We went to Angeles, Pampanga by bus – a spontaneous trip indeed. We didn’t have any plans, any info, etc. etc. And I think that it was really a bad idea to come unprepared. First off, I was with two foreign people so it was really difficult to get bargain for everything! The receptionist of the hotel helped us find a driver and a 4×4 the next day.
When I texted the driver whose name is Edwin during the night, I got no reply from him. At 5.20 in the morning, our hotel phone was ringing and it was the driver informing us that we needed to go because the gates will close at 7.30AM for the trekking due to the military forces practicing. Practicing what? I asked. Edwin said they have firing practices. No need to risk a stray bullet in your body.
Our plan was to go to Capas since we didn’t hear any news from the driver the previous night. I didn’t like the way Edwin was pressuring us to hurry since I just inquired if he’s available in the text message. He told me his rate is 2,500 per person, inclusive of the 4×4, a tour guide, a shower, entrance fees, and lunch. I took one look at his 4×4 and I felt really bad coz there was rust all over and it didn’t look like it was made for rough roads.
We tried to bargain and finally paid 2,300 per person. I just don’t like this guy. He wasn’t really speaking to us and he didn’t even ask our names the entire trip. He was pressuring us to hurry everytime – even when we were already at the lake.
Anyway, the ride was really rough. I feel that my abs are very tight right now because I was resisting all the bumps and jumps we encountered during the 4×4 ride to the crater. Maybe this is more effective than stomach crunches? Splashes of water, mud, and little stones filled my already dust-covered hair.
A tour guide came with us but what a tour guide he turned out to be! He didn’t speak with us the entire time except when he asked us if we want a boat ride around the lake for 350/person. And if we wanted to go to the Hot Springs for another 1500. I find this quite expensive – I thought that nature’s gifts are supposed to be free. The boat ride looked very short because one boat returned 15 minutes after its departure. Maybe 150 per person would have been enough? I asked why it is expensive, but he told me he didn’t know and because the place was run by Koreans.
Why would a Philippine natural spot be run by a bunch of Koreans? I don’t know what he wanted to say but that was how he said it. I didn’t even bother asking him why. His answer just made me sad.
We wanted to know more about the history of the volcano. But the tour guide was just smoking a cigarette, speaking with another guide, not really minding us. And again, he didn’t even ask for our names, and he never told us his.
In my opinion, the 6900 pesos we paid for the trip was a complete rip off. We didn’t learn anything about the place except the ones we read in wikipedia. Edwin has the worst kind of marketing for his business. And it bothers me to think that there’s a “tour guide” - what was he even doing there in the first place? I admit that the trek was a little rough but we are young, strong, and energetic (at least in our minds), and the path was so easy to follow.
I made some research before the trip and found out that the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo was the greatest one during the 20th century and was felt worlwide.
For months, the ejected volcanic materials remained suspended in the atmosphere where the winds dispersed them to envelope the earth, reaching as far as Russia and North America. This phenomenon caused the world’s temperature to fall by an average of 1 degree Celsius. (Source: http://park.org/Philippines/pinatubo/)
The volcanic crater that became a lake was very picturesque. It was just… beautiful. The place reminds me a little of Switzerland coz one mountain looks like it was covered a little bit in snow – but that was just the ash from the previous eruption. Ans I think that maybe there’s a scenic place like this in New Zealand, but I have yet to see that country.
Anyway, after an hour or so of chatting and enjoying the view, we went back up to meet Edwin. Then we went back to Manila and spent the evening in a seaside market. I think I gained 2 kilos, but it was worth it!
