Asian Traveller

Pullmantur

rafael — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:32:10 +0000

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Christmas in Bethlehem

rafael — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:31:09 +0000

Pilgrimage Chaplain: Bishop Raul Martirez, DD

DEC 19 (WED) MANILA – AMMAN, Jordan

Take the post-midnight flight to Amman.

DEC 20 (THU) AMMAN – MT. NEBO – MADABA – AL MAGHTAS – AMMAN

Arrive Amman in the morning. Visit Mount Nebo, the highest in the Moabit range which have been centers for pilgrimages since the earliest Christian times. Mt. Nebo is where tradition says Moses was shown the Promised Land. Then tour the Greek Orthodox church in Madaba which houses some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, including the famous 6^th century map of Palestine. To Al-Maghtas, the original spot where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. Dinner and stay at Quality Suites Hotel (4*) or similar in Amman.

DEC 21 (FRI) AMMAN – PETRA – AMMAN

Full-day excursion to the “Red Rose” city of Petra, one of the world’s most unique phenomena, on horseback and on foot. Explore the “Lost” city through a narrow ravine, flanked by overwhelming cliffs. See the spectacular Treasury, Pharaoh’s Castle, the Triumphal arch, the Roman amphitheater, courts, Temple of the Winged Lion and monuments. The Nabateans carved their capital from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Back to Amman for dinner and stay at hotel.

DEC 22 (SAT) AMMAN – ALLENBY BRIDGE – JERICHO – BETHANY – JERUSALEM

Cross the border to Israel thru Allenby Bridge. Take lunch in Jericho. From a distance, view the Mt. of Temptation and pass by the Sycamore tree where Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, climbed to see Jesus pass by. Celebrate mass at the Church in Bethany before proceeding to Jerusalem for dinner and stay at Dan Jerusalem Hotel (4*) or similar.

DEC 23 (SUN) MT. OF OLIVES – KIDRON VALLEY – MT. ZION

To Mt. of Olives: Photo opportunity with the Old City in the background, Ascension Chapel, Pater Noster Church, walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Chapel of Dominus Flevit (Rite of Reconciliation), Garden of Gethsemane and Basilica of the Agony (Mass). To Christian Mt. Zion: Coenaculum (Last Supper, Appearances on the day of Resurrection and one week later, Pentecost), Cenotaph of King David, Benedictine Abbey and Church of Dormition (Mary’s Assumption). To the Kidron Valley: St. Peter of “Gallicantu”. Visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Take early dinner, then proceed to Manger Square in Bethlehem to watch the concert “Songs from the Heart at Christmas” with Mitch Valdes. Return to hotel in Jerusalem.

DEC 24 (MON) OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM – QUMRAN – DEAD SEA – SHEPHERD’S FIELD – JERUSALEM

Old City: Church of St. Anne, Pool of Bethesda, Ecce Homo, Via Dolorosa from the Church of the Condemnation to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre (Mass). On to Qumran for lunch and to view the ruins of the Essene Community and see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Enjoy a dip at the healing waters of the Dead Sea. Visit Shepherd’s Field and enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner at the Bedouin tent in Beit Sahour. Return to Jerusalem for stay at hotel.

DEC 25 (TUE) JERUSALEM – EIN KAREM – BETHLEHEM – TIBERIAS

Visit Ein Karem: Church of the Visitation (Christmas Mass) and Church of St. John. In Bethlehem, visit the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity, St. Catherine’s Church and St. Jerome’s Cave. Shop for olive wood souvenirs at the local stores in Bethlehem. Leave for Tiberias for dinner and stay at Prima Galil Hotel (4*) or similar.

DEC 26 (WED) TIBERIAS – NAZARETH – CANA – MT. TABOR – SEA OF GALILEE – TIBERIAS

Visit Nazareth: Basilica and Grotto of the Annunciation, Church of St. Joseph and the Church of St. Gabriel and Mary’s well. On to Cana: First Miracle at the Wedding at Cana for the renewal of marriage vows (Mass at 1200h). Visit Mt. Tabor: Basilica of the Transfiguration. Return to Tiberias to enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and stay at hotel in Tiberias.

