Mt. Manalmon, San Miguel, Bulacan

One day, Mikee, Carlo and I planned a trek to Manalmon on October 19,2013, inviting a few other friends and agreed we meet at 7 am sharp at Victory Liner Pasay.

October 19, 2013 at 4:00 am. I texted Mikee that I'm not sure I could make it to our trip today because I just got home from our gig. I told him at exactly 4:11 am, "Mikee, I just got home and I'm not sure I can make it. Sana magising ako." I am pretty sure the trip is not happening, since it was just us 3 who's coming and I am so bangag. I still alarmed my fone 6 am and dozed off.

 At 7:12 am later, I woke up from a call from Mikee. I literally jumped off to bed and left the phone unanswered. I took a half-bath and I think that's the fastest bath I took in my life. I packed my stuffs and I'm about to leave at 7:30. I texted Mikee that I'll be there in 15 minutes! As I browsed through the unread messages while walking towards the jeepney loading area, I realized Carlo texted at 6:50 am saying "Janine where are you na?" Turned out he was already there that early. Sorry Carlo! HAHA!

 I arrived at 7:55 am. Mikee is still not there. Carlo, always enthusiastic, don't mind us being late. (I'm not sure hahaha!) We just chat and chat while we waited for Mikee to arrive. At 8:40 am, Mikee finally came and he told us he rode the wrong bus! We left Victory liner and headed to look for 5 star bus terminal, where we would be riding the Cabanatuan bound bus (130 pesos), which would unload us to San Miguel Bulacan. When we got off, we rode the tricycle (250 pesos one way - 85 pesos each for us) that brought us to the base camp.

The tricycle dropped us here and we started walking towards the registration area.

Stunning view welcomed us!

We're not even starting the trek yet. :)

         

       Before we reach the registration area, we have to cross a river. There are originally 2 options in crossing the river: the "monkey bars" or what I call "hanging ropes" because it's like a hanging bridge just made of ropes, and the floating balsa which you pay 5 pesos one way. That time, only the balsa is available because the monkey bars were ruined by the typhoon Santi. :( It was really heart-breaking because a lot of families were affected, and we're happy to be of help just by visiting the place. 

We're so excited as we rode the balsa!! It was the most relaxing 20 seconds of my life. 

   When we reached the registration area, we availed a tour guide for 300 pesos (100 pesos each), and 150 pesos fee for spelunking (50 pesos each). Our guide is Kuya Lean, who happens to be a cool and very accommodating guide. :)

 We started walking down the trails going to the base of Mt. Manalmon.

Beautiful rock formation :)

 This is a glimpse of the effect of the Typhoon Santi. Too many plants and trees were destructed. </3 But still the place is beautiful.

 We also came across a raging river.

Carlo fighting the waters!

 We also passed by this pink pineapple. It's a native pineapple.

An unusual specie of a cockroach also welcomed us. It's big and scary. Carlo even joked that if you would attempt killing it with a slipper, your slipper will break.  

 This is what I call Authentic Natural Foot Spa. Carlo and Mikee said it's not really a fun hike if you didn't experience this. 

 Leave on foot mask until reaching the river and rinse. :)

 Happy walk of the year!

We also passed by the Madlum Cave.

 We started trekking towards the peak of Mt. Manalmon. We figured out that we were surrounded by many other mountains. Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola are the two peaks that are facing each other.

Mt. Manalmon. On the left part is Mt. Gola. (not on the picture)

We're almost at the peak! This rock formation. <3

 The view from the top!

 Mikee is a happy man now haha.

When you get to the top, you'll see that you're surrounded by different mountains that belonged to the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges. 

 There's something about being on the top of a mountain. Any mountain. Reaching the peak is so relaxing, the wind is so clean and it touches you differently, makes you realize and appreciate the little things and good stuff about life. It makes you think that life is soooo beautiful and the Lord is just within reach, and you feel so strong and fearless because you know that everything about life is wonderful, even the ugly parts. :) <3

A panorama shot of Carlo as we trek back to the cliff diving area.

This is where the cliff diving happens!

As we climb to the top of the huge rocks.

Woot!

 This is so scary! It was a low jump but it was scarier than the cliff I jumped off in Hundred Islands (which was a way higher jump). I don't know. Maybe it was from the exhaustion from the hike and the cold wind that my knees began to tremble.  

Mikee and Carlo after the jump! 

