Before I grow old and forget a lot of things, Im writing some of my travel adventures.
How many times have I almost died? - 12 (if I were a cat, I would have been doomed!)
- The car I was riding in almost fell off a ravine in Tagaytay.
- The van I was riding in almost fell off a cliff in Dapitan City
- A rock the size of a car rolled between our car and that of former DOT (then) undersecretary Alunan when we went on a relief operation in Baguio City after an earthquake
- I almost lost my grip on a rope while inside a deep cave in Marinduque
- I fell off a ravine in Taal Volcano, but a miracle happened, I landed on a ledge!
- I almost fell off a deep ravine in Antique when I tripped and slid on a steep trail. Luckily, a piece of wood caught the strap of my backpack
- I slipped on a waterfall cascade. Luckily, I landed on my feet.
- I almost drowned when we helped a woman from drowning in a deep basin of a waterfall in Famy, Laguna
- A big rock landed on my head which made my face awfully bloody in Aurora. Luckily, I got a very thick skull. I got the rock as a souvenir!
- A lightning almost hit me in Turtle Island in Tawi-tawi
- I got caught in the middle of a storm in Sibuyan, Romblon (the one in Coron was nothing)
- I really thought I was going to die while crossing an improvised path in a landslide in Antique (this should not be counted, thought. My balls just raced up my throat)
- I Majayjay, Laguna, a snake was right in front of my face, ready to strike me. But I did not notice it as I was busy looking at a beautiful flower.
*********
The food that I ate
- Balut? naahhh...half the macho Filipinos and courageous girls eat balut like boiled egg.
- Sashing - sea worm that actually looks like.... white worm... or spaghetti... (in Ilo-ilo)
- Grilled bee larvae in Cambodia
- Fried Ants in Cambodia - Frog (no issue, actually)
- Plants and tree leaves in UP campus (of course, only the edible ones that my botanist-friend attested as safe to eat). Like we would walk beside some buildings, pick some leaves, rub them clean on our shirts, then chew them down. Great snacks!
Showing posts with label Whatever. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whatever. Show all posts
Wet Streets of London
Maiba naman... Another time lapse project I created showing the streets, views and traffic of busy London on a rainy day.
Brochures!
I was trying to make some semblence of order in my home and wanted to throw away stuff when I saw quite a lot of brochures wanting to get my attention. Well, before getting rid of them, there could be a good way to make good use of those stuff. Then I saw my scanner and remembered this blogsite! So for a couple of days I will be uploading brochures of destinations, hotels, retaurants and whatever I can lay my hands on to add to this site.
Birdwatching Guidebook
Got to write another book! Really hot off the press. And the launch was spectacular, attended by hundreds (well, they did not have any choice, it was a hosted dinner for an event anyways) of international travel agents. Thanks to the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation for believing in my meager writing talent. Design was by Robert Alejandro. With great photos! Also helped by Mike Lu of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. Yey!Gallery - Birds Part 1
I got hooked into bird photography. Unfortunately I only have a 300mm lens and it obviously cannot reach those high fliers and perchers. Most that I got were grainy ones not worthy of any second look by any sane publisher.
And what to do with my photos? Turn them into works of art! Well, my kind of art. Thanks to Photoshop and its pixel-full of magic. A little exploration, many clicks, control +Z panic command, and I discovered the Filter tab! Yay! Here goes my first line up!
Green Imperial Pigeons (Ducula aenea)
Subic Base
Rufous Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax)
Malagos, Davao City
A small flock of Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa). These are the ones that actually talk and are usually smuggled out of Palawan for pet trade. Unfortunately, they're becoming fewer and fewer. If you're planning to own some pet birds, better stick to love birds.
Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta)
Bani, Pangasinan
Philippine Ducks (Anas luzonica)
Bani, Pangasinan
White-breasted Wood Swallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
Narra, Palawan
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Malagos, Davao City
Another shot of the Brahminy Kite
Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Hundred Islands
Alaminos, Pangasinan
And what to do with my photos? Turn them into works of art! Well, my kind of art. Thanks to Photoshop and its pixel-full of magic. A little exploration, many clicks, control +Z panic command, and I discovered the Filter tab! Yay! Here goes my first line up!
Green Imperial Pigeons (Ducula aenea)Subic Base
Rufous Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax)Malagos, Davao City
A small flock of Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa). These are the ones that actually talk and are usually smuggled out of Palawan for pet trade. Unfortunately, they're becoming fewer and fewer. If you're planning to own some pet birds, better stick to love birds.
Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta)Bani, Pangasinan
Philippine Ducks (Anas luzonica)Bani, Pangasinan
White-breasted Wood Swallow (Artamus leucorynchus)Narra, Palawan
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)Malagos, Davao City
Another shot of the Brahminy Kite
Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax)Hundred Islands
Alaminos, Pangasinan
Some Thoughts on Backpacking
Geez, its been almost 20 years when I officially became a true-blue backpacker.I was a wide-eyed (actually, I have chinky eyes) 20-year old, lanky, nerd-looking, jologs, single, and hoping-for-a-blind-girl-to-notice-me- kind of dude then.
It was late in the 80's when I started to venture into it. Back then, backpacking was, in a true sense, actual backpacking. You see the few brave foreigners in the streets with their 80-liter backpacks? Mine was only 60 liters. Saving precious money on a daily or per transaction basis was the primary concern of everybody opting this kind of experience. Now, its not a requisite anymore to carry bags that could accommodate rocket-propelled grenades or cannons (as the mall guards used to joke to us backpackers). You also hear the terms dude backpacking or flashpacking (those who carry ipods, laptops, sennheiser earphones, and whatever their deep pockets could afford).
Oh, I'm blabbering here.....
Anyways, I've done a lot of backpacking in my life that I'm having a hard time trying to shake off my slowly-creeping-in-jaded-mentality. You see, I like travelling. In fact, it has been my life for almost 20 years. If I don't travel in a month's time, I get sick! But some realities are smothering my backpacking lifestyle. Its becoming more and more difficult to travel on an impulse, climb mountains, go deep inside caves, and sleep in the wilderness. Nowadays, I just have to content myself on reminiscing the more reckless (but definitely great) years of my nomad life. So younglings, be warned. Learn from my life lessons.
Cheap? Yep, one can really travel cheap anywhere! Just be prepared to embrace what's in front of you. Or rather, sleep on whatever bed that's available for you. That could include hard mattresses, cartons, mats, newspaper, hard benches, crooked hard benches, hammocks, soft earth, hermit crab-filled sandy beaches, and bed bug infested beds. Not to mention rooms filled with ceiling and wall mirrors and mattresses covered with plastic, the ones used for more, uuhhmm.... romantic moments. Of course, tents and sleeping bags should also be included. There would also be hard, bamboo beds where you could see geckos crawling on the ceiling directly above your face. You also have to learn to sleep in any kind of position – straight, sitting, and yes, even standing (it will really fascinate you when you discover that you can actually fall asleep on your feet!)Do I spend or do I scrimp? Its not the same as cheap. Do you spend for that tour which would afford you to have access to the best of what the place can offer? Or forget about it and go someplace else cheaper? For some backpackers, the choice is very clear, scrimp. Unfortunately, I've met some guys who totally missed out the best things because they refused to spend the equivalent of five US dollars (to think they spent hundreds of moolahs on airfare alone). The lesson here - read before you travel.