DEC 27 (THU) MT. OF THE BEATITUDES – CAPERNAUM – TABGHA – JERICHO

Visit Mt. of the Beatitudes (Mass at 0900h). Visit Tabgha: Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, Primacy of Peter, Capernaum: House of St. Peter and the Synagogue ruins. Enjoy St. Peter’s fish for lunch. Leave for Jericho for farewell dinner and stay at Intercontinental Hotel or similar.

DEC 28 (FRI) JERICHO – EILAT – TABA BORDER – SINAI

Celebrate Mass at the Good Shepherd Church in Jericho before proceeding to Egypt. Take lunch in Eilat then cross the Taba Border to Sinai. Dinner and stay at Morgenland Hotel or similar in Sinai.

DEC 29 (SAT) SINAI – SUEZ CANAL – CAIRO

Do a very early morning three hour climb (Optional: weather permitting and recommended only for those physically fit) to the summit of Mt. Sinai to witness the breathtaking sunrise and see the cave where Moses hid himself after coming face to face with God. Visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, site of the “Burning Bush”. Take a long distance drive from Sinai to Cairo. Dinner and stay at Concorde El Salam Hotel (5*) or similar in Cairo.

DEC 30 (SUN) CAIRO

Mass at Caritas (0800h). Explore the famous Egyptian Museum. Visit the world-famous Pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, a papyrus factory, cotton factory, and an essence shop that Egypt is famous for. Enjoy dinner on a Nile Cruise with belly dancers and whirling dervish. Stay at hotel in Cairo.

DEC 31 (MON) CAIRO

Visit Old Cairo: the Hanging Church and the Abou Serga Church where the Holy Family stayed when they escaped from King Herod. See the Church in Zeitoun where our Lady appeared. Pass by the Virgin Mary Church in Maadi, the site where the Holy Family crossed the Nile River on their way to Egypt and where a Holy Bible found floating against the current of the Nile is enshrined. Enroute to the airport, celebrate Mass in a Catholic Church. Take evening flight back to Manila.

JAN 1 (TUE) HOME SWEET HOME!!!

PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON:

Minimum 30 full-paying adults                         USD 2,980.00

Note: Any deviation from package is subject to fare adjustments. Less than the minimum number may also require a supplement.

Extension to Dubai and/or Upper Egypt available upon request

OUR PRICES HAVE NO SURPRISES! NO OPTIONAL FEES COLLECTED WHILE YOU ARE ON PILGRIMAGE.

DEADLINE FOR DEPOSIT AND SUBMISSION OF PASSPORT

COPY ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012

Pilgrimage – Christmas in Bethlehem

rafael — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:37:17 +0000

Pilgrimage Chaplain: Bishop Raul Martirez, DD

DEC 19 (WED) MANILA – AMMAN, Jordan

Take the post-midnight flight to Amman.

DEC 20 (THU) AMMAN – MT. NEBO – MADABA – AL MAGHTAS – AMMAN

DEC 21 (FRI) AMMAN – PETRA – AMMAN

DEC 22 (SAT) AMMAN – ALLENBY BRIDGE – JERICHO – BETHANY – JERUSALEM

DEC 23 (SUN) MT. OF OLIVES – KIDRON VALLEY – MT. ZION

DEC 24 (MON) OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM – QUMRAN – DEAD SEA – SHEPHERD’S FIELD – JERUSALEM

DEC 25 (TUE) JERUSALEM – EIN KAREM – BETHLEHEM – TIBERIAS

DEC 26 (WED) TIBERIAS – NAZARETH – CANA – MT. TABOR – SEA OF GALILEE – TIBERIAS

DEC 27 (THU) MT. OF THE BEATITUDES – CAPERNAUM – TABGHA – JERICHO

DEC 28 (FRI) JERICHO – EILAT – TABA BORDER – SINAI

Celebrate Mass at the Good Shepherd Church in Jericho before proceeding to Egypt. Take lunch in Eilat then cross the Taba Border to Sinai. Dinner and stay at Morgenland Hotel or similar in Sinai.

DEC 29 (SAT) SINAI – SUEZ CANAL – CAIRO

DEC 30 (SUN) CAIRO

DEC 31 (MON) CAIRO

JAN 1 (TUE) HOME SWEET HOME!!!

PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON:

Minimum 30 full-paying adults                         USD 2,980.00

Note: Any deviation from package is subject to fare adjustments. Less than the minimum number may also require a supplement.

