Manila: Taal Volcano

This is the most eventful event (hahaha) that happened to satisfy my craving for nature-tripping. We initially planned on going to Tagaytay but we were sold out by some people who were persuading us to go to Taal.

When we got to the island, they kept on telling us that we need to ride a horse because the trek is very far. The price was 550 bucks, but we wouldn't budge because we didn't have dough anymore (tingbitay bya, October 26). It went to a couple more haggling and the price went down to 300 but still we wouldn't want to. We were already trekking when locales would keep on telling us that it's very far and we'd really need a horse to get there but when you think about it, our guide was just walking the whole time. Obviously they kept on discouraging us because they wanted to rip us off our money.

Anyway, our driving point was when a 63-old porenger (foreigner) just came back from the top walking with his cowboy hat, long-sleeved shirt and some suede shoes. He told us that we could do it and the walk, albeit a bit far, isn't that hard. Fair enough, it wasn't hard at all, we had legs. They said that you need a guide to help you out but in truth you don't need one because the path is very clear and you wouldn't get lost at all! It's a 45-minute walk.

Along the way, it was shitty literally because we kept on stepping on horse dung (hehe). When we got to the top, it was really cool. I didn't wear shorts and slippers again so it's a bummer. We didn't go down to the crater anymore because we didn't have enough time since most of the people still had work at the time. Going down the crater would've been around P2000 for the guide. We just enjoyed the view though and took more pictures.

P1000 (good for 6 persons) – Pumpboat ride from to Talisay, Batangas to Taal.
P250 – (guide for us to trek to the volcano)
P50 or P45 – entrance fee or something

(click to enlarge)

 

toll gate, fresh pineapples to Tagayatay!

grabbed some Slurpee to beat the heat

resort in Talisay, Batangas to go to Taal

wet ride to Taal Volcano

had to eat lunch

horses? donkey's whatever

to the Taal crater!

taking a breather

nice view

walk to Taal crater

from the crater, steam!

looking down the trail

almost up!

here it is! the Taal crater.

white… sulfur?

finally at Taal Volcano!

seats

souvenirs 200 bucks per piece, no thanks.

bathroom

group shot again

silhouettes

Indiana Jones, not.

jump shot, as always

resting place and some horse shit

back down

kid and bathroom

our boat and some kids wanting me to take their pictures

reflection

going home

sun and water, if only we could take a dip in the water. tsk tsk

bye bye Taal.