Amansinaya Waterfalls

Amansinaya waterfalls, Batangas.

Amansinaya Waterfalls wasn’t such a bad place to visit even though it was not planned.  We were told by our councilors that we were going to visit the waterfalls after our team building. The walk from the jump off was quite fast, we didn’t even need much; all we basically needed was our slippers.

As we started our walk, we made our way through a small village. They had lots of life stock there like caribou’s, pigs, chickens etc.

Some of the kids even came out to say hi to us which was quite cute.

As we made our way into the village, we saw a stream which meant the waterfall was near.

. We came across a mini water fall first, and then we saw some elementary children having an excursion like us to the falls which was nice to see.

We finally got to the falls, it was really high, and it had just two layers.

It is nice to know that nice places exist like this in Batangas.

Photos by: Micko Marquez

MT. BATULAO Continued

MT. BATULAO *Submit-Old Trail*

Where am I? This was exactly the first thing that came to my mind, I asked myself over and over again, I later decided to face reality and tell myself that I am really on a mountain, and the worst part is that  I miss my bed L

I got out from the tent; everyone was up already and about making breakfast. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to make breakfast LOL. We all sat down and ate.

Despite the fact that I had something to eat already, I still felt like having my cup noodles, so I helped myself with hot water and made my noodles.  After breakfast, we packed up our tents and looked at the sky; it looked like it was going to rain again*RME*

Our bags were already packed and our leaders were saying we had to confirm first if we could climb because it was dangerous. After a long ass time of waiting, we finally got a call that we could ascend to the submit. We had to drop our bags at the camp site with another batch that was also from our school, they had a different itenary from us.

We were told that the climb should be hands free, we needed just our essentials, water and a camera if we need be. We prayed first before we started the climb which gave me a bit of courage. As we started our hike it became so rocky and hard to keep up with the trail leader, there were some points where we had to use both our hands, I looked back at the view and realized it really wouldn’t be funny if I fall, on the bright side; it was such a great view. ... I actually imagined what my parents would say if I actually fall LOL, they would ask if they sent me to Philippines to climb a mountain.

I thought it would get colder as we go further but I kept sweating and I was like yes I am losing weight LOL.  We got so high up I actually thought we were there already because we came across a 90degrees barrier and there was a rope there to aid our climb, we went up using that and honestly I don’t know how I did it, I think I just spidered my way up, excuse my choice of words. Still we needed to walk up just a little bit and finally we were at the summit.

The view was so good, all I wanted to do was just stay there and enjoy the moment, they even had coconut vendors at the summit who sold the coconuts to us and when the coconut was cut it was pink according to them fresh. When I looked at the view again I told myself I would climb more mountains. J

How to get to Mt. Batulao

From Buendia

• ·         Take a bus going to Batangas “Nasugbu” which will take 2-3hrs depending on manila traffic
• ·         Stop at Evercrest golf course Batangas
• ·         Take a tricycle to the jump off.

Hiking essentials for Day climb

• ·         2-3liters of water
• ·         Raincoat
• ·         First-aid kit
• ·         Trail food
• ·         Extra cloths
• ·         Personal items
• ·         whistle

Hiking essentials for a night climb

• ·         Food ”Dinner and breakfast” depends on climb
• ·         Trail Foods
• ·         Raincoat
•              First-aid kit
• ·         2 Sets of cloths
• ·         3L of water “least”
• ·         Utensils
• ·         Headlamp “extra Just in case”
• ·         Cooking set with propane
• ·         Tent-with flysheet
• ·         Ground sheet
• ·         Whistle

Expenses *Day climb*

·         Bus from Buendia to Nasugbu – 120-132pesos-(depends “student discount”)

·        Tricycle to jump off- 20pesos

·         Registration -20pesos

·         Coconut juice or mountain dew- 25pesos (also depends on what you want to get)

Total: 349pesos

Extra Expense

Shower: 25pesos

Toilet: 10pesos for pooping 5pesos for peeing

Shoe cleaning: 10pesos

Tour guide: 300pesos “for a group”

Note: it is advisable to always go with nothing less than 5-6 peoples when climbing, also do not liter the mountain always endeavor to carry your trash back with you and dispose it properly.

