GEAR GURU PHOTOGRAPHY

It was one of those days where I had nothing to do (or I choose not to) and have this burning desire to just go out the confines of Manila. So I grabbed my phone, popped the question "do you want to be a pasaway?" to my friends and one morning there we were (me, Juvs, Tintin and Raquel) in Walter Mart Makati getting ready for our first road trip. I wouldn't dwell much that we waited for over an hour for Raquel...no surprise on this.

First stop of our road trip was the town of Bay (pronounced ba-e') but had to reschedule it as we left Manila very late. Instead we proceeded to the town of Lumban, the "barong" mecca of Laguna to get myself a barong for my wedding. There are lots of barong suppliers in town but I got mine from the best in Ate (not Mommy) Ailyn del Moral.

Not only did she gave me a good deal for my barong, she served us free "espasols" as well! Hands down the espalos in Lumban are the best there is in the country! Not too sweet, very chewy and a hearty serving...all these yummy goodness for only P5 a piece!

Next stop was in Liliw but we can't dare leave Lumban without getting some of their famed "kesong puti". If you think those being sold in UPLB is good, those in Lumban are 3-4 notches better! And the price tag of P100 for a full tumbler is not too shabby.

And oh, this is not your typical cheese that you slice and sandwich in a piece of hot pandesal. It has a rough but soft texture that you cook in olive oil and serve like a melted mozzarella. Add some italian herbs and you got yourself a winner!

After our Lumban food trip, we went off to the town of Liliw, a town best known for their bargain priced footwear. But getting a pair of shoes is last in our priorities. A visit to the centuries old Liliw church and taking good photos of it is what we came to Liliw for. Unfortunately mother nature that time had a quirky sense of humor. 

Nearing the Liliw church, we were greeted with some rain drizzle thus producing a very dull background for me. And if that wasn't enough, a wedding is also taking place and the altar is currently under construction. I had to settle in just taking snapshots but nonetheless, getting a glimpse of this historic landmark is still enough to make our visit worth the long travel.

Next and last stop was in Nagcarlan for us to visit the town cemetery. As with Liliw, light rainshowers greeted us on our arrival. Luck is still on our side though as the caretaker was nice enough to still let us enter the church inside despite them closing already. We got a good scolding though as we used flash in taking photos (our bad!).

So with the sun setting down, we decided to call it a day. But of course not until we fill up our stomachs! And what better place to fill it than the Palaisdaan Restaurant in the town of Bay.

It was a tricky road going back but thanks to hospitable locals, we were able to find our way without breaking a sweat! In fact, asking directions from the locals made it as one of the highlights of our trip. For every group of people we ask for directions, everyone made it a point to speak and offer their help. It caused further confusion at times but it still goes to show that hospitality and willingness to help is a true Filipino virtue that we should all be proud of.

This road trip really changed our perception of Laguna. We usually associate it to public pools, Colette's, etc but after our experience with Laguna's heritage sites, I know have a deeper appreciation of this great province. And you know what, we still have yet to experience it all! 

The town of Paete, Pagsanjan, etc...looks like another road trip in the works!

It’s been the type of vacation I’ve been longing for all year; a 6-day adventure that will take me around the best sights of Puerto Princesa.  Usually, my kind of activities for such a trip would be scaling the high peaks of the island or sea kayaking myself from one island to another.  But no, not this one…I went bird watching!

Bird watching?  Yes I know naughty thoughts are starting to form in those twisted brain of yours but for the sake of playing along, it’s not that kind!  I’m talking about watching wild birds at their natural habitat and roaming around freely to their little hearts’ content.  Sounds boring eh?  I too had the same impression but boy did this trip change all that!

Well our adventure started when me and Juvvy went on to meet Nicky, lead guide of Birding Adventure Philippines (BAP) and his colleagues Trinket, Adri, Arnel and Tere at the Terminal 3 airport.  We took the 1430 Cebu Pacific flight and in an hour arrived at Puerto Princesa airport.  

Upon getting our baggages (13pcs all in all) off we went to our first home Casalinda Inn that is located 15-20 mins away from the airport.  It’s a very nice and cozy rest house with a garden and cottage at the center of their area.  I had a good sign that this will be one good birding trip as a couple of Chestnut Munias greeted us upon our arrival. 

It was a very relaxing day as no activity was scheduled.  We should have known better that there’s a catch for it being so as nothing could have prepared us for our IT the next day.  We had to wake up 4am!  I felt Juvvy pinching my legs as if saying, “Is this your idea of a leisure trip!?”.  Smiling at my predicament, we just proceeded with our dinner at one of Puerto Princesa’s famous bar/ restaurant Kabuch’s coupled with a courtesy visit (or gate crash for that matter) to Mayor Hagedorn’s private dinner at the same restaurant.  

Day 2 saw us wake up “really” early and go our way to Iwahig National Park.  We practically slept through the 2hr ride then upon waking up, were greeted by a strong downpour and a very cranky park guard.  So I woke up 4am for this!?  Will we be allowed to enter the premises and if so, how in the world will I see those birds with this kind of weather!?

With some sweet words and pleas from Nicky, we finally entered the park.  The rain slowed down a bit and a pair of Drongos was our first sighting.  Hmmm…ok…was my initial reaction.  People really get excited about this?

