Mt. Arayat, Pampanga

Each mountain has its own beauty and cruelty. I would consider Mt. Arayat as my first major climb although it can be done in one day. A friend told me most would opt to camp out to fully enjoy what Arayat has to offer but our group opted for a dayhike.

stations of the cross from the jump off point

I always cannot sleep prior to a climb because I'm always afraid I'd oversleep. This time was no different. Despite this, I went ahead and five minutes of walking from the jump off I was already breathing heavily. I owed it first to my lack of sleep but I was weirded out because I never got this tired before. Suddenly guilty thoughts of sinful bacon consumption filled my mind and I was thinking of backing out that early.

But the call of the wild is hard to resist. More so, the many surprises the mountains hold. For instance, this was my chance to see the flora and fauna of Pampanga. Despite the many rests after only a few minutes' hike, we were able to survive. The first stop I though we already reached the summit but I was wrong.

bark mushrooms

I enjoyed going down a vertical by means of hanging vines after our second stop. This with my heavy backpack on my back! I felt like Tarzan. LOL!

 By lunchtime we got to a base camp. I ate only one of the two pieces of chickenjoy I bought earlier, saving the other one for later because we were told that the most difficult part was just right after the base camp site.

view from the base camp site

But it was a playground for me. Shortly after I was having fun climbing up an almost 90 degree slope despite the soft earth and one wrong move could send you flying to the ground. Perhaps my gym workout helped a great deal as it became a breeze.

Then it was time to descend, the hardest part for me. It's not only because I have not yet practiced the art of jumping down from one rock to another, but also because it would mean saying goodbye to nature again. 

salamander?

rainbow in the final summit

Because two of us in the group are slow in moving down, choosing to stay safe and slow rather than risk safety for speed, nighttime befell us. It was of course even more difficult to move because who knows what poisonous plants and animals are lurking in the dark. Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, we had to walk more than a kilometer more but now on cemented grounds. We practically had to drag ourselves down because of exhaustion and hunger.

It was already late at night when we got to the town so we missed the famous restaurants there, ending up in Jollibee instead.There I decided to go ahead of the group and take the bus to Manila because I was super sleepy and I needed to get to my bed pronto!

So tired yet happy!

Jeju Stone Park Museum

To get to Jeju Stone Park Museum, one has to walk through mini forested area where I enjoyed the fresh air and again being with nature.

Inside the museum are scientific discoveries mainly bordering on the geology of the island. Such a museum, with a huge collection of different rock types, is where I can definitely spend an entire day in, being a lover of lithics. Of particular interest is the suiseki, natural rock formations which can be viewed and admired in an aesthetic way. This art was originated in Japan and is again, one aspect which Koreans borrowed.

volcanic rocks of different sizes and forms inside the musem

Because Jeju is a volcanic island, its inhabitants made use of the rocks to fashion stone crafts and implements for use in farming, fishing, stock raising, construction of fortresses, and transportation. Indeed the stone culture is very much prevalent in this part of South Korea, that even stone objects are worshiped by the people as guardians. 

Interplayed with the natural surroundings which has been wonderfully preserved despite the construction of a museum in 2001 is the mythology that tells the beginning of Jeju Island. It tells of how Grandmother Seolmundae created Jeju Island. In fact, many myths portray old women as primary divine beings, which reflect the matriarchal culture where women toil hard and men just relax.

500 Generals expressing love for their mother who sacrificed herself for them, Mt. Halla in the background

Grandma Seolmundae and the 500 Generals lithic monuments

Teddy Bear Museum, Jeju Island, Korea

I will have to say that Korea has borrowed a lot from the Japanese despite the Koreans' hatred towards the Japanese because of what happened during World War 2. Of the Japanese war crimes, perhaps the most famous is the Rape of Nanking and in the Philippines, well known among history aficionados is the Rape of Manila. This borrowing, I suppose, is not out of admiration but due to desire for revenge. At present, Korean telenovelas have replaced J-dramas, K-POP pushed J-POP to the sidelines, and Korean makeup is gaining raves even from Westerners. In short, it is a popular cultural battle, out to defeat Japan.

One of these borrowings is the preference for all things cute and cuddly especially among teenagers. Our group has more young once than young ones but that didn't deter the guide from taking us to Teddy Bear Museum. Upon entering your eyebrows will automatically raise all by itself. All these stuffed toys???

Oh but go upstairs and be mesmerized by the artistry and attention to details. Teddy bears are of course given central focus in this museum and popular scenes from many a fairy tale are reenacted--- but all characters are teddy bears.

Gulliver's Travels

A pleasant surprise is finding a Vitruvian bear, patterned after Da Vinci's Vitruvian man. Now things are definitely getting more witty. 

Vitruvian Man

And in one gallery is where Greek gods and goddesses, all in their teddy bear forms, are found. After this, I left the museum with a smile on my face.

Greek goddess of hunt, Artemis

De-stressing in the Metro

With the many events suddenly happening week after week plus five regular workdays, it's hard to find time to pamper one's self. I already consider myself lucky for having opportunities to go out of Metro Manila frequently this year because the fresh mountain air revitalizes me and gives me that much needed boost to face the toxic urban jungle again.