Where to spend the night? - hotel, inn, airport, bus or ship terminal, inside the bus, inside the ship. Remember, spending the night inside the bus can save you 5 to 20 dollars on accommodation.I'm blabbering again.... I'm supposed to talk about my backpacking days, not tips. Oh well, might as well continue with the tips and about myself later.
Do I drink or not? - rule of thumb: In case of doubt, don't. A bottle of water is much, much cheaper than a hospital bill (throw in your lost time and supposed great kodak moments).
Do I look straight in the eyes of the host, bow my head, my shoulders, my knees, and whatever part of my body can be bent? Well, the best way is to smile first, extend your hand for a handshake (to the same gender only!), or see first how everybody does it the local way. If there's somebody within whisper-shot, ask first if you also have to do what the locals do.
The smell? Yes, be prepared for a full range of aroma. Some are very friendly to your senses and some can cause olfactory paralysis.
The sound? There can be several pages to be expected - from full orchestras of cicadas to the mind-shattering chicken calls. Be ready to be wide-awake at three in the morning. For the lucky ones, it will be deep slumbers serenaded by forest sounds, ocean waves, water rivulets flowing nearby, chants of priests in the nearby temple, or rain drops pounding on the roofs. But for others, the chickens are just part of the whole auditory menu. There will be dogs, unmuffled engines, and that ever-present karaoke machine shared by the whole village. Oh, there might also be babies crying the whole night.
Do I act praning? (I can't remember the English term!) - If you understand this, by all means YES. You always have to be very, very careful about your things, especially that small bag that contains 80% of your cash, your passport, and whatever insignificant, but valuable, item for you). You don't only guard your things from possible local bad people, but from other travelers as well. A friend shared this - in one place in the Himalayas, seasoned backpackers would chain their belongings to their bodies. Misdeeds between tourists usually happen in dormitory-type facilities. Some backpackers would also become very localized and they connive with locals to con other travelers. Just keep your wits every time you go out of your comfort zone. No need to cancel you backpacking plans because of this reality.
The Bugs! the bugs! Yes, my dear, they are everywhere! From six-legged to eight legged (or should I say, thousand-legged?). From the ones that suck tiny amounts of your blood to the ones that leave stinking smells when they land on your delicate skin. Better keep that mosquito net neatly tucked under your mattress. Also, keep away any food material inside your clothing, if you care about that jeans or cargo pants. Don't worry, you will learn to live with them. As we say in the environment circle - ey, its biodiversity! The more species, the more healthy environment! Ha ha! Somebody throw me bread with a rock inside!
Happy Backpacking!
Symmetry in Calapan
Well, sort of.. Here's my attempt at photography when I visited Calapan City a few days ago. The locals call their place the discipline city. Jaywalkers are actually caught and made to pay fines! Clean city, busy streets, and laidback ambience. Made me feel like I was in Dumaguete City.
Shots were taken in a lake where one can see unique fishing gears that look like a giant dipper, and a praying mantis (no photo, just try to imagine how such a thing would look like). Nice for river cruising, especially in the early morning where fog would roll over the flat waters. Oh, its just an idea. The locals would still have to realize that great tourism possibility.
The famished and tired migratory birds have started arriving from mainland Asia.Rock Wall Farming in Alcoy, Cebu
Sometimes, when you travel, the rewards come not in the form of beauty, or ambience, or even adventure. It could be about gaining knowledge and realizations on the struggles of our humanity. You witness something you thought would be improbable, then you go home thinking, that - "yeah, there's a solution to every situation!"
Got to see the so-called Rock Wall Farming in the town of Alcoy in Cebu Province. Actually, I was there to see the elusive Cebu Flowerpecker (which I did!). We had to pass through this patch of farmland near the forest area.
This area of Alcoy has a very thin topsoil and largely dominated by limestone substrate. Using their own hands and simple tools, the locals slowly engineered the area to save the remaining soil from erosion and convert whatever tiny patch of soil for farming. Seeing this, I'm remininded how nature survives in poor environments like a limestone area, such as the one in Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park in Palawan. There, plants can grow on tiny pockets of soil, some no more than a cup-full.
The rock wall farming may not be a grand tourist attraction, but it can add to the quality of your experience when you see one.
Philippine Eagle-Owl
Got to see up close another great bird - the Philippine Eagle-Owl. Its an endemic species found only, well.... you know the rest of the sentence.
Its definitely a cute bird. The eyes could rival that of the cat's - penetrating, colorful, cold...
Some info on the owls - they have excellent hearing. In fact, they can hear small animals walking or burrowing on the ground. Notice that most owls have conical-shaped eyes? That shape lets the sound get concentrated towards the ears, thus that perfect hearing ability.
Inspite of their usually huge size, owls can fly undetected towards their prey. Their soft feathers enable them to fly almost without any sound and the winds are greatly dissipated. Thus, the unlucky prey would never know what got him.
If you want to know more about birdwatching in the Philippines, check out this site: www.birdwatch.ph
Bat Watching, Anyone?
Beyond the horror stories, one can really learn to appreciate bats and become emphatic in their struggle to survive.
Bats are actually very gentle creatures, an exact opposite portrayed in the movies.
Most bats eat insects (a good tool for malaria control in the tropics) while others eat fruits. Still, some prefer the nectar of flowers of forest trees and they actually pollinate those flowers! It is said that if the fruit bats die, so will the Durian trees. Bat scientists say that this animal is responsible in maintaining and spreading a very large portion of tropical rainforests.
Bat watching is actually a tourism product in some areas. People go out to see giant fruit bats or hundreds of thousand of insect bats darkening the skies as they fly out in the dusk.
Is this a tuxedo party or what?This particular bat, the Geoffrey's Rousette Fruit Bat that is found in a tiny sinkhole in Samal Island, Davao del Norte (near Davao City). This sinkhole (or cave) has that largest concentration of that particular species. This place is a great way to see up close these chatering, flying mammals.
Can you imagine if bats could actually walk upright?Portrait of the Philippine Eagle
Got to see up close the majestic Philippine Eagle a few days ago at the Eagle Camp in Davao City. It could really make you stare in awe. Can't wait to see one in the wild! I bet that will blow my breath away.
Its was known as the Monkey-eating eagle (it could really lift monkeys up in the air). Its favorite food are small mammals (including juvenile deers). Its now officially known as the biggest eagle in the world. Measurements were based on the beak, weight, wingspan, etc. It took the number one position from the Harpy Eagle.
The Philippine Eagle is now a highly endangered species with a few hundred believed to be left in the dwindling forest areas in the Philippines. For people out there, you can help save this noble flier from extinction by supporting the organization that's been working for more than 20 years to save this animal. Its very costly to sustain their endeavor. Those guys have literally given all of themselves for their cause. We can put a little of ourselves here even just by a few pesos. Just google the Philippine Eagle Foundation to see their contact details.
My 10 List - Destinations
It's really tempting to write on the Top 10 lists. It's the in-thing right now, and people would perceive you as some kind of an expert (well, self-proclaimed, that is).
When I thought about coming up with my top ten list, I thought that it would be cool and a good entry in this blog. But when I started listing down the destinations, I realized that it was not easy doing it (even atomically speaking). If I'm going to list down all the best places to visit in the Philippines, I might as well come up with a top 30 list. But then again comes up the problem of determining which should be number 1 and what will be the unlucky entry on the 30th place. I had to admit to myself that I could never come up with that top ten list without damming myself to the purgatory (I know, that place does not exist anymore) of wrong and biased decisions.
