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Crazy CrisTrav: Traversing the Devil's Mountain

January 12-13, 2013

Dolores, Quezon

No. This isn’t about how we graved through psychic and supernatural events in Mt. Cristobal. More of tree hugging, mud sliding and butt crawling adventures in the so called Devil’s Mountain.

  

First Day – January 12, 2013

7AM

We left Manila for San Pablo City, one of my favorite weekend destinations. Out of 18 climbers, we’re down to 9 – I think due to the drizzles a couple of days prior to this climb hitting the entire country. But why are we still pushing this through? Well, I have mentioned that it’s just a drizzle right?

9AM

After breakfast, we hopped in a chartered jeep in Medical (famous landmark/bustop in San Pablo) to the “Basurahan” jump-off.  Well, a little background which I learned, there are three entry points of Cristobal:

ü  Dolores, Quezon – Most commonly used probably due to a shorter hike to the crater and also its proximity to the famous Banahaw religious river in Brgy. Kinabuhayan.

ü  San Pablo City – This is known for its “sagingan” (banana plantation) and an entry point to a place they call “Basurahan” which I think is a former dumpsite.

ü  Rizal, Laguna – This is also the most common trail used for traverse from Dolores. With tons of side-trips in mind on that part of Laguna, this trail can be very enticing.

We’re doing the Basurahan- Kinabuhayan Traverse. Sounds hardcore eh?

10AM

Arriving at Basurahan, we started our hike immediately. I love hiking with downpours. This greeted our first few hours in the trail. Downside is, not much use of my camera. And for some who don’t know, I love taking pictures as much as I love the rain.

12NN

As the weather gets better, the assaults didn’t. Thick muds slowed us down heavily. We ate lunch a little past noon in a flat surface surrounded by cogon grass before we enter the “sagingan.”

1PM

The “sagingan” provided us with challenging assaults and very slippery trails. Although I enjoyed most of it, again, it did slow us down.

2PM

Entering the jungle is a treat for those who love mossy forests designed with wild orchids, flowers and varied fauna forms. But with the steep ascends, I am starting to consider the theory that these assaults are the main reason why Cristobal is pegged as the “Devil’s Mountain.”

4.30PM

Ending the forest is a cogon grass assault. And although we got some clearing on the way to the top, Jone’s Peak served us with cold thick fog. Our guide said that this summit has an awesome view of the seven lakes of San Pablo. Oh well, I can always go back for that. But since it’s nearing twilight, my main concern is camping out.

5.30PM

Finally, Bulawagan Saddle Camp. This though is my least favorite in this climb. We were with I think at least 20 other climbers who ascended from Dolores. And I so hate a crowded camp. I think this is the reason why the supernatural creatures eluded us. They, like me, hated the crowds.

6PM

This is the first time in my life I pitched a tent while raining. And I would just like to commend my REV 20 II Silangan Tent for braving the rain. I was clean, well, relatively clean,  and dry from mud and soaking wet trekking clothes in  time for the dinner prep.

8PM

Probably because it’s the devils mountain that our Socials themed into devil’s advocate. I would like to give you details but this but ive to be sure you'e 18yo. But by far, that is the most “devilish” thing that had happened in this hike.

Day 2 – January 13, 2013

3AM

My sleep started to be disturbed by the intense cold. My feet, which had always been my problem, felt like being amputated. I did that sleep-wake routine until dawn.

7AM

Although the sleep weren’t that much comfortable, we still started our day really late. Talk about a lazy schedule.

This is the Mt. Cristobal Crater

10AM

The cold fog tricked us it'still much early until the sunrays tell us it’s late in the morning. Immediately after breakfast, we started breaking camp and started descend.

11AM

Although not a lot of clearing from this trail, the weather is the total opposite of what we had yesterday. We had the time to appreciate the panorama of the Quezon Province. And since the trail is not that steep compared to what we had at the other side of this traverse, we slithered down.

1PM

A sumptuous and local-authentic lunch greeted us in Kinabuhayan –Chicken Adobo sa gata and fried Tilapia. Now I am totally in love with this mountain.

Dont you just have the transition of a mountain trail and a concrete pavement?

2PM

Sir frank, this event’s maker made sure of this side trip for me who loved the waters. We headed down to the Banahaw river. Knowing how famous this “religious” river is, I am amazed at how clean it is. Well, relatively clean.

The river gave us an easier time to clean everything up – our muddy tents and clothes, my gray turned brown trekking shoes and of course, our beaten up sexy bodies.

5PM

After a little water playing, we packed and headed home. Of course we checked out some unique stores surrounding the Banahaw chapel. There are lots of intriguing things for sale. Haven’t though that being Catholic can be that pagan. There’s this one pendant of Sto.Nino with an erection. They say that it is used by men to lure women. I’m not even a catholic but I was offended.

Well, what do you know. Like Mt. Cristobal and Mt. Banahaw, sometimes the “devil” and “holy” coexist and are just two ideas differentiated by a very thin line. 

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john

Majayjay Falls, and pouring my heart out...

November 18, 2012

Majayjay, Laguna

Simple out-of-town trips like this are my way of coping with what I deal with, or should deal with in my life. This 5hr road trip from Manila roots from that. Yet again I always say this blog is not my shrink, so I’ll try my best to do this entry talking about the place and not about how I poured my heart out to my friends and booze.

