Mt. Manabu 2018

It’s been a year since my last hike, that was February 2017 in Mt. Maculot.

Since I was so fed up and stressed in my current job, I filed a 3-day vacation leave. I said to myself that I have to go somewhere to spend my 3 days’ vacation. And since my friend is also mending her broken heart, she decided to go on hiking so why not join her.

We agreed to climb Mt. Manabu in Sta. Cruz, Sto. Tomas, Batangas. One of our friends already climbed Mt. Manabu so we decided not to have a guide.

At 5:30AM, we’re at the registration point already. At 6AM, we arrived at the starting point. (Exciting!!) So nagsimula na kaming umakyat, sabi nila visible naman daw ang trail and kailangan lang namin sundan yun. Meron ding mga guide map so push! Narating namin ang Station 2 around 7AM. Nakakapagtaka lang na parang hindi naman paakyat yung dinadaanan namin. Good thing, may napagtanungan kami, yun pala naliligaw na kami. (yikes! lol) Sabi ni kuya, papunta na raw CALABARZON ang labas namin. Nakakaloka, sa halip na bundok ang mapuntahan, toll way ang mararating. (LOL)

Medyo mahabang lakarin ulit pabalik ng station 2 pero keri, pawis pa mooore! Nung nakabalik na kami sa station 2, tinandaan na namin ang sinabi nila na derecho lang ang daan.

Patarik na ng patarik ang dinadaanan namin kaya feeling namin tama na yung tinatahak namin. Thanks God, narating namin ang Station 5 o kung tawagin nila ay Kapihan ni Tatay Tino. Dito sa station na ‘to libre ang kape at take note, hindi basta kape ha, civet coffee lang naman ang iinumin mo- kape na galing sa poop ng alamid.

Nang makarating kami sa summit kung san nandun ang malaking krus medyo foggy pa kaya hindi pa masyadong kita ang view.

Honestly, I need more of this. Less worry, less stress. Yung happy lang, yung payapa lang ang nararamdaman mo. Panatag ang pagkatao mo.

At pag bumalik na tayo sa realidad ng buhay, mas handa na tayo. Meron na ulit tayong sapat ng lakas at determinasyon para harapin ang lahat.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy version 2.0

sometimes you just need a break, in a beautiful place, to figure everything out

I’ve been to Mt. Gulugod Baboy way back 2015 and last Sunday I got the chance to visit it again.

Around 4pm we were already in Mabini Town Proper and from there we took a tricycle to Gulugod. One of our colleagues is residing in Brgy. Ligaya wherein Gulugod Baboy is located, kaya plano ko na maligo muna bago umakyat.

Medyo maulap ang panahon kaya hindi mainit ang pag-akyat namin. May mga dala kaming baon sa taas para dun kumain. Ang saya na kumakain ka ng pasta, pichi-pichi at gelatin sa taas ng bundok- tanaw ang buong bayan ng Bauan, ang dagat ng Mabini, ang Sombrero Island, pati mata mo busog sa magandang tanawin. Nakakapanatag ng puso.

At maya- maya nga padilim na nang padilim ang kalangitan, parating na ang ulan. So pack-up muna at kailangang bumaba. Dapat hindi maabutan ng ulan at talagang basang-sisw pagkababa. Sige, takbo na parang may zombie apocalypse. HAHA

Medyo natagalan din bago tumila ang ulan. Yung planong manonood ng sunset, wala. Yung planong magtatayo ng tent sa bundok para dun matulog, wala.

Ang plano, kinabukasan maaga gigising para sa sunrise. Sunrise naman ang ilalaban natin bilang nabigo tayo sa sunset. HAHA Pero pag minamalas ka nga naman, wala ring sunrise na nasaksihan kasi umulan na ulit. Hindi naman kami aware na may bagyo pala nun bilang hindi kami nagcheck ng weather forecast. (urghh loser! lol)

Anyways, kahit na nasira lahat ng plano, okay lang. Kahit na walang sunset o sunrise na natunghayan, okay lang. At least nakalayo pansamantala sa gulo at ingay ng syudad (naks, parang Manila girl kung makasyudad haha) but kidding aside, what I mean is yung kahit ilang oras, nakawala sa realidad ng mundo. Yung wala kang ibang nakikita kundi yung magagandang ginawa ng Maylikha. Yung pag tumigil ka pansamantala, marerealized mo na maganda pa rin talaga ang buhay. Kahit may mga problema at pagsubok, masaya pa rin ang mabuhay. Sabi nga, kung may isandaan kang dahilan para malungkot at umiyak, humanap ka ng kahit isang dahilan para maging masaya, ngumiti at tumawa, dahil meron yan. Hindi ka mawawalan ng dahilan para sumaya at magpasalamat.