Extension to Dubai and/or Upper Egypt available upon request

OUR PRICES HAVE NO SURPRISES! NO OPTIONAL FEES COLLECTED WHILE YOU ARE ON PILGRIMAGE.

DEADLINE FOR DEPOSIT AND SUBMISSION OF PASSPORT

COPY ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012

WAVES

rafael — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:00:45 +0000

By Crissy Pefianco
Published in Travel Update
August 2010

Crissy learning to surf in Baler, Aurora

Waves: Surfing Baler, Aurora Province, Philippines

Located on the northeastern side of the Philippine archipelago is a quaint little town. However, it becomes more than “quaint”, when in fact, it is in the very heart of the province of Aurora.

We were with our mother the first time my siblings and I headed for Baler, Aurora. It was also our first time to ride a Genesis bus, the only bus line with a direct route to Baler from Manila. After almost eight hours tossing and turning in the very, very, very, last row of seats, we were more than happy to see the smiling faces of the tricycle drivers waiting for us to alight at the terminal in Baler. My, that was an experience I wasn’t looking forward to repeating very soon.

But when we got to Aliya, our lovely surf resort for this trip, things started taking a turn for the better. A whole lot better. A spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean captivated us with the waves crashing against the shore with such ardor, you could almost feel the might of the great body of water before us. At that moment, Baler welcomed us. I felt at peace.

My siblings and I had a taste of the renowned Baler surf the very next day. After breakfast at Bahia de Baler’s Bar and Grill, which was a mere walking distance from Aliya, we met up with our super cool surf instructors. With the amount we paid, we each got a personal surf instructor and, after five minutes of dancing on the boards on the beach, we were off to go meet the ocean and it’s waves, of course.

Cue in theme song from Hawaii 5-0.

I’m a SCUBA diver at heart, so it was a little disconcerting to be on a surf board on top of the water’s surface and not under it holding a regulator in my mouth. Nevertheless, I had one heck of a thrill ride. Kofi, my instructor, pushed the board with me on top, out into the crashing waves, yelling at me to hold on. The waves were so high at times that if felt like a sheer drop after a wave would pass; my rib cage certainly felt it.

After a while, Kofi turned me and the board around so we’d be facing the beach. Then we waited. But not for very long. The anticipation was building as I tried to process everything Kofi taught me in that short program on the beach. I then heard him holler, “Ready!” My heart started to pound. “Set!” My hands found their place on the board near my sides. “Go!” I felt him push me and the board forward. Praying that I had found the right timing, I scrambled to push myself off the board and stand, one leg forward. The wave pushed me forward, nearer and nearer the shore. I was doing it! I was riding a wave! I wobble just a bit but I find my balance right away – thanks to my mother for putting through gymnastics and ballet in my formative years. I can see Mama now; she’s taking a video! Gah! My hair’s a wreck! I swipe at my tousled tresses, which throws off my balance and I end up in the water with a splash! I get up in thigh-deep water, sputter a little, and laugh off my idiocy.

Let’s do that again!

I turn back around with my board to meet Kofi halfway and we head out, once again, to meet the waves.

(Ed’s Note: Crissy Pefianco is one of the daughters of Raffy and Chili Pefianco. You may remember Chili from Travelwide Associated Sales Phils., then the GSA for Royal Brunei Airlines . Chili now handles tours in Baler.)

[Show as slideshow]

Assault to Mt. Udok II

Periosha — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:25:05 +0000

It was a thrilling 5am when we got our things into the car. It was going to be my second visit to Baler along with my siblings. The trip up was roughly 5 and a half hours going there (most of which I spent sleeping it off. I hate road trips…). When we got to Aliya Surf Camp, mom told us that we weren’t going to sleep here; instead, we were going to the base of Mt. Udok and stay the night there in tents.

The first thoughts that came into my head were, ‘Mountain + tent+ overnight stay =Lantaka?’ Wow, it’s like one of those Lantaka Summer Camps I’ve been joining since I was a kid. So, lucky for me, I’m kinda used to climbing up and down mountains; the last one was in Baguio.

At lunch time, our mountain guide Arse (pronounced “R say”) joined us and gave us a briefing on the basics of trekking, including what to expect and what to bring. Afterward, we loaded up our mountain climbing gear into the van, and drove to the town of Maria Aurora, which is at the base of Mt Udok and less than an hour’s drive North of Baler.

