Mt. Binacayan, Rodriguez, Rizal 06202015

A week after joining outreach activities in the Mountain Province (separate blog post coming soon but for teaser please click HERE), I said yes to an invitation to climb up twin mountains in Rodriguez, Rizal. It's been a long time since my mountain buddy and I climbed mountains together because we're so busy with our respective lives these days. It's nice though that we get to chat every once in a while to update each other on a project we were planning to launch pretty soon.

Meeting place was in KFC near Gateway at 4AM. I was some 10 minutes late because I got lost a bit, being not accustomed to walking around at that time of the day. We chatted a lot and I was introduced to a couple who were just beginning to join the club of mountaineers. All three of them are architects and I'm the odd one out but well I'm an archaeologist so we still have something in common: ARCH. LOL

Our guide for the day: Jason is quite adept at taking photos :)

THE seat

 We left at 5AM boarding an FX to Eastwood where we then took a tricycle all the way to the registration office. I wasn't able to get much sleep because there was no traffic.

We had to walk on an inclined paved road first before getting to earthy grounds. It was as always a pleasure to breathe the fresh mountain air. I still can't get enough of it. It's this addiction that keeps me going back to the mountains, plus the nice views from the top, and the chance to sweat out body toxins out of my body.

mountain buddies

 It was a gloomy day but the air was dry so in just a few minutes of hiking we were already drenched in sweat. The trail reminds me of Mt. Daraitan because of the high steps which posed a challenge to me. We also entered a small cave. And then the rockies which were reminiscent of those in Norzagaray. But the view is impressive nevertheless as we were treated to lush greens. Healthy mountains are always a pretty sight, an assurance that they will be also enjoyed by future generations. It helps also that the local government is exerting efforts to ensure that these are well-protected.

rockfalls on the way down

 I was able to nap for some time under a big cool rock near the peak. There were a lot of noisy people who took a lot of time taking photos and selfies so I took the chance to rest. Having had few sleep lately has been taking a toll on my health.

On the way down, we were a bit challenged because of the loose soil. When we got to the area where rocks had fallen, it was even more of a challenge. My buddy got a deep wound on his knee! But because we wanted to have cool drinks already we decided to descend down straight.

we passed by these hidden treasures and I couldn't resist taking photos... (I just LOVE mushrooms!!!)

We rested for a while in a makeshift kubo where the owner sells cold softdrinks. Buddy had been going on for hours about Mountain Dew so everyone followed suit including me. I don't even like softdrinks but it was hot and they seemed to be enjoying the cold drink so I indulged eventually.

newly planted seedlings protected by bamboo covers

Once back in the barangay, we stopped by the local eatery and I had half an order of rice and pinakbet. They only have pork dishes so I'm sticking to my veggies.

half rice and pinakbet (because I am on a budget)

Bolinao: Pangasinan Mapping Part 2

In April, I went back to Pangasinan with the same buddy I was with in my first mapping of the province. The second time around we experienced the same difficulty in getting bus tickets as we did the first time.

Our first stop this time was Bolinao, known to travelers for its lighthouse. Of course we included that in our itinerary as well as a visit to the beach.

It's funny how the world seemed so small. While having breakfast at a canteen, I saw the last name of a former officemate and I remembered that she had relatives in Bolinao. So I messaged her and asked if her uncle could provide assistance to us. The town was celebrating a festival so we almost never got the help we needed but her uncle was really a generous person who even provided us with a tricycle, instructing the driver to take us to Bolinao's Enchanted and Wonderful Caves, Patar beach, and Bolinao lighthouse. Plus, we got free accommodation and dinner at their house. I'm so touched at how people can be so kind despite the prevalence of cruelty in this cold dark world.

we didn't know there was a fiesta! Beautiful surprise :)

Go Bolinao!!!

