Friday, December 5, 2008

GUNUNG PANTI FRIENDSHIP CLIMB FOR A CAUSE Print E-mail
Story by: Lady Anarchy

It was an invitation from Bundokeros Adventure Club (BAC), an organization of friends with a common love for outdoors and a passion for adventure. They are also committed to responsible mountaineering and the will to help protect and preserve nature. Our group, the PSG Mountaineers, was informed that this climb would somehow be different. As the title Friendship Climb for a Cause says, you don't have to tickle your brain cells to know what it is all about. But to give a head start, each of us paid a certain amount of money to raise a fund. The fund was then given to the Globe Adventure Club to aid them in their Medical Mission for our Aetas brothers and sisters in the Philippines.
Let me now cut off the introduction and begin the story. So a week before the climb, as expected, my mailbox was so flooded of continuous reminders, jokes, teasing, and pranks from my "kafatids", as we fondly called each other. Of course there are a few who kept silent and worked their butts off in their offices to beat deadlines or else forget about joining the climb. I can feel the excitement and anxiousness from everyone. Nov.29, Saturday, the day we were all been waiting for. Call time: 6:30 am at Kranji Station. Aside from the fact that I live one station away, I was so excited that I arrived before the clock strikes 6. I thought I was the first one to arrive. It was an sms from Roura that I realized that some of them were already at the other side of the station. As I joined them, I saw the coach waiting for us at the other side of the road. While a few made their last minute back outs, the group was completed at about 7:15 am, 45 mins. late from the estimated time of departure. We arrived at Kota Tinggi at 9:15 am, took "teksis" and reached the jump off point at about 10:15 am. The all-Filipino group from Malaysia, whom some are working in Kuala Lumpur, was already waiting for us. Our group didn't have packed lunches so we just spent the time teasing, joking, laughing, taking pictures and fooling around while the two other groups devour on their food.
It was about 12 pm when we began to trek, shortly after I recited a prayer. Walking through the woods was not that hard, it's just like "a walk in the park". But the highlight of the trail was a very huge rock that you have to climb over to be able to reach the summit. With a slope of almost 90 degrees and ropes to hold on to, it reminded me of how scared I am of heights. We arrived at the peak at about 2 pm, just as the itinerary stated that the trek would take 2 hrs. The Bundokeros lead pack was already setting their camp near the cliff, the part of the summit with the breath-taking view. We set our own camp a few meters away from the Bundokeros. While Gunung Panti’s spacious peak can accommodate large number of climbers, it is also cozy for socials because of its white sand and sturdy trees to suspend your "hammocks". As everyone settled down, we cooked rice and had late lunch, having a fair share of the all-time-favorite adobo, canned tuna and laing from Goldilocks. Some slept after eating, while I strut around the camp, talking, joking and laughing with the few others who didn't sleep as well. Some of the photography enthusiasts took pictures of the very dramatic sunset.
The dinner was ready at around 7:30 pm but the group decided to eat at 8 pm and wait for Tere, Albert85 and Painintheass, which are on their night trek with a couple of Bundokeros. The 30 mins. wait was agonizing for some of us whose stomachs were crumbling. 8 pm came and none of them showed up so the group ate the "replay" adobo, tuna and laing. After dinner the 3 different groups gathered around at the Bundokeros camp. Jai of BAC made a short speech, and then each one of us introduced ourselves. It was an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, to get phone numbers, YMs and Friendster. hehe... The group shared bottles of liquor. I just took 2 shots of tequila and crept back to the tent to sleep. It felt like eternity, I was awakened by familiar voices outside. I realized that the group who had their night trek finally arrived. It was already 11:30 pm. I went out of the tent and welcomed my other 3 kafatids.
We had our own socials, embracing the coldness, laughing our hearts out as our loud voices echoed through the mountains. Hours passed by... and there was total silence...
It was 6:45 am when my celfone alarmed, 15 mins. earlier than the wake up call. The early birds got advantage of the boiled water for their noodles. Some ate bread and biscuits. After breakfast and the break camp, we spent the rest of the time taking pictures. It was a very funny bonding moment for us. At 9:40 am, we gathered around as Dez led the prayer and began to leave the camp. This time we will be doing a traverse, descending via Lukut trail. We expected that the trek going down will take about 2 and a half hrs. but something unforeseen happened. The lead group took the wrong trail. We were all walking for hours, the lead group reached a dead end, and it was too late. We had no choice but to go back. So the adventure began... with most of us left with no trail water, the next few hours were excruciating. We made several stop over as some of the Bundokeros scouted the area, looking for possible trails. We went on and on... hungry, thirsty, and tired.
--> Call it luck or blessing in disguise, the rain began to pour. Some put towels on their heads and drank the water that was sipped into it. I for one opened my mouth to catch the raindrops. Albert opened an umbrella and placed it upside down and did manage to collect a few ounces of water. One of my kafatids even confessed that she licked the wet leaves. It was like never ending... mud, steep slopes, slippery rocks, leeches, thorns, hornet stings. Is this for real, I thought, when by this time I should be enjoying of what Kota Tinggi resort has to offer. As we reached the foot of the mountain we passed by a river. We all happily drank water from it. Ahh... it felt like I haven't drink for years. It was already 6:00 pm when we finally arrived at the last stop - Bahay ni Manang. Each one has his or her own tale of what happened in the last 8 hours. We all washed and dressed up, took "teksis" and went to the place where the coach awaits us. The driver has been waiting for us for almost 3 hours. We all met at a famous fastfood. They ran out of rice so some decided to eat at a nearby local coffee shop. As for me, I gave myself a treat - 2 pcs. chicken, baked potato, coleslaw and ice-cold soft drink.
Uhmm…Truly an unforgettable experience, this climb proved one thing. That regardless of the group we belong, of age, gender and status, Filipinos will unite as one to help the poor and the needy.
9:30 pm, as I seat comfortably in the bus, I looked around... I thought I saw smiles on everyone’s tired faces.
The 17 Adventurers - Jungleboy, Gits, Tere, Silverchair_13, Albert85, Tatamakata, Dez, Nekupenda, Roura, Ardie, Charlotte, Painintheass, Yushi, Zen, Arnold, Popony, Lady_Anarchy