So to become at peace with myself, I've come up with this 10 list of the destinations in the Philippines.
Be forewarned that they're just the ten sites with great and interesting attractions. They also offer some of the most rewarding travel experiences within this country.
With that, I say that be forewarned that there would be more sets of the 10 LIST.
Batanes
Situated at the northern outskirts of the Philippines, this group of tiny islands stand like sentinels detached from anything or everything about this country. These islands formed by volcanoes can only be reached by small planes from northern Luzon. Getting there by boat is a more courageous option, but only limited to hitch-hiking on navy boats.
I say that if you get the chance to visit Batanes, you will come out a much better person. You will witness really impressive and cool vistas and seascapes that you can end up crying (just a bit) because you're in the middle of this lovely creation. You will find out that people can actually live and survive in the midst of violent nature (well, for several months per year when typhoons make a queue crossing the islands – but the summer times are really great). And you will realize that even in hardship, a sense of community evolves and make the people living here better members of this small society.
Sagada
So, how do you describe a place like Sagada? A place that you could only reach after more than 12 hours of road travel a good portion of which will make you dizzy crossing mountain passes, uncountable zig zags, deep (as in, deeeep) ravines, and very rough roads.
They say that the road to Heaven is difficult to travel and strewn with numerous barriers. Well, Sagada is not exactly Heaven – I could never commit blasphemy just to sell the beauty of that place. But, if you're idea of heaven would be tranquil communities, cool climate, and great vistas, then you can be entitled to claim your piece of heaven.
So the hanging coffins may be more of a puzzle and a sort of culture thing. It.s really quite unique as the only other place in the world that practiced it was somewhere in China. The only difference is that this culture is still being practiced in Sagada while the hanging coffins in China are already abandoned and the people who practiced it have already been erased without any clue in history.
Sagada is for adventurers. Trekking? Yes – leading towards an impressive waterfall. Caving? Definitely, and I would say one of the best adventure caves in the country. Get ready to get wet and cold, to take off your shoes and walk with bare feet through walls of limestone, or jump down a very cold pool of water (and in the dark!). Wow! I can feel the cold and excitement just remembering those experiences!
And where in this world can you experience curfew at night and wonder why it’s being done in this peaceful place? Well, that's Sagada for you.
Banaue
About 3.5 hours from Sagada is the town of Banaue. This actually gained earlier prominence (as in era 70’s prominence) compared to Sagada. This is the place that every Filipino can be proud of and unabashedly declare as the 8th wonder of the world.
How can you dismiss the idea of the 8th wonder when you see whole mountains carved by human hands and turned into geometric lines that function into rice terraces? Yes, measurements have declared that when the terraces are linked into a straight line, it could embrace half of the globe.
For me, admiring the scenery evolved into cultural awareness and ecological sense. Since high school days, we were taught that when you clear a mountain of its forest, it will dry up and die (ecologically). But how come that the rice terraces that were built more than 2,000 years ago, continue to bring in precious water to feed the rice pond? In one visit, I found the answer – the forests of the top portion of the mountains are kept in pristine condition thus, continuing the function of the mountains as what we call watershed.
Another great thing about the rice terraces is that it beats all the other old world wonders that have become rubbles or lost in these modern times. The rice terraces can be classified as "living" world wonder – simply put, they continue to serve their function why they were built.
Palawan
For so many years, Palawan was deemed by Filipinos as a backward province filled with mosquitoes, penal prisoners, and unproductive lands. Then tourism pioneers began discovering its numerous beauties where portions seem like Chinese paintings complete with limestone mountains. Then the coasts and islands ringed by white sand beaches were exposed to travelers. Then some quick dips revealed magnificent (exactly) marine life.
When you visit Palawan, it like finding a magical brush and you realize that you could actually paint your vision of a tropical paradise.
Then you can get inside an eerie and long subterranean river that flows inside a huge cave system, or get the chance to dive through World War 2 wrecks, or simply enjoy the great amenities of world-class resorts.
Plus Palawan has many of the unique and impressive wildlife that nature can dump in this part of Asia.
Be warned though, getting around this province is an almost "mission impossible" thing. You either visit one place like Puerto Princesa for 3 or 4 days, then be back for more of El Nido or Coron on separate occasions. Or you throw you cares away (and maybe your job) and visit everything in two or three weeks either through small planes of the rough roads.
Baler, Aurora
Baler shot to fame through the Hollywood movie on the Vietnam War called Platoon. Then surfers began descending on this sleepy town. Then dude and dudette surfers began discovering that they can have great chilling out time while having great adventure in this place.
The only thing that separates Baler from total tourism chaos is the long travel time (8 hours) and difficult roads from Manila (well, a small airline company flies to the site during the summer months). Otherwise, it's a blast to stay in Baler, paddle your hearts out to catch that wave, trek through the jungles and visit the waterfalls, or just spend your entire vacation days lazing around and watching the waves crash with immense magnificence to the shoreline..
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is special to me as I gained good friends here while doing some projects.
Dumaguete is a university city filled with loads of college students and yes, motorcycles. And great places to eat.
What makes this province special for many visitors are the number of high quality attractions such as dolphin watching, eating that suman coupled with that yummy hot chocolate, and getting wet in the clear waters of Apo Island (and witnessing those great marine landscape and wildlife). Of course, there's that Balinsasayaw Twin Lakes and that waterfall in Casaroro. Plus that adventure deep cave system in Mabinay has been a great playground for my caver-friends.
If you can time your visit to the white island (actually, the technical term is shoal) in Bais City, make sure you're there on the low tide so you can enjoy basking in the sand while enjoying the receding water.
Boracay
This tiny, 1,000 hectare island has become THE FACE of the Philippines as a beach destination.
In the old times, all you can hear are the waves that gently break in the talcum-like sands of Boracay. At night, when you spread your arms, fireflies could descend on your outstretched arms. For food, you have to call out loud for the fishermen out in the sea to sell you their catch.
Then more people came and developers also came in steady droves (quite alarmingly considering the very small size and environmental fragility of the island). And the sound of the waves are now replaced by blasting sound systems that bring forth reggae, hiphop, R&B, and island music. And you don't have to call out to a fishing boat to bring you food. You can just walk around and grab your choice of Filipino, western, Mediterranean and fusion kind of meals offered by numerous resorts and restaurants now lining the island.
So, from a simple beach destination, Boracay has evolved into an entertainment hideaway where you can display your (hopefully) great bod and abs, have a great massage, buy loads of trinkets, listen to the sounds of music and drums, watch a fire dance, go kiteboarding, scuba diving, wakeboarding, banana boating, biking, off-road driving, and yes – swimming.
Bohol
Bohol is one province whose backbone was shaped by the tourism industry. Good thing for its leaders, they knew that in terms of resources and land productivity, the province had very little to offer. What they've got are coastal areas, impressive landmarks, some sort of interesting wildlife, culture, marine life, and creative people.
So from a province with a single destination (the Chocolate Hills!), the people of Bohol went on developing their Panglao Island, a river cruise, made the tarsier more photogenic, and enhanced their Spanish-inspired culture.
Sibuyan Island
If there's an ecotourism destination that can be presented by the Philippines, it could be Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon.
With the massive Mt. Guiting-guiting dominating the island, Sibuyan has a very rough topography and good forest cover.
I was impressed by the number of waterfalls that can easily be reached only a few meters from the main road.
