Monday, May 10, 2010

Trip to the Taal Crater

Last April 9, 2010, hubby and I planned on going to Mt. Samat to take our brand new toy for a spin. (A DSLR we named Bella). At the last minute we decided against going since president GMA was scheduled to make an appearance there for the Araw ng Kagitingan Ceremonies. We decided to go to Taal Volcano instead.

From Tagaytay, we went down, down, down a winding road to Talisay Batangas where the Taal Lake Yacht Club is located. From the main road, we turned left to a steep sloping driveway and we were greeted by a view of the Taal Lake and various water crafts, this being a yacht club after all. Thankfully, they also had a secured parking area, visitors will be gone for a few hours while on the Crater Trek, it is comforting to know that your vehicle and belongings are safe and secure.




Once we got out of the car, we were dwarfed by the enormous trees surrounding us. There were lush shrubs and thick greeneries everywhere. Though it was hot, there was a light breeze coming from the lake’s direction. We went to the kiosk in the just beyond the scattered nipa huts; this is where we are supposed to look for Aling Sonya and register.
A package for two costs almost P3000:

Boat ride – P1800.00 (can accommodate up to 4 passengers)
Horses - P 1,000.00 (500 each and free guide, optional) **
Misc, Expenses P 120.00 (tourism fees, landing fee for the boat etc)

* the package also includes free use of the shower rooms (to wash off the volcanic dust,) and 2 hours stay in the nipa huts for rest and relaxation.

** A tourist may choose to walk their way to the crater or to ride a horse, either way you need a guide. And if you choose to walk, you’ll still have to pay for the guide.

We were led to a small but sturdy looking motorized banca. Our assigned companion Manong Resty insisted that we wear our life vests (which looked clean and new by the way, not at all icky as I expected them to be). The banca ride was relaxing with the calm water and the azure skies as backdrop.







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When we got to the volcano, a helpful local greeted us with a small bench to help us alight our boat. I expected the man to ask for a tip or some sort of payment but he went on his way as soon as we had our feet on the sand.

We were led to the stables and we were welcomed by the mixed smell of sweat and horse waste. There, we were mobbed by women hawking all kinds of merchandise from bottled water to wide brimmed native hats. A woman approached us selling face masks; she warned that the trek will truly be dusty. Word from the wise, buy one, you’ll need it! For P30 each, it will be worth it especially it you opted to ride the horse, you’ll be holding on to the horse and your gear, it will surely help to have a facemask.

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As we went on our way, I happily noted that there were 2 women guiding me and my horse on each side. Hubby got only one guide hehehe. This went on until we were faced with a sharp rocky climb. Then my extra guide posed the question: do I want her services? She can accompany me all the way to the crater, as another guide to ensure my safety. And all the while I thought she was a freebie! I declined her offer, especially when I found out it was another P500 to avail of her services. We trudged on without her, my horse struggled but she made it.
Our path to the crater was dry, dusty and rocky. Many times, the trek can be pretty scary especially for a scaredy cat like me. Just trust your guide, they’ve been up and down these slopes since childhood, they know what they’re doing.

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Although we initially felt alone as we trudged the steep hill, we soon encountered a lot of tourists on our way up the crater, most of them Koreans I think.

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Once we reached the top, we were welcomed with the stench of horse waste. Horses are allowed only up to this point and we were supposed to walk the rest of the way. Be wary of sellers peddling various drinks. Each drink costs P50 since they had to be transported from the mainland to the volcano. If you’ve developed some sort of rapport with your guide, you may buy them a cold drink, but don’t feel pressured. It’s ok to say no.

Once we reached the top, we were greeted by the majestic view of the Taal Crater Lake. Emerald green in color, probably from the high sulfuric content. The water was calm and serene. It’s very relaxing just looking at it. It even looks deceivingly inviting, in fact there have been swimmers even divers allowed to swim in the lake, but the high sulfur may cause damage to clothes and gear, not to mention the danger since you’ll be swimming on a CRATER!
The edge is lined with a mix of bamboo and metal fences, to protect overly eager tourists from going over the edge. Bamboo stilts were set up to give photo enthusiasts a good vantage point in taking breathtaking photos.

