Series of Unfortunate events in Mt. Batulao, Nasugbu Batangas

There is a saying that goes, "when it rains, it pours".   This is not the same story with the Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events but enough to make you feel that you're being spelled for a day. 

It was a planned trip, but things just happened unexpectedly. Last April 27, we scheduled our day hike to Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu Batangas.  The night before the hike, we decided to sleep over to Jed's house in Laguna, thinking that it would be easier for us or at least save travel time to Batangas.  I received a text from Karen that they already departed Manila at 7am, that was the plan though. But the three of us, me, Jed, and Nomeo, left Laguna at 8:30. It is not advisable or we just don't know the route or proper transportation going to Batangas from Laguna.  We took a jeep bound to Alabang and from there we took a bus to Lemery Batangas. The driver said that there is no Bus that travels directly to Nasugbu but only to Batangas Grand Terminal. It took us P127 and two hours to reach Batangas Grand Terminal and from there we took another bus bound to Nasugbu. Pissed me off to know that the travel time to Nasugbu is one and half hour. We paid another P101 for that. When we asked the driver he told us that, we took the wrong way and that we toured the whole Batangas already. GRR!!! Di pa nga ako nakaka hike pawisan na ko at gutom. We reached Nasugbu at around 2:00 pm and rode another bus bound to Pasay, (no we're not going home, not yet) it's the bus that would take us to Evercrest, the jump off point. 

Photo Credit to jidalbin.com

Photo Credit to jidalbin.com

From Evercrest we rode a tricycle to get us to the starting point and paid P100 pesos. There we met Kuya Tot, our tour guide who offered his service for only P250. We started the hike around 2:30PM without eating our lunch. We made all the haste we could but we were not quick enough. I started to feel weak and after 30 minutes non stop walking I asked Kuya Tot if there is some place where we could eat our lunch. Unlike Mt. Arayat, this mountain area is more civilized.  You can see stores along the way up to the peaks of the Mountain. Locals are very friendly and accommodating. We ate our lunch in one of the Nipa Hut where they sell Buko and Goto for P25. After gaining some energy from the short rest, we started to hike again.

Lunch area near peak 1

http://jidalbin.com/ - KLDKRN

We hiked at a faster pace than we did in Mt. Arayat. I rejoiced every time I saw peak numbers. The view became increasingly beautiful as we go up to each peaks, rock formations was also a sight to see. We were talking about the tragedy in the 8th peak years ago and joked that we should break the record by reaching peak 9 at least.  I was so tired but careful in every step. It was just a 4/9 difficulty hike but one wrong step could change or even take your life. We were fortunate to get through peak 9 and then it rained when we are about to reach peak 10.  Thank God there is a Kubo near Peak 10. We stayed there together with the other locals who sell mountain dew for almost 40 minutes. We were all wet and freezing. We had fun anyway talking with each other, throwing jokes and laugh with the locals. It was fun and memorable. Although I was a little bit scared thinking that going down would be difficult for us. When the rain slightly stopped we started to descend. The view became more astonishing when we saw a rainbow forming behind the mountain peak. We stop for a while and treasure the moment with nature, and I was like, "what a wonderful world".  It's great to read good stories about nature but it's indescribable feeling to actually feel and be with them.

 

It was already 7PM we we reached the small village of Batulao. It was dark we, don't have source of light aside from our Cellphones. Since we were all dirty specially me since I walked barefoot due to very muddy trail, Kuya Tot was kind to offer a stop at their house for us to rinse and get a flashlight for another walk until we found a tricycle. We paid him P300 and promised that when we get back we'll look for him to accompany us. Then we paid another P100 for a tricycle that would take us to Evercrest.

Pink Ranger - Ang korny!

I was thankful; even if it took us 5 hours to get to Nasugbu, even if we were so hungry to start the hike, even if we run out of money, even if we got caught in the rain and all got soaked, even if I have to walk barefooted and step on those carabao's sh**s. These experiences during our journey, will definitely give me pleasure and refreshing start for my next hikes.