Our first stop was the municipal hall of Maria Aurora, where we had to register for our climb. According to Mom, we had to register so that the government knows we’re there, and if anything happens, they know where to find us. After registering, we drove to Ascot, or the Aurora State College of Technology, which is the jump off point to climbing Mt. Udok.

When we passed by a gate check point, my sister Bea quickly noticed at herd of sheep and goats passing in front of the car. She quickly screamed, “Mama, mama, get the camera; take a picture of the sheep!” but when she got the camera, the sheep had already crossed the road and went to the nearby clearing where they began grazing on the grass. My other sister, Cathy, got out of the car, camera in hand, and began taking pictures of the sheep and goats. Meanwhile, the four of us were laughing in our seats.

After parking in one of the work sheds, we walked down a rocky path downhill which led to the caretaker’s house, where my siblings and I had sodas while waiting for the A-okay to get to the base of the mountain. Once we got the signal, we walked along a dirt path that led to an ice-cold stream. At first, I thought it was an easy crossing, since I’ve been through cold waters before. But boy was I wrong!

As soon as my brother, Thomas, and I made our first steps into the stream, we were shocked almost senseless. The water was freezing! It took us an unbearable five minutes to just to cross the stream. With each slippery step we took, our legs froze stiff with the icy bite of the fresh mountain water. Mom and my sisters also had a difficult time crossing the stream. But soon we were all safely across and ready to set up camp.

Arse and our guide Mang Rohel had made a small clearing beside the stream and set up the tents. By nightfall, we had a nice campfire going and cooked our dinner.Everyone pitched in and soon we had a very nice meal of steamed rice and sausages. Not a gourmet meal, but, hey, this was roughing it Filipino style. Canned goods were the order of the day.

I then spent the rest of the evening with Arse and Mang Rohel, and we talked about our upcoming climb. At around eight-thirty, mom popped her head out of her tent. She sounded pretty angry when she called out to me, “Psst, Marco! Go to sleep, it’s late!” But then my sister, Cathy, wakes up and tells mom, “Mama, it’s only eight-thirty…” mom shrugs and goes back to sleep. I got inside my tent at around ten in the evening, and had a really good night’s sleep.

The next morning, after a hearty meal of rice, canned spam and corned tuna, we prepped our things for the trek. We all prepared two bottles of Gatorade, a pack of assorted candies, water, spare clothes, a med kit and were wearing t-shirts, jogging pants, and rubber shoes. We began trekking up the mountain at seven in the morning.

About a fourth of the way, Mang Rohel made us some walking sticks out of the branches of coffee tress. These were really sturdy, smelled good, and were a real help during the ascent.

Half-way up, we hit a clearing called the “Jollibee Point”, since this was where most climbers stop to have lunch. While we were there, we managed to hear (and somewhat see) a Philippine Eagle, soaring above the canopy. It gave a squawking call, which my brother mimicked. We all laughed when the eagle answered him back; and while we climbed Thomas and the eagle exchanged calls before the eagle finally left us, flying majestically over the trees.

It took a grueling six hours to reach the summit. There were a lot of obstacles and tough situations we had to hurdle to get there. There were ants (really big ones that really like to bite) and steep ditches to overcome.Throughout

the trek, Thomas was such a sourpuss. Every time he’d come across a hurdle, or if he slipped during a steep climb for example, he would start swearing, and we’d just roll our eyes every time he’d say “I never wanna go climbing ever again.”

“The exhilaration of having conquered the mountain was totally worth all the challenges of the climb.”

But when we reached the top, the exhilaration of having conquered the mountain was totally worth all the challenges of the climb. From the summit, we could see the town of Baler and the Pacific Ocean out in the horizon.

It was a totally breath-taking experience, and we could’ve stayed there for hours. However, it was almost noon. The sun was out, and it was hot! Mom even told us to put on sunscreen. We were only there for a few minutes when he had to begin the four-hour long trek back. With gravity on our side, the descent was easier and a whole lot faster.

“It was the best tasting tinola I’ve ever had in my life.”

At five-thirty in the afternoon, it was nearly pitch dark when we neared the campsite. Boy, were we shocked when we noticed how quickly it got dark!

