Glimpse of Intramuros

I've been in the capital so many times in the past and yet I was not able to roam around during those trips even on the reachable historical landmarks in the City of Manila. I am still afraid of getting lost in a big city, being rob or be a victim of the evildoer which I always heard and seen on TV. However, on my recent trip I took the courage to go to Intramuros and sight see (that was last Saturday). Taking only enough money for the train fare I went to the nearest LRT/MRT station which is the Ayala Station and from there I ride on my own for the first time. I thought it was complicated especially on the train route going to my destination but I asked helped from the station guard who happens to be an Ilonggo also and there I made it. Thanks to him!

Below are some of the pictures I took on the short hour that I was there..it was a shame I was not able to see all those historical landmarks since I need to get back to my hotel and catch my flight home. Next time again...

THE FORT SANTIAGO

The Rajah Sulayman Theater

I made the 2 photos looks very old. Thanks to the editing software. Hehe.

It was good to see some Spanish word right at the entrance of the comfort room.
I was not able to take for the men's CR though..the area is so small & a lot of people are coming. Hmmp! :)




THE MANILA CATHEDRAL

Above the entrance of Manila Cathedral

Antique wood carvings on the door panel

PALACIO DEL GOBERNADOR




ANDRES BONIFACIO SHRINE
(Across Manila City Hall)

A Few Tips

45 days had passed since I climb the SE Asia's highest mountain and yet I still can't get over with it as every time my friends found out that I did climb they keep asking me about my preparations for the climb and how did I get to KK. They're interested to do it too.. Well for you guys who really wanted to climb here are my tips..

1. You need to book a ROOM or BED on the mountain hut at Sutera Sanctuary Lodge website, 2 or 3 months ahead of your scheduled climb as its a lot cheaper. Just check their website for the current price but take note it is still very expensive (well for me it is! hehe) and once you paid thru Credit Card, they can no longer refund you if ever you want to cancel (that is their policy) so make sure you will climb on the date you specified or you'll be sorry :(

2. As far as going to KK, you don't have a problem getting there as there are 2 airline operators from Philippines that has flight schedule to KK. One is Air Asia (daily from Clark) and Cebu Pacific (twice a week from NAIA 3). Just check their website for the airfare. Book also in advance if you are on budget.

3. If you want to stay in the city for a night prior to your Mt. Kinabalu Adventure, you got lots of choices for your lodge. From best hotels to backpackers/youth hostels lodge. The price starts from 20RM up. For me its good to stay in youth hostels coz aside from its cheaper you can meet a lot of friends from around the world there.

4. As for your physical preparation, I suggest u look for the tallest building in your area and then take the stairs up and down on that building maybe twice a week for two months. The trail on Mt. Kinabalu is only a series of steps/stairs and its not that hard to climb if u got a stronger legs. Jogging and walking is also okay and any exercise will do as long as it involves the lower portion of your body.

5. What to wear? A short and a shirt will do during the first phase of the climb. Then a pair of walking or hiking shoes. If u have a goretex shoes much better. Both of my toes were hurt during descent so I suggest u also bring a sandal to be used only for that purpose. Don't forget to bring a raincoat coz the weather up there is unpredictable. We never thought it would rain along the way since the weather when we started the climb is very sunny but the change is so sudden and I was not prepared. I should have bought a disposable raincoat at the base but I listened to my partner that I don't need it :(

6. Bring some medicines with u. Paracetamol, OTC pain killers, oral rehydration (to be mixed in your drinking water) and best if u can have some tablets for altitude sickness. That was my number 1 enemy as I climb higher.

7. Don't bring a lot of stuff with u as it gets heavier on your backpack and believe me it will make u miserable as u climb like what happened to me. Hehe. I bring along my DSLR camera but never used it there because of tiredness and altitude sickness.

8. What else? You need a spirit of determination..there came a point in my climb that i felt like giving up but because I am determined to finish and make myself proud, nevertheless, I continued. As sir Edmund Hillary said "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."


