Majestic Mt. Pulag

I crossed one off my 2012 bucket list last January 14-15, 2012: Climb a mountain.

I've always wanted to climb an mountain and go camping ever since I was a young kid. I finally did it. Granted that it wasn't as "roughing it" as real campers would consider but still.

Thanks to my adventurous and always game set of friends, next thing I knew I was already signed up to climb the third highest peak in the Philippines, and the highest in Luzon. (if you're going to do it might as well go all out right?)

For weeks I could not think of anything else but the trip. I read countless blogs of people who have gone before me, researched and re-researched packing lists, went on frequent shopping trips to R.O.X. and Park Square and packed and re-packed my backpack. No, I was actually dreading this trip and was totally unprepared for it. No, really. You see it was only after I signed up and paid for the trip that it hit me that I haven't even completed rehab on my knee which underwent ACL reconstruction surgery. I'm not even 50% done with therapy. So what the hell was I thinking planning on climbing a mountain?! I wasn't. All I knew was I wanted to do it, bahala na how. So for a little peace of mind, I "prepared" for the climb by taking the stairs to my 7th floor office everyday for two weeks. I do at least 2 round trip climbs every day. That was it. Oh and I stopped smoking the day we left for Baguio. (not much help there)

We had a quick breakfast stop near the DENR station. This was where we left our clothes for Baguio too. A short briefing at the DENR station and then we were off to the ranger station - a very bumpy 1.5hrs away by jeep. When we got to the Ranger station it started drizzling but nothing serious. And then we were off. This is it!

Thailand: Touchdown at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Because I'm such a sucker for seat sales, I more often than not end up getting the evening flights. This works for me as I can still go to work during the day and go straight to the airport at night. My first time to Thailand was no different, except that this time I snuck out of the office with two other officemates. Barely two weeks after I got back from my Vietnam-Cambodia trip, here I am out of the house again. Fun!




One of the many that will greet you upon arrival



Suvarnabhumi Airport is huge. Getting to the Immigration counter was a bit confusing for us though since even at almost midnight there were so many people and so many shops that you'd think you're already either on your way out of the airport or you're near the pre-departure area waiting for your flight out. I always had this notion that before anything else, the first thing you'd be able to do is pass thru immigrations, no shopping on the side first. Succeeding trips told me otherwise.



Immigrations



Cambodia: The majestic beauty of Angkot Wat and much more.



Sunrise over the Angkor Wat



By 5:00 a.m. our driver and guide Sarath were already waiting for us outside Golden Temple Villa. Since there were 4 of us we decided to rent a van instead. Our van had a small cooler inside with cold water provided for us by the guesthouse. Sarath spoke pretty good english and I think he was getting a bit stressed that we might miss the sunrise. The sun was already breaking out in the horizon when we reached the ticket counter to purchase our Angkor day pass for $20. I could no longer contain my excitement. Going to Angkor Wat has been a dream of mine for a long time. I never thought that I'd be able to see it within my first year of working. Small blessings I'm forever grateful for.

Crossing the moat surrounding Angkor Wat, we could already see how many tourists also wake up this early to witness the majestic sunrise. I read about how busload of tourists would arrive for the sunrise and immediately disappear after to go back to their hotels for breakfast. I didn't think that the articles actually meant hundreds of tourists! The peace and tranquility one would feel walking into the halls of the Angkor Wat immediately disappears at first sight of a huge group of camera-toting, noisy and perky tourists, but they still weren't enough to ruin my mood :-)