How about a breathtakingly astounding and serene view of sunrise at the peak of the mountain?
Greetings everyone! Yeah, it's been a while. Let me share with you again another unforgettable relaxing travel I had with my friends.
From Manila, my colleagues-turned-friends spent a 4-hour road travel (considering the city traffic because it was the weekend) to Batanggas. We spent the night at a beach resort at Bauan. The next morning, we woke up at 3 am to prepare as we were heading to climb a mountain in the neighboring town, Mabini, where the mountain is waiting for us. We left the resort at around 4 am. The road was quite narrow and with many steep turns so better be more cautious in driving. We arrived at our destination at around 5 am.
Standing 1722 feet above sea level, Mt. Gulugod-Baboy, nestled in the heart of Mabini, Batangas, is the perfect place to go if you thirst for a promising 360-degree panoramic view of the bay as well as the stark outline of the mountains nearby. According to the locals, its name Gulugod-Baboy is derived from the obvious reason, of how it looks like from afar, "gulugod" which means spine, and "baboy" which means pig, therefore, a pig's spine.
But unlike those previous strenuous climbs that I experienced, which left me drenching in sweat and giving me pain in the ass as I conquer the laborious, long, and uncomfortable trails, this one is different. Since there are two ways to reach its summit. If you are an adventurous fellas whose soul quenched for an extreme mountaineering experience to give you physically challenging and adrenaline-pumping treks, you can choose the longer trail where the jump-off is at Barangay, Anilao, Mabini.
But if you wish to take the shorter trail, the easier one which my friends and I preferred, you can proceed directly to the campsite.
Upon registration, we paid 50 PHP (0.91 USD) for the environmental fee per head and 30 PHP (0.55 USD) for the landowner's fee since the area is privately owned. We have also paid 100 PHP (1.82 USD) for the parking fee.
It was still dark when we reached the place and I could feel the cold morning breeze giving us a freezing warm welcome. I was delighted knowing that in 15 minutes or less, compared to my previous climbs which usually take 5 hours or more in ascending, without pouring a single sweat, I was already standing at the summit.
Several mountaineers have spent the night at the summit with their tents, probably for the same obvious reason why we were here - to see the beauty of the sunrise as it breaks shatter the darkness into a brand new start of the day at the top of the mountain. And so while embracing the chilling morning breeze that woke up every sense in me, while waiting for the sun to show up, my eyes wandered as I enjoyed the magnificent sight of the dawn breaking with the overlooking views of the Balayan and Batangas Bay as well as the neighboring islands and mountains around.
And after an hour of waiting...
Hello there Mr. Sunshine! 🌞
It was around 6 am when our most-awaited sunrise showed up. I stopped for a moment, before getting my mobile phone and took a snap of its astonishing view, I paused for a moment and breathe in the beauty that was unfolding right before my very eyes. I thanked God for letting me experience it again as it is one of life's beautiful reminders of how wonderful it is to be alive and experience nature at its finest.
And it was time to enjoy the breathtaking view from the top. The fog that was embracing the mountain was slowly fading.
Indeed, it was undeniably beautiful. The mountain speaks unspoken words of endless enchantment that talk to my soul which always craves tranquility - my best escape from the chaotic city mundane.
Watching the sunrise from the peak of this mountain, seeing the grandest beauty of mother earth at its finest is a feast to my senses. It is truly the much-needed rest I've been longing for so long, I knew it's all I wanted.
Upon descending, there were more beautiful sceneries awaiting which we did not notice earlier because it was still dark.
I stumbled upon this little bloom which reminded me that life is surrounded by countless beauties if we just take time to pause for a while and give focus to the little and usually often passed by unnoticed yet beautiful details around us.
We also passed by a herd of cows starting their days by busy munching on grass.
It was another well-spent weekend getaway and I will always be grateful for this moment and the mountains as well for always giving me the perfect recipe for my exhausted soul that feeds my hunger for a sweet haven to relax and rejuvenate.
Thank you everyone for taking a pinch of your time to reading this post. Have a great weekday ahead!