Tamaraw Falls

That's what it is called - Tamaraw Falls - a few kilometers from the Puerto Galera poblacion, accessible by jeepneys through relatively well-paved roads. A concrete bridge has been built as part of the main highway and it serves as a convenient view-deck.

Concrete stairwells have been built which lead to a series of pools below where one can spend a whole lazy afternoon soaking and diving in fresh mountain water. The more adventurous go "upstream" where the water literally falls and enjoy the endless "pounding", not unlike a siatsu massage.

One need not waste time trying to seek an explanation on the origin of the name of this waterfall. Even to those who may not know, it is obvious that it was named after the rare species of water buffalo found only in Oriental Mindoro.

My mischievous cousin will always retort that he found one lying around at the Manila Zoo!

The tamaraw is considered an endangered species, simply because people have been hunting them for their meat. I really don't know whether there is anything special with the taste of tamaraw meat, but I suspect that it is simply "special" because the animal is rarely seen, especially nowadays.

If the tamaraw was as commonplace as its cousin, the carabao, then, perhaps, its meat will probably be nothing extraordinary. The carabao, on the other hand, is so common that even a type of English is named after it.

Carabao English, anyone?