Casa Roro Falls -- P Day

Elder and Sister Parsons head off on an adventure in the mountains. We drove to Valencia with hopes of finding the Casa Roro Falls. We first found some bananas growing on a tree beside the road.

The church was our next discovery where we talked with the Branch President who happened to be at the building. President Wilson is the foreman of church renovations locally in the Negros and his chapel is getting a face lift. We found the bamboo scaffolding amazing!

After a nice visit we asked how to find the falls. He said just follow this road and follow the signs. We drove for a ways until we could drive no more. We actually parked in the middle of the road, and after two locals both said the falls are only 1 Km we set off. This flowering tree was along the way, I still think it was more than 1 Km, maybe 1 Km UP cause most of the trail (dalan) was at a steep angle.

Finally, we came to a sign that indeed the falls were on the end of this path. We paid our 10 pesos and asked, "How far to the falls from here?" The lady said, "Oh, about 15 minutes."

This sign gave us an indication of what was before us, but we trudged on.

We came to this stairway which appears to have no bottom. Although, we do feel the earth move under our feet, we assume due to the intensity of what lies ahead so we trudge on with anticipation.


We realized we were above the trees, and we know how tall trees can be, but we trudged on.



Yonder is the top of a coconut tree and we trudged on.


and we trudged on.


Hey, Sister do you hear water? There is hope, I see water. and we trudged on.



and we trudge on with renewed energy!


We now walk along the stream bed. The mist and recent rain make for slippery going, but further we trudge.


This is quite amazing Sister. I feel like Gulliver here at Casa Roro Falls. I am sure glad we made this trip, (giggle, giggle) and we trudged on.


It's got to be here somewhere. Is that it up there, Sister?


By Jove, I think we found it. We did, we did! We did find it. The sign even says we found it.


How big is it? Let me closer, please.


Come back Elder. Come back.


Oh, to be a butterfly. This is one of many we observed in a multitude of colors and sizes.



The foliage is simply lush and beautiful. I am sure God saw it and said, "It is very good!"
One last look before we turn around and head back.


More luscious plants which we have no idea what they are called except beautiful.



and some are so large as well.

Maybe, we could just camp here and head back out tomorrow, Elder.


What do you mean, Sister? Are you saying we have to walk back out of here?

I think we had better stop and take a picture. This looks interesting, and I have no idea what it is either.

Are you counting these stairs, Sister? No, but I know you are Elder!


Oh here is something else to take a picture of. Oh no, I'm not tired. Are you? You say it looks like a Papaya. That's nice.
Hey, Sister, there were only 336 stairs up. I know there were 338 when we went down. Quiet Elder, we'll find the missing two next time.

This is washed coconut tree fiber which is drying to be used in a variety of ways.


Some of the most colorful Cocks we have seen were right here along the road coming down from Casa Roro Falls.


Another interesting plant we have no name for.


The end of a wonderful day in paradise.
Elder and Sister Parsons

What was That? I don't know, but there it goes again.

One thing we will never run out of is opportunities to take pictures of animals. Here are a few we have met.

A few goats outside the Bacong Chapel, in the background. Some were rather small, as you can see.

The big white one is not a goat for you city slickers, and the hen with her chicks just had to be in the picture also. When you pull out a camera everyone, old and young, rush in to be in the picture.

Yes, there is a goat in this picture, too.

Next we have pigs. Unnoticed by us until we were editing the picture were the piglets in this shot. Who can find them first?

We came on this guy at 9 PM as we were walking back from the bukid, in America pronounced boondocks. At the end of World War II, the mountains of the Philippines is where the last of the Japanese were hiding "down in the boondocks". We had just completed a FHE with a very humble family. As I took this picture I warned Sister Parsons to be prepared to run. It is a Caribou (pronounced car - ee - b - ow) by the way.

I did not dare put anything near this for the photo, but it could not hide behind a baseball to give you an idea of its size.


Walking at night and after rainstorms we see a lot of these princesses in disguise. Sure glad I am not Prince Charming!

Everyone has a cow, and most are tied on the side of the road. They do not have a ring in their nose, but have a rope knotted through their nose and then just tied somewhere to graze and sleep for the day.

These two were lucky they had a field to live in. They, too, have a knotted rope through their nose.

We loved the colors on this one. The lola, grandmother, who is with him was plowing through the crops, and would stoop down occasionally to pick weeds.
She stayed down at times so long, I thought I might have to call an ambulance. And yes, they do have ambulances here, and yes, people do move over a little to allow them to pass when their sirens are blaring.

We now come to the infamous "Fighting Cocks" and not of South Carolina. These dudes are everywhere, and some are beautiful. Sister Parsons has starting calling them Sunday chickens, because a lot of Philippine folks' religion is to go to the "Cock Pits" every Sunday at 3 PM for the "Cock Fights".

These next four were all tethered in front of the local Catholic Chapel, we wondered if the locals here only had services on Saturday night?

Well, that's all folks, at least for tonight.

Love and kisses