Before Sunrise @ Kiltepan

The much talked about Viewpoint has been getting a handful of attention. Thanks to Angelica's emotional scene, screaming at the top of her lungs hoping in doing so, it will take the pain away ( That Thing Called Tadhana ). But let's not get overly dramatic. Kiltepan Viewpoint is actually a perfect spot to watch the sun rise on the east. It's a place to gather your thoughts, commune with nature, find serenity and just be content at the stillness of surrounding. Now, there's a disclaimer to this - Should you attempt to go there at 5:00 am during peak season, then tough luck. Chances are, you'll only being seeing heads, tripods and iphones up in the air, blocking the majestic sight of sunrise.


It was our last stop in Sagada before we head off to Baguio. Our Van pulled in at around 05:00 am and much to our surprise, the place was already jammed with tourists with their hi tech gadgets in tow,  trying to secure this spot to capture the perfect photograph of the Sunrise. I felt discouraged as I tried to squeeze myself in the crowd. It was hopeless to even raise my camera up to get a good glance of what about to transpire. We saw people going in a different direction and so we decided to follow them as they climbed to what seemed like a hill. There were already a group of people in the forefront but fortunately, we found a spot enough to see the sun as it breaks the dawn. We stood there, waiting patiently as more and more people gathered at the point. After a few more minutes, the fog cleared up and soon it was bright, golden and warm. Sunrise will always be one of the most beautiful showcase of God's magnificent creation. It was beautiful and no filter can ever do justice to the magical experience you'll have as you watch the sun comes out and breaks the darkness.



After 15 minutes or so, we decided to wander around and saw these giant pine trees - light bulb comes on. Backdrop! It felt like Autumn in NYC with all the browns, rust and vermillion colors around us. The sun streaks were peeping its way in through the branches of the trees, touching the amples of our cheeks. It was certainly a good, reassuring morning. We event witnessed a proposal which I found to be slightly cliche considering Kiltepan Viewpoint was considered the Brokenhearted's Solace. I lost count at the number of photos we took with us leaning on the trunk of the tree. A cameraman passed by and asked if he can take the photo of our friend. He asked him to move away from the trees a bit and angle himself partly facing the sun and the camera. The photo came out excellent and one thing we learned that day was, subjects should move away from the background as they will appear as false attachments resulting to a confusing photograph. Thank you Mr Cameraman! Photography 101.





As we make our descent to Baguio which was a sign that it's indeed the end of our Sagada stint, I felt a sense of unexplained happiness and peace. Yes, it was a series of sleep-deprived and exhausting itinerary but the adventures, memories and bond we created during this strip will be the stories we would tell to our children and grandchildren. It was one of those precious things you will save to your core memory and one that you'll unlock whenever the itch of wanderlust kicks in. Sagada was one of the first few places I had a chance of visiting when it was still unknown to many and it has been kind enough to still offer the same sense of serenity and beauty as it did back then.

Xo,

Jhesy 

Travel Diary : Sagada

Looks like the charm of the Mountain province has rubbed it's magic on me leading me to head up North again with just two weeks in between trips. 

I didn't intend to come to Sagada anytime soon since it's been alluded as a refuge for people who are nursing a broken heart and for those who are keen to meet "carrot man." And while my heart is perfectly intact nor I have any hopes of joining the hype, my close friends have decided to take our annual getaway to the highlands. Prior reservations crumbled when I imagined the epic adventure I'm bound to have with these crazy bunch.

We booked our trip with Travel Ventours. 12 of us signed up but due to unexpected events or should I say "blessing", only 7 of us pushed through. Our van left Manila around 10:00 pm; we knew it'll be a long ride to get  to Sagada, 12 hours to be exact so we positioned ourselves comfortably and dozed off until we reached the first stop. Four stops and 8 hours later, we reached the province of Banaue. This is part of the itinerary and most tourist would stall here for a good 30 minutes for photo op and marvel the beauty of Banaue Rice Terraces.

It's been a decade since I first went to Sagada and walking along its now cemented roads and seeing the establishments ( guest inns, cafes and souvenir shops ) lined up along the serene streets of Sagada made me feel like I was seeing it for this first time. A lot has changed in 10 years and I know it shouldn't be a surprise yet I kept looking in trying to find the sense of serenity, that familiar feeling of calmness though it failed me. True enough, tourists have put this majestic province to the map of the must-visit destination in the country. But don't fret, despite the crowd and hype about this town; Sagada has retained its beauty with so much to offer to anyone who opt to experience its distinct appeal.

Situated 1500 above sea-level, this remote town promises an unforgettable experience. With its lush mountains, majestic waterfalls, lofty terraces, cool weather, caves, cliffs and fresh produce; a week is certainly not enough. The warm hospitality of its locals complement with the beauty of the surrounding. Whether you're an adventurous traveler or simply want to escape the city and commune with nature; Sagada is a favored destination to anyone who thrive for remarkable experience and adventure. 




Love.
Jhesy 

Adventure Above Clouds | Mt Pulag

They say that if something scares you, it might be a good thing to try. I have always toyed with the idea of doing something extreme, extradonaire and way beyond my pre-set limits. Yet, I have begged off from a lot of opportunities owing it to the excuses I would tell myself when fear of unknown sets in. So when the opportune time presents itself in the form of a mountain expedition on Heart’s day courtesy of my best friend with an attached photo of Kim Jones' look away shot against the backdrop of Mt Pulag’s sea of clouds, - surely an offer I can't resist. 

