Pasé la mayor parte del día trabajando en ese pequeño blog: escribiendo mi publicación previa y ajustando ciertas funcionalidades y el diseño del sitio. No me gusta sentarme frente a la pantalla tanto tiempo, así que decidí montar la bici antes del atardecer para estar al aire libre y descansar los ojos.

Fue exactamente lo que necesitaba.

Terminé andando en bici durante casi una hora, explorando nuevos rincones de mi vecindario. Me sentía tan cómoda con mi piel y con el control total de todo. Había un vínculo muy poderoso entre las diferentes partes de mí: la física, la mental y la emocional. Fue muy liberador.

En momentos así, solo puedo sentir una gran gratitud. O sea, que vivo en una zona repleta de senderos sinuosos; que estoy sana y que puedo hacer esas cosas; que puedo ver los árboles imponentes, toda la vegetación y los animales, especialmente los gatos y los pájaros.

Me daba mucha felicidad ver el cielo cambiar de color hasta que mi alrededor quedaba cubierto de oscuridad, y las únicas luces eran las del faro delantero, la luz trasera y el brillo anaranjado de las farolas que bordeaban las calles. A la distancia, también podía ver las casas iluminadas; las familias que probablemente estaban preparando la cena o descansando después de un día ocupado.

La bici me daba valor para explorar las calles en la oscuridad, lugares que nunca me harían sentir segura al visitarlos a pie. Con mi bici preciosa, siento que puedo hacer cualquier cosa.

Qué placer estar viva.

I can’t believe I haven’t posted here for an entire month. That’s wild. I meant to write more often, but it’s been busy—in a really good way. Never-ending food trips, both by myself and with family; exciting adventures; excellent matcha; and lots of quiet moments filled with ideas and inspiration.

There are so many things I want to tell you, but first, let me do a quick recap of how June went. (Since this blog is all about nature and the great outdoors, I’ll only include updates that are related to those.)

Cycling

I finally got back into cycling. It still feels surreal.

When my bike was stolen nearly a decade ago, I vowed to myself that I would never ride one ever again. It wasn’t just the pain of losing something I bought with my own money (I was a broke college student, and it took me months of saving to have enough to buy a decent mountain bike). But there was also the fact that I was a careless cyclist back then. I didn’t know anything about the rules of the road, but I still braved busy highways, including routes my little brother—an expert driver and cyclist—never used because they were too chaotic. I almost got hit by a truck and a bus a couple of times, but somehow I made it out without a scratch each time. My guardian angel worked overtime back then.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about getting back into cycling since May. I basically got jealous whenever I saw someone riding their bicycle while I was out on my early-morning walks or runs. After much deliberation, research, and type A-induced overthinking, I finally took the plunge.

One Saturday morning, my family and I went to Quiapo, visited the bike shops on my list, and found an adorable (and affordable!) 7-speed folding bike. I fell in love with it at first sight and first try—it felt more comfortable and natural than the 27.5 mountain bike I also tried.

Over the next couple of weeks, I got busy “re-learning” how to ride a bicycle and just getting comfortable with it.

Immediately the day after my purchase, I had my dad and little brother teach me how to start and stop my bike correctly. Back when I was still cycling actively, I developed the bad habit of always sitting on my saddle, which often left me wobbly on my bike while waiting at red lights. It didn’t take me long to grasp the gist (the videos from Local Motion and Sheldon Brown were incredibly helpful), but it took a bit more time before the motions became natural. I basically spent my next rides just practicing that, and once I got the hang of it, I started experimenting with shifting the gears.

To be honest, I still get anxious when I ride my bike, especially during the first few minutes. I mostly just explore our neighborhood. But a week ago, I finally mustered enough courage to take my bicycle outside—a quick half-hour ride near Miriam College in Nuvali. (It’s a story for another time.)

I’m sure I’ll rant more about cycling at some point, but for now, let’s just say that despite all my deep-seated anxiety, I’m smitten.