 They're off for another jump! :)

  After 2 rounds of jumping and a few minutes of relaxation in the river, we started heading to Bayukbok Cave where we will go spelunking. Head lamps are available for renting for only 30 pesos. I recommend you rent one for a more fun experience!

Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Hi-ho hi-ho hi-ho! :)

Bayukbok Cave

  

 Kuya Lean explained to us that Bayukbok Cave has 1-6 levels. The difficulty doesn't really depend on the level though.

This is more than 12 feet high and we have to be very careful with our steps and follow kuya Lean's instruction, or we fall down. That tree trunk over there is our only way to survive in this part.

Go Carlo!

We rappel downwards. It's so much fun! 

 Emotera.

Bats watching us. :)

 When you do spelunking, always expect that there are a lot of crawling to be done.

 This is called the Body Language. :)

Kuya Lean: This is called the Finish Line. Guess why?

Carlo: Hmm, Because it looked like penises? 

Kuya Lean: That's right. It's Penis Line. *Laugh*

Janine: Hahaha.*laugh* Seriously. Why is it called Finish line?

:| 

Finally we finished it! We feel so strong! Bragging rights for us invincible spirits! 

      It was just starting to get dark when we got back to the base camp. We were so exhausted and happy and fearless. We group hugged feeling accomplished and strong!

      When we got back, we took a bath at the river while the moon and stars shone above us. What a bliss. It was veeeery beautiful. It was dark and it was just us three at the balsa and we were just savoring the moment of peace. :) After that we started changing and packing our stuff. It was just one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives. :) We again rode the tricycle and rode the bus heading to Cubao. 

All in all:

130 + 85 + 100 + 50 + 50 + 85 + 130 = 630 pesos only!

For 630 pesos, you get to hike a beautiful mountain, go spelunking, cliff dive, night swim and star gaze!

Invite your friends now for a fun and budget-friendly adventure!

Soundtripping at 2 AM, Thursday Morning ❤

I'm bored and I can't sleep. Tara soundtrip. :)

Alex is so hot.

This is really heart-warming. Tamia!! <3

Jason Mraz always on my playlist. :)

Relaxing voice of John Legend. :)

This will be best listened to on the road with your loved one.

OmyGod I'm so in love with them. I have dreams of traveling and being one of their best buddies! HAHA! I REALLY FIND THEM TOO AWESOME! And they really make cool videos! I mean REALLY!

I still can't sleep. I'm craving gyudon. Pede na din tapsilog. :)

Who am I?

I am number four.
Chos.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
-George Bernard Shaw

Too many changes can happen in our lives that sometimes we forget who we are. We experience a lot of things that could make us grow, too many influences (whether people, events, or places) we encounter that make us evolve. And then at the end of the day we sometimes get confused of who we are.

I had been one of those confused people. ;)

It's hard to be consistent, especially if you've had to change your home address five times in a span of a year. Kakalokang adjustments, especially when you have to fill up forms and you don't know which address to put. I have no choice but to let the world adapt to me because if I adapt to these changes, I'd go insane. So, I'm the unreasonable man.

I had to remind myself who I really am and what I love to do before I forget (LOL) so I am making a self-description blog post. Who am I really?  Hmmm.

I'm Janine.
I love to travel and eat and play.
I love music and books.
I love old school.
I am straight forward.
I am honest and transparent.
I love action and spontaneity!
I'm weird.
I crave adventure and excitement.
I am feeling maganda and feeling sexy.
I find it funny when drivers curse at each other.
I love the color Fuchsia too much.
I am addicted to rocks! (I collect them!)
I am scared of unusual species of insects.
I find high people funny.
I love weird people.
I want a tattoo on my wrist in the future.
I want to try everything (almost) at least once in my life.
I have dreams of living in New Zealand even just for a month.
I need to accumulate my first million on April 5, 2015 at the age of 22.
My favorite food is donut.
I am sosyal and jologs.
I believe in respect and trust.
I want a minimalist living.
I don't like too many people in my life. I want to have only few very special ones.
I'm not into gadgets, but I own them because I need them.
I am very simple and shallow.
I am conservative yet liberated.
I am smart and talented, I just don't flaunt it (except now :P). I let other people shine. ;)
I believe in my morals.
I love the fruits of suffering.
I love all acts of charity.
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

That felt good. You should try it. Answer the question: who are you REALLY? 

