Hiking up Mt. Pinatubo

 2011, Philippines  No Responses »
Jun 182011
 

 

After three weeks in the Philippines, I’ve come to realize that there is a degree of hyperbole about all trips in and about the Philippines … or maybe it is that I’m a little immune to hyperbole. For instance …

  • I heard that the hike to Batad was a difficult one and I really didn’t find it that tough.
  • Going up to Taal Volcano via a horse or hiking would be tough … and really it wasn’t at all
  • Finally, going to Mt. Pinatubo would be a long day trip with a tough hike … in the end, it wasn’t that tough either.

That being said, there are two ways to get to the top of Mt. Pinatubo … the easy way using the “skyway” or the hard way, which is called the “old way”. The journey from Manila is broken into 4 parts

  1. Getting from Manila to Mt. Pinatubo
    1. Using a personal driver : Depending on who you chat with, you get differential opinions on the trip length. I got opinions between 3 -5 hours. In the end, with my driver Hermie, we got there via the SLEX in about 2:10 mins.
    2. Using the bus or public transport : From Manila, take a bus bound for Lingayen or Dagupan and alight at Capas Tarlac (Victory Liner at 91 Php) or you can take your light vehicle directly to Barangay Sta. Juliana or a 4X4 vehicle, 2 hours from the crater.  From the North Expressway, exit at Sta. Inez.  Take the Mc Arthur highway then passing by Banban you will finally reach Capas Tarlac.

MOUNT PINATUBO TREKKING : Starting point
Most Mt. Pinatubo trek begins at the base camp in Brgy. Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac. Here, you will be requested to register and you will be assigned a local guide and a 4×4 vehicle. Currently, there are plenty of registered Pinatubo local guides and 77 units of 4×4 vehicles ready to bring you to the next level of outdoor adventure. Arriving early at the base camp is important as the guides and 4×4 vehicles get booked really fast especially on weekends and on peak season (Philippine summer and holidays). That’s why we usually have to leave Manila around 3am or Angeles at 5am or the base camp at 7am. Before you start your Mt. Pinatubo trek it’s important to have a good breakfast. It’s also important to bring some food and enough water with you since you will be back to the base camp only around 4pm.

As for the story … I think we all know of it … Pinatubo, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Manila, exploded in June 1991 after a 500-year slumber, dumping billions of tons of volcanic debris on three provinces, erasing entire farm communities and altering the world’s climate. Pinatubo’s eruptions were so massive that its top was simply blown away, reducing its height by 300 meters (985 feet). Rainwater formed a crater lake.

During the rainy season, roughly from June to about October, climbing is forbidden as the volcanic debris on its slopes and in river channels become deadly avalanches.

One of the things to look out for is the dust in the  dry season. I have asthma and my inhaler was definitely needed as there was dust everywhere. The other thing to look out for, is the lack of seat belts on the 4 X 4′s, you will definitely have to hold on the vehicle bars really well as the ride is very bumpy.

All the drivers are skilled and experienced on crossing these canyons so there is no fear that your vehicle will topple over. They also use a buddy system which means that no 4×4 can leave the base camp without a support vehicle. All drivers are required to bring a 2-way radio on top of their personal phone with them.

Now once you get to the top of the Skyway, all the vehicles park into a common area for safety and then you’re off to hike up the mountain to the crater lake.

After hiking what seems like an eternity through the cauldron of death … along the half way point, you’re met with a sign that tell you how terrible you are.

Based on this terrible sign, I was determined to make it under 18 mins, even with my terrible cardiovascular fitness. I am happy to report that from the sign to the top of the view, it took us 16 mins. Although the last steps were a bitch to deal with.

After the hiking and climbing, you are definitely rewarded with an exquisite view.

The best part was marveling at the view

 Posted by rishiray at 4:32 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

8 tips for hiking Mt. Pinatubo

 2011, Philippines  1 Response »
May 202011
 

My tips for going up Mt.Pinatubo

  1. Take a change of clothes.
    When you hike all the way up, you’re going to jump into the crater lake. You’ll need clean clothes for the ride back. There is also a full shower, that you can use at the spa town and even get a massage after the hike.
  2. Bring multiple bottles of water.
    You’ll need it. There is no clean water going up to Pinatubo. There is one toilet stop along the hike, you can wash your hands in the stream, however you can’t drink the water. Water is cheap before you get on the hike, if you have to buy water at the top, you’re going to pay 6X the price.
  3. Bring extra money
    Your entrance fee doesn’t cover the boat ride across the lake. If you came this far, paying 350 pesos to have some guy do this, is completely worth it

  4. Absolutely swim in the crater
    The water is cold-ish, but once you sit on the shore, most of the shoreline is warm and bubbly. This is the strange part—when you step on the sand, especially near the shoreline, the sand is too hot you can’t stay in one place for 3 seconds but the water is cold. Blame the water temperature on mountain weather and the hot sand on the magma below. Quite a contradiction. 
  5. Bring a good camera with video
    The vistas are awesome, the scenery is stunning. Why come all this way and not get amazing pictures. It will also help to have a waterproof camera, since you’re going to be in the crater lake and in a little rowboat.