Swimming

Another major update: I started taking swimming lessons. Yes, you read that right. I finally bit the bullet! I got extremely lucky because I found a swimming school that uses a nearby pool as one of their teaching locations—it’s literally 5 minutes away from me on foot. My coach also happens to live 2 houses away from us, which is a pretty funny coincidence.

I’ve only had 2 sessions so far—8 more to go.

During the first lesson, my coach already taught me how to swim freestyle… and saying it’s hard is a massive understatement. By the second day, I was still struggling, and he made me do different drills to zero in on specific movements and problem areas.

I practiced by myself a few days ago, and I’m still at a standstill. I don’t think I improved at all. In fact, I probably regressed; it was much easier with my coach’s constant instruction.

During the second lesson, I asked him whether all his adult students had learned freestyle by the end of the sessions, and he assured me they had. He’s always so optimistic about my progress. He was ecstatic when I told him I had decided to learn to swim for fitness, and later on, he even added that since I also run and cycle, I can eventually sign up for a triathlon.

I found it so ridiculous and hilarious, and he said that while I was most likely flailing my arms in an ugly way while I attempted to freestyle.

Hiking

I conquered Mt. Pico de Loro, my second mountain! I thought it would be easier than Pulag, but I was gravely mistaken. Even my brother’s girlfriend, who has already hiked around 10 mountains by this point, agreed that it was a more demanding hike than Pulag and certainly not a 2/9 mountain.

Anyway, I don’t want to rant too much about my experience because it warrants another post.

Physical movement

June is my most physically active month in recent years. Given everything I’ve written about so far, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

According to my smartwatch data, I worked out a total of 60 times, for a whopping 30.5 hours. That’s essentially working out for an hour every single day!

Here’s a quick breakdown of my exercise times this year to understand why my current stats are a big deal:

Other plans and ideas

• I want to get into rollerskating. In fact, I already found a place where I could take a few coaching sessions! I inquired about their rates, and they’re surprisingly affordable. But I don’t want to overwhelm myself with all the physical activities I’m doing. I plan to start only after my swimming lessons end, and once I’ve already gotten the hang of freestyle (at the very least, I want to know it enough to be able to practice by myself and swim laps).
• I still want to try and hike at least once a month.
• I want to continue doing calisthenics at least thrice a week. I’m following the Hybrid Calisthenics Routine and making slow but steady progress.
• I really want to join Eco Exploration’s Be a Forest Ranger for a Day activity. Since my tree-planting activity got canceled, I never got to scratch that itch. So when I saw this post on my IG feed, I got so excited! Taking up forestry in the university is one of my biggest what-ifs, and this event literally combines my love of the forests and the mountains. It entails hiking Mt. Balagbag to reach the reforestation site in Ipo Watershed. More than just hiking, you also do forest ranger activities. I’m on the fence about it because it’ll be my first time in the mountains without someone I know, and the logistics are tricky because there’s only one pick-up and drop-off location, and it’s at least 3 hours away from me.
• Speaking of forests, my family and I went to UP Los Baños for my birthday, and I spent about an hour just walking around by myself, surrounded by massive trees and endless greenery, wondering how my life would have been had I pursued forestry or bio (majoring in ecology). A part of me even entertained the notion of studying again—there’s just something about being in any UP campus that stirs that desire—and finally taking up the natural sciences. But I know it’s not the smartest move, given thatI live in a country where the STEM field isn’t valued and compensated well. For now, all I can do is scratch the itch and learn as much as I can on my own. (I’ve already signed up on Class Central and bookmarked a bunch of interesting courses.)

Es domingo y son casi las once de la noche. Tengo trabajo mañana, pero estoy aquí, escribiéndote. Acabo de ver un video de mi nueva creadora favorita en YouTube. Se llama Nerva y la descubrí al azar. Sus vídeos son muy preciosos e inspiradores.