So upon seeing my first “lifers” (term for the bird specie you saw the first time), we proceeded for a short hike to look for the exotic ones.  Rain started to pour down again when all of a sudden something caught Nicky’s attention that caused excitement among the group.  Then something popped out…a squirrel.  Hmmm…ok…was again my reaction.

Walking further, heavy rains started to fall down again thus leaving us no choice but to abandon the trek.  So much for my first bird watching experience!  I’m soaking wet (stupid enough not to bring my Omni-Tech jacket with me), cold, and only saw a Drango and squirrel!  With heavy hearts, we waited in the park cottages for the rain to stop before making our way back to our inn.  And if this wasn’t disheartening enough, Nicky had an illness of some sort thus lowering further the morale of the group.

But this turned out to be the turning point of the trip.  With the rain making a complete stop, out of nowhere we saw a Stork Billed Kingfisher!  All our frustration turned to excitement and I was just in awe!  Now this is bird watching! 

We left Iwahig with a sense of fulfillment and a big sigh of relief.  That sighting made my effort of waking up 4am in the morning now worthwhile.  Then just when I was about to take a nap, all of a sudden Nicky shouted “Malcoja!”  Everyone just jumped out of the van with their binoculars and there it was, a hundred meters away I saw what was probably the most beautiful bird I ever saw…at that time.  A Chestnut-Breasted Malcoja!  Sweeet!  And to top everything off,  Egrets, Barn Swallows, Wood Sand Piper, Palawan Ducks and a Scaly Breasted Munia to name a few greeted us on the way back.

So with all these sightings you’d think we’re done right?  Not a chance!  Next stop was Honda Bay and on an island hopping tour exploring Starfish Island, Snake Island and Pandan Island.  These sites provided a handful of birds namely Pied Fantail, Asian Glossy Starlings, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Zebra Dove, Sunbirds and Collared Kingfishers.  But the highlight of them all was the very rare Lesser Frigate Bird that flew just right beside our bangka during one of our transfers.  I was so in awe that instead of grabbing my camera taking shots, I grabbed my binoculars instead to marvel at this majestic bird.  I was still able to take a photo of it but it doesn’t do justice to how magnificent this bird was.

It was indeed an exciting and fulfilling day for everyone specially me and Juvvy.  Just imagine the lifers we had just on this day alone!  And we’re just starting!

Day 3 of our adventure allowed us to wake up at a much later time as our main IT was to go to Sabang and do some birding at the side in Garceliano. Leaving our tables after breakfast to do our last minute packing, an Olive Backed Sunbird just flew from nowhere causing a commotion between Nicky and me.  Grabbing our cameras, we fired away like crazy trying to get a good shot of this dynamic bird.  I took almost 50 shots but wasn’t able to get a keeper. Frustrated, I vowed that I would not leave Palawan without a good shot of this bird

Stacking all our stuff at the van, we proceeded to Garceliano where we saw a Common Kingfisher, Whimbrels, Pacific Swallows, and as bonus a Water Guppy.

After Garceliano, we stopped by Balinsayaw to have lunch where I was advised by Nicky that an Olive Backed Sunbird usually drops by to feed on the flowers.  And he was spot on!  Again an Olive Backed Sunbird flew from nowhere and I shot like an army soldier with an M16 rifle.  This time I managed to keep some keepers.  A shot of an Arctic Wobler was a bonus during our short lunch break.

The ride to Sabang takes about 2 hours but it took us an additional 45 mins as again, heavy rains fell thus making some parts of the road a struggle to drive through.  Not to mention Nicky saw another Stork Billed Kingfisher a hundred meters away from our vehicle! This, hands down, solidified Nicky’s statute for me as the premier birding guide in the country. 

So despite the hard raindrops, we got off our van to take a peak of this Palawan endemic.  I tried to get closer but was advised not to do so, which for now I’m still thinking why.  Being the good boy that I really am (yes it’s true!), I obliged with a heavy heart and just took photos of it from far away.  I’m not too happy with my photos but this gives me another reason to come back! 

We arrived in Sabang Island around 430pm and proceeded to check-in in Taraw Resort’s cozy huts.  It was just a picturesque site with all the huts surrounded by tall palm trees with waves pounding through the vast seashore.  Only downside?  Electricity is good only from 5am in the morning till 10pm in the evening.  Not to mention we only had one power outlet in our room while the rest had at least 2 (sorry BAP I just have to let this out)!

Come dinnertime, Nicky again broke the news we’ve all been dreading to hear from him.  We all have to wake up again early for our trip to Puerto Princesa Subterrenean River National Park (whew)!  Our only solace is we don’t have to wake up at an ungodly time of 3am.

Day 4 saw us braving the waves and rain as we went our way to PPSRNP.  My concern for the day was not the rain but the setting I have to contend with while taking my photos.  Gloomy, hazy, low light with fast moving subjects…it was a photographer’s nightmare!  I just have to psyche myself to say to hell with the photos!  I came here to enjoy and get a glimpse of rare and endemic birds!  And did I get more than my share of birds.

A few meters into our hike we were greeted by monitor lizards casually strolling the park.  Talk about wild life!  Then a commotion took place after seeing that lizard…it’s the star of PPSRNP!  The Palawan Peacock Pheasant!

Again we were greeted with rain showers as we continue our hike but we were still able to saw some interesting species like the Green Imperial Pigeon, Hill Myna, Palawan Tit and Juvvy’s favorite the Palawan Hornbill! 

