Working in a call center is surely stressful, being awake at night and asleep during the day, taking calls for 8 hours a day, 5 five days a week. If you're lucky, you'll get 1 hour and 30 minutes OT! And on your  rest day, it's either spend your time sleeping and do nothing.

We finally had enough.


The night before our off, Mishelle, Khim and I decided to go trekking in Mt. Pico De Loro. With this sudden decision we never really had the time to prepare. Unaware of what challenge lies in our little escapade, Khim and I took it easy, we slept around 12 in the midnight (Well, you can't blame us we're used to being awake at night :P ) and woke around 7 am. Mishelle is already waiting for us at Ministop Bacoor. Judging how slow Khim in every aspect (Kidding. She's a wise person but very slow xD) it took us 2 hours to prepare ourselves and belongings. The three of us met at the Ministop. Beside the Ministop there's a bus stop for trips going to Nasugbu/Ternate. We took a ride there, informed the conductor that we're going to Ternate to Climb Mt. Pico De Loro and they seem to know where to drop us off!

While most bloggers provide proper advises on how to climb a mountain, let me unfold a story about how these three beginners violated the principle of Mt. Climbing! :D

From the drop off point, we rode a tricycle going to DENR.  We paid 100 pesos each for the tricycle and 25 pesos each for the registration. 

 It's already pass 11:00 am when we started climbing. 

(Violation no. 1 If you don't have plans to stay overnight, don't ever come late!

Violation no. 2 You don't use sling bag in climbing a mountain!) 

We're not even half away from the start off point when we felt thirsty from climbing. 

(Side story)

In avoidance to bring heavy stuffs, Khim and I decided not to bring water and just planned to buy bottled water when we get near our destination. What a bright plan! So we bought six 330 ml bottled water, two bottled waters for each. We never thought that this bright plan of us could bring us ordeal in this adventure. 

(Violation no. 3 Don't ever take water for granted! Think of this way, "You'd rather walk naked in public than die from thirst .")

Basecamp 1, ETA 1:45 PM

Still not half near from our goal, we decided to eat our lunch. We're so hungry from climbing especially Khim and I since we didn't eat breakfast out of excitement, because of that I almost fainted.

(Violation 4 Don't neglect breakfast just because you're excited or running late, it's like going on a date with your boyfriend/girlfriend however you forgot to brush your teeth.)

What we had for lunch.... woohooo

(Violation 5 You don't bring these kind of foods if you're going to climb a mountain

and don't mistake snacks for lunch meal!

If you're that hungry, you'll learn how to appreciate eggs. 

Relax after eating lunch

After regaining our energy, we started climbing again.

While on our way to the summit, we found two dogs ahead of us blocking our way. We were shocked and scared when we saw them, who would have thought that in the middle of climbing a mountain two dogs would suddenly appear! >_<

We stopped for a moment and observed them. I swear, we have thought any worst possibilities could happen to us. It's either they'll attack us, especially that one dog who looks like a tiger or they're aswang. We even thought of just going back and not continue, but we had already gone this far, our hard work would be in vain if we'll just back off. It took us bravery to continue, so we continued and walk passed them...well, nothing happened in fact these two dogs accompanied us all the way to the summit, and that dog looking tiger even fetch us up the hill of the summit signaling us that it's about to go down since it's getting dawn, how touching. 

Later on we found out that these two dogs are the Mountain's guardians.

 Here we go, after four hours of climbing accompanied with taking pictures we finally reached the summit.

As we reached the summit, we never expected that reaching the parrot's beak is a different story, it's like working hard to level up on a game, however defeating the big boss is whole different. 

Bracing ourselves to conquer that big rock.

Since Mischelle and Khim were skeptical of getting back alive if we climb that big rock, I had to take the lead and show them that I can go back in a pretty good condition. Well, I realized if we'd go back without trying the main dish, all of our hard work would be in vain. 

Conquering the Parrot's Beak.

Feelings can't be explained with a thousand words.

Mischelle and Khim

Picture taking with a group who saved us from thirstiness. 

These guys are our life saver.

All in all, I love our whole experience, though we ran into a lot of mishaps, but we've learnt from it. Through out this adventure we have seen beauty created by the Creator of all things.