Taking a break from my Tokyo posts to make way for this one. You know how others have so-called “birthday posts” on their blogs? Well, this is my version of that, haha! One year ago, on December 21, 2013, I and three others went on a “spontaneous” trip to Mt. Pinatubo. I say it’s spontaneous, because it took less than a week to plan, and it was me and my friend joining two others whom we haven’t really gone on any trip with before. Haha! So random. 🙂
Past midnight, we boarded the Victory Liner bus to get to Tarlac. 4 hours later, we were at Capas. We had early morning coffee, then about another hour from Capas to Brgy. Juliana, the jump-off point to Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake. (We were approaching it via Tarlac.)
We had to register with the local tourism office in charge of visitors to the place. We signed waivers and such, and paid around Php1,500 (if my faulty memory serves me right) for the ride and the guide to the lake. And then our Mt. Pinatubo adventure officially began.
This was followed by around an hour and a half ride on a 4×4. We specifically requested for an open one. They warned us that it is going to be dusty; we didn’t mind. We didn’t come here to remain clean, anyway.
All 4 of us opted to ride at the back, refusing to sit inside the cabin with the driver. We wanted to make the most out of the experience.
Funny thing, I think the driver was trying to be careful, to make the ride not as bumpy or rough than usual. We’d be bracing ourselves for some wild and jarring moments, but when it falls short of our ‘expectations’, we’d be going, “errr… whuuutt. was. that.”
So it came down to this:
Driver: where are you ladies from?
Us: La Trinidad, Ben—
Driver: Ah! Benguet! No wonder!
Aherm. Yes, we have tougher, rougher and more merciless terrain than this.
I expected to see nothing but an endless expanse of dry and bare land. But the terrain was quite interesting; and I’m not just referring to the bumps, or how we had to cling to the bars and hold on. My friend lost her visor cap somewhere in this place. 🙂
There were also some streams that had to be crossed. And a couple of times, our vehicle had to fight its way through the wet sand. It. Was. Fun. (Yes, this is me being weird.)
The LOTR geek in me kept thinking, “I am in Mordor.”
We then reached the area where our ride has to stop and park. We took what we needed from our gear and left the rest in our vehicle, then set off with our guide, Dennis, to the lake. Our driver was left behind, along with our ride.
There are some streams to be crossed, so we changed into our sandals/slippers. We just grabbed our camera, our lunch, and a change of clothes. And, of course, our cameras.
Our guide cautioned us from staying in one place for too long, especially beside the large walls, because there are times when rocks would fall overhead.
Sure enough, on our way back later that same day, we saw a spot not far off with rocks falling.
I suppose this is an example of an area where an erosion took place.
There were some rest stops along the way, and some signs when you’re getting closer.
Depending on your pace, it would take around an hour and a half to two hours from the “parking area” to the lake. I had no problem with the walking, since there was really no climbing involved at all. It was the scorching heat of the sun that I had trouble off. I am, after all, cold blooded. Literally and figuratively.
The view was so beautiful, I forgot the long trek. 🙂
Swimming was not allowed, though, since the sulfur level rose during the time we were there. There was also the fact that there were no lifeguards.
Boat rides were also prohibited. So we just picked a spot beside the lake, spread a blanket, had our lunch. It was already around lunchtime, anyway.
Food coma set in and we felt drowsy. We opened our umbrellas and lay back. The next thing I knew, I dozed off. Who wouldn’t, in such a place as this? I did not even mind that there was another group of young people who were causing quite a ruckus a few meters away.
We left at around 3pm because our guide did not want to be caught in the middle of the “wasteland” when it gets dark.
On the way back to the jump-off point, the driver of our 4×4 let it rip. 🙂 No more caution as he just sped through the terrain.
We then arrived at the jump-off point, took a shower, and went back to Capas via tricycle. It was close to 9pm when we did. Then we had dinner and waited for the bus headed for Baguio. We arrived in Baguio at half past 12 am of December 22, when I just turned a year older.
We set off from Baguio at past midnight, and arrived back in Baguio 24 hours later. Now THAT is what I call coming “full circle” and a “day trip”.
This year, my birthday falls on a Monday, a workday. No out-of-town adventures, but considering how packed the first part of December 2014 was for me, it’s all right. I look forward to another year filled with new experiences, new faces and friends, new adventures, and more fun!!
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