If you still have some question just post it in the comment section.

Dancing Waters..

Water, thou hast no taste, no color, no odor;
Canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious
Not necessary to life, but rather life itself,
Thou fillest us with a gratification
That exceeds the delight of the senses.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I was looking for a resto last Friday night
when this fountain caught my eye..Greenbelt Makati

Conquring Mt. Kinabalu (Part 2)

On my last kilometer to Laban Rata I feel like collapsing na..parang lasing na ako at paekis-ekis na ang hakbang! But I really need to push myself to get to the hut. The rain never stopped..and my bag so wet already..buti na lang nilagay ko sa plastic ang mga gamit ko! Naligo na rin ako sa ulan..sobrang ginaw na! I thought si LORD na lang talaga ang hope ko! Haha. He did heared me..may nakita akong lodge sa unahan..YAY! i felt happy! I knew I am near LR..nakita ko yan sa mapa...at di nga ako nagkamali sa unahan din ay ang malaking lodging house.. yun na yun! I feel soooooo relieved..At last I finished the first phase. I feel like crying when I arrived at the doorstep ALONE. I can't describe my feeling.. happy and yet sad? Na miss ko ang mga katropa ko sa pag-akyat..masaya kasi pag marami kayo na umaakyat..at least walang iwanan. Buddy buddy system talaga! And I am used to that during our previous trekking pero ngayon iniwanan ba naman ako mag-isa! Kunsabagay di ko naman sya ka close! So kanya kanya diskarte na! Anyway, I took a deep breath and then went inside the hut! Wow, its full! More people than I thought. There were at least 150 people in there. Sobrang maingay! Some were already resting , pacoffee coffee na lang and taking their evening meal. I was hungry but i didn't feel like eating. I really feel nauseated..All I want was to have a shower and a good rest.. So I went to the receptionist desk to inquire if my partner already checked in and the lady in charge confirmed it but said we're going to share for 2 more. What?? Ulitin mo nga?!! A dorm room??? Hindi naman yan ang pina booked namin a! I argued with her 'coz I made sure that in my booking reservation its a private room for 2 pax.. I planned to rest well prior to the summit climb! but she insisted that I only paid for the dorm room. Oh myyyyy goodness! The SSL is worst than u can imagine. I had no choice again but to head to our room which was very small with 2 double decked bed. It was very cold inside, no heater since it will only be operational at 8PM. The water in the bathroom was likewise not heated...soooo cold but tolerable for me. I can't argue for more but be contented for the accommodation.. andyan na eh! Although I really feel soooooo bad about it..hehe.

I ate a little at the cafeteria although buffet yung food at ang daming pagpipilian..Gusto kong kumain ng marami pero super sama ng sikmura ko...hindi pumapasok sa tyan ko ang pagkain. I took some medicines to relieve my dizziness at na dehydrate yata ako so i bought some oral rehydration sa lodge! Then I joined sa chit chat ng mga puti na nameet namin paakyat pero hindi ko naman masyadong naintindihan ang sinasabi nila kasi ang bilis nilang magsalita at isa pa parang wala ako sa sarili ko (another symptoms daw ng altitude sickness!). Then at 7:30 I went back to the room to sleep na and I met our 2 companion there, a French couple and after a short chat to them I decided to rest. Because of exhaustion I was able to sleep easily. When I woke up at 2am people in my room were still snoring but I heard some noises outside..people were already preparing for the summit climb. Did the rain stopped? Some people last night told me that if the rain wont stop then we will not push through since its very dangerous.. Ma check nga! I went downstairs and asked 1 guide if we are still going up and he told me yes. Hindi pa nakontento lumabas ako at tiningnan ang kalangitan! Medyo clear na nga..may konting stars na! Haha. So I went back to the room and there they are.. still lying in the bed. Hehe. I woke my partner up and asked him if he still wanted to do the summit climb..so off we go! But before going out I made sure to wear four layers of clothing (buti na yung sigurado!) then i put 2 cellophane bags on each of my feet kasi super basa pa ang shoes ko at dalawang medyas din para yung tubig at ang lamig di pumasok sa paa ko..hehe. Improvised na lang kasi hindi man lang umandar ang heater! Yun sana ang pag-asa namin to make our shirts and shoes dry! Then after having some coffee and toast and taking paracetamol tablet..umalis na kami! Excited na naman! Haha.

