After flirting mostly with mud on a misleading hike to Mt. Mabilog’s summit, which turned out to be a real test of faith and endurance, one thing we’re sure about was to seek out an alternate route for the descent. We were largely examining our improvised map when soon we realized the need to soon top out this eyrie of mind-numbing view drenched in soft-blowing high winds. Fortunately, a large
group of hikers arrived enlightening us with an easier option for the descent. Based on their stories on what’s waiting at the base, I took the
hint that something good’s up, way down.
It was way past noontime when we decided to leave the peak, quite tiring for me at that time probably due to that quick nap I took for a few
minutes. My veins were achingly begging me to stay longer but we’re
already behind the schedule. A few drops of rain graced our hike down but soon faded completely. This other trail was miles away easier than the way up and the excitement even escalated
after us learning that we’ll be arriving at Lake Pandin at the end of the descent.
The sun has grown even hotter since then and we were taking full advantage of the bright afternoon passing by range of greens, from the tips of the trees, hedges, to the faint patches of the hillsides. We were fast-paced on our way down and in just a short span of time, the calm body of water we were looking over, glowing with a magical, rosy wash, has enthralled our very eyes. Inch by inch, we got closer to it, until our feet first-handly felt its refreshing gift. The place was tranquil, with the exception for the echoing laughters of some children swimming along the shallow sides of the lake, breaking the silence of the scene. The entire picture was a paradise to my eyes.
At the end of the climb, we agreed to ride the improvised bamboo raft to visit the grotto at the far end side of the lake. A rope serving as the gearshift/gear controller is tied at the far end side of the lake with the other tied on the opposite end. Jointly, the rope will be pulled to push the ride off the shore. Sure enough, the work was as hard as it sounds. And the more surprising thing was, women were actually doing such job. We reached the other side of the lake after series of pulls on the rope after a couple minutes. As soon as we get there, we graced ourselves the refreshing bath we desired after an exhausting climb. We were there right at the heart of yet another wondrous creation intimately feeling the coldness of the waters from its hundred-feet depth. For the moment, I was having the time of my life.
It was
nearing twilight when we hit the road back home. Before calling it all a
day, we dropped by the Sampaloc Lake for a supposed dinner which turned out a failure, we had snacks instead. Despite that, we did not acquire enough
energy anymore to do the documentation part. We were almost wasted to just let
the photo-ops part pass. Aside from that, the lenses were already exhausted
too. But replaying
everything that happened that day, absorbing it all as we’re riding the jeepney
back home, I thought I finally knew what this other happiness was. As I kept on chasing my bliss,
I guess there’s really no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. Just happy I had a
taste of that way.
