im on leave today, my legs are still sore, we climbed Mt. Pundaquit (zambales) last weekend. It was a 6 hour journey, up and down. It was my first climb ever and i dont think im gonna do that again! It was so hard, i swear! (lol)
Despite my busy days, i cant afford to miss this trip. I been wanting to go to anawangin the first time i saw a picture of it 2years ago, it's like love at first sight, that's why when C's classmate "J" invited us to go there i said yes right away. Thank Good Lord, I dont have class report scheduled on that day. Nakisama ang panahon talaga.
We left manila at 11:30pm friday night. We reached San Antonio, Zambales at around 3am. 20min tricycle ride to pundaquit. we gathered at the house of our guide for briefings, by 3:30 we are off to Mt. Pundaquit. We were with others hikers, actually there are a lot of hikers group. We were 16 in our team. It was still dark, the way to the foot of the mountain is sandy, you know how hard to walk in the sand, there is also a rocky part. By the time we reached the foot of the mountain im already tired. We took a 5 min rest before starting the "real" journey. With a back pack on my back, a rocky road (at that point i dont want the taste of rocky road) and a little light that came from our flash lights, i wanted to quit, yes, i really wanted to go back, i felt shortness of breath, probably im scared, i was praying silently and asking God for strength, i prayed "Lord sana makabalik pa ko ng buhay". i was silent for a moment thinking how to tell them i wanted to stop right there and go back but there is no turning back we are already miles away from the village, we took another rest, i decided to let the guide carry my back pack, goodness gracious, he said yes. Without the weight on my shoulder going up is much easier, my fear disappeared slowly, my breath goes back to normal and the will of reaching the summit gives me the courage to go on.
The track is tough,indeed, it is dark and grassy as in tall grasses. The only words i know at that moment is "malayo pa ba?" the climb is like eternity, someone screaming "are we there yet?" again and again.
When our guide finally said, "we are almost there" a wide smiles overcome us, finally! It's like seeing a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
By 6am we finally reached the summit, by that time the sun is getting ready to say "hello" world, but the clouds spoil the sun to rise with all its valor.
Wow, wow, the view on top of the mountain is so amazing, i was so proud i finished the journey! Congrats self! The other group of hikers were already on the summit. We took pictures and ate our breakfast.
Thanks J and the group for being so patient with us, assisting us in every step of the way, hahah naks!
I'd like to give tribute to kuya in orange shirt, he is the one carried my backpack, he is also our guide. You made my climb easier.
By 6:30 we are getting ready on our way down. I thought that going down is easier than going up, but i was so wrong, it was harder, you have to fight against gravity, with all my remaining power, i managed to reach the ground safe by 9am with a sore legs and feet.
Friends and I were the last to reach the ground and stunned at the news that J stumbled on the ground, his forehead hit the rock, got a cut about an inch, it was a little bloody, good thing they had a first aid kit and a nurse on the group. The bleeding stopped and J's back still kicking!
At the sight of anawangin with its glory, a peaceful sea, a mountain, pine tress and all, it was worth the 6 hour of torment.
Odd! that was a lot of people's reaction when they saw the place, how come a pine tress managed to grow on sand? Anyhow, that's the wonder of the place. Whatever force brought the pine trees there, I want to thank it, that made the place surreal among other places. The place was so serene.
I was thinking of edward hopping from one pine tree to another, bela on her back.
(photo credit: thanks to "C" vavavoom cam)
the majestic sunset
the moon reminds me of twilight..
I had so much fun, it was a new kind of adventure for me. I'm already planning my second visit to anawangin.
More stories tomorrow - our adventure at the light house in Capones Island
