Taal Volcano (Jan 11)

On yet another of Rissa's Harebrained Ideas, I took the balikbayans to climb Taal Volcano. It is a world known tourist attraction and the famed island in a lake within an island in a lake within an island. Rachelle's cousin Louie came,and KM and Simon.

Anyway, we ended up getting dropped off in Tagaytay. After going to a horrid bar with horrid music, we went to a decent bar with decent music, but an awful sewer smell. Rachelle and I roomed together in a creepy room with a palm sized spider, dirty "sheets" and no water. I hadn't quite intended for it to be a roughing it out kind of weekend but that's basically what happened. The next day, it started raining during breakfast, and we were quite upset about our plans getting rained out. It did however ease up a bit and we continued our little adventure.


after waiting at Jollibee, we found a tricycle driver who offered us a boat package to Taal Volcano. We thought he was really nice, but not so quite. I'd rather not dwell on the negative, so I wont go into detail about what happened with him and the resort.



It was a 15 minute boat ride across the lake to Taal Volcano. Check out the fancy boat gas tank





The trail was not promising. It smelled like a giant pot of horse poo. They kept offering us to ride on the horses for a small fee, but the things were really pathetic looking, so we walked our merry way up while dodging piles of poo.


we got this yo'




great vistas along the way


i'm not dying on this climb


volcanic rock


I have no idea


lake in the middle of Taal Volcano


and the baby island


phew tired!


and down the mountain we go. It was raining much harder on the way back, so the trail was much more slippery. We wouldn't have minded except for the fear that the horses would also slip and crush us.

Of course the story ends happily and we made it all in one piece, though the smell of horse poo does linger in our minds

Mae hits Manila

So of course I had to take the kid sister to Manila to see the sights and hit up the scene.
We didn't have much time there so I just took her to Mall of Asia


sorry, you only get me in the picture. All her pictures are in her cam.


a GIANT pile of butter/lard whatever sitting there. kinda gross


One of my favorite spots to see the Manila sunset. Too bad it's really beautiful cuz of all the pollution


There are always a lot of people bayside to watch the sun set. It's quite the place to take your date.

Kamayan.. of course

After a trip to the shrine, we went to eat at Kamayan Palaisdaan. Yummy foods as always.


first or all we had to get the tires changed





floating dinig tables



Then hanging w/ the kids later. They're so silly

Kamay ni Hesus

Tito Eddie & Tita Elsa decided to take Mae & me to the shrine in Tayabas. 598 steps i think, and we conquered it!


start up

long way to the top


Ate liza & kuya dane left their mark


Mae wondering why she agreed to go up with us








going down

finally onto 2008

After the harrowing hike trip, I stayed awake long enough to meet Cam, Ate Liza's diver friend. Will also dropped by to visit for the night. The next morning, Tito Eddie took him on the Bigo tour and they discussed plant stuffs. After that, we had lunch w/ KM and her crew.


To end the old year, Mae and I spent the eve with Ate Liza, Tito Eddie, Tita Elsa & Dimples. It was a small party but we definitely rang in the new year with some crazy firework action.


ok, no she's not bored, I just somehow grabbed her drama moment.


fireworks


lights

FOOD





U.S. represent!!






ciao time!

So that's what it's like to celebrate a new year in the 'pines. Best part is that no fingers were blown off or eyes singed away during the fireworks. yehey!