The Kangkaramel Bat Cave Expedition
Are you an intrepid explorer at heart? Does the thought of delving into the depths of a mysterious cave set your heart racing? If so, join us, Alison and Graham, as we don our headlamps and venture into the mysterious Kangkaramel Cave in Bohol for an adventure that’s not for the faint-hearted.
Off the Beaten Path: The Road Less Travelled
While most tourists flock to Bohol’s famed Chocolate Hills and adorable tarsiers, we opted for the road less travelled—a bone-jarring tuk-tuk ride on a gravel path leading to the secluded Kangkaramel Cave. It’s our way of embracing the unknown, away from the well-trodden tourist trails.
A Descent into the Goblin’s Lair
With only 65 steps separating us from the cave’s gaping maw, we felt like we were entering a goblin’s lair. As novice cavers, we stuck close to our guide, marveling at the natural sculptures of stalactites and stalagmites, all while nervously joking about the possibility of critters lurking in our gumboots.
A Symphony of Bats and a Whiff of Guano
The cave’s air was alive with the fluttering of bat wings and their high-pitched chatter. The overwhelming scent of bat guano was a stark reminder of the cave’s thriving ecosystem. With over 30 species of cave-dwelling bats in the Philippines, these nocturnal creatures rely on the cave’s protection and stable microclimate for their daily repose.
Thousands of bats line the roof of this limestone cave!
Encounters with Cave Scorpions and Albino Cockroaches
Our journey took a spine-tingling turn when we encountered the cave scorpion—a misnomer, as it’s actually a type of spider. And let’s not forget the eerie sight of albino cockroaches, creatures that have forsaken the need for camouflage in the perpetual darkness.
Fun Facts and Phobias
Did you know that the fear of bats is called chiroptophobia, and the fear of the dark is nyctophobia? These are just some of the fun facts we picked up along the way.
The Great Escape
Our return to the surface was a relief, greeted by the fresh jungle breeze. But not without its moments of mischief, as Graham couldn’t resist making me squirm with the thought of creepy crawlies in my hair.
Would you dare walk in a cave full of cockroaches?!
A Taste of the Tropics and a Cemetery Dog Encounter
After our cave escapade, we quenched our thirst with a refreshing green coconut, a welcome palate cleanser from the cave’s less savory tastes. But our adventures didn’t end there. In Dumaguete, we faced the challenge of navigating through a cemetery filled with stray dogs, all for the love of pizza. Would you dare walk through a cemetery in the dark, past the graves while knowing stray wild dogs lurked at every corner??
The Kindness of Strangers
Ultimately, we didn’t brave the cemetery at night. Instead, we experienced the warmth of Filipino hospitality, hitching a ride on a scooter, local style.
