It was supposed to be just an ordinary climb. All were excited about the climb since no one has ever gone there before. It would be a first for most of us. Little did we know that this would be and adventure waiting to happen. As it turned out, it was one of the most fun and memorable spontaneous travel ever.
The date was August 19, 2006. The meeting place, PeopleSupport Center. First ones to arrive were Siege and I and we then fetched Marcy and Lee Valera. Soon, we met "the Hearts" (Van and Erik) and we then headed to Buendia where Reo was already waiting. Took a quick stop at KFC...to wait for the rest of the gang to come... Buko Juice (BJ), the hunk, XEREX, and Nards. Once the gang were complete we then headed off to the bus station... and from there... the journey began... the group headed for the unknown.
The detour started when Paul texted Marcy that Erik, the one that would be our guide, won't be coming because of back ache. We started to talk about what would happen to us since we had no idea where we were going to.
The group then decided to change the plan... to go to a different mountain... but out of no where... Marcy did her famous "da mubs!!!" She said that we go directly to the beach first and then climb Mt. Banoi the morning after. A day hike since it was already getting dark and we don't know the perils that would be waiting for us if we did try to climb the mountain during the night.
But before we arrive to our first detoured destination, we made a boo-boo... the first stop was supposed to be at the Diversion Road Bus Stop where Polski was waiting but instead we stopped at the wrong bus terminal.
Time check: 4pm! Ha!!! Another adventure... now the question was... how far off were we from Paul?.. Some of us suggested to walk... Most of us just said.. "sigue! kayo na lang!!!" and then we all decided to ride a jeep to the bus stop.
Time check: 4:20pm. Paul was already waiting for us at diversion road. Marcy then informed Paul about our change of plans and soon headed for SM Batangas to buy provisions.
Once we have all the supplies, we were all headed for Lobo, Batangas. We didn't know that we have to take a jeepney ride from hell to go there...
The ride was something unimaginable... we literally experienced the song "a Long and Winding Road" because it really was a long and winding road. However, on the brighter side of it, the view was awesome. We just hoped that we had the stomach to actually enjoy it... hehehe!
We finally arrived at our destination past 6pm after which we prepared dinner... Pang-fiesta ito!!! grilled mongolian pork chop, grilled tilapia and sinigang... huwaw sa sarap!!!
Once the food was prepared, I think the wind blew too much because the food disappeared in a matter of minutes as if a tornado went through the entire table. Not one bit of meat was found... hahaha...we were really starving!
After that scrumptious meal... shempre... hindi mawawala ang soshals! We drank our hearts out... don't ask me what happened... i passed out... so i have no idea!!! MAGI na!
The morning after was another thing... the wind blew harder... the sky grew darker and before we knew it... it started to rain... hard! Now the plan to go hiking was ditched since everyone seems to be suffering from the dreaded disease... KATAMARAN! ...and hence... we all decided not to climb... but then.. the tag team did it again... I called Marcy... said... "ano Marcy? Galera tayo?" and you could really feel the light bulb above Marcy's head light up with a matching sound effect..."TING!!!!" and before we even ended the beach... another detour was already being planned....
And from there... we went back to SM, Batangas... yet again... we had to ride the jeepney from hell... Polski puked... most of us tried to sleep... the rest... took pictures of Paul throwing up... Sama namin ano??? hehehe!!!
Second Detour: Puerto Galera...
The group was divided since the Hearts, the crassh, Lee valera and Siege had to go home. So the ones left, Marcy, me, Polski, BJ, Xerex, Nards and Reo headed to Batangas Pier where Fritz was already waiting... and we bought the tickets... and waited for the boat... of course took pictures.. (as if you didn't know that)...
When the boat arrived... well... we thought that it would be one smooth ride... first, we were laughing... joking and of course enjoying the waves and as we bacame a bit ecstatic... the boatman cried out..." Baka matakot ang mga turista" pero shempre... mababait kami... so medyo tumahimik kami... medyo lang naman....but something happened as we moved closer to Mindoro... the waves became stronger... and larger... and the once heavenly and fun ride... became a boat ride from hell.
