skip to main |
skip to sidebar
...continued
We have now reached the top; it was time to settle down and have lunch. Ric had a ground cover big enough for all 11 of us to have lunch and take naps on. We shared our packed food and dozed off one by one for a good 30-45 minutes. After that, we started our descent.
As I have been repeatedly proven wrong throughout this trip, I was yet again astonished upon realizing that going down was harder for me than going up. Here's my aftermath reasoning: By this time, half the gripping thingies on the soles of my shoes are gone, leaving me with no traction whatsoever. I was not only slipping off rocks and earth, I was even slipping on branches and fallen leaves. Marc had to block my foot using his so I had something to anchor to. Sand, soil, and pebbles kept finding their way inside my shoes, causing my feet to hurt more that they should. Also, I was deathly afraid of heights and every time I had to look down was pure torture.
From my learning experience in Sagada, the best way to descend a path with nothing to hold on to was by sitting on the ground and edging yourself slowly down from it. This was what I did, slipping and sliding on the way. Unfortunately, this took a really long while, and by the time we reached Papaya River (the small paradise I mentioned in part 1), I was way past exhausted. The group sans Gerich, Marc, and me, had fun cooling off by the mini falls doing poses, sharing jokes, and laughing at each other. They kept motioning for us to join them, but I was too drained to move. I had contented my self instead to pouring a liter on my head and arms to cool off.
A few more minutes after, I psyched myself up again convinced that the trail from that point on would be loads easier. I failed to factor in the fatigue and the soreness of every part of my body. Ric and Lexy had to alternate carrying my almost empty backpack in hopes of getting me to speed up a bit as we were slowly losing daylight. This time, the pace was slowly but surely moving with just a couple of rest stops to tide me over. After walking forever, we were back at the jump off point, at 7PM. I have made a 9-hour hike into a 12-hour one.
Despite this, as I took my well deserved bath, I was really happy. It was a new accomplishment for me, a challenge conquered, and a new appreciation for nature, for life, and for friends. Marc, Ric, and Lexy had all the patience in the world to guide me through this. It was a really wonderful first time, and I owe it to them.
I was so excited to do this post that I kept being distracted doing my MOP (method of procedure) for work this morning. Now that I've finally finished it, I'm actually at a loss where to start, so I guess I'll just dive right in.
There I was, too giddy and excited to care that I was about to embark on a super strenuous journey that will leave me drained and sore... I set out with the group full of energy and optimism for the hike ahead. We left my place around 3:15AM. Reached the jump off at 7, I think.
Being a level 4 climb, I had to expect some sort of difficulty so I decided to forgo doing vanity shots along the way. The trail started out
--Intermission: At the start of this post I've gushed about how excited I was to finally be able to blog about my recent adventure, then half way through spilling narrations, this happens:
I lost my internet. For hours. Annoying. Really. Anyway--
As I was saying, the trail started out fairly easy. It was a long stretch of incline, about 15 degrees maybe. Despite my last minute attempt of weekly jogging to get myself into shape, I was huffing and puffing after the first 10 minutes. I had to stop and think about whether I really wanted this or not. The answer was a fast and easy yes! So I hauled myself and my backpack up the path, and ignored the tightness that I almost immediately felt in my chest.
Think happy thoughts. I started remembering how ecstatic I was when I finally had this chance of climbing an actual mountain. I thought of how fulfilling this would be compared to my Sagada trek. I saw the company I had --they were laughing, joking, and everything was great again. The truth of what people say about challenges like this being as much psychological as it was physical was so darn real.
After the wash of fairy dust (the happy thoughts), I was good to go again. We started to observe the shrubbery thickening to eventually cover the road and leave a single beaten path. We had to climb over fallen trees a couple of times and swat a few bees along the way.
I remember thinking, if this is what a level 4 climb is, I could do this for 5 hours, easy. How wrong was I to assume that. After everything has been covered with flora, we found ourselves in the thick of the forest climbing steeper and steeper trails, until we finally reached this:
It's a little piece of paradise! I was in awe at how clear and comfortably cool the water was. The pictures I took don't actually do it justice. I wanted to stop right then and there and stay overnight, but obviously, we can't. So after 30 minutes of cooling down, resting, snacking, and taking pictures, we were back on the trail hiking up the 2nd half of the ridge.
The next part would be twice or thrice as hard, or so we were warned. Excruciatingly hard was what I would call it. Surely it was at least 5 times as hard. Cliffs threatened every turn, and to say that I was scared of heights would be an understatement. I was petrified. I wore running shoes that has started to split its soles from the abuse I've been putting it through the past hour and a half or two. I started losing stable footholds and kept sliding off small rocks. As they fall a few feet and bounce off the edge of the path, I became increasingly aware of how much I underestimated the difficulty of this climb. Nonetheless, I kept pushing.
It felt like an obstacle course intended to torture lazy asses like me. I had to climb mounds with nothing to hold on to but branches and twigs that snap off without warning. The height of most of the rocks we had to climb over were higher than knee level, and I had to hold on for my dear life a few dozen times. You'd think I was exaggerating, but well, let's put it this way: this. is. not. for. beginners.