I feel better when I started climbing the stairs kasi there are lots of people in front of us..so we just follow their gos and stops. Hindi mabilis ang pag-akyat which was good! Stairs and rocks lang naman daanan namin pero daluyan pala ng tubig..a stream. Buti't may plastic cover ang paa ko! Hehe. But as I went on my legs become sore again..and it looked like the stairs would go on forever..haha. Walang katapusan! Pero di kalaunan we came to an end of the stairs but now we had to do it harder..climbing the rock using the rope..mailawan nga! wow! i saw its very steep (70-80 deg?) and come to think...in the dark? Rapelling without proper gears and harness in the dark? Oh my! A small mistake and slip and u'll be dead..My partner said I should go first since he had no head lamp but I said he should go first..I am nervous to make a step up..It's good our guide has an extra flash light which he lent it to my partner..He climb first and I followed. I did it slowly but carefully. I am very nervous but I enjoyed doing it..I like the thrill and excitement when I hold on to the rope and pulling myself up..haha. I felt like I am an advance rock climber. Hehe. I did that for at least 45 min. Then arrived at Sayat-Sayat Hut (another gate for checking) and refilled my water... but from there I feel worst again. My head was spinning as I walked and also my stomach! Along the way I lost my partner and our guide. Oh, he left me again.. nevertheless I continued.. only every 10 steps I made..I also stopped to take a deep breath! I am very very very slow..Those that are behind already overtook me..i thought..a bahala kau dyan! Mauna kau kung gusto nyo! I can't speed up anymore kasi masyadong steep ang daan at masama na naman pakiramdam ko plus di na ako makahinga! Parang snail ba! Hehe.

At 8.0 km..I rested! I saw some people already ascending to the summit..kasi yung ilaw nila masyadong bright! I feel like I really could not make it to the top and see the sunrise...Ang layo pa ha mga 1km pa! The french couple passed by and asked if I am alright..I said I am very very tired already and wanted to give up. But they encouraged me to go on as they also felt the same (so they say!). I carried on..Nagbubukang liwayway na kasi! Naks! Ang lalim! hehe. I speed up not minding anymore what I feel coz what's on my mind was to really reach the peak ASAP kasi baka abutin ako ng gabi pabalik sa Park HQ.. And at last!!!!! narating ko rin ang tuktok ng bundok (mga past 6:00am) medyo maliwanag na! Pero okay lang kasi di naman nakita yung sunrise dahil sa clouds! Hahaha. I am very happy! Okay din kung inumaga ako basta nakarating sa summit and it's really my dream come true! Hehe. One more thing..hindi pla ako ang pinakahuli kahit na sobrang bagal ko kasi marami pa ang nakasunod sa akin! Hehe.. It feels like heaven! Nawala pagod ko ha! I can't describe how beautiful the scenery was.. even my captured images can't! So if u really want to know how great up there..see for yourself..do the climb! I know u can! It was awesome! God indeed is great and marvelous! So thank you LORD!

To be continued..

