Mt. Manalmon... a hike to remember

This place seems to be memorable to us, since we had here our first bonding trip together way back July 2012.  I still remember that day, as newly bf/gf, to have a quality time together, hiking is a tie-bond for us and in this place we had our first climb together (just the two of us).  I never thought that a mountain like this can be found just nearby the city of  Bulacan.  This is our favorite hiking destination which is near the Metro. 

way back July 2012

Travel time is usually 2 hrs depending on the flow of traffic.  We take Cabanatuan bound bus from Baliuag Transit at Cubao which cost Php117/person.  Then drop off at Brgy. Kamias.  From there, we took a tricycle going to Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul and it cost as around Php240 per tricycle. The trip took around 40 minutes and prepare yourself for a bumpy road trip as the road is quite rough.

Jump off Location: Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan

Difficulty: Minor Climb (Ideal for beginners)

Activity: River Crossing, Monkey Bridge Crossing, Spelunking, Hiking, Swimming, Rock Climbing

(the activity depends on how far you can go... :) but I suggest go for Monkey Bridge Crossing - just make sure you know how to swim, just in case you fall.) 

 view from summit

River Crossing via balsa

 As soon as you get to the other side, a registration (php5) for environmental fee and a mandatory guide is also required (php300-600).  As per the locals, an assigned group will be in charge per week and by that time, Group 2 is in charge (Kuya Mel).  Unfortunately our favorite guide Kuya Duds belongs to Group 1  :(, I miss his skills in taking photos.  He really took great shots of us last year, esp. candid photos.

From the jump off, we took the other route from Bayukbok Cave.  We didn't pass through the Grotto  and Madlum Rockies for one of a kind river crossing experience.  I guess our second visit to this place was a kind of misfortune, our guide said that the water by the river was at chest level deep due to heavy rains these past few days, so it's not safe.

Backpackers - kaikai / yeye

TIP: don't forget to pour OFF lotion to avoid mosquito bites

The trek is just a normal hiking trails.  Easy trails of 30-40 minutes walked, so you can have a lot of time to take photos, and chillax!

Pitch tent @ Campsite

--a view from the top of majestic Madlum River--

 

 View from Mt. Manalmon

View from summit of Mt. Manalmon

No wonder we always want candid shots every time we hike,  it just make a "kilig" feeling ^__^ lol!!, not as a usual pre-nup pics but I really love capturing unexpected glimpse of emotions though... :)

candid shots!

On top, you can find a lot of posing space where you can strike any pose you want.  Somewhere, you can find a small elevated side part of a rock where you can sit down and make a side pose like below, but be sure to take care of every step extra carefully to avoid slipping off.

At the summit, you can also notice this small part of rock which is really an eye catching view, simply inviting you to go there.  There is a passage leading to it, unfortunately, locals advised that it is not safe anymore due to a crack portion in some part of the rock which is really dangerous.

Well then, it's time for me to prepare dinner before it gets dark.  This is one of the most exciting part you can really enjoy in hiking, cooking!  It just feels like your playing "luto - lutuan" (just what i was called during my childhood years).  We prepared a ready to cooked food, I mean, easy-to-cooked foods.  Thanks for his mom for preparing a marinated chicken chops, I just need to fry it.  

The good thing is that were the only campers that time.  I guess due to typhoon Maring, other hikers assumed for a gloomy weather, but, it's not .  The weather was favorable to us, it just had a little rainfall but it is a cozy night indeed.

cooking time!

Well, never in my mind that I would experience a candlelight dinner at a mountain summit.  Such a sweet ideas of my yeye ^__^ .  I never thought he has a good insight too when it comes to surprises.  While I'm busy preparing dinner, he's busy preparing these stuffs at the summit.  Just telling me, "Jan ka lang, wag kang aakyat.", sweet isn't it. ^_* (kilig much!) 

NO WONDER WHY HE'S PREPARING THIS

my man is so busy up there, while I'm cooking ...

Just love surprises!!

By night time, after I'm done cooking, he told me to wear a dress packed inside his dri-fit bag.  I just giggled and amazed to see that dress with a shoes and asked him "kelangan ko ba talaga I suot to?" lol! (no wonder, kilig much!) "kasama sa surprise yan", he replied.  So I just wear the dress before I went to the summit.  It was dark, and quiet.  Just a perfect sweet night for us.  I was truly amazed, especially when I reached the top and saw the lighted candles glowing in a dark starry night.  (aaawww... such effort...)  
Then, I found him wearing a white formal tops, formal pants and black shoes.---FORMAL TALAGA!!--  I just wonder what's he up to.  "wala lang gusto lang kita i-surprise, kasi di ba gusto mo ng formal dinner, kaya ito...", he said.  (kilig much na talaga ako!lol!).  Then,  he played some instrumental love songs while we eat.  I'm not much aware in this kind of dinner date, so I'm totally speechless.  We just have a regular conversation, I try to asked  how he planned these stuffs, well not to mentioned it anymore ---just for us na lang--- hehehe...

After dinner, he asked me to dance.  (lol!! kilig much)  Sa sobrang kilig and surprise di ko na matandaan what song he played.  We danced.  Then after a while, he knelt down while holding a blue velvet ring case and asked, Ms.Katherine Rose Paz, will you marry me?... (sa totoo lang, a couple of words he asked pa before that final words, but gee, I can't remember anymore.  that was the last line I just remember)  Well, I'm totally SPEECHLESS!  I don't know how to react, what my actions will be. ---- will I cry--- but I didn't, but I can feel that I'm shaking while I'm looking  at the ring and him, and I said, "Yes", "oo naman". 

--and it's because of this--

 

a PROPOSAL was made

Good Morning!!!!

The next day I woke up, I knew it will be a different day forward.  Once again, I stared at the ring and still can't explain the feeling of wearing it.  I guess that's a weird feeling for a girl who's been engaged already.  Kung may JET-LAG na tawag, eh tingin ko meron din, ENGAGED-LAG na tawag... lol!!!  anyway, I waked up early to catch the sunrise for a pic, unluckily, a merely clogged fog morning.

Good morning!!

The breakfast guy!

Later on we have another candid photo shoot again ^__^ wearing same clothes we have during that unforgettable dinner date last night.

At the registration site, I tried to swim off by the river.  I can't swim. Really.  Good thing is that we brought our own life vest (lol!!) tumawa ka na pero, for me, it worked!  I guess I really need to take swimming lessons. (lol!!)

swim.swim.

"Don't change the mountain, but let the mountain change you" 
truly mountain change our lives.... it simply bonds us... 

---a mountain love story--