So Long No Story

Hi, Its been 2 years i didn't update anything on this blog. And i can see some scam comments too. Will be back on continuation of Manila updates, Melbourne revisit, Singapore Genting Cruise and few others.... Thanks for reading!

Pulag, the Grass Lalaland

Pulag Mountain, Luzon, Philippines

                  Our team

Nothing much to put in my blog this year, a year of pandemic, basically. I could say, 90% of my mountain trip being cancelled namely Fuji, ABC, Kinabalu, Tiger Leaping Gorge and some local hikes. 

Back to Pulag, my original plan to hike Pulag with Ohana team was in November 2019. Unfortunately, 2 weeks before the hike, i met with an accident which caused tissue injuries in my left rib cage. As advised by the doctor, i postponed my trip to February 2020 (I claimed insurance for the cancelled flight and bought the new one). 

Day 0 

Lets see whats to bring for this hike:

Documents : 

1. Passport ( *Please check your passport validity date, make sure it's more than 6 months*) 
2. Medical Checkup ( you can get it at nearest hospital in Benguet 🇵🇭) which costs around RM15 

Others:

1) Headlamp / torch light 

2) Batery spare 

3) Wind breaker 

4) Toiletries 

5) Sun block/lotion 

6) Cap & Buff 

7) Clothing and layering 

8) gloves (wind proof should be great!) 

9) Own medical 1st Aid (spray/bulm) 

10) Beg 20-30Liter for day hike 

11) Own Camera / Camera stand / selfie stick 12) towel & Wet tissue 

13) water purifier (optional) 

14) Tracking Stick 

15) Sun glasses

16) Thermos Flask (optional) 

17) Stocking 

18) Gaiter (optional) 

19) Minimum drinking water 1.5l p/person 

20) 3 in 1 Milo / coffee / Tea (optional) 

21) Ready to eat meals (Brahim, My Chef, & Pack Kembara) 

I flew to Manila with few tripmates on 6th February 1.45am via Cebu Airlines from KLIA. It tooks around 4hrs and 15mins to reach Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila. 

Day 1 

We reached Manila at 6am as scheduled and searched for Surau in the airport for Subuh prayer. There was a small Surau at 2nd floor at the back of escalator. Not well maintained but, enough to perform your prayer rather than nothing. 

As alternative, you might ask permission to perform your prayer here

           

Surau, at the back of escalator, Level 2

We then gathered at the ground floor before started our journey at 7am via private van transfer. The journey to the highway took around 2 hours. We stopped by at the bundle of restaurants before entering highway for washroom and bought some snacks. The total journey to Kabayan from Manila took around 8 hours, OK?

The journey to Baguio through Tarlac - Pangasinan - La Union Expressway should be no problem, it was just a straight road, anyway. After 5hrs journey, we reached Baguio and stopped by at petrol station to have light meals and changed transfer van.

We then continued our journey to Benguet, Kabayan. The journey became harder with sharp hairpin turns, sudden curves, and steep roads for about 40km, enough to cause you head ache and vommited!  Please bring along your motion sickness medicine to outweight this issue. This road also to be said as one of the most hazardous road in Philiphines with a number of accidents common especially during the rainy season.

After the horrible road, we finally reached at Kabayan, a small town where the trailhead for Pulag located. Our van headed us to Baban Homestay, our home for the next 2 days. 

Carrot fields

Baby carrot

Such a quiet area surrounded with carrot terraces and beautiful sky lines. Such amazing and cool view!

In the clouds...

We reached Baban Homestay around 3.30pm, bathed, prayed and had lunch. The water damn cold and was like having ice bathing and the phone signal was very weak. We had some rest before swinging around the places in late evening, went to the carrot terraces, had some photos and not forget to wait for the dramathical and ethereal sunset that can be seen from the guest house.

Baban Homestay

The jeepney

The beautiful sunset at the guest house

The second group of Ohana reached the guest house around 8pm. We then had our dinner together at the dining, with meals cooked by the guest house (the rice, fishes and fresh vege). The tastes not bad basically. 

After the meals, we had ice breaking session and briefing by Ohana representative, Nora on the tentative for the next 2 days. 

Ice break session after the dinner

Went to bed and lights off at 10.30pm.

Day 2

Early morning, woke up and had our breakfast, we then brought to visit Daclan Sulphur Spring, Bokod. Not that far from our guest house actually. 

Picturesque view of Daclan Sulphur Spring. The grey colour is a hot muddy

It is a sulfuric bubbling muddy hot spring. The smoke and sulfuric scent emitted could be seen and smelled from a distance. The hot water from the spring is believed to have some therapeutic effects. The entrance is free.