Or you can also just watch my IDOL Tim Ferris and see how he can improve your life. :) #unrelated

The Parrot's Peak

Hiking Mt. Palay Pico de Loro is a big adventure enough, but climbing it with just 3 people - a newbie friend and 2 inexperienced hikers - and no tour guide?  Insane.

Mikee and I discovered that we both like to reach mountain tops so in the middle of his birthday celebration, we scheduled a climb. He brought Carlo and I brought my same-age-aunt Nini (see Like a Mermaid in Batangas).

It was exciting since it was an on-our-own trip because we were the ones who arranged the transpo and everything else.

Mt. Palay, Pico de Loro is located in Ternate, Cavite. It was one of the mountains of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. The mountain has 3 peaks and it is very popular for its 3rd peak. You'll see why in a few scrolls.

Bus and tricycle ride.

We met up at 7am at Pagcor in Paranaque near our boarding house. We rode a jeepney (8 pesos each) dropping us at Coastal Road where we rode a bus going to Ternate (82 pesos each). When we reached Ternate, we rode a tricycle (100 each) that brought us at the base camp of Mt. Palay Pico de Loro. The problem is that the road is so steep, so Mikee and Carlo had to push the trike. It's so funny!

Thus the adventure begins!!

We went on a day-hike. I love day-hikes! Too many advantages: just a small backpack would be nice, it costs you a little, and you can tell your parents you'll be home before 12!

FYI new hikers out there: Whenever you climb a mountain, you always pay 20 pesos to DENR.
The happy walking with nature starts. :)

 Then we got tired :) We have to rest. Look at how happy Nini is! Haha! The view of the mountain will really make you feel high. A bonding with nature indeed is bliss.

 Carlo gets tired because he is soooo talkative and bibo. Nini and I just keep on laughing while hiking that we didn't notice the exhilarating experience of the climb. 

 Team Adidas. :)

 Pico de Loro turn right. :>

 Resting while she appreciates the beauty and mystery of nature. Pero feeling ko may iba yang ipinagmumuni-muni nang mga oras na yan.  :)

 The view of the first peak. Splendid.

 The steepness of the steps is not visible in this shot but it really is high. You have to put super extra effort with your legs, so a flexible physique is an advantage.

 :)

Team Angas and Team Pretty reached the first peak! ;)

 This is the view of the second peak. 

The real plan is that we climb only the first peak. But when we got there, we're hungry for more. HAHA! We got too excited and we're really having fun. So we said, "just last one peak." So we ate lunch and off we go to conquer the 2nd peak.

Unexpectedly, the second peak was steeper. Gosh, I really thought I will roll downwards!! If you didn't hold on tight to strong grass and pray, you will definitely die. (OA lang.)

 Go Carlo and Mikee!

We're soooo tired. If I'm not mistaken, I felt my knees tremble. But it was worth the experience!

Fulfilled spirits! :)

 

When we got to the top, this is what welcomed us - the seductive view of the third peak. We thought, no, enough is enough. We conquered 2 peaks already and I am lucky I'm alive, so no more. And also we need ropes to rappel our way to the top, and we don't have ropes, so impossible. BUT NINI! May pinagdadaanan yata that time hahaha. Joke Nini! She insisted on climbing the third peak and we were like, "are you effing serious?" Mikee wants to do it because it will be his first time to climb the third peak despite the fact that it was his third time in Pico de Loro. I and Carlo are the hesitant one. I am scared because, there are no ropes!!!!! What if I die? My mom doesn't even know where I was! But I BADLY wanted to! Then we found out that there are ropes so I went. But Carlo? Hmmm.  

 

Carlo's face saying: SERIOUSLY? THAT MOUNTAIN? ARE YOU CRAZY?  AFTER THAT 2 BUWIS-BUHAY PEAKS???

And Carlo decided not to come. There's always a next time brother. :) On the positive side, he could take our pictures! Thanks Carlo! Haha!

 NINI! WHY SO EXCITED?!? 

The journey to that third peak was no joke. I seriously thought we were going to die. When we reached the base of the mountain, there was the rope. We waited for the people that are going down before we climb up because there is only one way. 

