Day 25.5 - Capas National Shrine (Bataan Death March Memorial)

After Mt. Pinatubo we made a quick stop at a monument that stands as a memorial to an area where thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were marched to death and those that survived were kept on this property where a Japanese concentration camp used to be.  It was very impressive to see all the names on the walls surrounding the monument, and over 30,000 trees have been planted in the immediate area to represent the lives lost.  The three pillars represent America, Philippines, and Japan, now united.

 
 I enjoyed how forward the wording was on the signs below.  It made it very clear the purpose of this monument is not just to honor the past but to learn from it and never forget.

 Seeing an actual boxcar and reading personal stories about it was very sobering.
There was also a memorial bridge that led to a garden.

Seeing things up close like this reminds you how lucky you are that even though you are sweaty, and hungry, and covered in ash from head to toe, you still get to go "home" and take a shower, and be with family, and God bless air conditioning.  I can't even imagine what these guys endured, but it was a respectful memorial to all those who suffered.  And as one of the girls with us expressed, I hope there is never a World War 3...

Day 25 - Mt. Pinatubo, active volcano

On Sunday we left early and headed out to Mount Pinatubo just a couple hours away.  Some people from Baguio up north joined us (TI guy and some friends) and we were ready to hike an active volcano!  When we arrived we were promptly told that everyone who had gone before us that day had booked in advance (it's gotten really popular over the last couple of years due to TV specials and whatnot) and we were put on a wait list, but had an 80% chance of getting to go. That was enough to make us stay and wait it out (awkwardly on someone's front porch, because we're pretty sure the lady who helped us was a "fixer" or someone you hire in the Philippines to wait in line for you, do paperwork, talk to people, and overall get things done...for a price).  We did end up paying a little extra per person in the end of the things, but it was still worth it cuz we just lounged around, and ate bananas until we finally got to get in our 4x4 Jeep. (OK, that's the short story of it all.  We waited for about 4 hours all the while wondering if we really were on a waitlist, and if we were even going to get to go at all. But everything worked out in the end.) 

We hopped in our 4x4 that had no shocks left, but had a driver, a tour guide, and the 5 of us (the tour guide just sat on the back edge the whole time). Note the broken down 4x4 below.  Many of them would overheat, so we passed quite a few that were putting more coolant in (probably just water).

We set off across the lahar (or the riverbeds full of ash from the volcano eruption in 1991--the second largest eruption in the 20th century) called Crow Valley with huge ash deposits that at first we thought were little hills. We bought some face masks from the people whose front porch we waited on after I heard that we would be travelling through the lahar for a long time (an hour I think).  This is my fancy self below.

We wanted to do the 2-3 hour hike up and 20 minute hike down, however by the time we were on our way it was too late for the long hike so we just did the short one, and to be honest I was supremely happy that happened, because just the short hike up was insane (I joined the gym here at the apartment complex for about $20 a month so I can be stronger for all these swimming/hiking adventures, but I am still such a weakling and was the only one breathing way loud and trying to keep up at the end of the line).  Pitiful, but I did it!!  We reached the top, but still had a little to go if we wanted to go down to the Crater Lake and touch the water (no swimming allowed).  

 And of course, the effort and pain were all worth it...

We also enjoyed seeing the local Aeta people who have always lived in the mountains (some even stayed when it erupted because to them Pinatubo is a god).  These boys were in a river about halfway into our journey splashing water into all the Jeeps crossing to cool the engines down.  Each vehicle would tip them in either cash or food.  Now that was a local experience!

Yay, we survived the active volcano!!

Oh and also, I was so proud of myself when after we got back to our cars which had been parked in said family's driveway-ish area, there were 100 peso parking "tickets" on our cars.  The other TI guy from Baguio just paid up, but I and Chris remembered we had already paid for parking to our fixer so I told the lady, "no I already paid" - "Where at?" - "The tourism office." and I pointed at it just up the street. She went and talked to the lady of the house we had seen previously and came back out and gave a thumbs up, "ok".  
Ha!  I just avoided the "white person tax"!!  Go me!  (I didn't feel bad about saying no because we had already bought face masks and halo-halo from them so it wasn't like they didn't get any money out of us...)  And oh gosh, halo-halo!  I'll save that for another post!