 A sea of busy people greeted us when we arrived at Bolinao. Turned out they were having a festival! Cool surprise! We stopped by for some time to see their street performance then resumed mapping the town.

binungey, suman-like treat in bamboo

Old Spanish Well

the imposing St. James the Great Parish Church

Gabaldon Building 

old church bells in Bolinao Church (yes we climbed up the belfry!)

 In the afternoon, there was only the lighthouse left to map. We were in for another pleasant surprise when my officemate's uncle arranged a tricycle tour for us. We were taken to Enchanted Cave first where we marveled at the giant fossilized clam shells. Later on we took a dip in the cave's cool waters. Wanting more, we transferred to another cave named Wonderful Cave. I liked waters here more than in the previous one. Also, it's got less people so buddy and I were able to talk a lot about love, friendship, and human relations in general.

giant fossilized shells in Enchanted Cave

 And then the lighthouse!!! We spent some time taking pictures there since the sun was already setting with extra wonderful colors. It would be a waste if we were to leave without beautiful silhouette photos!

Bolinao Lighthouse against an electrifyingly clear blue sky

 And until the time the sun had fully disappeared down the horizon we stayed at Patar Beach. I love how the brown yet light sands felt against my skin. My buddy and I buried ourselves in the sand for a while before fnally leaving the place with smiles on our faces.

sunset at Patar Beach

We had dinner at our gracious host's house and after that, a cousin of my officemate accompanied me and my buddy to the town feria. I'm not a big fan of fairs but it's nice to once in a while see for myself what goes in there.

town fair (photo credit: Hannah D.)

darts (photo credit: Hannah D.)

The fair hosted a lot of rides and I do not even know nor recall the names. I only went for the ferris wheel which got me a headache afterwards. I did got 4 out of 5 shots in the darts, winning a pack of cheap chips for it. Then I took advantage of the karaoke machine and sang two songs: Join the Club's Nobela and F4's Meteor Rain. What is nice about singing here is that people do not know your ugly voice and so will not remember you if ever you go back. LOL

Sooooo, who wouldn't love Bolinao???

Rockies at Norzagaray, Bulacan

A week after my ten-day Mindoro trip, my first trip by plane this year, I joined the climb to the Rockies in Norzagaray. The two rock formations in the shape of a lioness and of a rhinoceros are becoming more and more popular these days thanks to the social media. I stumbled upon a post by an old climbing buddy late last year and saw that he climbed the Rockies without inviting me. (#bitter though I wouldn't have joined even if he sent me an invitation because I already planned to go to Bicol with a travel buddy, only to end up in Pangasinan and Ilocos.)

before the rock assaults: I chose to be sweeper just to take a photo of this!

awesome view of rocks

Because I got to the meeting place right on time at 4AM, I sorely lacked sleep and was sleeping every time we were in transit. I was frustrated to find that there still are irresponsible and inconsiderate people who join events like this and yet fail to show up on time. We left our meeting place at 5AM and we missed the sunrise because of those annoying people. Probably newbies who do not care nor know the ethics to mountain climbing. Were I the organizer, I would have gone on without them.

the lioness overlooking Norzagaray

small but smelly flower with unpleasant smell

One can finish the climb in less than an hour, but due to the time spent in taking photo after photo, we got down at past 12PM, had lunch and then napped until 1:30PM. The challenging part in climbing the lioness and the rhino is that one really has to be a good rock climber. In fact, being a hiker is of not much use. Every step of the way, I was wondering if I could make it alive. Being acrophobic was no help at all.

the rhino

Abrus precatorius: bead-like seeds which are actually toxic...

buwis-buhay moment as we climbed down the rhino

for ID, anyone?

