celebraTINg exisTENce: Zambales

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I was looking at my photos and it was then did I realized that I haven't blogged about my Tapulao Hike experience and so I'm putting this here now. :)

I knew that it was going to be hard since I heard someone said "Tapulao talaga 'yung mas nakakaloko eh." considering that we're trekking Tarak Ridge (4/9) and him still having the guts to say that, I knew for sure that this is going to be a memorable one.

The difficulty of Tapulao Hike is 5/9 and is 18 kilometers long from the jump-off point to the summit.

It also has a great altitude gain kasi aabot ka sa ulap, beshy! Imagine walking from 100 MASL to 2,037 MASL!!!

Sometimes I also can't fathom how high and how far my feet are able to take me. :))

Start the trek as early as you can 'cause this never ending rocky trail can get really hot by noon. The next photos all look alike but they are taken on parts of the trail that are far with each other. Sobrang haba lang kasi talaga.

Albeit the length, the trail wasn't steep all the time. It sometimes get steep but bearable.

Look how far I've come. hahaha!

I definitely miss the feeling of hiking but for sure, when I go back to the hobby, I'll be questioning myself again. lolz.

This was where we ate our lunch and rested for several minutes since the heat was kind of unbearable that time.

Reaching this part (pine forest) after the looooooong rocky trail have already made this worth it. I don't know about you but I'm really inlove with the feeling of being one with the clouds. hehehe. One of those things that I look forward to during hikes are clouds. HAHA!

This part of the trail where clouds seem to cross was an effective energizer to my body. Tapulao is a great hike for you if you want to practice being patient.

I legit thought that this was it because of all the clouds only to find out that after getting out of the clouds is yet another long walk... ascent and rocky part of the trail.

I've had a lot of people who've asked me how do clouds feel like... although they sometimes look like a puffy marshmallow while in the air, it's just fog on the ground/near the ground.

Look at the two pictures above:

first, you'll see how this part looks like when you're not in the area

second, you'll see how it looks like when you're about the walk on it.

In this case, the cloud may be considered a low-lying cloud and becomes fog. As for the feeling, it's kind of misty and cool.

After the cloud experience is yet another rocky trail but this time, the ascent can be felt. As in. Shet, wala ba 'tong katapusan?

But... are you happy?

It was almost 6 PM when we reached camp one which meant that we walked for twelve hours that day. hahaha! I miss. Sobra!!!

This was where we set-up the tent.

Best view during this time was having a sea of clouds at the back.

We were only the hikers that day so it felt like a private climb. We wanted to stargaze but the amount of surrounding clouds and the strength of the blowing wind made it impossible to stay out the tent for a long time.

Skyflakes at tuna savior! :)))

It wasn't too cold but the wind was blowing hard that it felt like someone was slamming our tent the entire night. Still slept like a baby though since we were exhausted.

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Mahilig ako sa chocolates simula pa nung bata ako kaya nung nakapag-overnight kami sa Subic dati at unang beses ko lang makapasok sa Duty Free, sabi ng nanay ko e hindi raw ako magkanda-ugaga katatakbo sa shelves na pinaglalagyan ng mga tsokolate at hindi ako makapili.

Nung bumalik naman ako sa Puregold Dutyfree nito nang mahilig ako sa matcha, hindi pa rin ako magkanda-ugaga. Hindi katatakbo kundi kaiisip dahil hindi rin ako makapili kasi nga kulang sa chaching. Hahaha! Some things don't change. Iba pa rin reaction ko everytime may makita akong bagay na gustong-gusto ko. hahahahahaha. Di ko na kasi ma-control pag nakakakita ako ng kahit anong matcha. -_-

Sakit sa puso nito but thank you, Puregold Duty Free for selling matcha products. It was a problem that I was glad to have. It's not you, it's me kaya masakit sa puso. BAKIT KASI ANG PRICEY NG MGA GUSTO KO SA BUHAY?!

Matcha soft cookie oreos (paki-arrange na lang sa tamang order 'yung words)

I did not buy this because I like it, I bought it as per my cousin's son's request. Ako siguro may kasalanan bakit mahilig na rin siya sa matcha kaya binilhan ko na.