Nicky was kind enough to arrange a tour for us of the Underground River as well.  Given all of them already experienced it, only the first timers which was me, Juvvy and Arnel went through the tour.  I actually have hesitations to go as I’m more akin to taking photos of the Palawan Hornbill but what the heck!  I’m already there so I might as well experience the Philippine’s leading candidate for one of the new 7 Wonders of the World!

Our next IT for the day was to do some birding at the “The Last Frontier”.  I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting scenery close to that in Jurassic Park or the Discovery Channel special The Lost World.  Add to this that we only saw a handful of birds like the Green Imperial Pigeon and a Common Iora.   But all of it changed when out of nowhere a Blue Naped Parrot flew on top of one of the trees and just stayed there for us to marvel at.  I can only sum this up in one word…magical!

As with Day 3, it was a very fruitful birding day for all of us.  But that evening, Nicky had to be again the bearer of bad news.  We had to wake up really early again for our birding trip!  But he gave us a valid reason to…to catch a glimpse of the Palawan Owl.

Day 5 saw us struggle to get up from our huts and drove 4am in the morning to a roadside 30mins away from our resort.  It was an eerie atmosphere as it was very silent and pitch black.  Nicky then proceeded calling the Palawan Owl using his iPod + speakers.  It took some time for him to get a response but when he did, it was not from our target bird…a Javan Frogmouth replied him instead.

It was a back and forth communication but unfortunately there was no sighting.  First strike for the group!  And fortunately proved to be the last.

Going back with an L in our forehead, we vowed to go search for the Javan Frogmouth in Lion’s Cave that evening.  Then the L on our forehead turned to W as on our way back, we passed by Balete Tree (a name the group came up with) that turned out to be a buffet for a diverse specie of birds like the Palawan Flowerpecker, Grey-Cheeked Bulbul, Asian Fairy Bluebird (Male and Female), Striped Tit Babler, Blue Eared Kingfisher and again Palawan Hornbills!  If not for our growling stomachs, we could’ve stayed there the whole day!

After a hearty breakfast, we proceeded to hike the Mangrove Trail.  Given that rain started to fall down again, we had to abandon the route and hike back to our vehicle.  But as always this adversity resulted to another good sighting by Nicky.  At the top of one of the dead branches a hundred meters away is a Crested Goshawk standing tall probably looking for a possible prey.

We sighted a pack of Whimbrels as well playing in the rain when I saw what I thought was a common Egret but turned out to be a rare Eastern Reef Egret!  And I caught a photo of it in flight!  So again we went back for lunch a happy group of birders.

After lunch, a couple of birders joined us to Lion’s Cave and we passed by again the buffet tree to give our new birder mates the opportunity to see the birds we saw earlier.  Again birds of different kinds flew here and there and fortunate for me, saw a new batch of lifers like the Slender-Billed Crow and Yellow-Throated Leafbird.  Oh…and I saw another batch of Palawan Hornbills!

We arrived at the Lion’s Cave around 530pm  It was a long wait for us searching for the Javan Frogmouth but the wait was well worth it.  In the middle of the trail, pitch black and the only noise you can hear is Nicky’s bird call.  Then out of nowhere it flew and landed on one of the branches.  I fleet footedly sneeked my way to take a photo of this endemic specie but it flew away prior to me getting a photo of it.  It was unfortunate that I missed a great shot but still deep inside I was fulfilled to have seen this rare bird.

Day 6 was the day we dreaded the most.  Not because we need to wake up early but it was the day that we get back to our real world that is Manila.  But of course Nicky made sure we go home with a bang.  On the way back we managed to see again a Chestnut-Breasted Malcoja and a Crested Goshawk.  We even stopped for a 10-minute birding activity that turned out to be a 40 minute birding spree!  Like the buffet tree in Sabang, this birding site was a home for Palawan Tits, Fiery Minivet, Nightjar, and a lot more.

So yes, me and Juvvy are now CERTIFIED BIRD-NUTS.  And this trip adds another chapter to our adventures that we will cherish for a long time if not the rest of our lives.  And it's not just because of the lifers we saw, but gaining new friends in the likes of Nicky, Trinket, Adri, Tere, Alex and Arnel.  

Now you may ask, which was my best catch/ favorite during this birding adventure?  It’s actually not a matter of what but who.  And it’s Juvvy accepting my marriage proposal! 

  

WET, MUDDY AND NICE
My 2nd Mt. Batulao Adventure

It was another day (or two) at the office for me.  2 months from my attempt of Mt. Hood, here I am again at the great outdoors but taking on a different challenge.  I wish I could say it’s another “ice” escapade but that won’t happen again till (crossing my fingers) next year.

This time it’s something all of us can better relate to…a wet and muddy trail. 

2 days heading on to this adventure, question in everyone’s mind is whether to proceed or not.  It’s been raining crazy as hell and the flood in front of our office is just the worst (well this has no relation whatsoever to my story but I just want to voice out my rant)!  All odds are just stacked against us to proceed with this climb.  In addition to the bad weather, I left our tent at the office and most importantly, wasn’t able to get my ritual haircut  the night before our climb!  Oh, I had to work the following day as well for a seminar.  But being the hardheaded adventure seeker that us ALWTs are (Ath-Lete-We-Try…we cannot consider ourselves tri-athletes yet…and oh, this one is patent pending by the way), rain or shine…add to that a written warning from our HR…we go!