Pushing and pulling my way up, I finally reached the top. Thank God. Not without help, though. Tons of it, actually. Marc had to carry my bag for me on half a dozen buwis buhay moments. (I especially hated the part where rocks were sticking out a wall of earth and we had to climb Spiderman style to get to the other side.) Lexy had to wait for us a few times to make sure we don't get lost. It was all worth it though. The view at a thousand meters above sea level was breathtaking, both literally and figuratively. Again, no matter how much pictures I took, I would not be able to do justice on God's creation. At that moment, there it was... another reason to praise God. This time for being a God of beauty and greatness.
To be continued...
Remember my list? If all goes well, I'm about to accomplish #6! Climb a mountain.
I have my sights set on Tarak Ridge at Mariveles, Bataan for my first mountain climb experience. Now, you'd have to bear with me as I do not know the proper terms for things yet. Anyway, the day hike is scheduled this Saturday with a few of my officemates and their friends, and I couldn't be more excited! According to experts this hike is a level four. Hmm, I don't know what that means, exactly, but I get that it's not particularly one for beginners. Anyway, I've been known to challenge myself every now and then. Fingers crossed for no injuries after.
To get ready for this, I'm planning on carrying as little as possible, which is tough for me. My every day bag has kindle, external hard disk, earphones, a bottle of lotion, alcohol, wet and dry tissues, nail cutter, vics, lip balm, three phones, and sometimes even a small bottle of liquid soap. This is on top of necessities such as my office ID, wallet, and the like. So I guess I'll be needing a list, and strict discipline to stick to that list. I promise to get a picture of the things I'll be bringing so you get an idea.
(edit: see picture as promised.)
Aside from the packing, I've also been running a bit lately as a last minute effort to get myself in shape for this. I do hope I don't keel over and die pass out. Oh, and I guess I need to hydrate.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting an awesome experience out of this, not to mention pictures and memories. Hopefully nothing that scars. Haha. I really gotta get me a decent printer.
Ciao!
Early this year, I had a list I of things I wanted to do for 2013. I'm doing a run through today to check which ones I have accomplished, and which ones I haven't.
1. Blog more often, at least 3 entries a month. -- Check!
2. Create and keep more memories. This means adventures, travel, and pictures, pictures, pictures! -- I actually planned on doing a scrapbook. Unfortunately, the lack of a printer held me back from this. So, this one is not yet accomplished.
3. Run regularly at least once a week. -- I have yet to declare a verdict on this yet since I have just recently started.
4. Cook more. -- Check!
5. Go to a beach at least once. -- Check!
6. Climb a mountain at least once. -- Not yet.
7. Ride a bike. -- Check! Done this with #3. Hoping to do this regularly.
8. Ice skate -- Not yet.
9. Attend Sunday service regularly -- Not yet. T_T
10. Be more faithful with my quiet times -- Not yet. T_T
4 out of 10 ain't bad.
The past weekend was spent eating... a lot! Of all things, I find maintaining a healthy diet for a flattering figure the hardest. What is it with food and me?
Anyway, we spent mother's day in Tagaytay. Late lunch buffet at Celina's Cafe. While the food and indoor ambiance was not that spectacular, the overlooking view of Taal, was as usual, breathtaking. I envy the guy who has the luxury of waking up to this every day.
The outdoor setting is not bad at all.
What is a trip to Tagaytay without dropping by Bag of Beans? We had coffee there and more food, then cousin-bonding over Achtung, a fairly amusing ipad game.
Achtung is a multiplayer game with the objective of being the last surviving line. It's kinda like the old Nokia snakes game where you can't crash into walls or yourself, except that instead of a moving one, your line here gets longer. Strategically, you can block other players' paths causing them to crash into you and lose. I actually suck at this game, but losing doesn't make it less fun.
Before heading home, we found this parked outside. And here I thought the Hello Kitty car I once saw was over the top.
As if we weren't filled to our throats with food, we bought more munchies on the way home. Kesong puti, goat and carabao's milk, jackfruit, gummy worms, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, and more.
Happy Mother's Day!
Not much has happened since my last post. Hence the lack of updates. A few shopping sprees and binge eating, but that's it so far.
I've actually been waiting a couple of months already for the right time to get these:
They set me back more than my usual shoe shopping splurges, but they're ridiculously comfortable and I really need to invest on flats... so justifies the purchase.
Also, I have officially run out of my usual Burberry Brit Sheer perfume. While I am absolutely head over heels with the scent I've been donning for so long, at 5,000 a bottle, I need a change, albeit temporarily.
I have loved the light fragrance Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea carries since forever. My first whiff was when a bottle was given to my mom as a birthday or Christmas gift, not sure which. It was a long time ago. As perfumes come and go, I did not expect this to survive and persist, but hey, lookie what I got more than 5 years since:
It's a set I normally wouldn't go for, but the store had a sale and there was little cost difference from a single bottle to a set, ergo... *wink*
I'd like to think of myself as a responsible shopper, never buying stuff I can't afford. This being the case, I'm not quite broke, but I do admit to looking forward to the next payday. Haha.
Ciao!