Spent almost 1 hour here, chit chat and snap some photos before we left to the hospital for medical check up.

We arrived at Dennis Molintas District Hospital, Benguet almost 11am. Everyone of us took turns with a small fee of approximately 170PP. Not a serious check up, but a basic just to ensure you are fit enough to climb.

The cute ambulance which they called 'Patient Transport Vehicle'

Small and cute hospital. Not much worker therein

After the checkup, we then went to the Mount Pulag National Park Office for orientation, registration and submission of our medical certificates. 

Mount Pulag had four trails namely 

Daclan, Bokod, Benguet and Ambangeg. The easiest among others is Ambangeg, and we will use this way to summit.

Ambangeg Trail. The easiest but not really easy hehe

We have been aired with informative video about Mount Pulag including its beautiful sea of clouds, mossy forests, terrains and grass lalaland. Make us so excited to start our climb the next morning.. 😇

Entrance to National Park Office

National Park Office 

Everybody focus on the video. I just amazed how how the video being edited.

Spent about 1 hour here before we back to the guest house for lunch and packing our daypack stuffs for the hike. Forgot to mention, it is compulsary to have a guide from the Park itself in every trip to Pulag.

The mini hiking mall outside National Park Office for those intent for last minute shopping. Me, just a grab a pair of wind proof glove

Had some rests while waiting our dinner at 6pm. Need to load carbo as much as for the 16km return hike and not forget, the weather will be super cold hence you need more carbo to heat your body.

We slept early after Isya prayer since our hike started at 1am. 

Day 3

Mount Pulag being the 3rd highest mountain in Philippines, stands at 2,928 meters above sea level and it is a dormant volcano. The nearest Mountain is Mount Apo and Mount Dulang-dulang.

We woke up at 12am, get our gears ready and collect our breakfast before rode the van to the ranger' s house i.e trailhead. 

We are ready!

Rangers' House at the trailhead

We started our hike at 1am after self stretching done to avoid any injuries. Make sure your layering is correct. For Pulag, enough to wear 1 piece of long sleeve shirt or heat teck as inner layer and proof wind jacket as outer layer. No need to be so thick since you will suffer very hot once you move since your body became warm enough. The trail started with light accent and easy flat trail, but enough to make me short of breath since the wind was strong and temperature getting colder. 

We reached 1st Camp around 2.10am. Its began to rain, oh my. I dont know how the summit looks like if its rainy and what about sunrise? Any? We took a rest for a while at Camp 1, wore our rain coat, and continue our journey to Camp 2.

Have a rest at Camp 1

There are 3 types of forest the you may passed along Ambangeg Trail. The first one, is Alpine Forest, after Camp 1 then you will meet with Mossy Forest and the last one is grass lalaland, until the peak.

Since it was very dark, hence, we just enjoyed the wind, the rain and the lights of our headlamp. Nothing can be seen both sides and even the sky. 

We reached Camp 2 at 4am, it was raining, still. We took around 15mins to rest before summit attack. Every Camp had toilet but not really proper. Basic to fulfill your nature call only. 😬

Camp 2...

After the Camp 2, we reached grass lalaland with open air space. The summit was around 2km away. The journey was very challenging with the super strong wind and slippery trail. 

6am - we reached summit. After taking some photos, we performed our Subuh Prayer. No sunrise this time, but the hazy, gloomy and white skies. A bit upset, maybe not our luck this time. We waited for half hour but still, unchanged.

Blurred picture since the lense is wet and the hand also cold enough to fix it. Part of my team

Summit!

The green and brown grass colour at the summit. I called it grass lalaland. Very beautiful and look amazing even no sunrise

Lord of The Ring mission?? 

7.30am - we decided to make a move to descend. We stopped by along the trail to take photos and reached the trailhead around 11am.

The beautiful mossy forest

Way back home

Just after the trailhead, before Camp 1

Got our certificates. Yezza!

Back to the guesthouse, with muddy hiking pants and shoes. We got no time to rests since we need to depart to Manila after lunch. Very tiring day, sigh...

The van picked up us around 3pm to Manila. Reached Manila around 10am and what i needed that time after 8 hours journey was a proper bath and a pillow....

Thanks to Ohana team for the nice hospitality during the trip!