Such was not the case with the others though.  From a group of 16 climbers, only 6 brave souls stuck it out (“hard core” team of myself, Tin and Chuck, “recreational” Raqs, “newbie” Gail, and our “guide” Richie).  6 others backed out morning of the climb due to heavy rains while the usual absentees lived up to their reputations (I won’t mention that it’s Ken and Betchay).  Mau (my pioneer Columbia sales staff turned Operations Assistant) and Bobe in the meantime had to work that Saturday.

But despite the huge attendance setback, the 6 of us were all determined to make this climb something to remember.  And boy did we get our share of memories.

The day started with a miscommunication between me and Gail, whom I was supposed to meet in the bus station beside MRT Edsa station.  With such an address description I knew there would be trouble.  And there sure was one as she waited for me probably a hundred meters away in another bus station.  Not to mention both stations have a Jollibee, which was our point of reference, beside it!

As usual Raqs and Tin were late from our original meet up time of 8am.  They arrived together with Chuck around 830am and by 9am we all boarded the bus (whose station name I still don’t know by now) going to Tagaytay.  It was indeed a good way to start the day with everyone just excited and raring to go…and the weather was just perfect!

We arrived at the Evercrest entrance around 1130 and stopped over one of the karinderyas to have lunch and do our last minute packing.  I had a good set of nilagang baka to wake up my nerves and a pack of squared suman to give me the energy I would need for the climb.  Oh, add to my meal a bottle of sparking “Sparkle” soda.  All this for about P55!

By 1245 in the afternoon, with everything packed and our stomachs full, we proceeded to take on the Mt. Batulao challenge.  As it was high noon, we took a tricycle (yes it’s not “hard core” like but who said you have to be one to enjoy the outdoors?) to the jump-off which surprisingly only cost us P10 each.  It turned out that this fare will only take us to 1/3^rd of the way.

To go all the way we were asked for a fare of P100 per tricycle as the remaining route is all rough road that only a Land Rover or Land Cruiser will love.  While we are all open to walk the trail (which would probably take us 30-45 mins), “recreational” Raqs opted to ride it out.  Being the team player we all are, we obliged to her request.  Personally, I would have just walked not because of the challenge of it, but the damn tricycle was so cramped I had to literally crouch to fit in…with my heavy pack in front of me!

After 15 mins of tricycle off-roading, splash of mud and an aching back, we arrived at the jump-off.  There was a good aura with everyone having fun and the weather starting to be a little hazy which should make our hike a comfortable one.  Our kid guide and his horse was right there, as arranged by Richie, supposedly to carry our packs but Tintin got so engrossed with the horse that she decided to ride it out instead.  What she didn’t realize was riding one would present more of a challenge.  And an hour and a half later she decided to walk on her 2 size 4 shoes instead.

The rest of us proceeded to take the “clean” route starting with a narrow concrete road then passing by houses with dogs barking and snarling their hearts out.  15 mins later there we were zig zagging and doing leg acrobats as we maneuver ourselves from the wet and muddy trail.  Almost everyone managed to stay clean (on a certain respect) except for our “newbie” Gail whose sparkling white gum-soled rubber shoes dug deep into the muddy trail and turned to chocolate brown.  You got to hand it to her for still smiling at her predicament while all of us laugh at her…and welcoming her first baptismal ordeal of the outdoors.

30 mins into our muddy hike we stopped by the 2^nd stopover to have some fresh buko and for Tintin, shop some “upo” like pipinos.  Everyone is taking their sweet time resting when I decided to shorten our rest and proceed with the hike as rain clouds are already starting to form and mosquitoes are making a picnic out of my legs.  With heavy hearts, they obliged to my order (they love and hate me for being like this) and proceeded to our hike.

The muddy trail now turned to a narrow trail with waist to shoulder level “cogons” which was a welcome sight.  That is if you are fully covered as these leaves can leave small scratches on your arms and legs.  I had to endure some slight irritation and scratches on my legs as I converted my Columbia pants to shorts when we started our hike (don’t want mud all over my legs).

15 mins later we arrived at the last rest stop where you can see in full view the peak of Mt. Batulao and the “Guiting-Guiting” like hills that surround it.  A group of climbers were there as well preparing their lunch when our jaws just dropped and our tongues started to drool seeing their “inihaw” na baboy.  We resisted the temptation when they offered us some as our stomachs are still full and we want to make room for our dinner.

We rested for about 5 mins chatting with that group and for myself, covered myself up by converting my Columbia shorts to pants.    Rain started to fall when we started our hike and this is the scenario that I usually ask to myself why am I enduring all this when I could just be home watching TV.  I look at the picturesque landscape, myself drenched in rain, my co-climbers clawing their way through the steep hills, and I got my answer.  With a big smile on my face I proceeded and I presumed everyone had the same mindset as we were all smiles scaling the steep hills and narrow bends going to the campsite. 

A new route was actually set-up 7 months ago leading to the opposite face of the Mt. Batulao peak.  Having already taken the old one, we proceeded with this new route as it was said to be “less” muddy and much more easier.  I have to agree with the former but the latter I have to disagree.  Going to the new campsite was a gradual up and down trail through hills with a very much-established trail.  Going to the peak is another story.