What blew me away here actually happened one time when strong rains lashed at the island. Expecting muddy river waters the following day because of the rain, I was surprised to see a large river with clear, flowing waters!
Then I realized one thing, because of the rugged landscape of Sibuyan, it was able to escape massive logging operation thereby preserving its dense forests. But at the same time, I became aware that the Island is highly fragile. That whatever little change is done to Sibuyan, drastic impacts could happen. I hope that this island escapes that dire consequence.
Well, this is another nirvana-like destination that is difficult to reach. If you want to reach Sibuyan Island, get ready for a long ferry ride from Batangas City. If you’re lucky, maybe you can catch that big ship that originates from Manila.
Donsol
Donsol, Donsol, Donsol…… How can I talk of this place without feeling proud? This is one place on earth that can say that community-based ecotourism could actually work. The locals were able to save and protect the numerous whale sharks frequenting their waters, and most of the tourism businesses are owned or largely employ the local folks. And now, they're on their way to developing more outstanding tourist attractions such as firefly watching, scuba diving, island hopping, and visits to authentic communities (complete with interpretation).
From a highly seasonal destination based on swimming with the whale sharks, tourists can now visit the area anytime to see other facets of Donsol.
When I thought about coming up with my top ten list, I thought that it would be cool and a good entry in this blog. But when I started listing down the destinations, I realized that it was not easy doing it (even atomically speaking). If I'm going to list down all the best places to visit in the Philippines, I might as well come up with a top 30 list. But then again comes up the problem of determining which should be number 1 and what will be the unlucky entry on the 30th place. I had to admit to myself that I could never come up with that top ten list without damming myself to the purgatory (I know, that place does not exist anymore) of wrong and biased decisions.
So to become at peace with myself, I've come up with this 10 list of the destinations in the Philippines.
Be forewarned that they're just the ten sites with great and interesting attractions. They also offer some of the most rewarding travel experiences within this country.
With that, I say that be forewarned that there would be more sets of the 10 LIST.
Batanes
Situated at the northern outskirts of the Philippines, this group of tiny islands stand like sentinels detached from anything or everything about this country. These islands formed by volcanoes can only be reached by small planes from northern Luzon. Getting there by boat is a more courageous option, but only limited to hitch-hiking on navy boats.
I say that if you get the chance to visit Batanes, you will come out a much better person. You will witness really impressive and cool vistas and seascapes that you can end up crying (just a bit) because you're in the middle of this lovely creation. You will find out that people can actually live and survive in the midst of violent nature (well, for several months per year when typhoons make a queue crossing the islands – but the summer times are really great). And you will realize that even in hardship, a sense of community evolves and make the people living here better members of this small society.
Sagada
So, how do you describe a place like Sagada? A place that you could only reach after more than 12 hours of road travel a good portion of which will make you dizzy crossing mountain passes, uncountable zig zags, deep (as in, deeeep) ravines, and very rough roads.
They say that the road to Heaven is difficult to travel and strewn with numerous barriers. Well, Sagada is not exactly Heaven – I could never commit blasphemy just to sell the beauty of that place. But, if you're idea of heaven would be tranquil communities, cool climate, and great vistas, then you can be entitled to claim your piece of heaven.
So the hanging coffins may be more of a puzzle and a sort of culture thing. It.s really quite unique as the only other place in the world that practiced it was somewhere in China. The only difference is that this culture is still being practiced in Sagada while the hanging coffins in China are already abandoned and the people who practiced it have already been erased without any clue in history.
Sagada is for adventurers. Trekking? Yes – leading towards an impressive waterfall. Caving? Definitely, and I would say one of the best adventure caves in the country. Get ready to get wet and cold, to take off your shoes and walk with bare feet through walls of limestone, or jump down a very cold pool of water (and in the dark!). Wow! I can feel the cold and excitement just remembering those experiences!
And where in this world can you experience curfew at night and wonder why it’s being done in this peaceful place? Well, that's Sagada for you.
Banaue
About 3.5 hours from Sagada is the town of Banaue. This actually gained earlier prominence (as in era 70’s prominence) compared to Sagada. This is the place that every Filipino can be proud of and unabashedly declare as the 8th wonder of the world.
How can you dismiss the idea of the 8th wonder when you see whole mountains carved by human hands and turned into geometric lines that function into rice terraces? Yes, measurements have declared that when the terraces are linked into a straight line, it could embrace half of the globe.
For me, admiring the scenery evolved into cultural awareness and ecological sense. Since high school days, we were taught that when you clear a mountain of its forest, it will dry up and die (ecologically). But how come that the rice terraces that were built more than 2,000 years ago, continue to bring in precious water to feed the rice pond? In one visit, I found the answer – the forests of the top portion of the mountains are kept in pristine condition thus, continuing the function of the mountains as what we call watershed.
Another great thing about the rice terraces is that it beats all the other old world wonders that have become rubbles or lost in these modern times. The rice terraces can be classified as "living" world wonder – simply put, they continue to serve their function why they were built.
Palawan
For so many years, Palawan was deemed by Filipinos as a backward province filled with mosquitoes, penal prisoners, and unproductive lands. Then tourism pioneers began discovering its numerous beauties where portions seem like Chinese paintings complete with limestone mountains. Then the coasts and islands ringed by white sand beaches were exposed to travelers. Then some quick dips revealed magnificent (exactly) marine life.
When you visit Palawan, it like finding a magical brush and you realize that you could actually paint your vision of a tropical paradise.
Then you can get inside an eerie and long subterranean river that flows inside a huge cave system, or get the chance to dive through World War 2 wrecks, or simply enjoy the great amenities of world-class resorts.
Plus Palawan has many of the unique and impressive wildlife that nature can dump in this part of Asia.
Be warned though, getting around this province is an almost "mission impossible" thing. You either visit one place like Puerto Princesa for 3 or 4 days, then be back for more of El Nido or Coron on separate occasions. Or you throw you cares away (and maybe your job) and visit everything in two or three weeks either through small planes of the rough roads.
Baler, Aurora
Baler shot to fame through the Hollywood movie on the Vietnam War called Platoon. Then surfers began descending on this sleepy town. Then dude and dudette surfers began discovering that they can have great chilling out time while having great adventure in this place.
The only thing that separates Baler from total tourism chaos is the long travel time (8 hours) and difficult roads from Manila (well, a small airline company flies to the site during the summer months). Otherwise, it's a blast to stay in Baler, paddle your hearts out to catch that wave, trek through the jungles and visit the waterfalls, or just spend your entire vacation days lazing around and watching the waves crash with immense magnificence to the shoreline..
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is special to me as I gained good friends here while doing some projects.
Dumaguete is a university city filled with loads of college students and yes, motorcycles. And great places to eat.
What makes this province special for many visitors are the number of high quality attractions such as dolphin watching, eating that suman coupled with that yummy hot chocolate, and getting wet in the clear waters of Apo Island (and witnessing those great marine landscape and wildlife). Of course, there's that Balinsasayaw Twin Lakes and that waterfall in Casaroro. Plus that adventure deep cave system in Mabinay has been a great playground for my caver-friends.
If you can time your visit to the white island (actually, the technical term is shoal) in Bais City, make sure you're there on the low tide so you can enjoy basking in the sand while enjoying the receding water.
Boracay
This tiny, 1,000 hectare island has become THE FACE of the Philippines as a beach destination.