Will be continued - Part 2 (Manila)

Explore India 2.0 - Amritsar (Part 3)

Day 4

Setelah 3 jam menunggu di Jodhpur Airport, akhirnya kami berlepas ke Delhi menaiki Air India. Penerbangan selama 1 jam dan ini merupakan first time aku fly dengan Air India. Not bad Air India ni, steward pun hensem2, makanan vege pun sedap siap ada sos cili cap Air India. Kau ada? hehe

Air India.. 

Meal pack Air India

Mineral and Packaging Meal Pack Air India

Tiba di Delhi, kitorang terus ke connecting flight sebab untuk ke Amritsar, kitorang naik Vistara Airline, seperti Malindo lah standardnya tapi lagi cun, lagi baru dan ada provide makanan yang boleh tahan juga sedapnya. So, aku tak menyesal beli tiket yang agak mahal untuk dedua airline ni...Both about RM645 macam tu hukhuk...

Meal Pack Vistara

Packaging Meal Pack Vistara

Around 9.45pm kami tiba di Amritsar. Keluar dari Airport Amritsar, satu tuktuk pun tarak. Kosong Airportnya kecuali beberapa teksi dan kenderaan pick up and drop off. Sebab tak sempat nak research bagai so, kitorang ambik teksi Airport je untuk ke hotel. Bila keluar dari gate Airport tu baru nampak beberapa tuktuk di tepi jalan besar. So, kalau korang ke Amritsar naik flight dan bercadang nak naik tuktuk, silalah menapak sedikit dalam 300m ke jalan besar untuk ambik tuktuk di situ, ok?

Tiba di hotel, kami have a rest sebab esok nak jalan banyak lagi. Dan seperti di city lain, kami hire kereta sewa dan driver untuk ke attractions di Amritsar sebab nak jimat masa.

Day 5

Pagi, last day di bumi India, kami check out dan menghala ke Golden Temple. Driver pick up dari hotel dan drop kami di barisan shop lot. Jadi, kami perlu berjalan kaki around 10 minutes untuk ke Golden Temple.

The memorial of Jallianwala Bagh

Sebelum sampai ke Golden Temple, aku ternampak Jallianwala Bagh. Kami singgah sebentar nak tengok apakebendenya tempat ni. Entrance is free.

Jallianwala Bagh

Tempat ni merupakan Memorial Peringatan Negara untuk mengingati peristiwa pembunuhan beramai-ramai Jallianwala Bagh yang berlaku di tapak di Festival Vaisakhi, 13 April 1919. Dalam peristiwa berdarah tu, Brigadier-Jeneral Reginald telah memerintahkan tentera-tentera India British untuk menembak orang awam yang tidak bersenjata di dalam compound Jallianwala Bagh dengan menggunakan raifal. Sekurang-kurangnya 400 orang terbunuh, termasuk 41 kanak-kanak, 1 orang bayi, dan lebih 1,000 orang cerdera.

Tak lama pun spend masa kat sini, just around 1 hr sebelum menapak ke Golden Temple.

Golden Temple

The Golden Temple 

The other side of the Temple

Temple surroundings

Dipanggil Golden Temple sebab ia disalut emas. Kuil ni merupakan Rumah Suci penganut Sikh, atau boleh dikatakan juga tempat Sikh mengerjakan Haji. Nama lain bagi Golden Temple adalah Harmandir Sahib, Darbar Sahib atau Gurdwara Sahib.

Golden Temple ini dibina di atas pelantar kaki persegi 67 di tengah-tengah Man-made pool pada tahun 1577 oleh guru RAM Das. Temple ini telah dibina semula secara berulangkali oleh Sikh selepas ia menjadi sasaran penindasan dan telah beberapa kali dimusnahkan oleh tentera Islam dari Afghanistan dan Empayar Mughal.

Kerja pembinaan semula Golden Temple seperti yang kelihatan pada hari ini bermula pada tahun 1764 di bawah kepimpinan Sultan-e-Quam Sardar Jassa Singh (1718 – 1783) dan Sikh lain yang terkemuka seperti Misl Sardars dan Jagirdars. Pembinaan semula ini siap pada tahun 1776.

Tempat deposit kasut for free

Dalam kawasan Temple ni ada disediakan makanan percuma tapi tak  tak jumpe pun part mana. Sebelum masuk Temple, perlu deposit kasut di kaunter yang disediakan dan basuh kaki di laluan masuk ke Temple. bagi yang tak bertudung, perlu tutup kepala anda ye.