Part 2 of the trip was spent in Pinagrealan Cave, a historic site for being the encampment site of the revolutionaries led by Sinfrosio dela Cruz against the Spaniards toward the end of the 19th century. Emilio Aguinaldo and Pio del Pilar also lived here. Now more than ever, I want to visit Mt. Manalmon, see Biak-na-Bato, and go caving there. Such trips kill two birds with one stone since I travel for history and also for nature.

our tour guide in Pinagrealan Cave

At some parts of the cave, one has to go through knee-deep and neck-deep waters. The first foray into the waters was not pleasant given the smell and water's dark color. The second was refreshingly cool and clear, perfect for a bath but then one passes by the smelly waters again on the way back. My legs got itchy soon afterwards so I had to take a quick bath lest I develop more skin problems.

co-participant removes his shoes before wading into the waters

Before I went home, I stopped by Fshermall and looked for a place to eat. Dimsum Place has just opened and was offering discounts for their dimsum so I grabbed the chance to have a taste of their xiaolongbao. As in other restos, they have carrot slices at the bottom to support the bun. There's soup in it alright but it's not as tasty as I hoped them to be. I so miss Shi Lin's xiaolongbao at this point. Another thing, I find it weird whenever I dine in Chinese restos without free hot tea. It just disappoints.

xiaolongbao at Dimsum Place, Fishermall (P90)

Mt. Daraitan

I greeted the month of love with a dayhike in Tanay, Rizal. It is my first time to travel eastward and I am not at all familiar with things there. But I was with a group and we rented a van from Starmall in Shaw Boulevard all the way to Tanay so it was not much of a hassle.

this bridge can be used by vehicles!

 Mt. Daraitan is rated as having a difficulty of 2/9 so I was expecting a carefree hike since I was only looking for a way to escape the city. Who would have thought that it wasn't as easy as they said it was!

The ascent surprised me because of the large steps. Being a small girl put me at a disadvantage and it required me to exert extra effort. Poor knees of mine! The mountain is made up of limestone and some andesitic (not quite sure if they indeed are andesitic but they sure are porphyritic). The limestone are quite pointed and sharp so extra caution needed. It brings to mind the climb we did in Ille Rockshelter and Ugong Rock Formation, both in Palawan. Anyway, I was not able to closely examine the rocks due to the group's speed and I wouldn't want to be left behind.

fish: not sure where the local got these but he was descending and we met him during our ascent

 Another thing of surprise was the very cool weather. Just the day before Metro Manila experienced a sunny day. Yet on the day of our hike, it was cloudy with scattered, intermittent rainshowers, probably the reason why the whole experience gained a bit of a difficulty.

So anyway, it was a hassle putting on and taking off my raincoat all throughout the hike. It doesn't help that I only brought one cardigan and it's not even a jacket to protect me from the chillly winds which remind me a lot of Pulag. 

view from the summit

 The descent was even more challenging, bringing to mind Buntot Palos because I was wearing the same rubber sandals I wore back then. The trail became slippery because of the downpours but at least, it wasn't as muddy as in Buntot Palos, reminding me more of Mt. Arayat.

view from one of the side trails going down

 When we came to the river, it was as the picture on the net I have looked at prior to the hike. It was really a beautiful place. One thing I noted during the whole journey is how clean the mountain and the river is, you will not see garbage along the trail. The locals really make an effort to ensure not only the cleanliness but also the safety of the adventurers as evidenced by the wooden railings they make especially along slippery parts of the trail. These indeed are very much appreciated especially by someone like me who's not too comfortable at descending.

gushing waters of Tinipak River

 We did some cave exploration and by the time we were on our way to the cave, I was already exhausted, and my hands and legs already had a lot of cuts and bruises. Still I could not pass the chance to see what's inside the cave so I still tagged along.