While up there, you may also buy some souvenirs and snacks. I bought buko juice right out of the buko shell. Wonderfully refreshing!

After taking what must have been hundreds of shots, hubby has had his fill and decided it was time to go down. I dreaded the trek back, knowing we’ll be welcomed once again by the dust and heat. For those who walked to the crater, they can choose to rent a horse on the way back to the boats for P300 I think.

The trek to the Taal Crater Lake is definitely a must try. I wouldn’t recommend it to kids though. It is different experience, although it might be better not to go in the midst of an El Nino phenomenon since the heat is almost too much to bear, plus everything is dry and dusty, the view of the surroundings is not that good.

Blog Revamp

It has been a while since I last posted here in my original blog. I have been thinking of streamlining specific topics for corresponding blogs and it has been no problem for the other blogs but for this one, I'm just not too sure. From the start this has always been a mixed bag kind of blog.

Will finish deciding soon... =)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Of Moleskins and Cattleya Notebooks

Yesterday, I bought 2 Cattleya notebooks. In the past, I used to buy pretty and expensive notebooks, those kinds that can be bought in higher class bookstores and stationery shops. There was even a time when I lusted over a moleskin notebook, just because most writers like Butch Dalisay share that they have a moleskin notebook to scribble sudden waves of inspired ideas in. The problem is, I never could write on them. I just felt my handwriting is too terrible (ugly) and undeserving to appear on their smooth pages. It would be like graffiti on the Taj Mahal walls. I’d be more stressed out about how my writing would look on my pretty notebooks’ pages than what I am writing, then I’d be guilty about amassing such pretty useless notebooks, stashed somewhere in the black hole I call my closet.

So to put an end to this anguished cycle, I bought 2 simple 100-page spiral notebooks with plastic covers, the kind I used to buy when I was in college. One would use one as my idea notebook, a scratch notebook if you will. It is where I will jot down my ideas, fashion them into an outline which will hopefully end up as my first draft. The second notebook is my journal…again. Yes, I will try to write daily. My other pretty notebook which I assigned this honorable assignment, to document my daily thoughts and activities, didn’t quite serve its purpose as I thought. It was compact and portable, so I can stash it in my bag and write anytime inspiration strikes, but it has proven too small for comfort. My hand aches when I write on it.

That is why yesterday, I decided to drop all pretenses and bought two Cattleya notebooks, so I can send a message to myself and out to the world: this time I am serious. I’m not in it for the frills or the trivial joys of it, I know I have a long way to go, having started late in the game, but I am serious. I will write.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

2010 ELECTION CUPS


With only a few more days to go before the May 10, 2010 elections, surveys are conducted left and right. A few weeks ago, the primetime news featured 2 stores that joined the band wagon. Taking advantage of the summer’s searing heat, Frutas, a company that sells fresh fruit juice and shakes, and 7-11, a convenience store located at almost every corner decided to launch their own version of a mock election. When a customer orders a fruit shake or a big Gulp, the customers are asked to choose which cup bearing a presidentiable’s face they want. Each cup is considered as a vote for the favored presidential bet. The stores will tally these “votes” and will release the results of their mock election just before the actual May 2010 election.

The Good:

  • This allows the common person to easily show support for their chosen candidate, while enjoying a cold tumbler of fruit shakes and soft drinks.
  • This can reflect the political trend for a certain area. This can create an environment of healthy competition among supporters within the same area.
  • This is a smart marketing ploy for the companies.

The Not-So-Good:

  • Question of credibility and reliability. People don’t really know their system of counting the votes.
  • Not everybody buy from these stores, whether it be a question of taste, budget or proximity to a store.
  • There is no buying limit. A customer can come back several times a day and order a round of drinks, and these “votes” will be counted in favor of his or her candidate. The more money, more votes... much like in the real elections, I guess.

