The Steep Climb to See the Parrot's Beak Monolith at Mt. Pico de Loro

There are times when my adventures turn a bit risky on the spot. I still do my best but I listen to my body and honor it when the time comes so I don't regret anything. This is my latest Pico de Loro mountain climb from the campsite to the peak. The rock behind me (below) is the Parrot's Beak monolith that thrill-seekers attempt to climb.

Pico de Loro Mountain Climbing Terrain - A Peek Into Our Mt. Palay-Palay Trekking Route From Nasugbu with Some Reminders

This was my third attempt to climb a mountain in the Philippines with the same set of friends. We planned for a day hike to Pico de Loro (actually Mt. Palay-Palay) this time around! After Mount Pulag and Mt. Batulao, the burning question as to whose crazy idea was this still lingers with every step. I initially thought we were going to Pico de Loro Country Club Hamilo Cove so I said yes. But then I was shy to take back my word and forgot about the details of the previous climb. Haha. Yes, I can laugh about it now. During D-day though, this was what happened...

Mt. Batulao Peak - Reaching the Summit, Overnight Camp, Hike Going Down, Sidetrip to Calaruega Church in Nasugbu, Batangas

Hike! Oooh... Hike! Wow... Hike! Wait... Hike! Crawl! Sit! Go Up That Rope! Legs Shaking! Wind Howling! Mind Blowing! Breathe! I Made It!!! Great! Now, how do I go down? Hahaha.

I was tired yet I kept on going. I was scared but I found the will to move forward. This had got to be one of the most dangerous stunts I pulled and it's only the start of 2014! Haha. I'm claiming Mt. Batulao as my first ever summit (my first attempt at Mt. Pulag was just a warmup haha)! It took us first-timers 1.5 hours to reach the peak from our campsite. We left the rest of our stuff in our tents. This is Part 3 of 3 of my Mt. Batulao series. Read about the trip from Manila to the Old Trail and New Trail Fork here. Read about the Old Trail to Camp 1 here.

Mount Batulao Old Trail Day Hike, the View and Overnight at Camp 1, Also Things to Bring

This is Part 2 of 3 of my Mount Batulao Trek (read Part 1 here). We spent 1.5 hours from the Mt. Batulao jump-off point to the fork that leads to the old and new trails. The next 30 minutes that followed from the Old Trail to Camp 1 for our overnight weekend camping escapade was equally challenging and overwhelming (but doable with a little mind conditioning haha) for a newbie like me. I was so relieved when we got to camp. The view of the peaks was wonderful while trekking but with all the obstructions gone at the campsite (and with the temptation to sleep already inside the tent), it was even more beautiful for me (totally not what I expected). Hehe. We could point to the summit from here and the New Trail route... Setting up our tents here was the best decision we made - especially since it's the only one with the CR (toilet) for our girly needs (and not as windy here)! Hehehe. The road below is the way up the other Old Trail stops or camps (#2 to #9) and the summit (more of this and the next day on Post 3).

Mt. Batulao Batangas Trek - Intro to Hiking and Overnight Camping, The Way to the Old and New Trail

The city girl from Manila attempts to climb another mountain after that epic Mt. Pulag trip last 2013 with the barkada! Haha. This time I reached my first summit successfully - Mount Batulao it is. Getting there was easy since it's just in Nasugbu, Batangas - near Tagaytay. I am no mountaineer (more like super beginner LOL) and my exercise is pretty much all that walking from my trips. This trip was definitely a test of endurance and courage. While I was climbing, I laughed at myself for thinking that this was easier than the Pulag Ambangeg trail because the Mt. Batulao Old Trail was shorter and the altitude was so much lower. I researched a bit online before the trip and it was either I didn't look long enough or not many people attempted to document the most dangerous parts of the climb for fear of falling or they turned their attention to the tiring act of hiking already... Therefore, I thought it was really easy peasy. Nuh-uh! Think "long way down without rails" to your left and right then me clinging to the ground and rocks at some parts that I won't even attempt to shoot a picture... I don't regret any of it though. ;) Some moments were so intense that it will force you to love nature and fall in love with what's in front of you! Here's a glimpse of our arrangements from Manila and the long common path for day hikers and overnight campers - from the jump-off point (where we were dropped off and started walking) to the fork where you'll decide to go with the Old Trail or New Trail of Mt. Batulao.

Kainan sa Dalampasigan in Nasugbu Batangas

The craze all started when a foodie uncle brought us to this place as a stopover from Punta Fuego a few years back. The dishes we ate can be categorized as Filipino comfort food just because the food you can always find all over the country and is really normal but reminds you of the good old days. Those days when sago't gulaman was a labor of love, at least for me, and part of it was melting sugar on the stove at our old home, perhaps? The place was cozily big and quiet. There was a time when Sonya's Garden just became popular and everybody started regarding Tagaytay as a quick escape from Manila. It's nice to find another hangout place and it's still in the same direction, only a little further where people don't go very much. Part of the journey with Jeff involved years of yearning to go back on our own and finding the place, with no set directions and taking hours to get there. Ever heard of Kainan sa Dalampasigan? It's somewhere in Nasugbu, Batangas.