Little did we know that commute to Majayjay will eat up 5 hrs. We should’ve left Manilaearlier. We got to the falls nearing lunch already.  Green Star, HM Transport and DLTB buses takes you to Sambat, Sta Cruz, Laguna for roughly P110. From Sambat, take the jeep to Pagsanjan and drop yourselves off to Sta Cruz Public Market for another jeepney ride to Majayjay. Those jeepneys pass by the Sambat Fork with full passengers. You can take your chances especially when you’re travelling aloneif you want to save a short jeepney ride. But it is better for you to just take the ride in the terminal since the jeepneys are not that frequent as well.

Fare to Majayjay is P35. That jeepney should be able to take you to the terminal where you can ride or charter (if you’re a large group) another jeep to Taytay Falls. Normal fare is P15. Chartering a tricycle would range from P20-P50 per head depending on your haggling skills.

Brgy outpost at the end of that Majayjay-Taytay route will cost another P20 for the registration/entrance fee. If you plan to rappel down the falls, one should secure a brgy permit from this outpost and have it presented to the martials down the falls. We have learned this the hard way since we only asked them if we can set up rappel and they said yes, but the tanods down the falls as I’ve said did not allow us since we do not have the effin  written permit. That’s such a downer since I really have looked forward rappelling down that amazing falls. Oh well, next time you falls!

Some 10 minute walk from the outpost will lead you to the majesty of the infamous Taytay falls. For those who are confused btw, Imelda Falls, Taytay Falls, and Majayjay falls all pertains to this falls. She just goes with many names. And aside from the falls with many names, it has also been pegged to have tons of visitors. Tents and flysheets are everywhere staining the serene view of the waters.

With that I totally appreciate my climbs. To waterfalls rarely reached by people. That fact that you get to appreciate a beauty not everyone can see this easy.

The crystal clear water is intensely cold. Still not enough though to numb my heart, so it’s just something to drown the tipsy. Oh snap.

Well, going back to travel blogging, we stayed until 4PM to get a hold of the last jeepney trip back to Majayjay downtown. Should you wish to stay overnight, locals offer tent rentals for P200. Nothing is really not allowed in the area so I think you can bring any foods and drinks you like. Although still a bit crowded for my taste, the place still is generally clean and cozy. And proven by our rappel fail, the place is surrounded by martials from the barangay all the time.

I have mentioned a lot that Laguna is one of my favorite weekend destinations. Travelling to this part of the province offers tons of nature tripping destinations for hikers, water lovers, and adventurers. Given that I have been to Laguna quite frequently already, there are still a lot to discover. These destinations never fail to rejuvenate one’s senses and heal broken pieces of one’s self.

Oh well, that’s just mine right there. Can’t seem to help it still pourin my heart out since as I write this entry, I’m still nursing a hangover.Darn.So be it. 

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john

The Enchanting Beauty of Pandin Lake

One of the most mystically serene place i've been is the Pandin Lake in San Pablo Laguna. Here are the top ten things i love about that place.

1. It is practically 300 pesos away from Manila. Of course people have been to this place spending much more so the "barat" blood in you has to be really strong. I tell you, the beauty of this place is priceless. 

JAC Liner (with Wifi) to San Pablo - PhP120

Jeep - Medical to San Pablo Proper - Php8

Jeep - San Pablo to Ilog - PhP8

The bus ride will roughly be 1hr and a half making San Pablo one of my top favorite day trip destinations.

2. The locals are  fantastic. I've been to this place quite a few times because of my friends who live in San Pablo. With their love and hospitality, i can say i am an adopted son of Laguna.

3. This is one of those really photogenic places. Walang pinipiling anggulo. Every corner of this place is made for PhotoOp. 

4. Hikers can take this ridge as a jump-off to Mt. Mabilog, crossing Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo. Once in the summit, you can take the Sta.Catalina or the Nagcarlan traverse. Check out Pinoy Mountaineer fro more info about this minor climb.

5. One thing that makes this tourist spot unique is the Lady Paddler's Club. The local's organization of women who paddle the rafts for a tour around the Lake. One can take the raft for PhP180/head. That includes life vests but not the food. 

6. Lake Stories. San Pablo City is known to be the City of Seven Lakes. They say the depth of the Lakes has not been measured. They say the Lakes are connected by a tunnel with suctions underneath all Lakes. I've heard of a story about a drowned man in Pandin and the  body was found in the other Lake, 5 km away from Pandin. There's a thin line between truth and folklore in the provinces and the mysteries of these Lakes are captivating.

7. Food. Aside from paddling, the Women of Pandin also offers lunch when you rent their raft. They offer a variety of cuisines of tilapiya and native cakes. 

8. Unlike  the other Lakes in San Pablo, Pandin's water is clean for dipping. If you opted not to rent the raft, you can rent a life vest for PhP20 and swim. The vest had been mandated by the local officials following a drowning incident years ago. Given the Lake's folklore, i did not dare argue with that rule. 

9. The raft will take you to the other end of the Lake where the grotto is located. The water from the rock springs is just refreshing.

10. Side trips. San Pablo and Laguna in general had been my favorite place because it offers a lot of nice places to go to. Few steps away from Pandin is a view of the Yambo Lake. You can always check out falls, brooks and Mountains of  neighboring towns of Rizal, Nagcarlan and Liliw. Tiaong, Lucban and Majayjay are also possibilities. 

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john