Tempat mandi air suci bagi wanita

Waktu aku pergi, linkungan 10.30pg, terlalu ramai orang. yang mandi pun ada, yang sembahyang pun ada, yang tidur dan lepak dan ada. Aku observed je diorang2 ni..hormat kepercayaan dan agama bangsa lain sepertimana kita mahu kepercayaan dan agama kita dihormati.

Ni je gambar yang sempat tangkap di museum memandangkan kamera prohibited di bilik pameran

Dalam Temple ni juga ada museum menceritakan kisah silam bangsa Sikh, perjuangan diorang menegakkan agama serta musuh mereka. Musuh mereka Islam lah (Mughal). Kalau kita ada perjuangan kita, mereka juga ada perjuangan diorang....

Setelah spent lebih kurang sejam lebih kat sini, kami keluar dan jalan-jalan di sekitar shoplot sekitar.

Kedai cenderahati di sekitar Golden Temple

Agak murah kedai kat tepi2 ni. Barangan yang dijual pun menarik

Kat lorong ni ada kedai makan sedap2

Kedai manisan Amritsar 

Contoh Amritsar. Aku ada beli tapi sampai hari ni ada lagi tersimpan dalam fridge 😅

Bharfi Koya - antara manisan yang femes di sini

Aloo Wala Kulcha. Sedap betul. Aku suka kuah macam air asam tu

Sweet Lassi. Ni pun sedap jugak

Jangan lupa try Aiskrim ni. Kedai dalam row shoplot menghala ke Golden Temple 

Dah penat jalan2 area shoplot bawah panas terik, kitorang ke sini pulak...

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum.

Museum ni sangat sunyi sepi dengan beberapa pelawat je. Tak berapa di maintain sangat dan basically takde apa sangat pun yang boleh ditengok (overrated). Rasanya setengah jam paling lama untuk berada di sini. Rasanya museum dalam Golden Temple tu lagi banyak bende boleh tengok.

Bangunan museum Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Statue Maharaja di perkarangan museum

Ini menceritakan suasana semasa Maharaja masih bayi lagi, tahun 1781

Gambar ni menceritakan Maharaja ni seorang yang sekular di mana beliau telah membeli Al Quran bertatahkan emas dari seorang kaligraphi disebabkan kaligraphist tak dapat jual Al Quran tu at desired price. Al Quran tu kemudiaannya dihadiahkan kepada Fakir Azizuddin sebagai tanda persahabatan (Muslim Chief Minister in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's government). 

Entrance Fee: Rs10 per person

Bangunan asal museum ni adalah Summer Palace raja pertama Empayar Sikh, iaitu Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Istana ini kemudiannya di convert menjadi sebuah museum pada tahun 1977. Museum ini banyak memaparkan kisah dan sejarah Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Kebanyakan yang dipamerkan lukisan yang menggambarkan peristiwa yang berlaku pada kurun ke 18 dan 19 yang berkaitan dengan Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Antara lain yang dipamerkan adalah syiling lama, manuscripts, armours and replicas of events.

Next destination kitorang adalah......

Gobind Garh Fort

Gobinh Garh Fort dikenali juga sebagai Bhangian da Killa (kubu Bhangis). Kubu ini mempunyai tapak warisan sejarah yang berusia 257 tahun dari era Bhangi Misl hingga ke era Maharaja Ranjit Singh, British East India Company hinggalah The Indian Army pada masa sekarang. Kubu ini mempunyai 5 biji Meriam termasuk dua Meriam terkenal dikenali sebagai 'Zamzama'.

Entrance Gobind Garh Fort 

Benteng kubu

Bahan pameran museum. Mainly about turban, types and and style for wearing it

Fort ini sebelumnya didiami oleh Tentera India dan dibuka untuk orang ramai pada 10 Feb 2017 dengan memaparkan berbagai kisah sejarah Punjab.

Entrance fee ranging from Rs375 - Rs625 bergantung kepada pekej mana yang diambil.

Pilih la mana korang suka. Ada banyak pekej

Aktiviti yang dimasukkan ke dalam pekej adalah:

a) Sher-E-Punjab (Lion of Punjab) : Ni bukan cerita singa tetapi cerita tentang kehebatan pahlawan Punjab iaitu Maharaja Ranjit Singh melawan musuh (Mughal) dan mempertahankan agama dan bangsanya. Selalunya kita dengar cerita pahlawan dan pemimpin agung kita, apakata kita buka minda tengok cerita pahlawan bangsa lain pula...
b) Monument areas & Pagri Museum : Tak banyak monument yang ada di dalam kawasan Fort. Museum pula banya berkisar sejarah turban, jenis dan cara pemakaiannya
c) Punjabi Raung Raunak : Aku tak tengok performance ni sebab ia berlangsung pada sebelah petang. Kitorang dating tengahari dan tak dapat tunggu sebab nak ke Wagah Border pula petang nanti
d) Kanda Boldiyan Ne : Aku tak amik pekej yang ada performance ni. Rasanya ni performance tentang sejarah Amritsar lah juga.
e) Animal rides : Horse or Camel
f) Variety of games

