Surviving Pinatubo

Nope, not the eruption but the journey towards its now water-filled crater that is a sight to behold.

I have always wanted to see this spectacular view that I enviously look at in some of my friend's albums in Facebook. Little did I know that when they say it took them a lot of effort to get there, that they really meant it. Much worse for a 200 pounder like me who works at home and have been stationary for the past two years. Surviving Pinatubo is not only a blessing. I'd say it was almost a miracle.

The journey started with a heavy breakfast (how else do you think?) in the meeting point in front of the tourism office in Capas, Tarlac. There, our 4x4 driver and local tourist guide met us. Allan and Doming were to take care of our lives that day.

The one hour drive through vast deserted land filled with white sands, large volcanic stones and lots and lots of cow dung was made interesting by the mountainous deposits of lahar that is now green with vegetation. The lahar wall looks stunning and is "photogenic" in their own right. However, they also look like they have been, in the recent years, been watered down by rain thus forming pointed peaks. Despite the beauty, I wonder how much longer they would hold. And yes, i mean they look like DANGER.

The skillful maneuvering of Allan through the ups and downs of the terrain and sometimes through occasional streams really made me realize the power of these vehicles. Thank goodness for 4x4s!  At the drop off point, our group started off the path towards the crater.

The weather was cool (in fact cold...brrr!) and the sun was kind enough to hide behind the clouds that day. Our leisurely walk was peppered with crossing brooks that also sang to us throughout the journey. Of course there are those treacherous ( i think) lahar walls that at some point looks like they are gonna cave in on us. If not for the occasional interlude with water, the journey would have been much more tiring.

I knew in the first hour that my feet is already suffering with blisters because of the sand that lingers in my Crocs. Every grain seems to own up to a part of my sole and diligently scratch the surface. All these while I concentrate on Doming's footsteps. I stare at it at times just to keep me walking. "Check, one foot ahead of the other, one foot ahead of the other", I tell myself. This went on for two hours more and just when I reached the top of the stairway leading to the view of the crater...my legs had cramps and I stood there for what I thought was about forever. The memory of the three other weather disturbance that came before this schedule came to me and thought....so, this is how much I should put up to get this view, huh? Then it better be worth it.

Finally after standing there for about ten minutes, I managed to take some limping steps towards the place overlooking the crater. At the sight of the crater, I knew, it was worthwhile. It was BEAUTIFUL.

The green water refreshes the eye.

After lunch and lots of picture taking, we went down for me to have a swim. The water was COLD and I could only stand to swim for about 20 mins. One more pressing reason for this trip is for me to dip into these sulfuric water with the hope that it will help my psoriatic skin. I couldn't say for certain if it did help though.

Now, the walk back. I dreaded it but it actually turned out ok. With Anna walking by my side and chatting the stony terrain away, we were at the 4x4 again in no time.

Overall, I knew we were in the verge of danger the whole stretch of the road. With the distance, the isolation, the unstable walls of lahar, and the possible heart attack due to fatigue, no one can really tell what could go wrong. Having said that, in hindsight, I was glad we went, I was thankful we were safe and I would not do it again. Ahahahaha!

My companions: Ruther, Anna, Weison, Leiman and Aaron