Awesome Things - Red Horse Beer

Ang tagal ko na rin hindi nalilinis ang bin ko and to my surprise may nakita akong Red Horse. Nice :)

Probably a sign of things to come before the week ends.

Awesome Things : The Notebook

Awesome Things 2/1000 - The Notebook

After mag-general cleaning nitong weekend nakita ko tong ASPEC notebook featuring Jomari Yllana and Aiko Melendez on the cover. Huwag nyo ako husgahan hindi ako fan.

Awesome Things : The Finish Line

These days a lot of us are filled with discontentment as life demands become overwhelming   While I was in the office yesterday, I was able to skim a book entitled "The Book of Awesome" by Neil Pasricha. A book compose of short stories with regards to life's simple pleasure - from coffee break and good conversation to finishing Angry Birds level with three stars. Nothing complicated just pure appreciation of all the things we tend to overlook in our everyday life.That's why I decided to make my own list starting today.

                       1/1000 - The Finish Line

Nat-Geo Earth Run 2011, we had to wake up very early as the run starts at 0530AM. Started a bit slow in the beginning due the number of participants but as we approach the 3KM mark things go well as we stride to the finish line. 'Langya sa susunod 10K na!

San Vicente - Longest White San Beach

We woke up at around 05:30AM  because we had to pack all our stuff as we'll be heading back to Puerto Princesa. I took a cup of hot coffee and snap a last picture of the El Nido's sunrise. I can't  believe we had enough of the sun and the beaches these past few days. Sad to say there was not enough time to explore all of El Nido for 3Days and 2Nights, probably we have to come back again. And off we go to San Vicente.

 San Vicente's endless stretch of white sand beach

The road to San Vicente was very long and bumpy compare to the road we had to take from Taytay to El Nido. Nevertheless it was a pleasant journey as we passed by countryside scenery - from array of lush forest vegetation to hillside rice fields, it was nothing short of beautiful. So we reached Brgy. Agutaya in San Vicente before 1000 AM and welcome by the sight of a long stretch of white sand beach.  

   photos from Red
  
The place has an unlimited potential to be the next big thing, it has pristine waters, captivating islands and of course the longest white sand beach in the country (14km according to some articles I've read).  Just a bit of  observation, the sand is not that white and powdery compare to that of Apo Reef or Calaguas, still the place offers vast opportunity for San Vicente's tourism.

We were told that Shangrila and other well known resorts has already purchased properties in San Vicente. Roads and an international airport constructions are on the way.  The good thing is that even with the ongoing development in the region, strict environmental compliance will be implemented.  A 25-m easement from high tide will be observed as not to damage the beach shore. We didn't stay that long in Brgy. Agutaya as after taking pictures  we went to San Vicente Port for our early lunch. 

 San Vicente Port

Another Day In Paradise

I wasn’t feeling well for the Tour C due to the sprain, cuts and bruises I  got from climbing the Taraw Cliff earlier. The climb consumed almost half of our day, good thing Kuya Jun assured as that the Tour C will be short and there's no need to rush.  After few realizations that this will be our last day in El Nido we hopped on our boat without hesitation.

 Helicopter Island 

Dilumacad Island was the first destination. It is commonly known as  Helicopter Island because its limestone cliff looks like a  helicopter when viewed  from a certain distance. The island has a beautiful wide stretch of white sand surrounded by a turquoise shade of the water and rocky shores on the southern end. The place could have been spectacular if it wasn't for the big waves that swung back and forth.  Unfortunately one of our companion lost her underwater camera as it was taken away by the current of the big waves. It's always fun eating lunch under a shade of an isolated island it gives you a certain feeling of appreciation for simple things you usually ignore in the city life. 

While having our lunch Tommy an Israeli guy approached us asking for a lighter and from there a conversation started. We asked him what he actually like about the Philippines and told us that it's the entire place - he was amazed that there are 7,107 islands in our country compare to his hometown. Another thing he admire are our people - this man has been all around the world for their 6 months vacation and had a hard time talking to the locals of the places he visited but not here in our country as Pinoys are more friendly and accommodating. He told us that the only thing that sucks here are the airports which we simply agreed.

