Whenever I hear the place General
Santos City, I thought it’s all about the tuna, and I wonder what else this
place can offer to its wandering visitors. So I looked up to the net and search
for places to visit in "The Tuna Capital of the Philippines". There was a section
there that says "your visit to GenSan isn’t complete if you have not been to
Kalaja Karst". Never heard of the place before and made me curious leading me to
pack up my bag and hit the earliest bus to General Santos.
Kalaja Karst was the last
standing post of Japanese soldiers at the end of the WWII. The hills of Kalaja are located 15Km from Brgy. Conel. The
tricycle terminal bound for Brgy. Conel is located across the public market of
the city. The road was unpaved during my trip and I can feel the dust filling
up my lungs. Reaching the barangay, I walked over the hall and registered on their visitors' logbook. I
requested for a guide and a habal habal to take me to the jump-off point of the
hills.Heading towards the hills was the roughest ride of my life as we passed by the dried up river filled with alluvial gravels and stones. It took us about 30-45 minutes before we reached the jump-off point of our climb. I was a little nervous as it was my first time to do trekking with no known companions. I had made few stints in climbing mountains in Luzon but I can’t consider myself as a mountaineer yet.
Walking isn’t really my forte and
we had a very slow pace but this gave me enough time to appreciate the serenity
of the place. We passed by a somewhat like a mini canyon with walls that is
suitable for rock climbing. The initial trail is actually a river that is
currently dry. According to my guide the water rises up whenever rain poured
overnight.
 |
| The Biggest "SMILEY" i've seen |
We endured a 2-hour long walk before we entered the passage to the falls of Kalaja. We even met mountaineers
that were already bound for home and I just realized it was already mid afternoon. Finally we
reached the falls. According the locals it is a 7-tiered falls. But since it
was already late I decided to stop and just enjoy the cold water of the main falls.
Far
from where I was standing, I noticed that the wall of the falls resembles a smiling
face. This could be a welcome sign for everyone visiting Kalaja Karst . With
this kind of hospitality that nature offers, I just hope everyone reaching the
top to maintain the cleanliness and
refrain from vandalism as what others have reported. I did not push harder to
reach the hills as I always consider the safety of myself and my two other companions. After
I had enough of a cool refreshing bath in the pool , we traced our trail back
to where we started.
My trip to Kalaja Karst was cut short due to limited time. I could have gone to the caves, the spring, the summit and Malakong Gorge. This unfinished escapade would make me schedule another trip to Gen. Santos City and this time I will allocate at least two days to complete the whole trip.
Getting there:
Flight to General Santos City is
available everyday from major airlines. From the airport take tricycle or a
jeep bound to the city proper. Head towards the public market and asked from a
local or a police officer the location of the terminal bound to Brgy. Conel .
It will take at least 20-30 minutes ride towards the barangay. From the
barangay, register and request for a guide and a Habal habal .
Accommodation:
Lea’s Pension House, @corner Clariza and Rambutan St.
Contact number: (+63)83 301-0055
Personal
itinerary : (Includes Sarangani and Kalaja karst)
Time Schedule
|
Activity/Destinations
|
Travel Cost
|
Day 0 (Friday)
|
||
5:00-7:00p
|
ETD San Migue SDS to Tandag City
|
Php 50.00
|
7:00-10:00p
|
ETD Tandag City to San Franz Agusan Sur
|
150.00
|
10:00-3:00a
|
ETD San Franz to Davao Ecoland Terminal
|
250.00
|
Day 1 (Saturday)
|
||
3:00a-6:00a
|
ETD Davao to Gen.Santos City
|
240.00
|
6:00-7:00a
|
Breakfast and Wash up
|
30.00
|
7:00-12:00nn
|
1,250.00
|
|
1:00-2:00
|
City-Brgy. Cone
|
20.00
|
2:00-4:00
|
Habal Habal/Trekking to Kalaja Karst
|
200.00
(habal2x)/300 (guide)
|
4:30-6:00p
|
Head back to Conel (habal habal)
|
100.00
|
7:00-8:00p
|
Check in at Lea’s Pension House
|
600.00
|
8:00-9:00p
|
Dinner at Tuna Grill
|
120.00
|
Day 2 Sunday
|
||
6:00-7:00a
|
Breakfast (Jolibee) and City Tour
|
100.00
|
8:00-onwards
|
Head back to Davao-Tandag City, SDS
|
800.00
|
Total
|
Php5448.00
|
What's Next?
Gallery:
 |
| The amateur |
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