I’m back to write about our adventure trail run we had last Holy Thursday. June, Reggie, Reggie’s son, Raymund and myself headed off to Taal Volcano in Batangas, a 60 km stretch from Quezon City to witness, in close-up, one of the smallest active volcanos in the world. Reaching the Tagaytay City Rotunda, we made our way down to a long descent of zigzag roads to the town of Buso-Buso, Laurel.
However, instead of stopping in Talisay which is the usual jump-off point to the volcano, we headed further to Agoncillo, a typical fishing village at the shores of Lake Taal. Its banks is predominantly occupied by motorized bancas (fishing boats) and the middle portions of the lake are cluttered by fish pens, most of which are used to raise tilapia.
June’s friend, Reggie knew one of the fish pen owners, a certain Mr. Landicho and it was one of Mr. Landicho’s banca that we rode for our trip to Taal Volcano island. Before going straight to the island, Reggie decided that we make a stop over first on one of the owner’s fish pens and witness the harvesting of tilapias. I was delighted to see hundreds of these fishes being hauled into one big singlet net!
We then continued our boat ride to the island and as soon as we docked, we immediately changed to our running gears and headed to the trails going to the crater and were accompanied by two young boys who acted as our guides. Here in pictures is Part 1 of our trail run to the crater of Taal Volcano:
At the shoreline of Taal Lake, waiting to our motorized banca to arrive
Leaving the shores of Agoncillo, Batangas
Enjoying the boat ride with June
Taal Volcano in the foreground
A view in the lake
Making a stop-over on one of our host's tilapia fish pond to see how they are harvested
The one that almost got away!
We continue our journey
Nearing Taal Volcano island. Foreground is Raymond's hat!
Approaching the island
Start of our volcano run. Boy guide leading us
The trails are mostly sandy
June and the guide atop the trail
View at my back
We continued with our run
On shot is Raymund slowing down for a walk
Giving myself a push not knowing that the view of the crater lake was just behind me
With Trekker, Reggie (L) and June
Continued our run to get to the crater lake
We meet other runners on their way back
Part of the trail where crater lake is visible
The trails ahead of me
All downhill from here
Coming in closer
This horse momentarily stopped when i took its picture. Must have been blinded by the sudden flash
Dry leaves all over the trails
Now out at the open field
A few hundred meters from the crater
A few hundred steps more
Now along the shores of the lake
Taal Volcano's crater lake, a magnificent view!
From our starting point in the island up to the high ridges and down to the crater, it took us some 6.5kms of continuous volcanic ash trails with some stagerring climbs, dusty terrain while the heat was piercing as we sweated profusely.
More pictures on Part 2.
JAZZRUNNER 