Just yesterday though I met up with a college friend at Ace Water Spa. I was able to get discount vouchers from an officemate and I thought it would be a perfect place for us to find some quiet time together and just update each other on what's going on in our lives.

Ace Water Spa looks small from the outside. But when we got inside, this kiddo got giddy! The place was one awesome waterworld, reminding me of One Piece's Water 7 somewhat. I've never seen so much water in one of the metro's busiest cities.

We enjoyed each of the water spa's offerings in less than four hours, getting the most of the hydromassage most of all. We also tried the steam bath and the sauna but the sudden rise in temperature the moment you walk in was something my body couldn't stand. I still prefer the sauna room in an ex-officemate's condo because there we can adjust the room temperature and also opt for gradual temp increase.

We left feeling cleansed. That's what you get after dipping in the herbal pools, too. Then we walked to Banawe St where I initially planned to take her to Shangtsu but because I forgot where the exact location is, we had late lunch at T Cup Zone where I ordered a double Taiwan beef noodles. Boy was I surprised and delighted at the sight of the HUGE bowl! My friend had kung pao chicken rice meal. This happy kid just got her money's worth after devouring thick QQ noodles. Yum! (This is compensation for not being able to have ramen at Little Tokyo last Friday when I went to Makati. Apparently, the Japanese restos there open only during mealtimes.) Oh and I'd like to bring my sisters there so we can have our sisterly date.

One memorable thing about our date was that she commented at how I am always wearing T shirts. I don't understand what the issue is since I really just wear extra casual clothes (read: pambahay) on dates except when watching concerts and plays. She said, "then don't complain if boys wouldn't approach you!" Major OUCH!

That's why sometimes I hate talking about my non-existent love life, or even about my crushes.

And so she gave me the blue dress I borrowed when we were in Cambodia, plus another dress because she says she looks like a kiddo when in those dresses. Ah well, perfect for me since I enjoy looking young!

We parted ways at Quezon Avenue, with me going straight to SM North. I forgot yesterday was payday and when I got there I was ultra overwhelmed by the number of people. But I had to brave the crowds just for my banking needs. Of course a mall visit is never complete without going to NBS, Booksale, and Chris Sports. I held tight to my money though.

Then off to Fishermall where I was glad to see another event at the lobby. Seeing musicians there inspire me to do my best in playing the violin so that one day I will deserve the spotlight. There were also two exhibits there. One was on Pinoy inventions where I bought a manual heating pad and healing oil. (It was extra expensive but I was open to try the products, plus it's something I can definitely bring with me when out hiking or camping.)

Got home at 7pm. Despite not having enough sleep these past few days, I surprised myself at how I still found time to be with a friend, all for the sake of reconnecting with the right people. (In short, people who do not befriend you because of the material perks of being with you, but because they truly enjoy being with you. This is just the topic of my conversation with fellow officemates, about how people nowadays become friendly users and do not really care about their "friends". There are many who will label me as their friend but with whom I cannot feel even the slightest care nor concern unless they need me.)

Dolores, Quezon

It was in highschool when I started to delve into the occult. Back then my life revolved around religions because at some point, the Catholic beliefs I grew up with suddenly could not keep up with all the questions sprouting in my head. Questions about life and death, questions about the paranormal, questions about the powers of the mind, questions about God. I read anything and became familiar with Jaime Licauco and Tony Perez, wishing to one day meet them and have long conversations with them. I pursued my research until my sophomore year in college, the abrupt stop I owe to the shift in interest to Asian literature.

This year, just when I thought that Mt. Arayat would be my last climb, I said yes to a last-minute invitation to Dolores, Quezon. I've been wanting to explore Banahaw since my college years when I heard many stories of it being a mystical place so receiving an invite would only mean drop everything and go! Also, it's a chance to explore more the Southern part of Luzon since I am not that familiar with that region.

Buddha altar where we had our spiritual meeting

Mt. Calvary where pilgrims flock to during the Holy Week

A shrine, symbol of the deification of our national hero Jose Rizal

 Waking up early in the morning at 3:50am was expected. I got to JAM Liner in Kamias and boarded the bus at 4:30 but the bus left at 5:20am! While on the road, Maybe This Time was showing and I watched the first part until I fell asleep. I got off at San Pablo Medical Center at 7:20am and joined the other participants.

We joined the organizers and I was awed at the number of equipment they have. Big ropes and lots of carabiners! I have a thing for carabiners so just imagine my joy! Needless to say, I was reminded of my military science days when I was considered to be the best in knots. It was an honor I would never forget because I sucked big time at rappelling due to my fear of heights. I did redeem myself because I thoroughly enjoyed my last rappel which was done in a natural setting, in Mt. Makiling no less and I was commended for my swift movements. (Sometimes I wonder maybe I really just thrive when surrounded by nature... I've always thought I am one wild girl.)

