First Attempt at Mt. Pulag

Well, it's Maundy Thursday today and I just don't have anything to do yet here at home. I am still downloading some torrents and so I decided to visit my blog and just write something here. 

As I recall, the last post here was from my solo trip to Bacolod which happened last October 2014. So let me just continue my travel post with my first hiking attempt at Mt. Pulag. :)

Last December 2014, I went to Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg trail with Jay and my other two officemates from DKS (Nina and Cat). If I may say, I am not prepared for this hike. I was physically unfit. I did not bring enough clothes and forgot some essential stuff for hiking.

Mt. Pulag stands at 2,922 meters above sea level. It is famous for its sea of clouds and the view of Milky Way galaxy at dawn. 

Hiking Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg trail is not very difficult. As they say, it's like walk in the park. Being the third highest mountain in the Philippines, it is surprising that you can actually reach the campsite in 3 hours.

If my memory serves me right, we arrived at the campsite at almost 5PM. We rested for a while and then we had a glimpse of the sunset. The clouds were moving very fast. After a while, it was already dark. 

We were not lucky to see the sea of clouds in the morning because it rained very hard between 8PM-8AM the following day. We had a small tent so just imagine the four of us inside trying to get some sleep while we were all very wet. 

I would like to go back to Mt. Pulag again and hopefully be able to see the sea of clouds.

Here are some of our pictures from that trip:

Jay checking the top load jeepneys

Cat and Nina posing while sitting on top of the jeepney

Of course, ako rin, dapat meron :)

Jay and I posing with Benguet mountains as backdrop :)

Can't remember which part of the trail this is. But as you can see, the soil is still dry

There are several tents already when we arrived at the campsite. Plus, it is already foggy over there. 

Chasing light. It looks like Mordor from the movie The Lord of the Rings.

Campsite 2. There were so many campers during that time.

Picture of success! Congrats Jay for reaching the campsite!!!

Our picture during the sunset with Mt. Pulag as our background.

Us four inside the tent. Pinilit magkasya sa good for 2 na tent. >_<

With Cat and Jay 

Biyaherong Beecabelle Goes to Bacolod (Day 5 of 5)

My visit to Bacolod supposedly should last for 3 days only but because I really wanted to see the Masskara Festival, I extended my stay till Sunday in time for the Masskara Festival Street Dancing event.

The Masskara Festival is a festival held in Bacolod every third weekend of October nearest October 19, which is the city's charter anniversary.

According to Wiki, the word "Masskara" means mass (a multitude of people), and the Spanish word cara (face), thus forming MassKara (a multitude of faces). The word is also a pun on maskara, Filipino for "mask" (itself from Spanish máscara), since a prominent feature of the festival are the masks worn by participants, which are always adorned with smiling faces.

I was not quite lucky to witness the street dancing as I need to fly back to Manila in the afternoon. But I was able to take a lot of pictures from the parade.

Here it goes:

Goodbye City of Smiles!

 

Biyaherong Beecabelle Goes to Bacolod (Day 4 of 5)

On my fourth day in Bacolod, I decided to visit the town of Silay which is famous for its museums and old churches.

First Stop, San Diego Pro Cathedral. The only church in Negros Occidental with a dome.

 

the dome

Next stop is the famous Balay Negrense. This is a museum in Silay City showcasing the lifestyle of a late 19th century Negrense sugar baron. It is notable for being the first museum to be established in the province of Negros Occidental.

Here are some of my shots inside the house.

 

 

That's my garden! Hehehe

Next museum is Hofilena Museum. I was not lucky to get inside this museum because it was already lunch time by the time I arrived there.

I think there is still one more house turned into museum that I visited in Silay and it is situated along the main road. But the pictures are in my other drive. :(

I left Silay before 5PM. I knew that I will experience heavy traffic going back to Bacolod as Lacson Street's being closed in preparation for the night street party and Electric Masskara.

Here's how Lacson Street look like during the Saturday event.

 

sobrang daming tao!!!

 

And here are the participants in the Electric Masskara. These kids are so talented.

 

 

 

It was really fun to watch the Bacolodnons showcase their talents! It was one hell of a night party!!!