The Elusive Sea of Clouds

And so I found myself at the airport clutching the straps of the huge TNF backpack I borrowed from Gatch. It's almost midnight and as I stared at the glass door window, I figured that there's no turning back. Judging by the glaring eyes at the subway as I pushed my way in, my entire ensemble certainly looks legit for hiking. It started to dawn on me that for the first time in what seems like an eternity, I was finally doing something out of my comfort zone.

My most recent trip to Mt Pulag was with Travel Factor. And there’s a good reason why my friend and I booked at the last minute. We were supposed to travel with a group of 20 pax but due to unforeseen circumstances, they all had to cancel out leaving the two of us to push through with the climb. Say yes to adventure right?

The coolest coordinators ever! ( Rico, Milet & Peter )

The cold morning breeze of Baguio greeted us and as I hugged my fleece jacket tightly, I was told that it is nothing compared to cold we would soon feel at the summit. We were then ushered to the jeeps to take us to DENR office for briefing and then set off for the Ranger Station. Top load ride -  one of the memorable experiences I’ve had going to the campsite. As the driver trudge on the rough, steep road; I let the cold wind brush through my face as we marvel at the lush greenery, vegetation and stretch of Cordillera Mountains. Everything was a beauty to behold that I even told myself that if I won’t be able to make it to the summit, what I’ve seen throughout the jeepney ride would surely suffice.

Due to the number of climbers on weekends, camping on Camp 1 and 2 is prohibited (one of the reasons my friends opted out as it would entail longer hours to reach the summit). Weekend climbers stayed in the Ranger station along with the locals with close proximity to carrots, broccoli and potato plantation. Here you’ll find everything you’ll need from basic hiking gears, hot water down to the freshest carrot juice you’ll ever get your hands on.

And as our first day came to a close, the sky was painted with tinge of yellow and orange. We were treated to a magnificent view of the sunset 2000++ meters above sea level. I was gasping in awe and was literally going near the edge of the cliff feigning to reach the sky as the rest of us marvel at the majestic view before us.  I uttered a silent prayer of gratitude and hoped that the summit will offer the same clearing and breathtaking view similar to what we’ve seen.

Sleeping the night off was a real struggle. Lying down inside the tent made it hard for me to stay still. I had changed to my hiking clothes and had gloves, bonnet on yet the subzero temperature made it difficult for me to get a good shuteye. I was fidgeting yet careful not to wake my tent mates but quite amused to hear snoring sounds from across our tent. (Maybe the cold didn’t bother them anyway). At 1:30 am we set forth for the summit. Armed with headlights, trail mix, camera and hiking gears, we braced the cold, dark trail. The moon unabashedly showed off her gleaming light and the night sky exploded with billion of stars. Climbing Mt Pulag for the first time wasn’t an easy feat. The first 30 minutes was exhausting and challenging as the air becomes thinner and temperature progressively drops as you go higher. By 5:30 am, we found ourselves at the Grassland Summit where majority of the climbers have already secured their spot to witness the sunrise. At dawn, the dark silhouette of the mountains adds to the beauty of the imminent sunrise. We waited patiently as sky slowly breaks into hues of warm orange and yellow. Rays of sun break on the horizon through the cold cover of clouds.

Front Row Seat

Borrowing lines from Tangled, it was warm, real and bright. - And the world has somehow shifted.

Then a sea of ghostly mist drifts by on the grassy rolling hills of Luzon’s highest peak. The sometimes-elusive sea of clouds showed up in all its grandeur. Everything was surreal and it was the most impressive view I’ve seen in a long time. I thank God for His provisions and for giving us a window to glimpse over His beautiful creation.

As I turned around, the face of the mountains turns gold as the early morning sun kisses it. The magnificent view of the grassland unfolds as we trekked to reach the summit. After an hour and a pack of oatmeal cookies later, we finally reached Mt Pulag peak. Towering 2922 meters above sea level, I made it to the 3^rd highest peak in the country - I literally and figuratively conquered a mountain for the first time.

The descent proved to be a breeze but the never ending trail of the mossy forest led us to resort in taking a motorcycle ride (habal habal ) back to the campsite. It was thrilling and undoubtedly risky to take the rough road sans a helmet. And as I gazed at the steep cliff on the other side of the road, I prayed that I would make it back to the site alive and in one piece.

Team #Pulove

My sole purpose for climbing Mt Pulag was to witness the sea of clouds. While it is no doubt, magnificently beautiful, I was amazed to discover that more than the majestic view are the myriad of stories and experiences shared with the people I’ve spent hours and few days with. The wee-hour walk under the galaxy of stars with the people I shared a connection with was equally magical.

Mt Pulag sums up the best of what the Philippine mountains has to offer. It is coined as playground of the gods for its unique flora/fauna offering an experience of a world that is cold and beautiful. The weather here can be erratic and the elusive sea of clouds may not always show but what you will discover is that the destination is as beautiful as the journey and the goal goes beyond what you thought is the end. The magic lies in the moments, adventure and experience shared.

Xo,

Jhesy