Asik-Asik Falls
A Wall Of Ferns With Water Pouring Straight Out Of It There Is No River Above, And Almost Nobody Knew It Existed Until About 2011 · Alamada, Cotabato
ASIK-ASIK IS A CLIFF FACE SIXTY-ODD METRES WIDE, COVERED COMPLETELY IN FERNS AND HANGING VEGETATION, WITH WATER POURING OUT OF IT IN HUNDREDS OF SEPARATE STREAMS. THE THING THAT MAKES IT STRANGE IS WHAT IS NOT THERE: THERE IS NO RIVER ABOVE IT. The water comes from underground, emerging through the rock face itself, so the whole wall weeps rather than falls, and the greenery grows straight out of the flow. IT SITS IN ALAMADA IN COTABATO AND ALMOST NOBODY KNEW IT EXISTED UNTIL ABOUT 2011, when photographs began circulating - which is remarkable for something this size in a populated country. IT IS NOW A DOMESTIC WEEKEND DESTINATION, reached by a long drive and then A DESCENT OF SEVERAL HUNDRED STEPS into the gorge. THE CLIMB BACK IS THE HARD PART AND PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE IT EVERY WEEKEND. Go early and on a weekday, carry water for the ascent rather than only for the bottom, and know that the wall is sixty-odd metres across, which photographs never convey.
Dado, Alamada, Cotabato, Alamada, Cotabato, Philippines
ASIK-ASIK IS IN ALAMADA, COTABATO, reached by road from MIDSAYAP or KIDAPAWAN, with COTABATO CITY, DAVAO or CAGAYAN DE ORO the practical airports - IT IS A LONG DRIVE FROM ANY OF THEM. CHECK YOUR GOVERNMENT'S CURRENT TRAVEL ADVICE for parts of central Mindanao before planning an overland route. THE SITE KEEPS DAYTIME HOURS WITH AN ENTRANCE FEE collected locally; there are stalls, basic washrooms and parking at the top. ACCESS IS A DESCENT OF SEVERAL HUNDRED CONCRETE STEPS and there is NO ALTERNATIVE ROUTE - the climb back is genuinely hard in the heat. SWIMMING AND WADING AT THE BASE ARE ALLOWED and the water is cold. IT IS BUSY AT WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS and quiet on a weekday. Heavy rain increases the flow and can close the steps.