just being me: MT. PINATUBO IMPROMPTU HIKE

I love the sea. Nothing beat basking (more like baking really) in the sun, playing (drowning actually) in the waves, just free floating while looking up on the azure sky thinking “where will I be next?”

So when my “travel buddies” suggested hiking I was like “ooookay” – 50% GO! and 50% I think I’ll pass.

I must admit hiking is not one of my strongest suit because of 3 reasons:

It means walking for miles. And given my health condition I know I will most likely struggle.
Wearing rubber shoes which I don’t have many a pair. (I’m a certified kikay so my shoe collection consist of only practical flats and heels).
Carrying heavy pack.

But upon mentioning Mt. Pinatubo my KALADKARIN side won.

Together with Feng and Aiz and armed with my anti asthma medicine and with our best friend and ever present LPA (low pressure area) threatening and making sudden heavy rains we hop on a bus bound Capas, Tarlac.

11:00pm. Meet up with Cath at Victory Liner Cubao, where as usual we were late so we had to take our chances with other bus.

3:00am. Capas Junction. From here we will then have to ride a tryc bound to Sta. Juliana (jump off point to Mt. Pinatubo Crater). We were sooo early so we decided to pass time and have coffee at McDo at the same time meet with another person "Ate Rhona" whom we will be sharing the trip with.

5:30am. Sta. Juliana at last. We were way too early but who cares? it gives us time to prepare ourselves and cam whore before the place get crowded with fellow hikers :).

Actually Mt. Pinatubo is not what you will consider a “badass” hike. But probably the most fun, the 4x4 ride was my favorite. Its the one that actually convince me to join. Plus hikers get to choose from a 7 kilometers hike that is equivalent to 2 hours trek or they can choose the “tamad” way which is only a 30 minute trek more or less to the crater.

Being all girls (and yes we've used it to our advantage) we choose to ride those 6 kilometers and went for the 1 kilometers = 30 minute hike J. Besides we wanted to be able to spend more time on the crater than exhausting ourselves with the long walk.

10:00am. First glimpse of the Crater.

My first thought was "Google didn't give it much justice".

The quiet - kind of eerie feel, mirror like lake, still winds, fresh air and yes even dry plants and the slight erosion on one part of the crater adds up to its appeal.

On the other hand, while the adrenalin that comes from anticipating of being and seeing the crater for the first time is rocket high, it gradually decreases the longer you stay there.

I've heard its much fun before because tourist / hikers can rent a boat, can take a dip in the water, have mud spa and other activities but since there has been some "accidents" the Department of Tourism decided to limit the activities to just taking pictures and having a picnic around the are.

So one must really think of how to spend their time other than taking picture. I've spotted a group of people enjoying themselves playing card to pass the time while resting.

Unfortunately we got bored early so we opted to head down earlier than planned. Turned out we we're right because the ever friendly LPA is stating to throw tantrums and according to Jerwin (the guide) it is not advisable to be still up there when it rains because the path gets flooded for like about more than 6 feet high.

All in all my first land adventure is more fun than I expected. Its more than the travel, or the new place.

Its being able to spend time with your favorite people... something you can all go talk and go back to... Meeting new friends :).

What makes it more special is being able to learn something about the place its History - the "then", the "now" and wondering about the "might be" in the future...