In the old times, all you can hear are the waves that gently break in the talcum-like sands of Boracay. At night, when you spread your arms, fireflies could descend on your outstretched arms. For food, you have to call out loud for the fishermen out in the sea to sell you their catch.
Then more people came and developers also came in steady droves (quite alarmingly considering the very small size and environmental fragility of the island). And the sound of the waves are now replaced by blasting sound systems that bring forth reggae, hiphop, R&B, and island music. And you don't have to call out to a fishing boat to bring you food. You can just walk around and grab your choice of Filipino, western, Mediterranean and fusion kind of meals offered by numerous resorts and restaurants now lining the island.
So, from a simple beach destination, Boracay has evolved into an entertainment hideaway where you can display your (hopefully) great bod and abs, have a great massage, buy loads of trinkets, listen to the sounds of music and drums, watch a fire dance, go kiteboarding, scuba diving, wakeboarding, banana boating, biking, off-road driving, and yes – swimming.
Bohol
Bohol is one province whose backbone was shaped by the tourism industry. Good thing for its leaders, they knew that in terms of resources and land productivity, the province had very little to offer. What they've got are coastal areas, impressive landmarks, some sort of interesting wildlife, culture, marine life, and creative people.
So from a province with a single destination (the Chocolate Hills!), the people of Bohol went on developing their Panglao Island, a river cruise, made the tarsier more photogenic, and enhanced their Spanish-inspired culture.
Sibuyan Island
If there's an ecotourism destination that can be presented by the Philippines, it could be Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon.
With the massive Mt. Guiting-guiting dominating the island, Sibuyan has a very rough topography and good forest cover.
I was impressed by the number of waterfalls that can easily be reached only a few meters from the main road.
What blew me away here actually happened one time when strong rains lashed at the island. Expecting muddy river waters the following day because of the rain, I was surprised to see a large river with clear, flowing waters!
Then I realized one thing, because of the rugged landscape of Sibuyan, it was able to escape massive logging operation thereby preserving its dense forests. But at the same time, I became aware that the Island is highly fragile. That whatever little change is done to Sibuyan, drastic impacts could happen. I hope that this island escapes that dire consequence.
Well, this is another nirvana-like destination that is difficult to reach. If you want to reach Sibuyan Island, get ready for a long ferry ride from Batangas City. If you’re lucky, maybe you can catch that big ship that originates from Manila.
Donsol
Donsol, Donsol, Donsol…… How can I talk of this place without feeling proud? This is one place on earth that can say that community-based ecotourism could actually work. The locals were able to save and protect the numerous whale sharks frequenting their waters, and most of the tourism businesses are owned or largely employ the local folks. And now, they're on their way to developing more outstanding tourist attractions such as firefly watching, scuba diving, island hopping, and visits to authentic communities (complete with interpretation).
From a highly seasonal destination based on swimming with the whale sharks, tourists can now visit the area anytime to see other facets of Donsol.
My First Mountain - Mayon Volcano
Sometimes, its nice to read historical events in order to better understand a destination. This is my own historical event, when I climbed my first ever mountain more than 15 years ago. Since then, Mayon Volcano has erupted a couple of times and its features have changed. You will read about the Knife's Edge which has now disappeared; and the peak then may not be the apex of today. If you love trekking, continue reading and compare adventures of mountaineering then and today.
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So, Mayon Volcano. That one with the nearest perfect cone and rising at more than 8,000 feet was going to be my first taste of mountaineering. I nearly begged off but Ping (God Bless his soul) assured me that I could do it. Well, he told me that, so maybe I could really do it!
Going to Legaspi City in Albay Province was sort of a breeze. If not for the frequent stops, I would have slept like a baby during those 12 hours of travel from Manila.
In Legaspi City I had a quick breakfast and proceeded to the DOT office. There I watched the mountaineers start coming in. Many of them were students based in Legaspi City and they all had with them those prominent backpacks filled to the brim. They all had three days’ worth of clothing. They had sleeping bags and tents neatly packed in. They also had numerous liters of water, stove and food! Lots of them! The only thing I had in my backpack was my sleeping bag and my tent which were lousily packed. My food? I had one loaf bread, cheese, one can each of corned beef and sardines and one liter of water. The last item was my most precious possession – my instamatic camera.
I was watching them guys and one by one they started noticing me. I was wearing brand new trekking shoes! Almost all of them were wearing old shoes. Many were not even fit for hiking .
At that point I became very conscious. Had they realized that there was a neophyte in their midst? I kept hearing comments on my shoes and that it will be destroyed by the mountain. Sayang daw. I just hoped that they were just envious of my brand new shoes. If they would only mind their own business and just laugh inside and ponder at my future for the next three days.
Everybody belonged to a group or a mountaineering club. Me? I was a guest of the DOT regional office. It was too late when I realized that we were all guests of the DOT. Each group should be self-contained. They must have enough tents, water and food for the entire trip. Luckily, I met four other guys who were like me. Two (Buboy and his friend) were students based in Legaspi City, one (Elmer) was a local and unemployed guy; and the last was Tony Banks from New Zealand. I guess it was one of those laws – “lost souls stick together”. We saw each other and immediately clicked. I found a group! I realized later that having your own group or a buddy is crucial in mountaineering. First, you are never lonely, and second is that there is a support group that can elevate your confidence. And many times, a buddy separates the thin line between giving up and pushing on and making your conquest.
The Hike
I thought I was already prepared. The hike started quite far from the base of the volcano. We walked over a gully and it took us about two hours before I felt a change in the slope of the trail. Aside from the gully, the trail crossed through tall cogon grasses and open spaces. The sun was nearing its maximum intensity and I felt like melting in the middle of the trail. It was Day 1 and we were not even near Camp 1. I had four leg cramps, two on each leg. I wanted to quit. But I was already in the middle of nowhere. It was a good thing that Buboy was always there and waited for me during cramp attacks. I kept saying, ‘I can do it, I can’t quit, God help me, and aguuy!. By lunchtime we finally reached Camp 1. There I saw more than 100 guys who joined the activity. Some were having lunch and a few were already on their way to Camp 2. My water was almost gone and I still have two and a half days to go. Then sounding like a voice from heaven, somebody said that there was a water source nearby. Buboy and I immediately raced there. And as we were going, somebody shouted, ‘bring a straw!’ A what?!
A straw!… The water source was only about 100 meters from Camp 1. It was neither a river nor a spring. It was solidified lava where indentions were formed and became water traps. “It rained the previous night so it’s a fresh supply of water’, somebody said. The traps were not big and most of them can only hold about a cup of water. A straw was really a necessity. I had a bottle to fill so I jumped from one trap to another filling the bottle using its cap. Anyway, I had a water-purifying tablet with me. It is also better that way than picking up a pebble later on and putting it in my mouth like a candy to induce salivation (A.K.A. emergency water).
The trail between Camp1 and Camp 2 was unimaginable. I thought that Mayon was forested. Instead, we walked over a frozen lava flow. And the steep incline was constant. I looked forward and everything was going up. I looked back and everything was going down. There was no flat land (or lava). I kept reminding myself that I cannot afford to make a slip. I would continuously roll down hundreds of meters and stop maybe at Camp 1. It was a good thing that the lava trail was dry and my brand new trekking shoes held good.
Along the trail, I occasionally encountered Manila-based mountaineering groups like the Ayala Mountaineers led by Alex Abaygar. His companions were mostly ladies and they all carried heavy backpacks. I watched them negotiate the trail and I sometimes imitated their steps.
