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I've been frequenting Mt. Maculot as of late, and before riding the jeepney to Cuenca, I always grab something to eat around the Lipa bus stop. I used to always eat at Jollibee until something happened. During my last visit, though, I saw this cute, young cashier:
I went mountain climbing yesterday with a friend. We didn't know it would rain when we planned it Tuesday night, and when it rained Wednesday morning when we were about to leave, it didn't stop us thinking it wouldn't be raining in Laguna where Mt. Kalisungan is.
Last time I went mountain climbing with K was when we did Mt. Manabu. It was the first time we didn't get a guide. Thinking Mt. Kalisungan's trail was as established as the trail of Manabu and the other mountains we've hiked, we also didn't get a guide yesterday.
Little did we know that the forks of the trail were so misleading, as well as some people. A young man we passed by gave us the wrong directions so we ended up heading in the direction of a different mountain.
Good thing we ended up in the house of a very old couple who live there by themselves. The kindhearted man in his late 60s voluntarily brought us to a trail leading to the summit.
The trail, though, brought us to a vast cogon area where we couldn't find an opening. We took the slightest sign of parted grass as opening and made our own way through the thick cogon area. It was raining all thoughout but it rained especially hard that time. And since we're nearing the Kalisungan summit which is known for its strong winds, our ordeal in finding our own way through the cogon grass was made even harder because the grass kept slapping at our faces caused by the strong wind.
K was beginning to have doubts we could find our way through, coupled with fear of snakes that might be present in the thick foliage. I just kept on being positive, telling him we're already near the summit. And it's true because what we could see beyond us was only the dark skies threatening heavier rains. There's no more mountain. No more trees. So I knew we're almost there.
And then God gave us a sight of the summit. I was ecstatic. But K wasn't because there was still no trail. After about 45 minutes of finding our way through the cogon foliage, we stumbled upon the main trail. I shouted. And let go of the fear that has been building up inside me. No matter how positive I wanted to be, I couldn't help but be afraid. It was almost 4 PM. In the middle of the cogon area with no trail. Drenched in rain water and the skies threatening to pour more.
My pocket camcorder and digital camera were useless. I couldn't use them much because I didn't want them to get wet. Those two are my life. But I braved taking some shots. It's useless trekking that long and not have even just a picture of the summit.
But it turned out we took quite a lot.
Anyway, here's Mt. Kalisungan's summit from a few feet down.
I was at Kwebang Lampas/Lukang Beach last week with a friend (not The Bestfriend cuz he cancelled it again). It was an adventure because we really didn't know how to get there. All we had were guides we Googled before the trip.
It was a much-needed breather especially for me. Working every single day wears me down. That trip, as short as it may have been, provided change of environment, excercise (we trekked for an hour with my heavy backpack), fun, and a sense of fulfillment (I've always wanted to travel around and that trip to Kwebang Lampas is a start).
The beach (called Lukang Beach) has the whitest sand, although Typhoon Basyang, which hit the country only days before we went there, left the beach a little messy with dried leaves and small tree branches scattered around. The caretaker of the beach apologized for that state, but it's really no big deal to me. I don't even think it has taken away the beauty of the place one bit.
They don't have modern facilities down there, aside from a few cottages and comfort rooms (which I didn't use, anyway). I brought a tent so we didn't rent any of the cottages, but when asked, the caretaker told me cottage rent is from 400 to 500 PHP.
If you're into undeveloped white beaches that's almost deserted, and if you like adventure and trekking, I suggest you go to Kwebang Lampas. The cave is actually just a small part of the attraction, the beauty of the beach is to die for.
To get there, ride a bus to Lucena Grand Terminal. From that same terminal, look for the Pagbilao-bound jeepneys. At Pagbilao market which is the end point of the jeepney ride, there's a small jeepney terminal going to Ibabang Polo. At Ibabang Polo, look for the PNP detachment near the power plant gate. Follow the road to the left of the detachment until you reach a barricade that's the entrance to Sitio Bansilan, and the start of your one hour trek. The trek is pretty easy to follow. Just stay close to the power plant's walls.
Anyway, they don't allow overnight stay at the beach, even if you brought your own tents. =)
For so long, I’ve been wanting to travel around the country. I used to tell myself that one day, I would be proud to say that I have already traveled every single corner of the Philippines.
As time went by (read: as I get older), I realized that the main problem for that long-time dream was actually money. You have to have money to be able to go to such key destinations as Boracay and Palawan.
Second, there was that problem of who I would travel with. It would really be lonely and scary to travel alone. For so long, I was looking for someone who could be a travel buddy.
The Bestfriend actually used to be my movie buddy until he got married and he was replaced by JP and then just lately, CJ.
Actually, The Bestfriend didn’t wanna go with me to Laoag last March (read about it here), and he was the reason why my Pyromusical tickets just went to waste (you can read that one here).
So I guess I shouldn’t even include The Bestfriend in the list of prospective travel buddies.
Anyway, one lazy evening, I came across this travel blog by a woman who travels with, guess who, herself! Yes she travels alone!
I immediately got inspired, of course. If a girl could do it, why couldn’t I?
So I browsed her travel blog and looked for the nearest destination. I wanted to start near, of course, and I wanted her say about the place. If the place was safe for a girl travelling alone, then it would be safe for me, too.
I chose Kwebang Lagpas in Pagbilao, Quezon. Her travel to that place was in full account in her blog. She even included the fare prices and resort entrance and cottage rentals. Now how cool is that?
I don’t have a backpack, though. If I would go backpacking to that place which I’ve never once been into, I couldn’t bring a man tote or a messenger bag which are the only bags I currently own. I want to buy a rucksack. Yes, that’s how serious I am about this thing. I realized, too, that it’s just cheap to backpack if you knew the ways of backpacking. Okay, you can never haggle with bus fares or airfares, but there’s always a way to cut the costs of accommodation and food.
Last Monday, The Bestfriend and I were chatting over YM. I was asking about rucksacks until I felt the need to ask him to go with me to Pagbilao. He’s still my bestfriend to date and I really enjoy his company. I am perhaps still hoping that the excitement and the bond we shared when we camped at their mountain in Batangas some nine years ago will happen again. Deep inside, though, I told myself not to count on it too much would he decide to go with me.
I wasn’t expecting it but he said yes. He’d go with me on Sunday. I originally planned to go Saturday but since Sunday and Monday are his days off for July, I moved it to Sunday. The girl solo traveler also goes out Sundays so why the heck not.
The thing that happened with the pyromusical competition wouldn’t happen again, though. I promise myself that. His company would only add to the fun I will be having, but his absence – should he decide not to come anymore – would make the trip just fine, if not more exciting.
