to move up and down
CUTOUTS
I am a time traveler.
Chronologically displaced but mentally sound.
Pinatubo is Mordor
Pinatubo marked my very first hiking trip. And I must say, this deadly volcano gave me an out of this world experience that I will never forget.
We left QC at around 4am and reached Tarlac at around 630am. Going to the volcano’s crater took roughly about 3 hours from the starting point. We rode a 4x4 over vast lahar stricken lands.
The view was STUNNING. Anywhere we turn looked like a scene from LOTR — Mordor to be exact.
After an hour’s ride on the 4x4, the 2 hour hike began. The terrains were very rough. It was a mixture of sand, mud, rocks and water. My rubber shoes surrendered 1/4 of the trip. Good thing I brought extra shoes with me.
These are the awesome people I went with (from left to right) — Ranier, Ate Anne, Tita Marcy, Tita Noemi, Tito Rocky, Ate Irene and Papa Sam. :) Love ‘em!
The way up to the crater was really steep. We had to walk along narrow sandy paths and cross rocky rivers. Our feet inevitably got wet and the sand and pebbles went inside our shoes.
After walking 10km, we reached a resting place. The crater was a 20min hike up from this location. It was already 11am and we looked very exhausted and hungry.
The few minutes up the crater was actually a narrow river path. People could easily get injured here and waters could rise up very quickly during a heavy downpour.
Once we got pass through the river path, the amazing view of Pinatubo’s crater took our breaths away. :)
We ate our lunch while enjoying the amazing view of the crater. We went down to the lake afterwards and took lots of pictures. The weather wasn’t quite cooperating at that time and so we had to go back to the viewing deck at around 1pm. Not long after that the rain poured hard. We were literally stranded on top of the volcano. I was shivering with the cold and dampness. We had no choice but to wait for the rain to strop before we climbed down. That was already 3pm. Good thing our angels were with us and we didn’t have to spend the night on the crater. :)
The terrain on our way down vividly changed as the water shifted rocks and land. It was very dangerous and a bit scary. There was little dry land to walk on. And we had to cross the gushing river several times.
Our 4x4 had to move places coz of the landslide. The starting point of the hike looked very different when we got back.
We are just so thankful that we were able to accomplish this trip both happy and safe. It was really an experience I could not have had imagined. I was so exhausted yet so fulfilled with the adventures and thrills that happened. Pinatubo is surely one helluva volcano to conquer and a work of nature everyone can truly marvel. :)
Photos by Sam and me. :)
Time froze when we were in HK. This is the first of the many trips we will be booking this year. Love you guys! :)
My Lomo Cams and Printed Leggings day out!
My first painting ever without Sam’s help. Haha! Took me 5 hours to finish this. Although it looks very amateurish, I’m still quite satisfied on how it ended up looking. :)
Acrylic on bond paper, 8x10. :))
How exactly bubbles burst.
This is why the Christmas season is very special to me. :)
This is the unfriendliest carousel I know! No wonder only 5 people are riding on it. :))
The world’s highest chained carousel, located in Vienna, at a height of 117 meters
(via agentmcfeelya)
Russia, I will see you in 10 years. :)
My top things on my to do list :D