After the lunch we sailed to the Secret Beach and by this time the sky turns gloomy. The said beach is enclosed with towering limestone cliffs magnificently guarding Matinloc's hidden gem. To get to the Secret Beach one will snorkel  into a small opening through a limestone wall and at the corner  of the sinkhole you will be rewarded with a pocket white sand beach. Unfortunately we weren't able to visit the place because  of the strong waves, our boat wasn't able to get closer to the sinkhole. After a few attempts to haul our boat in the entrance we finally gave up - the current is just too strong. This could have been the highlight of the entire El Nido trip. As our boat leave the island, the sun hid and took away the sunny charm and wonders of the islands when it started to drizzle.

Entrance to the Secret Beach

The supposedly Tour C wasn't complete but Kuya Jun assured us that he will change our itinerary so that we won't go back to Rovics' disappointed. We went next to Cadlao Island - the biggest island in Bacuit Bay. Cadlao Lagoon pretty much resembles that of the lagoons found in Coron and El Nido's Big 'n Small lagoon One of the lagoon's distinct characteristic you'll find is the large well-defined jagged limestone. The place is ideal for kayaking as you will see beautiful limestone formations and garden of corals that serve as a magnificent setting for snorkeling or just simply wading in. The others swam  while I just rested and took a few pictures of the place.

Cadlao Lagoon

After Cadlao we visited other island which names I can't recall (probably Balinaod, Natnat and Paradise Beach). Sadly the golden sunset in Bacuit Bay signals our last day in El Nido. The group were thankful for having the opportunity to visit El Nido and appreciate nature at its best. Going to El Nido is really a pain in the ass but the sights are truly rewarding.

Closer to the Edge - Climbing the Taraw Cliff of El Nido

Besides the usual island hopping and beach bumming in El Nido another activity would be climbing "Taraw Cliff", taraw is actually a local term for the towering limestone cliffs. According to the locals we've asked the climb will take an hour to see the stunning view of El Nido town and Bacuit Bay. Our group were already worried that the climb might not push through because it's been raining the whole night. Early Sunday, morning the supposedly 16 participants trimmed down to 4 as most of our the group were pretty sleepy from the drinking session we had last night.

Good thing the sun finally showed up when we arrived in the jump off point but we were warned by our guide to take extra precaution since the rocky trails are still slippery. The presumed 1 hour turned to 3 hours as we scramble through some jagged, sharp rock edges of the cliff. Seriously this activity involves a lot of energy and nerves - because you literally have to cling on for your dear life (no ropes and harnesses) as you ascend.  At the top (around 200MASL) - we were mesmerized at the view of El Nido town, the gorgeous island of Bacuit Bay and its cove - the climb was well worth it.  With a sprained right hand, bruised thigh and leg wound this is one of the most memorable climb I had in my life. I also want to share this post about Taraw, cleverly written  by my friend and travel buddy Red.

Surviving Taraw

Food for thought.

Taraw cliff is situated on the left side of the El Nido town shore. It is a limestone rock formation that from previous centuries, maybe a home for thousands of sea creatures but today it holds nests for swiftlets also known locally as balinsasayaw. These are birds that can only be found in El Nido, Palawan and they only build their nests in mountain cliffs such as Taraw. As many would know, these birds probably have the most expensive saliva in the whole world, for each kilogram costs around 120,000 Pesos (3,000 USD). Their saliva is the main ingredient in the famous Nido Soup. After reading this blog, you would probably know why they have the most expensive saliva in the world.

The climb to Taraw Cliff.

Before our trip, we have read many stories about this cliff and how hard it was to climb and it really got us curious so we decided to take a look at it ourselves. To be honest, I did not really believe most of them until we reach our first assault; here goes the story of our climb in Taraw.

The Jump-off.

We started by riding a tricycle to the jump-off. A small wooden bridge surrounded by houses that leads to the foot of the cliff. A few steps away from the jump-off, a muddy lake was lying beside the trail, giving a feeling that it will be a nature-y journey to the top. It was raining the night before and it wasn't sunny that morning so it gave us a soft breeze to start.

Assault. Assault. Assault.

I could not find any words that would describe the next few events of this climb so i just wrote the only word I could think of three times for the chapter title. Mountaineering experience won't prepare you for climbing Taraw. It was serious rock climbing from the first assault. And when I say serious, I meant serious like 80-degree-5-storey-high-limestone-piercing-death-drop serious. I wrote many climb stories and talk about death cliffs all the time and I want to take that back for if death cliffs have a picture in the dictionary, the cliffs in Taraw should be it. There were times you will need to pull yourself up with the strength of your arms just to get to the next stepping stone and I am not the leanest person you've seen, so go figure.