Fumbling in the dark, we packed our things, cleared the campsite and re-crossed the icy stream back to Mang Rohel’s house. We were sweaty and dirty and in need of a good scrub, according to mom. We took turns taking a bath to remove all the grime and mud that had stuck to us during the climb. For dinner, we had delicious native tinolang manok, cooked by Aling Deedee, Mang Rohel’s wife. To tell you the truth, it was the best tasting tinola I’ve ever tasted in my life.

On our way back to the car, fireflies surrounded us, guiding us with their bright lights. Our trek was over, and we were heading back to civilization.

Despite all the exhaustion, the complaints, and the pains, the mountain can really change you, and how you think about things and people. The climb was truly was truly an unforgettable experience. I would be delighted if I was invited to climb Mt. Udok again; and I can assure you, it’s a climb worth taking. Well, shall we?

Basic Trekking Program

rafael — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:01:00 +0000

Crossing a cold mountain stream

Trekking is a Favorite Adventure Activity

Trekking is a favorite activity of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. It takes you outdoors to experience nature far away from the hustle and bustle and pollution of Metro Manila.

Aurora Province is the perfect place for you begin your trekking adventure. The province has retained a 70% forest cover. This means that it is still possible to see the country’s endemic (which means – found only here in the Philippines) flora and fauna in their native habitat.

Our Basic Trekking Program takes you to the foothills of Mt. Udok in Maria Aurora Town of Aurora Province. Here you will have the rare chance of walking around the last remaining rain forests in the Philippines and experience its flora and fauna. Our trained guides will lead you through the rugged trails around Mt. Udok. As you progress through the program, the trails become more challenging and exciting.

The Need for Training

Instructor teaching participants to climb safely

However, trekking or hiking in the mountains is not always comfortable and could be difficult if you are not properly trained.

This program offers you the chance to learn how to trek safely and confidently under the supervision and care of trained instructors and guides.

Graduates of this program can qualify to take part in a two day assault to the summit.

Who can join the Program?

This program is designed for the youth and adults alike who are moderately fit. It is also a great adventure program for schools, family events, father and son events, mother and daughter events, youth groups and adult adventure enthusiasts.

It is also a great entry level program for those who want to join us in our treks to trails and summits abroad later in the year. Yes, we plan to offer trekking tours to Malaysia and Brunei later in the year. Look out for these great adventure tours.

The Basic Trekking Program covers:

The Basic Equipment
Walking Techniques
Trekking Safety
Camping Skills
Survival Skills
Eco Awareness

Asiantraveller Custom Designed Custom Tours

Our Trekking tours are custom designed according to your needs. Asiantraveller has programs for the experienced outdoor person as well as for those completely new to trekking. Call Chili at Tel. (632) 697 0767 or text her at +63(920) 918-7358 and Fax (632) 373-2544. Email us at chili@asiantraveller.com.

18 Jan 2011 Bulawan Falls Aurora

rafael — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:30:12 +0000

The main falls at Bulawan Dinalungan Aurora Philippines

[Show as slideshow]

18 Jan 2011 Biking Dinadiawan Aurora

rafael — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:43:07 +0000

Hans and Tofer checking route to Casiguan Aurora

Here is one of our upcoming tours in Aurora Province including Baler, maria Aurora and Dinadiawan

[Show as slideshow]

Summiting Mt. Anacuao

rafael — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 05:41:20 +0000

by Paul Cuenca, February 10, 2011

Climb leader Paul with professional mountain guide Arse resting before the final push to the summit of Mt. Anacuao

Click to watch Video on the Mt. Anacuao Climb

Cloud obscuring Mountain Tops in Aurora Province

Imagine Majestic Mountains shrouded by clouds flowing directly into the Pacific Ocean amidst the morning surf viewed from a Surf Camp. Big Island of Hawaii or Rangiroa in Tahiti? It is much closer than you think; we are in Baler, Aurora on the east coast of Luzon and only 5 hours from Manila.

I focused on the highest peak I could find and told myself that the view from that summit must be tremendous. I knew right then that I would climb that peak. It is then that I first heard about Mt Anacuao from my guide Arse. He told me that it was one of the toughest climbs in Aurora Province from an endless list of mountains straddling the coast. Arse, a UP Mountaineer, had summitted Anacuao only once before because of its location and the logistics needed to organize a trip so this made it more intriguing for me. The fact that this peak is part of the fabled Sierra Madres mountain range gives it more significance. I’ve heard many stories about the Sierra Madres being one of the last strongholds of jungle & forest in Luzon, the hunter gatherer tribes of the Agta & Dumagat, tribal headhunters and the lair of the Philippine eagle. My anticipation grows further when I find out that I’ll be the first guided guest to climb Anacuao and see its natural beauty. I feel like an intrepid adventurer exploring new lands just like Magellan when he landed in Homonhon Island for the first time.