By 1530 we arrived in the new campsite.  As there was no indication of good weather, we hurriedly set up our tents despite some raindrops, which was a good idea as a torrential downpour came in minutes after.  Unfortunately for the girls, they were unsuccessful as their tent is so complicated to set-up thus they had to wait for the rain to slow down.

It proved to be a long wait as the rain didn’t slow down until about 1730.  By 1830 the rain stopped and we immediately started to cook dinner.  Which was my time to shine, as I was the designated cook for the trip.

My menu started with Raquel’s favorite “hot and sour” soup (thanks to Knorr) to warm our cold bodies.   For the main entrée, it was my own specialty “Italiano Sea Pasta ala Gearguru”.  Unfortunately I cannot share the menu as when put in greedy hands one could abuse it’s flavor and use it for “evil business” purposes (just think of Plankton’s unending mission to steal Mr. Crab’s “Krabby Pattie” formula).

Going back to my menu, pasta is served with a Parmessan Bastard, whoops make that “Batard”, cut into perfection (when I was the one cutting…Tintin made it into bread crumbs or croutons when I assigned her to cut it for me).  For desert, it was choco-flavored wafers coated in premium and energy providing chocolate (Milo Bar) or chocolate favored flakes with sugar (Koko Krunch).

To complete the whole desert experience, it was Chuck’s specialty sweetened hot tea (Lipton w/ Brown Sugar packs stolen in a Starbucks restaurant).

Truly it was a gourmet experience with everyone giving me their 2 thumbs up.  Even the local guides and our neighboring hikers can’t put into words the sensation they experienced taking a taste of my pasta. 

With our stomachs getting a good filling and our casual socials, we decided to turn the lights off around 2100. 

Despite not being able to sleep the whole night, we still a good rest as the weather was really calm and it was neither cold nor hot inside the tent.  But just about the time me and Chuck are getting a good sleep, we were woken up prematurely by Tintin (with no reason at all) around 530am.  Chuck was really close to throwing Tintin off the cliff but good thing I talked some sense to him.  Instead, I got out of the tent, did a little stretching, and then threw Tintin off the cliff myself (nah just joking…I did consider this for a few seconds though).

As I was already awaken, I started preparing breakfast.  The menu is not as special as the one we had for dinner but all meals were still cooked to perfection (sauted sardines for Chuck, fried chicken meat loaf and sauted corned beef for the rest).  It’s a good thing there’s an ample water source in Mt. Batulao (P30 for a gallon) so you can cook and make a mess to your heart’s content.  It also helps that you have someone to take care of the dishes.

By 830am with everyone finished breaking camp, we decided to make an assault of the summit.  Well make that the highest point of our new route.  As mentioned before, the supposedly easier route turned out to be much harder and further than the old one.  Judging by the deep sighs and breathes of those who made the summit, you can easily judge what the route was like.  This dampened the will of my co-climbers to proceed.  But with the similar views of the peak we went to, I believe it was fulfilling enough for everyone.  Some may consider this a negative way to approach hiking.  But for me, summit or not, the most important thing being out there is to have an appreciation of the outdoors.    

After a few, sorry I forgot I’m with Raqs and Tintin so make that “a lot” of photo opps, we proceeded with our descent.  The weather this time was scorching hot but still not enough to keep the trail dry.  Again it was a challenge of not slipping or digging your foot through the muddy trail and this one I imposed to myself.  The goal for me was not to make it down in record time, but to be clean as much as possible while holding an umbrella and assisting Gail.  I believe I was able to accomplish the first two except for the 3^rd.  Not having any outsole for traction (it peeled off upon our arrival at the camp site) made it extremely hard for her to have sure footing.

With muddy shoes and mud tracks on our pants, we made it back to the P10 jump-off.  As the sun is already at its peak; Raqs, Gai and Richie opted to take the tricycle back to the karinderya wherein we will have lunch and freshen up.  Myself, Chuck and Tintin (who had no option but to oblige to our demand) decided to walk all the way.  That walk turned out to be the highlight of our trip as while doing our action photo opps, I ripped the bottom of my “Puerto Galera” tie-dye pants.  Which was to the extreme delight of Tintin as it was her way of getting back at me for dragging her to walk with us. 

Well it was one of those moments wherein everyone was just laughing our hearts out because of my stupidity.  I just had to drown my embarrassment and pride in a plate of rice and “papaitan” coupled with a couple of stick of “isaw”.

At around 1430, with everyone freshened up, we rode the bus bound for the bus station beside MRT Edsa station whose name I still do not know.  Heavy rains greeted us when we reached Roxas Boulevard but after what we just went through in Mt. Batulao, we just smiled at each other for another adventure ahead of us. 

