Exploring Mountains (Mt. Gulugod Baboy)

"The beginning of a journey begins with one step." That's exactly what I always feel when I wander around and travel. After a month of rest I was able to explore and have a little adventure near the city again. It's also in Batangas, it's a very popular mountain because according to many who already went there it's the easiest climb. Trust me it is!

On our way to the summit of Mt. Gulugod Baboy.

This is my fourth mountain climb and I would really recommend this for beginners. My first climb was February of this year also in Batangas which is the Mt. Batulao, I just ended a relationship about a month ago before the trekked and I thought having the trip will really ease my broken heart. And it did! The place is definitely amazing and stunning. I can't really fully describe what I felt when I was at the summit.

Camp site in Mt. Batulao

I'm so thankful to them (Mommy Clauds and her hubby). Our picture at the summit. :-)

Yay!

My second climb was Mt. Samat in Bataan. I'm not thrilled at all, the reason why is  it's very commercialized, you can ride your car or any vehicle going to the mountain unless you will walk the cemented road to reach the top. It's like not what I've imagined I guess but no kidding the place is great and I'm surprised the cross at the top (it's the summit by the way) has an elevator inside and it would be great for star gazing at night.

Mt. Samat

My third climb was in Cavite and it's Mt. Pico De Loro. Oh boy that place was really the most breath taking and let's say life taking (buwis buhay). We climbed the Monolith and seriously it's very dangerous and  I really felt like I'm really going to die if I miss one step.

Mt. Pico de Loro

And just this month, Mt. Gulugod Baboy! Yay! The name is really really unique right? It's like a pig spine due to it's shape. The summit is like a hilltop like the TV show Teletubbies when I was young. Actually I don't know which one is the summit really, there's like three hilltops. The fog is really covering the hilltop the whole time we are there. I can imagine how lovely the place is at night. It's really pretty and probably best if we were able to spend the night and do the camping but we weren't able to because we were so late to arrived at the place and considering we were girls. We didn't push ourselves to do the night trek. We spent the night at the nearest resort (Philpan Dive Resort) instead and pitched our tent there. We left the resort and start the climb around 4:00 am. We reached the summit around 6:30 am. I was inspired by the kids we met along the way, they're coming down from that mountain to go to school. And probably walking long distance, we hardly see any jeepneys just motorcycles and tricycles for commuters. And the people around that place was amazing too and very friendly. They let us

  All I can say when I was at the top of the summit is really "Thank You Lord, Your the best!" I'm so happy He allowed me to be able to see the wonders of what's up there. The fear, jittery, excitement and how small I am; it reminds me of something. I'm being reminded to be humble before Him. That complaining won't really make a situation change. And to be reminded that when your struggling with something and you think you can't do it anymore but if you push yourself there's always a reward at the end. That trying to reach your goals in life is never really that easy. It requires strength, hardwork, sweat(sometimes blood)and faith to pursue it. And to be reminded that God really never leaves you in your journey, because He always wanted you to experience His love and companionship through other people. Whether it's through a friend or a stranger you will meet along the way. I know He will allow me to be able to visit more of His creations and more adventures to come.  #OneMountainAtATime  More adventure awaits! God bless us all! :-)

Malagaslas Spring/Ambon-AmbonFalls Unplanned Travel

I always wanted to travel and explore the beauty of nature that God provided us here on earth. I know for a fact that there's a possibility that humans or us(I'm not exempted) will not be able to see it in the future. So working and travelling? You can't really have both at the same time unless you're a traveller doing researches, archaeologist who looks for remains all over the world or whatever job and career it is that involves you to be outdoor with nature. I always day dream of going outside the country and travel the world, I guess I'm not brave enough yet to do it and besides Philippines has a thousands of islands to explore with.

What can you explore near the city of Manila? That's the most common questions you can ask. It's really challenging to schedule this kind of trips because aside from we are working we are contended sometimes to be at the mall, park or just stay at home and watch movies. I love waterfalls for some reason, beaches and mountains too. I wanted to travel alone sometimes but two is better than one even in the Bible (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) it's better to be with someone, so gladly God gave me a friend who has the same passion as me and that is to TRAVEL.

My travel buddy(Janine Guarte) at Tanauan Terminal.

It's the end of the summertime here in the Philippines and rainy days are approaching but that didn't stop as to explore and get a chance to escape the city. Dawn of June 17,2015 we met at Jam Liner Bus Station in Kamias, Cubao to our journey going to Laurel, Batangas. It's supposed to be in Pangasinan but our schedule won't make it so we have our second option which is in Batangas. We both don't know the place so it is always the exciting part. We need to bound a bus going to Tanauan/Lipa but no CALABARZON board sign on it but we can't find any, we finally asked one personnel and he said it's more better for us to ride the Lucena bound bus and ask them to drop us off at Sto. Thomas, Batangas.