Anoche pensaba en las montañas, algo que ya se ha vuelto un hábito. Primero sentí un profundo vacío en mi corazón; después, una creciente necesidad de salir y hacer senderismo. Pronto. Pero la frustración llegó al recordar que, por ahora, simplemente no es posible. Así que solo puedo esperar aunque las montañas me siguen llamando, como un amante susurrando cositas dulces en mis oídos. ¿Y cómo diablos puedo resistir algo así?

Para cubrir esa ausencia temporalmente, decidí hacer algo: ver videos en español sobre senderismo. Esto no solo me permite saber más sobre este nuevo pasatiempo, sino que también me ayuda a retomar el español. Soy un genio, ¿verdad?

Sé que solo me va a hacer sentir más desesperada por volver a visitar las montañas, pero bueno.

Al poco tiempo, me topé con Nerva. Ella es una gran inspiración y ahora estoy muy emocionada de ver todos sus videos.

Aun así, siento que tengo que hacerlo porque es algo con lo que me siento incómoda, pero sé que luego me voy a sentir súper orgullosa de haberlo hecho. — Nerva, en el video Las vistas más espectaculares del Pirineo

Ella estaba hablando de hablar en público, pero esa cita me pareció una revelación porque es exactamente como me siento con el senderismo y otras actividades al aire libre, especialmente como persona introvertida y muy hogareña. Me da ansiedad, claro, pero también me da una sensación de poder. De libertad. Y todo eso me hace sentir tan bien. Ni siquiera puedo expresarlo con palabras.

I just registered for a tree-planting activity scheduled for next month, and I can’t wait! The organizer—Vystara Travel and Tours—is one of my latest IG finds. (I hate social media, but it’s been a blessing for this new hyperfixation.) They’re pretty new, so I’m a little anxious, but they seem promising. I love that they’re not just about hiking but also overall environmental awareness and appreciation.

It’s not like it’s a spur-of-the-moment decision—I’ve had days to think it over, after all. More importantly, I’ve been meaning to join a tree-planting activity for ages, and now that the opportunity has presented itself, it would be silly to ignore it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get on the universe’s bad side.

I’m doing it solo, and I’m both scared and excited. This time, my brothers or their friends won’t be here to do the socializing for me. It’s terrifying, but I won’t let my introversion stop me. I’m pretty used to going on solo dates and adventures, so it shouldn’t be too hard, right?

Fingers crossed.

Life has been hectic lately—a blur of endless coughing fits, antibiotics, sleeping, and blazing through crime and mystery novels to stay sane. I mostly use Instagram to chat with friends, but in one way or another, my feed has now transformed into a treasure trove of hiking and outdoor-related posts, and I welcome it. In fact, I discovered the NGO I mentioned yesterday through an IG ad.

I scroll until I get my fill, and then I save reels of mountains I’d like to conquer one day, or hiking schedules from various organizers. (Soon, I’ll be in a rabbit hole to figure out which ones are reliable.) Occasionally, I’d also watch detailed hiking videos on YouTube, because why not?

I just recovered from an illness that’s partly due to the Pulag hike (emphasis on partly because I was already half sick days before the hike), but I’m already thinking about which trail to visit next. Or which outdoor activity to do.

I’ve always loved nature, sure, but I’ve only ever admired it from afar. On the outskirts, nestled in my home, gazing at Mt. Makiling and its hazy outline from our iron-clad windows. Inside a vehicle, zooming past towering trees or catching a glimpse of the Sierra Madre mountain range while we traverse the city’s polluted highways.

I’ve always been a homebody, but now, there’s an itch inside me, an intense yearning for the great outdoors. Most people entering their 30s transition to a “calmer” lifestyle, choosing the comforts of home over adventure. But the reverse is happening to me.

Sometimes, I don’t even recognize myself anymore.

And instead of feeling alarmed, I feel liberated.

Here’s to growth and stepping outside of your comfort zone.

