The Hanging Bridge
By ARIES1973
@ARIES1973 (11426)
Legaspi, Philippines
August 4, 2017 8:23am CST
I got an order to join the validating team for a clean and green competition participated in by the municipalities in our province. Our target municipality is no other than the Whaleshark Capital of the World, Donsol, Sorsogon. I was excited of course. I haven't seen a whale shark yet.
When we reached the place, we were informed that it is an off season, meaning no sightings of whale sharks for this month. So we visited other areas. We went to a village named, San Jose.
After a 30-minute ride, we got down of the vehicle because it can't cross the bridge. It was a hanging bridge! The bridge is the only way to get to the other village.
It was an exciting adventure and the place is lovely!
11 people like this
10 responses
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
4 Aug 17
Is this your first time to cross a hanging bridge? Did you feel the excitement or nervousness when you are in the middle of it. I have been crossing a hanging bridge many times.
2 people like this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Aug 17
Yes, this is my first time and I feel very nervous! Actually, I didn't even know there is a bridge in that place. They don't declare the place as potential tourism area because they have yet to improve the road going to that place.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 17
@ilocosboy But I think we are also improving, although at a slow pace. One thing I noticed in my home town is that villages are now reachable by land. My home town is an adjacent town of Donsol. Eventually, this road will be expanded and the bridge will be open for public. Although the main purpose of that bridge was to give people an easy way out especially in times of disaster where the river will overflow and will cause flooding.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
5 Aug 17
@ARIES1973 roads are one of the reason why tourism program cannot pursue in our place.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Aug 17
Yes, I did. I was trying to attach the photo but to no avail. Maybe later when the internet connection is good. I was so nervous because every step I made, the bridge is shaking. But I was able to reached the other part safely.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223129)
• Chile
4 Aug 17
@ARIES1973 I have walked through hanging bridges in my youth and they were scary.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 17
@marguicha I was really scared at first. But I was able to transfer to the other side safely. Although I got several scratches from holding on to the cable wire while the bridge was shaking.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
6 Aug 17
Yes, some of my team mates took a long time to get to the other side because of fear. But they were able to make it. Perhaps if someone has an extreme fear of heights, they won't be able to go through it. Actually, I am searching for the article about a student who has to go to school to the other village because they don't have a school in their place. The only way to go out is by crossing the river. During that time, the bridge is not yet built. They were using two cables, one for the hand and one for the feet, in order to get to the other side and go to school. I heard stories that this was the place. Although I am not sure yet. Thank you for dropping by.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
6 Aug 17
@valmnz Certainly. If I were in the same situation, I will do the same. That's how I value education.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
6 Aug 17
@ARIES1973 I guess when something has to be done, such as going to school, that would have been enough motivation for the student to use the two cables.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 17
@shshiju That's a lovely bridge.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Aug 17
Yes, every time I move forward the bridge will shake causing me to have some scratches on my hands because I was trying to hold at the cable to prevent from stumbling down. Overall, it was a good experience. Thank you for dropping by.
1 person likes this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
5 Aug 17
@ARIES1973 Longest hanging bridge in our state is in our village .
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
6 Aug 17
Yes, it was an enjoyable experience. The activity was part of my job and we were not informed that we have to cross a river through a hanging bridge. Thank you for dropping by.
@Paocz28 (313)
•
5 Aug 17
Wow! I need to go there soon. How long do you think is the travel time from Manila to Sorsogon? I haven't seen a whale shark yet as well.
I've always wanted to see one and swim with them as I see some posts of friends in FB. There's also this hangin bridge i walked last month.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 17
Wow! That's almost the same as the one we have here. From Manila to Legazpi, you can take a plane and reach the city in one hour. Then from Legazpi to Donsol, another one hour. But the Season usually starts on October to March. Now is off season. Thank you for dropping by.
1 person likes this
@Paocz28 (313)
•
5 Aug 17
@ARIES1973 Thanks for the info, i thought of that also. I really need to take a plane which I'm afraid but it should be worth it.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 17
@Paocz28 You can also take a bus but it would take you 10 to 12 hours. Or you can have your own car. When my sister comes to our place, she and her boyfriend would take turns in driving. I guess that is more fun especially when they pass the place where the road has full of curves, "Bitukang Manok".
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
4 Aug 17
Wow that sounds exciting. I never saw hanging bridge. I am sure you enjoyed the trip
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Aug 17
Yes, It was an enjoyable experience. I thought I am afraid of heights. I just prove to myself, I am not much. Because one of the team members took several minutes before she could make it because she was too scared.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 Aug 17
i haven't crossed one and would like to someday.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Aug 17
It was indeed one of the most exciting adventures that I had. You should really try it.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51969)
• Philippines
4 Aug 17
It looks new, it would be scary if that looked old. Hard to believe that was the only way to that village.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Aug 17
I actually noticed that the bridge wasn't that new when we were already going home because some of the screws are already missing. We suggested to the local government unit to repaint the cables and to have a regular check up of the bridge to ensure the safety of the people who are using it. There is a wide river separating the two villages, that was probably the reason they told us that there is no other way to reach the village aside from going through the bridge.
@Tampa_girl7 (50273)
• United States
5 Aug 17
I think that walking across the bridge might frighten me.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 17
I thought of that too. Although I wasn't given enough time to process the information because I didn't know about the bridge. Before I knew it, I was already in the middle, shaking, trembling and enjoying the experience. I never knew I could do it especially after getting on to the other side and looking back. Thank you for dropping by!