Kaya kung napapagod ka na sa buhay, pahinga lang ng konti, then laban ulit.

So, to my 27-year-old self, you got this, okay? *winks*

Layag Layag Beach Cove: My Summer Starts Here

Last March 05, 2017 I found one majestic paradise in the heart of Nasugbu, Batangas- the Layag Layag Beach Cove or Layag Layag Island. It’s in Brgy. Papaya, Nasugbu Batangas.

We arrived in Nasugbu proper around 2 in the afternoon. There us a PUV in SM Lipa route to Nasugbu town that costs Php125.00 From Nasugbu, we have our contact Kuya Rodel who will accompany us to the beach. We rode a tricycle that took us 45 mins to reach Brgy. Papaya and that costs Php700.00 back and forth. Going to Layag Layag Beach, you have to take a boat that costs Php220.00 per head. From Brgy. Papaya to the island, it took 15 minutes. (yan lang yung expenses plus food since wala naman entrance fee and cottage #budgetarian)

Why Layag Layag? Because the rock formation in the middle of the sea looks like a sail or layag. This is indeed a virgin beach since there are no cottages, no nearby stores, no electricity, no comfort rooms nor shower rooms. Just pure nature, and I think it’s beautiful because that’s where the real adventure begins.

You have to bring your own tent or hammock so you can have something to sleep in. We have our food, water, bread, chips and canned goods. We did not bother to cook anyway. Around 4pm we reached the picturesque island. When we arrived, some people were already leaving, which I find a little bit awesome, so we can have the island all by ourselves. LOL We put up our tent, while inhaling the sea breeze and indulging our eyes to the breath-taking view that is in front of us. By 6pm we watched the sunset. One of the best feelings in the world!! And then we started swimming, you just have to wear slippers to be safe from rocks and sea urchins.

Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, everyday can end beautifully. ❤

Since there’s no CR to shower up, I thought it would make me sticky, but no. Ang sarap kaya nung pakiramdam na natutuyo ang tubig-alat sa balat mo.

When the darkness crept in, I can really feel the serenity and the calmness. Sobrang parang kinakalma at hinehele ang buo kong pagkatao. I can hear the ocean waves rustling while reggae music is playing in the background. What is chill?

By 10pm, we started to doze off. I thought I’m not going to have a good sleep but I’m so wrong. That’s one of the best sleeps I’ve ever had. My sister even told me that I’m snoring! (wait, whaaaat?!)

The next day, we had our morning walk, we took pictures and we took our final dip in Layag Layag’s seawater. At 10AM, we decided to text Kuya Rodel for him to fetch us since we still have work on that day. Bilang napakabuting tao ni Kuya Rodel, sa kanya kami nakisuyo para makiligo at makapagbihis ng maayos.

Layag Layag Island escapade is my most memorable experience this 2017 so far. Maybe because it’s full of fun, laughter, craziness and spontaneity. At dahil din siguro ang dami kong “firsts” dito. First time kong makapag- boat ride, first time to camp and first time to sleep in a tent. Haay lahat masarap sa pakiramdam. Hindi lang ako nag enjoy, ang dami ko ring realizations. Una, napakasimple naman pala talaga ng buhay, tayong mga tao lang ang nagpapakomplikado. Sina Kuya Rodel at ang pamilya nila, ang simple lang ng pamumuhay pero ramdam ko naman na masaya at kontento sila. Pangalawa, meron pa rin talagang mabubuting tao, na kahit hindi mo masyadong kilala o isang beses mo palang nakita ay handa kang tulungan ng bukal sa puso. Si Kuya Rodel, hindi nagdalawang-isip na patuluyin kami sa bahay nila para makapaglinis kami ng katawan. Pangatlo, simple things do matter and sometimes those simple things can make you the happiest.

It’s official, my summer starts in this stunning haven! So stay salty everyone!