The cave reminded me of Sumaguing Cave in Sagada. But there aren't remarkable formations in Daraitan cave. Still, the sparkling stalactites and the cool refreshing waters of the cave pool are not to be missed. (Though I felt like I might get fever from immersing myself in extra cold water after an exhausting hike. Whew!)

stalactites inside the cave

 I was able to converse with a local, a woman who sells chicharon and oils. Curious, I bought two oils from her: Sampaguita and Mandarin. Ate Bernadette is very enterprising in her own way. She knows how to mend stuffs, showing me how she fixed her bag and how she mended a pair of broken sandals. I am simply in awe of her resourcefulness and inspired to be like her who does not accept defeat and still fight on for her family's future's sake. (Because you know, being a drifter like me makes you complacent and accept things readily as they are...)

beautiful Tinipak River

Going on this adventure made me realize that maybe I have gained much experience with mountains to be able to make comparisons and associating this whole adventure to my past climbs. Many times, I am considering to stop hiking altogether because of the dangers and because my family is always worried about me, but the experiences and the learnings I get only from the mountains are things I cannot give up that easily.

Bohol 03012014 Day 4

Our last day in Bohol started with cheap breakfast at a carinderia in Panglao, near where Ging Ging's Hotel. Because I wasn't that hungry that early, I only had an order of ampalaya, half cup of rice, egg, and free soup, which cost me only P29. Maybe my subconsciousness was telling me I was spending far too much with last night's expensive dinner at Bohol Bee Farm.

We hired a habal-habal for half a day, stopping by the wonderful Hinagdanan Cave first. Entrance fee is P25 per person. Staff also charges P5 for parking. It was a pretty small limestone cave, but a beautiful one at that. I especially love how sunlight comes filtering through the cracks, illuminating the cave and making it look rather divine. And the cool still waters provided us much respite from the heat outside. I dipped in the pool for quite a while just to experience the fresh waters.

cave paintings of snakes with human heads

Now what fascinates me the most about Hinagdanan Cave is the paintings of snakes on the walls! It's my first time to see rock art. (I live in Metro Manila but I have yet to see the Angono Petroglyphs.) From the look of it, the painting doesn't seem to be that old. Still, the subject is quite interesting. Why paint snakes? I wonder what the artist had in mind when he made this? They remind me of nagas.

Next we went to Dimaluan beach, which is more beautiful and more peaceful than boat-filled Alona Beach. The next time I'm visiting Bohol, I'll make sure to spend a night in this area. Entrance fee is P50 per person, plus P25 parking fee. Here I spied a French scuba diver whom I approached and conversed with. I just love the surprised look on a Westerner's face when they find an East Asian looking girl speaking French. LOL. I just wanted to practice my French since it's been a long time since I last used it. Anyway, while my buddy was enjoying the waters, I found refuge under a big tree and read a book. My idea of beach bumming doesn't involve getting burnt.

under this tree I sat and read... and napped

 We headed back to our hotel before noon. As we were waiting for a jeep back to Tagbilaran, a taxi stopped by in front of us and asked to drop us off in the city for just a minimal fee. We grabbed the opportunity since it was very hot and the jeep was taking so long to arrive.

In Tagbilaran, we had lunch at Dong Juan. My buddy had a burger while I feasted on their gambas con ajillo pasta (P179). Yummy! We did some last-minute shopping at BQ Mall before we hit the airport to go back to chaotic Manila.

already missing this pasta. YUMYUMYUM!

Bohol Day 1
Bohol Day 2
Bohol Day 3

February

Today is the first day of March. I just came back from Bohol, tired and sleepy but just the same, eager to blog about this trip which I took with an officemate with whom I wasn't really that close but we do exchange jokes and pleasantries when we see each other. However, I'm feeling a bit lazy and can't seem to find in my heart to organize the photos I took, much less to edit them and create collages.

