Getaway to Kalon Barak featuring Canon EOS M3

Marco Angelo Aspera
Oct 3, 2017
4 min read

Last June, my wife and I wanted to getaway from all the stress that is innate living (and working) in a city. She suggested a place she saw on a facebook post called Kalon Barak Skyline Ridge - located in Malungon, Sarangani Province. We consulted our bestfriend, Google (duh), and made plans and preparations. Obviously I was going to bring a camera with us to capture the memories being there but I couldn't decide which - my Canon EOS 7D or my newly purchased Canon EOS M3. It was a no brainer, it had to be the 7D for obvious reasons like durability, weather sealing and equip it with a Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. But while preparing our stuff, there was no room for the heavy and bulky 7D so the M3 was packed instead. I wasn't too happy about that sudden change in decision because my M3 only had the 15-45mm kit lens, smaller battery (shorter battery life) and I can't shoot in Manual Mode efficiently (I'm used to DSLR controls).

So, off we went the following day.

I live in Gen. Santos City so that is our starting point...

-- First you need to catch a bus going to Malungon in Bulaong Terminal (we rode on a YBL Bus, fare was Php56.00 only, first trip 2:30pm & last trip

7:30pm)

-- Upon arriving at Malungon Bus Terminal you can hire a tricycle to take you to the way to Kalon Barak (fare is only Php8.00 as I can remember)

-- The tricycle will take you to a waiting shed along the highway where official Habal-habal (single motorcycle) drivers are waiting. I mentioned

'official' because these drivers were designated by the Municipal Mayor of Malungon to transport tourists/visitors going to Kalon Barak.

-- Habal-habal trips going 7km up to Kalon Barak only cost Php50.00 per head. (NOTE: Each Habal-habal can accommodate at most two passengers,

if a Habal-habal carries only one person then that person will have pay Php100.00, paying for the unoccupied seat).

-- These Habal-habal will safely take you to Kalon Barak's entrance.

-- No need to worry about how to call back these Habal-habal when you're ready to go down again because the caretakers in Kalon Barak can easily

contact them to pick you up. Of course you have to pay for the trip down again.

When we arrived, at around 4pm it was very foggy, one of the caretakers welcomed us then made us fill-up their guest logbook, briefed us of some rules, then asked us for a donation (they didn't have any official entrance fee at the time, today I think the entrance fee is Php30.00). I also need to mention that they can cook some food for you, I can only remember 1kg Tinolang Manok at Php350.00. But we brought our own food and water so we didn't buy any food from them. They also had comfort rooms that has a fee of Php5.00 for every usage. They mostly use rain water there so bring your own drinking water. And of course bring a power bank, you can only charge your phones inside the caretakers' house.

Kalon Barak Skyline Ridge is an elevated area, more than 2.5k ft, atop the mountains near Malungon, Sarangani Province. You could say that you are beyond the clouds when you're looking down from where it stands. Notable mountains, like Mt. Apo & Mt. Matutum, can be seen from it's view.

Anyways, we hurriedly set up our Tent in their Camping Site, which was a cemented area with roofing and light. Then I started taking photos while the fog was still up.

Upon taking the first few shots using the Canon EOS M3, it's performance blew me away.

My shots were on semi-auto mode ( Mode: Av - Aperture Priority, ISO: Auto, Shutter Speed: Auto). I was mostly at 15mm Focal Range so that my Aperture will be at it's widest - f/3.5 to have more light in, since it was foggy.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking "using semi-auto mode, what a noob". Like I mentioned before, I'm used to Manual Mode on a DSLR and it's kind of hard using Manual Mode on a Kit Lens. Also, I'm actually a noob. Hahaha :D

For me, there were two things that visitors should watch out for in Kalon Barak... the Sunset and Sunrise. Since it was too foggy to catch sunset, I was looking forward for sunrise the next day.

So, we enjoyed the view and ate some snacks the rest of the afternoon. Enjoying the getaway that we pictured in our now relaxed minds.

Then along came heaven's blanket... night time.

We ate dinner and was looking for things to do. I looked up and saw a clear sky above, which gave me an idea to try and shoot the Milky Way.

I just had to shoot Manual Mode for this one, so I went at it.

I didn't find the Milky Way and I didn't have a tripod to keep my camera steady but it was fun. The Canon EOS M3 performed more than what I expected.

After that, we watched a movie on my wife's phone then tried to catch some sleep. We only slept for 3 hours because other people with us were drinking and making all kinds of noise. Nothing we can do, telling-off drunk people will only make things worse (ツ)

Our alarm went off at 4am, woke up, prepared coffee and breakfast with our trusty Butane Stove - we name her Fahrenheit. Isn't she a beauté?

After breakfast, I started taking photos of the sunrise and marveled at the Sea of Clouds.

The photo with the spider and sunrise above got me featured in @canonphil Official Instagram. I never thought that my Canon EOS M3 with a Kit Lens would help me achieve it.

Then, at around 8am, the sun was already a bit harsh, my camera's battery went out and it was time for us to go home.

It was a getaway well spent with my wife.

Anyways, here are more of my photos taken at Kalon Barak Skyline Ridge using my Canon EOS M3 with 14-55mm Kit Lens.