Day 24 - Subic Bay with new friends

We went back to Subic Bay on Saturday with our new TI buddies and it's so close, it's an easy day trip experience.  Chris and I had our own snorkels this time, so we went straight for the water and swam in other areas we missed last time.  I swam around by the rocks near the pier and saw a cool red-eyed crab eating stuff off the rock, and some really weird sea-horse looking creatures that had the head of sea-horse by the body of a snake.  (just googled it, it's a pipefish-not my photos below)

Then we all get out to get drinks and lay on the sand (while Chris and I stood in the shade until the sun was further down and then we were prepared to sunbathe--sooo pale).  We went back out into the water one more time, in another location and saw some different fish and coral creatures.  It's all so beautiful and my favorite fishies are the rainbow ones (or course!)

It was another beautiful day in Subic Bay.  And tomorrow we go to Mt. Pinatubo to see the crater lake on top!!

Days 19-23 - More shopping and nicer mall

We were able to secure some snorkels and masks at the Speedo store in another huge and a little nicer mall a bit further down the road in Angeles City.  It's three floors and had more water-based stores so I was also able to find a cute sun hat and Chris bought himself a nice Oakley rash guard for the next time he goes surfing.  I was also able to get a (much cheaper) rash guard at the SM mall dept store later in the week as well as some shoes that are actually in my size (NO swim suit shorts I've come across fit my booty in the least!  They may say size 30 (I wear about a 29 in jeans) and they may fit my waist but dear lord I must have the largest bass around, because that ain't happening, and same for feet because I was downright lucky to find a pair of cheap but nice flip-flops in size 9.)  Alas, I was able to procure such items and below are a few photos of other things I've come across.  

The ashtrays are for you, YouKnowWho, and the shoes, OMG the shoes that are SO SAILOR MOON themed!!  I am THISCLOSE to buying them (just $30!)  Buuut, they may not have them in my size...  Chris2 had the same problem buying Chucks at the SM store.  They didn't have anything above a size 9 for guys.

 The money here is more artful and colorful, but this was the first time I've seen guns on paper money before.  I feel they are less afraid of their history than us Americans, and this was also proven when we visited a memorial that I'll post about soon.

 Lastly, my Chris took Chris2 to the airport after we all went out with him to Walking Street one more time.  Though we have continued the tradition of having drinks with friends on the roof.  Caroline is here for one year and it about halfway through, and two others guys just got here to stay for 6 months.  We've been having a ton of fun together experienceing the craziness that the Philippines has to offer.

And this drink in particular we are saving for a special occasion.

Here you are looking at a 1970 bottle of bordeaux, which Chris bought at the local wine shop (open on Sundays!!)  It's quite an impressive collection of very old wines and ports.  I've never seen a collection like it.  They do have 'cheap' wines like Barefoot, but here in the Philippines they run about $15-20 a bottle so not so cheap.  We've found some good wine for about 240P in the SM though, so it's not too bad.  The wine you see above however, was about $100 and would easily be twice that much at a nice wine store in the US, so we splurged and are waiting for all the sediment to fall (the old wines have been stored properly at the wine shop; the right temperature and angle) and we are super curious to see how it tastes.  They also tempted us with a 100+ year old port, but the price was too much on that one, so we passed.  They said people buy it and never drink it, so they can just show it off to all their friends.  lol  We're more about drinking and enjoying the wine, so no thanks.  

Day 18 - Sunday at Sabang Surfing Beach, Baler, Aurora

We woke up on Sunday morning to a knock on our door providing us the breakfast we had decided on the night before.  It was a small cardboard box with a fried egg, garlic rice, tomato slice, and beef strips (Tapsilog).  They also provided water and instant coffee. Chris went downstairs to get hot water and made himself tea with bags he had brought.  He also walked down to the beach to see if he could catch the sunrise.  He even saw some dolphins close by!

They headed to the beach and all except me paid for 2 hours of surfing lessons (1 hour of instruction and 1 of going it on your own on the rented board).  I was all bruised, burnt, and sore from body-boarding the day before so I just decided to get a henna tattoo (P200!!!  Though...not the best job in the world drawing two anchors and a ship wheel-lol), just get my legs wet and take photos and video of Chris surfing.  The result of that can be seen below!  The instructor helps tremendously because they tell you when to get ready and push you into the wave at the right time.