Thank you and I hope you visit Mt. Batulao

“Do not change the mountain let the mountain change YOU”

MT BATULAO *Campsite*

MT BATULAO *Old Trail*

Campsite

This was officially my first climb in Philippines; I was so excited to go for the climb with my school’s mountaineering club. The Mountaineering club chose MT Batulao because according to them, it is a minor climb that would be nice and a good experience for us.

We got to the place at 5 pm  and then we took a tricycle to our main stop. I actually thought that the tricycle would take us up to the foot of the mountain, and then we would automatically get to the main place but I was so wrong. 

When the tricycle dropped us, they stopped where the road wasn’t tarred much, it was a bit messy. As we started our walk, I started to see farms which were on the sides of the mountain and wondered how farmers go down there to plant.  Suddenly it started raining, good thing I had my raincoat so I happily brought it out and wore it, then I realized my bag wasn’t covered, I decided to use the raincoat to cover my bag, which sadly prevented the rain coat from covering some parts of my body. I would definitely get a bikers raincoat I told myself, because it covers literally everything. 

As we got deeper into the mountain we had to bring out our lamps.  Unfortunately for me I forgot to buy batteries for my lamp *SIGH*. I was without light; I started using my so called 20/20 vision and the light from my fellow group members to find my way. No one had an extra lamp or even a flash light. I made up my mind that next time I would get as much batteries as possible handy because being without a lamp wasn’t funny at all.

Still i walked in the rain and darkness without a lamp, the road was so muddy, some of my friends kept falling, even the group leaders had to go ahead and tell us where and where not to step on.  Someone in our group was in so much of a hurry that he got tired of walking ahead of me, he slipped, right after he slipped he started rolling *OMG* it was so funny, I laughed at him, I knew it could have been me if I hurried like he did, it wasn’t so I still laughed anyways.. LOL

It became too dark and tiring I wondered when we would get to our camp site even after so many stops. I was so tired, my back kept hurting, I’ll admit that was most of what was in my bag was junk food, I had pringles, chocolate, biscuits, candy and juice that I ended up not eating after the trip *RME*.

Finally it stopped raining and we got to the campsite around 8:30pm. It was so quiet, though there were other people that camped there. The camp site had a small toilet which sent a small relief down my spine.

It was now time to pitch my tent which was a big war. Just a few minutes after, I realized I brought the wrong tent *SIGH* I also noticed that I brought a beach tent that had no fly sheet to prevent rain from getting into the tent, I was totally screwed. I wondered what else would go wrong, my shoes were already wet, I had no lamp and if it rains later I would be sleeping in a tent pool.

Some of my friends helped me with my tent, I used everyone’s raincoat to cover my tent, and in my mind I had done something great. Meanwhile others started making dinner, we had pasta and that was one thing that made me happy till I dozed off. It started raining around 3am; my tent was flooded, even though it was under a tree. My tent mate and i spent the night in our leaders tent and the leaders spent the night seating outside with an umbrella. It was a sweet thing for them to do.... 

EL-NIDO.

EL-NIDO.

NAKALIT-KALIT WATERFALLS

This is a beautiful and lovely place for a little getaway with your friends and loved ones. We had a blast but the night life in El Nido is actually not that awesome, as compared to Boracay.

 I would say El Nido is a place to come relax and enjoy paradise. My friends and I decided to visit Nakalit-kalit water falls which was about 30minutes away from the hotel. The ride to the place was a mixture of good and bad LOL; we ended up having a flat tire on the way there which was the ultimate kill joyL.  Even with that, we still went ahead which was quiet risky but hey, it was worth it.

After all the time wasting and all due to the flat tire, we finally got there and saw a farmer who told us we still had to walk for about 30-45 minutes till we get to the water falls…. #hiking? Are you kidding me???....