He liked it that he almost finished everything but as for me, not too much because it seemed like the chocolate taste overpowered the matcha and that's unacceptable for (someone like) me. Haha!! Still and an interesting combination so definitely worth trying. Arte lang ako.

I saw this before in Family Mart although I don't know what its name is.

Instead na nakabalot sa chocolate na almond 'yung kasama, matcha flavor 'yung stick and then matcha bits 'yung nagpapalutong. This one's interesting too but it's not something that I'd buy again. Arte ko diba? hahaha. Nabawasan na kasi talaga 'yung pagka-like ko sa chocolates. You'd taste the chocolate more than the matcha bits so I prefer the one below.

Ito 'yung mapayat at matangkad na version ng Midi Matcha. Bitin lang because a box has only two foil containers but I like this the most among the three.

Balanced ang matcha taste and creaminess but if I were to choose, I'd still for for the Midi Matcha. Bakit??? Iba pa rin kaming mga chubby! Hahahaha!

These three matcha products are for those who prefer subtle matcha flavor. Creamy at andun pa rin 'yung lasa ng matcha pero hindi in your face na, "Oy!! Green tea ako!" gets or not... end of post. :))

My wallet committed suicide just to make me feel better. Haha. 😍 #matcha #pocky #meiji #oreo #matcharap #infinitelivessana🙏 #panicbuyingangpeg #rt

A photo posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on May 19, 2015 at 3:48am PDT

Akalain mong 12 weeks ago na 'to. hahahaha!! Di bale, meron nga kong mga pictures na lagpas na one year eh. Wala na kasi atang relevance kaya forever na silang hindi maipo-post sa blogosphere unlike pag matcha, forever relevant :)))

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Zoobic Safari is under the same group as Tagaytay's Residence Inn and Paradizoo. Even if I've already gone to the two, I was still looking forward to going here mainly because of the tiger safari ride.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and footwear when you're going here.

Here is the map of the zoo.

We waited for a bit here at the reception area.
Zoobic Safari guided tour lasts for around two hours. The zoo is huge so a tour guide is really needed plus visitors would also learn more that way.

You'll see a lot of signs like this is the zoo. It was so pun reading them all.

I've seen tigers in several zoos before but they're all caged and felt tamed but being able to experience this ride somehow scared me. I hope they are not starving these tigers just to elicit that kind of feeding behavior. 'Cause one thing I noticed is that tigers here in the tram ride are way thinner than those caged tigers from the close encounter.

Anyway, this tram ride is the highlight of the tour and the most memorable part for me.

Just like our finger prints, it's impossible for them too to have similar prints.

We were shown dances performed by our Aeta brothers.

They aren't waiting for food. The reason why crocodiles often have their mouth open while sleeping or resting is to let the heat out. Crocodiles have no sweat glands so opening their mouth while at rest is a way to thermoregulate.

Here is Zoobic Safari's current rates.

There is definitely a lot more to see than what I've included here. I just posted pictures of the tour highlights for me.

This is one of the cages from the close encounter area where we also got scared.

One tiger was roaring so loud at the tiger caged beside it because it didn't eat all the food. Sinasabi siguro nung tiger, "Kainin mo 'yaaaaaaaaaaan!!!"

Here's an instagram video I posted. I recorded the video while on the tram ride.

Kastress ng very very light. Init ng ulo nung isa parang si --------------- lang pag gutom. 😂 #zoobic #safari #tiger #roar #siyemprediako 🐯 #wild #pet hahaha

A video posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on May 19, 2015 at 4:19am PDT

Dahil dyan.... Universe, dalhin mo ko sa Calauit Island ng Coron, Palawan o sa Chiang Mai, Thailand someday. Hihi. Giraffe, elephant at zebra naman plezzzz. Edi wow. Hahahaha.

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I was tasked to decide for our vacation/day tour place this year and it was really difficult especially when I had to make the expenses as low as possible. Shemay. Challenge! Ang mahal halos lahat! Huhuhu. I can't even count how many times I googled, "Mura, affordable, maganda, malapit, na resort sa Manila." Kaya kapag meron na may ganyang problema rin, ito ang possible solution. Murang cottage para sa day tour saka walang entrance fee na babayaran.