Jokingly Serious.

We were four in the group (excluding two guides) and I had problems during the first assault so I came in last. The second guide was right behind me and there is this place in where we have to come around to go to the next assault. It is what others would call a fork road, or in this case, a fork cliff. At that time, I didn't know it was a fork cliff so I hastily moved up the longer path. Mang Jun, the guide, told me to pause a while and asked me if I can climb the other cliff; which, at the time, looked like a 5-storey wall of limestone to me. I asked him if he was serious and he laughed, so it gave me a brief relief. He was not moving from where he was standing which was far from where I was at that time so I asked him again if indeed he was serious; he laughed again and said yes. He said we would make up for the lost time we had during the first few assaults.

A little push.

I went down to foot of the wall, which ironically, is the fastest and safest way up according to Mang Jun. I looked up and it still looked like a wall to me. The guide was trying to build my confidence and was always telling me it was easy and I could do it. He did a pretty good job of convincing me so I took the shorter, much dangerous cliff. Right after I set off both my feet to the wall I was describing earlier, he gave another encouraging phrase, "it is easy, just don't look down and fall down." I told myself, "nice one, the first words were better. way to go Mang Jun!"

Going forward and thinking backward.

Halfway through the climb, I was thinking really hard if I made the right decision, knowing I'll come down the same way I went up. I paused a while in the middle of a long reach and looked back in every painful step to a sharp limestone, every reach I did to go to the next stone, every muscle I stretched to pull myself up and every little sweat I shed while climbing. And then I remembered the stories we've read, how beautiful it was at the top and it gave me further strength to continue. After a short daydream, I looked down at my feet and I swear there were around 15 fat mosquitoes sucking my leg. I tried to shake them away with my hands but they didn't want to let go. After a few seconds they all went away, the alcohol intake I had the previous night probably helped me for the mosquitoes flew away after tasting my blood.

Life changing jump.

I caught up with the group at a place we call "life changing." One way to describe it is if you look at the movie poster 127 hours, it is the closest thing I could think of to picture the place. We have to lean back and take a little jump to get to the next part of the climb. I did a mistake of not following the first parts of Mang Jun's instructions earlier, I looked down. And I was hoping, praying, calling all angels for me to follow the next part of his advise, which is not to fall down. It was a long way down and there were spikes. Like an obstacle in an Indiana Jones movie. We all made it through and we laughed about it after wards.

The summit.

After a few bumps on the way to top, we all reached the summit two and a half hours after jump-off. The pictures in the internet would not match the view from where we were standing. El Nido's medium-sized cove, covered by mountains, fronting a clear blue beach and sand, surrounded by ant-like creatures roaming around which were townspeople and foreigners, torn-up rooftops and a sunny sky. The view was breathtaking. The feeling was rewarding. Suddenly all the pain went away after a deep breath from the summit breeze.

Crashing back.

Time stopped for a short period and like the waves we saw crashing to the cove; anything that went up will slowly go back to where it came from. After taking our conquered photos, we went down the same way we went up. Contrary to what I thought earlier, it was easier to get down. Maybe because gravity worked with me half of the time. Climbing down a wall is probably easier than pulling yourself up a wall. Terrible thing here is, you have to look down so you'll know where you'll step down next.

The pleasant smell of burnt rubber.

After a few ups and downs to the cliffs of Taraw. A smoke was seen a few meters from where we were. And frankly speaking, burning rubber is not the most pleasant smell you could inhale specially when you are gasping for air. But the smell of this burnt rubber never felt so comforting for we know that we are near the town proper. And yes, after two more minor assaults, we have reached the source of the smoke, a bunch of kids making trumpo (tops). We made it down. After 3 and half hours, 7 battle wounds, 2 major contusions, ripped shorts and shoes we finally conquered the cliffs of Taraw.

Keys in surviving Taraw.

There are numerous tips to survive Taraw, two of the most important are: don't look down and don't fall down or simply just don't be nervous and don't die hehe. Kidding aside, this is a different ballgame from mountain hiking, so wear proper shoes and don't bring much with you. If you can't help bringing your SLR, at least be ready for a few dents after the climb. I brought a Lumix and still found it hard not to bump it along the way. If your halfway there and you're about to give up, remember that the summit is worth it. And the story you will bring down with you is the kind of story you can tell your grand kids over and over. 

  

This post is also featured in our friends site http://leavethecube.blogspot.com/