Last
May 20-21, I went to Cuenca, Batangas, together with my high school friends, to
serve as god parents to Rose’s daughter. However, we saw the occasion as most
fitting for a mini- reunion and summer escapade.
There
were twelve of us who endured the two-hour travel just to see the picturesque
Mt. Maculot as backdrop of my friend’s house. Equipped with our digital cameras
and missed friendship, we walked up to the foot of Mt. Maculot and clicked the
shutters like we don’t have two days to fill.
By night time, we dived and swam in a local resort and my friends surprised me with a birthday cake because on May 22, I turned twenty-one; a should-be responsible man. I could not have chosen better people surrounding me during my birthday’s prelude.
The
following day, Rose accompanied us to a trek called Lumampao. Locals say it
takes a thousand steps to reach the lake of Taal, the infamously active volcano
in Batangas. In fact, we devoted a thousand steps going down the forest and
another thousand going back up. But I would gladly do it again if only to see
Batangas’ floras, fauna, and to experience reaching the lake while laughing,
chatting, and sweating with long-missed friends.
We
were running as we saw houses by the lake. All our efforts was worth the
scenery: peaking sunrays, blue lake, dinaing,
boats painted with ‘sariling sikap’ signs, locals, and to our surprise, sweet
scattered mangoes fallen from generous trees. We then thought we needed energy
to burn while going up. And so we picked up ripe mangoes from nearby the shore,
washed them in the poso, and devoured
like we have not tasted mangoes in our lives yet. Every bite was delightful since
it was a product of hard work and eaten together with trusted buddies. A
caution though; make sure to ask the locals first before you do anything in
their place. If you do so, you could also be treated with a plastic of mangoes
like us.
We
didn’t mind swimming in the lake because for one it was exactly noontime, and
secondly, we only have our umbrellas, water bottles, fans, towels and cheerful
bearings. No extra clothes, only extra cameras.
If
you have friends living in Batangas or you can afford board and lodging
expenses, I highly recommend trying Lumampao trek with your friends. If you
want to lose those carbs, better do it with your buddies. If you want to be
adventurous, do it in Batangas first, so you won’t have to worry being away
from the Metro.
I have previously done trekkings in Davao and Mt. Makiling in Laguna. However, my Lumampao Trek topped the list because of the place, the food, and the people I rediscovered. Do not just beat the summer heat. Actually, trek amidst the summer heat.
I have previously done trekkings in Davao and Mt. Makiling in Laguna. However, my Lumampao Trek topped the list because of the place, the food, and the people I rediscovered. Do not just beat the summer heat. Actually, trek amidst the summer heat.
Segue: I submitted this article to Manila Bulletin's Write To Fame promo (Travel Category) and it got into the Top 3! It didn't get to publishing, however, I got two cinema tickets :)
for more pictures, visit the ff:
Wow!... Great Job Rossielle!...
ReplyDeleteayan na hermo... sabi ko totoo na tong blogsite na to!
ReplyDeletemay Tumblr account din ako. I'd probably say goodbye to it na :)
http://whenpencilwrites.tumblr.com/
nice. haha. makakasama na ko next time. :)
ReplyDeletesabi mo yan mavic ah! kala ko kasi kapag hindi birthday hindi ka sasama eh. loljk :)
ReplyDelete