Kota Kinabalu Random Photos

my first food in malaysia

@ d' waiting shed near the Sabah Muzium

(the dove knows d' timing)

symbol of kk city..a blue marlin

some pigeons i photographed

during my 1st morning recon @ kk city

an English telephone booth

(it only shows British influences in the region)

a beautiful KK sunset

wooden dock at manukan island

Conquering Mt. Kinabalu (Part 1)

The rituals/prayer of Muslim woke me up at 3 in the morning of July 20. I tried to sleep again but I was not able to. I just stared at the ceiling waiting for the time to pass by so I could head to Kinabalu Park HQ. I am so excited thinking of the mountain but apprehensive of what might happen to me up there. I don't know if I can reach the summit with what I feel at the moment..For the past weeks sleep again evaded me..my back is so painful..and not really in good condition to climb. But there is no turning back for me..everything was set and I already paid in full. (Hai naku! Ang laki kaya ng binayad ko! Hehe). This is what I wanted to do so I will do it!

The two aussie girls whom I shared with in the dorm room woke up at 5am. I lie still in the bed watching them preparing for their early flight to Sepilok to see the Orangutans'. When they left.. I went out of bed and prepare for our 7:30 trip to the park. I still need to walk to my partners' lodge for 10 min since we had agreed to meet there for the arranged taxi to get us to the park. We left around 8am.

The 1 hr 30 min ride to the Park was not that eventful. I am very tired so I closed my eyes and relaxed. My partner asked me to take some photos of Mt. Kinabalu along the highway but the electrical wires and cables made the photos look bad. So I just sleep again..The driver stopped and told us we're already at the park. Wow! So fast! I read the signboard and yes we are in the right place and then walked a few meters up to the gate where we paid the entrance fee. The air at the park HQ was very cold already (just like at my working place) and I thought how much more up there at the summit? I saw a bunch of tourists...lots n lots of them actually! Some we're already heading to Timpohon gate to start the climb. They're much much early! How I wish we are..:)

I went directly to the reception area to register and confirm our reservation at the mountain hut. Then paid for the mountain guide. I asked the person in-charge if we can share the guide fee of RM85.00 with other climbers but he said we should pay separately..Wow! That hurts in the pocket! I read in travel forums that it can be shared with other climbers.. so what happened now? Anyway, we can do nothing as it is their rule but I observed their rule is changing...taking advantage of the foreigners! Bad people huh! Then we also paid for the bus to Timpohon gate for RM33.00 each. The climb was very expensive..They're getting on my nerves already! Hehe.

After about 30 min of waiting we were able to meet the guide and he's quite double S..haha. (short and small). Before heading to Timpohon, we still went to Balsam Restaurant to get our packed lunched..hmmm..heavy! But its worth it. Sandwiches, boiled egg, green apple , 1 pc of fried chicken and a carbo drink in one container. Enough to give us energy for the first phase of the climb. Then we are off to Timpohon gate where the climb would start. Passing the gate I could see we are 6 people in 1 guide. Hmmm..the fee isn't supposed to be shared by 6 people also? We just shrug our shoulders off. Hehe. We started walking and it was really a wonderful day (so i thought! haha)..warm and sunny! The trail is just a series of very steep stairs and rocks to step over. And I thought again..easy! The scenery is beautiful but not that new to me as I am also living close to the mountain...with all the trees! But what made it unique is its rich biodiversity. I saw different species of birds along the trail but I can't recognize them. Then lots squirrels jumping near the shelter. Its my first encounter with those animals and they're cute! Haha.


