 

a) The 320+150m zipline costs Php250. It's a dual line and to tell you frankly, it's kind of bitin just to ride this one. But if one is scared of heights, then this is a good start to conquer one's acrophobia.

b) The 840-m zipline costs Php500. It's fierce, it's high, and it's scream-inducing. So this is the one we were excited to ride.

But wait, there's a weight limit for the 840-m zipline. You have to be at least 80 lbs - 220 lbs to be accepted. As they say, your flight will be aborted if your weight doesn't fall within the range. (Sorry, Jort!)

c) We decided to try both, the All Zip Ride, which cost Php600. That's a sweet deal if you ask me.

So off to the All Zip Ride we went! As usual, the vertigo-ed Hubby chose to stay on the ground to take our pictures.

All harnessed for the 320+150m!

Jort used two lines to bring him down.

For the 840-m line, we had to ride a vehicle going to the top.

Gulp! This is where we are cruising?

I was the first one, together with Jort's wife, Wina.

It felt amazing! I didn't feel any fear at all. I tried to take in everything I was seeing from above--the green trees, the river below, the smell of the mountain air. No time to shout and be scared. It was peaceful up there.

Then Issa followed. She later admitted to me that her hands got clammy before  her launch.

The instructions said that if you are near the finish line and you feel a slight tug, 

clip your hands at the side and look down.  Perfect form, Iss!!

Sol and Flor Hayag's son Sean was not far behind.

Yoohoo! Paolo did it as well! Shh, he's a little 'allergic' to anything adventurous, so this was a big step for him.

Now we could go home!!!

Not yet, said the Daughter. Last stop was the Treetop Adventure (Php 250/person). Yey, I remembered to ask for a discount, so I paid only Php200 for each of them.

After hanging like Spiderman at the Treetop Adventure, Issa and Sean ran off to the ATV station again. They rode one last time. Mga adik! Funny because the people there recognized her already and told her, "O, ikaw na naman?" Maybe they were afraid of rescuing her again! Hahaha.

Time to pack for home. This has been the most fun-filled adventure we've ever had. Again, I wish my youngest son, Carlo, were here with us. Sigh!

Thank you USC-CE '87 for this amazing weekend. Kudos to EY Espiritu for superbly handling the affair, not to forget the Icongs and the Lumagbas Families. Thank you also to all the wonderful families we met, especially to our family friends, the Hayag and Musni Families.

The Hubby saw this beautiful rainbow as we were going home. We left with big smiles on our faces.

Indeed, we felt that God was smiling at us too.