The obvious first... Paul threw up again... asking for Plaassstic!!! (sorry polski)... Xerex was nauseous.... trying to keep his composure... the rest were either asleep or talking or taking pictures as BJ snored away... hehehe!!!
When we saw Mindoro... it was a sight to remember... pristine waters... awesome sky and beautiful landscape. When we docked, we rode a shuttle taking us to White Beach Resort... rented a room fit for us with a kitchen and then settled to rest for a while then go to the beach to see the sunset. The beach was awesome. Not much people swimming. We then headed back to our room and prepared dinner... PASTA!!! Lee cooked the chicken, Marcy cooked the carbonara sauce, Fritz cooked the spaghetti sauce... I cooked the noodles. Once we finished cooking.... PASTA PARTEEEHHH!!!
So... that's the reason why we went all the way to Puerto Galera... to cook Pasta... you know... conyos... and rich kids... nothing to do with their time... hahaha!!! yeah right! We wish!!! But man... it was awesome...one of the best dinners we had in a while. Relaxed atmosphere... spending time with friends...just chilling out and enjoying every morsel of food that was on the table.
Once we were full.... we decided to walk along the shore. And shoreness... the first thing we saw when we went to the beach were MUSHROOMS... lots of it.. asking Paul to come and join them hahaha!!! The night was nice... cool breeze... of course we took advantage of the night... we took.... tantanan... pictures.. with tantanan... a celebrity... berwin!!! yahoo! yahoo!!!
as we were enjoying the night, it started to rain... so we all decided to go back to the room and hang out... we ate once again... what was left of the pasta and just chilled and talked. Before going to bed... shempre... hindi mawawala ang Photo OP... so ayun... picture dito...picture doon and picture ulit... pagkatapos... natulog na kami...
Kinabukasan... Breakfast of champions! Eggs... toasts, soup and rice and sisig and tuna... fiesta na naman ito!!! and op kors... before we ate... anothe photo opportunity... hehehe... what's new??? .. you know...*waving hands and all*.... and of course hindi mawawala ang pillow fight at wrestiling with Pol "the Macho Libre" ski!!! Yahoo!!! Saya talaga nun!!! =P
Pagkatapos... shempre... beach na ito!!! Some of us went "caving" .. the others took the long route... climb over the cliff... at least naka-akyat rin anoh? ang saya-saya... hehehe! and then ... all together now.... "another photo OP!" hahaha!!! KARIR si Xerex!! tabloid pics ito... si paul na-stranded na survivor.. si Bj... wala... si BJ pa rin... si Reo... wala.. si Reo din... hehehe... kami.. kami yung kumukuha ng pics eh... hehehe...
So after the... all together now... "photo OP" ayun na...langoy-langoy na! lakas ng trip... nagpalampaso sa alon... i finally felt how it was to be in washing machine... we were tumbled like hell whenever a strong wave would wash ashore. I rolled over twice, Lee almost broke a rib, Marcy almost got lost in the wave, Reo bruised his back and the rest was thrown away by the wave... from there... we retreated back to the other side of the beach.
The usual...again... "photo OP" and the conyotics continued their cenada saga... Whew!!! it was one tiring day but all of us enjoyed each and every minute of it... even as we were heading back to the room..we saw a banana tree lying around.. then all of us just looked at eachother and you would hear the sounds "TING!" and then the next we knew was we were on the banana tree... having another photo op... we called " The Anana boat ride... Turon!!!!"
Haaaayyyy it was one long weekend.. but a truly memorable one indeed... for some it was their first time to Puerto Galera and man... what an experience for them... There's nothing like a spontaneous adventure like the one that we had last weekend.. Who indeed knew what was in stored for us but as it turned out... it was one of the best and treasurable moments in our lives... at least for me anyway...
Thanks to everyone who came...The Hearts, Lee-Crash Valera, Siege and... the family tree... TAG-TEAM Marcy, Xerex (step-father), Fritz (tutor), Polski (the nosy neighbor)... Lee, Reo and the celebrity, Berwin Alemaña! hahahaha!!!
Mabuhey kayong lahat!!!
And with that, THAT'S THE GAME PLAN!!!!
This is lonepainter, signing off!!!!
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