GEARGURU’S BACKPACKING TIPS

Backpacking in the rain…

-          raining or not always stuff your gears in a big plastic bag

-          have another big plastic bag ready so you can cover your pack if the rain is falling non-stop and you can’t do anything in camp

-          if you will stash your tent in your backpack, make sure it is on top or somewhere where you can pull it off instantly

-          before setting up your tent, make sure you have a tent floor (tarp, coated nylon, etc) to protect the base of your tent

-          for the OC ones, like me and Chuck, it helps having another layer to lay inside your tent…coated nylons like those used in umbrellas are your best option

In buying a tent…

-          most critical feature of a tent, in addition to the quality of materials used, is the ease of set-up

-          you can have the most stable and good looking tent at camp but when you cannot set it up with ease, it just depict the money you paid for it

-          canopies using clips can be set up easier and faster while those using sleeves are known to be much stable…with the design innovations right now the latter is starting to lose it’s edge…so go for the clip ones

-          practice repeatedly how to set it up

Gong home with a damp tent…

-          air dry your tent and canopy upon getting home…you can either hang it or set it up

-          if you have a really dirty tent, set it up then clean it with a wet sponge (a little dash of soap powder will help and won’t affect much the coating) then hose it off

-          never pack your tent when damp…yes it is a hassle doing all of the above but to make your investment worth it, you have to take care of it…no matter what brand or how expensive it is

It was 1015pm of June 16, my eyes set at the peak of Mt. Hood.  Finally, after 7 years of hiking in Philippine terrain I now get the chance to experience what is probably every Filipino hiker’s dream…hike in that white powdery stuff called snow.   And here I am, just a few steps from realizing that.

Climbing Mt. Hood has always been a dream ever since I laid eyes on it.  Every year I get the chance to visit Portland I always say to myself I will climb that mountain no matter what.  Now came that time but questions ponder in my head whether I’m ready or not for this great challenge.

It felt like I was a newbie to hiking, the same feeling I had during my hirst hiking experience of Mt. Pulag in 2001.  Yes, you heard it right, my first hike was Mt. Pulag.  Eventhough we took the Ambangeg route (which is regarded as an “executive” trail), we started at a much lower elevation that made it more challenging.  4x4 jeepneys at that time can’t manage to drive to the ranger station unlike today.  I actually took the “killer” trail route of Akiki last year and for me, the trail we took going to Ambangeg was just as hard.

That first hike surely was a learning experience and became my gateway for being an avid outdoor enthusiast.  After that hike off I went to gear up getting myself a nice Cerro Torre 45L pack.  Being an outdoor newbie, I thought having a big pack and a rugged pair of shoes is enough for me to enjoy the outdoors.

Come to think of it, it is basically all you need…that is if you’ll just stick at the basics.  After a year or two of hiking the minor peaks of Luzon my hiking buddies Chuck and Betchay decided to up it up a bit by climbing Mt. Amuyao.  It is lower by 250+m from Pulag but still presents a long and challenging trail that caught our interest. 

Climbing Amuyao is still one of my more personal favorite hikes as the views are just nothing but spectacular.  Not to mention being out there for almost four days in the great outdoors.  What more can you ask?

Packing up my things after that successful hike, I just can’t get over the fact that my cotton shirts are still soaking wet and allocating a tee shirt per day is starting to build up the load of my pack.  It was that scenario that made me decide to pull out some of my hard earned cash and buy these so-called quick drying sportswear that at that time I was skeptical to use.

And after that move, I never went back to wearing cottons again for my travels and hiking trips.  I had a new appreciation for the outdoors that I invested in a tent, upgraded my pack, bought a stove and cookset, and it came to the point that I am not just an avid backpacker…I became a gear head as well (thus the name gearguru)!

Setting my mind again on Hood, I looked back at the gears stacked at the back of the SUV we rode in.  Right there attached to my pack is a pair of snowshoes, crampons, ice ax and a helmet.  The adrenaline inside me was building up in excitement to finally be able to experience using such kind of gears!

Everyone is probably thinking what’s so special with Mt. Hood?  Well, Hood (as me and my hiking buddies refer to it) is the perfect introduction to alpine/ cold weather climbing.  It doesn’t involve technical ice climbing but you still get to experience semi-technical routes using crampons, ice ax, etc.  In short, it is perfect for an alpine newbie like me.

Hood rises 11,249ft (3,429m) above sea level.  It is the highest mountain in Oregon and is the 4^th highest among the Cascade Range.  An average of 10,000 people attempt to climb it each year.  But despite being a commonly climb mountain, it’s not to say that Hood doesn’t present any challenge.  In fact, about (gulp!) 130 people have died in climbing-related accidents with December 2006 attracting intense national and international media interest.

As confident as I was in climbing Hood, such was not always the case during our planning stages.  Coordinating with my new hiking buddies Ryan Riggs (Tech Rep Specialist and Columbia’s mountain man) and Brian Jejatek (12 time Mt. Hood summiteer), I was worried and surprised that from the equipment list he sent me, we would be needing snow shoes, crampons, hiking boots (expedition type), ice ax and a helmet!  It should be cool to use these equipments but where in the Philippines will I get these?  Good thing there’s a local REI store in Portland that I can rent these out. 

And if equipments prove to be a problem, look back at the climbing incidents in Hood.  Add to this the fact that we will be doing our hike late at night!

Late at night?  Are you kidding?  This was my initial reaction upon reading our itinerary.  I always have the idea that you can climb Hood in half a day but why so late.  Well this is where I got that most useful info from Ryan regarding snow.  Night time is the most ideal time to hike in snow and ice as this is the stage where it is at its hardest.  The harder the snow, the easier it is to walk through (albeit using either snow shoes or crampons).  As to the temp forecast, we should expect a temperature of –2 to 2 deg Celsius (brrrrr!). 