Okay sana sa Quezon kaso sa mga magandang beach, may expenses pa for boat rides.
Okay sana sa Batangas kaso kagagaling lang nung iba naming kasama dun.

So I thought of Brgy. Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales. Although it's more known as the jump off point to the famous coves of Anawangin and Nagsasa, the beach of Pundaquit is also worth going to. I mentioned here in my blog before na "Okay naman dun kaso kasi gusto namin ng more adventure kaya nag-boat pa kami."

On our way to Zambales which is approximately 3 1/2 hours away from Q.C when you're going to pass through, NLEX and SCTEX. I was kind of praying na sana ma-enjoy na nila saka sana makahanap kami ng mura. Hindi naman ako binigo ng Pundaquit. Enjoy naman! Maganda na, mura pa.

Tama na kaka-intro. Ito na. :)

Sobrang #beach mo. #nature #clouds #islands

A photo posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on Apr 21, 2015 at 1:44am PDT

Across the resorts, you can see Capones Island and Camara Island.

I've been to Capones Island before link: here.

Mt. Pundaquit.

For mountaineers, they have "Mt. Pundaquit Climb traverse to Anawangin Cove" kasi nasa likod ng mga bundok na 'yan 'yung mga coves ng Anawangin, Nagsasa at Talisayen. Pero 'yun na nga, additional expenses pa 'yon sa boat kaya dito na lang kami nag-stay sa Pundaquit Beach mismo. Saka, hehe, ayaw nila ng walang signal at kuryente.

Nga pala, don't be surprised to see a lot of boats in the area since Bgy. Pundaquit is a fishing village.

The beach isn't the cleanest I've been to. May mga naka-kalat na basura sa shoreline na minsan, sumasama na rin sa tubig. Konti na lang pwede ka na kumanta ng "Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?" dahil sa mga nakalutang na kung ano.

Hindi naman kailangan na babaan ng sobra ang standards, konting linis lang dito sa area e lalong mas okay. Tignan mo, clear ang tubig kasi visible pa 'yung legs kong sexy eh.

There are fishes swimming with us. Ganda nila. Hehe.

But I think, adventurous people would always be adventurous so we decided to hire a boat to Camara Island.

These mountains make Pundaquit stand out from the rest. Ganda ganda!

Although I enjoyed swimming in Pundaquit beach, I liked the water of Camara Island more.

Mas malinis dito saka mas maganda tignan 'yung view.

Hindi kagaya nung sa Pundaquit beach, ganito dito sa Camara. Parang pang-aquarium kaya medyo masakit sa paa.

They said that there's a sandbar here during low tide. Huhu. Sayang. Kainis!! Wala kaming nakita.

Kalanggaman Island and Sandbar, Palompon, Leyte link: here.

Boat ride back to Pundaquit.

I wasn't intending to swim here at Camara but upon seeing the water there, huhu, sige na nga.

Na-sobrahan ata ako sa dasal. Hahahaha!

Babalik daw kami dito sa June kaya baka magkita pa tayo. Yep, sana nga matuloy. Gusto ko pa makita 'yung sandbar ng Camara Island eh!

VERDICT:

Okay naman na dito na lang kasi mas matipid dahil wala ng boat ride, wala rin entrance fee tas may signal pa at kuryente kaso 'yun nga, may basura minsan na nakalutang.

Okay din sa Camara Island kaso walang cottage dun at di marami ang puno kaya pano pag mainit masyado, diba?

Kung di kalakihan ang budget nasa P 750.00/10 persons lang isang araw para sa cottage e okay na di ba? Hindi ka naman bibiguin ng view sa Brgy. Pundaquit tas maghanap na lang sa kahabaan ng shoreline kung san 'yung mas malinis na part.

We stayed at Megan's Beach Resort but I wasn't able to get their contact number.

Dyan kami sa kubo for 8-10 persons na whole day use PHP 750 pero may mga available cottages for overnight stay na hindi ko nakuha 'yung presyo.

Okay naman 'yung CR although changing room lang tas sa labas 'yung shower.

No entrance fee.

See again very very soon, San Antonio!

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