I randomly stumbled upon CRCP an environmental NGO focused on coral reef and rainforest conservation. They also happen to offer a wide range of classes on these topics.

After a few minutes of browsing their website, my heart thrumming against my chest in excitement, I was already filling out a contact form to learn more about their offerings. Their one-week programs were enticing but too daunting for an introvert like me (at least for now), so I inquired about their one-day course on rainforest ecosystems instead (a lecture followed by a field activity).

The last section of the form was the classic “Tell me about yourself.” My hands flew across my keyboard, and after quickly polishing the text, I submitted it without a second thought. I didn’t want to give myself the chance to overthink and back out.

Here’s what I came up with:

Hi! I’m Anne from Laguna. I’ve been working in the corporate world for around 8 years. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree, and one of my biggest what-ifs in life is, “What if I’d pursued the natural sciences instead?”

I’ve always been fascinated by nature, particularly trees, forests, and the mountains. I also love the ocean and its many secrets, and learning to swim—and, eventually, scuba dive—is on my bucket list. For now, though, I want to focus on the land first, starting with forests.

For years, nature has been at the back of my mind, but I never seriously considered learning about it. Sure, I’d expose myself to nature-related books, online courses, videos, documentaries, and podcasts, but it was always just a phase. For one reason or another, nature was never fully integrated into my daily life. When I finally went hiking for the first time this month, after putting it off for years because I lacked the confidence, I realized what had been missing.

Being out in nature and learning firsthand.

It seems so simple, but I’ve never been an “outdoor girl.” I live in a city and have always considered myself a homebody. I didn’t grow up camping, hiking, or spending weekends in nature. But now that I’m in my 30s, I’m ready to finally embrace this side of myself and pursue my passion for the natural world. One is never too old to learn, and learning doesn’t have to be in a formal academic setting.

I’m looking forward to this new stage of my life, and I’d love to learn with your organization in the future.

Was it oversharing? Most likely.

Do I regret sending it? Definitely not.

Can I afford their classes, which also entails flying across the country? Absolutely not, but there’s no harm in asking, right?

Mt. Pulag diaries: Day 2

I wish I have the words to describe how the hike went; how magical it was. But, unfortunately, I still don’t. In fact, a part of me refuses to immortalize my first hike into the written word. It’s strange, given that writing is my most comfortable form of self-expression. That I write as a form of remembering.

I do want to reflect on my experience at some point, but I want the specifics—the journey—to remain embedded in my memory, even if it eventually becomes fuzzy. A vague recollection of an event I’ll forever cherish.

For now, though, I’ll let these photos speak for themselves.

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Show all 37 photos→

Note: Photos taken with my Sony Cybershot DSC-T50 and minimally post-processed on Lightroom.

Mt. Pulag diaries: Day 1

Here are a few more photos I snapped during our walk around the homestay.

Note: Photos taken with my Sony Cybershot DSC-T50 and minimally post-processed on Lightroom.

Mt. Pulag diaries: Day 1

11:00 AM. It was cold and foggy when we arrived at Baban’s Homestay, the chill penetrating my clothes and clinging to my skin like a wet blanket. It was tolerable, though; the cold wasn’t biting enough to make my teeth chatter.

A handful of vans already filled the parking areas, and I immediately knew that the next 24 hours would be chaotic.

11:05 AM. We were ushered into the dining room—it held three rows of tables, with each table sitting around 12 people. There was a small kitchen on the left; the countertop was jam-packed and messy, a medley of ingredients, condiments, and kitchen utensils. A tall, lanky guy with long hair was whipping up something in one of the stoves, and it smelled divine. After nearly 12 hours of travel, we could all use a real home-cooked meal. Right across the kitchen countertop was a small table filled with buffet chafing dishes.