  6. Get there early (before 7am) – if you are a solo traveller.
    I went by myself and I had to pay the entire 5000 PHP for the 4X4. For me, I’m not that price sensitive (thanks ACN), that’s almost 100$ Canadian but if you are by yourself, then you will need to hike along with a group. This is an awesome trip and you want to share the experience. Thankfully, my driver Hermie had never been along for the hike, so it was awesome sharing that experience with him
  7. Book your tour directly
    Forget going through a tour company or your hotel. Get there and find someoe directly. You’ll feel better that the locals are getting the money. If you are a group of 5 and above, you just have to pay 1,500 php per head ( the includes the 4×4, entrance fee, guide fee, skyway toll fee and lunch—already a good deal). Make direct transactions with somebody in the site and not with a travel company.
  8. Ensure you have great sunglasses and sunblock
    There is a lot of glare off the rocks and the water. No explanations necessary. 

BUDGET SUMMARY : Per Person in a group of 5 or more

  • 1,500 PHP  : per head for lunch, entrance fee, 4×4 to set off point, guide fee and skyway toll
  • 350 PHP : Crater boat ride
  • 150 PHP : Diet Coke – if you don’t take your own
  • 400 PHP : Massage in spa town
    __________
    TOTAL = 2,400 php ~ $57 Canadian
 Posted by rishiray at 4:50 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Don’t worry – tips on being safe in Latin America

 Argentina, Belize 2008, Belize 2008, Brazil, Central America 2008, Chile, Guatemala 2008, Mexico 2008, Uruguay  No Responses »
Jun 222010
 

On my first trip to Mexico years ago, I remember my friends telling me that it was unsafe, full of drugs, hookers, bandits and that everyone would try to take my stuff at every turn. In Trinidad, the bandit copied the “Colombian” kidnapping habit, hence my Trini friends would tell me that they knew someone, who knew someone else who was kidnapped or murdered in Latin America, about how their favourite pastime ”is kidnapping tourists”. Of course, the media sensationalizes everything today and has a pesky habit of accentuating the negative aspects about different parts of the world.

It’s like when I go to US every other week to work. The average American client person thinks that Canada is cold all the time and that there are marauding polar bears everywhere and that we have rogue weekly avalanches  – I’ve never seen a Polar Bear outside of the zoo … but it is about what generalizations will spread.  As ridiculous as some of the assumptions people have about parts of the world, there are some very simple things we can do to ensure that we don’t become a part of other people’s stories.  Here are my quick tips to traveling safely in the Latin America or even in Trinidad – but they are applicable generally everywhere.

  1. Take the taxi around – they’re cheap, especially if you can haggle!
    During the day, I am usually pretty confident about just walking around, however at night, taking a recognized taxi is always the safer approach. For instance, In Buenos Aires, I walked around as much as I could, especially since taxis are a chore but at night I always took a taxi. In Rio … I always took a taxi, even in the day… Rio is rough … ! In Morocco, I had the best tour of Fez ever for a couple dollars. Although it might seem like overkill at times, especially if your hostel or hotel is just blocks away, taxis generally are much safer than walking, above all at night.  We hear horror stories all the time about taxis taking people for all they have, but in reality this is a rarity.  If you want to be extra careful, have the bar call a certified taxi and make sure you are not alone. We all know the stories where drunk tourist decided to walk .. got robbed and lost hundreds of dollars/cameras/shoes etc … when they could have spent 2.50$ a person and gotten home safely.

  2. Spread the money around … your body
    Simple and easy tip, yet I read travel forums and horror stories all the time about people being robbed of everything and their religion. Don’t keep all your money in one place. Do however keep “enough” money, in case you ever get robbed … hence walking with 20 pesos in Mexico per pocket is stupid … if you do get robbed, handing over only 20 pesos will get you beaten up plus robbed, and probably strip searched by your potential bandits.

  3. Always keep a copy of your passport and never your actual passport
    When traveling to a foreign country, especially one where you don’t speak the language, never take your passport along with you. Have multiple photocopies and scan a high resolution copy and email it to yourself, in case you lose your copies.

    Repeat after me : Your passport is your life. Say it 100 times. Losing your passport in a foreign country, is akin to you being in a non fatal car crash. It’s serious, stays on your record if your embassy has to get involved and will absolutely RUIN your trip. Photocopies will quickly prove who you are, and get you back on the road quickly. Plus in some parts of Latin America, it is the law to at least have a photocopy.

  4. Walk it, like you invented it
    Do you ever question a guy who said he invented something? Nope .. why? Cause he said so. When going to anywhere new, act like you’ve been there before and walk with confidence. This is a difficult trick to master for the inexperienced traveler – it only comes with experience and that certain “screw you” attitude that some people naturally have.If you stand around looking like a hyper-vigilant, paranoid tourist; then you will be treated like one. Do you see locals staring around? No .. cause they know what they are doing … even if you have no clue where you are going … you can always simply ask to get to somewhere interesting. I’ve done it enough times and it’s worked 100% of the time for me.   


  5. Talk to the locals
    They know where to go and where not to go … simple, easy … now write that down <scribble> “Talk to locals .. check!”  The locals are hidden in this picture!

  6. Don’t fall asleep on buses … unless …You’re at the back of the bus, by yourself.
    I’ve met too many people who lost their stuff on the bus. Food, bags, shopping … all gone with a little nap.   
  7. Trust your insincts … if it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right!
 Posted by rishiray at 8:13 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Chiaroscuros?? Words you learn about while reading travel blogs …

 3 - Food - Toys - Tech  No Responses »
Mar 312010
 

Seriously, I never knew such a word existed till this morning.Chiaroscuro in art is characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for using contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects such as the human body.

Of course with my new literary toy, I had find travel examples with Chiaroscuros … it’s like learning the word “Ephemera”…Ephemera is transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters, pamphlets, postcards, posters, prospectuses, stock certificates, tickets and zines.

Mezquita of Cordoba

Salzberg

Positano

Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal. (April 23rd, 2011)

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