We eventually accepted our fates LOL and started walking into the bushes, as we got deeper it started looking like a “Nigerian Movie” where someone gets missing or demons appear and eat us… LOL.

We finally got to the waterfalls, WHOOP!!!! It was not so tall but it looked good. I saw kids jumping from the top into the water and I wondered if I could do that, but I wanted to see the full view of the water falls, so I climbed and climbed till I met a dead end. Two of my other friends still went inside the bushes with the rock and everything just for adventure but I knew where my stop was LOL #chicken???  Yea yea whatever ha-ha...…

Coming back down from where I climbed up to was quite tricky and scary I thank God I dint slip.

I got back to where the kids were jumping from the top of the water fall, then my ever adventurous Angolan friend decided to jump in.

When he jumped in, everyone wanted to jump in as well, but he started jumping too much which pissed a friend of mine. She was like “ that is why he was stung by the jelly fish in Puerto Princessa’’ he keeps jumping up and down, cant he ever stay put??? How many times would he jump???” honestly though, he jumped more than 6 times.

So I had a YOLO MOMENT and was like if everyone here can jump why can’t I jump….I went up the waterfalls and it was time to jump, I became so scared, I think my life started flashing before me, I’m a chicken yea I know LOL.

 After a few seconds, I was like whatever and jumped in.

“Wow! Yay me”… I was so thrilled, my goodness :D. I would do it over and over again, Have you ever tried something like that before???

Beautiful El Nido

El Nido!

Taking a hired van from Pueto Princessa to El Nido took 5-6 hours, then we saw a BIG snake on the road!!

Hahaa we just had to take a picture…

On getting to El Nido it was already 7am so immediately we lodge into the hotel we decided to sleep a bit but on seeing the view.. "NaH" we changed our minds.

The water was so BLUE! I just wanted to jump inside

Then immediately we got dressed and decided to tour El Nido!

Our ride “boat” was waiting for us. As usual we went snorkeling first. The fish kept swimming with us like we were one of them…lol

We toured some places which had so many sea urchins that we just could not swim there but take pictures

Then we went to a hidden lagoon though we didn't dare take our cameras or cellphones because the floor of the beach was soo rocky and you had to swim to get to the shore… which reminded me that next time I go for a beach trip I should have a  swimming shoe with me.. 

After the swimming work out I was so hungry I could eat a whole cow..lol

We then decided to go for lunch on another island.

THE FOOD!!..  Oh my was heavenly… I even wondered how I would still look with my tummy after eating that much but it felt healthy J …

Relaxing on the beach made me realize how beautiful Philippines is and how I should take time to tour it.. J

For Hotel Bookings and more information : http://www.perikingelnido.com/

PALAWAN "pueto princessa"

Pueto Princessa

Palawan is just the place for a good get away from the manila hustle.
Getting to Palawan took about 2 hours through airport to airport charades, though the flight felt weird and fast because i am use to long distance travelling. It is also advisable to eat before you travel, I should always remember that because i ended up buying small chops on the plane.

     On arriving Palawan my friends and i decided to stay in Pueto Princessa to see what it had to offer so we already had bookings at ROCK 66 the resort which was supposedly close to the airport, the driver of the resort came to get us and it took another  hour to get there which was quite frustrating...lol
Anyways we reached the resort around 8pm so we decided to eat and get some sleep because the fun was gonna start the next day...

The next morning was good morning PARADISE... the resort was really beach front, pebble stones on the beach and calm tides very relaxing..
we then decided to start our adventure
first stop snorkeling..

Then island hopping
Starfish island really did have a lot of star fish, their backs were so spiky i wonder if any one ever stepped on them... lol

and finally Cowrie Island..
This island had lots of jelly fish which actually stung a friend of mine..lol..and no we did not pee on him we just put calamine lotion on the affected area..

There are actually a lot more places to visit in Pueto Princessa but we had to go to El Nido...  I am gonna blog about wonderful El Nido later... hope you like Pueto Princessa you should visit it sometime :)... LATERS

For hotel reservations: http://rocks66.ph/
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