Mt. Batolusong x Kay-Ibon Falls

20 February 2016

Hi Ram!

I had a great day at the mountains again! Ever heard of Mt. Batolusong? It's one of those mountains located at Tanay Rizal. Well, I've been fond of browsing Facebook for events such as this. And I came across a climb to Batolusong courtesy of Sabit Wanderer. Actually, when I found the event, it was already closed as the desired numbers of participants have been reached. Still, I have posted a comment on the event page that should anyone backs out (and there will always be someone who will), I am just on stand-by.

And voilà! As predicted, someone backed out. So I get to join the roster. :)
I deposited the downpayment (which serves as the reservation fee, too and deductible from the full amount of the event fee). Also, the organizers were requesting for some school supplies donations for their outreach. Being the goodhearted fella that I am (ehem), of course I gave them some. ;)

The meet-up place was in Jollibee Farmer's Mall, Cubao. I was there at around 3 or 4am. When Ardie, one of the organizers arrived, we found out that Pam (one of the organizers, too) would be late because she forgot the money at home and she had to go back. On with the waiting time. While waiting at Jollibee, Ardie introduced me to his friend he happened to see which, coincidentally, was going to Batolusong, too. The guy was wearing this rashguard with a cool name: Lagalag. I took note of that.

We were all at our Facebook group chatroom waiting for updates. And as if to make things more colorful, the vans that would take us to Tanay couldn't be contacted. Some were already acting up. Some were bitchy. Some panicked. Some backed out.

I remained calmed.
This was just another misadventure. And as I've long since learned based on experience, these misadventures lead to an even better adventure.

To cut the story short, it was just a matter of miscommunication. The van drivers were already there around the area at the same time we were there. However, the van drivers got the wrong numbers of my organizers. And my organizers got the wrong numbers of the van drivers, too. Pam said that it was the dispatcher's fault. We moved on. Off to Tanay.

When we reached the jump off point, I gave them the school supplies I brought so it would lighten up my bag. We registered, secured local guides and started off with the trail.

Start of Trail.

So off we go...

The view along the trail

Me on top of sharp rocks.

Now this here is Pam, one of the organizers.

We were literally burnt alive! The heat is just so unbearable! There were no trees on the trail anymore just a wide grassland so there's really no shade. Pero patapangan pa din ang labanan!

When we reached this spot, I thought it was already the summit:

This is NOT the summit yet!

We rested for a while, this time our energy gets drained real fast because of the heat. But alas, we have to keep moving.

Resting...

Ah... happiness!

Now here, some Kuya was selling ice cream. And yes, at that point in time, that is the best ice cream in the world!

We needed to climb this large boulder on an 80-90 degrees assault (so it's really like wall climbing):

Ahhhh... the view!

And then, finally...

The summit!

We then trek down the mountains and had lunch on one of the stopovers along the trail where they sell food and drinks before we went to Kay-Ibon Falls.

Kay-Ibon Falls

Swimming time!!!

With my new friends (L-R): Burn, Jamil and Ardie (one of the organizers)

Of course, before we went home, I needed to have a killer pic.

So this is me as KREUSCHLUXDYNSK, the imaginary guardian of Kay-Ibon Falls.

We showered and headed back to the van that would take us back home.
Ooopppsss... we didn't go home directly. :)

This is at a mercato in Araneta.

And booze. Yes, booze!

We had beers at Cubao Expo. :)

We talked about love, sexuality and heartaches until it got real dark and we all had to go home. Ah, heartaches. No one gets spared from it, eh?

Oh, while I was writing this it was Taylor Swift's All Too Well on my earphones. The cold floor beneath me and the rain on my rooftop. You know sometimes I think of what I would be when I get the same age as you. Maybe I'll get a little wiser don't you think?

How bout you? Are you spending your life with that someone you really love? How are things with you? I hope you're doing fine.

Till next time.

xoxo

RAM