i conquered TARAW !...

Deciding on El Nido has been somewhat of a last minute decision after our parents bailed on us for another trip that didn't include us. So as the reckless daughter addicted to adrenaline rush, I convinced my super girly girl sistah to forgo the underground river and island hopping in Puerto Princessa and just head on to El Nido instead. And convincing her includes climbing the Taraw cliffs. 

Looking back though, I don't remember a lot of convincing happening. I think it was more of instructing her to bring a pair of rubber shoes for a climb. And I'm still debating whether or not I failed to mention that it's a cliff we're climbing on. But since I was already able to climb what I thought was the most dangerous climb of my life at Caramoan island, I expected less from this. So given my cocky underestimation of the warnings and difficulties of the blogs I've read about Taraw, I dragged my sister with me. Knowing that it's gonna be such a special event since it would be her first climb ever, that I know of. 

Yep! that's how we climbed it. No harness, no helmets, just us and our cameras. It's tall and steep and sharp and 45 mins to the top. 45 mins for the locals, and add 30 mins to that for us. 

I have to admit though that halfway there, when the rain started to drizzle and the rocks became slippery, I was having second thoughts of going all the way up. Not only did the climb get more dangerous to the point of me feeling like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, hanging on a cliff, I was mainly concerned for my sister and the 63yr. old Dad who came along with us and his daughter.  So while my head was playing the soundtrack of Mission Impossible, I kept thinking What Would Tom Cruise Do?... But our Kuya guide was effectively giving positive encouragements. Like a broken record saying "Kaya pa yan" and "Malapit na" to my sister's constant badgering of "Malapit na tayo Kuya?". An hour after, malapit na talaga kami.  

Then finally a big sigh of relief upon reaching the top. HAAAAY!!!!! 

What sucks though, is that when we got to the top all haggard and sweaty, the locals who got there before us were in full make up and get up like they were just strolling in the mall. Kaloka those kids! I cannot compete with their powers, but I will compete with their poses, sans the make up.

Isn't this just breathtaking?!

 This overview of El Nido is just absolutely rewarding.  

Take your time to let all this beauty sink in.

Most of all take time to take lotsa pics! hehe.

The going down however is another story. A literally difficult story to share, for I don't think there'll be sufficient words to describe the harrowing and scary journey down.  

Let's just say that my sister was not happy at all. haha. It's really not funny at that moment but now it is. Thank God I get to live and laugh about it. 

See my sister doesn't flip the bird as often as I speak it, but boy did she flip a lot birds that day. Birds directed at me! I guess she blames me for bringing her to that kind of adventure. Or must be pissed at the discovery of the dangerous adventures I go to. Warning me to never to do this kind of thing again. Threatening to spill my kind of activities to our Dad. Yada yada. But given the situation that the rocks were slippery, got a bit lost in the way, forest turning dark, her cellphone as our only source of light, and our companion calling for rescue, the birds and threats thrown at me were very much understood. It was such an emotional and spiritual (prayed so hard) experience, that I silently almost heeded her threats. However it was forgotten the moment we stepped on the sturdy flat land. I was just so happy to have us landed safely.

With dirty bums and sweaty backs, I am so proud of me sistah! Seriously, it was such a great feat for her and me too! Another one on the mark... conquered Taraw... check!

So here's the thing we learned upon talking to a local at the resort after our adventure. #1. No one was supposed to climb on the afternoons (we climb at 3pm) #2. Our guide wasn't really a registered guide but an ordinary tricycle driver chancing upon some cash. What can I say, I didn't know... oh well lessons learned. 

But if there is one great lesson that the experience or climbing in general taught me, it's to not only bear and sharpen the presence of mind but to always look out for your companions. That alone just makes me realize that even in the most difficult of times, the world is not just all about you. 

Climbing Taraw = P600.00 (4pax)

Experience = Worth it!