So here I am blogging about February instead. January was well spent travelling and attending lectures related to archaeology. In February, the focus is travel again. The last day of January saw me being absent at home for Chinese New Year and then succeeding days were spent in Catanauan where I was a visiting volunteer. It was my first time to excavate a burial amidst the sands so I made sure to be extra careful and just use wooden sticks. I so miss volunteering in the field full time but I'm afraid I might be fired if I would request for leave of absence for a month. Besides, I need money badly to fund my travel plans so I still don't see myself quitting my job at this point.

took a photo of this wonderful view of clouds being reflected in Caliraya Lake in Laguna while on the road

Last month, aside from Catanauan, I finally was able to climb Mt. Pulag. The trek was okay because of the gentle slope but the FREEZING cold is something that one must really prepare for. My friend and I didn't prepare for the climb physically but we did finish it. Unfortunately, we saw no sunrise nor sea of clouds so I'm thinking of joining another Mt. Pulag climb and won't stop until I see the famed sunrise and sea of clouds with my own eyes.

view upon descent, near parking lot

Also, my trip to Bohol is my second time to go to Visayas  (like what I've said above... I'm getting repetitive, maybe I should just sleep...) Anyway, we didn't go to the usual tourist spots like the famous Chocolate Hills, but just went to visit the churches destroyed by a very strong earthquake late last year. That, and also the beaches since Visayas really have the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines (I think... I can't be sure of this but of all the places I've been to, Palawan and Visayas seem like paradise and perfect for snorkeling.) It was heartbreaking to see some of the churches in their present pulverized state. On the brighter side, I got to explore one cave in Panglao--- the Hinagdanan Cave where one can swim in its cool waters.

aerial view of Bohol, taken form plane

My trip to Bohol allowed me to get on the motorbike. No, I didn't drive (I don't anyway...). But still, since it was my first time to ride as a motorbike passenger, it was very wonderful. I love the speed, the wind, even the noon time sun that scorches everything and burning my skin in the process. At night when the temperature has dropped down significantly, we still hopped on the habal-habal and looked up at the sky full of stars. After the ride, we couldn't help but think how ugly Metro Manila is for its polluted atmosphere thus preventing stargazers from doing what they love most.

So in the coming days I will be posting about my Catanauan trip, my Mt. Pulag experience, and of course, Bohol.

And because of my many travels, I have finally amassed many travel must-haves. I finally bought a four-season tent which can house two persons. I have bought a new compass, a pair of aqua shoes, more carabiners, and a stainless bowl (for camping). Now I can definitely go camping and just eat processed food in tetra packs (ugh! I hate those, really, but if camping I will have no choice.) That is, unless I will be able to buy cooking utensils for camping. I also need to buy outdoor clothes.

Plans for March include going extra thrifty again to prepare for another trip and also to allot some of my money to my savings. (Japan will be a reality soon...) Aside from travelling, I would also like to keep my promise to my sisters to clean our room. 

Ugong Rock and Underground River, Palawan 04222013

Day 1 of my Palawan trip was spent in Ugong Rock, and the famed Subterranean River Park. Earlier, I had booked a tour of the Underground river (P1500) since I don't want to ruin my vacation worrying about the permit to enter the park.

The guide first took us to Ugong Rock where I had my fun climbing the limestone formations. There's part in the climb where you will need ropes for ascending, which for me is the most fun part, since I terribly miss rappelling. When you get to the top, you have a choice, either to go down the say way you went up OR you do so by zipline. Of course, I chose the second. It was my FIRST EVER ZIPLINE EXPERIENCE and it was FUN! You see greens flashing before your eyes for some 21 seconds. And after that, you'll want more. The hard part is letting go at first. My knees wobbled at the start. (Yes, I'm acrophobic... a bit!)

Ugong Rock

On the way to the Undergroung River Park, we stopped by the majestic Elephant Limestone Formation for some picture-taking.

Elephant Limestone Formation

Then off to some place where we had a wonderful buffet lunch before we took a ferry ride to the park.

komodo dragon vs. moneky

After waiting for our turn for what seemed like an hour (you'll find interesting things to do while waiting so don't worry), the 45-minute tour started. We're lucky to have a very funny guy who pointed out the cool formations inside the cave with his witty and humorous comments. By all means, bring your own flashlight, just in case the one holding the torch lamp is an unreliable fellow.