About halfway through to Camp 2 the temperature changed. From tropical heat, it became refreshingly cool with occasional wisps of very cold wind. But my burden did not lighten. As I continuously sagged, my legs and load became heavier. It was during this time of difficulty that the human species can invent something just to survive. That time I learned that a mantra can help you stay focused and remove your attention from the pain and difficulty of the activity. My mantra was actually a song that was famous at that time. It was a rap made by Andrew E with these lines:
‘Guess what you know last night
Yo! It was the best!
I met na pretty Girl na taga IS….’
Man, I must have sung that song in my head for about 500 times.
On with the trail.
Although it seemed like an avenue from afar, the lava trail was really a jumble of huge rocks and rough surfaces. Some really difficult ones were the walls that seemed to have ‘no entry’ signs painted all over them. They were not insurmountable, though. There was always a way through those walls. Small ledges can be used as holds or steps as one negotiates the wall. But if you consider that those ledges are no more than six inches thick and that if you fall, you go straight down to about 30 feet before making a continuous roll of about 1,000 meters, then you must find a way to contain your fear.
Yes. Fear is your constant companion. And sometimes, that fear can overwhelm you and that there is a mountaineering term for it – your balls race towards your throat.
I also learned a lot along the trail. Ping showed me that the very thin vegetation in Mayon Volcano can actually nourish me. There were small, black berries the size of peas and wild strawberries along the trail. Yum! Actually, its yum if you picked the right fruit. There are other fruits that are similar to the edible berries and miniature strawberries only they don’t taste near any delicious nor edible entrée.
Camp 2 was where we settled for the night. It was an elevated area bisected by the lava flow. Colorful tents popped up on the inclined earth and those with mountaineering stoves started cooking their own dinner. The five of us prepared our tent. Yes, my tent that can comfortably hold two persons. There were five of us. Of course, there was a solution in this kind of predicament. Four of us slept inside (sideways only), one would sit outside. Every two or three hours, one of us inside came out and replace the one outside. Neat, no? Dinnertime, we had two cans of sardines, one can of pork and beans and a loaf of bread. Camp 2 was also the place where we got news. At this point, I found out that about a third of the climbers went back (must be neophytes!) and numerous others were thinking twice whether to continue the following day or head back. I also saw heart-breaking scenes. There was a lady who was so weak that her legs seemed like vegetables. The moment she attempted to stand, her legs collapsed. She was crying. The leaders made a decision. She was to be portered back the next morning. What? Portered. A local will carry her on his back and go down to Camp 1 where medical help was available. I suddenly felt pity for the local porter. She must have weighted at least 100 pounds. Can he really carry her down through dangerous trails? The Leaders assured me that he can. He can definitely do it.
Halfway through dinner, I had the creeping fear that I was again running out of water. Again, the heavens answered my concern. Ping suddenly appeared and gave me a liter of water. I felt like a guest then!
Just as we were about to call it a night, George Cordovilla, one of the leaders and the president of MAENOC, a local mountaineering club, stopped by our campsite. He had numerous fresh bruises and contusions. A little asking and we were in for a great story. He was walking at Camp 2 and he suddenly slipped. Remember the incline and the continuous roll? It happened to him. The slip caused George to roll down to numerous meters, Had it not been for his presence of mind and his mountaineering experience, he could have had a mangled body or a splattered brain. To save his precious head as he rolled down, he looked at where gravity would bring him. As he was about to land face first, he pushed his head upwards, if he would land on his back, he lurched his head and made sure that it did not hit solid ground; if there was a rock he deftly used his hands to push his body from the rock. As he finished his story, I thought that he was great. Then I became worried. If that happened to me I guess I would be singing heavenly songs and playing a harp by now.
Sleep time came and I realized another thing about mountains. Up tha’ar on those mountains are freezing temperatures. I had a sleeping bag but I guess that was not enough. My body shook a little bit the whole night. Tony, the New Zealander was quite worried. I got through it but I could not believe that hypothermia can mean a great deal in warm countries like the Philippines.
Day 2
We were greeted by a slight, warm sunlight. Buboy was already up and about and gave me some of his warm coffee. I did not care how he got hold of that coffee but its taste certainly woke up my whole system. It was going to be an assault of the peak and the only things that we had to bring were food and water. Everything else was left at the campsite. To help all of us find the right trail, small flags were set up. It was very important to follow the flags to avoid wandering off and going to a deadly crevasse. A cut-off time was established. If by 11:00 AM and you were not at the peak, you have to go back to Camp 2. Timing was very critical. Everybody had to be back to Camp 2 by nightfall. Night trekking in Mayon was like making you life hang by a thread.
On the way to the assault of the peak, the trail changed. We did not step on frozen lava anymore but on loose scree or rocks with varied sizes. This time, the level of care was multiplied. We could not just walk; we had to crawl and held on to rocks very carefully. Any mistake of dislodging a rock or even a pebble could mean one thing – a rock fall. This is the scene – if a climber carelessly steps on a rock and it dislodges, the rock rolls down, at it rolls down, it dislodges other rocks. Lucky if the event stops after a few meters. Sometimes though, fist-sized rocks would eventually dislodge another rock the size of a car. In Mayon, if a rock fall happens, somebody would shout’ “Rock!” and everybody looks up. Unfortunately, everybody is in precarious situation. He cannot go left nor right fast enough, there are no trees to use as shields, he can’t even run lest he creates another rock fall event. What he can do is to watch where the rocks are heading. If they are small enough, he’ll just use his arms to shield his head. But if the rocks are big, he would just duck, swing his body, jump over the biggest rock, or pray to God that he live through the event.
It was also here that I learned the three-point system. Of the two hands and feet, three of them must be secured first before one finds a place to hold or step on. It was effective. In fact, it might have saved a lot of lives in the loose rocks section. Try to imagine this: you’re trying to move upward; you have one of your hands and both feet firmly planted. You hold on to a rock to move upward. Suddenly, the rock is dislodged! What will you do? You can’t throw it down – it will cause a rock fall. The only thing left to do is to return the rock to its former position and (thank God you did not fall) try to find another hold.
A crucial point came for many of us – the Knife’s Edge. When I came to this point, there were already numerous people sitting just right before the Knife’s Edge. I asked around. Elmer, one of my group mates, answered that they have had enough. What?!! We were only about 300 meters to the Peak! I saw those who passed through this point and they looked like colorful ants making their way to conquest. I looked at the Knife’s Edge and saw that the trail was only about a meter wide. A rope was conveniently tied to add to our confidence. But the sheer drop simply drained whatever was left of the courage of many of the guys. On both sides were seemingly vertical drops of thousands of feet. I looked down and I almost lost it. I too, wanted to back out. It was a good thing that Tony’s eyes and mine met. They actually talked! He gave me a nod and right there and then I knew I will reach the Peak of Mayon!
Okay, so my balls raced up my throat again. In fact, they raced up a lot of times. Those colorful ‘ants’ with me included were creeping along a narrow ledge. At one time, I thought that if I died there, it would be much faster for me to reach Heaven since I was already 8,000 feet above flat grounds. The last frightening moment of the climb was when we had to pull up ourselves over a ledge. The only hold I found was a piece of frozen lava no more than an inch thick. I held on to it, closed my eyes and prayed that angels would heave me up. What do you know? The next time I opened my eyes I was only about 50 meters from the crater over an easy path.
