The Great Outdoors
- tammiesunday
- Apr 8, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 13, 2024
On Weekend #outdoor activities & city tours. #philippines #nature
Lately, I’ve been feeling exhausted with having to constantly look at screens, buildings, and traffic and hear unnecessary noise pollution. The only times I do find some respite and peace are in my encounters with the earth.
Those momentary sightings of greens, yellows, blues, and pinks from my windowsill; at a corner of my house; somewhere I passed by on my way to work or whenever I go out on break times are what I am most grateful for because it somehow renews my energy and mood. Those moments make me happier and feel lighter like I can breathe.
Admittedly, it gets tiring living in the city with only mall going and shopping as the most accessible (and convenient) leisurely option. In my search for new things in the cities, I came across histories, current events, food places, and craftsmanship. In my search for outdoor activities, I found communities.
That was the beginning of my weekend outdoor gimmicks: city tours and recreation.
City tours in Marikina, Manila, and Rizal
While I am from the Metro, I've mostly been around the business capitals Ortigas, Makati, and BGC. To have ventured into other cities took some form of willingness on my part (as it is only recently that I am appreciating our local tourism). Thankfully, I had friends who were from there and were familiar with the place.
Marikina
More than a city of footwear & food trips.
Discipline ensued in this thriving city. You can see it as you walk in the streets, interact with the locals, and when you visit the marketplace. Even the tourist police we met took pride in his city Marikina as he narrated its history in the footwear business and makings as a disciplined town. How the city maintains its values and camaraderie was shared with us by the tourist police. He revealed that town news was reported and reminders, posted on a Facebook Group & Page solely for the community, keeping all the locals connected and informed.
Manila
Of cleaner parks and a rehabilitated Manila Bay.
In the heart of Metro Manila is this space of walkable and reasonably spacious pathways and field lined with a copse of trees and other greens. What a productive sight it was as various activities took place simultaneously: locals having a picnic under the shade of a tree as others conversed or took siestas from cycling; some engaged into sport activities; while groups rehearsed dances.
There were also observable changes especially in the Manila Baywalk area. A blue fence protected its edges to prevent locals from accessing and swimming in the Bay. Clean up volunteers and pulis were also visible along the Bay. Everyone, as it seemed, was cooperating with the rehabilitation effort.
Rizal
The nearest mountain scenery in the city.
With just a two hour drive away, you can indulge yourself with this overlooking view of Sierra Madre, the comforts of a long(-ish) drive, and worth-the-drive food places in the mountains.
Recreation
Masungi Georeserve
Interactive nature trail exploration with rope courses.
It was a time for courage. Three to four hours of trekking, climbing, and completing 9 rope courses where I surpassed my acrophobia (all for nature's sake!) was a tiny accomplishment! I don't mind hiking and spelunking but if it requires me to see part of the ground from a certain height, that's when my acrophobia kicks in. (Heck, I prefer to swim and tread deep waters!)
As I descended that rope course (photo below), there were instances where I quietly panicked because not only did I see that I could fall into rocks but my foot got caught by the rope as I was shifting levels--uhm, the stakes were higher of my falling from the rope and that made me anxious (haha). But, oh well! 'twas worth the suspense! :D
Mt. Maculot
Level 4 of 9 hiking experience.
It's been years since my last hike. In the wee hours of the morning, we began our climb and passed by 12 stations before arriving at the rockies, our hike's destination. While I thought my trainer shoes would suffice and a 1.5 liter jug would be handy, I was mistaken. My shoes' soles didn’t have much grip support which caused me to slip on some instances as we traversed narrow dirt paths and the jug made it challenging to climb and trek, having to manage bringing it with one hand or clung to my arm and hoisting myself up/down using both hands. For my next hike (aiming to go to Mt. Pulag and elsewhere in the North), I'll sure be better equipped with the appropriate footwear and water container. *laughs*
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