It is only when I got to talk and met Brian that evening he picked me up in my hotel that built up my confidence in climbing Hood.  It’s a 2hr drive from downtown Portland and in that 2 hours all we talked about is how good outdoor gear has become and of course tips on how to make my climb more enjoyable.  It’s a typical gearhead and outdoor enthusiasts conversation.

We arrived at the Timberline Lodge around 945pm and while waiting for Ryan, went on to register our names and to get the “Blue Bag”.  This bag is basically a plastic bag for you to use to pick up the human waste you leave on the trail.  This is probably something we should instill to local hikers/ backpackers or perhaps the local government as a way of promoting cleanliness.  The bag by the way should be brought back by the user (used or not) for disposal in an assigned bin located near the Lodge.  Now that’s discipline!

We went back to the car as it was freezing that night.  Ryan arrived around 1030pm and from there proceeded to do our packing and layering.  I may be a newbie in using crampons, snowshoes, etc but layering is one thing that I was prepared the most.  Heck it’s my job so I better do a good job at it!  And I believe I did.

The foundation of my layering started with my Columbia baselayers.  Contrary to the usual notion that baselayers have to be made of wool, such is not always the case.  The key to an effective baselayer is its ability to wick away moisture from your body.  This in turn will keep you dry, comfortable, and eventually warm.  And my Columbias did just that.  Heck, I even wore the one I used on the way back to Manila (with no complaints from my seat mate).  A pair of wool Columbia socks complete my baselayer line up.

For insulation, I had with me my Columbia Hightail Softshell.  While not really meant to provide insulation, it does the job when you are mobile.  Remember that even in cold weather, you still tend to sweat during high exertion activities.  And this softshell does its job of wicking away my sweat. 

Given Hood’s weather can drastically drop to a difference of about 10-15 degrees, I brought with me as emergency my Columbia Peak to Creek Puff jacket.  It’s a synthetic filled insulated shell that is a true value for money.  Being a puff jacket, it is surprisingly packable thus I had no issues stuffing it in my pack with my other gear.  It repels anything less than a downpour so it can double as an outerwear if the weather is not that harsh.

To protect me from rain and snow, I had with me my Columbia Hot Shot Shell and Columbia Granite Tors Pant.  Both are completely waterproof thus had no issues keeping out the external elements like water and snow.  One…or make that two key features that separate these from the rest are their ability to breathe and how amazingly lightweight they are.  Just to give you an idea, my jacket is lighter than that of my energy bar.  And they are still tough as nails!

So with all my gears on and ready we started our ascent around 1130pm.  The evening was perfect as it was a full moon.  So perfect that we didn’t even bother to turn on our headlamps except for those times wherein we had to change our snowshoes to crampons.

Like my first Pulag trip, we had to take the long route as the “snow cats”, vehicles used to take climbers and skiers at the upper jump-off point of Hood, are not scheduled to run during weekdays.  By long route we had to start from the parking lot, which is about 6,000ft from the peak of Hood.  Taking this route, the usual climbing time of 3-4hrs now turned to 6-7hrs. 

It was very much a leisurely walk during the first 30 mins as I savored every step I took.  I could just see myself smiling while listening to my boots dig it’s way to the snowy trail.  Then my smile turned to shock when I found myself suddenly slipping.

It then dawned on me that I am already walking on ice!  Sweeet!  It was then that we started to put on our snowshoes and an hour later changed to using crampons.  It was really cool putting those on as you get to fully understand how they work and why you really need them.  Not to mention they look pretty damn cool!

2 and a half hours later we’re already at 8,500 ft and my foot full of blisters.  Wearing heavy plastic boots for a long lhike ike this is not your most ideal set-up.  The smile I had when I started climbing now turned to a slight frown.  But that was just the physical aspect of it.  Emotionally I’m at an all time high as we’ve actually reached the drop off point of where the skiers start their descent and vice versa for the climbers.

It was then that I decided not to pursue my ascent as I will be more of a liability and the terrain is now much harder with steeper ascents.  Curiously, I am not that all disappointed as we had taken a route not normally taken and more importantly, I had fun every step of the way.

And this for me is what the outdoors is all about.  While I aimed to reach the peak of Hood, I never forgot to look back and enjoy the view.  And this made my trip all the more worthwhile.

And yes I'm set to make another attempt next year.  This time I'll invest in my own pair of hiking boots and an experience to boot!

             

For those few looking forward to my photos, give me some time to upload them as I'm currently cooking something up.  Don't want to pre-empt it by posting all my photos in public.  So are my photos that great for me to create such a big deal of posting it?  Don't have a definite answer but just bear with me on this one 

So the reason for me writing this 3rd blog of mine.  Given we're talking about travel, the thought came to me on what's the most ideal travel gear.  Sorry for it may be a hard sell but trust me when I say that I did tried these products (or put them to the test for that matter) and this is an honest to goodness recommendation

Let me start off with my clothing.  Clothing is usually something that is overlooked as people rather spend on bags/ luggages.  Funny thing is clothing is the one that really spells a good or bad travel so it does make sense to spend on it.

Before I go on the details, another reason for writing this blog is it came to me that I'm wearing the same shirt that I've been using for my travels the past 3 years!  It's a black Columbia performance tee shirt called Trail Grinder Tee which I also use for my hiking trips.  What's so special about it and why do I always wear it while travelling?  Well it wicks away moisture (yes you tend to sweat specially when you're running trying to catch your next flight), resists odor (a good body hygiene helps a lot), has UPF protection (no need to use sun block) and is wrinkle resistant (a big plus when you're flying long haul).  Man, imagine all this BS for one plain black shirt...and you know what..all I listed works!