11:30 AM. A loud, extroverted guy introduced himself as our lead coordinator. He was young, probably in his late twenties to early thirties. The first thing I noticed was his calves—they were ginormous, a living proof that he most likely climbed Pulag every single day. He gave us an overview of what to expect for the homestay and the hike, including the schedule and essentials to bring.

It started to sink in that I’m really doing this. I’m actually climbing Pulag! The highest mountain in Luzon!

11:45 AM. It was too early for lunch or check-in. Some people from the previous batch were still coming down from the summit, so the mouthwatering lunch was for them. I did my best to hide my disappointment and to ignore my grumbling stomach.

With nothing left to do, we decided to explore the area a little. Farms flanked Baban’s Homestay, and we were itching for a bit of an adventure.

We observed each crop, fascinated, and joked about being in Stardew Valley in real life.

The downside to going to Pulag during May was the flies—they were everywhere. Thousands and thousands of them lurked in every possible corner, feasting on garbage and crops that weren’t adequately cared for (the cabbages were the biggest casualty) or lounging lazily across surfaces, particularly the dining tables. I didn’t even know flies could survive in such cold weather! Anyway, it was a small price to pay for the cold and the landscape.

We also went to a view deck overlooking the Cordilleras and distant farms.

12:15 PM. It started drizzling, and we had to take refuge back in the house.

1:00 PM. We finally had lunch: home-cooked chicken mechado! It was a little too oily for my liking, but still surprisingly good.

2:00 PM. We settled into our room. It was small and bare, and the only furniture was the three bunk beds, enough for the six of us. There were no cabinets or surfaces to stash our bags, so we just dumped everything unceremoniously on the floor. I called dibs on the bed closest to the door.

I could smell a faint whiff of cleaning solution and detergent. The pillows, bedsheets, and fleece blanket were clean and freshly washed. Thank goodness.

We unpacked, and the rest of my companions passed out immediately. I took that opportunity to take a shower. I knew it would be a nightmare later in the day, when it was much colder, and people were all getting ready for bed. Unfortunately, both the shower and heater weren’t working, so the water was ice-cold. My sole water source was the faucet near the floor, so washing up was a real struggle. There wasn’t even a balde or tabo in sight.

3:00 PM. As you may know, I was still feeling unwell at the time, and I was scared I might finally get a full-blown fever. It took me a while to doze off, what with my damp hair, gnawing anxiety, and excitement at the upcoming hike. I somehow managed to drift off to dreamland, but I’m sure I didn’t get more than a couple of hours of sleep.

7:15 PM. Dinner was scrumptious—an exotic-tasting tinola (probably a Benguet version), fried chicken, and baby potatoes doused with a generous dollop of takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise (unexpected but surprisingly delicious).

After that, we were free to do as we pleased.

9:00 PM. We got ready for bed. I set my alarms, put on my trusted Loop earplugs, and covered myself head to toe with the thin blanket, a feeble attempt to ward off the pervading chill. I was hoping to snatch at least a few more hours of sleep before the wake-up call at 1 AM.

12:00 AM. We were all excited and already wide awake at midnight. We immediately got down to business and started prepping for the hike.

I splashed my face with ice-cold water, the chill instantly waking me up and settling deep into my bones, then I did my skincare (not even Pulag could make me skip my routine). I smeared my face with a liberal amount of moisturizer, let it absorb, then proceeded with an equally generous amount of sunscreen. I let everything dry, dabbed my cheeks with a bit of blush, then set everything off with translucent powder. I didn’t need to do any of this, I know, but the familiar motions calmed my racing heart and silenced the demonic voice telling me that I wasn’t ready to conquer Luzon’s highest peak.

1:00 AM. We had a light breakfast of ube champorado (I’m not a huge fan of ube, but the steaming bowl was so comforting), then it was just a waiting game.

2:00 AM. We left for the Babadak Ranger Station, the jump-off point of the Ambangeg Trail. We had a quick photoshoot session, and our coordinator gave us some final reminders. He also introduced us to the tour guides.

