Saan aabot ang Php700 mo?

I always wanted to hike, the last one was years ago in Bukidnon (Mt. Musuan) but:

1. I don’t have friends to hike with;
2. The rates I am seeing online for hiking is way expensive (Php1,000.00 and above, medyo poor here); and
3. I am just too lazy to do it (I mean, I am excited to do it but less drive to actually do it 😁) 

So last June 16, 2017, I decided to hike with new found hiking buddies. Thanks to my schoolmate and friend, Renyll, who’ve been hiking with the group for quite some time now, for introducing me to this amazing group of people, whose love for hiking and nature is unwavering.

The hike, a twin-hike, was organized by Ms. Shenna Mae Ferrer (yes, you can hit the search button on your Facebook or click the link above for future reference, you’re welcome 😁).  And Vee-Oh-La, the event fee was just Php700.00. Yep, you read it right. Just Php700.00 for a twin-hike, Mt. Batulao and Mt. Talamitam in Batangas. Inclusive of the rate are the following:

• Van Transpo
• All Registration Fees
• Tour Guide Fee
• Parking Fee

So all the way, you don’t have to worry about paying for anything. Well, except if you wanted to buy some fresh buko juice along the way, the organizer will not shoulder that anymore. 😁

The trailhead was at Brgy. Kaylaway, Nasugbu, Batangas.

Did you know that:

• Mt.Batulao – 811MASL 4/9 difficulty – rock climbing 6 roof segment; while
• Mt.Talamitan – 630MASl 3/9 difficulty
  SPECS: Minor climb

Perfect for beginners, like myself. Well, if you think you can do a twin-hike to begin (again) your passion for hiking, then just do it, ala NIKE. 😁

We started hiking around 4:30am for our Mt. Batulao adventure and took us until noon time to get back to our jump-off. The hike was really okay, I mean not really okay especially if you are not that used to the scorching heat of the sun. It was really hot on your way up. But all the sweat and heat are all worth it. The view from the top will always mesmerize you.

Who doesn’t love a jump shot at the summit? 😁

Ecstatic will always be an understatement when you’re at the top. Feeling like you can almost touch the clouds. Moving, it is always moving to amazed one’s self with the wondrous of the One who created ALL THESE. All these that are beautiful and breathtaking.

It helps also when you have buddies like them who’ll never stop hiking until they’ll reach the summit. On our case, we are 30+ when we hiked Mt. Batulao but there were only 11 of us who continued the hike at Mt. Talamitam.

What I love the most about hiking is that, I can do some soul searching and reflections about my personal life. Perfect moment to just sit around, take a deep breath, savor the fresh air and just feel the wonders around.

Others would consider hiking when they are at the lowest points of their lives. They maybe brokenhearted, confused, troubled, bombarded and just lost and it’s okay. The mountains are perfect venues to refresh ourselves, seek for enlightenment and clear our minds with things that bothers us. As the cliche goes, “It is not the mountain that we conquer but ourselves.” It serves to be true when we hike for some reasons and worthwhile purposes.

Whether we do it for fun, leisure, hobby, to move on or whatever your reason may be, I hope you will agree that hiking just gives us extra level of satisfaction and unexplained bliss when we get there, at the top.

Surely, this will never be the last mountain I’ll conquer. This will be just the beginning of few more mountains to trek.

June 16, 2017

Mt. Batulao and Mt. Talamitam, Batangas, Ph

P.s. Marky seized the day.

 

Love,

Marky 😘