Our camp was Kuya Kristy's rest house. While resting we introduced ourselves and I was delighted because the leader was also a very spiritual person. I met people whose third eye is open and I totally enjoyed the conversations I had with some of them especially about supernatural creatures. (I think I'll have to write about the stories in a separate blog entry...)

captured kukri snake

After lunch, we had lectures on basic life saving, rescue, and a discussion on poisonous animals but focusing on venomous snakes. I've always thought that we should only be wary of colorful ones like the ever famous coralsnakes but more venomous species are being discovered like a species of coral snake bearing strong semblance to the nonvenomous kukri (Oligodon) snakes. I had to ask if there is any creature immune to snake venom and they said the honey badger is. So I blurted out, okay, time for genetic engineering! (But of course I'm not at all supportive of that since I respect the natural flow.)

While hiking to a nearby rappelling practice area, I got to know more about the flora of Banahaw. Being naturally curious and feeling like a herbalist out on a mission to get plant medicine everytime I go hiking, I asked a lot of questions about local plants. I was told to beware lipang kalabaw (Dendrocnide meyeniana) and lipang aso, both from the nettle plant. These two cause skin irritation upon contact and this may last for a very long time. One of the organizers told me that even months after touching one, he could still feel the itchiness coupled with pain. 

I was also glad to see familiar plants. One is a mushroom growing on branches which I often see in my hikes. Another is the wandering jew, a medicinal plant used by Chinese herbalists. I recognized it from my recent trip to Hong Kong when I visited the Museum of Medicinal Sciences.

bark mushroom (don't know if that's what it really is but I call it bark mushroom...)

We stopped all rappelling activities when night fell. After dinner we had more lectures on rescue and first aid. Then we went out to do night caving at Husgado (Cave of Judgment). It's a good thing we were informed beforehand to bring headlamp so I quickly bought one the day before, a welcome addition to my hiking items. (I still don't feel worthy to be called a mountaineer...)

wandering Jew (I forgot the local name...) growing near the entrance to Husgado

I've heard stories of Husgado from classmates who were lucky to go on a field trip to Banahaw for their classes. They say that only good people can pass through the narrow paths inside the cave, that no matter the size of a person, he or she will fit in just right if he/ she is good. Indeed it was enigmatic for me and I still cannot believe that the big guys who were with us were able to pass through when I myself had great difficulty doing so.

After the caving experience, we did a simulation of night rescue. It was a humbling experience to know how truly difficult it is to carry a person on a spine board while treading rough terrain. Not to mention the cooperation and teamwork required to successfully transport an injured victim to a safe place. I'm glad though because after the exercise, many of the organizers commended me for a job well done in "leading" us participants. I think it comes naturally for me to be at the helm when everybody is confused as to what to do. I calmly gave out instructions and made sure everybody is ready for coordination. They said they saw how strong my will was and even persuaded me to take up EMT (Emergency Medical Training) and join rescue efforts. Of course there was a happy feeling but I know my shortcomings so I declined saying I still have a lot of things to learn about mountaineering. That and truth be told, I'm a lousy mountain climber. I tend to be on all fours when in the mountains (thus earning a nickname "Planet of the Apes" LOL!) so how can I rescue a victim? But it sure opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be stronger because when I am with people I always feel responsible for them and what they say in animé is true, get strength from your desire to protect and at the same time, exert effort to be strong to be able to protect.

That night, while my fellow participants washed themselves and slept early, I decided to participate in the spiritual meeting. The full moon was such a beauty that night but due to the trees overhead I wasn't able to take a decent picture. What I experienced was something weird. I closed my eyes and saw a blurred vision of an altar with bright colored lights. The following morning the others told me they saw the same thing, which is weird because I never told anyone about the vision. Though theirs was not blurred but rather clear and one even saw the Virgin Mary.

the waters at the Bakas (Footprint) are believed to have healing properties

The next morning we woke up late so we missed the sunrise at Mt. Calvary. We still proceeded though even without breakfast. I was able to eat one slice of my wheat bread though but after more than three hours of trekking I was super hungry by the time we got to Barangay Kinabuhayan and we had to walk some 1.5 km to get to Sta. Lucia. Whew!

an altar at the foot of Mt Calvary just before Cristalino waterfalls

the magnificent body of water from the falls

Brgy. Kinabuhayan at the foot of Mt. Calvary

Once we got to Kuya Kristy's, I washed up and finally took a long refreshing bath. It felt good to be fresh and clean again. We packed up after lunch and before I hopped inside the jeepney, I made sure I bought 1.5 liters of sukang kaong, a specialty in Dolores. Sadly there was no sukang kurat there. (I miss Tayabas!!!)

The other participants went ahead to the lake but I was so sleepy I doubt I'd be able to last another hour on the road so I got down at the highway and took a bus to Manila with one of the participants. We had to stand inside the bus for an hour though before we finally got seated and of course, the sleepyhead instantly fell asleep and woke up just as the bus was nearing the terminal in Pasay.

It was tiring, having a packed schedule like that but my heart would burst from too much happiness because I got to rappel again and because, well, I love the mountain air. Truly a wild girl's escape from the crazy urban life!