2:30 AM. With our headlamps turned on and all bundled up in our cozy layers, we finally made our way to Camp 1.

Note: Photos taken with my Sony Cybershot DSC-T50 and minimally post-processed on Lightroom.

It’s been less than 24 hours since we got back from our Mt. Pulag hike, and I’m still in a daze. All day, I’ve been trying to process how magical the weekend was, and before I knew it, Monday had already passed by in a blur. I’ve already unpacked, but I haven’t touched the rest of my post-trip admin tasks—calculating my expenses, drafting my next posts, catching up on household chores, and so much more.

Aside from unpacking, I’ve mostly been working on this site, fiddling with the command line, improving the user experience, and polishing a few bits and pieces. I don’t want to go into the nitty-gritty since it’s not what this website is all about (I’ll probably write about it on my other blog at some point—stay tuned). All you need to know is that I’ve started going through my camera roll, and that I’ve already updated my avatar and about photos. Yes, it’s my silhouette against Mt. Pulag’s sunrise and breathtaking sea of clouds! Could you believe that?

Well, not me. Everything still feels so incredibly surreal.

For now, here’s the cute cat from our homestay.

Expect a barrage of rants and photo dumps about the hike soon. You’ve been warned.

It’s getting so late, but here I am, still packing for our upcoming hike. I’m almost done, though. I just need to double-check a few things, then I should be good to go.

My room, however, is an entirely different story. My bed is chaos incarnate, with dozens of bags, storage organizers, and bits and bobs strewn across it, practically covering every surface. The rest of my room looks like it’s been ransacked by the police in search of elusive evidence.

We’re leaving tomorrow evening, so I have plenty of time. But I still want to get this out of the way. I’ve never enjoyed packing—there’s always that nasty voice telling me that I forgot something, even though I have a detailed, carefully curated packing list, and I know I’m as prepared as can be. (I have a Type A personality, I can’t help it.)

As I pack, my mind constantly oscillates between “What on earth have I gotten myself into?” and “I can’t believe it’s finally happening!”

I’ve wanted to hike for years. I’d like to think that I’m more of a mountain than a beach girlie, but it’s impossible to know for sure unless I actually experience mountaineering—in whatever form—firsthand.

I guess I’ll finally get my answer in a couple of days.

I know I should finish packing and tidying up my room instead of posting in a blog that literally no one knows exists, but I can’t help it. I just had to sit down and write for my sanity’s sake.

I’ve always been fascinated with the intersections between music and nature, especially as someone who’s dabbled in all sorts of musical instruments over the years.

Spotify has tons of music + nature playlists, and every single one is an absolute gem. Here are some of my favorites:

• Forest Bathing
• Dreamy Forest Music
• lofi garden

Sometimes, I prefer listening to nature sounds alone, and Spotify is a treasure trove of that, too. I love Birds in the Forest, Night Rain, and Gentle Waves, among so many others.

Aside from Spotify, there’s also YouTube. My favorite sub-category is musicians who make music while they’re in the great outdoors—it’s exactly what I imagine when I juxtapose nature and music. There’s something so spellbinding about it; something so… pure and human. It’s like getting in touch with our deepest, most natural instincts. Make music; get lost in the melody and be one with your instrument. Be in nature; feel the wind caressing your skin. Hear the birds sing back and the leaves rustling.

I play these videos in the background while I’m doing something else, and I love that each time I look up, I’m graced with a glimpse of a stunning landscape.

Malte Marten Music has been my go-to channel lately. Life has been hectic, to say the least, and sometimes I just don’t want to bombard my brain with yet another onslaught of words. His music is so healing and magical—there’s just something about handpan music that speaks to my soul on a profound level.

And since I’ve been in my mountain era (not to mention that I’ve always adored instrumental guitar music), I found this guitar meditations video particularly endearing.

It’s on my bucket list to play an instrument while in nature.

One day.

Maybe it’s time to get back to the lyre or kalimba?