I arrived at exactly 5:30. Call it be a lucky one for I had been able to sit inside the bus and take a nap for a while. It irritated me the fact that I was rushing to go to school but the bus had actually left an hour later which is 6:30. Hai...Filipino time nga naman!
The bus stopped at the Shell gasoline station, South Superhighway. I was so sleepy that I didn't try to know who were the guys that we were waiting for in the station. It was as if the only important thing to me is to take a nap. I don't care about anything else aside from it.
After two hours in the bus, I woke up again and found out that we have already arrived at the PHILVOCS center. I went down from the bus, leaving behind my loaf of bread and papers. Many of us went to the bathroom which happens to be unisex. I stood outside the PHILVOCS center and helped my blockmates in taking pictures. As minutes have passed, everyone's attention was called and we went inside the center as a block. The UP Professors named Jun O. and Victor Paz gave us an orientation about Taal Volcano. I looked around and saw different rocks, models, and charts about the volcano. There, I saw that the land had indeed changed from 1960's to 1970's. Parts of it were only formed about 40 years ago.
The orientation had ended and we were about to depart for Taal Volcano via boat. One boat had to have eight people before it would leave. I got myself some people to ride with me and together, I had fun riding the boat. The boat stopped at the island of Taal and I went down to meet up with the others. Mountain climbing started and excited was my first expression. I was so eager to go up and see what is really inside the crater. I travelled along with the others who took the lead.
It was very hot on the surface of the volcano. That was because of the sun's heat which has made a lot of us sweat like pigs. I was not so happy anymore. I felt so dirty and I had wounds all over my arms. I wanted to go back to the foot of it but at a second thought, I changed my mind and had the determination to finish what I have started. Adventures are as always exciting. For me, there was no going back anymore. This was a challenge and I had to find a way to overcome it. I had to climb up to see the crater and go down. So I have done it.
I accomplished my mission of climbing on top of Taal Volcano. Hooray! I survived! I rode a boat and went back to the other island. Something happened to the bus and I had no choice but to transfer to a van. I ate my lunch which is a loaf of bread (though I wasn't able to eat everything). The van then started moving and I was in an archeological site at San Nicholas later on.
There used to be a church near Taal in San Nicholas. But because of the eruption of the volcano, this church was deteriorated. The only thing that was left is the walls of the altar, which can hardly be recognized right now. Trees had been planted all over the place. In a few years from now, the remains of the church will probably be totally gone.
Many people had died during that eruption. As what the UP professor had said, the destroyed church was again built but in another place. The next stop was in the City Proper of Taal. There, a church with ionic and corinthian pillars can be seen. The tour guide provided some information about it as well as time to explore the whole place. I met up with the others at 5pm and rode the van back to La Salle. [Picture on right is the church taken by one of my blockmates...]
The time it took to return was unexpectedly long. It was strange because eventhough there was no traffic and the speed of the van was fast, it still took at least two hours to leave Tagaytay. The road seemed endless and my blockmates started telling ghost stories. I was listening and when one of them tried to act out what she was telling, it got really very scary.
Ghosts indeed exist. I was afraid that they might show up on the window of the van. The talk regarding them soon ended and there was a complete silence. I arrived at La Salle around 8pm and went home with my dad.
A very (3x) tired day. There was no more energy left for me to do other things aside from eating dinner, taking a bath, and sleeping on the bed. My arms were in pain due to the wounds and sunburn. However one thing that I have realized from this trip is that being tired can also make one happy. Happiness is a matter of achievement of one's desire. Regardless of all the physical pains that I have experienced, my goal of climbing on top of the volcano was achieved. My day can be said to be a complete one. I am satisfied with the things that I have done. :)
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