Baler rolling store

Venturing from Manila early in the morning and we reach Baler before lunchtime. Our guides meet us and we grab a quick lunch at one of the many rolling restaurants along the street for our version of hawker food. I assembled a group of interesting individuals to go along with the climb. One guy is one of the foremost bird watching authority in the Philippines, the other is a curious young lad who grew up in Sweden and is a videographer by trade, and last but certainly not least is a childhood friend of mine who I picked because of his jolly demeanour. After a hearty lunch, we set off for the northern portion of Aurora to the municipality of Dinalugan along the highway that hugs the coast all the way to Casiguran. The first hour of the drive is uneventful until we hit our first mountain range that dives right into the sea, where we stop to admire the view.

Predator spotted in Aurora the next day

We spot flying high on thermals a pair of Honey Buzzards, which is a raptor that specializes in raiding honey nests. Our expert tells me that these birds have migrated from the north to spend the winter in the Philippines. Thus, I formally get my introduction into the world of bird watching. Further down, the coast road gradually narrows and meets the jungle head-on in a series of steep escarpments that plunge into deserted beaches.

Lonely tree in the rain forest

I see a solitary tree clinging to the edge of the jungle and it’s clear that the builders carved the road straight into the mountain. Stopping at the edge of the road we marvel at how steep the edges plunge to at least 100 feet. This reminds me of Highway 1 on the Pacific Coast Highway in California. I figure this stretch of road would be perfect for a downhill mountain bike trail.

Dinalungan Mayor with Paul Cuenca of Intrepid Lifestyle, Edric Galing of Planet Infinity, David Bonifacio, Ricoted Calero, Raffy Pefianco of Asiantraveller, Vitaliano Rave and professional mountain guide Arse of the Provincial Tourism Office of Aurora

Climbing team registering at Dinalungan police station

Its 4pm when we reach Dinalugan Town Hall and make the requisite representations to the local military detachment and the local government. It is essential to let them know of our climb to the mountain in case of any emergencies.

“We have to ditch our car and take an ELF 3 tonner longbed truck to get to the falls.”

The jump-off point to Anacuao is Bulawan Falls which is 5 kms from the town. We have to ditch our car and take an ELF 3 tonner longbed truck to get to the falls. All our climbing & camping gear is loaded onto the truck and we climb along like cargo. It’s a bumpy ride along the way but we finally see our quarry hiding behind the clouds. Anacuao, meaning “lost child” in Dumagat, beckons us into her arms and we are excited at the prospect of climbing her. Base camp for the climb is Bulawan Falls and we are busily preparing for our climb to the summit the following day. Taking stock of all equipment and making sure that we have enough food to last the 2 nights in the summit for 9 persons is the key to our preparation. It will take 5 persons to carry all our equipment, food and guide us up to the summit. We are now ready to pitch our tents and sleeping bags next to the river but I choose to sleep in a hammock with a built in mosquito net. A quick dinner, some stories and gilbey’s gin with a water chaser puts me straight to sleep. The slight sway of the hammock and the sound of rushing water and delivers me to dreamland.

The aroma of 3 in 1 coffee greets my nose smelling just like hot cocoa and the anticipation of the tough climb today is in the air. We do our pre-climb briefing and check off all our equipment and the order of how we will climb. Off we go, to the unknown.

