My roommate and I have always been huge fans of never really making plans. One morning you’d see us just witnessing the sunrise from the nest we have made in the condo, and the next you’ll just learn that we’re already at the other side of the metro, a bus conductor wedged between us two as we recount to him the events of the day.
And, well, that’s exactly what happened the day we decided to climb Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas.
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Due to the fact that neither of us have climbed the mountain yet, we both told each other that the first time we’d climb it, we’d do it together. And so last August 21, while the rest of the country was celebrating the martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino, we both boarded a bus and decided to do what we both liked doing best — going home.
Normally, climbs have to start at 0400H, mostly because of the logistics of it all. However, we both woke up at 6, and only because the sun was already peeping through our curtain-less window. I looked at Kim, asked her if she was still game, and by 9:30, we were already on our way to Nasugbu.
And after a series of getting lost, going beyond the unexpected stop, (in Kim’s case) dozing the entire time, and (in my case) mastering the act of reading cases in transit, we finally arrived. It was 11:30 AM when we arrived at the jump-off point.
After about an hour and 45 minutes of 360 picturesque views (we honestly didn’t feel the strain in our legs, perhaps we were too distracted by the sights), we arrived at the summit. Now, Kim and I (and our friends) have a thing for spending a lot more time in the peaks than we do during the ascents or descents, so like usual, we both found a place to sit in — now unmindful of the people coming and going and the alternating sunshine and fog — and spent the next two hours silent.
People will always tell you this, but you will never truly understand it until you do it yourself: while it’s always easier (at least physically) to do the descent than the ascent, it’s always, always going to be harder, especially when you realize that a part of you was left where you were, to leave the mountain. And it’s cheesy, and it’s severely cliché, and you will think me annoying because I will say it every time, but it won’t make it any less true — it’s hard to leave home.
We ran part of the way down, and so we were already onboard the bus bound to Manila by 4, pleasantly buzzed by the presence of the mountains, and also ready to dive into our beds.
(We didn’t, though. We had to do a general cleaning of the condo, and rewarded ourselves with a soothing massage afterwards. Heh.)
Photodump!
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Updates!
(1) I’m creating two new tags based on trip budget (if the entry will be about a particular trip): <500 and <1000; of course, I can’t speak for the preparations (money for food, most especially), but I’ll focus mostly on the trip itself.
Batulao was a <500 trip, not including the guides (you can always haggle if you want a guide, but if you’re starting early and you’re sure the weather will cooperate, you won’t really need one — the trail’s established anyway). Be wary of the heat, though! Batulao’s much like the Zambales mountains — trees /will/ be sparse.
Our IT:
Train to Buendia: 30 PHP (including the LRT 2 from Katipunan to Recto)
Bus to Nasugbu, Batangas: 120 PHP (106 if you’re a student)
Tricycle to the jump-off point: 100 PHP (can be divided among yourselves)
Total (per person): 300 +/- 100 PHP
(2) I’m thinking of removing “Philippine Travels” as part of my titles because they’re going to end up to be confusing in the long run. What d’you guys think?
Of perpetual finds 