They all surfed until I was time to head back to the hotel to clean up and check out.  We went back to the Hungry Surfer to eat again and then headed out of town to buy some souvenirs, more suman, and check out the biggest Balete Tree in Asia.  It is estimated to be about 600+ years old and 200 feet tall with roots 50 feet in diameter. You can even fit inside it if you squeeze in and scramble around a bit.

Here's a view looking away from the tree.  Everything on the way to Baler was beautiful flat country side with mountains in the distance, then you climbed over a mountain, and found yourself instantly surrounded by acres and acres of palm trees.  You knew the ocean was finally near!

 The roads getting to and from Baler were slightly treacherous at times.  There were many bridges or pieces of road that they were working on and they would force everyone into one lane, so traffic had to decide when it was east-bound's turn to go and then west-bound's turn to go because there was often no one helping decide the matter.  Add in motorcycles going whenever they want and heavily pot-holed or just gravel roads, and it was an adventure.  However the most amazing part was the rice drying on the road.  On the way there you would see many people drying rice on the shoulders, on basketball courts, in schoolyards and sidewalks. They just pour out big bags, use rakes to stir it for a few hours, and then do the next bags.  But on one particular long road in the countryside, they splayed it all out all over the road that people still drive on!  WASH YOUR RICE PEOPLE!!  Isabel says they wash their rice twice before cooking it, and I will now do the same!

Here is a video of us driving down the long road covered in new drying rice.

The roads aren't very well-lit at night so we hurried so we could be back by sunset (about a 4 hour drive).  We just about made it on time, but Google took us weird routes so we got there right about dark.  Apparently most people here use Waze to get around and it's much more accurate than Google.  There are many restaurants and businesses that Google either has no clue about or puts way in the wrong spot, so I'll try to use Waze from now on.

I want more suman....

Day 17 - Saturday in Sabang Surfing Beach, Baler, Aurora

We headed out bright and early to Baler.  It isn't super far away, however you must go through many small towns on the way that are full of Jeepneys, trikes, motorcycles, and people on foot.  We get a few stares travelling here, but out in those small towns and villages people made no effort in hiding long stares that involved entire head and body turns.  Also on the way we encountered a local parade with kids of all ages in it.  I was able to snap some quick photos.

Below is some of the scenery on the way.  Lakes, rice paddies, mountains, beauty.

We stopped to buy some suman for about 5 pesos each.  This stuff is yummy.  It's sticky rice, coconut milk/cream, sugar, and ube to make it purple all wrapped up tightly in a banana leaf.  They sell it all along the road in side stands and it's worth stopping for.  We bought little bundles of them and ate them in the car, and since the wrapper is just a leaf, you simply roll your window down and toss it out as you drive.  :)

Here is our fearless leader/driver.  Again, "laws" are more like suggestions.  haha

And we arrived!!

We ate at The Hungry Surfer, and then walked around looking for a place to stay as we did not have one yet.  Everything online was booked, but Isabel was confident we would find something when we arrived and she was right.  We first looked at a place that was tiny, made of wood, shared a bathroom with the room on the other side and had no AC.  It was P1500 per room.  We considered it, but then went next door where a larger room, larger bed, and our own bathroom PLUS AC cost P2200.  Sold.  Paid in full cash up front, put our stuff in our room, changed and headed straight for the beach.

 Google Panorama doesn't seem to like waves moving.  lol

We initially just swam and tried body surfing, but I was finding it difficult to do.  So we went up to a place Chris2 had found his previous time to Baler and made great friends at.  The guy gave us a deal on two body boards and a surf board "until nighttime".  So went back out into the water and had lots of fun catching waves, and had to say no to some boys who kept asking to borrow the boards and were grabbing at it.  I think they were the same boys we had paid to watch our stuff earlier in the day.  We all had a great time and Isabel and the Chrises decided to get surfing lessons the next day.

We eventually got hungry again and ate a place that was grilling food inside of a VW bug.  Fancy!

 Then we bought some Fundador (their local brandy liqueur), found a Tim-Burton-esque hut/cabana a ways down on the beach and played Never Have I Ever while we watched the moon rise over the Pacific ocean (funny note: Isabel had never played it but said she had seen it on TV like on One Tree Hill.  hehe).  And of course cameras can't do a moon-rise over the beach any justice, but there you have it.  Tomorrow, surfing!!