(Decided this would too long for one entry, so decided to post in 2 installments :) Also, since I wasn't able to bring a camera, most of the pictures here were taken by my friends.Tried to be as accurate as possible in citing. Let me know if you'd want to get in touch with them. Thank you!)
At the beginning of the year, I vowed to myself that this year will be a year of many firsts. To travel and to explore. To seek new adventures. To chase down things that both thrill and scare me. To say yes to being truly alive. I was inspired to take on the new year, and to take on the world too, for that matter. I was bitten by the travel bug, and the familiar has become too bland, too boring, and too dreary.
So when a friend asked me if I wanted to climb Pulag, I immediately said yes. Never mind that I had no physical training whatsoever. Never mind that I know absolutely nothing about hiking. Or about surviving in the wild. All I could think about was the thrill of endless possibilities and a new adventure.
Taken from Pinterest (http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/dc/dc/0a/dcdc0adcac576179d0ff2175c0dcbd3f.jpg)
A few hours before the trip, I found out that there had been a bus accident that morning that left more than a dozen people dead and even more people injured. (God bless their souls.) Which left me really anxious and apprehensive. But I still decided to push through with the trip. So after taking a shower in Kath’s condo, I met up with Mark and had dinner with Steph in Elias before heading off to El Pueblo where Mark and I were supposed to meet up with the rest of the group.
Although I knew a lot of the people in the group, I was still a bit apprehensive. Of all the times, my usual friendly self had to choose that particular moment to hide. Good job. Or maybe I was too anxious and preoccupied. After settling a few last minute things, we were finally able to leave Ortigas at around 10PM. I guess it was more convenient that our group decided to rent vans instead of taking the bus to Baguio. At least we had privacy even if I wasn’t really able to sleep much on the 6 hr ride to Baguio. Around 4AM we arrived at the Victory Liner Station to Baguio where we were to transfer to our jeeps.
Photo by Alex U.
(Yes I gave in to the Strawberry Taho. I asked Manong to lessen the syrup. Yummy in my tummy for only Php30!)
Angelee and I enjoying our warm cups of Strawberry Taho. Photo mine.
After 1.5 hrs of winding roads, we had a stop-over at Country Road to have breakfast. I had Purple Rice + Adobo + Banna. Since it was too early in the morning, I wasn’t able to eat much. L
After filling our tummies, we headed off for another 1.5 hr drive to the DENR Station for a briefing about the do’s and don’ts inside the park. (The only upside to that 1.5 hr drive.)
View from our jeep. Photo mine.
After the short introduction, it’s off to the Ranger Station where we will begin our trek. (Not getting a porter: one of the proudest decisions I made in my life. More on this later.)
My friend Mark and I taking some pictures while waiting for the others to get ready. Photo by Alex U.
And so with only my backpack filled with bare essentials and a little courage and determination in my back pocket, I set off and began the three-hour trek up the mountain. Within the first 10 minutes I was already running out of breath. I was seriously rethinking my decision not to hire a porter. But I was too stubborn and to proud to take the easy way out.
Photo by Rachel L.
Every so often, we’d meet people on their way down from the campsite and they would always say encouraging words, that the view was amazing, it made the climb worth it, that we were already close to the campsite, etc. Well if I were to guess, it was more probably because we looked like this!
Are we there yet? Photo by Alex U.
I did not know how I made it, but I did it! Even though I was one of the last to make it to the campsite, the feeling of relief and exhilaration is just beyond words.
Looks like we made it. Photo by Ivan L.
Most of us were too tired and opted to nap inside our tents while our guides from Vagabond Pinas prepared our lunch.
Trying to annoy Mark G. while he naps. Or eats. Photo mine.
After lunch, some started “unpacking.” And since we have nothing on our itinerary, we decided to explore the surrounding areas. And yes this meant taking more pictures!!!
Goofing around with Kem L. our resident mow-del. Photo mine.
Since it was getting a bit dark already, we decided to go back to the campsite. Because we were bored… we played charades! HAHA and even a round of Riff-Off ala Pitch Perfect.
Before you know it, it was time for dinner. If there’s dinner by candlelight, there’s dinner by headlamplight and there’s dinner by starlight/moonlight. Even though the fare was simple, eating while standing, eating while squatting/sitting on the ground, it was quite an experience altogether. Nothing beats holding hot steamy bowls of food while huddled close to each other under the light of the stars.
Dinner is served. Photo by Alex U.
By this time, the temperature had already dropped; nevertheless, we decided to go stargazing. It was such an amazing experience that even now, almost a month later, I still find it difficult to find the right words to describe it. The first few moments that you gaze up the stars,your mind goes completely blank for a few seconds. And then comes awe. And then peace. And in that moment, nothing else matters than being in the here and the now. As you marvel at the thousands of stars that dot the sky, you feel an absolute sense of calm, that somehow you feel that everything is all right in the world. That tonight, everything is exactly where it should be.
Under the Stars. Photo by Ivan L.
(to be continued...)
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