Anyway, I did good in the 1st km but after that it was unbearable. My backpack becomes heavy every time I made to the next "Pondok" or sheltered hut (every 0.5 km). Then at 3km the weather changed.. dark clouds forming so I know it will rain anytime. Oh my..I don't have a rain coat! I am supposed to buy a disposable at the park but my partner said there's no need as he has a spare..Well, I trust him though! He did lent me his extra (thanks bro!)..I'm getting slow so I let my partner go first after we reached the 4km pondok. I don't want to burden him. So in the end it was just me walking alone. And where's our guide? He's supposed to be with me as I am the last one in the group! oh, never mind! I can do it..hehe. But no as I get higher I feel really terrible. I can barely walk..I feel drained of energy..I can hardly breath..I feel dizzy and I couldn't swallow the food..I was hit by altitude sickness..oh myyyy...i am not prepared for it! I decided to leave the food at 4km hut since I can't eat anymore (hindi na talaga pumapasok sa sikmura ko at parang nasusuka na ako!) So nagdecide na lang me na iwanan yun as it gets heavy on my back pack. I continued walking..slowly with frequent stops.. In the middle of 4-5 km I feel hungry but no more energy food for me now..just water. I thought the 1 slice of sandwich and a boiled egg I had eaten were enough to get me to Laban Rata but I was wrong! There am I shivering and shaking due to cold and hunger..my borrowed rain jacket did not keep me dry long..water keeps coming inside my shirt plus my shoes are wet also. I should have worn a goretex shoes!

Even then I still enjoyed walking kahit masakit na ang paa ko! May matching pahumming-humming pa! Dinadaan na lang sa kanta ang takot at kaba! Hehe Randam ko talaga ang sobrang lamig sa paa ko na umaakyat sa tuhod..kaya masakit ang bawat hakbang! Then one funny thing that happened was..I still got one small chocolate candy (my calcium supplement) in my pocket but when I opened it just falls to the ground..waaaaaaaaaaaa. Terrible! it was supposed to give me energy but my hands were shaking so it falls off my hand.. I'd really like to take it from the ground but I am too ashamed to do it as there are some Malaysians at my back..haha. No choice but to carry on.. I talk to one Malay girl and she was from KL. She's a first timer like me and so we both feel the same as we climb higher and we had a good laugh about it. I went ahead of her though as I am determined to get to the hut as soon as possible..my hands and feet were very cold..

To be continued..

our packed lunch

Kota Kinabalu Obsession..

My obsession with Kota Kinabalu began way back in 2007 when I saw some pics of my former schoolmates at Friendsters website posing at the peak of a mountain. The scenery caught my attention and I know it was not taken from the Philippines. As I browsed more of their photos I discovered it was from Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah Malaysia. Wow, they were able to conquer one of the highest mountain in SE asia..I promised myself that one day I will climb that mountain. Then searching of information about the place began..I read many articles, travel guides and blogs about Kota Kinabalu (or KK for short) and made some clippings on OneNote. It aroused my interest more. KK is a very interesting place. There is a lot to see and to do aside climbing Mt. Kinabalu. I also learned it's not that hard to reach the peak but it needs physical stamina and of course strong legs for the strenuous climb..I am confident I got that. hehe. wanna bet? My excitement with the place subsided when no one from my friends wanted to do the climb with me. They're not that adventurous like me..I became absorbed with my daily workloads in the Power Plant and forgot it for a while.

Then last March I met someone from Australia via internet who also loves adventures.. we emailed and become friends. He wanted to see me in person but I told him I will only meet him at KK. He agreed and so here I am now preparing for the meet ups on July 19, 2009. I will be there on the 18th and head back home on the 25th. I am excited and yet a bit afraid as this will be my first time to travel abroad. But, hopefully, this will be the start of me being a wanderer..

Next Blog: My preparations..

my perception on blogging

it's really my desire to have a blog site of my own. i tried to build one or two yet every time i start making i just lost my interest. my attitude is.. i could not maintain my zealousness on one thing..i get bored easily! besides the "sharing " idea is not me. i am more of a private person and sharing my life or my deepest secrets and thoughts would expose me..my personality..and i don't want that. a blog is like a diary..and it is supposed to be kept to oneself, right? or if not, it can only be exposed when a person is already dead just like Anne Frank's diary but..well, technology changed all this..with millions of personal blogs now on the net, people tend to be like an open book..and yet it does no harm..people accept facts and they get to like the person..it boost one's self esteem..it build friendships..it does a lot of good. what i thought as wrong is not bad after all and changing my perception now is not yet too late..