Team resting by ice cold stream with giant boulders

The roughness of the climb is evident right away as we snake our way along the river. Boulders everywhere of all sizes, moss covered and slippery, slipping in and out of the canopy and crisscrossing the river. It’s a real challenge trying to get a good grip among the rocks and the riverbed with the fast current. I wedge my feet in between the rocks to get a better grip but its squeezing my poor bunions to death. All I keep thinking was that I used the wrong shoes and that my feet would be wet the entire climb. Real glad to get away from the rocks pounding my feet but my worries quickly disappear as I see our next hurdle, a steep ascent up a series of 3 hills. Towering trees draped with thick vines in an endless expanse of jungle. Surely this is better than the rocks and I quickly ascend up the scraggly trail and latch on to the vines and dirt. I wanted to keep my pace steady and take it step by step while trying to get into a rhythm. Focused intently on the trail, we were doing quick time according to Arse and that gave me some relief. It was all going swimmingly until I started getting clumsy and tripping all over the place. Inch by inch it was getting to be an ordeal trying to lift my feet and my mind kept wandering. Deja vu, I felt this happening to me once before when I went on a mountain bike safari to Camsur. My stores of sugar were depleted and had no more energy to climb. I motioned to Arse to take a break and load up on Cloud 9, the quintessential trail snack. After 15 minutes everything is back to normal and we resume the hike.

We are now entering the realm of mossy forest, you feel a different microclimate with the cool breeze and humidity. A quick check of my watch and we’re at 1100 meters elevation or 3,600 feet above sea level.

Another steep section and the trail is getting narrower and the jungle thicker. We stop at a small stream and this seems to demarcate a change in the scenery. We are now entering the realm of mossy forest, you feel a different microclimate with the cool breeze and humidity. A quick check of my watch and we’re at 1100 meters elevation or 3,600 feet above sea level. Tree trunks are now covered with a thick layer of green hairy moss of all shapes. Mangled & twisted tree limbs and roots litter the trail like a scene from Lord of the Rings. Light rain comes and pelts your skin with icy intensity and the fog rolls in. The breeze picks up and it has a lighter feel on your nose. A sudden break from the trees and I find myself in a clearing of long cogon grass, we’ve reached the site of Camp 1 and it took 8 hours to get here. Our guide motions to look over the ridge and I see the magnificent sight of Casiguran Sound and the San Ildefonso Peninsula. The view is just tremendous, all the suffering & pain getting there now doesn’t matter. We quietly absorb and marvel at the scenery around us. I transport myself back into time and imagine the scene of Spanish Galleons from Mexico anchored safely in Casiguran Sound. Clouds rolling gently over the summit, the refreshing mountain breeze, the calming sound of running water from a mountain spring , and the sheer magnificence of just being there. All 3 of us pick a spot below the ridge and just admire the view for half an hour. Arse comes over and calls out “Welcome to Mt Anacuao. Congratulations, you made it”.

Rico at camp 1 prior to assault on Mt. Anacuao

Our camp is all set with our tents and makeshift kitchen and we set out to explore the base of the summit. We got to a nearby area good for bird watching and set our camera tripod and dig in for the next 3 hours. The area is quiet at first but we bring out our secret stash of recorded bird calls. An IPOD of Bird sounds reverberate through the canopy and it doesn’t take long to get the first reply, a Philippine Bulbul greets us. Onto the next spot, to another clearing and chance upon an old forest camp used by a Canadian bird scientist for 40 days. the camp is impressive with decks, sleeping cots and even a toilet bowl all made with bamboo. More birds sing and leave without any care in the world and we move on back to camp. The clearing near the camp provided the next venue for bird watching and we see Philippine racquet tails (parrot) in the distance. Night is fast approaching and we need to hunker down for the cold night ahead. A running stream near the camp provides us with all the water we need for washing and drinking. The biting cold of the water makes it impossible to wash off so I resort to an alcohol bath to get rid of all the dirt. Our camp chef hastily prepared our food of noodles with chilli & egg, canned sardines with tomato sauce, corned beef and loads of rice. After dinner, we made a campfire and gathered around with hot coffee and the obligatory stories. One thing lead to another and someone whipped out a bottle of gin and it started to get interesting with everyone rolling in laughter.

The night was chilly and I needed to put on socks, wrapped myself in a jacket and put on my trail pants but the sound of the running stream was soothing and kept me firmly asleep. I made sure to get up at 5 in the morning to catch the sunrise and it didn’t disappoint. The glimmering lights of Casiguran made a nice contrast to the approaching sunrise. Cloud banks covered the sun but it started to peek out and the sun’s ray bathed the entire summit in soft red tinted hues with calmness and serenity. With hot coffee in hand and all bundled up, we just soaked up the view quietly and watched the clouds pass by. A decision had to be made to assault the summit of Anacuao because it would take another 3 to 4 hours of hard climbing just the reach the last 400 meters to the top. It was decided that we would forego the summit due to lack of time as we had to be back in Manila the following day. Our disappointment was obvious but I had unfinished business with Ms. Anacuao and I would return to conquer her. A quick breakfast and we were preparing for our climb back down. The thing with mountaineering is that they always tell you about the way up the summit and the exhilaration of reaching it. What they fail to let you know is that the descent from the summit is always the most difficult part of the entire climb. This is where every inch of your body feels every bump, slide, twitch, twig that you encounter. You’re so predisposed to getting down and you feel the urge to speed up and this is where most injuries occur.

