Gulugod Baboy, if you will translate it in English means pig's spine. I don't know how I can relate it to the Mt Gulugod Baboy's name but for sure there was a reason it was named after it. The Mt. Gulugod Baboy is located at Anilao, Mabini, the Southern part of Batangas. Though this was not the first mountain I had been, it still felt that it was my first because I cannot clearly remember the first one which I did with our group in college at Pico de Loro, Maragondon, Cavite. I don't even have any photo of it. I don't know why it didn't left a mark on me. Maybe because we were on a big group, the movement and view became limited or maybe because I was not really interested at that time, or maybe both. .
Going to Anilao
We planned the hike at Mt. Gulugod Baboy with my 4 travel buddies, Arem, Owen, Ruziel and Jhay-R. Using a public transport, we met at Buendia Makati around 6:00 AM and ride a bus going to Batangas City. We came at Batangas City at almost 10 AM and ride a jeepney with a signboard of Mabini. The driver dropped us on where we can ride a trike going to our resort at Anilao which is at Sea Spring Resort. We came to the resort at around lunch time. (I will have separate blog for the Sea Spring Resort)
Since we were not familiar on how to go to the drop off of Mt. Gulugod, we arranged a service car with the Resort. They said it will be just a short hike and therefore we can leave the resort at around 4PM, enough time to catch the sunset. The driver served as our guide too.
We drove in a highway for a few minutes then turned left in a small road where the driver said is the start of the hike to those who don't have a private car since there was no public transportation going up. It was a a tight concreted road with few houses along it. While on the car, we can see that we were ascending. Around 15 minutes and we reached the still concreted drop off parking area. And from there, we saw the rich-green mountain, and the markings of where to walk going there.
That was where we need to go. It's a good thing we decided to do the sunset hike, the sun was a little friendly already. So the walk became easy.
As you see, there were already few hikers on top. Some were starting to set up their tent for the overnight stay. The hike was not that difficult as I expected, though the walk was ascending, the path walk was not that stiff and not slippery. Good for a starter like us.
Getting that view little by little.
Almost there.
The sky was already pink. Getting more vibrant while we were moving to the top.
Then we reached the highest peak. Such a great feeling to be there and have all that view. A green surrounding, a beautiful sky above me and the air that was cold and fresh. Do you know what was my thought up there? I realize how little we are on this big world. And I was hoping that those mountains and large green empty surroundings will stay that way. That my child can see it with his own eyes one day. Quite deep I know, but on those moments you will really think how beautiful life can be if we will take care of our mother nature.
Beware. I will be posting a lot of photos, I can't help it, the view was stunning.
I love this people. They had been one of the constant in my life for more than a decade.
Once you reached the peak, there are still some hills beside it that you can go up or down which we did. We were happy that it was not crowded, there were empty areas so we grab a chance to take a lot of photos. Our driver/guide served also as our photographer, what a talent. ;) The reason we had a lot of photos with the five of us in one frame. Thank you kuya!
Lovely green surrounding and fresh cold air. Just wow!
We stayed longer than expected, almost dark when we leave. We just sit somewhere while looking at the sunset, sharing laughter and stories. That was one very memorable hike. And the view was stunning. We saw the different color of the sky from blue to pink, to orange to red. Definitely one of the best sunsets we had together.
Going to the side where sun was gonna set...
Though going up was more tiring and need more muscle push, going down was the struggling one because we might slip if we won't be careful and might found ourselves at the bottom, all bruised. :)
"Let us spend our lives chasing sunset" -- borrowing this quote because it so perfect with my photos.
My Sony phone photography skill. :)
Sky turning orange...
Orange colored sky. Beautiful!
We have another company. So focus with the sunset. :)
Sky turned red when we said goodbye to this view. My last shot before we headed to our car.
Mt. Gulugod Baboy is highly recommended especially for starters. The hike was easy (for me) though I heard some of my colleagues who had been there that they don't feel the same. Maybe it depends on the time of the hike, because of course, the heat of the sun makes movement more tiring. But for me, the ascend was not that stiff, the pathway was not rough. Still sweating and out of breath, but manageable and I honestly enjoyed it. Can't wait to have more hikes and stories and sunsets with these people.
x o x o
Faith
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