For my bottoms it's my Silver Ridge Convertible Pants.  As the name implies you already know why it's ideal for travelling.  Too hot?  Zip away the legs and whalah!  You're now wearing a pair of shorts.  Cold or windy?  Zip the legs back on and it's a pair of pants.  Another reason why this is your ideal travel pants is how amazingly light and supple the fabric is.  Unlike other convertible pants, this one is so comfy and breathable it feels like you're wearing nothing.  And it doesn't skimp on durability.  Don't let the thin material fool you as I used mine for hiking as well and they still look brand new (fabric is made of mini rip-stop).  And oh...did I mention it's moisture wicking, has UPF protection, and packs like a sandwich bread? 

Just in case it gets cold or the weather turns harsh, I have my Mountain Hardwear Transition Softshell.  It provides just enough insulation just in case it get cold (for temp around 16-18deg) and weather protection for anything less than a downpour.  Only caveat for this one is it's body hugging fit...which means your baselayer should be fitted to your body as well.  There are some softshell designs that has more room for baselayers so go with that one if you have a big body frame.  Key here when travelling is to have a very versatile jacket with you...and softshells are your best bet for that!

For shoes it's my funky Sanuk's.  For me this is the perfect travel shoe as you can easily take it off and put on when you pass by security checkpoints or when you just feel like taking them off.  When you're travelling long haul and have stopovers/ transfers along the way this is an indispensable feature.  It just basically comes down to your design choice...I doubt everyone can appreciate the pair I use

I would add as well to invest in a good pair of socks.  Yes socks!  I got a pair of Columbias that's a combination of wool, modal, and a hundred more fabrics.  Believe me when I say they work as advertised.  My feet sweat a lot (even in my Sanuk's) and my Columbia's do a good job of wicking away sweat and making my foot odor free.  I say this as I never hear or see any complaints from my seat mates when I take my shoes off...nor do I smell anything when I take them off

For accessories, well there is my Suunto X6 (non-HR...that is way too expensive for me).  It's my official travel watch as it has a much subtle design than my Vector (color yellow) and in a way much lighter thus is more comfortable.  It boasts a barometer and altimeter for checking the temperature and your current altitude.  It also has a digital compass that I never use

For the equipment part, camera bags that is, I bring either my Lowepro Toploader (for my Nikon D200 + 2 lenses) or Lowepro Rezo 1 (for my Fuji s6500fd).  I'm not really a fan of camera backpacks as it can really weigh you down when you have your camera gear inside together with a laptop.  Not to mention you would want easy access of your camera for those "decisive moments".

If I do need to bring a laptop (specially my office laptop that weighs like a brick) I bring along with me a trolley bag which in this case...surprise..is a Columbia trolley (not available locally though).  Whether to use a backpack or a trolley is a personal choice but for me I don't want lugging around a heavy pack and put any strain on my shoulders (aching shoulders = uncomfortable trip).  With a trolley, you just pull the handle and off you go...doesn't matter much how heavy your bag is.

So that's it...my ideal travel gear.  Eventhough this blog is sort of a hard sell, I hope all the info I provided gives you a concrete idea on how gears like this can help make your travel experience a very positive and enjoyable one.  Safe travel guys/ gals!

Now comes the time I dread the most.  Flying back home and a TRANSIT FLIGHT IN LA   I still remember that time when I was held up for close to 3.5hrs at the immigration line.  Man if my flight didn't get delayed that time I would've missed it!

But you know what?  This last trip could've changed all that.

Well it started with a smooth flight from Porltand highlighted by 2 glasses of Ginger Ale.  It helped being able to sit at the exit row as well (more leg room!).

Upon my arrival in LA and into the baggage claim area, the thing I dreaded the most started to happen.  My freaking luggages still haven't showed up and all of my co-passengers have left already!  Add to this my luggage stub was nowhere to be seen!  Keeping my head straight I inquired on the baggage claim services and stupidly enough I didn't check that my luggages were booked all the way to Manila!  One knock on the noggin for this one!

So with a big sigh of relief, I proceeded to the international terminal only to find out that the check-in line was like an unsolvable maze!   But for me what the heck...I got about 5hrs to burn so the more time I burn the merrier.  It helps getting the chance to chit chat with a fellow kababayan and a group of mexicans who likes to chat a lot with me but using their own native language!

So with my eyes rolling around the airport trying to find a saving grace I chanced upon an almost empty aisle with a check-in/ no baggage signage.  Dumbfounded, I checked up my stuff (no baggage!) and I checked in online the night before!  So waving goodbye to my chatmates, I arrogantly walked my way through that empty aisle with envy and confused eyes following me. 

So this night was turning quite okay.  But wait...there's more!  Upon getting my booking tickets and the attendee crediting my asia miles, it turned out that I accumulated enough points to hang around the business lounge!  Sweeet!

And with that said, here I am creating another blog entry in the comforts of One World's Business Lounge.  I still have around 4hrs to burn but it should be a comfortable wait.  Do check out my photos of Portland in the coming weeks!  The photo above above is just a teaser of the crazy stuff I did and experienced