You have to make a big step for you to cross the way. If you miss, you'll fall down the cliff. O_O

After a short while, all the people had come down. We were getting ready to climb up. To our surprise, they claimed the rope! Turned out it was theirs. I was really wide-eyed to Mikee saying "WTF don't tell me we'll go up without a rope?!?!". I told him that I wouldn't do it. But then Nini insisted. "We're here na eh. Sayang naman." Then I thought, "right. If I die, it's Nini's fault." And so we went. I kept on praying throughout the climb. Haha! Fortunately, and thanks to God, we didn't die even without a rope. The exciting part was the rappelling part. I was heavy, and it was hard to hang on to the ropes knowing that if you accidentally let go, you will fall down the cliff. After that, you climb big rocks and seriously, it was the most heart-thumping, exciting and near-death experience I had.   

 I LOOOOVE THIS PICTURE! She was alone and around her were mountain ranges. It felt like different Gods were talking to her.

 Yehey!!! We finally reached the top. And I felt like I'm the strongest man alive! The most beautiful thing about reaching the top is that a big wild bird (I forgot to ask what specie) was circling around us and it was singing! I got goosebumps!

Janine: Tatalon ba ako o tatalon?

It was so much fun. We started hiking back to where we came from before the dark welcomes us. We were so hyper, especially Carlo. He is just so funny and cute! As always, it was easier to hike down, but unexpectedly, the dark was early to come out. SUPER SCARY! We were just 4 young spirits, and we were in the middle of nowhere, with our 2 flashlights - one big flashlight by Mikee and one nokia fone flashlight by me! Haha! I am getting too scared because I really felt that somebody is beside me, and I saw shadows passing by my flashlight. Good thing Carlo is bubbly enough to distract me from scary thoughts. Mikee is now quiet, which is unusual. Then I remembered he is sensitive to spirits!! The moment we reached the base, we looked at one another with eyes communicating saying "naramdaman niyo ba yun?". Then everyone started running and screaming towards the base camp! Hahaha. It was super scary and super funny! If you can just imagine how we felt, being alone in a vast scary and mysterious place as a mountain.

We rode the tricycle afterwards, rode the same bus heading to coastal and we rode the same jeepney.

All in all:

8+82+100+100+82+8 + (20)=400 pesos! :)

Bring your own food!

Imagine how 400 pesos could change your life?

Start planning your trip and experience the super fun travel in Mt. Palay, Pico de Loro.

Don't forget your ropes! Or not. ;)

Like a Mermaid in Batangas

One day my dad and his uncle Lolo Ong got bored so they decided to go fishing the next day. They immediately told me and the family to pack up foods and things needed for the trip (fishing rods, baits, swimming clothes, etc). After packing we fired up the van and we went straight to Matabungkay, Batangas.

When we arrived, I was thrilled to discover that the entrance to the beach was only 5 pesos per head! The cottages cost around 500-1500 per day. Why so cheap?!

At first, I didn't like the beach because of the many Balsas (cottages) floating near the sea shore and it was really awkward since I'm so maarte. I'm still suspicious about the price, so I decided to just stay at the cottage and have a long catch-up chat with my pretty Tita Queenie. :) Later I found out that the beach is actually clean. The sand is gray-ish that's why I thought the water was filthy but it's actually clear you could see through it!

And what's a trip to the beach without a henna tattoo? We went to the nearby henna shop and have our upper back sides done. The tattoos originally costs 100 pesos each but because we used our bargaining charms, we are able to get it for 50 each.;)

Kuya doing my henna.

The fiery heart and the bright sun. Fierce, eh?

We got bored so we thought of continuing our chit chat in the middle of the sea. We rented a paddle boat that costs 300 pesos per hour.

Can't wait to dip our feet into the waters!

A beautiful view behind a beautiful girl. Perfect!

We fed the fishes with the bread we brought. ♥ Those fishes are reaaaallly lovely. They are colorful and magical. :)

 

Our plan was to actually just stay at the boat, chit chat, and just feed the fishes but we are vulnerable to the water calling us so we ended up having a long swim at the wide open sea. Great thing our Kuya guide has extra goggles in his boat. Snorkeling it is! :)

A picture filled with love. HAHA!

Oh look at those beautiful blue creatures! ♥

I am no doubt a mermaid.

More fishes weeee!

Enjoying our impromptu swimming under the sea. We're actually above a huge rock in that picture but if you try to swim across the rock, it was super deep! :) It was really one of the most fun and wonderful experiences of my life. ♥

Nini and our paddleboat.

Too busy to care! I just wanna swim!!

Grab your bags and head straight to Matabungkay, Batangas for a very cheap yet fun adventure trip! Don't forget your goggles! :)