Victory at last! We reached the crater, snapped some photos and smelled the sweet scent of sulfuric air (actually, it smelled like rotten eggs).
The descent was less than eventful but full of high spirits. We reached camp 2 at about 4:00 P.M. and decided to stay there for the night. The more experienced ones went down all the way to Camp 1. Since there were fewer tents already, we decided to transfer our tent to a better place, at the other side of the gully. Nighttime came and some very tired hikers were still coming in by trickles. It was the same story as the first night. We were crammed, I shuddered and Tony was worried. At one time, we heard a loud noise of huge rocks rolling. We listened. No shouts came. No one was hit. We then slept soundly. Morning came and the topic of the day was about the rock fall the previous night. Somebody said he saw the rocks and they fortunately hit a place where nobody was camped. He then pointed at the exact spot where the rocks rolled over. Tony, Elmer, Buboy and I looked at each other. That was our campsite.
Going to Legaspi City in Albay Province was sort of a breeze. If not for the frequent stops, I would have slept like a baby during those 12 hours of travel from Manila.
In Legaspi City I had a quick breakfast and proceeded to the DOT office. There I watched the mountaineers start coming in. Many of them were students based in Legaspi City and they all had with them those prominent backpacks filled to the brim. They all had three days’ worth of clothing. They had sleeping bags and tents neatly packed in. They also had numerous liters of water, stove and food! Lots of them! The only thing I had in my backpack was my sleeping bag and my tent which were lousily packed. My food? I had one loaf bread, cheese, one can each of corned beef and sardines and one liter of water. The last item was my most precious possession – my instamatic camera.
I was watching them guys and one by one they started noticing me. I was wearing brand new trekking shoes! Almost all of them were wearing old shoes. Many were not even fit for hiking .
At that point I became very conscious. Had they realized that there was a neophyte in their midst? I kept hearing comments on my shoes and that it will be destroyed by the mountain. Sayang daw. I just hoped that they were just envious of my brand new shoes. If they would only mind their own business and just laugh inside and ponder at my future for the next three days.
Everybody belonged to a group or a mountaineering club. Me? I was a guest of the DOT regional office. It was too late when I realized that we were all guests of the DOT. Each group should be self-contained. They must have enough tents, water and food for the entire trip. Luckily, I met four other guys who were like me. Two (Buboy and his friend) were students based in Legaspi City, one (Elmer) was a local and unemployed guy; and the last was Tony Banks from New Zealand. I guess it was one of those laws – “lost souls stick together”. We saw each other and immediately clicked. I found a group! I realized later that having your own group or a buddy is crucial in mountaineering. First, you are never lonely, and second is that there is a support group that can elevate your confidence. And many times, a buddy separates the thin line between giving up and pushing on and making your conquest.
The Hike
I thought I was already prepared. The hike started quite far from the base of the volcano. We walked over a gully and it took us about two hours before I felt a change in the slope of the trail. Aside from the gully, the trail crossed through tall cogon grasses and open spaces. The sun was nearing its maximum intensity and I felt like melting in the middle of the trail. It was Day 1 and we were not even near Camp 1. I had four leg cramps, two on each leg. I wanted to quit. But I was already in the middle of nowhere. It was a good thing that Buboy was always there and waited for me during cramp attacks. I kept saying, ‘I can do it, I can’t quit, God help me, and aguuy!. By lunchtime we finally reached Camp 1. There I saw more than 100 guys who joined the activity. Some were having lunch and a few were already on their way to Camp 2. My water was almost gone and I still have two and a half days to go. Then sounding like a voice from heaven, somebody said that there was a water source nearby. Buboy and I immediately raced there. And as we were going, somebody shouted, ‘bring a straw!’ A what?!
A straw!… The water source was only about 100 meters from Camp 1. It was neither a river nor a spring. It was solidified lava where indentions were formed and became water traps. “It rained the previous night so it’s a fresh supply of water’, somebody said. The traps were not big and most of them can only hold about a cup of water. A straw was really a necessity. I had a bottle to fill so I jumped from one trap to another filling the bottle using its cap. Anyway, I had a water-purifying tablet with me. It is also better that way than picking up a pebble later on and putting it in my mouth like a candy to induce salivation (A.K.A. emergency water).
The trail between Camp1 and Camp 2 was unimaginable. I thought that Mayon was forested. Instead, we walked over a frozen lava flow. And the steep incline was constant. I looked forward and everything was going up. I looked back and everything was going down. There was no flat land (or lava). I kept reminding myself that I cannot afford to make a slip. I would continuously roll down hundreds of meters and stop maybe at Camp 1. It was a good thing that the lava trail was dry and my brand new trekking shoes held good.
Along the trail, I occasionally encountered Manila-based mountaineering groups like the Ayala Mountaineers led by Alex Abaygar. His companions were mostly ladies and they all carried heavy backpacks. I watched them negotiate the trail and I sometimes imitated their steps.
About halfway through to Camp 2 the temperature changed. From tropical heat, it became refreshingly cool with occasional wisps of very cold wind. But my burden did not lighten. As I continuously sagged, my legs and load became heavier. It was during this time of difficulty that the human species can invent something just to survive. That time I learned that a mantra can help you stay focused and remove your attention from the pain and difficulty of the activity. My mantra was actually a song that was famous at that time. It was a rap made by Andrew E with these lines:
‘Guess what you know last night
Yo! It was the best!
I met na pretty Girl na taga IS….’
Man, I must have sung that song in my head for about 500 times.
On with the trail.
Although it seemed like an avenue from afar, the lava trail was really a jumble of huge rocks and rough surfaces. Some really difficult ones were the walls that seemed to have ‘no entry’ signs painted all over them. They were not insurmountable, though. There was always a way through those walls. Small ledges can be used as holds or steps as one negotiates the wall. But if you consider that those ledges are no more than six inches thick and that if you fall, you go straight down to about 30 feet before making a continuous roll of about 1,000 meters, then you must find a way to contain your fear.
Yes. Fear is your constant companion. And sometimes, that fear can overwhelm you and that there is a mountaineering term for it – your balls race towards your throat.
I also learned a lot along the trail. Ping showed me that the very thin vegetation in Mayon Volcano can actually nourish me. There were small, black berries the size of peas and wild strawberries along the trail. Yum! Actually, its yum if you picked the right fruit. There are other fruits that are similar to the edible berries and miniature strawberries only they don’t taste near any delicious nor edible entrée.
Camp 2 was where we settled for the night. It was an elevated area bisected by the lava flow. Colorful tents popped up on the inclined earth and those with mountaineering stoves started cooking their own dinner. The five of us prepared our tent. Yes, my tent that can comfortably hold two persons. There were five of us. Of course, there was a solution in this kind of predicament. Four of us slept inside (sideways only), one would sit outside. Every two or three hours, one of us inside came out and replace the one outside. Neat, no? Dinnertime, we had two cans of sardines, one can of pork and beans and a loaf of bread. Camp 2 was also the place where we got news. At this point, I found out that about a third of the climbers went back (must be neophytes!) and numerous others were thinking twice whether to continue the following day or head back. I also saw heart-breaking scenes. There was a lady who was so weak that her legs seemed like vegetables. The moment she attempted to stand, her legs collapsed. She was crying. The leaders made a decision. She was to be portered back the next morning. What? Portered. A local will carry her on his back and go down to Camp 1 where medical help was available. I suddenly felt pity for the local porter. She must have weighted at least 100 pounds. Can he really carry her down through dangerous trails? The Leaders assured me that he can. He can definitely do it.