After an hour we finally arrived at Sto. Thomas market, that's the drop off point. It's a good thing that one of the passengers inform us that it's the place where we can ride a jeepney going to Tanauan City. We have our breakfast at Tanauan City and head to the terminal going to Laurel, Batangas. We took another jeepney ride for about an hour and a half. We have to wait for the jeepney to be full of passengers. It's really going to eat much of your time so make sure to have breakfast or have some snacks with you. The earliest trip will be 7:00 a.am. but that depends on how many passengers are already there in the terminal. There's a time limit for the hour of departure of the jeepney going to Tanuan from Laurel. Last trip will be 3:00 p.m. so make sure to be at the terminal before three o'clock. The view was really great, we get a glimpse of the Taal volcano in Talisay and if you look up on the mountain part you'll see Tagaytay. You can even go there once you visit the waterfalls. It would be best to have your own car though because transportation is through a motorcycle(habal-habal).

The view of Taal Lake going to Laurel, Batangas.

Around 10:00 a.m. we're finally at Laurel, Batangas near the 7/11 store you can get a tricycle to bring you to the falls in Barangay Sitio Salipit. It takes at least 15-20 minutes and we're there. You will see a hanging bridge and just pay the entrance it's just 10.00php. You will be trekking for approximately 10-15minutes going to the Malagaslas Spring and another 15 minutes going to the Ambon-Ambon Falls. I would suggest to get a guide although you can reach the waterfalls without it it's because this is the only source of income that the people in this small barangay has. Our guide is just 17 years old and as we talked to him he said that he doesn't want to study or go to school any more because of financial needs. He is supposed to be in college this year. So we asked how much are we going to pay him, he said whatever we can give. I can't help but be thankful that although we're not rich my mother really worked hard to provide for my schooling. Of course God is always there through out the times my family is really struggling. I would say it's a favor and blessings from Him, He is really good all the time.

The Hanging Bridge going to the registration area.

There's another bamboo bridge going to the waterfalls.

He doesn't want to take any pictures and unfortunately I forgot his name too, I'm really not good at remembering names (Oops sorry...). So here's some back photos of Kuya instead. :-)

Heading to Ambon-Ambon falls.

Heading to Ambon-Ambon falls.

Quench your thirst by drinking the water coming from the rock, :-)

Tadaa! Oh the view is stunning! I may say that every waterfalls that we've visited is really different and that's make it more amazing. It's great that God created this place by just His words but then you can see the details by your own eyes. The taken photos cannot really describe the actual view of what we've seen in this place.

Approaching Ambon-Ambon Falls.

Front View of Ambon-Ambon falls.

It's just bad timing because the it rained a couple of days ago and the water was so muddy.

But that didn't stop as to enjoy the water and have a back massage. It was kind of scary at first because you don't know if the water is deep or what not but to our surprise it's just on our waist.

This never stops as to cool ourselves and have a plunged in the muddy waterfalls.

The water is still great for a back massage.

There's just one thing we hated about this place and my friend really doesn't want to come back any more. There's a care taker at the waterfalls and there's some cottages that unfortunately we thought it's for free. We're the only people at the place at that time and our guide didn't even mention that even just staying there for about five minutes you have to pay. There's no sign at all and besides the cottages are not cleaned. Garbage are all over the cottage. I even cleaned the place where we put our things. It's really fine for us to pay however the care taker is just really rude to the extent that my friend really argued with her. We didn't stayed for a very long time although I really want to. I guess if you will be visiting the place please be warned that there's a fee in staying at the cottage, it's a 100.00php. So with a heavy heart we head back to Malagaslas Falls instead and stayed there for at least an hour and a half.

I'm just amused by this plant, don't know what it's called but it's like a bouquet of leaves.

Heading back to Malagaslas Springs, taking a rest. My friend was really pissed off at that time. :-D

Malagaslas Spring

There are some cottages in this spring and you can rent it. You can use a toilet for 5.00php. You can also rent their karaoke and sing all day long in your stay. The water is crystal clear and the source of it are not coming from the Ambon-Ambon falls. Locals are drinking their water from this springs. 

I'm wondering what this girl is thinking but I bet it's about the water is cold or the care taker still? LOL

Enjoying the cold water.

This is really the most interesting part, it stays for maybe 3 minutes in my finger. I am so amazed, this is a water dragon fly I just don't know what's the exact name. I swear, you'll have a hard time catching them. :-)

Wacky pose.

We haven't seen this cute sign going to the waterfalls but glad we found it.

Taking a picture to this, I hope they will replace this soon.

Goodbye Sitio Salipit.

So there you go our unplanned travel. Philippines has a lot of things to offer and for us to be aware to take good care of our nature. There are a lot places to explore near Manila and all it takes is your courage and time to go to this wonderful places. And mind you this travel is not expensive and not that exhausting it's even tiring walking at malls. Next time I will include the whole itinerary of our trip. Until our next adventure. God bless everyone! ;-)