Personally, I really like the idea of the Presidential Cups. Although there is much debate about the use and reliability of surveys, I think there is nothing wrong with showing your support for your candidate in whatever way you can especially if all is done in the spirit of fun. Kudos to Frutas and 7-11 for coming up with this gimmick.

So, are you feeling thirsty? Why not order a tall Noynoy Aquino, a chilled Manny Villar shake or an Iced Gibo Teodoro?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Photo hunt: Three



I found these three mini-scrolls in a little bottle. Mini messages in a mini bottle.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Shopping for the Perfect External Hard Drive

A few years ago, my laptop conked out on me. I lost valuable files and photos. I kept a brave front and told myself everything is a learning experience. I re-formatted my laptop, installed the necessary programs and started loading it again with various files and photos. I noticed my NEO Laptop was slowly but surely getting filled up to the brim. I decided to burn important files into DVDs as back up, just in case. This plan worked really well until the DVD drive itself conked out on me. That was when I decided to get myself an external hard drive. I dragged hubby to Megamall’s 4th floor where gadgets and gizmos abound. After wearing our feet out from going in and out of the stores, we were able to find an affordable 320GB external hard drive. It was a black Fujitsu costing P3,900 if you paid in cash and a bit more if you paid in plastic. We gathered up all our available money (forgotten coins from the corners of my gigantic bag included) and paid in cash, just to avail of the discount.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Earth Hour 2010


You have been hearing growing concerns about the sorry state of our environment and mother earth, but you feel the problem is just too big, too complicated or just plain hopeless. Here is a simple way any man; woman or child can make a stand against climate change. Participate in Earth Hour 2010.

In 2007, in an amazing feat, some 2.2 million homes and businesses in Sydney turned off their lights for one hour to show their concern and stand against climate change. After a year, it became a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome ’s Colosseum stood in darkness for an hour. They became symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Taste of My Hair

As I wait for my friends to call me for lunch, for no reason at all, I felt the powerful urge to place my hair in my mouth. I know. No sense right? I suddenly saw myself staring at nothing in particular with my hair in my mouth, my tongue carefully tracing each strand. I ponder at the current state of my hair. It’s dry, limp and prematurely gray… poor hair. For something supposedly “relaxed” it looks too stressed out to me.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Photo Hunt: Spiral





Here's a picture of the metal grills on our windows. It acts both as a protection against robbers who might attempt getting in the house through the windows and as a design to add some aesthetic value. When our house was built some 20 years ago, this was the "in" design. =)
I made the last minute decision to post this as my spiral entry when i read tnchick's entry... my first choice was the telephone cord too! hahaha!

Great Singers Voted Off American Idol 9

I think America made a pretty big mistake as American Idol eliminated two of the most powerful contenders of the season. And what’s worse is that one of them is my favorite.

Earlier tonight, the final 12 lineup was finalized when Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott, Todrick Hall and Alex Lambert were voted off. I wasn’t really that surprised when Epperly and Hall got the boot after their weak performances during performance night. Epperly sang the Karaoke staple “ I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King while Hall sang gospel version of Queen's "Somebody to Love" that drew praise from the judges but not from the public. I don’t really like Lilly Scott that much with her platinum blond hair and all, but I’ve got to admit, she’s got some singing chops! She sang Patsy Kline’s “I Fall To Pieces” and was great as usual, sadly the voting public didn’t agree. It was pretty obvious in her reaction that she did not see this coming.

The thing that got to me was when James Morrison voice-a-like Alex Lambert was booted off after he sang Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble". He had so much potential, and his voice was really good! It is also sad that he was given the boot just as he was getting over his stage fright and was beginning to show the true performer in him. "There's a lot of things America hasn't seen me do yet," he said. "And a lot of things I know I'm capable of. ... I wish I could have just broken out of my shell."
I feel Aaron Kelly and Paige Miles should've been the ones sent packing.

Truly a very sad day for American Idol.. at least in my book.

At least I still have Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze to root for.



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