Ni jeblah spot paling lawa untuk bergambar

Sebelum bertolak ke Wagah, yang jauhnya dalam 40min macam tu dari pusat bandar Amritsar, kami singgah lunch. Restoran apa nama aku lupa hahah. Kami order nan, Lalla Mussa Dal, Paneer Taka Tak, share 2 orang.. Harga kat sini not bad. Mahal sket. 

Hidangan lunch kitorang. All veges.. 

Manggo Lassy

Wagah Attari Border Ceremony


Ceremony di sempadan India-Pakistan ini adalah upacara penurunan bendera dan merupakan amalan ketenteraan harian pasukan keselamatan India (Border Security Force, BSF) dan Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) sejak tahun 1959.  Upacara ini ada mix of kawad, macam dancing pun ye, berlawan nafas paling panjang pun ye, bertanding menaikkan kaki setinggi mungkin pun ye jugak. Tengok ajelah video2 kat bawah ni.

Ceremony ni diadakan sebagai simbol persaingan, persaudaraan dan kerjasama antara kedua-dua Negara. Macam nak gaduh pun ye aku tengok.

Ceremony bermula pada pukul 5pm tapi seawal 4pm orang dah ramai dan membanjiri mini stadium di kedua belah Negara. India lagi ramailah dari Pakistan. Locals lah yang ramai. Foreigner satu row tempat duduk je dan untuk foreigner memang ada tempat duduk khas.

India Gate, Wagah-Attari Border

Kene jalan kaki dalam 10min dan melalui security check untuk sampai ke stadium tempat ceremony diadakan 

Masa aku sampai, sebelah India pasang lagu disco mix ala2, sebelah Pakistan pasang surah Ar-Rahman, memang bertembung elok. Macam berpesta pun ada juga. Aku pun layan je la tengok gelagat masing2.

Pack stadium and mostly locals

Diorang bagi priority to ladies untuk turun dancing kat situ sambil pegang flag India

Performance sedang berlangsung. Pintu Gate border dibuka dan ditutup kembali lepas ceremony selesai

Row aku duduk ni memang khas untuk foreigners 

Belah sana tu Pakistan. Cool je. Audience pun tak ramai dan tak riuh rendah like belah India

Video pendek ceremony. Aku nk upload yang panjang sket katanya lebih had. Oklah! 

Performance berlangsung selama 1 jam dan lebih kurang 6pm aku beransur keluar sebab tak nak terlibat dalam kesesakan manusia huhu..

Performance ni free je..

Last but not least sebelum balik Malaysia malam tu jugak.. Kita ke Sadda Pind

Sadda Pind ni tempat tradisi diorang, kampung tradisi, makanan tradisi so kalau nak tau budaya punjabi memang sesuai ke sini. Ala2 macam kampumg budaya sarawak, jeju folk village macam tua contoh yang aku boleh bagi.

So meh kita tengok apa yang aku sempat tangkap memandangkan masa suntuk untuk ke airport.

Ini tempat simpan rumput nak bagi makan kt kuda/lembu 

Ini sedap. Apa nama tak ingat. Kalau banyak masa memang kau boleh kenyang kat sini.. 

Rumah tradisi diorang. Simple. Bantal pun takdak. 

Ada tin tin jugak kat sini. Ingat aku je yang main masa kecik

Aku tenung macam aku tau je bende apa tu. Ini macam alat untuk pintal benang

Ada performance silap mata kat sini. Aku layan kejap je

Ini pejabat pos zaman dulu2 

Ini pula menenun kain

Demonstrasi menenun karpet

Entrance Fee Sadda Pind ni mahal sket, Rs750 termasuk lunch/dinner makanan tradisi diorang. Tapi sebab aku sampai kat sini pun lambat, maka tak sempatla nak dinner. Takde rezeki..

Marilah pulang ke Malaysia 😁😁🇲🇾🇲🇾. Aku amik flight direct Amritsar to KL.

Basically Amritsar ada tarikan tersendiri tapi aku rasa sehari dah cukup untuk berada kat sini. Kalau lama nanti bosan..

Sekian cerita India 2.0 aku..