Halfway through dinner, I had the creeping fear that I was again running out of water. Again, the heavens answered my concern. Ping suddenly appeared and gave me a liter of water. I felt like a guest then!
Just as we were about to call it a night, George Cordovilla, one of the leaders and the president of MAENOC, a local mountaineering club, stopped by our campsite. He had numerous fresh bruises and contusions. A little asking and we were in for a great story. He was walking at Camp 2 and he suddenly slipped. Remember the incline and the continuous roll? It happened to him. The slip caused George to roll down to numerous meters, Had it not been for his presence of mind and his mountaineering experience, he could have had a mangled body or a splattered brain. To save his precious head as he rolled down, he looked at where gravity would bring him. As he was about to land face first, he pushed his head upwards, if he would land on his back, he lurched his head and made sure that it did not hit solid ground; if there was a rock he deftly used his hands to push his body from the rock. As he finished his story, I thought that he was great. Then I became worried. If that happened to me I guess I would be singing heavenly songs and playing a harp by now.
Sleep time came and I realized another thing about mountains. Up tha’ar on those mountains are freezing temperatures. I had a sleeping bag but I guess that was not enough. My body shook a little bit the whole night. Tony, the New Zealander was quite worried. I got through it but I could not believe that hypothermia can mean a great deal in warm countries like the Philippines.
Day 2
We were greeted by a slight, warm sunlight. Buboy was already up and about and gave me some of his warm coffee. I did not care how he got hold of that coffee but its taste certainly woke up my whole system. It was going to be an assault of the peak and the only things that we had to bring were food and water. Everything else was left at the campsite. To help all of us find the right trail, small flags were set up. It was very important to follow the flags to avoid wandering off and going to a deadly crevasse. A cut-off time was established. If by 11:00 AM and you were not at the peak, you have to go back to Camp 2. Timing was very critical. Everybody had to be back to Camp 2 by nightfall. Night trekking in Mayon was like making you life hang by a thread.
On the way to the assault of the peak, the trail changed. We did not step on frozen lava anymore but on loose scree or rocks with varied sizes. This time, the level of care was multiplied. We could not just walk; we had to crawl and held on to rocks very carefully. Any mistake of dislodging a rock or even a pebble could mean one thing – a rock fall. This is the scene – if a climber carelessly steps on a rock and it dislodges, the rock rolls down, at it rolls down, it dislodges other rocks. Lucky if the event stops after a few meters. Sometimes though, fist-sized rocks would eventually dislodge another rock the size of a car. In Mayon, if a rock fall happens, somebody would shout’ “Rock!” and everybody looks up. Unfortunately, everybody is in precarious situation. He cannot go left nor right fast enough, there are no trees to use as shields, he can’t even run lest he creates another rock fall event. What he can do is to watch where the rocks are heading. If they are small enough, he’ll just use his arms to shield his head. But if the rocks are big, he would just duck, swing his body, jump over the biggest rock, or pray to God that he live through the event.
It was also here that I learned the three-point system. Of the two hands and feet, three of them must be secured first before one finds a place to hold or step on. It was effective. In fact, it might have saved a lot of lives in the loose rocks section. Try to imagine this: you’re trying to move upward; you have one of your hands and both feet firmly planted. You hold on to a rock to move upward. Suddenly, the rock is dislodged! What will you do? You can’t throw it down – it will cause a rock fall. The only thing left to do is to return the rock to its former position and (thank God you did not fall) try to find another hold.
A crucial point came for many of us – the Knife’s Edge. When I came to this point, there were already numerous people sitting just right before the Knife’s Edge. I asked around. Elmer, one of my group mates, answered that they have had enough. What?!! We were only about 300 meters to the Peak! I saw those who passed through this point and they looked like colorful ants making their way to conquest. I looked at the Knife’s Edge and saw that the trail was only about a meter wide. A rope was conveniently tied to add to our confidence. But the sheer drop simply drained whatever was left of the courage of many of the guys. On both sides were seemingly vertical drops of thousands of feet. I looked down and I almost lost it. I too, wanted to back out. It was a good thing that Tony’s eyes and mine met. They actually talked! He gave me a nod and right there and then I knew I will reach the Peak of Mayon!
Okay, so my balls raced up my throat again. In fact, they raced up a lot of times. Those colorful ‘ants’ with me included were creeping along a narrow ledge. At one time, I thought that if I died there, it would be much faster for me to reach Heaven since I was already 8,000 feet above flat grounds. The last frightening moment of the climb was when we had to pull up ourselves over a ledge. The only hold I found was a piece of frozen lava no more than an inch thick. I held on to it, closed my eyes and prayed that angels would heave me up. What do you know? The next time I opened my eyes I was only about 50 meters from the crater over an easy path.
Victory at last! We reached the crater, snapped some photos and smelled the sweet scent of sulfuric air (actually, it smelled like rotten eggs).
The descent was less than eventful but full of high spirits. We reached camp 2 at about 4:00 P.M. and decided to stay there for the night. The more experienced ones went down all the way to Camp 1. Since there were fewer tents already, we decided to transfer our tent to a better place, at the other side of the gully. Nighttime came and some very tired hikers were still coming in by trickles. It was the same story as the first night. We were crammed, I shuddered and Tony was worried. At one time, we heard a loud noise of huge rocks rolling. We listened. No shouts came. No one was hit. We then slept soundly. Morning came and the topic of the day was about the rock fall the previous night. Somebody said he saw the rocks and they fortunately hit a place where nobody was camped. He then pointed at the exact spot where the rocks rolled over. Tony, Elmer, Buboy and I looked at each other. That was our campsite.
How Our DOT Officials Test the Marketing Stuff
Got to pass by the DOT bldg. a feews ago ang I was lucky to witness how the DOT (Department of Tourism) officials literally test the products they are going to showcase to the whole world.
This time, they're bringing the bubble guy to Europe and make his craft into an attraction and part of the Philippine booth in a major travel trade fair there. For those of you who never had any orientation on the gimmicks done in tourism events, this could look like really, really strange. But that's creative marketing for you, guys.
That's DOT Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque and PCVC's Susan del Mundo inside the giant bubble.
Let's just wish them goodluck!
This time, they're bringing the bubble guy to Europe and make his craft into an attraction and part of the Philippine booth in a major travel trade fair there. For those of you who never had any orientation on the gimmicks done in tourism events, this could look like really, really strange. But that's creative marketing for you, guys.
That's DOT Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque and PCVC's Susan del Mundo inside the giant bubble.
Let's just wish them goodluck!
We Owe Our Civilizations to OCs!
Come to think of it, can you try to imagine how the world would look like if there were no OCs (obssessive-compulsive) in this world?
The OCs are the ones who are obssessed with order, with cleanliness, with numbers, and with whatever that resembles symmetry. They cannot bring themselves to compromises. Everything that they are obsessed with will have to be made in perfect form, or else, they die of frustration!
If not for the OCs, would we have the great pyramids? the Stonehenge? the great monuments and the palaces? Heck, I doubt if we would have well-planned cities if not for the OCs.
The next time you wonder and try to see the perfections of the landmarks and cultural treasures of the countries you visit, you can perhaps conclude that the OCs were responsible for them.
So, we do not only owe the great man-made tourist attractions to the OCs, but perhaps our great civilizations as well.
This article is a salute to the OCs of the world! Ang galing nyo!
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