Everything is conspiring to grab a hold of you along the trail: Spiky rattan vines called “tekateka” that grip your shirt, thorny palm fronds that grab your hands, broken tree limbs that look like spears and vines that coil up around your ankles.

After breakfast, we break camp and start heading down the trail and the amazing thing is how steep the trail is coming down. The trail never looks the same coming down and you always wonder if we had passed that section before. Arse estimates to be in base camp in 6 hours around lunch just in time to get to Manila for evening although it’s an ambitious target. Our pace on the first third of the descent is good and when we reach the halfway marker we are ahead of schedule. I’m feeling confident that it will be a breeze going to the last section so we maintain our torrid rate until we hit a vertical section.

Mountain guide PJ during the descent

It really looks steep from above and we try to figure out the best way to negotiate this part as it’s easy to slip up and get hurt. The ground is damp and muddy with a lot of dead leaves and hidden roots. I do a spread-eagle with my back turned to get a better grip of the vines and roots for the steep descent. Everything is conspiring to grab a hold of you along the trail: Spiky rattan vines called “tekateka” that grip your shirt, thorny palm fronds that grab your hands, broken tree limbs that look like spears and vines that coil up around your ankles. Frustration starts to set in as there seems to be an endless array of trails still to navigate. The distant roar of the river down the valley gives me a glimmer of hope as the end is close. We reach the riverbank and I now remember how much I hated this part. It really gets to me now as I just want to end the hike, so I tell the others if we could stop by this clearing in the river to rest and drink up. A loud squawk and my guides tug at my shirt and motion to look up at the canopy, a Rufous Hornbill appears in the trees. A family of at least 8 hornbills are frolicking in and out of the canopy and I fumble for my camera to get a decent shot. Hornbills are my favourite birds and I am invigorated by their presence and we soldier on to the last section of the river. Another 30 minutes of dodging the river and we finally glimpse the bridge to Bulawan Falls. Home at last, home at last! It was a grand adventure and Mt. Anacuao was a worthy opponent indeed. As we drive back to our car, I give another glance back to the mountain and I see her smiling at me. I know I have unfinished business with her and I will be back again Ms. Anacuao.

This climb was generously assisted by Hon. Bella Angara-Castillo, Governor of Aurora Province, the Aurora Provincial Tourism Office under Mr. Mike Palispis, Aliya Surf Resort and Mr. Roy Angara. Asiantraveller and Intrepid Adventure Lifestyle thanks all the participants, guides, porters, drivers, utility persons, cooks, and everyone who helped make this climb possible.

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Road Signs to Baler

rafael — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:44:24 +0000

How to get to Baler, Aurora? Baler is approximately 230 km from Metro Manila. The route is north through NLEX, SCTEX, the provincial roads through Nueva Ecija, one town of Nueva Vizcaya, Pantabangan and finally into Aurora Province. The route is very scenic with fantastic views of the central plain of Luzon, with rice lands full of egrets and mallards, the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pantabangan Lake. Travel time is about 5 to 6 hours by car. It can take an additional hour or two if you travel by bus.

Route Map to Baler, Aurora Province, Philippines

Road Signs to Baler

Entrance to Travelers Express

Clean Restrooms

Hand wash at Travelers Express

Road Sign at Zarogoza

Turn Left

Go straight

The diversion road on the left is under construction and gets badly potholed. We’ve found that it is easier to go straight to Caalibangbangan where there is another fork to Baler, Aurora. You still skirt the heavy traffic in Cabanatuan City. After the fork you will come out at the National Highway again just before the Welcome Arch of Cabanatuan City.

Take Left Fork

Go Left at this Fork back to Highway

Exit Cabanatuan thru Arch

Approaching Talavera

Turn Right at Talavera Junction

Turn Right at Rizal Catholic Church